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Health

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I’ve heard people make the claim that bananas have no place in a weight loss diet, but I disagree. They’re healthy, filling, and absolutely can help you burn fat. Of course, a well balanced diet and exercise is crucial to making weight loss goals, but this drink can help.

Ingredients:
  • 1 organic orange
  • 1 organic banana
  • 1 organic apple
  • 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed organic lemon juice
  • Purified water
Instructions:

Blend all the ingredients in a blender until you get a homogenous mixture. Add as much water as you like. You can keep it thick or make it more of a liquid. Replace one meal with this shake. For the greatest impact, get some kind of physical activity in after you drink it.

Image credit: John Watson, Flickr

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Today, people eat bad food, don’t drink enough water, and don’t sleep enough. That’s a perfect spell for constant fatigue and grogginess. To avoid the afternoon crash, more and more people are taking to energy drinks like Red Bull. But did you know that Red Bull can actually increase your risk of stroke and heart attack? 

An energy after drinking Red Bull, your blood is similar to that of a person suffering cardiovascular disease. They say drinking one of their energy drinks is the same as drinking coffee or soda, and you might have the same energy you get with coffee and soda, but the difference is that no one really knows what all the ingredients in a Red Bull are. We also don’t really know how those ingredients interact with the body.

Of course, one major ingredient is aspartame, which has been shown to be neurotoxic, allergenic, and carcinogenic. Pair that with other ingredients and you have a recipe for a vicious cycle of energy drink consumption that can be deadly.

“No less than 3.5 billion cans of Red Bull were sold last year in 143 countries. Yet, questions regarding the safety of Red Bull, as well as other energy drinks, keep cropping up at regular intervals when yet another overzealous energy-addict keels over,” says Dr. Mercola.

 

Energy drinks have even begun to outsell bottled water.

Who is at the highest risk? If you suffer any of the following, do NOT drink Red Bull:

  • Anxiety
  • High blood pressure
  • High stress
  • Caffeine sensitivity
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Any cardiovascular disease.

It’s not advised to drink Red Bull if you’re pregnant too. Instead, try to improve your energy naturally. Exercise regularly, eat good foods, increase your intake of omega-3 fats and eliminate grains and sugars from your diet.

Image credit: eric molina, Flickr

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Every year that goes by, our poor health becomes a bigger news story. As a result, people are clamoring for ways to improve their health. It’s hard for some people to sit down and eat a healthy, whole diet that provides proper nutrients so they pop multivitamins to make up the difference.

The real danger comes from the quantities in some of these vitamins. For example, if you take more than your daily recommended dose of beta-carotene, your risk of lung cancer goes up by 20%. In a study of 35,000 Americans, it was revealed that too much vitamin E increases your prostate cancer risk by 17%.

Folic acid supplements and others used to combat the risk of heart disease increased the chances of colon cancer as well.

In a National Health and Nutrition study of 12,000 adults, 45% said they believed multivitamins improved their health. 33% thought they would maintain their health. 23% received recommendations from their doctors to take multivitamins.

At the end of the day, if you’re worried about the nutrients you’re consuming, you need to change your diet and get it the old fashioned way. You can find folic acid in green vegetables like broccoli. You can get your vitamin E from kale and almonds. You can get beta-carotene from carrots and mangos.

A healthier diet is the best way to do it. All else is just kind of dangerous.

SOURCES:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/many-vitamins-can-give-you-5556383

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20130204/with-benefits-unproven-why-do-millions-of-americans-take-multivitamins

Image credit: Frédéric Poirot, Flickr

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Diabetes has been called the “silent killer” because it’s hard to identify the signs of it. Diabetes can destroy some of your organs before you even know you have it.

For people with diabetes, high blood glucose is basically a poison. Cells in your body rely on glucose to provide them with energy, but it’s important to have normal levels of glucose in your blood.

Glucose comes from things like fruit and the digestion of carbohydrates. Glucose is then transported through your blood. In order to use it for energy, your body needs insulin.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large organ in your abdomen. People with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin and rely on injections. People with type 2 diabetes may have insulin in the beginning, but their bodies aren’t able to use it.

It’s important to keep an eye out for these early signs of diabetes:

  • Significant increase in thirst and urinating. May be accompanied by dry mouth.
  • Increased hunger.
  • Weakness or fatigue.
  • Unexplained weight loss, particularly if you’re eating more.
  • Frequent infections, scratches take longer to heal.
  • Blurred vision.

Of course, healthy diet and exercise can help prevent diabetes. Even if you have diabetes, it can be managed effectively.

Image credit: Victor, Flickr

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1. Lemon Water clears up blemishes.

Water by itself can help keep your kidneys, liver, and other organs doing their jobs well. The kidneys and liver flush out toxins naturally, and the more effectively they work, the better off your skin will be. Vitamin C also functions as an antioxidant, keeping your skin young and radiant.

2. Lemon water balances your body’s pH.

You may think of citrus as having an acidic nature to it, but it has an alkalizing effect on our bodies. This helps prevent pathogens from surviving.

3. Lemon water boosts the immune system.

By weight, your immune cells are about 70% vitamin C. When you’re sick, vitamin C gets depleted quickly. Even when healthy, it’s important to get adequate amounts of vitamin C.

4. Lemon water helps you lose weight.

Drinking lemon water boosts your metabolism and improves digestion. It can also help curb hunger, which is great for your weight loss goals.

5. Lemon water helps you kick the hangover.

Before it even starts, drink some lemon water. It helps soothe your stomach and hot water in particular can act as an antiseptic to help detox your body.

6. Lemon water freshens your breath.

Which is just delightful. It’s especially effective if you smoke cigarettes. Also, if you smoke cigarettes, quit.

7. Lemon water boosts your brain power!

Lemon water contains potassium. Low levels of potassium is linked to depression, anxiety, forgetfulness and brain fog.

8. Lemon water keeps your lungs healthy.

If asthma, infections, or other lung diseases plague you, lemon water can help alleviate or fix these problems. It’s a helpful remedy for sick lungs.

9. Lemon water keeps your gut healthy.

Water is important for digestion, as it allows your intestines to move your fecal matter along. Lemon eases stomach aches and helps your body break down your food.

10. Lemon water just keeps you healthier overall.

Big picture: it’s important for your good health to remain hydrated. The lemon is the icing on this healthy cake. For all the reasons above, I’d say it’s worth a try. Be sure you’re squeezing juice from fresh organic lemons, not store bought lemon juice from concentrate.

Image credit: Yasser Abusen, Flickr

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Women are uniquely at risk for cancer of the cervix and there are a number of risk factors to take into account when considering the likeliness of cervical cancer. These include whether or not you’ve contracted HPV, if you eat a whole diet, have used birth control, have HIV, smoke cigarettes, or if it’s just in you’re genetics. Here are some things to watch out for.

1. Pain in the legs

This may be a sign of early cervical cancer. Pain and swelling in the legs can be caused by obstructed blood flow.

2. Vaginal discharge 

This is a sign of cervical cancer and about a zillion other potential health problems. See a doctor.

3. Unusual bleeding 

This can sometimes be common, but if its recurring, it may be time to consult a physician, particularly if it’s between menstrual periods.

4. Discomfort when urinating 

This can reveal cervical cancer in several ways. You may experience burning, stinging, or a tight sensation. This is another symptom to see a doctor about either way.

5. Irregular urination 

This is something that can be hard to keep track of, but you’ll know it when you see it. Bladder control is the primary issue here. Not being able to control your bladder is a sign of cervical cancer. Especially if it’s coupled with blood in the urine.

6. Irregular menstrual cycles 

This can be a sign of any number of things too and something worth discussing with your OBGYN. It can also be a sign that you’re at a much higher risk for cancer and will require regular screenings.

7. Sex is uncomfortable 

Sometimes painful when cervical cancer has taken hold. There are several reasons it could be difficult. Something else to chat with your physician about.

8. Pain in the pelvis 

This can be a sign of tumors, though cramping in that area can also just be menstruation.

9. Back pain. 

Same as above.

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Some cities around the world are now so polluted that just breathing the air damages your lungs as badly as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. The fight for better urban air quality goes on, but in the meantime, try our smog-detox honey drink.

Instructions:

  1. Take a tablespoon of honey and add it to a mug.
  2. Fill said mug with boiling hot water.
  3. Allow your honey tea to cool before consumption.
  4. Take in the morning when you wake and again before bed.

Honey helps us with a number of things.

  • Honey helps normalize your digestive tract damaged from years of exposure to poor air quality. Honey also helps kill parasites.
  • Honey helps strengthen the immune system which is weakened by air pollution.
  • Honey can help kick-start the metabolism, helping you drop pounds too.
  • Honey helps clear up acne and blemishes and makes your skin softer and clearer.

Image credit: Metro Library and Archive, Flickr

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Bottled water is the bane of my existence as it stands. These companies bottle up tap water from drought-riddled communities and sell it to you for a 1900% profit. It’s one big sham. If you don’t like tap water, just filter your tap water. There are some good ones out there. But make no mistake, bottled water isn’t any better.

Even so, we sometimes find ourselves drinking out of plastic and eating off of plastic. Most of our food comes in plastic! What kind of health risks do these various types of plastic pose to us?

Let’s go down the list.

1. PET or PETE.

These bottles are typically single-use bottles. It’s possible that they emit a heavy metal antimony which interferes with hormonal actions in the body. It can also be carcinogenic.

2. HDP or HDPE.

These one is the “good” plastic. It poses the least threat to human health.

3. PVC or 3V

PVC also emits toxic chemicals that can impact hormones in the human body. According to one study:

Because of PVC’s heavy chlorine content, dioxins are released during the manufacturing, burning, or landfilling of PVC. Exposure to dioxins can cause reproductive, developmental, and other health problems, and at least one dioxin is classified as a carcinogen.

4. LDPE

This plastic is often used to make plastic bags and doesn’t pose a significant health risk.

5. PP

This type of plastic also doesn’t pose much of a health risk. This is the plastic commonly used to package yogurt and syrup.

6. PS

PS emits a carcinogen known as Stiren. This type of plastic is commonly used for food packaging and coffee cups.

7. PC or no label

This is the worst one for food products because it contains BPA, an endocrine disruptor. Often used as sports bottles and food containers

So when looking for the least toxic plastic, look for HDPE and PP. Avoid packaging labeled PETE, PVC, PS and PC.

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I like to think of myself as fairly level-headed overall, and I know that it sounds incredible that you could theoretically be able to master your health by thinking only a certain way, but there’s some evidence that it could be true.

Dr. Bruce Lipton is a world famous and recognized expert on cellular biology. Over the last few years, he’s been giving talks about the biology of belief. He thinks he’s on to a new truth: that our thoughts and beliefs can play a direct role in our biology, our cells, and the whole world too.

For starters, we have control over our hormones. We do it every day without even knowing it. Stress releases adrenalin, for example. But this can be coped with by breathing deeply. This is one of the more basic examples of how we can control our bodies. It demonstrates how we’re able to control our situation and our hormones. But can it be done with all of them?

Maybe.

Our bodies are comprised of trillions of cells interacting and having an awesome time of it. There are unseen forces that bind our cells together, a sort of energy if you will, and our thoughts often impact our energy force. Have you ever noticed how in a heated argument, your whole being feels enraged? Like every muscle in your body?

There you go.

So how can we kind of trick our thoughts into doing what we want to with your bodies? What are some ways we can “hack” our own brains?

First, consider this: the brain can’t always distinguish between imagined events and actual events. So if you were to imagine yourself getting into a fight, the brain reacts in a similar way as if you were actually getting into a fight. If you imagine yourself doing something awesome, your brain reacts the same way.

Additionally, you can use a repeated mantra or repeatedly write something in order to form a belief that can impact how chemicals and hormones are released into the body. Imagine saying 100 times a day, “Every day I go to the gym, I am so happy.” Wouldn’t you think it’d be true eventually?

Interesting stuff, huh?

Some studies you can check out regarding this:

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There’s a reason we call the standard American diet SAD. It is just kind of SAD. Our diets are very monotonous and often filled with bad, processed foods. Even if an alkaline diet isn’t what you’re after necessarily, these foods are good to add just for good health. If you are looking for a diet full of alkalizing effects, these five foods are a must:

  1. Buckwheat is an excellent replacement for wheat.  It boosts energy and helps prevent cardiovascular disease, particularly in women. It’s excellent to add to any meal.
  2. Swiss chard has anti viral and anti bacterial properties, as well as a neutralizer of free radicals that cause cancer.
  3. Melon are a great source of vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, C, E, K as well as fiber and folic acid. It’s the ultimate energizer.
  4. Flax seed is full of fiber and rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. It contains tons of vitamin E and reduces inflammation as well as hot flashes in menopausal women.
  5. Olive oil is also rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E.

These foods are also useful for alkalizing your body.

  • Avocado
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage, sauerkraut
  • Buckwheat
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Zucchini
  • Oriental mushrooms such as shitake and maitake
  • Mushrooms such as chanterelle and button mushrooms
  • Seaweeds such as nori, kombu, wakame
  • Chives
  • Figs
  • Flax and flax seed oil
  • Cucumber
  • Garlic
  • Grapefruit
  • Soy and soy products
  • Banana
  • Soybean sprouts
  • Alfalfa sprouts
  • Grapes
  • Green beans
  • Honey
  • Kiwi
  • Leeks
  • Lemon and lime
  • Lettuce
  • Mango
  • Millet
  • Olives and olive oil
  • Onion
  • Orange
  • Papaya
  • Parsley
  • Pears
  • Green peas
  • Pineapple
  • Quinoa
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Strawberries
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
  • Wild rice
  • Pumpkin
  • Sesame seeds and tahini (sesame seed paste)

What should you stay away from?

  • Fatty foods
  • Smoking
  • Refined foods
  • Excessive protein
  • Sodas
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