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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Allergy and Sinus Relief

Sniffling season has begun. Whether you are at the grocery store, the bank, your local coffee store, etc. you will hear everyone complain about their runny noses, watering eyes, and scratchy throats. Piling prescription, over the counter and nutritional supplements into the shopping carts is a new fad at this time.
Instead of spending more money, we can educate ourselves on how allergies are caused. Instead of focusing on stopping the body within its healing process, you will be given the empowerment to overcome them year after year!
There are two types of allergies, or rhinitis, which is allergic rhinitis and non-allergice rhinitis.
Rhinitis is an inflammatory reaction in the eyes, nose and throat. Most of our issues within an allergic reaction. This is usually caused by an airborne irritant that triggers Histamine.
If you already have allergies then you know the symptoms that accompany it. Such as, runny nose, congested nose, itchy, watery eyes, nose or throat, coughing and sneezing and also more fatigue!
Some of the health problems associated with allergies are gastrointestinal symptoms (like gas, indigestion or diarrhea), earaches, swollen lymph nodes, asthma, skin rashes/itching, and chronic sinusitis.
Allergic Rhinitis has two types as well. The first being Seasonal rhinitis. Seasonal is usually triggered by plant pollens. The second is non-seasonal which is usually triggered by airborne irritants. Such as, dust, mold, smoke, animal dander, straw or hay, and chemicals. This one most commonly is also triggered by food sensitivities or drugs that we do not even think about.
To begin stopping the non-allergic rhinitis, you can eliminate household cleaning products and other chemicals, purchase an air filtration system and drink plenty of clean water.

The 7 underlying causes of Allergies are
:
1. Unlderlying food allergies
2. Intestinal inflammation and leaky gut syndrome
3. Liver Problems
4. Exposure to toxins
5. Inhibited lymphatic drainage
6. Nutritional deficiencies
7. Adrenal insufficiency

Almost all of these are able to be controlled through nutrition, exercise, relaxation and any other type of positive lifestyle change.
Becoming aware and educating ourselves is where to begin to better all of our lives!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Natural Ways Control Your Blood Sugar

Natural News
by Danna Norek

Diabetes has run rampant in our society today. The sad part is that the majority of diabetes cases here in the US can be prevented via dietary and lifestyle changes. Instead, we`ve been over medicated with insulin shots and other diabetic medications.

Granted, there are some people who are born with strong genetic predisposition to diabetes that need this type of more radical treatment. Those that are insulin dependent just may need to undergo medical treatment. However, the vast majority of diabetics have "acquired" diabetes. How does that happen?

Most of the time, those who get diabetes later in life had some sort of genetic factor which facilitated its development. Diet is the number one factor identified as causing this jump from pre-diabetic conditions to diabetes. The kicker is that these diet modifications not only apply to diabetes, but also positively impact every facet of your health.

Obesity, for example, is a risk factor behind diabetes. Diet is strongly correlated with your body`s ability to accurately and evenly regulate your blood sugar. In a society that focuses on cheap, processed foods that are loaded with sugar and simple carbohydrates, it`s no surprise that we have such a huge problem on our hands.

So, what are some of the ways you can naturally regulate your blood sugar and help prevent diabetes from setting in? One of the best ways to avoid extreme highs and lows in your blood sugar is to eat small "mini meals" or snacks, about five times a day.

This approach is much better than loading up three times a day on large meals. With the smaller portioned "grazing" approach, you are providing your body with steady fuel throughout the day. This also helps to prevent obesity by preventing those peaks and valleys in your blood sugar levels that lead to gluttony.

The foods you choose also count greatly toward your effort at naturally regulating your blood sugar. There are the obvious foods you should avoid, such as sugary sweets and refined carbohydrates. But there are also others to consider avoiding or minimizing.

Vegetables are a great food choice because they contain natural fiber, which helps slow the release of insulin into the blood stream. There are a few veggies to avoid, including potatoes, eggplant, corn and other starchy ones. These tend to break down quickly in your digestive tract, and they release insulin quickly, creating those peaks and valleys we talked about earlier.

Fruits are ok, but need to be chosen and eaten with some caution. They are better than refined sugar because they are a natural sugar, and they also contain fiber. However, over consumption can cause blood sugar spikes. Also, go for the darker colored veggies, which tend to be lower on the impact scale than fruits like pineapple, mango and other sugary tropical fruits.

Black beans, white beans, and kidney beans are all excellent foods to choose. Their density and fiber content help slow the release of carbohydrates and sugars into the blood stream. Because the secretion is slowed down, you get a steadier level of sugars for a longer period of time.

What about dietary supplements that might help control blood sugar? Try the antioxidant powerhouse alpha lipoic acid. This essential acid actually helps break down and convert glucose into energy. Studies have indicated that taking this supplement (on an empty stomach for better absorption) helped to regulate blood sugar levels for a longer time than without the supplement.

Sources : http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topi...
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/10...
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/alp...


More Relating Articles Found at NaturalNews.com

Diabetes drug linked to kidney problems, but FDA keeps it on the market anyway

Natural News
by David Gutierrez

Three days after approving the Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals drug Byetta as a stand-alone treatment for Type 2 diabetes, the FDA announced that the drug has been linked to kidney damage.

"Health care professionals and patients taking Byetta should pay close attention to any signs or symptoms of kidney problems," said Amy Egan of the metabolism and endocrinology products division.

Byetta (known generically as exenatide) was first approved in 2005 for use in conjunction with other diabetes drugs only if a patient's blood sugar was failing to respond well to primary treatment. In 2007, the drug was linked to an increased risk of acute pancreatitis, a severe and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Symptoms of the condition include severe abdominal pain, sometimes with nausea and vomiting.

Even when the pancreas is unharmed, Byetta may still cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. The latter two conditions may place stress on the kidneys.

"It is thought that the main reason nausea occurs is the effects of Byetta on the stomach," said Richard Hellman of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. "If someone starts vomiting, they can lower the volume of fluid in their body. If it gets to dangerously low levels, their kidneys could be damaged and kidney failure could take place."

Although diabetes itself is a major cause of kidney failure, FDA reports show that among the 80 percent of patients who stopped taking Byetta after kidney symptoms emerged, 50 percent recovered.

The FDA now recommends that Byetta patients be carefully monitored for signs of kidney dysfunction, and that the drug be used cautiously in those with mild or moderate kidney impairment. The drug should not be used in patients with severe kidney failure.

"Before any patient takes Byetta, they should ask their physician whether they have decreased function of their kidneys and whether their kidneys are functioning well enough that taking Byetta would not be hazardous to their health," Hellman said.

Sources for this story include: www.reuters.com; www.cnn.com.

More Articles like this at Natural News.com

The Underlying Issue of Disease

When we look at disease and illness we describe how we feel. We state the obvious and only address the symptoms. When addressing just the symptoms the actual cause of the issue still continues its devious acts to take our bodies down!
I will be unveiling the true culprit that underlies disease and illness, how to suppress it naturally, and to keep it from ruining the rest of your life.
So, what is the culprit anyway? It is Inflammation!
What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the body's initial response to irritation, tissue damage or infection. Symptoms of inflammation is heat,which is caused by increased cellular activity and oxidation at site of damage, swelling, which is dilation of the capillary pores allowing the fluid and protein to move into tissue space that increases quantities; this also allows white blood cells into the area, redness,which is increased blood flow to the area and pain, this is when the tissue swells and puts pressure on nerves and lack of oxygen to tissues.
Ever go to the doctor and get diagnosed with an "itis"? What is an "itis"? Most common ones are arthritis, bronchitis, appendicitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, tonsilitis...etc. Inflammation is also involved in heart disease, autoimmune disorders, aging, cancer, allergies, and much more!
Now inflammation can be healthy! It shows us that our body is fighting infections, repairing, and processing toxins. We just stop it from letting it cleanse itself!
The initial phase of acute inflammation begins with tissue damage. Normally caused by bacterial or microbial toxins, heat or radiation, trauma, allergens, etc. When the tissue is damaged this causes the release of histamine, which is followed by a release of bradykinin, serotonin and other chemicals. When these specific chemicals are released they dilate capillary pores and initiate inflammation.
Next, Eicosanoids, these increase permeability of blood vessels to create more swelling, are released to open the blood vessels so white blood cells can get to the damaged area. Histamine and leukotrienes cause bronchial constriction and increased mucus production this helps to flush the irritants out of the mucus membranes!
The third phase of inflammation is that more eicosonoids signal blood cells. White blood cells use free radicals to destroy microbes. Unfortunately, through this process it can damage healthy cells. This is why Antioxidants are extremely important to use daily. Antioxidants help protect healthy cells from immune damage.
Now the best phase of inflammation is the HEALING PHASE. Yes, if we stop trying to control our body and become obstacles we do not heal. When we let things be and support our body it heals itself. Now, cortisol is secreted to shut down eicosanoid production and mediate the inflammatory response. Macrophages clean up the debris and regeneration begins!
Inflammation is very common these days. Some ways that we provoke it would be where we live, our stress levels, processed foods, and unhealthy water. When we take most of these away (which usually we cannot help the pollution within our environment, can always begin helping) inflammation is less likely to harm us.
Some ways to keep inflammation away is making sure our detoxifying organs are up to par. One being the Lymphatic System.
There are even lymphatic drainage massages. Ways to keep pain down are through bodywork, deep breathing, stretching, yoga, energy healing work, etc.
Dealing with chronic inflammation may be a bit more difficult. Reason why you want to catch inflammation in its beginning stages. There are four stages of disease. Acute(irritation), Subacute inflammation(congestion and stagnation), Chronic Inflammation(low grade inflammation) and tissue depression, Degeneration and tissue breakdown!
Some possible symptoms of chronic inflammation would be: excess weight, brittle fingernails, limp hair, sleepiness, constipation, fatigue, groggy upon waking, constant hunger, carb cravings, lack of mental concentration, dark red tongue, aches and pains, dry skin, and gum disease.
Going back to having "guts" to being healthy, the intestinal system is your first line of immune defense! Drinking a high quality Aloe Vera Juice will help soothe the intestinal system!
The Liver is the second line of immune defense. The liver detoxes and does 500+ different tasks daily! We do not help it out to much by drinking alcohol, caffeine, processed, enriched, fortified foods and consume water that isn't even healthy! The liver is also the organ to help metabolize. Clean out and support the liver your weight issues may just disappear.
The glands are the third line of defense. Cortisol is produced by the adrenals, this is an inflammatory mediator. Adrenal exhaustion is very common within our country due to always being within the sympathetic mode, or fight or flight. This causes burn out and more inflammation. Excessive amounts of cortisol production increases fat deposition and insulin resistance. We have many diabetics and the numbers are rising. Reduce cortisol production by doing healing, stress relieving exercises and heal your life.
Omega-3's help reduce inflammation. Our diet provides omega-6's so we just need to have a perfect balance between the two to utilize them. Hawthorn, Co-Q10, Mega Chel and Vitamin E are also used for cardiovascular inflammation. Which, our number one killer in America is still heart disease!
To recap being able to feel an ache and pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. When you acknowledge this and go to a health care provider who is open minded you may be able to nip inflammation in the bud before it grows into something more severe!

Friday, April 2, 2010

The Water Cure: An interview with Dr. Batmanghelidj

Natural News
By Mike Adams


Physicians rarely promote the curative properties of H2O, but Dr. Batmanghelidj, M.D. has studied water's effect on the human body and has found it to be one of the best pain relievers and preventative therapies in existence. I was one of the last people to interview the late Dr. Batmanghelidj, and I listened in awe as he shared his research and stories about "The Healing Power of Water."

In a fascinating one-hour phone conversation, Dr. B. shares:

• Which common ailments and "diseases" are actually caused by dehydration

• Why many doctors use water-regulating antihistamines to alleviate pain

• How Dr. Batmanghelidj unintentionally discovered water's healing properties

• Why most people are chronically dehydrated and suffer from symptoms of dehydration that are labeled "diseases"

• Which ingredients in soft drinks deplete the body's water reserves

• Why thirst is not a reliable indicator of dehydration

• Why the body produces cholesterol and how water keeps it in balance

• Why Dr. Batmanghelidj believes the public is being mislead about AIDS

• How dehydration impairs mental functioning

• Why some organizations want to withhold alternative health information from the public

• How lack of water causes depression

• Why popular beverages are no substitute for water

• How dehydration causes the vascular system to constrict, leading to hypertension

• How to recognize signs that your body is starting to dehydrate

• Why restaurants push you to drink disease-promoting soft drinks

• Why and how water effectively treats pain and inflammation

read more at naturalnews.com