Liver Detox Foods

Have you been hard on your liver lately? Maybe you just want to rid your body of built up toxins from years of living in a chemical-laden world. It’s easy to keep your liver at its optimal working level by incorporating a few easy changes into your diet, I bet you use some of these already! I put garlic in almost everything, love the taste, love the smell. Leafy greens are a great natural cleanser, as is turmeric, and don’t forget milk thistle! Milk thistle is like a gentle bath for your hard-working liver.

http://positivemed.com/2013/05/27/liver-detox-foods-2/

5 Worst Food Additives

Food additives find their way into our foods to help ease processing, packaging and storage, they have been used for centuries to enhance the appearance and flavor of food and prolong shelf life. Many of these can cause dire consequences to your health.
1. Artificial Sweeteners
Aspartame, better known as Nutrasweet and Equal, is found in foods labeled “diet” or “sugar free”, it is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined.

Aspartame is a neurotoxin and carcinogen, known to erode intelligence and affect short-term memory, the components of this toxic sweetener may lead to a wide variety of ailments including brain tumors, diseases like lymphoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue, emotional disorders like depression and anxiety attacks, dizziness, headaches, nausea, mental confusion, migraines and seizures.
Acesulfame-K is another artificial sweetener found in baking goods, gum and gelatin, has not been thoroughly tested and has been linked to kidney tumors.

You can find it in these foods: Diet or sugar free sodas, diet coke, coke zero, jell-o (and other gelatins), desserts, sugar free gum, drink mixes, baking goods, table top sweeteners, cereal, breath-mints, pudding, kool-aid, ice tea, chewable vitamins, ice cream, and even toothpaste

2. High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a highly-refined artificial sweetener which has become the number one source of calories in America. It is found in almost all processed foods and packs on the pounds faster than any other ingredient, increases your bad cholesterol levels, and contributes to the development of diabetes and tissue damage, among other harmful effects.

You can find it in these foods: processed foods, breads, candy, flavored yogurts, salad dressings, canned vegetables, cereals, crackers, soup, frozen dinners, and many more
3. Monosodium Glutamate
MSG is an amino acid used as a flavor enhancer in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and many restaurant foods, it is also known as an excitotoxin, a substance which overexcites cells to the point of damage or death.
Regular consumption of MSG may result in adverse side effects which include depression, disorientation, eye damage, fatigue, headaches, and obesity, it also affects the neurological pathways of the brain and disengages the “I’m full” function which explains a lot of weight gain.

You can find this in Chinese foods, many snacks, chips, cookies, seasonings, most Campbell Soup products, frozen dinners, lunch meats
4. Trans Fat
This is used to enhance and extend the shelf life of food products and is among the most dangerous substances that you can consume, they are formed by a process called hydrogenation, which means the fat is whipped with air until it becomes a solid, this solid does not liquefy again.
Trans fat increases LDL cholesterol levels while decreasing H cholesterol, therefore increases risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke, and contributes to increased inflammation, diabetes and other health problems.
You can find this in foods like: margarine, peanut butter, chips and crackers, baked goods, fast foods
5. Common Food Dyes
Artificial colorings which are found in soda, fruit juices and salad dressings, may contribute to a significant reduction in IQ.

Blue #1 and Blue #2 (E133)

May cause chromosomal damage

Found in: candy, cereal, soft drinks, sports drinks and pet foods

Red dye # 3 (also Red #40 – a more current dye) (E124)

This dye continues has been proven to cause thyroid cancer and chromosomal damage in laboratory animals, may also interfere with brain-nerve transmission

Found in: fruit cocktail, maraschino cherries, cherry pie mix, ice cream, candy, bakery products and more!

Yellow #6 (E110) and Yellow Tartrazine (E102)

Increases the number of kidney and adrenal gland tumors in laboratory animals, may cause chromosomal damage.

Found in: American cheese, macaroni and cheese, candy and carbonated beverages, lemonade and more.

http://positivemed.com/2013/05/17/worst-food-additives/

Taking the Stairs, Raking Leaves May Have Same Health Benefits as a Trip to the Gym

Jan. 29, 2013 — New research at Oregon State University suggests the health benefits of small amounts of activity -- even as small as one- and two-minute increments that add up to 30 minutes per day -- can be just as beneficial as longer bouts of physical exercise achieved by a trip to the gym.

The nationally representative study of more than 6,000 American adults shows that an active lifestyle approach, as opposed to structured exercise, may be just as beneficial in improving health outcomes, including preventing metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

"Our results suggest that engaging in an active lifestyle approach, compared to a structured exercise approach, may be just as beneficial in improving various health outcomes," said Paul Loprinzi, lead author of the study. "We encourage people to seek out opportunities to be active when the choice is available. For example, rather than sitting while talking on the phone, use this opportunity to get in some activity by pacing around while talking."

Perhaps just as importantly, the researchers found that 43 percent of those who participated in the "short bouts" of exercise met physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes day. In comparison, less than 10 percent of those in the longer exercise bouts met those federal guidelines for exercise.

Loprinzi, who is an assistant professor at Bellarmine University, conducted the research as a doctoral student working in the lab of Brad Cardinal at Oregon State University. Cardinal, a professor of exercise and sport science, is co-author of the study, which is in the current issue of theAmerican Journal of Health Promotion.

"You hear that less than 10 percent of Americans exercise and it gives the perception that people are lazy," Cardinal said. "Our research shows that more than 40 percent of adults achieved the exercise guidelines, by making movement a way of life."

Cardinal, who has studied the "lifestyle exercise" model for more than 20 years, said one of the most common barriers people cite to getting enough exercise is lack of time. He said the results of this study are promising, and show that simply building movement into everyday activities can have meaningful health benefits.

"This is a more natural way to exercise, just to walk more and move around a bit more," Cardinal said. "We are designed by nature as beings who are supposed to move. People get it in their minds, if I don't get that 30 minutes, I might as well not exercise at all. Our results really challenge that perception and give people meaningful, realistic options for meeting the physical activity guidelines."

For example, Cardinal said instead of driving half a mile, try biking or walking the same distance; instead of using a riding lawn mower, use a push lawn mower. Instead of sitting through TV commercials, try doing some sit-ups, push-ups, or jumping jacks during the commercial breaks; and instead of sitting and being a spectator at a child's sporting event, try walking around during the halftime break.

The researchers said the participants in this study wore accelerometers, which is an objective tool to measure physical activity. Those who participated in the short bouts of activity could be moving as few as one or two minutes at a time. The people in the "short bouts" group had positive results in areas such as blood pressure, cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and waist circumference.

For instance, the study showed those in the shorter exercise group who met physical activity guidelines had an 89 percent chance of not having metabolic syndrome, compared to 87 percent for those meeting guidelines using the structured exercise approach.

Loprinzi said the one area where small bursts of activity did not seem to equal the benefits of longer, sustained exercise was in Body Mass Index, or BMI. However, the researchers cautioned that these findings do not necessarily mean that short bouts of activity do not help with weight loss, especially since they did find a benefit on weight circumference.

"There are inherent limitations in BMI as a surrogate measure of fat and health in general," Cardinal said. "People can still be 'fit' and 'fat.'"

The researchers emphasized that for health benefits, people should seek out opportunities to be physically active.

"In our society, you will always be presented with things that entice you to sit or be less active because of technology, like using a leaf blower instead of a rake," Cardinal said. "Making physical activity a way of life is more cost-effective than an expensive gym membership. You may be more likely to stick with it, and over the long term, you'll be healthier, more mobile and just feel better all around."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130129100118.htm

Healing Scars Naturally

Several people email and ask us how to get rid of scar tissue, stretch marks, etc. Much of your ability to not show scars depends on genetics, but there are some natural remedies that can visibly improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks over time. These include bentonite clay (topically) and carrot juice (orally). check out this poster for more:

Bentonite clay is a unique substance and an internal and external cleanser for very good reasons; it is primarily formed of an extremely flat crystal flake that carries a relatively strong negative ionic charge called Montmorillonite, which elevates your body’s PH and absorbs some of the hydrogens from your cells enabling them to fill that space with the oxygen you so dearly need.

Coconut oil’s ability to nourish and heal the skin and its wonderful moisturizing and healing powers have been known for generations. As a saturated fat consisting primarily of medium chain fatty acids (MCTs), it is not easily oxidized and does not cause harmful free radical damage like polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

Aloe Vera juice not only soothes inflamed skin it is a fantastic way to remove scars, boost the immune system and regenerate damaged tissue. Aloe Vera has acerbic qualities that ensures, with regular usage, that acne breakouts or scars would be easily prevented resulting in a softer skin, decreased swelling and invigorating new cell growth and thereby reduced acne scars which eventually fade over time.

Carrot juice is very rich in nutrients that help our skin such as potassium, which prevents skin dryness and reduces blemishes and scars and maintain our skin well-hydrated. It has anti-inflammatory property, and helps to revitalize and tone the skin. Drinking the juice regularly will keep your skin moisturized, smooth, soft and supple. It is also packed with antioxidants that prevent skin problems like eczema, dermatitis, wrinkles and even rashes.

Hazelnut oil can be used as a skin cream and/or lotion. This oil resists spoiling, allowing you to keep your homemade skin creams longer. Hazelnut oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. Vitamin E may help reduce the appearance of scar tissue.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can help protect your body from sun damage, because of this, it’s added to many over-the-counter skin care preparations and it’s naturally found in foods like fruits and vegetables, and is an essential part of your everyday diet.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps to reverse skin damage. You could use lemons on your skin since this is a strong form of Vitamin C, BUT this could result in drying out, so you need to do one in one form and the other in another form, meaning use vitamin E oil on your skin, but take vitamin C orally.

Asparagus and certain herbs renew your natural skin moisture and youthfulness.

http://positivemed.com/2013/04/09/healing-scars-naturally/

WHEN YOU LOSE FAT

http://positivemed.com/2012/04/04/lose-fat/

Pros and Cons of Whey Protein

  Whey protein is known for its high BCAA content, also known as branched chain amino acids. It actually has a higher amount of naturally occurring branched chain amino acids than any food. This makes it very high quality and knowing this goes a long way when determining the pros and the cons.

Function

• Protein itself is responsible for hundreds of functions in the body. It helps with muscle preservation, weight maintenance, cell regeneration, hair growth, immunity and healthy skin just to name a few things.

Types

• There are two different types of whey protein. They are called whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. Of the two, whey isolate is more pure. It is approximately 90 percent pure protein while the concentrate is 75 percent. In supplement form, they come in concentrate, isolate and a blend that contains both varieties.

Features

• Whey protein is one of the two protein extractions from the milk of cows. It is actually a by-product of cheese when it is going through production. Other than a marginal amount found in milk, there are no actual foods that contain whey protein, but it can be bought in powdered form. Whey protein is assimilated well by the body and it contains all the essential amino acids. Whey protein isolates are very low in fat, carbs and lactose. Whey concentrates are cheaper but they have higher fat and lactose contents. The best bang for your buck is the combination protein powder that has both varieties in it. This powder also has a great amino acid profile.

Identification

• Hydrolyzed whey protein is a form of whey that is mostly used in baby formulas or for medical purposes. It is broken down into tiny fragments called peptides. This type of whey protein is also less likely to cause allergic reactions.

  Whey protein is also a good choice for vegetarians, but only if they allow dairy in their diets.

  People with lactose intolerance can also take whey protein. But the important thing to do is always get a whey isolate form with less than .1 grams of lactose per tbsp. Whey concentrates should be avoided as they are generally high in lactose and the content tends to vary with different brands.

Effects

• Eating the right amount of protein can help facilitate weight maintenance or loss, it can boost immunity, strengthen bones and repair damaged muscle cells, especially right after a hard workout. It is also an effective resource for burn victims as protein is lost through wounds and it requires more for the healing process.

Considerations

• Although whey protein is a great source it should still be used in correct amounts. According to RDA guidelines, the recommended amount of protein a day is .8 grams per kilogram of body weight. Another thing to take into consideration is overdosing on whey protein. The body can only process and digest so much at a time. If an overabundance is taken, it will be excreted from the body, stored as fat or ultimately used for energy. But processing these high amounts of protein can really tax the liver and kidneys which can lead to problems down the road. One more consideration to take is if you have any allergies to dairy proteins, it would be a good idea to consult with your doctor before taking whey protein.

Warning

• High amounts shouldn't be taken by people with pre-existing kidney problems. In either case, proper hydration is of utmost importance when supplementing with whey protein as it takes the body a lot of water to metabolize. An easy rule of thumb is drink eight, 8 oz. glasses of water a day.

Read more: Pros and Cons of Whey Protein | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4781473_pros-cons-whey-protein.html#ixzz2RJlKkB2T

The Balance of Body, Mind and Soul

There are different kinds of activities you can do to nurture your body, mind and soul.

It is important to keep the balance between all three aspects of you, because only then you will achieve a perfectly balanced life.

Some people feel that they are missing something but they do not understand what it is.

They usually make conclusions that they need an ideal partner, bigger house or more money to be happy. But these are all external things.

What they are really missing is the balance of their body, mind and soul. It is easy to achieve a perfect balance of these aspects once you know how to nurture each one of them.

How to nurture your body

To improve the health of your body you can do several things. Firstly, you should eat healthy food. It is true that ‘You are what you eat’ , therefore you should always make sure that you are eating food that is good for you.

Eating meat really damages your body because you absorb all the negative energies of the animal whose meat you eat. You will notice that if you stop eating meat you will become more positive, ‘lighter’ (hard to describe in other words) and you will be more receptive to the clues and signs from the universe which will help you attract good things into your experience.

You will also better understand the nature and animals. You will become closer to who you are because there will be less blockage in connection to your true self.

Fruit and vegetables are the best foods to eat, especially raw ones. They still have good life energy inside them, which is pure positiveness. So if you eat them regularly you will feel a big difference it makes to your health and your mental state.

The more alive the food, the better. The less alive it is (preserved, dried, etc.) the less good energy you can get from it.

Another great activity for you body is exercise. It tones and strengthens your body therefore your body becomes more immune to different weather conditions and diseases.

Exercise not only makes your body more resistible, but it also makes you more patient and increases your focus. The increase in your focus will be obvious from the great results you will get no matter what task you undertake.

You can also nurture your body by taking hot relaxing bath, going to a spa, having a massage or doing other relaxing and pleasurable activities.

How to nurture your mind

Although all the aspects of you are closely interlinked, your mind is interconnected with your body most. Therefore whatever you do for your mind almost always reflects in the body.

For example, if you think negatively, your body suffers from stress. If you think positively, your body relaxes and becomes more immune to diseases.

The quality of your thoughts results in what kind of health and general bodily conditions you have. It is important to watch and change your thoughts into only positive ones because your general well-being depends on it.

Meditation is also good for the mind because it stops its activity at least for 20 or so minutes during the day. That gives your mind a break and prevents it from overworking.

Positive affirmations are extremely useful too because by the constant repetition of a positive phrase you convince your mind (conscious and subconscious) of some good condition that you are experiencing.

Although this is a created condition and you still do not have it, through positive affirmations you convince your mind that it is your current reality. Therefore the evidence of what you affirm starts showing itself in your life.

Good reading and watching positive movies nurture your mind too. But it is far more better to read something positive than watch it. This is because when you watch any kind of programme, your focus shortens (on all subjects) therefore your work will not be of quality. Whereas if you read a positive book you get all the benefits (positive statement introduction to your mind, positive visualisations) without any drawbacks.

If you read many positive books, you should not be surprised that what you read actually manifests sometimes. This is because when you read something and see it in your mind, mix it with a positive emotion and ponder on it for a bit, it will manifest. However if after reading, you lower your vibration by becoming more negative, you will block such manifestation.

You may know people that live in a dream world, as some may describe them, hoping to meet their dream partners and live in amazing conditions. If they retain exactly the same mood in the reality as when they read positive books, their reality must reflect how they feel.

You may have noticed that such people are always getting what they desire, they are considered ‘lucky’ and everything they want comes their way.

This happens because they are closely aligned to who they really are. Such people always achieve what they want because by being positive they allow the universe to bring everything they like into their experience.

How to nurture your soul

You might think that it is almost impossible to nurture your soul because it is so intangible. But there are a few things you can do that will feed your soul.

Souls appreciate beauty and they crave for it constantly. When you are very disconnected from who you really are, you seem not to need to see beauty. People who enjoy violent movies are a perfect example of such disconnection.

They enjoy negative things because they are so away from who they are that they cannot hear the needs of their soul and they only feed their addictive ego.

When you become more in tune to who you really are you start realising that you constantly seek for beauty. This way your soul is telling you that it appreciates beauty.

There are many ways to nurture your soul through beauty. Going to art galleries, looking at nature, drawing, singing, listening to people singing, being very nice to someone, making people happy are all forms of beauty.

When you express or look at beauty you may feel relief inside you. This is the sign that your soul is appreciating the beauty.

When you really appreciate beauty and are immersed in it, you feel like at home. Different people have different beauty preferences. Some feel at home when they listen to the music, some – when they appreciate art.

I personally feel completely at home when looking at historical paintings, archaeological findings and all the aspects of ancient civilisations. They seem to give me such a relief and so much energy. I always feel like at home in such places. I am a frequent visitor of The British Museum for this reason.

You should try to find some form of beauty that makes you feel like at home – completely in tune with who you are. Such feeling will benefit you immensely.

Conclusion

Some people are so involved in their daily struggles and the need to get ahead that they completely disconnect from all the aspects of who they are.

This produces various forms of diseases, unhappiness and complete disempowerment. Their connection to all the aspects of them becomes week and they do not know how to balance it. Therefore it is important to consciously restore the balance between your body, mind and soul.

When you nurture all three aspects of you equally, you get a perfect balance between each of them. This gives you great health, pure positivity and happiness. You feel free and secure, you lose fear and you get into the flow of life – everything you desire comes into your experience easily.

To balance your body, mind and soul equally only requires to pay attention to each of them and not place any particular emphasis on any of them. Nourishing these aspects of you will give you numerous benefits and you will get closely connected to the true you.

http://www.personal-development-coach.net/body-mind-and-soul.html