Wednesday, 28 May 2008

The Science of Detoxification - How Does Detox Work?

According to Dr. Henry Lindlahr, a great nature cure therapist, when morbid matter and toxic wastes accumulate in our human body, various ailments would start to surface. Therefore, in order to heal our body effectively, we need to work towards eliminating such waste matter and poisons.
Detoxification is the science of reinforcing body's own intrinsic power to detoxify itself, as a result of which it bounces back to its natural healthy state. It can help to build up our body's own resilience. We want to minimize the total toxic burden on our physical body by opening the doorways of elimination i.e: bowels, kidneys, lymph, skin, lungs etc. even as the body continues to receive nourishment in the form of food and drink. A holistic detoxification program not only enhances restoration and renewal at the gross physical level, but also at a subtle emotional and spiritual level. This explains the science of detoxification.
A normal, healthy body is supposed to naturally detoxify itself by flushing out all its self-produced toxic waste. When toxins are retained and stored in the body the condition is called toxemia. Besides purging the blood and tissues with toxic residue, detox cleanses and rejuvenates the entire excretory system and clears clogged bowels and blocked lungs, etc. It also flushes out sluggish kidneys and bladder.
No matter what detox program you choose, make it a point to drink at least 2-3 liters of pure water everyday. If possible drink alkaline water, so that those acids and other toxic wastes are quickly neutralized, diluted and flushed away and released from the tissues throughout your body as a result of your detox regimen. An effective detox program also removes impurities from the blood through the liver where toxins are usually processed. Other organs like kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph nodes and skin also participate in the removal of toxins.
Fasting for a short period of time is yet another way for a human body to promote the clearing of toxins. During the fast our organs rest, getting enough time to revive and rejuvenate themselves, which further the process of cleansing. While on a fast, make it a point to include mild exercises like Tai Chi to stimulate your liver in order to eliminate common toxins from your body. This also holds good for elimination through the skin, kidneys and intestines. By including Pranayam (Yoga's deep breathing exercises) you can have improved circulation of blood, which would bring more oxygen to your blood leading to the expulsion of toxins through the bloodstream.
In order to achieve the desirable result of your detox program you must alter your diet by cutting out the intake of all sugar, caffeine, nicotine, etc. The ancient Indian system of India called Ayurveda recommends avoiding deep fried food, spices, chilies, and all other sour acidic food like pickles.
It has been observed that after the period of an active detox program most people tend to relapse and get back to their old faulty lifestyle. As the proverb goes, prevention is better than cure. After reaping the desired results from a good detox program one should radically change one's lifestyle in such a way as to avoid junk food and stop being couch potatoes. Keep doing adequate exercises suitable for your age, weight etc, but avoid too much strain.

Emma Deangela is the author of detox and fasting site at eDetoxify.com. Combining both Asian and Western philosophy, Emma Deangela has helped many people by giving them health consultation to make their lives better and healthier through natural health philosophy. Visit eDetoxify.com to discover the health philosophy that lead many people to a healthy life.

Benefits of Honey

Many people often ask "Why is honey good for you?", "Is this sweetener really more superior than table sugar?". The answer is a clear "Yes!"

1) It is nutritious for you!: A much healthier choice than over-processed, factory-made table sugar table sugar and artificial sweeteners which do not have any vitamins or whatsoever nutrients, this natural liquid from the honey bees contains many vitamins like B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids and minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.

2) It is a healthy food choice!: Honey has a healthy Glycemic Index (GI) , meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better digestion. Eating excessive high-glycemic foods prompts an elevated insulin release in our body as a result of the pancreas being stimulated to metabolize the sudden surge of glucose into the blood.

3) It builds your immunity against sicknesses!: Honey contains natural antioxidant properties that can destroy biologically destructive chemical agents which have been linked to many diseases such as cancer. Not only can honey's antioxidants help to reduce free radicals in the body, they also provide nutrients for the development of new tissue. Because of this, for centuries, honey has been used all over the world in different cultures as a natural cure for many ailments, and traditionally as an effective home remedy, for instance the honey and apple cider vinegar tonic which is used for treating arthritis and bad breath.

4) It energizes you!: This perhaps is the most common reply kids get from their parents when they ask "why is honey good for you?" An excellent natural supply of carbohydrates which provide strength and energy for our bodies, honey is popularly used for its effectiveness in quickly boosting the performance, endurance and relieve muscle fatigue of athletes. Its natural fruit sugars, fructose and glucose plays an important role in preventing fatigue during exercise and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream digested by the body. Also, honey is free of cholesterol and it has been reported that adding small amounts of it in the daily diet could even help keep cholesterol levels in check.

5) It beautifies you!: This anti-aging benefit of honey is probably the best reply to "Why is honey good for you?" There exist a huge number of honey products in the market for hair care, baby care, skin care for sunscreen, hand lotions, facial scrubs and moisturizers. Honey's hygroscopic properties also renders it a great cosmetic ingredient as it keeps skin hydrated and fresh and prevents drying. Its natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties also support the skin's ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple.

Sunday, 25 May 2008

B-12 & the brain

People with low blood levels of vitamin B-12 a decade earlier were more likely to score poorly on a test that's widely used to screen for early signs of dementia.
However, the usual blood test for vitamin B-12 wasn't sensitive enough to detect a link. It appeared only when researchers looked at methylmalonic acid (which goes up when the body has too little B-12) or holotranscobalamin (the active part of B-12).
What to do: People aged 55 or older can lose the ability to absorb the B-12 that's bound naturally to protein, so they should take a multivitamin or eat fortified foods with at least 6 micrograms of vitamin B-12 (that's the Daily Value).
This study isn't proof that lower B-12 levels lead to memory loss, but severe B-12 deficiency can cause irreversible neurological damage that looks like AIzheimer's disease.

Friday, 9 May 2008

FITNESSHEALTHNUTRITION

There are times when even the most fitness and health conscious diner succumbs to the temptations of the buffet and calorific sweet meat But is pigging out occasionally a harmless indulgence or a real health worry? Here are some fitness health nutrition tips to lose weight healthily
Firstly we need to stay clued in. Knowledge is power. In other words, we have to arm ourselves with the facts about fitness, health and nutrition. For instance we need to know what a healthy diet is and ignore the fads. This way we are more likely to build confidence in our abilities and achieve our fitness goals. Long term weight control is about being realistic, and enjoying healthy eating and exercise habits for life and reaping all the benefits.
It is absolutely important to have clear motivation. It will be better to write down the reasons for wanting to achieve fitness by following a nutritious and healthy eating pattern .It definitely helps our feeling of commitment. We have to include reasons that are not just about appearance. For instance, will it help us feel fit enough to do more things that we want to do or will it cure the back pain etc.It can be a useful motivator if the going gets tough.
It helps us to become more aware of our eating habits and problem areas if we write down what we eat and drink. It is a powerful way to kick off planning and bringing changes to the diet and put us in control as it paves way to recognize what is going on and understand more about our self. Keeping a food diary helps to stay on track and see the great progress made.
Another important fitness health nutrition tip is to set realistic goals. Losing five to ten percent of the weight is an ideal target. Losing modest amounts of weight are not just easier to keep off but bring big health benefits. If the goals are realistic they are likely to be achieved and we stick with them and feel successful, which in turn boosts our self confidence.
We need to work out as to how to achieve the goals. Writing the goals and action plans helps enormously. Much of the eating we do when we are not hungry is a habit like response to a variety of triggers. We need to plan ways to avoid these triggers like keeping the binge foods out of the house or joining an evening class instead of watching TV etc.
One of the main fitness health nutrition tips is to be a conscious eater and make choices about what we eat. It will not only help us feel in control and achieve our goals, it will stop us from feeling deprived. If unwanted food cravings do strike, acknowledge them and distract oneself with a chore or a more involving task.
Finally eat regular meals, starting with the breakfast. It helps us to regulate how much we eat by stabilizing blood sugar levels and allowing us to recognize natural feelings of hunger and fullness. They also stop us from worrying about hunger as we know our next meal or snack is not far away.
All of the above fitness health nutrition tips are the latest tricks of the trade which helps one lose weight healthily. So get real and be specific, remember the first few days are always the hardest .But with perseverance, you can outwit your weight.