Healthy Living

Most people who decide to start juicing do so because they want to make a change. Maybe they want to lose weight, or they want themselves and their families to live a healthier lifestyle by introducing more fresh fruits and vegetables to their diet. Or they even start juicing because their physician recommended it to help them deal with a medical illness. What ever their reason, once they get started, people can't believe the difference juicing has made in their lives.

But do you realize that by simply beginning a healthier lifestyle with juicing, you're also making a difference with the planet? That's because every time you use your Power Juicer, that's one less plastic juice bottle that will end up in the landfill.

Most people who drink juice out of a single serve bottle don't think twice when they finish their juice and toss the bottle into the garbage. But, when you consider that single serve bottled juice sales ran about 1 billion dollars last year, and if the average cost of a bottle of juice is 2 dollars, that's roughly 500 million plastic bottles that end up in our country's landfills in just one year. And since some plastics take as long as 500 years to breakdown, we're talking long term adverse affects on our planet and ourselves. Not to mention all of the fossil fuel that had to be use in the manufacturing and delivery process involved in the bottled juice industry.

Juicing allows you to break from that cycle of the throw away society and get healthy at the same time. If you take just a little time to find produce for your juicing that is grown locally in your area (finding a local green market is one way), you can help to cut the carbon footprint caused by the manufacture and delivery of bottled juices.

Who would've thought that just by juicing your own fruits and vegetables you could not only make yourself healthier and happier, but your planet as well.

Get the Most From Your Compost

Composting is nature's way of recycling. It's an easy natural way for you to get great soil for your home garden or potted plants, while lessening your family's impact on the local landfill. And composting is a great way to reuse the pulp that's created when you juice. You can compost using a container or bin you buy, and they range in price from 40 dollars to a couple of hundred dollars. Or you can use the "pile method" and just start a compost pile of your own on the ground.

It's really pretty easy. Just find a spot in your yard that gets either morning sun or afternoon sun, but not both, because too much sun will rob your compost pile of necessary moisture. Then dig a hole, not too deep, about 12 inches. The diameter will depend on the size of your yard, but 6 feet or less is fine, save the dirt you accumulate from digging in a pile off to the side to add to your compost every once in a while to help keep your pile warm and moist.

Once your hole is dug, line the bottom with sticks and twigs in order to hold your organic material slightly off the ground and to let air circulate through the bottom. This is important to help the material break down. Once the bottom is lined with sticks, then start adding whatever organic material you have from your yard work, your pulp from juicing, and other kitchen scraps like egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds and cooking scraps. Avoid putting any meat scraps or bones in your compost, because they tend to attract scavengers. Then once your compost pile is started, remember to add to it and be sure to turn it over at least once a week to keep air circulating and to keep it from drying out.

Think Local!

Lowering our carbon footprint is a common phrase these days. Though it sounds a bit scientific, what it really comes down to is choice; choosing alternative ways to do normal everyday chores and routines. One way to lower your carbon footprint and combine juicing is to buy your fruits and vegetables for juicing from a local grower. The best way to do that is by going to your nearest green market. Unlike super markets that get their produce from across the country or even across the globe, shipped on trucks and large container ships that contribute millions of tons of carbon to the atmosphere. Local green markets are supplied by local farmers, many just a few miles away. Which brings up another point, by going to a green market, you are also supporting smaller, independent and family farms. To find a green market in your neighborhood, go to www.localharvest.org.

To cut down on your use of plastic bags, when you do go to the green market to buy your produce, make sure you bring your own reusable grocery bag.

Start Your Own Vegetable Garden

One of the most fun and fulfilling green projects you can do is to start your own garden. First, there's nothing better than making a fresh glass of juice from fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden and second, planting a small garden is a project the whole family can do together. From tilling the soil, to planting the seeds, to harvesting all of the great produce you grow, a garden gives back in great tasting fruits and vegetables much more than the small amount of work it takes to get started.

Third, you're helping to fight against the large amounts of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere each year transporting produce to supermarkets and grocery stores.

Complications and Risks of Cataract Surgery

Complications and Risks of Cataract Surgery

These complications can include infection, retinal detachment, inflammation inside the eye, swelling in certain parts of the eye, retention of a piece of the cataract inside the eye, glaucoma, hemorrhage (bleeding), possible worsening of certain eye conditions (such as diabetic retinopathy), and failure to improve vision if other eye diseases are present (such as macular degeneration). Sometimes, these complications may require further treatment or surgery in an attempt to repair them.

Tina D. Turner, M.D., VisionAware's Resident Cataract Specialist

Dr. Turner is a staff comprehensive ophthalmologist at Henry Ford Health System's Grosse Pointe Ophthalmology. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee with a BA in chemistry, received her MD degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Michigan's Kellogg Eye Center.
She lectures widely on many topics in ophthalmology to ophthalmology residents, family medicine residents, emergency medicine residents, ophthalmic technicians, surgical technicians, and patients.
Dr. Turner is the author of An Introduction to Cataracts and Cataract Surgery on the VisionAware website, where you can learn more about cataracts, including:

• The causes of cataracts
• How cataract surgery is performed
• The different types of artificial lenses
• Sign up with VisionAware to receive free weekly email alerts for more helpful information and tips for everyday living with vision loss.

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis is a serious infection inside the eye that can develop after cataract surgery. Although many precautions are taken to prevent complications after cataract surgery, infection can still develop. The chance of developing infection after cataract surgery in the United States is approximately 0.1%.
Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery is usually the result of a bacterial infection. The most common bacteria found to be the culprits in this type of infection are the "staph" (staphylococcus) and "strep" (streptococcal) bacteria, which normally live on human skin.
Endophthalmitis usually develops in the first week after cataract surgery and causes a range of symptoms, including pain, redness, decreasing vision, eyelid redness or swelling, or a yellow/green discharge from the eye.
Should any of these symptoms develop after cataract surgery, it is extremely important to seek medical care immediately. The sooner endophthalmitis is treated, the better the prognosis for the eye and vision. Endophthalmitis is treated either with antibiotics injected into the eye or with surgery plus antibiotics injected into the eye. Even with treatment, the vision and the eye can be permanently damaged.

Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the inside surface of the eye, develops a hole or tear and subsequently detaches, or falls away, from the wall of the eye.
Once separated from the wall of the eye, the retina loses part of its blood supply; without a blood supply, the cells in the retina begin to die. Once lost, retinal cells do not regenerate.
It is the retina that is responsible for processing visual information and sending it to the brain. Thus, once the retina is damaged, it results in permanent loss of vision.
The chance of developing a retinal detachment after cataract surgery is approximately 1 in 3,000. If diagnosed early, a retinal tear can be treated with thermal laser photocoagulation. Retinal detachment usually requires surgical intervention.
It is important that you fully understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives to cataract surgery, and that you ask any questions and voice any concerns you may have. In order to make a well-informed decision to have surgery, it is extremely important that you fully understand these risks.

• Next: After the Decision to Have Surgery
• Previous: Considering Cataract Surgery

• What Happens After the Decision Is Made to Have Cataract Surgery?

  By Tina D. Turner, M.D.
  Once a patient decides to have cataract surgery, the patient and surgeon should discuss plans for the surgery, such as the anesthesia that will be used, the patient's expectation for his or her vision, and what the patient should expect during and after the surgery.
  

  Anesthesia and Medication

  Commonly, cataract surgery is performed with topical anesthesia. This is accomplished by instilling a very strong numbing medication into the eye. It is usually accompanied by medication in the patient's arm intravenously to help him or her feel relaxed and comfortable.
  This is the least risky form of anesthesia and most patients do extremely well with topical anesthesia and some intravenous sedation. Sometimes, medication is injected around the eye socket to numb the eye and paralyze eye and eyelid movement. These injections carry their own risk, however, and are being used less frequently.
  

  General Anesthesia

  On occasion, general anesthesia may be needed. Since cataract surgery performed with topical anesthesia requires patient awareness and cooperation, general anesthesia is usually required for children, patients with developmental delays, and patients with dementia. During cataract surgery, patients must lay flat and still; therefore, patients with movement disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease or restless leg syndrome, may also require general anesthesia.
  Patients who have difficulty breathing while lying flat, or who have back or neck pain/disorders that prevent them from being comfortable when lying flat may also require general anesthesia for cataract surgery.
  

  Discuss Your Options

  After deciding to have cataract surgery, the patient and physician should discuss the options for correcting his or her vision post-surgery. Artificial lenses, which are implanted in the eye during cataract surgery to replace the natural lens that is being removed, can make vision clear once again and, in some cases (but not always), reduce the need for corrective eyeglasses after surgery.
  The surgeon will take special eye measurements before surgery, including the length of the eye and the curvature of the cornea, to determine what power the artificial lens should be.
  Cataract surgery can decrease an individual's dependency on eyeglasses and, in some cases, eliminate the need for eyeglasses after surgery. However, some patients will still need eyeglasses to fully correct their distance and/or reading vision to 20/20.

Natural Anger Management

What is Anger?

Everyone has likely experienced anger at some time throughout their life. Some people become angry more often than others, and have regular, intense outbursts. Others tend to bottle their feelings, and then explode or erupt without warning - like a volcano.
Anger is a basic human emotion and a natural reaction to situations beyond our control. There are a number of things that can trigger or contribute to anger such as the actions of another person (treating an animal unfairly), an event (favorite football team is beaten), stress (losing the new account at work), expectations not being met, feelings of hurt, disrespect, humiliation, embarrassment, jealousy and sadness.
Anger is healthy and depending on how it is managed and expressed, anger can be positive or negative. Anger has positive consequences when angry feelings help you address a problem or issue with yourself or another person and rectify the situation.
Dealing with anger positively enables you to put negative emotions into perspective. When you want to let off steam, feel frustrated or upset, there are constructive ways to channel your anger like listening to music, running or going to gym. These are often used in treating anger disorders.
Expressing anger in a negative way leads to various unhealthy behaviors such as violence and aggression. You may become out of control and threatening to others. When anger interferes with your ability to think or act clearly, this can cause you to invite unnecessary trouble to yourself.
If anger hampers your personal relationships with friends and family, leads to violence, creates trouble in your professional life and people fear your temper, you may be suffering from anger disorders and treating anger becomes essential.

What Causes Anger?

Anger disorders are many times a consequence of anger that is suppressed or bottled deep within. If the individual never admits or exposes anger, and puts up a good front and therefore hides their true feelings, anger disorders can occur. Individuals who have being hurt badly or experienced some form of abuse and trauma have difficult expressing emotions, and tend to internalize their anger.
This emotion is often transferred to other more harmful behaviors such as drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders or self harm. Negative consequences of suppressed anger can also result in tension, depression, and a breakdown in relationships.
Certain bodily reactions take place when a person experiences the emotion of anger. Heart rate and blood pressure increase and breathing becomes shorter and faster. An individual may also become flushed, hot and sweaty, start to shake and clench his or her jaw.
As much as the signs of anger may differ from person to person, people express their anger differently. Some may begin to yell, be abusive and insulting, break down doors or resort to fist fights, throw things, storm out, while others may become quiet, depressed and introverted.

Help for Anger

Poor anger management also affects your physical health and can cause high blood pressure, chronic lower back pain, stomach problems and heart disease. It can also lead to anxiety, as well as thoughts of suicide, therefore treating anger is of upmost importance.
The good news is that there are solutions and ways of coping better through anger management techniques. Treating anger is fundamental if you want a happier, more fulfilling life.

Learn Anger Management Techniques

Some anger management techniques include the following:

• Identifying the cause of your anger
• Speaking to a close family member or friend about how angry you feel
• Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation or yoga
• Engaging in physical activities such as aerobics, brisk walking, running or dancing
• Reducing your stress levels by having a massage, listening to music or reading a book
• Doing something creative such as painting , sketching, writing poetry or scrap booking

9 Best Natural Remedies for Gallstones

9 Best Natural Remedies for Gallstones

Posted by: Sara in Herbal Remedies January 27, 2014 71 Comments

Image Credit: MyHealthTips

If you have been diagnosed with gall stones, you might be worrying about the surgery that your doctor has recommended for removing your gall bladder. However, before going for the surgery, you should at least try once to dissolve your gall stones with the help of various home remedies. A little precaution in your diet and other natural ingredients may dissolve gall stones that give you so much of pain all over your abdomen and even at back and shoulders. These natural remedies will not only cure the symptoms like nausea, vomiting and indigestion along with pain but will also make you get rid of your gall stones.

Natural Remedies for Gallstones

1. Apple Juice and Apple Cider Vinegar for Gall Stones

The golden saying- an apple a day keeps the doctor away- is not so popular without any reason. With all its health benefits, apple is also capable of dissolving gall stones when taken in the forms of juice and apple cider vinegar. The malic acid present in the apples assist in softening gallstones and vinegar stops the liver from making cholesterol that are responsible for forming stones in gallbladder. Not only this fruit dissolves gall stones but also prevents the recurrence of gall stones as well as subsides the pain that you get during flare ups.
Get this:
• Apple Juice- 1 glass
• Apple Cider Vinegar- 1 tbsp
Do this:
• Mix apple cider vinegar in the glass of apple juice.
• Mix well.
• Drink this once everyday.
In fact, this is a very good natural remedy to quickly get relief from the pain which you get during the gall stone attack. Also, once you get rid of gall stones, you should continue to have apples. You can actually make a habit of having fresh uncooked applesauce mixed with shredded raw beets and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a little fresh lemon juice.

2. Pear Juice for Gall Stone Removal

Your pear shaped gallbladder can be cleaned with the fruit whose shape it takes- yes the pear itself. The American Medical Association (AMA) says that about 80 percent of gallstones are formed by hardened cholesterol. It is believed that pectin present in pears binds to cholesterol-filled gallstones so that they be flushed out of your body. However, according to the British Journal of Nutrition, pectin does not prevent gallstones nor have considerable effect on metabolizing cholesterol. However, traditionally, pear juice is said to dissolve the gallstones. Looking at the benefits of the fruit, there’s no harm in taking pear juice. You may want to combine it with other home remedies for your gallbladder stones. If you do so, here are the instructions, how to have pear juice for gallstones.
Get this:
• Hot water- half a glass
• Pear juice- half a glass
• Honey- 2 tbsp
Do this:
• Mix pear juice with hot water.
• Add honey to it and mix well.
• Have this juice thrice a day.

3. Beetroot, Cucumber and Carrot Juice for Gallstones

Juice therapies are what are mostly recommended by traditional natural remedies for gallstones. Among these juices, one that is made from the combination of beetroot, cucumber and carrots is highly effective for gallbladder. Beets not only strengthen and cleanse gallbladder and your liver but also help in cleansing colon and your blood. Cucumber, with its high water content, is great for detoxifying liver as well as gallbladder which is also done by carrot juice high in vitamin C and other rich nutrients.
Get this:
• Beet root- 1
• Cucumber- 1
• Carrots (medium)- 4
Remember, you should get equal amounts of all the three juices. So, if needed, increase or decrease the quantity of each vegetable accordingly. For example, you should get 13/ glass each of beet root juice, carrot juice and cucumber juice to get a glass of their combined juice.
Do this:
• Take out the juice of all the three vegetables- beetroot, cucumber and carrots.
• Mix them.
• Have this juice twice a day.
You may even add apples, celery and ginger while making this juice to get added benefits.

4. Milk Thistle for Gallstones

Milk thistle, the herb from the Mediterranean region, is widely used as a traditional natural remedy for gallstones as well as detoxifying liver. Milk thistle helps in shrinking gallstones and eliminate your bladder pain. Add this herb to your diet to get rid of gallbladder stones. Now, how to take milk thistle. You can make tea or add the powdered milk thistle seeds to your juices, salads, veggies, burgers etc. Here is the recipe to make milk thistle tea.


Get this:
• Milk thistle leaves and seeds (you may even use packaged tea)- 1 tsp
• Muslin bag- 1
• Hat water- 1 cup
• Honey (optional)- as per taste
Do this:
• Put crushed milk thistle leaves and seeds in the muslin bag.
• Place this bag in the hot water.
• Steep for 5 minutes.
• Add honey if using.

5. Dandelion for Gallstones

Dandelion herb helps support your liver which aids your gallbladder in its functioning. The dandelion Leaves help in promoting bile excretion from the liver thus detoxifying it and metabolize fat efficiently. They are also effective when it comes to stimulate your sluggish gallbladder. So, it does make sense to use dandelion to cure your gallstones. You can always add the tender dandelion greens to your salad or steam them and have it. You can also have dandelion tea. Here’s the recipe for the same.
Get this:
• Hot water- 1 cup
• Dried dandelion leaves- 1 tsp
• Honey (optional)- as per taste
Do this:
• Place the dandelion leaves in a pot or cup.
• Pour the hot water over it.
• Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
• Add honey if using.
• Drink this tea twice or thrice a day.
If you suffer from diabetes, you should first consult with your doctor before having dandelion herb.

6. Peppermint for Gallstones

Peppermint oil is known to be helpful in digestion as it stimulates the flow of bile and other digestive juices. It also contains terpene, the natural compound that is said to dissolve gallstones. What’s the better way than having peppermint tea made with mint leaves. However, if you don’t want to make the tea, you can also have peppermint oil capsules- enteric-coated capsules- as they release the oil in the small and large intestine and not in the stomach. Peppermint tea is very useful while you have that gallbladder attack. It helps relax spasms and relieve you from acute pain.
Get this:
• Fresh or dried mint leaves- 1 tsp
• Water- 1 cup
• Honey (optional)- as per taste
Do this:
• Boil the water.
• Add mint leaves. (if fresh, crush them first)
• Put off the flame, cover and steep for 3-5 minutes.
• Strain and add honey if using
It’s better to have this tea in between meals.

7. Psyllium for Gallstones

High fiber diet is very essential to cure your gallbladder stones. While you should have meals rich in fiber and vitamins, especially Vitamin C, you may have psyllium too as a remedy for gall stones. It is a very good source of soluble fibers that bind to the cholesterol in bile and help prevent gallstone formation. Psyllium also prevents constipation which also leads to gallstone formation.
Get this:
• Psyllium powder husk- 1 tsp
• Water- 1 glass
Do this:
• Add psyllium to water.
• Mix well and drink immediately.
• Drink it at night before going to bed everyday.

8. Lemon Juice for Gallstone

Just as vinegar stops your liver from making cholesterol, lemon juice or such citrus fruit juices also do the same task. So have a lots of citrus fruits but don’t forget to take lemon juice daily. You may just add the juice of half a lemon in glass of water and have it twice or thrice a day. Alternatively, you can adopt the following Ayurvedic remedy using lemon juice to dissolve your gallstones.
Get this:
• Olive oil- 30 ml
• Fresh lemon juice- 30 ml
• Garlic paste- 5 g
Do this:
• Mix olive oil, lemon juice and garlic paste.
• Have this mixture every morning on an empty stomach.
Do this for at least 40 days.

9. Diet and Lifestyle Changes for Gallstones

There have to be certain changes in your diet and lifestyle to cure gallbladder stones. Here are some suggestions.

• Drink 8-10 glasses of water everyday.
• If overweight, reduce weight. Avoid fatty foods. Exercise regularly. Eat smaller meals and spread it over the day- instead of 3 big meals, have 5-6 smaller meals.
• Avoid constipation, it helps in forming gallstones.
• Have coffee everyday but do not drink it in excessive amounts. One or two cups a day is enough. Coffee increases the flow of bile and thus prevents gallstones.
• Have loads of vitamin C during the day. For this, include citrus fruits in your diet. Have lemon juice.
• Use such spices and herbs that stimulate liver as well as gallbladder like turmeric, dried ginger, black pepper, long pepper, asafoetida, etc.

Careful planning of diet and intelligently selected home herbal remedies according to the needs of your body can sure give you a chance to keep your gallbladder by removing the gallstones naturally.

Building A Natural First Aid Kit

Jun 30, 2016 | Clinical Topics, Healthy Living |

Bumps, bruises, scrapes… these are a part of any family’s summer life (I hope, as they’re definitely a part of mine!)  Besides an endless supply of character band-aids to soothe life’s troubles, there are a few essential items that any first aid kit can’t be without.   Here are a few of my favorite items that I make sure are in my car, bag, picnic basket, essentially anywhere we go!

Arnica
Arnica, the most famous homeopathic medicine, has developed a reputation for being one of the most important go-to first aid remedies, and for good reason!  Arnica helps with bruising and also helps with the initial surprise and horror of a minor injury.  It’s helpful for temporary relief of minor pain, and can be used orally or applied topically.  Dose the oral pellets 3-4 pellets under the tongue every 15-30 minutes for the first hour, then 2x/daily or as needed.  Any topical can be applied to closed skin on the same timeframe)*


Calendula Succus
Calendula succus is the juice of Calendula officinalis, one of the best botanicals for healing the skin.  This go-to spray is helpful for all minor, self-limiting injuries of the skin- burns, scrapes, cuts, etc.*  Clean the area well and apply liberally before bandaging.


Turmeric/Boswellia combo
Turmeric and Boswellia are both known for their immune-modulating activity and have good research to support their use for the relief of temporary, minor pain due to overuse, and don’t we all overdue it on those summer weekends sometimes…. (I was referring to that tough hike, but they’re also helpful in the mornings after a few too many margaritas on the beach!)  Find your favorite combo and keep them handy for occasional headaches and body aches, and temporary inflammation due to mild muscle strains or overuse.*


Insect woes
For bug bites and bee stings, I’d turn to the application of plantain, a drawing botanical that can provide some relief from that temporary itch and sting.*  I love this 1 oz option, as it’s so easy to carry around in the case that you can’t find some on the ground near you to make into a poultice and apply!


Sunburn
We’ve all been there- lounging outside for a bit too long, or in my case, forgetting that all-important second application of sunscreen on your swimming children midday.  Pink skin can cause some discomfort, and while usually self-limiting, minor sunburns can be mighty uncomfortable!  One of my favorite tricks is to pick up some aloe vera juice and gel and freeze it into ice cube trays. When sunburns strike, wrap a few cubes into a soft cloth (I like a little t-shirt rag better than a rough facecloth) and tie off the end.   Allow your child to gently rub the affected area.  As the cool ice soothes, it will also melt, leaving a nice aloe application to the skin as well.  Instant relief!*


There are so many great first aid options available that don’t involve antiseptics and harsh chemicals.  I hope that you consider updating your kit with these natural essentials for a healthy summer!


Written by Dr. Jaclyn Chasse, ND

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Top Ten Natural Antibiotics

Top Ten Natural Antibiotics

1. Garlic
Raw garlic when crushed or chewed contains a compound called allicin – which has similar properties to penicillin.
This superfood member of the onion family is antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, and antioxidant (mopping up free radicals that have been proven to cause cancer).
For more than seven millennia, it has been used internally and externally to treat mild illness to serious diseases.
Everything from inflammation to colds to serious infections is minimized and/or obliterated with the addition of garlic and for those who don’t enjoy the taste, there are supplements as well. Check into “aged” garlic supplements for the best results.
Garlic is not only potent, it contains a host of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that are beneficial to total body wellness. Not to mention the cost is pennies in comparison to doctor visits and prescriptions!
2. Honey
Ancient Romans used honey on the battlefield to treat wounds and prevent infection.
Civilizations all over the world continue to consider honey one of the best natural antibiotics, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, and antiseptics known to man after thousands of years.
New Zealand’s Manuka honey has been proven to have the highest levels of antioxidants and curative powers.
An enzyme found in honey releases hydrogen peroxide. This process helps your body fight infection and prevents the growth of bacteria. Soothing to the digestive system, honey removes toxins from the blood and helps your liver operate more efficiently.
A great boost to the immune system, consider combining honey with cinnamon to strengthen your white blood cells! Raw, organic honey is the best option since most pasteurization methods kills the antioxidant effects.
3. Cabbage
There are sulfur compounds found in cabbage – a member of the cruciferous family that includes broccoli and kale – that have been shown effective as cancer fighters.
What many people don’t realize is how much vitamin C is found in cabbage. One cup provides 75% of what you need every day.
Naturally antibacterial, eating shredded raw cabbage in your salad, as a side dish in the form of slaw, or drinking fresh cabbage juice (with honey added to sweeten) is an excellent way to improve digestion, prevent disease, and even manage your weight!

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4. Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study that found grapefruit seed extract (GSE) effective against more than 800 forms of viruses and bacteria, more than a hundred strains of fungus, and many parasites.
High in many antioxidants, GSE boosts immunity, alkalizes the body naturally, and aids in digestion by improving your beneficial gut flora.
5. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
The far-reaching benefits of daily doses of apple cider vinegar (ACV) include antibiotic and antiseptic properties, naturally alkalizing your system, and can aid you in everything from managing your weight to lowering cholesterol and your risk of cancer.
A chemical-free astringent, ACV can be used topically to disinfect and sterilize.

6. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
There is not enough that can be said for the benefits of coconut oil. It has naturally occurring anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties and is packed with antioxidants you can’t find anywhere else in nature.
Use it to boost your immune system, balance thyroid, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, and even improve brain function. Safe to use internally and externally, coconut oil is one of the most versatile and unique gifts from Mother Nature.
Stir a spoonful into your morning coffee for added energy and a clearer head all day.
7. Echinacea
With similar effects to garlic, Echinacea is well tolerated and able to stimulate the immune system by naturally boosting infection fighters in your blood stream. Native to North America, Echinacea has been used for centuries in tribal medicine to treat pain and sickness.
Unlike garlic, this antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral solution is generally used at the first signs of illness and should not be taken for more than ten days. It is available in liquid and capsule form.
8. Fermented Foods
Probiotics are one of the most incredible discoveries in the last decade. They work to boost and preserve the natural gut flora (good bacteria) found in your digestive system.
Research has proven that a balanced gut is one of the keys to overall wellness and cancer prevention.
These good bacteria are so critical to your health that doctors now recommend a probiotic while their patients are on prescription antibiotics.
Fermented foods are packed with antioxidants and microorganisms that your body processes far better than supplements.
Unpasteurized sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, raw pickles, probiotic yogurt, and kim chi (a Korean cabbage dish) are excellent ways to improve the balance in your intestines.
9. Colloidal Silver
A natural antibiotic, colloidal silver is a mixture of silver particles suspended in fluid that have been used for centuries.
This treatment is temporary since too much silver – a heavy metal – can be toxic. However, it disables the enzyme that single-cell bacteria require to multiply. Deprived of their oxygen supply, the bacteria and viruses are destroyed without damage to you.
10. Oil of Oregano and Other Herbs
Continued medical research has shown that many tried and true herbal remedies work as well today as they did hundreds of years ago.
Essential oils created from herbs long determined to be beneficial to human health are rapidly becoming holistic medicine’s go-to item. Mediterranean countries are the home of many of the most powerful, including oregano.
Oil of oregano is considered anti-microbial, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, and anti-fungal.
It can be used internally and externally in the treatment of wounds, respiratory problems, digestive upset, and even the common cold.
Packed with antioxidants known as phenols and flavonoids, it heals but also strengthens your immune system.
The natural antibiotic properties of many herbs are only now being analyzed and confirmed by scientists around the world.
They represent natural alternatives to boost your immunity and add an excellent variety to your food preparation.
Allspice, thyme, cinnamon, basil, rosemary, turmeric, cayenne, chili peppers, cloves, ginger, anise, mustard seed, and fennel are just a few natural herbs you should consider adding to your daily diet. Some are available in essential oils that increase their healing power.
Prescribed antibiotics kill all bacteria – both the good and the bad – leaving your body stripped of its natural ability to fight infection and ward off illness.
You are designed to heal yourself in most cases. By adding these natural food medicines to your life, you can actively work to keep your body healthy and in balance.

Why are More People Nearsighted than Ever Before?

By Orlin Sorensen on July 1, 2016 in Nearsightedness

Our bodies are a strange and complex thing. We find a way to cure one ailment, and just as quickly, a new one begins affecting mass populations. A relatively new eye condition that seems to be on the rise with no signs of slowing down is myopia. This condition is also known more colloquially as nearsightedness.
According to the National Eye Institute, between 1999 and 2004, the number of myopic people between the ages of 12 and 54, swelled to 41.6 percent. The number of people is predicted to continue to rise. You can find a projection chart provided by the National Eye Institute for the years 2030 and 2050 here.
What is most puzzling aspect of this recent nearsightedness boom is not the quick rise, but rather why this quick rise is happening. Scarce amounts of information exist on this topic. There are a lot more theories out there than solid facts as to why more and more of us are becoming nearsighted.
However this isn’t a sign for panic. In fact, more researchers have joined the ranks to study this new myopic phenomenon. As they get hard at work to find us answers, we’ll tell you what they’ve found so far.
Myopia and How it Develops
Simply put, myopia is the ability to see objects close to the eye very well; hence why it is sometimes referred to as nearsightedness. Reading and computer use are a breeze, but seeing objects further away, such as road signs may prove to be more difficult.
Myopia develops when the eyeball is too long compared to the focusing ability of the cornea and lens is when seeing things in the distance becomes difficult. Because of this, rays of light are focused at a certain spot in front of the retina instead of directly on its surface. Myopia can also be caused by the cornea and lens being too curved for the eye.
Though myopia normally develops during childhood when the eye is still forming and growing, it stabilizes in early adulthood. Although, sometimes the condition can continue to progress throughout a person’s life. For the most part this will be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses. But natural, healthier remedies also exist.
Why is Myopia on the Rise?
That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? With myopia affecting more people than ever before, everyone wants to know how and why it’s happening? We may not be able to give any concrete answers at the moment, but we’ll gladly report on the headway, because yes headway is being made, by researchers and how they’re doing it.
The main reason attributed to this jarring surge of nearsightedness seems to be our lack of time spent outdoors. By spending less time outside we spend more time inside, working on activities that require a near sense of vision such as reading, watching television and using digital devices.
The eyes continue developing in children until finally stabilizing in young adulthood. Being outdoors during this time of growth isn’t just about physical and mental well-being; it’s about making sure our children’s eyes are getting the right exposure.
If activities that happen near the eye are the only activities being carried out by developing eyes, it comes as no surprise that nearsightedness should develop. Being outside and playing catch or going for a bike ride will help your child’s eyes develop to be able to perceive items in the distance.
This lack of farsighted activity is not the only thing preventing the eyes to develop properly. Studies have suggested that the light from the sun may play a role in developing the eyes and preventing them from growing too long.
An experiment to explore the development of the brain’s visual system in monkeys was also the accidental discovery of how myopia may develop due to lack of light. In a now seemingly very controversial method, neuroscientists in the 1970s would sew one eye shut in newborn monkeys. This led them to realize that the lack of light gravely affected the eye’s growth.
No doubt, sewing an eye shut was bound do have repercussions on the monkey’s visual health. Eyes in humans and monkeys alike, know when to cease growing when the retina comes into focus. If no light is entering the eye, the eye can never see a clear image making it impossible for the retina to ever focus. Then the eye overgrows.
In chickens, it was found that induced myopia could be reversed by being exposed to bright light. A revelation, other researchers then found that light was an activation source for dopamine, which prevented eyes from growing too much.
This is where we hit a snag. As seen with the monkeys and chickens, their myopia was thrust upon them, but in children it develops naturally. What needs to be understood is what is causing the brain to signal the eye to keep growing? Sewing an eye shut is an extreme case of lack of light, but of course no child is exposed to so little light.
Prevention of Nearsightedness
So the cure to this imminent rise in myopia is not as cut and dry as many of us thought. However, there is a way you can prevent your children from facilitating the development of nearsightedness.
Experts suggest that children get at least three hours of sunlight a day. This is probably the most fun anyone will have preventing an eye condition. It isn’t a guaranteed method to prevent myopia from developing, but it’ll promote healthy eye development nonetheless.
Myopia is on the rise all over the world, but this is no need to panic. Scientists are getting closer to finding a cure than they are identifying the root cause of myopia. It may not be ideal, but hey, we’ll take it.