Nutrition Basics: Part I

Here’s an interesting question. Why do we eat? If it were up to me, I wouldn’t deal with the hassle of cooking then cleaning up the meal, washing the dishes and whatnot. Add on top of that having kids, taking care of them and all they want to eat, plus they make even more messes! Why do we have to eat food?

1. We eat for energy.

2. We eat because our bodies need food to heal and repair itself.

3. If we don’t eat, we would starve from lack of nutrients.

Nutrient. The base word for nutrition. Did you know that Nutrition is actually a science? Nutrition focuses on the interactions between living organisms (such as humans) and their food. Nutrition includes the study of the biological processes used in consuming food and our body’s ability to use the nutrients contained in that food.

To break things down for you, there are six classes of nutrients that each have a role within the body:

1. Water - water is found in all tissues of the body and makes up 55-60% of the body. Your body can go 8 weeks without food, but only days without water.
2. Protein - proteins are amino acids, which provide the body enzymes, antibodies, hemoglobin and hormones.
3. Fats - fats compose 15% of the body, it is the energy source, the building blocks for cell membranes. Fats are required for the absorption of many vitamins and for the absorption of food for proper energy regulation. Some good fats to include in your diet are fish oils, flax oil, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and real butter.
4. Carbohydrates - 2% of our body is carbohydrate based. Carbs provide fuel for the brain, a quick source of energy, regulates protein and fat metabolism and is a good source of fiber.

5. Vitamins - vitamins compose 1% of our body and function as helpers that are essential for growth vitality and health. They also help with digestion, elimination and resistance to disease. A depletion of vitamins in the body can lead to a variety of disorders and general health problems.
6. Minerals - 4% of our body is composed of minerals. These are what remains of the body in ash, when tissues are burned. Out of 103 known minerals, at least 18 are essential for good health.

When you eat your meals through out the day, you want to make sure you have the proper balance of nutrients. You can do this at each meal or look over your whole day to determine your balance.

Here’s a Basic Nutrition Eating Guide:

- 40% Carbohydrates- mostly veggies, some grains and fruit
- 30% Proteins - meats, poultry, fish and dairy
- 30% Fats - real butter, coconut oil, olive oil, flax oil, supplement with Omega 3’s and Fish oils.

What does all this mean to you? What do these percentages mean? Basically these percentages are based on your caloric intakes each day. But who counts calories? From my experience, only people who want to lose weight or gain weight! As you are reading this, grab a piece of paper and draw a circle on the paper. This will help you get a visual of what I’m talking about. Think about this circle representing a plate, a plate that you eat your food on. Now draw two lines that meet in the middle, two lines that take up 40% of your circle. Now on the side of your circle that you have left, draw another line from the middle of the circle, dividing what is left of the circle in half. This makes two 30% sections.

The majority of your carb intake should be vegetables that are raw or slightly steamed. Include 2-3 fresh whole fruits (not juice) per day. Occasionally include starchy carbs like whole grain breads, brown rice, etc. Whenever possible select organic products, because they are always the best for our bodies. Especially choosing items with thin skins like apples, grapes and strawberries. Avoid all processed and refined carbohydrates, this includes all sugar/white flour products. So, in your circle, in the large section, put vegetables into portion, those are your carbs.

Incorporate good source of proteins into your diet, like:

-grass-fed beef
-free-range poultry
-whole, raw or cultured dairy products
-organic free-range eggs
-Low-toxicity seafood

Avoid:

-Soy
-Farmed Seafood
-Pasteurized and homogenized milk

Incorporate fats into your diet by:
-Eating nuts and seeds
-Raw, cold-processed oils from nuts & seeds (these are in dark bottles and containers, not clear)
-Cold-processed, extra virgin olive oil
-Saturated fats from healthy sources
-Butter & other raw dairy fats
-Raw, organic coconut oils

Avoid:

-Hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats
-Highly processed vegetable oils
-Trans fatty acids
-Fried foods

Stephanie Meyer is a Certified Nutritional Therapist. She has been working from home and helping people find hope through good nutrition since 1997 after struggling with her own health issues and finding out that she could be healthy again. Visit her home on the web at http://www.CrossOverToHealth.com

Vitamin D & Vitamin K and the Importance in Health and Disease

Vitamin D is necessary for proper bone and teeth formation and for the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland. It assists in the assimilation of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals from the digestive tract. This vitamin is found in the rays of the sun, fish, milk, eggs, butter, and sprouted seeds. A deficiency can cause gross deformation of bones and severe tooth decay.

The recommended daily allowance of this vitamin for both adults and children is 400 to 500
international units. Therepeutically, upto 4,000 to 5,000 units a day for adult or half of this for
children, is a safe dose, if taken for not longer than one month. It is beneficial in the treatment of
muscular fatigue, constipation and nervousness. It can be toxic if taken in excessive doses,
especially for children. Signs of toxicity are unusual thirst, sore eyes, itching skin, vomiting,
diarrhoea, urinary urgency, abnormal calcium deposits in blood vessel walls, liver, lungs, kidneys,
and stomach.

Vitamin K is necessary for the proper clotting of blood, prevention of bleeding and normal liver
functions. It aids in reducing excessive menstrual flow. This vitamin is contained in egg yolk,
cow’s milk, yogurt, alfalfa, green and leafy vegetables, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage and
tomato. Its deficiency can lead to sufficient bile salts in the intestines, colitis, lowered vitality and
premature aging.

To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:

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The Food Guide Pyramid

The Food Guide Pyramid is one manner for Americans to read how to eat healthy. A rainbow of colored, vertical stripes stands for the five food groups plus fats and oils. Here is what the colors stand for:

orange = grains
green = vegetables

red = fruits

yellow = fats and oils

blue = milk and dairy products

purple = meat, beans, fish, and nuts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) modified the pyramid in spring 2005 because they wanted to do a more enhanced job of narrating to Americans how to be healthy. The agency later released a special variation for children. On this website you will observe a girl ascending the staircase up the side of the pyramid. That is an example of showing kids how important it is to exercise and be active every day. From another perspective, play a lot! The stairs are also a way of showing that you can make changes in stages to be more healthy. One step at a time, understand?

The Pyramid Speaks to us in several ways. Let us all confront a few of the additional topics this new symbol is trying to pass on:

A person should eat a wide variety of foods. A balanced diet is one that makes use of all the food groups. From another perspective, have foods from every color, every day.

We should eat less of some foods, and extra of others. You can see that the bands for meat and protein are purple and oils are yellow and less pronounced than the other ones. The reason is because you need less of those varieties of foods than your need of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy foods.

Your family also can see the bands start out fatter and get skinnier as they approach the top side. That is designed to show you that not all foods are made as good as others, even within a fit food group like fruit. Sometimes, apple pie might be in that thin section of the fruit band because it has a lot of added sugar and fat. A whole apple would be turn up in the broad part for you can eat more of those in a fit eating regimen.

We should all make nutrition personal. Through the USDA’s MyPyramid website, families can get personal recommendations about the mix of nutrients they need to have and how much he or she must be eating. There is a children’s’ variation of the website available as well. To understand better ways of applying the food pyramid get access to Super Food Seminars and interviews with Famous Raw Food Authors

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Eating For Success: Fast Lunch Ideas for Busy People

Remember the days when you actually had time to take a lunch break? When you used to leave the office for an hour, have something to eat, meet up with friends, walk in the park, play sport or wonder around the shops…? These days people eat lunch at their desks more often than not, if they eat at all. For many people, the demands of the day just don’t let up long enough to afford them a break. Lunchtime rolls around, your stomach is rumbling and you know you should eat, but you’ve just got one more thing to finish. An hour goes by, your stomach is still gurgling, but you’ve just got one more deadline, phone call, impromptu meeting, email to reply to….and before you know it, you’re reaching for a coffee or chocolate bar to get you through, and that’ll have to do for lunch.

The reality is that your brain needs food to fuel it. It is not possible for anyone to be on top of their game when they’re skipping meals, eating them way after the hunger pangs have kicked in, or cramming in non-nutritious foods on the run to keep the hunger at bay.

The food you eat forms the very building blocks of your body - food is fuel and the purpose of eating is to provide our bodies with the tools they need for energy, functioning, building and maintenance. So what’s the solution? Well, unfortunately, it’s not likely that your daily routine is going to change in a hurry, so let’s look at some fast and nutritious lunch solutions that with a very small amount of preparation time, or even a quick trip to your local sandwich bar, can help to keep you firing on all cylinders all day long.

1. Wraps - Go for wholemeal rather than white, and make it yourself or duck out to the local sandwich bar. Try some mashed avocado (to give you your good essential fatty acids for the day), and add chicken or tuna and plenty of peppery rocket for flavour. If you make it at home, bring some of your favourite dressing and add it just before you eat - I love a homemade sweet chili sauce on this wrap.

2. Salmon or Tuna and Salad - This is fast and easy. There are some seriously tasty tins of tuna and salmon these days, grab your favourite flavour and toss it into a prepared salad. If you’re too busy to make the salad, keep a stash of tinned tuna or salmon in your desk draw and buy a small salad from the supermarket or local take-away, it’ll only take a minute to throw it all together.

3. Leftovers -The easiest way to ensure that you always have a tasty and nutritious lunch is to make a habit of cooking extra the night before. Whatever I make for dinner, I always make extra for leftovers. Brown rice is brilliant to make an extra portion of to have on-hand, whether I add it to salad and serve cold or heat it up with other leftovers, it’s a five-minute miracle.

This is one of my favourite fast dinners that heats up brilliantly for a lunch of leftovers:

Mushroom and Avocado Masterpiece - You’ll need…

Some flat mushrooms, big enough to make a stack from.
Olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 small red chilies, finely chopped
2 tbsp thyme leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 small avocado, mashed with a few drops of lemon juice (essential fatty acids)
2 tbsp low fat cottage cheese (protein)

Preheat a grill on medium heat. Mix the olive oil, garlic, chilies and thyme together in a small jug. Brush over both sides of each mushroom. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper and let them sit and marinate while you get the rest together.

Combine the avocado and low fat cottage cheese in a small bowl with salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Place mushrooms flat-side down onto a barbecue plate or chargrill and cook for
3 - 4 minutes on each side or until just tender.

For dinner, place the mushrooms onto serving plates, top with avocado mixture and serve immediately. Remember to save some for lunch the next day!

4. Afternoon Snacks - I always keep a jar of raw, unsalted nuts such as almonds on my desk, these are an ideal afternoon energy snack, you can throw in some dried fruits to create a mix that’ll also satisfy some of your sweet cravings if you like. Rye or wholemeal crackers and mini tins of tuna or salmon also make fast, easy and nutritious snacks.

Any of these quick lunches can be prepared at home or easily bought from your local sandwich bar, and they’re a great solution to eating on the run and not feeling your body the energy it needs to keep you going.

Jennifer Jefferies is one of Australia’s best-known authors and speakers and she has a prescription for modern living. Her powerful message is of work, life and balance - and how to have it all through the 7 Steps to Sanity. Jennifer shows us how to achieve more success and happiness by learning how to manage ourselves, our time and our lives. With uncommon common sense Jennifer will show you or your team how to incorporate simple lifestyle changes into every day life that will help you to feel better and achieve more than you ever thought possible. Find out more at http://www.jenniferjefferies.com

How You Can Support Your Immune System

Media coverage of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has incited fear among the American public, emptied Chinatowns all over North America and stopped much of the travel between the U.S., Toronto, Canada, China, Taiwan and southeast Asia. While SARS is an urgent concern for the World Health Organization, a larger worry on the horizon for the world health agency is the fluthe long awaited influenza pandemic.

The flu pandemic has historically occurred at 25-30 year intervals and its destruction has been cataclysmic. The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, for example, killed more than 40 million people worldwide (670,000 Americans alone). The most recent flu pandemic struck 35 years ago and killed more than 4 million people. SARS, by comparison, has caused less than one thousand deaths and is much less infectious. Dr. Klaus Stohr, the head of the influenza program at the World Health Organization who is also leading the agency’s fight against SARS said in a Wall Street Journal interview, “We are not prepared for the devastation of a flu pandemic… SARS will be something to smile about,” he said.

Regarding the likelihood of a major flu pandemic striking in the near future, Albert Osterhaus, a Dutch scientist involved in pandemic preparedness in Europe said in the same Wall Street article, “It’s not a matter of if, but when, this will happen. I am far more scared of a flu pandemic than I am of SARS.” The flu, SARS and other communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis are the twenty-first century’s major heath challenges.

Overcrowding and global travel have increased the risk of diseases spreading unchecked. However, the real threat lies in a virus’s ability to undergo small changes or mutations that evade people’s natural immunities or commercial vaccinations. Similarly, the widespread use of antibiotics in poultry and meat producing industries has enabled bacteria to become stronger and more resistant. According to some critics, even our current medical practices of over-prescribing antibiotics may contribute to the rise of “super-bugs”!

When these “new” microbes strike, they move quickly and wipe out victims, leaving a wide path of destruction. The West Nile and Ebola viruses, for example, both have at least a 90% mortality rate.

Don’t panic. You can prevent or minimize your chance of contracting infectious diseases both at home or while traveling. Some of my recommendations are common sense:

Sometimes you cannot help but travel on airplanes, meet with someone who may appear to be sick, eat out at a restaurant or be in a crowded place. Therefore you must make sure that your immune system is functioning at a peak level. This involves avoiding activities that would weaken or deplete your immune system and engage in immune strengthening and supporting actions. Below I have outlined a checklist of things to avoid:

Many people who were exposed to SARS, Ebola, the West Nile virus or the flu virus never came down with the infection. The reason is simple: Their immune systems are much stronger and better equipped to fend off the viruses than those who came down with the illnesses. I have outlined below actions to strengthen your immune system:

Extensive studies of ways to strengthen the human defenses have been carried out for centuries in China, producing a wealth of knowledge on Chinese herbal medicine and its effect on the immune system. While there is currently no cure for SARS, the Chinese Government Health Authority recently released its recommendations for preventing SARS. These recommendations consist of Chinese herbal medicine formulations as prophylactic agents against SARS. They are herbs that have been found to contain anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and have immune boosting qualities. Some are effective in increasing the white blood cell production in your body (they are your defense troops), while others increase lymphocyte activities such as killing foreign invaders, etc. Fundamental principles of Chinese medicine are, of course, “Treating disease before its occurrence”, and “Strengthen the defenses to prevent sickness.”

The recommendations are listed below:

Lu Gen (reed root), Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle flower), Lian Qiao (forsythia fruit), Chan Yi (cicada shell), Jiang Chan (silkworm), Bo He (peppermint), Gan Cao (licorice)

Cang Zhu (Chinese atractylodes rhizome), Bai Zhu (white atractylodes rhizome), Huang Qi (astragalus root), Fang Feng (siler root), Huo Xiang (patchouli), Sha Sheng (silver beech root), Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle flower), Guan Zhong (dryopteris root)

Guan Zhong (dryopteris root), Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle flower), Lian Qiao (forsythia fruit), Da Qing Ye (Isatis leaf), Zi Su (perilla leaf), Ge gen (Kudzu root), Huo Xiang (patchouli), Cang Zhu (Chinese atractylodes rhizome), Pei Lan (ornamental orchid), Tai Zi Sheng (pseudostellaria root)

Persons whose jobs (health workers) or relations may bring them into contact with someone with potential SARS are advised to take the following formula:

Da Huang (Chinese rhubarb root), Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle flower), Chai Hu (bupleuri root), Huang Qing (skullcap root), Ban Lan Gen (Isatis root), Guan Zhong (dryopteris root), Cang Shu, Yi Yi Ren (Job’s tears), Huo Xiang (patchouli), Fang Feng (siler root), Gan Cao (licorice)

We cannot rely on the government or a world health body to protect us from communicable diseases, nor should we. In a world grown ever more connected and fast-paced, the risks of disease transmission are greater with each passing day. However, individuals have the ability to protect themselves and loved ones by being proactive in ensuring optimal health and immune function. As frightening as the prospects of SARS and the flu pandemic are, we are far from being helpless. With the steps that I outlined above you can take minimize weakening your immune system and increase your immune functions. You do not have to be a sitting duck waiting for the inevitable to happen.

About The Author

Dr. Maoshing Ni, a Licensed Acupuncturist and a Diplomat of Chinese Herbology, is currently in general practice at the Tao of Wellness Clinic in Santa Monica, California. The Tao of Wellness Clinic is one of the oldest in Los Angeles, established in 1976. (310) 917-2200. Dr. Maoshing Ni is also the publisher of Points Newsletter, found at http://www.acupuncture.com.

info@taoofwellness.com

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s)

Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you can find, in certain amounts, in all oils that you can purchase in most the health food and regular grocery stores. These fatty acids are called essential because you cannot create them in your body and your cells use them every day.

If you do not eat enough of these oils… guess what… you’re going to get sick. What kind of sick? The list is quite extensive and it depends on your deficiency.

* Acne

* DD/ADHD

* Alzheimer’s disease

* Arthritis

* Asthma

* Cancer

* Diabetes

* Eczema

* Eye diseases

* Growth retardation

* Hair loss

* Heart disease

* High blood pressure

* Immune dysfunction

* Kidney deterioration

* Kidney deterioration

* Memory loss

* Psoriasis

* Schizophrenia

It’s a good idea not to be short on these fatty acids, because this list is still not complete.

80% of the American people will come down with serious illness because of nutritional deficiencies

It is not enough to eat essential fatty acid randomly. They need to be eaten in balance. You will need to balance the Omega-3 with the Omega-6. Most people are eating around 15 tablespoons of Omega-6 to 1 tablespoon of Omega-3. If you are one of these persons then expect to be harboring or creating one of the diseases listed above

What are Essential Fatty Acids?

There are four important types of Essential Fatty Acids:

* Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) or Omega-3 Oil

* Linoleic Acid (LA) or Omega-6 Oil

* Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)

* Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are found in everyday oils that you use for cooking, baking, and eating.

* Flax seed oil - contains four times more omega-3 than omega-6

* Perilla seed oil - contains three-four more omega-3 than omega-6

* Hemp oil - contain the ideal ratio of 4:1, four times more omega-6 to omega-3.

* Pumpkin oil - contains 3 times more omega-6 than omega-3

* Walnut oil contain ten times more omega-6 than omega-3

* Safflower - has no omega-3 and 75% of its oil is omega-6

* Sunflower - has no omega-3 and 65% of its oil is omega-6

* Wheat germ oil - slight amount of omega-3 but mostly omega-6

* Olive oil - no omega-3 and 8% of its oil is omega-6

* Corn oil - contains mostly omega- 6

You can see that most oils have very little omega-3. This is why you hear a lot about flax seeds and flax seed oil because they are high in omega-3.

In recent years, a new source of omega-3 was found in the seeds of the Perilla frutescens plant. Perilla oil was found not to cause digestive upset when used in large quantities. This oil is similar to flax seed oil in content except that 19% of it oil is saturated compared to 7% for flax seed oil.

It’s cheaper to buy perilla it in liquid form, since one tablespoon contains 7700 mg of omega-3 and one capsule contains 550 mg.

It is best to alternate between oils, using one bottle at a time of flax, perilla, and hemp oil. In this way you will get the benefits that the different oils have to give.

When buying your oils, try to buy them in dark bottles. This prevents oxidation from occurring and assures that you get active and fresh oils that contain strong levels of omega oils.

Other sources of omega-3 oil are,

* Flax seeds

* Chia seeds

* Pumpkin seeds

* Walnuts

* Dark greens

* Soy products

Limit your use of soy products. These products use up your body’s minerals and have been associated various body diseases. They cause fibrin to settles in your tissues and organs. Fibrin tends to clog up your organs and causes arteries to close off when you’re short on systemic enzymes.

Fish are also high in omega-3 oil. Include these in your diet by eating them at least once a week. The fish to eat are,

* Salmon

* Sardines

* Halibut

* Trout

* Albacore tuna

* Mackerel

Add the essential fatty acids to your eating habits everyday and gain the benefit of a better life.

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He writes a newsletter call “Natural Remedies Thatwork.” For more information the on the essential fatty acids, visit his web site at
http://www.fatty-acid-remedies.for–you.info

C-Reactive Protein, the New Testing Standard

The latest factor to determine your risk of a heart attack is the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test. CRP is a molecule produced by the liver in response to an inflammatory response. A simple blood test can check your CRP level. A reading of 3.0 or higher triples your risk for a heart attack.

Under normal circumstances, inflammation is a short term condition; signs include swelling, redness, and warmth. The swelling and redness are caused by extra blood flow to the injured area. This brings in more infection fighting white blood cells to the area. The warmth is another of your body’s defense mechanisms. Microbes are killed by heat. In the short term, this is not a problem.

When chronic inflammation is present, the CRP levels increase. Chronic inflammation can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, long-term infections, smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. It is also caused by plaque buildup in the blood vessels. There is now evidence that chronic low-grade inflammation causes atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Here are ways to lower CRP:

1. Lower Your Stress - proven methods include exercise, meditation, laughter, and having pets

2. Diet - olive oil, walnuts, salmon, mackerel, herring, tomatoes, blueberries, eggplant, grains, whole grain foods, fruits, and vegetables all have an anti-inflammatory effect

3. Smoking - just another reason to stop

4. Dental Hygiene - science has linked cavities, gingivitis, and missing teeth to cardiovascular disease; the same bacteria that causes tooth decay, causes inflammation in the blood vessels

5. Lose Weight - fat cells secrete inflammation causing proteins into the bloodstream

6. Air Pollution - long-term exposure to car exhaust and coal power plants provokes inflammation

7. Alcohol - one drink per day has an anti-inflammatory effect

The following medications are being studied for their cardiovascular anti-inflammatory effect:

1. Statins - aside from lowering cholesterol, they may reduce CRP levels in just two weeks

2. ACE Inhibitors - lowers blood pressure as well as CRP

3. Diabetes Meds - Actos and Avandia have been shown to lower CRP

4. Aspirin - current research looks promising, another reason to take a daily aspirin

5. Multivitamins - showen to reduce CRP by 1/3 after six months

Researchers are still studying the exact connection between inflammation and heart disease. I would recommend adding a CRP test next time you are getting a routine blood test. It is rather inexpensive and could shine some light on a possible problem before it is too late.

For more free information, free articles, and free newsletter, visit www.rxcostcutters.com

Dr. West Conner is the author of the incredibly popular workbook “How To Save Money On Your Prescription Drugs” and the audio CD “Are You Spending Too Much On Your Prescriptions?” He is currently active in assisting clients who are having difficulty affording their prescription drugs. Through his many years of practice, Dr. Conner has developed a number of unique and creative ways to lower prescription costs. Visit www.rxcostcutters.com for more details.

There is No Miracle Cure for Arthritis, but Improving Your Diet can Help

Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don’t have to tell you how bad it is. If you don’t suffer from it yet, keep reading - I want to make sure you will do everything in your power to prevent yourself from getting it.

The name arthritis, translated from the Greek (yes, they already were its early sufferers), means joint inflammation. We have many joints in our body, and when they move, they need lubrication (just like the oil in our cars smoothes the engines action). Our body dispenses natural oils to keep every joint running smoothly.

It is when the natural lubrication in our joints slows down or stops, we get into serious trouble. The tissue inside a joint doesn’t know why every bone movement, which was nicely insulated by a lubrication before, now causes small scratches. All the joint tissue knows is that it is under attack, and it responds with inflammation, swelling and pain.

Now the situation is getting worse by the minute. The space inside the joints is small, just enough to allow some insulating lubrication. When the inside tissue is being inflamed, it swells and makes any further movement much more painful. Every movement increases the amount of inflammation. As the tissues fight the inflammation by swelling, they actually make the situation worse.

Already in ancient times doctors understood that the inflamed joints suffer from lack of lubrication. So they prescribed oils to be rubbed into places with the most acute pain. Unfortunately the remedy is not that simple. In order to get inside the joints, the oils must penetrate skin and muscle tissues. Very miniscule amounts of those oils can do that.

The good alternative is provided by natural oils supplied from within the body. And here we come to a serious problem. According to estimates by nutrition experts, up to a third of American adult population suffers from non saturated fats deficiency.

Partly we are to blame our narcissistic culture, which equates thinness with beauty. But the huge amounts of commercially processed foods, which we consume because of their convenience, are equally to blame for this problem. Those foods contain huge amounts of hydrogenated saturated fats, which help to insure their long shelf life, but also rob your body of essential nutrients.

So the most important advice we can give to arthritis sufferers and to those, who don’t wish to join their ranks, - improve your nutrition. A healthy diet can go a long way to repair the damage already done, but most important it can help you to stop further deterioration.

A natural diet containing generous doses of cold-pressed unsaturated oils can introduce into your joints what they need most - natural lubrication from within. Especially important such a diet is for advanced age, when we tend to eat less in general, but our nutritional needs are higher than ever.

Don’t expect instant results. Years of neglect created the damage, it will take many months before you notice a difference in the way you feel. This healthy diet doesn’t come instead of the medical treatment you are getting now, but good chances are that it will help to eliminate the need for such treatments in the future.

To learn more about how to acquire better health, lose weight and save money visit Wise-Consumer.net

Guerilla Health Tactics: 5 Snappy Rules For a Healthier, Happier You

The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with conflicting advice, or even heated controversy. Witness the recent Cruise-Shields incident, which will doubtless occupy several chapters in future health and nutrition texts. So what to do about this advice-riddled and divisive field when you want to find out what you can do to better your own health? We suggest that you do a little research, read differing opinions, and the reasons given for them, and then go with what you feel confident about.

Although I am neither a doctor nor a health care professional, I have studied a great deal about the effects of various kinds of personal habits, vitmains, etc., and their known consequences to your health. So here I will offer what I regard as well-proven tips for really improving your own health in very practical and effective ways.

1. Eat yogurt and a banana every day. Yogurt has live cultures in it, meaning “good bacteria” that your body absolutely needs, and which any caffeine beverage or alcohol will tend to reduce or eliminate. Electricity and anti-biotics kill these off too. This good bacteria functions like millions of tiny janitors, eating up and cleaning away any sort of debris which might float about in your bloodstream or body. You must replace these daily to stay healthy in the long run, and yogurt is one of the easiest sources both for this, and for calcium. You can also buy acidophilus milk at the grocery store, or pro-biotics from your local health food store.

Bananas contain potassium, a mineral necessary for many bodily functions, including muscle development and maintaining proper hydration, and which can - and often does - suffer depletion from environmental and dietary factors. So, as they say, go bananas.

2. Eat fresh - not cooked or canned - vegetables and fruit every day without fail. Once you heat a vegetable to over 120F degrees, the enzymes they contain begin to break down. These enzymes aid the digestion process, which forms the central part of good health. There are other ways to get enzymes in your diet, but eating fresh fruits and veggies remains the best way.

A great way to enjoy your daily dose of enzymes comes by “juicing.” This has become something of a health craze of late, and a great one at that. You can buy a good juicer for about $200 or so, or for less if you don’t mind bargain hunting. Try e-bay. To “juice,” you simply turn the juicer on and stuff your fruits and veggies down the chute. The juicer then aggressively works them over, yielding only the juice inside them out the bottom chute to fill your cup.

Fresh fruit and veggie juice is delicious, and it will really help improve your health in many little ways. Try combining different juice “partners,” including oranges and carrots. They go well together. And, yes, ladies, the vitamins and minerals in fresh fruit and veggie juice can help give your skin a healthier, more youthful tone. And the anti-oxidants they offer overflow with other health benefits too.

3. Exercise For Fun. Find a game or sport you enjoy, and do it for 10 minutes a day. My children love it when I chase them around the park - so I do. They laugh and we all exercise, but no one outruns “the claw.” Studies show, time and again that most people don’t exercise because they think they don’t have enough time. But this is nonsense. Most people waste more than 10 minutes a day just chatting.

Start slowly if you are a beginner, and go easy. Maybe just walk for 10 minutes at a comfortable pace. Just do SOMETHING. 10 minutes of exercise every day will greatly enhance every aspect of your health, starting with your cardiovascular system. After you feel confident with your level of health, set some short term goals. Time yourself, and see if you can do it “just a little” farther or faster. If it’s too hard, slow down or back off a little. Enjoy your exercise. It really can be fun.

Studies also show that you derive far more benefit from exercising if you do it at intervals. If you walk for ten minutes, walk slowly to warm up for the first minute, then speed it up with a little burst for the next minute or two, then slow way down to relax and rest up for your next, more rapid interval. This way, you are never more than a minute away from a resting point, and you don’t feel so much pressure to perform. Interval training (or I.T.) has remarkable benefits (compared to mere “steady state” exercising) - including the reducing of stress. So go alittle harder on Tuesday in your exercise routine, and a little easier on Wednesday. Then pick up the pace again on Thursday. Train at intervals.

4. Keep your house very clean at all times, especially the bathrooms and kitchen. This is where germs tend to accumulate. All houses have some dirt and mold in them. Dirty houses have a great deal more than clean ones, and over the long haul to much micro-garbage in the air will tend to cause all sorts of allergy problems and other harmful side-effects. Keep the toothbrushes well insulated when not using them, and store them in a room OTHER than the bathroom. I could tell you why, but some of you might be eating. Trust me, just do it.

If your circumstances make it too difficult to keep the house very clean, hire a cleaning service. Your health is worth the cost. And wash your hands - and your children’s hands - often throughout the day. This simple practice can reduce illness-related “down time” by as much as 50% or more

5. This one may seem a bit odd at first, but there is good logic behind it. Try not to use the heater or air-conditioner in your vehicles much, especially if you travel on rural or dusty roads. The air blown into the cab (and blown into the faces and lungs of the driver and passengers) has NO FILTER. This is nuts, but it is true. Just think about it for a minute.

Your engine has an air filter in it because dirt blows under the hood and can clog up the mechanical works. Hence the filter. But the same dirty air, which blows across the engine and into the cab of your vehicle, doesn’t have to traverse a filter before it reaches your lungs.Yikes.

It is often quite dirty - especially if you live near a construction site or dirt road - and this dirt can accumulate in your lungs, and possibly even your bloodstream. I have no idea why no one seems to have thought of this when they built the vehicles we drive, especially when so many now spend countless hours commuting - sitting behind the wheel, with the heater or A/C blasting away. I know of no studies on this topic either, but common sense says “Don’t blast a steady stream of dirt into your lungs over long periods of time.”

If you can, instead of using the heater, put on another layer of clothes, or a very warm jacket. If you can, instead of using the A/C, just roll down the window(s) to cool off - or drink some cold water. And remember, exercise helps keep your system stay cleaner too, so take that advice seriously and put it into practice.

Your personal health ranks very high among your personal assets, so take it seriously enough to spend some time thinking about it, and doing something to improve it. Start with our “big five.” You will be glad you did.

Carson Day has written some 1.3 gazillion articles and essays, with insightful (if alternative) viewpoints. He presently writes for fun and profit, and specialized in the history of ideas in college. He has been quoted as saying “What box?” and remains at large despite the best efforts of the civil authorities.

You can visit his blogsites at http://ophirgoldcorp.blogspot.com (Carson Day’s Free Web Traffic) or http://ophirgold.blogspot.com (Carson Day’s OmniBlog) or http://extremeprofit.blogspot.com (Carson’s Day Trading Outpost)

Avocado - Ooh, What a Lovely Pear!

Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but the truth is they are packed with Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) which burn fat so actually they make you thin! So now you are over that little misconception, let me tell you the rest of the avocado story…

Avocados contain over 12 minerals. These minerals stimulate growth and keep other body functions in check. If you are tired all the time and struggle to deal with stressful situations, you may be suffering from nutritional anaemia, in which case the excellent copper and iron content in one of these little green wonders will aid red blood cell regeneration and help prevent the anaemia. They contain oleic acid which is great for your heart and can help lower cholesterol levels. They are rich in Vitamin E - vital for healthy skin and offer an excellent source of protein. The high magnesium content helps fight against osteoporosis. They have more potassium than a banana, but even though an avocado is technically a fruit, it contains only 2% sugar so are alkalizing in your body and so much better for you if you are trying to reduce your sugar intake to control candida. And research carried out by the University of Ohio shows that avos significantly increase the absorption of phytochemicals contained in other fruits and vegetables.

So to summarise: EAT THEM! THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOR YOU!

And just in case your excuse is that they are difficult to handle and prepare, here’s a top tip when using avocado in a salad or dip or to add to a chilled soup:

With a small knife, make a cut down one side lengthways, carefully feeling around the stone. Continue all the way round ’til you have effectively sliced it in 2 were it not for the stone. Hold it with 2 hands and twist. One half will come away and the other will hang on to the stone. Stab the stone to prise it out. With the peel still on each half, take each one and again with a small knife, from the inside, cut lines lengthways without cutting the skin. Do the same thing width ways so you have a grid of lines creating little cubes inside the intact skin. Now holding a half in the palm of your hand, simply squeeze gently and all the cubes will pop out and straight onto your salad - easy!

Claire Raikes is a Wellbeing Coach, Speaker and Writer who ‘cured’ herself of a chronic, disabling and potentially life-threatening bowel condition without the use of steroids, surgery or any other traditional medical intervention. She now shares her passion for natural and vibrant health through coaching, speaking and writing about the importance and power of a truly healthy diet.

She publishes a free weekly eZine, In Essence and is compiling an eBook of Healthy Fast Food with 25% of the proceeds going to The Cancer Project, a charity set up by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and nutritionists to educate the public on the benefits of a healthy diet for cancer prevention and survival.

If you have a recipe you would like to submit, visit http://www.LiveInEssence.com for further details.

To book Claire to speak at your event, email her at Claire@LiveInEssence.com.