New Year’s Resolutions: Be Healthy for Years to Come!

It's time for New Year's resolutions again. Margaret Durst lists some "not-to-do's" to be healthy for years to come.

Resolutions – It’s that time again. Here are some things to think about when making your resolutions for the New Year.

Resolutions can be broken down into 2 categories. The things “not to do” and things “to do”.

If health is on your agenda for the new year, then consider one or more of these “not to do’s”. Read more

Eating Asparagus May Prevent a Hangover,

A new study suggests that eating asparagus may prevent a hangover.

Drinking to ring in the New Year may leave many suffering with the dreaded hangover. According to a 2009 study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the amino acids and minerals found in asparagus extract may alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells against toxins. Read more

7 Amazing Health Benefits of Coffee Enemas

Enemas can do more than relieve constipation. Jonathan Benson reveals seven specific ways that coffee can drastically improve your health.

If you are truly serious about transforming your health in dramatic ways, implementing coffee enemas into your regular routine is essential for achieving the life-changing results you have always desired. No matter what dietary protocols, exercise routines, or lifestyle habits you embrace, coffee enemas can help you reach the next level of vibrant health that you might not have even thought possible. Here are seven specific ways that coffee enemas can drastically improve your health: Read more

Magnesium Far More Important Than Previously Thought

Eighty percent of us are deficient in magnesium, says Joseph Mercola. He reveals how to tell if you are getting enough.

The Health Benefits of Magnesium have Been Vastly Underestimated

A number of studies have previously shown magnesium can benefit your blood pressure and help prevent sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke. For example, one meta-analysis published earlier this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition2 looked at a total of seven studies collectively covering more than 240,000 participants. The results showed that dietary magnesium intake is inversely associated with risk of ischemic stroke.

But its role in human health appears to be far more complex than previously thought, and – like vitamin D – its benefits may be more far-reaching than we've imagined. GreenMedInfo.com's database project has indexed over 100 health benefits of magnesium so far, including therapeutic benefits for: Read more

How to Beat a Cold in 24 Hours

You don't have to suffer for days with a cold. Professor Ron Eccles reveals how to beat a cold in 24 hours.

When the dreaded lurgy strikes, day in bed can seem like the only option. But with Christmas just around the corner, few of us have the time - or inclination - to put up with a hacking cough or aching muscles for long.

Now, help is at hand from a leading expert. Here, Professor Ron Eccles from the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University tells MailOnline how to beat the bug in just one day... Read more

Could Drinking Beer Really Stave Off a Winter Cold?

Beer can fight off the common cold, says Emily Payne.

You'd be forgiven for thinking a steaming hot toddy is the best remedy for a cold, but according to new research it's lager you should be knocking back to beat the dreaded lurgy.

A new Japanese study suggests that a key ingredient found in beer may help to warn off the winter sniffles. Read more

Live Longer and Better with These Five Immortality Herbs

Five herbs can help you live longer and better, says Angela Doss, because of their ability to improve the body's stress response.. 

Answers to the mystery of immortality may already be growing in your home garden. The very same herbs that help in the healing of innumerable diseases, infections and chronic illnesses can also help us to live longer, healthier lives.

A great number of the most effective herbs are known as adaptogens, which assist the body in its natural task of maintaining homeostasis - the delicate state of balance necessary to survival and healing. A body out of balance is considered to be in "negative homeostasis," a condition in which the restorative (anabolic) and degenerative (catabolic) systems of the body may not function properly,eventually leading to experience symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, weight fluctuation and impaired libido. But adaptogens help the body adapt to and compensate for change. In a person with high blood sugar, for example, an adaptogenic herb might help to lower glucose levels in the body; whereas, in a person with low blood sugar, the herb would help to raise them.

Because of this ability to improve the body's stress response, adaptogenic herbs can literally add years to a person's life. Here are a few you should know. Read more

How Coconut Oil Might Combat Tooth Decay

Dr. Joseph Mercola explains how to use coconut oil to combat tooth decay.

Coconuts are among the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet and have been a dietary staple for millennia. Western science is now "playing catch-up" to what natives of tropical regions have known for thousands of years. One of the reasons coconut is so special is that it's a natural antimicrobial food.

Coconut, especially its oil, is a powerful destroyer of all kinds of microbes, from viruses to bacteria to protozoa, many of which harm human health.

Researchers at the Athlone Institute of Technology's Bioscience Research Institute in Ireland set out to test coconut oil's biocidal properties against the bacteria responsible for tooth decay.

Dental caries is a commonly overlooked problem affecting 60 to 90 percent of children and the majority of adults in industrialized countries, according to chief researcher Dr. Damien Brady. His research team tested the antibacterial action of coconut oil in its natural state and coconut oil that had been treated with enzymes, in a process similar to digestion.

The oils were tested against strains of Streptococcus bacteria, which are common inhabitants of your mouth. Read more

Is Acne Your Problem? Try these 3 Simple Tips

Is acne your problem? Are you spending too much money for over-the-counter products. Try the natural way of treating your acne. You do not have to go that far. The treatment is right in your home. These three tips are a great way to begin treating your acne problem.

1) Hydration

One of the most effective beauty tips of all times to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Water helps flush toxins out of the body - toxins which can cause a sluggish liver and kidneys. By drinking lots of water, you give your cells the opportunity to work more efficiently, thus spending more time eliminating acne-causing sebum.

4 Natural Remedies for Acne

Acne is a skin condition that many people deal with.  Although acne is not a life-threatening condition, it can still cause great distress.  When it comes to seeking relief from acne, there are a large number of over-the-counter products that claim to provide relief. If you are suffering from acne you can give these over-the-counter products a try, but it is also important to know that you do have other options.  These options include natural remedies, which are a safer way to treat acne, as they do not rely on the use of potentially dangerous chemicals.

12 Strategies to Keep Your Mind Healthy and Sharp

Cognitive changes related to aging are actually related more to today’s diet and lifestyle, rather than to the aging process itself, says Joseph Mercola, who reveals twelve strategies to keep your mind healthy and sharp.

... Cognitive changes related to aging are actually related more to today’s diet and lifestyle, rather than to the aging process itself. As you age, the cumulative effects of environmental toxins, exposure to free radicals, poor nutrition, stress and other factors take their toll on your body. What has been called “age-related cognitive decline” is really an accumulation of this damage to your cells. But this cognitive decay is NOT set in stone!

There are three primary factors that play a powerful role in maintaining sharp mental function, even as you age: Read more

Can Coconut Oil Treat Alzheimer's Disease?

Can coconut oil treat Alzheimer's disease? Even if it's not yet proven, it can't hurt to try.

Coconut oil has been brought up a lot as a potential cure for Alzheimer’s disease lately.

In fact, if you do an internet search, you’ll probably find many accounts of people who claim coconut oil has reversed Alzheimer’s in their loved ones. But is there any science behind this? Let’s dig into the facts.

Coconut oil has actually been making a serious comeback in the health food world lately. For years, many health enthusiasts shied away from it for one reason or another. Read more

How To Remove Tartar and Plaque from Teeth AT HOME!

If you hate going to the dentist, this video explains on how to remove tartar and plaque from your teeth at home, without having to go to the dentist! This may not be strictly a "natural" remedy, but it works and keeps you away from the dentist's office.

Increase Your Metabolism in 24 Hours

Edward Group reveals how to increase your metabolism in 24 hours.

Your metabolism is your body’s biochemical activity that regulates the conversion of calories into energy. A slow metabolism is slow to convert calories into energy and can cause the body to store fat. A fast metabolism operates in converse fashion, quickly using energy and not storing it. Your body’s metabolism is controlled by your thyroid gland and a sluggish thyroid can cause metabolic deficiencies, leading to an increase in fat stores. In fact, an inefficient metabolism is a very common causes of weight gain. There’s good news, however, as it’s often possible to naturally and efficiently increase your body’s metabolic rate. Read more

Forget Tamiflu

If you fet the flu, don't get Tamiflu. Follow my Mom's advice, says David Brownstein, MD.

My last blog post dealt with the nonsense of mandating flu vaccinations for medical personnel. I showed you that the flu vaccine is not effective at preventing the flu nor does it minimize complications from the flu. The Cochrane group is an independent medical research group designed to help physicians put evidence into practice. The latest article by the Cochrane group is titled, “Are Neuraminidase inhibiters effective for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children?” (1) This article analyzes whether it is wise to use anti-viral medications to treat a patient who already has the flu. Tamiflu is the most commonly prescribed anti-viral medication for treating the symptoms of the flu. 

You would think that Tamiflu must work well as it is widely prescribed by conventional doctors. However, the new Cochrane report stated, “Treating previously healthy patients with Tamiflu reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by approximately 21 hours.”

Folks, I can’t make this stuff up. Read more

DIY Cold and Flu Remedies

Forget the over0the-counter nostrums; these cold and flu remedies have stood the test of time, says Tess Pennington.

With fall setting in, cold and flu season can’t be far behind. As miserable as a cold or flu might be now, with the pharmacy shelves bursting with over the counter remedies, one day relief might not be that close at hand.

Most of our prep kits have a stash of OTC medications but in a long-term disaster situation it will be important to make those last as long as possible. You might be surprised to discover that your kitchen cupboards may hold the key to curing your stuffy nose, scratchy throat, cough and chills.

Turning toward natural remedies now will give you the knowledge and skills you need to keep your family well during the onset of a disaster or extended disaster. Consider learning ways to make homemade lozenges to soothe sore throats, or possessing basic knowledge on which herbs may be used to treat cold/flu symptoms. Further, knowing how to combine these together to make cold/flu syrups will only better your family’s chances at beating the cold/flu season when OTC medicines aren’t as readily available.

Listed below are some other homeopathic ways to care for yourself and your family when you are ill. Read more

The Weight Loss Benefits of Kelp

When diet and exercise just aren't enough, boost your metabolism and lose weight with seaweed, says Edward Group.

 Kelp Supports A Healthy Metabolism

Kelp is a form of seaweed found in shallow ocean waters and forms thick colonies that could almost be described as an “underwater forest.” If you’ve ever gone for a morning run on the beach, you may have seen it washed ashore, often attracting flies. For most people, this scene is enough to discourage the idea of eating seaweed. However, kelp is a natural superfood loaded with trace minerals, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Most notably, kelp is a rich, natural source of iodine which can provide adequate levels to stimulate a sluggish thyroid and encourage a healthy metabolism. Read more

Orgasms and Other Surprising Ways to Lose Weight

If you're trying to lose weight, having more orgasms might help, according to a British study.

While there’s no doubt that the right diet, strength training and cardio routine will help you shed the pounds, there are some other secrets to a smaller waistline that may just surprise and delight you.

Have more orgasms: A 2002 report from a large British population of men said researchers found a 50 percent reduction in overall mortality in the group of men who said they had the most orgasms. Read more

The Top 9 Herbs for Liver Cleansing

Edward Group lists nine powerful liver detoxifiers that have been used successfully for centuries.

Imagine a fish tank with a motorized water filter. If the filter is clogged with toxins from the tank, the entire tank becomes filled with the same contaminants. In our system, the filter is the liver, the tank is the body, and the fish that has to live in it is you.

Thankfully, a number of herbs for liver cleansing do exist. But first, let’s examine the role of the liver in detoxification a bit further.

The liver is the primary organ responsible for expelling and breaking down toxins entering the body. In particular, it produces bile, a detoxifying agent metabolically indispensable in breaking down fats from food. Even many traditional medical doctors are fully aware of just how important the health of your liver plays in the outcome of your overall health. Read more

Top 10 Most Genetically Modified Foods

Avoid these ten health destroyers, says Anthony Gucciardi. Here's how:

5 Herbs to Spice Up Your Sex Life

Tinamarie Bernard says these five herbs will tickle your palate and your parts… or your lover’s parts,

I am a foodie—a self-declared lover of languid meals cooked with intention and loads of flavor. An intuitive eater, I have for the most part chosen real, sometimes raw, mostly colorful cuisine, a testament to my European upbringing and preference for Mediterranean delicacies regardless of food fashion.

One trend that’s been around for eons and is likely to remain here for the long haul is: aphrodisiacs. From Cleopatra to the Mayan Kings, humanity has licked those bananas and gulped those oysters with sexy things on the mind. Is there any truth to the legends about foods that put you in the mood?

Conventional medicine has long scoffed at the idea that certain substances can rev up your engine, and until recently, it seemed that the naysayers were right. Recent anecdotal studies are more promising. A publication from Canadian researchers found that the world’s most expensive spice, saffron, is indeed a likely lust enhancer.

 It isn’t alone. In no particular order, here are five herbs that will tickle your palate and your parts… or your lover’s parts, if you so choose. Read more

Copper: The Inflammation Fighter and Rejuvenator

Copper may be a trace mineral in human nutrition, but Walter Last says it's a potent inflammation fighter and rejuvenator.

Copper is an essential trace mineral. All tissues of the body need it for normal metabolic functions. It is excellent for reducing inflammations, strengthening connective tissue, restoring hair colour and the oxidative energy metabolism as well as fighting parasites and cancer, and it may even improve brain and liver functions.

If you give animals a choice between drinking normal water and water in which a copper pipe has been immersed, they will reportedly prefer the high copper water. This helps to keep them free of parasites. Copper armbands are well known to reduce arthritis. Copper serum levels are elevated up to threefold above normal with inflammations and with many chronic and infectious diseases, apparently because the body mobilizes all tissue stores of copper to fight the condition. During remissions the copper blood levels return to normal. Read more

Sufficient Sleep Essential for Weight Loss

If you're dieting to lose weight, you may be wasting your efforts if you're not getting enough sleep. Sufficient sleep is essential to fuel weight loss, says John Phillip.

We all understand the importance of sleeping seven to nine hours each night to allow for adequate cellular housekeeping, as the body metabolizes and synthesizes enzymes and proteins that are critical to our survival. In the past, a sound sleep has been shown to lower incidence of heart disease, diabetes and dementia in direct relationship to the number of hours slept each evening. Read more

Get Ready for the Cold and Flu Season with These All-Natural Recipes

You can avoid the drugstore with these all-natural cold and flu remedies, says Lisa Bedford.

Before we know it, the season of colds and sniffles and coughs will be upon us. One of my readers shared with me these three recipes, and I wanted to pass them along to you before you’re faced with a sick family and have no choice but to make a mad dash to the drugstore.

These recipes require natural ingredients such as essential oils, coconut oil, and herbs. They’re very simple to make and will provide an all-natural alternative to whatever the drugstore sells, and I’m a big fan of Nyquil! Another reason to make these is just to learn how to make your own salves and oil mixtures – a great skill for any Survival Mom.

By the way, I tried to track down the original source of the first two recipes but couldn’t find them online. If you know of the source, please let me know so I can give proper credit. Read more

Acupuncture Works, One Way or Another

Even though Western scientists can't explain how acupuncture works, a new study found that it does anyway.

Many people with chronic pain swear by acupuncture, but skeptics of the ancient needle-based treatment have long claimed that it's little more than an elaborate placebo.

A new study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine appears to at least somewhat vindicate the acupuncture believers.

After re-analyzing data from 29 high-quality clinical trials dating back to the 1990s, researchers have concluded that the pain relief derived from acupuncture is partly real, in that it can't be ascribed entirely to the placebo effect. Read more

7 Top Natural Remedies

Edward Group reveals the top seven natural remedies for depression.

The experience of emotional and psychological depression has been noted and subjected to various explanations since the dawn of recorded history and quite probably before. The current model, which reduces all depression to a deficiency in serotonin, seems as overly simplistic and inadequate as those before it. This is to say, at least in part, that depression is a complex and age-old illness with a storied history of treatment. There are a number of herbs that have been used successfully to help relieve symptoms of depression, and thoughtful consideration of various root causes of psychological malaise can serve to steer one toward appropriate improvement

Recent studies have reinforced the potential efficacy of a number of traditional herbal aids for depression. Read more

Coconut Oil Destroys the Bacteria That Cause Tooth Decay

Coconut oil destroys the bacteria that cause tooth decay, says Fiona Macrae.

One too many Bounty chocolate bars could leave you in need of a trip to the dreaded dentist.

But scientists have found that coconut could help fight the main bug behind tooth decay. Read more

Hoodia: A Safe, Natural Appetite Suppressant

If you think you need an appetite suppressant when you diet, Edward says hoodia is safe, natural, and effective.

Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant native to South Africa and Asia where it has traditionally been used by indigenous populations, most notably the Khoi-San, as an appetite and thirst suppressant during long hunting expeditions into harsh environments. These appetite suppressing qualities of hoodia gordonii have made for a number of inquiries into its potential as a weight loss aid.

How does Hoodia Work?

Formal research of hoodia goordonii began in the 1960’s but it wasn’t until 1977 when the active ingredient in hoodia responsible for appetite suppression, known as P57, was isolated by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. P57 is an oxypregnane steroidal glycoside and increases the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the body. Read more

Daily Glass of Wine "Is as Good as Drugs for Protecting Women's Thin Bones"

Regular moderate intake of alcohol after the menopause helps to maintain bone strength, according to an international review team.

One or two glasses of wine a day could work as well as drugs at protecting older women from thinning bones.

Regular moderate intake of alcohol after the menopause helps to maintain bone strength, according to an international review team.

In comparison, they say, abstaining from alcohol leads to a higher risk of developing osteoporosis. Read more

Make Your Own Natural Remedies

Tess Pennington reveals how to make your own natural DIY home remedies.

What will you do when tubes of triple antibiotic cream is no longer as close as the pharmacy department of the nearest Wal-Mart?

With a little study and preparation, you’ll make your own, of course. I have a child with numerous allergies and sensitivities, so even now, with the commercial salves readily available, I prefer the peace of mind that comes from making my own topical remedies so that I know every single ingredient contained within.

Salves and balms are very simple and can be made in a few easy steps. They have two basic components – the base and the healing herbs. Read more

Have More Energy, Think Clearly, Sleep Better

You can have more energy, think more clearly, and sleep better by cleansing your body, says Margaret Durst.

Cleansing the body periodically is one of the tenets of natural health. The purpose of cleansing is to assist the body in eliminating harmful toxins which helps the body run more effectively and efficiently which translates to better health. As adults, 80% of our energy goes towards eliminating byproducts of normal metabolism from our bodies. Our bodies are actually very good at eliminating things that we don’t need; however, our modern diets with lots of refined and processed foods tend overwhelm our bodies and clog not just our arteries, but our livers, colons, lymph system and kidneys as well. Read more

Cheese Can Help Prevent Diabetes

Here's another reason to love cheese: just two slices a day can help prevent diabetes, say Pat Hagan and Sophie Borland.

If you are trying to slim down, you may have crossed cheese off the menu.

But scientists have discovered it may actually help prevent diabetes – an illness often triggered by being overweight.

They claim that eating just two slices of cheese a day cuts the risk of type 2 diabetes by 12 per cent. Read more

Fight or Flight: How to Avoid Adrenal Fatigue and Weight Gain

Mark Sisson explains the "fight or flight" syndrome and how to avoid adrenal fatigue and weight-gain.

One of my goals with this weekly column is to make significant human health issues easy to understand and discuss. I was pleased that last week's piece, the Definitive Guide to Insulin, Blood Sugar & Type 2 Diabetes, garnered some rave reviews. The Case Against Cardio piqued some great conversation and interesting criticisms (one soul out there in the webosphere took issue with the fact that I positioned Cardio exclusively from my personal perspective as a runner rather than authoring a more scholarly article. Well wasn't that spot on. It's called my blog.) My opinions can't please everyone, of course, but – based on my experiences and understanding – I am certain that contributing some insights on health in light of our (all together now) genetic blueprint is a worthwhile and timely endeavor.

Now to the topic at hand. Stress can make you gain weight, and it contributes to premature aging. Understanding how stress is related to your overall health and potentially even longevity is essential to achieving your health goals. But do not, repeat, do not go and buy yourself a bottle of Cortislim – just read this quick summary and you'll know all you need to know. Read more

Why Is Insulin Resistance So Dangerous to Non-Diabetics?

Margaret Durst explains why insulin resistance is so dangerous to non-diabetics and tells us how to help control it.

Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels within the body. Diabetes is the most well known condition involving insulin; however, insulin resistance is a more common condition affecting 25 to 30 percent of all Americans. Insulin resistance is a precursor to type II diabetes.

Normally, insulin facilitates the use of blood sugar by the body. When we consume too many foods that convert easily into sugar such as refined carbohydrates, our body has to make lots of insulin to utilize that sugar. Over time, our bodies quit responding to the insulin, we have to make more and more to get our cells to respond, and we end up with excess insulin in our blood.

Excess insulin is very dangerous to our health, particularly our cardiovascular health. Read more

Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading natural health expert and osteopathic physician, talks about natural ways to help improve your vision naturally and why you should avoid eyeglasses, lasik surgery, and other potentially harmful eye treatments.

Woman Stuns Researchers by Overcoming Cancer with Turmeric Spice

Chemotherapy and radiation are not the only ways to treat cancer. One woman tells how she overcame cancer by ignoring her doctors and taking turmeric instead. There is research to back her decision, too, which doctors ignore.

While expensive cancer drugs linked to premature death and mega-tumors are pushed by many mainstream doctors as the only option outside of chemotherapy, a growing number of informed individuals are consistently opting to instead utilize natural methods that are known to conquer cancer cells and effectively negate the disease — without harsh side effects. One such person, Vicky Stewart of Britain, chose such a path when she refused mainstream medical cancer treatments and instead began consuming powerful turmeric spice. Read more

CoQ10: The Energy Antioxidant

Margaret Durst explains why everyone needs CoQ10, especially as we age.

Coenzyme Q10 provides energy for the body’s cell growth and maintenance. It is a valuable antioxidant that is normally produced by all cells in the body, but is much more abundant in the heart, liver and immune system.

As we age, our ability to produce Co Q10 seems to decline. Low levels of Co Q10 have been linked to several chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular disease. Low levels of Co Q10 are also linked to people with severe allergies, auto immune disorders and muscular dystrophy. Read more

Improve Your Digestion Naturally

Digestive problems plague many people, but most people don't need powerful drugs to treat them. You can improve your digestion naturally, says Dr. David Jockers.

Digestive problems are a modern day epidemic in Westernized cultures. Major disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, diarrhea and constipation are all too frequent. The modern day diet and lifestyle is loaded with toxins and deficient in high quality live foods full of enzymes and probiotics. Improve your digestive health naturally with an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle. Read more

Using Oregano Oil for Common Problems

Edward Group reveals eight common health problems that can be helped by oregano oil.

In a past post about oregano oil, I discussed its germ-killing, anti-inflammatory, and pain relieving properties. Now, I’d like to cover how it can be used to address a wide range of problems. Here’s a guide to help you get the most out of this wonderful oil.

Aches and Pains

Whether arthritis, backaches, bursitis, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, sore muscles, and sports injuries, oil of oregano can be used topically to penetrate the skin and help relieve the pain that may be causing your issue. Rub a 50/50 mixture of organic oregano oil and organic olive oil onto the affected areas. Read more

Natural Sunburn and bug Bite Relief from Your Kitchen

Sunburn and bug bites are common ailments during the summer, but you can find natural relief right in your kitchen, says Christy Pooschke .

Summer is an exciting season filled with swimming pools and barbeques. Unfortunately, increased time spent outdoors often results in painful sunburns and itchy bug bites that can ruin the fun in a hurry. There are many commercial products available for relieving the discomfort. However, if you would prefer to know exactly what you are rubbing into your skin, then next time you suffer from one of these summertime fun-wreckers, head to your kitchen for one of these all-natural remedies instead! Read more

How to Use Castor Oil for Hair Loss

Hair loss is a problem that many people face as they age due to hair replacement slowing down. Castor oil has been shown to help reduce hair loss. In this video, learn how to do this procedure and if it's right for you.

Want to Look Younger and Healthier?

Want to look younger and healthier? Dr. Joseph Mercola gives six reasons astaxanthin, the sunscreen in a pill, works so well.

• Sunscreen in a pill?
• Prevention of wrinkles, dry skin, age spots and freckles?
• Reversing the visible signs of aging?

If you think checking "all of the above" seems too good to be true, you're not alone.

But there just happens to be a natural compound that clinical studies are suggesting does ALL of the above – without a hefty price tag or side effects. This is a little miracle your plastic surgeon won't want you to hear about.

It's a relatively unknown carotenoid called astaxanthin, which is now believed to be the most potent antioxidant nature has to offer. Read more

How to Create a Natural First-Aid Kit for Travel

Willow Tohl explains how to create a natural first-aid kit for travel

"Schoooool's out for SUMMER!" It's that time of year when people get itchy feet, anxious to go somewhere and do something fun. If you and yours are headed out for some adventures this summer, pack some peace of mind in the form of a natural first aid kit.

There are lots of great, inexpensive herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies to pack along with your bandages and hand sanitizer that will help insure common problems don't put a damper on your trip. Read more

7 Ways to Avoid Bad Breath Naturally

Want to be kissing sweet? Mark Sisson reveals seven easy ways to avoid bad breath naturally.

When I first tell people I’m on a Primal Blueprint diet emulating our ancient ancestors, the witty ones are usually quick with a clever comment or two, usually referencing the Flintstones, heavy brow ridges, monosyllabic grunts, or some combination of the three. A hearty laugh is shared (mine being exceedingly polite), and they’ll go on to ask if I’ve experienced increased hair growth, whether or not I met my wife by clubbing her over the head, and if I’ve got caveman breath (always accompanied by a theatrical, exaggerated step backward). What would I do without such comedians?

I gotta admit, though, they might have a point about the caveman breath. Although I don’t have a problem with it personally (unless my wife has kept quiet all these years), bad breath is a common complaint I hear about low-carb dieters. Strangely enough, I rarely hear it from actual low-carbers, but rather from overly critical skeptics. Still, bad breath does happen to everyone, and I for one would be wary of engaging Grok in a close heart to heart talk over some fermented mammoth milk. Even on our own comment boards, reader madMUHHH complained about having constant bad breath. Of course, he was also eating loads of garlic and onions, which are notorious causes of bad breath (regardless of the overall diet), but it does go to show that just because we’re eating healthy Primal foods, it doesn’t mean we’re immune to the ravages of bad breath.

But are we Blueprinters especially susceptible to bad breath? First, let’s examine the most common causes. Read more

What's Living in Your Body?

Edward Group discusses nine harmful parasites that can live in our bodies and how to get rid of them.

The human body is its own ecosystem, millions of bacteria and organisms call it home. Usually the body exists in symbiosis with these organisms, some of them provide benefit. Other organisms, parasites, provide no benefit and are usually harmful. Parasites are similar to fleas or ticks on a dog, but inside your body. They live in and attach to our intestines, they absorb nutrients, lay eggs, and excrete toxic waste (formalin, isopropal alcohol and formaldehyde) inside us.

The risk of infection is widespread. It is estimated that more than 90% of all Americans are infected with some type of harmful organism. Infection can come from “benign” activities like eating at a restaurant, owning a pet, or having a child in school or daycare. Food handlers can spread parasites through unsafe or unclean practices. Pets can pick up parasites from insect bites and introduce them into the home. The undeveloped hand washing skills and curiosity of children usually leads to lots of indirect contact with every type of infectious agent. Soldiers, travelers and workers returning from overseas often bring internal parasites with them as a result of eating or drinking contaminated food in other countries. Plumbers, sanitation engineers, and outdoor workers are also more likely to come into contact with harmful organisms. Read more

Two All-Natural Supplements for Depression

Antidepressant drugs are dangerous and often do not work. However, depression is a real illness. What is the alternative to pharmaceutical drugs? Two all-natural supplements can work wonders for depression, says John McKiernan.

When most people believe they are experiencing symptoms of depression the first thing they do is run to the doctors office, hoping to be prescribed a pharmaceutical that will magically cure all of their symptoms and make them happy again. Similarly, many doctors are quick to write prescriptions for anti-depressants while neglecting to find the actual root cause of the depression symptoms.

The fact is that many people do not respond well to prescribed antidepressants and many others do not respond at all. Read more

Sugar Can Make You Dumb, Study Shows

According to a new study, eating too much sugar can make you dumb.

Eating too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower, according to US scientists who published a study Tuesday showing how a steady diet of high-fructose corn syrup sapped lab rats' memories.

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) fed two groups of rats a solution containing high-fructose corn syrup—a common ingredient in processed foods—as drinking water for six weeks. Read more

Top 10 Reasons to Eat Chocolate

If you eat dark, high-cacao types of chocolate, you can expect ten  benefits in addition to the delicious taste.

Chocolate is a food item with lots of sugar. It can cause high cholesterol levels as well as obesity. Chocolates are, however, not people’s foes, as many think they are. There are benefits of eating chocolate. However, one must realize that they must eat the chocolate in smaller portions without overdoing it. Read more

Essiac: A Formula to Fight Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases

Essiac Tea is a long proven method of curing cancer and other chronic disease conditions. It dates back to the 1920s and before.

Since the 1970's when the war on cancer formally began cancer rates have steadily increased. In the past decade modern medicine has heralded the increase in survival rates owing to breakthrough scientific research instead of admitting it was a change in the definition of "survivor" that accounted for a vast majority of the survival rate increases. Part of the reason for this subterfuge regarding survival rates and definitions is to cow the public into believing that western medicine has a better answer today in regards to cancer treatment.

In addition, modern medicine has not addressed why it has not stemmed the epidemic rates of cancer that continue to increase. Heredity is often to blame and environmental toxins are rarely a part of any public discourse in a meaningful way. The World Health Organization has already established that some 90 percent of all cancers are based on environmental toxins. So our medical response today is to fight toxin-related cancers with more toxins? Read more

Health Benefits of Marshmallow Root Herbal Tea

America's Pharmacist Suzy Cohen RPh discusses the health benefits of herbal tea made from marshmallow root. This may help you with reflux, GERD, heartburn, canker sores, stomach problems, bladder pain, and UTIs.

The Amazing Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

What are the health benefits of cayenne pepper? The health benefits of cayenne are almost unbelievable, but its reputation keeps growing among medical researchers as well as alternative health practitioners..

When the famous master herbalist Dr. John Christopher was bothered by stomach ulcer problems as a student, one of his herbal instructors recommended young John drink a solution of cayenne pepper powder in water daily.

At first, Dr. Christopher thought this was a contradiction. How could something so hot help his ulcers? But he bravely took the advice and to his surprise, it did cure his ulcers. Following that experience, Dr. Christopher become a zealous advocate of cayenne for both heart issues and for boosting the efficacy of some of his other herbal formulas. Read more

Cinnamon: The Blood Sugar Stabilizer

Though cinnamon is a popular culinary herb, it also had remarkable medicinal qualities. It is particularly helpful for preventing and treating diabetes.

Cinnamon is one of the most anti-oxidant rich herbs on the planet. It has been revered by nearly every culture for centuries for its sweet taste and pleasant aroma. Cinnamon has been shown to have remarkable medicinal qualities that enhance blood sugar signaling, reduce inflammation, stimulate immunity and promote neurological health.

Cinnamon is naturally attained from the inner bark of a specialized family of trees with the genus name Cinnamomum. It is primarily grown in South East Asia regions with Sri Lanka being the major producer at 80-90 percent of the world's supply.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest and most revered spices in the world. It was mentioned in the Bible several times as a component Moses used in anointing oil and it is in the perfume in the Song of Solomon among other areas. Cinnamon was so highly esteemed that it was considered more precious than gold. Read more

3 Cups of Coffee a Day May Shrink Women's Breasts

Swedish researcher say that drinking three cups of coffee a day may shrink women's breasts. Since they didn't have the bust measurements prior to the women in the study starting to drink coffee, all they actually found was a correlation between coffee drinking and breast size, not proof that drinking coffee shrinks breasts. Even so, it's something to think about.

Drinking just three cups of coffee a day may make women's breasts shrink, a study finds.

Nearly 300 women were surveyed by researchers from Sweden's Lund University about their bust measurements and how many cups of coffee they drank in an average day.

They found that three cups a day was enough to start making breasts shrink, with the effects increasing for every additional cup of coffee consumed. Read more

How to Clean Out the Toxins

Margaret Durst says green superfoods, such as spirulina, chlorella, and blue-green algae can clean out the toxins in your body.

Green Super Foods such as Spirulina, Chlorella, and Blue-Green Algae all contain chlorophyll, protein, vitamin B-12, essential fatty acid GLA, trace minerals and other nutrients in a form that is easily assimilated by the human body. These green foods are one of the four basic supplements that I recommend for health. Read more

Kitchen Cupboard Medicine

Barefoot Yankee Gal reveals how to make natural remedies using your herbs and spices and the contents of your vegetable bin.

Open your kitchen cupboard and what do you see? Salt, pepper, ginger, dill, alum, meat tenderizer, honey, molasses, baking soda; and the list can go on. Viewed as flavor enhancers and condiments these are tasty additions to any meal. But there is a hidden world of medicinal benefit in many of those little tins and shaker-topped jars.

When you reach for the alum to eliminate a canker sore, or swallow a teaspoonful of honey to soothe a sore throat, or make a moist plaster of meat tenderizer to take the sting out of a bee-bite, you are practicing "Kitchen Cupboard Medicine". Kitchen Cupboard Medicine has been practiced for hundreds of years. In his ancient, surviving text, De Medicina, Aulus Cornelius Celsus's (ca 25 BC–ca 50) references a pain relieving pill containing pepper; but only recently, with the assistance of studies and evidence-based medicine, have the benefits been proven and better understood. Read more

Natural Remedies Five-Year Blogiversary!

Natural Remedies is five years old today! The nice thing is, that it has more readers now than ever, so thanks to all of you. I may just keep going for another five years if this keeps up!

A Common Vegetable Cures Skin Cancer

Paul Fassa reveals how to use a common vegetable and vinegar to cure skin cancer.

When it comes to skin cancer, Big Pharma offers only topical chemo creams and surgery. The chemo creams often don't work but often do cause ugly, painful side effects. Removing skin cancer tumors surgically usually results with tumors resurfacing sooner or later. Surgeries often leave ugly scars.

However, there are inexpensive, effective, safe cures for curing skin cancer that are banned by the mainstream medical monopoly, which are not publicized by the mainstream media.

A relatively new remedy, BEC5, is a spin off from an Australian folk remedy for farm animals. It is available to anyone online. It uses the phyotonutrients extracted from eggplants. Clinical trials and anecdotal testimonies confirmed BEC5's efficacy and safety on basal cell and squamous cell cancers. Read more

Is Loose Skin after Weight Loss a Myth?

Is loose skin after weight loss a myth? According to Mark Sisson, most "loose skin" is actually stubborn fat..

... Before getting into potential methods of treating and/or preventing excess skin after weight loss, let's explore the phenomenon itself. What exactly is loose, or excess skin?

Most cases of loose skin are actually just cases of excess subcutaneous body fat covered by skin. And because subcutaneous fat is "soft" fat, it is looser and easier to confuse with skin. It droops and jiggles and the skin that surrounds it conforms to its shape. That's not to suggest that legitimately loose skin isn't a real problem, because it is. But I would wager that many if not most cases of loose skin can be explained by overly stubborn deposits of subcutaneous fat. Read more

6 Alternative Cures That Even Skeptics Admit Work

From acupuncture to biofeedback, Cracked.com reveals six alternative cures that even skeptics have to admit work.

Let's face it: If alternative medicine worked, it wouldn't be called "alternative." It's no shock to find out that remedies involving magic and ghosts don't really make your pain go away. It would be more of a surprise to learn that they do.

Well, surprise! They do! Sort of! Read more

The Magnesium Oil Miracle

Dr. Mark Sircus discusses supplementation with magnesium oil, a natural wonder drug.

Magnesium supplementation is actually crucial for everyone today but we have to pay special attention to the method of supplementation because this is critical in terms of effective body utilization. “Magnesium is poorly absorbed orally. That is why I start off with injections. By injecting magnesium I can guarantee 100% to bring the levels up. I cannot guarantee to do this with oral magnesium,” says Dr. Sarah Myhill. Dr. Garry Gordon could not agree with her more. What Dr. Myhill did not know when she said this was the discovery of a natural form of magnesium chloride that comes from sea water.

Called Magnesium Oil, it is a natural substance that can be applied to the skin or poured into ones’ bath like Epsom salts. Magnesium chloride, applied transdermally is the ideal magnesium delivery system with medical benefits unequalled in the entire world of medicine. Yet one does not need a doctor to prescribe or administer it. One can relax in a medicinal bath, without a doctor’s prescription or simply put it on the skin and have someone massage you for sublime effect. Read more

Natural Alternatives to the Top 10 Most Prescribed Drugs

The top ten most prescribed drugs in the U.S. have science-backed alternative .

Are we an over-medicated nation? Let’s look at the numbers: Americans spent more than $300 billion on prescription drugs last year; nearly half of all adults have taken at least one prescription drug in the last month; nearly a third regularly use two or more; and women are more likely than men to use prescription drugs, according to the CDC.

Drugs can undoubtedly save lives, but our penchant for prescriptions can sometimes mean treating or masking symptoms—without fixing the root cause of the health. Read more

11 Natural Ways to Detox Your Body

Detoxifying your body is more important than ever, says Edward Group.

Cleansing diets, herbs, and fasting programs may seem like a modern health trend but societies have used natural cleansing methods to detoxify the body for hundreds of years. Many religions actually encourage people to fast as a means of cleansing both the body and the mind for spiritual practices. Toxic and polluted food systems, air and water, and environment make cleansing the colon, liver and other organs more important now than ever. The burden of over-pollution may be responsible for deleterious effects on the immune system, a scenario which makes us highly susceptible to chronic degenerative diseases such as some forms of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and more.

This article will break down several of the current methods and foods that assist the body, naturally, achieve a detoxified state. Make sure to always avoid refined foods, sugars, MSG, yeast, dairy products, caffeine and chocolate, soy, peanuts, alcohol and non-whole-grain starches while doing any type of cleanse or fast. Read more

Cancer Cells Slurp Up Fructose, Study Finds

Cancer cells slurp up fructose, a new U.S. study found.

Pancreatic tumor cells use fructose to divide and proliferate, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a study that challenges the common wisdom that all sugars are the same.

Tumor cells fed both glucose and fructose used the two sugars in two different ways, the team at the University of California Los Angeles found. Read more

Change Your DNA with Just 20 Minutes of Regular Exercise

New research shows that just 20 minutes of regular exercise can dramatically change a person's DNA. However, walking or other gentle exercise won't do it. Intensity is the key.

A series of experiments have revealed that just a few minutes of relatively strenuous exercise can dramatically change a person’s DNA.

The changes are not to the code of life itself, but to its ‘punctuation’. These chemicals activate, silence and crank up genes and their actions.

In the case of muscle, exercise appears to crank up the genes needed to burn fat and sugar and support the body. Read more

The Dangers of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

Statins make you sicker, says David Brownstein, MD. Sometimes, much sicker.

The FDA added two new warnings to statin drugs this week. These warnings include an increased risk of diabetes and mental confusion among statin users. The FDA report said that all statin labeling must carry warnings about increased risk of elevated blood sugar and transient memory loss and cognitive problems. Read more

Introduction to Traditional Eating

The government food pyramid is a radical departure from the diets of healthy, indigenous cultures. Weston A. Price Chapter Leader Sarah Pope, the Healthy Home Economist, overviews the importance of traditional eating to health and vitality.

The Myth of the Eight-Hour Sleep

Is eight consecutive hours of sleep a night necessary for good health? It may not only be unnecessary, but it may also be abnormal.

In the early 1990s, psychiatrist Thomas Wehr conducted an experiment in which a group of people were plunged into darkness for 14 hours every day for a month.

It took some time for their sleep to regulate but by the fourth week the subjects had settled into a very distinct sleeping pattern. They slept first for four hours, then woke for one or two hours before falling into a second four-hour sleep.

Though sleep scientists were impressed by the study, among the general public the idea that we must sleep for eight consecutive hours persists.

In 2001, historian Roger Ekirch of Virginia Tech published a seminal paper, drawn from 16 years of research, revealing a wealth of historical evidence that humans used to sleep in two distinct chunks. Read more

Indian Tobacco Helps Smokers Quit and Repair Their Lungs

Lobelia, aka Indian tobacco, can help smokers kick the habit and repair their lungs, says Paul Fassa.

Before the American Indian culture was shattered, the Indians used an unprocessed tobacco in pipes ceremoniously and for healing. Yes, healing lung disorders.

Indian tobacco is known as Lobelia inflate or lobelia, which some herbalists, unafraid of being politically incorrect for using an herb once banned by the FDA, use medicinally today. Not necessarily to smoke, but dispensed as tinctures or tablets.

Lobelia for asthma and other lung/bronchia disorders was a topic of another article from this author. This article will focus on lobelia as the most effective smoking cessation agent without side effects today. Read more

10 Natural Ways to Prevent and Treat Allergies.

Don't suffer this allergy season. Edward Group gives ten natural ways to prevent and treat allergies.

While we should be enjoying the beauty of spring, many people suffer from seasonal allergies. From the birds to the pollen, there are many things that may cause suffering from the classic symptoms of an allergic reaction.

In fact, research shows that approximately 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, as well as hay fever. And, as the sneezing, scratchy throat and watery eyes become increasingly unbearable, many people will reach for pharmaceutical drugs to help lessen these symptoms. While these drugs may provide temporary allergy relief, drugs almost always come with undesired side effects.

Below, are ten natural methods for reducing the symptoms of allergies, as well as preventing them from happening in the first place. Read more

Vitamin D and Cancer: 9 Facts You Need to Know

Vitamin D can not only fight many common illnesses, but can also prevent and reverse cancer, recent research suggests.

If something so powerful is actually available for everyone, why wouldn't someone take advantage of it?

The recent discovery that the body, with the help of vitamin D, possesses the capacity to fight many chronic illnesses has spurred the interest of many researchers - especially on the possibilities the sunshine vitamin can offer with regard to the prevention and reversal of diseases like cancer. A brief rundown of some facts, revealed by recent studies, can give us a perspective on how vitamin D can help.

1. Vitamin D slashes cancer risk by 77 percent.

A study was conducted involving 1, 179 healthy Nebraskan women who were divided into a control group and a placebo group. In the four years the study was conducted, the group who was receiving vitamin D and calcium supplements revealed a 60 percent decrease in cancers as compared to the placebo group. Read more

Dark Chocolate: Its Many Health Benefits

Mark Sisson discusses the many health benefits of delicious, dark, high-cacao chocolate.

Yes, I know, I know. That title isn't exactly comforting. I hate giving you guys bad news, seeing as how you make this website possible, and I hate making unpopular recommendations like "eat more butter" or "get some sun" or "drink a glass of red wine," but I have to stick to the truth here, even if it hurts. And the truth is that you should probably be eating dark chocolate on a semi-regular basis because the stuff is pretty dang good for you. Before you log out, never to return again, give me a minute to explain myself:

You were kids once. Your parents probably forced you to finish your overcooked, mushy, bland veggies or wash your hands and finish your homework – or some other routine unpleasantry – "for your own good," and that's what I'm doing here. Dark chocolate is healthy. It may be awful, terrible, and disgusting, but it contains some really good things that have some remarkable effects on various markers of health. So, yeah, eat your chocolate. Finish your raw cacao powder. Choke down that homemade hot chocolate. Hold your noses if you have to, but get it down and done. Read more

Basil for Common Illnesses

Basil treats common illnesses like colds and fever when the leaves are brewed in a tea or chewed. Take basil for common illnesses with tips from a nutraceutical supervisor in this free video on herbal remedies.

Sulfur in Broccoli May Hold Key to Healing Genetic Diseases

The sulfur in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may hold the key to healing genetic diseases, says Donna Earnest Pravel.

Our mothers were right. Broccoli is good for us, but possibly in ways our mothers never knew. Health practitioners and fitness experts around the world have heralded the benefits of broccoli for decades. Scientists have long demonstrated the antioxidant properties of broccoli. Many people know that broccoli is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, the big free radical scavenger vitamins. However, a brand new clinical study was just released in January 2012 which is getting scientists excited about broccoli - and other cruciferous vegetables - again. Broccoli, and similar vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower may be able to manipulate human genes. The secret ingredient is sulfur. Read more

Positive Thinking Lengthens Life

We should never underestimate the power of positive thinking. A study found that people who feel "well" outlive those in a "poor" state.

Promoting your own wellbeing will help you live longer, say scientists.

A study found that participants who described feeling 'very well' had a lower risk of dying compared to those who reported being in a 'very poor' state.

Researchers took into account other risk factors affecting life expectancy, including tobacco, chronic diseases, and high blood pressure. Read more

Black Raspberries Prevent Colorectal Cancer

A new study has found that black raspberries may help prevent the risk of colorectal cancer. I don't remember ever seeing black raspberries in grocery stores, but maybe farmer's markets have them.

Black raspberries contain natural compounds that may significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from Ohio State University and published in the journal Cancer Prevention.

Researchers genetically engineered mice to develop either intestinal tumors or a type of colon inflammation, colitis, known to increase the risk of colorectal cancer. They then fed all the mice a high-risk diet low in calcium and vitamin D and high in saturated fat for 12 weeks. Some of the mice were fed 10 percent of their daily calories from freeze-dried black raspberry powder. Read more

How to Purge Your Body of Toxic Mercury

Dr. Joseph Mercola explains how to purge your body of toxic mercury and fifteen other benefits of broken-cell wall chlorella.

... How Can You Fight Systemic Pollution?

To address the harmful and unwanted chemicals your body picks up through the food you eat, the air you breathe, and the water you drink, it is wise to develop a proactive plan. One of the most powerful parts of this plan is detoxification of the toxins you may have already built up inside your body.

Your body is naturally able to remove many of the harmful pathogens, chemicals and poisons you may come into contact with in the environment. That's how we are all designed.

But in the 21st century, we're seeing an explosion of accumulated toxin-related diseases like cancer, auto-immune dysfunction, brain disorders like autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, nerve disorders and more common ailments like depression, learning disabilities and fatigue. It can become relatively easy to overwhelm your body's ability to remove many of these toxins. Symptoms of toxic build-up due to chronic metal exposure include: Read more

Silver Can Kill Cancer Better than Chemotherapy

We know it's for more than fighting cancer, but the medical establishment may be learning. Article by Anthony Bond.

Silver can kill some cancers as effectively as chemotherapy and with potentially fewer side effects, new research claims.

Scientists say that old wives tales about the precious metal being a ‘silver bullet’ to beat the Big C could be true.

The metal already has a wide range of medicinal uses and is a common antiseptic, antibiotic and means of purifying water in the third world.

And British researchers now say that silver compounds are as effective at killing certain cancer cells as a leading chemotherapy drug, but with potentially far fewer side-effects. Read more

Massage Mimics the Effect of Pain Killers at Molecular Level

Massages are good for you: a shoulder rub mimics the effect of pain-killers at the molecular level. Massage also promotes the growth of new mitochondria, the energy-generating "power plants" in cells, according to scientists at McMaster University in Canada.
A soothing massage does more than relax aching muscles, scientists have discovered.

It reduces inflammation at the molecular level, mimicking the action of pain killing drugs, research suggests.

Massage also promotes the growth of new mitochondria, the energy-generating 'powerplants' in cells. Read more

Yerba Mate Tea Kills Colon Cancer Cells

The results of a new study suggest that if you have a family history of colon cancer, you may want to start drinking yerba mate tea.

A recent scientific study found that yerba mate tea induces death in human colon cancer cells. Scientists discovered that in vitro cancer cells died when exposed to the bioactive compounds present in one cup of the beverage long valued for its medicinal properties by South American traditional healers. Read more

Vitamins and Herbs for Strong, Healthy Hair

If your hair is not as thick and shiny as you'd like, Danna Norek says that several vitamins and herbs can help you have strong, health hair you desire.

Men and women alike desire thick, healthy and shiny hair. Chances are people who possess all of these traits are supplementing with certain vitamins and herbs, or eat a diet that feeds their hair these nutrients on a daily basis. Hair is not just an extension of our bodies. It has become a symbol of beauty, health and status. In order to get the coveted body, bounce and sheen you desire there are certain nutrients you should be concentrating on putting in your body. Read more

Reverse Gray Hair and the Aging Process with He Shou Wu

Learn how to reverse gray hair and the aging process with the herb He Shoul Wu, aka Fo-Ti Root.

Magnesium Deficiency: Is It Hurting Your Health?

Margaret Durst reveals how an often overlooked, but easily corrected, deficiency could be hurting your health.

Magnesium is a mineral that is often overlooked, particularly in terms of bone health. Conventional thought considers calcium the most important mineral for bone health. However, the United States has one of the highest intakes of dietary calcium and still suffers one of the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world.

Most people at risk for osteoporosis tend to be deficient in magnesium and tend to have diets low in magnesium and/or high in factors that deplete bone mineral stores. Dietary changes that include magnesium rich foods such as dark greens, raw almonds and pinto beans while limiting bone depleting items such as sodas, caffeine and sugar help to restore balance to the body’s mineral stores. Magnesium supplementation that does not include calcium for a short time (30 to 60 days) is also helpful. Read more

What Is Inflammation?

Mark Sisson explains what inflammation is and eleven ways we induce it in our bodies.

Inflammation is one of those words that people use without really thinking about its actual meaning. So today we’re going to take a bit of a break from the blood lipid series to cover inflammation. In later posts, I’ll dig deeper into how the inflammatory response works with stuff like exercise and heart disease, but for now, I’ll just get the basics out there.

Existence is suffering, according to certain schools of thought. I don’t know that I’d go quite that far, but I would emphatically state that anyone who spends a modicum of sentient time in the space time continuum we call existence is gonna experience some unpleasantness. A bump on the knee, a bacterial infection, an acute injury, a persistent illness, a death of a loved one, a broken heart. It’s a big and often angry world that doesn’t necessarily care about you, and something’s gotta give. When that happens and the sanctity of our bodies is interrupted by pain, injury, or illness, our bodies respond with inflammation. Read more

Make Your Own Natural Antibiotics

Learn how to make your own colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic.

3 Natural Ways to Avoid the Winter Blues

Winter, especially if you live in a cold climate, is often a time when people feel "blue" or get depressed. Your choices are not putting up with it or taking drugs - legal or illegal. Natural remedies can help you avoid winter depression.

If you live in the upper reaches of the Northern Hemisphere, winter can often mean a seemingly interminable period of cold weather and short days. For many, the lack of sunshine, combined with life stress factors, can lead to depression.

Often people fail to recognize depression for what it is, treating it as a weakness or personality flaw rather than an illness. A "suck it up and get on with it" attitude often keeps people from labeling themselves as depressed, but this approach is counterproductive; failing to treat the disease only prolongs it.

Some of the signs of depression include: difficulty concentrating; persistent sadness or anxiety; inability to experience ordinary pleasure and enjoyment; irritability; change in appetite; ongoing fatigue and feelings of hopelessness. Learn how to cope with dark days naturally, without recourse to pharmaceutical anti-depressants which can cause serious side-effects ranging from nausea to reduced sex drive. Read more

12 Ways Sugar Consumption Accelerates Aging

It's sad but true: sugar consumption accelerates aging. Find out why.

The largest source of calories for individuals living in industrialized nations comes from sugar. Sugar increases insulin levels which promote fat accumulation and inflammation throughout the body. Sugar consumption and elevated insulin accelerate the aging process and create an environment conducive to degenerative disease.

The chemistry of sugar is based on the number of carbohydrates and includes monosaccharides, disaccharides and oligosaccharides. The most important monosaccharides are glucose, dextrose, and fructose. The primary difference in these deals with the way they are digested and metabolized. Glucose and dextrose are basically the same form of sugar. Many sugars can be identified by their characteristic "ose" ending.

Many of these sugars also combine to form complex sugars such as sucrose. Sucrose, typical table sugar, is a disaccharide (2 sugar forms) that is half glucose and half fructose. Meanwhile, high fructose corn syrup is 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Read more