Health is a Choice.

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sarah

Health is a choice. You can choose to be healthy.

You make micro choices every day that impact your health – what to eat, what to put on your body, what you will or will not be exposed to, the air you breathe, the thoughts you think, even the level of stress you deem acceptable. It all adds up to form your total health picture.

It seems these days that it is becoming harder and harder to properly care for yourself. We read more every day how our food sources are tainted in one way or another, how our air is polluted, people are out of work, and the news declares fairly clearly that they believe the country is going to hell in a hand basket. It’s hard not to be stressed out. Your health however, is not only important – it is the most valuable thing you have and needs to be safeguarded.

So what are you supposed to do? First and foremost decide in your mind that you are healthy. Not that you are going to be healthy, do not put it in a future tense, as the future never arrives and we are always in the present. Decide and tell yourself that you feel fantastic! If fantastic seems out of reach at the moment, go for whatever level is believable to you at this time. I feel “pretty good”, “good”, “darn good”, “great”, “and fantastic”! Even if it’s not exactly currently the truth, just brush that aside for now and humor me. Attitude and mental state are one of the biggest contributing factors to our physical health. Your body will mirror back to you what you say you feel.

Second, when you wake up in the morning drink water. Make it a nice big glass. Your body has been fasting while you are sleeping and water is the best way to wake it up and get it primed for the day. Pop Tarts, though delicious, are not. We as humans are mostly water, and staying hydrated is key for optimal health. Drinking water throughout the day is very helpful. We highly recommend spring water or water that has been put through reverse osmosis in order to remove fluoride and other chemicals which are detrimental to your health.

Stretch and move around. If you have time, go for a walk to rev up your metabolism. All movement counts in your day as exercise so take the stairs, don’t park right next to the door, get up and move around during the day. The old adage “if you don’t use it, you lose it” is true – so keep your body mobile and limber! Weight baring exercises are just as, if not more, important than cardio to keep you in strong tiptop condition.

Choose foods that are as close to nature as possible. A great rule of thumb – if you are eating something that comes in a package, read the ingredients. If you cant pronounce it and don’t know what it is, there is a good chance you really don’t want to be consuming it. If you have time look it up and do some research, but you can never go wrong with organic vegetables, fruits and nuts. Make sure to wash all of your fruits and veggies well. Even if they are not sprayed with pesticides, many many hands have touched them by the time they arrive at your plate. Meats are best if grass fed, free range and antibiotic free. You are what you eat… but more than that, you are what your food eats too! And some of the things fed too much of the cattle and chickens these days is disgusting. Not to mention the inhumane treatment they receive as our food source. Additionally, steering clear of food dyes, high fructose corn syrup (and newly named corn sugar – it’s the same thing), artificial sweeteners and preservatives as much as possible is highly recommended. They are far worse for you than you may think.

Even when we choose purposefully to eat well, it is difficult to get all the nutrients in our diets that we need on a daily basis. Many trace minerals have been depleted from our soil and are now at very low levels, or no longer present which means vegetables being grown from that soil no longer contain those nutrients. Processing of foods also breaks down vitamins and minerals so it is important to supplement. Everyone’s bodies are different. There is no one correct set of supplements that fits everyone. A good multi-vitamin along with Vitamin D (5,000IU a day), and Vitamin B12 (1,000mcg a day) and a good antioxidant (such as Vitamin C, Acai, Pomegranate, Bilberry, or Hawthorne) are a great base. From there you can add in herbs, supplements and other vitamins based on your individual health needs.

Keep stress levels as low as possible. This is a very difficult one in this day and age but it’s vital to your well being, emotional and physical. Life is meant to be enjoyed. If you aren’t enjoying what you are doing, take steps to stop doing it and move to something else that you do find joy in. This goes for jobs, relationships, friends, living situations – all of it.

Take time to breathe. Oxygen is vital to our bodies and most of us do not breathe deeply enough or correctly. Upon inhale, your shoulders should stay fairly still, breathe in and let your belly expand, then your chest. Hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat till you feel slightly lighter / calmer.

Posture is important as well. Scientific studies have shown that when you are standing or sitting up tall, especially with a smile on your face, it is more difficult to be in a bad mood. Plus it helps you maintain proper muscle strength as you age so that you don’t start to become hunched over permanently!

Internal cleansing as well as fasting can also give your body a big boost – The recommended order is to do a colon cleanse first (reason being if you start elsewhere and your colon is clogged whatever else you clear out may just get stuck in the colon causing more problems. When you do a cleanse of any kind, toxins are released and they need a clear exit route!). Then you can move on to cellular level cleanses, kidney and gallbladder cleanses and Candida cleanses (in no particular order). Cleansing is like changing the oil in your car, if its all gunked up the motor will not run at top performance or eventually, at all… our bodies need times of rest and recuperation.

Dynamic health begins to emerge one decision at a time, one day at a time. Do the right things long enough, and you will get the results you are looking for.

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Fasting For Health & Healing!

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Sarah

Fasting to improve health is in no way a new fad and it certainly hasn’t made its way through the ages because it is making some diet guru wealthy. In fact, this is likely the least expensive and most effective health treatment there is.

Fasts have been done throughout the centuries for many reasons, some religious, some spiritual, as forms of protest, and for health. We are going to focus solely on the health benefits.

Fasts can be done strictly on water or as a juice fast. For juice fasts it’s recommended to do your own juicing to get the maximum amount of nutritional benefit. Water fasting detoxifies and heals more quickly as your body relies solely on stored fat for fuel, which is where toxins are stored. Burning off the fat releases the toxins and allows you to eliminate them through various bodily systems.

When you halt the intake of food it gives your body a chance to rest from the constant digestion process. During this time the body can spend its energy on self-healing and repairing any damaged organs. It allows your body to cleanse on a cellular level from toxins and waste products. Animals intuitively stop eating when they are sick. Somehow we as humans, through accepted social norms, have pretty much rid ourselves of thinking this was something we should do as well making fasting seem somewhat counter intuitive these days. *If the person has taken in a large amount of recreational or prescription drugs the release of them into the system may be too harsh with water. Juice and possibly a raw diet are recommended instead to avoid damage to the liver.

How do you know if you need to do a fast? So long as you are not taking medication that has to be taken with food, are currently pregnant or nursing, or have a special medical condition, a fast should not be harmful to you in any way and beneficial in many.

Fasts can be used when you are feeling sluggish, tired, have cold after cold and just cannot seem to get back to health or are experiencing aches, pains or emotional ups and downs. They are also used by many who choose to fast simply based on a knowing that the body needs down time to regenerate properly.

While fasting and after fasting is completed you may experience:

Improved energy levels
Brighter more glowing skin
Healthier teeth and gums
Deeper more restful sleep
A clean and healthy cardiovascular system
A decrease in anxiety and tension
Dramatic reduction or complete elimination of aches and pains in muscles and joints
Decrease or elimination of headaches
Stabilization of blood pressure
Stronger and more efficient digestion
Stabilization of bowel movements
Weight loss
Elimination of stored toxins
Improvement with a wide variety of chronic degenerative health conditions, including autoimmune disorders

Some of the conditions that respond best to fasting include, but are not limited to: acne, eczema, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, Chron’s disease, high blood pressure, asthma, allergies, headaches, benign tumors, uterine fibroids and even lupus.

Supplements and vitamins are not recommended during a fast. Once the fast is over resume your normal intake, they will be more readily absorbable at this point.

People sometimes avoid fasting because they worry it will lower their metabolism. This simply is not the case. Metabolic rates change – speeding up and slowing down based on our physiological needs at that time. When a fast is broken and the person returns to eating normally and participating in regular activities the metabolic rate will increase as well.

The length of time for which you fast is a personal choice. Fasts can last from 24 hours, to in extreme cases 21 to 40 days. Intermittent fasting is used often for weight loss with a regiment of 24 hour fasts 1-2 times a week eating normally the rest of the time. For illness longer fasts are generally done allowing your body the time it needs to get back to health.

It is important to remember that your body is always working to heal itself. But think of your body as a computer. You only have so much RAM, if you have multiple programs running at the same time the performance suffers. Close all but one program and it runs faster and more efficiently. Your body works in much the same way in regard to digestion and healing and fasting.

It is also important to be patient and kind to yourself during a fast. When toxins are released you may feel badly. Just go with the experience, know it is a temporary state, and let it go. You will soon be feeling better than ever.

*Lemon can be added to water during a water fast for a refreshing twist! Lemons are great for cleansing!

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Alternative Ideas to prevent and treat Cancer

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Sarah

Sitting there in the cold sterile environment of the medical office, the Dr. opens the door and enters carrying your lab results with a sad look on his face. Then he utters the words no one ever wants to hear “You have cancer”. Everything blanks out after that, as you get lost in your own fearful thoughts.

So what comes next? Chemotherapy – is likely what you are thinking as it has been the standard treatment for years now. But are there other healthier, and even more successful alternatives? And what exactly IS chemotherapy anyway?

First lets answer the question of what is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is based on mustard gas, which was intended for use as a chemical warfare agent. It is a poison. Therapy is defined a process intended to heal or relieve a disorder. This does not qualify as a therapy and is deceptively named. It will not cure you; only kill cells both healthy and cancerous. You are essentially declaring war on your own body.

After only one session of chemotherapy you are no longer eligible to be an organ donor and the odds are that you are likely unable to have children at that point. During chemotherapy you often see a reduction in the size of the tumors yes, but what they don’t say is that all of your tissue shrinks and that shrinkage is only a temporary state.

The next solution that may be offered up is surgery to remove the cancerous cells. Surgery is a major blow to your already weakened state immune system and actually spreads cancer cells. Often when Doctors operate the news comes back that it was a fast spreading cancer, what they don’t say is that it is likely that way due to the surgery itself. In order to have surgery you have to be anesthetized. But what is anesthesia? It is a potent drug that actually kills you to only a point where you can be brought back. This is why they do tests the next day and talk to you to make sure that your brain is still functioning.

The medical community highly recommends mammograms, prostate exams, and colonoscopies all for early detection. They say if they catch cancer early enough, they have a better chance of curing it. It sounds good. But is it true? Lets look at the facts. Each mammogram you have, because of the radiation it actually raises your cancer risk by 2%. As does every Cat scan, x-ray, and MRI.

The way that the cancer cure rate is measured goes by the standard of 5 years. If you are still alive 5 years after your initial diagnosis, they count you statistically as cured. It does not matter if your cancer is in remission or you are on your deathbed. Medically, you are a success. Even with this horribly inaccurate measure, the cure rate is still only 4% for those who go the medical route of surgery or chemotherapy. Early detection helps only one party, and it’s not the patient. It prolongs the amount of treatment that can be charged for helping the bank accounts of the pharmaceutical companies and doctors.

If you do nothing after your diagnosis, the odds that you will regain your health are a much higher 24-27%.

The good news is that cancer is not the death sentence they would have you believe. Every cancer is different, just as all people are different and because of this the root causes are different too. There is no one “best” cure. It is whichever one works for you personally. Cancer is not a disease. It is the culmination of different symptoms.

So what is causing this epidemic? 86% of all illnesses, including cancer, are stress induced or related. Stress, along with outside influences such as electromagnetic frequencies that we are bombarded with in daily life such as TV, cell phones, microwaves and computers, artificial sweeteners, chlorine and fluoride in the water system, and toxins in the food we consume are to blame.

But what is important to realize is that we are in control of these things and we must take 100% responsibility for ourselves and realize that in every case, we caused our illness on some level. Because of this we also hold the power to cure it. Some of you may be shaking your heads right now appalled by the idea that you may have caused your own illness. I do not mean it in an offensive way. Think of it in these terms – If you gained 20 lbs, no one forced you to eat that burger or chocolate cake or extra helping of potatoes at Christmas… you put the food in your mouth and only you can make the decision to choose more wisely from here on out.

Hospitals and the medical profession are the #1 cause of death in the world so seems it would be best to heal yourself through other means. But where do you start?

There are many solutions that have worked for doctors around the world in curing patients. The FDA will not approve any of them. They include, but are not limited to, the following (please feel free to research each of these on your own as this article would be far too long if we wrote all the information on each one):
Vitamin B17
Essiac Tea
Vitamin C injections
Aloe Vera injections
Oleander
Oxygenated blood therapy
As well as Ionized oxygen (colon cancers) blown directly on the tumor

A great place to start is to look into Dr. Leonard Coldwell’s series The Only Answer To Cancer. Dr. Coldwell has a 92.3% cure rate with his cancer patients. http://drleonardcoldwell.com/
Dr. Leonard Coldwell – The Only Answer to Cancer

Suggestions on how to boost your immune system and clear yourself of toxins if you have been diagnosed or would like to do some preventative health boosting-

The body is mainly comprised of water. Cancer cannot exist in an alkali oxygen rich environment. This has been proven through science since the early 30’s. To achieve this state drinking good quality water is highly important. As is the water you shower in – tap water contains fluoride and chlorine essentially turning your nice hot shower into a gas chamber while opening up your pores so you can even more readily absorb it. You can find information on www.ewater.com as well as products to solve these issues. Please note that most commercial water filters do not take out fluoride and many bottled water labels actually add fluoride as well and are not required by law to list it on the label.

Also, using EMF protectors on your cell phone as well as wearing one on a daily basis such as a Qray necklace or those sold at the ewater site will help tremendously.

Going on a good cellular level cleanse is also a good place to start. Something along the lines of http://mybepure.com/

Followed by individual cleanses of the colon, gallbladder/kidneys and liver (in that order). Which we do offer here at http://www.hcbl.com/ as well as alkaline balance http://www.hcbl.com/product/Acid-Alkaline-Balance/

Also following a raw food diet such as that suggested by Victor Kolvinskas in his book Survival in the 21st Century for 3 months or more can have amazing health boosting and restoring benefits allowing the body to heal itself more efficiently.

Taking responsibility for your own health is a large empowering step towards wellness.
For more information please visit the sites listed in the article.

http://www.cancertutor.com/Cancer/Laetrile.html

http://www.hcbl.com/product/Essiac/

http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001623/35/

http://cancer.ucsd.edu/treatments/cam/therapies/Pages/aloe-vera.aspx

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/oleander-leaf

http://www.balancedforhealth.com/causeofcancer.htm

Posted in additives, anxiety, cancer, depression, Disease, Emergency Care, Emotional Well Being, FDA, Fluoride, food, gastrointestinal, Health, Health Center for Better Living Products, Herbs, higher learning, Home Remedies, Mental Health, radiation, resolutions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Importance of Nutrition in Fighting Chronic Disease

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Sarah

GUEST WRITER: Melanie Bowen

Many people suffer from unfortunate chronic diseases and illnesses. These diseases vary in severity and effect. Heart murmurs, diabetes, cancer, mesothelioma and other chronic conditions can rob a person of the joy of life and even trim years off their lives if left untreated. One way that a person with these conditions can take their life into their own hands, altering such a drastic prognosis, is to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Good nutrition can help alleviate many of the symptoms of disease working in conjunction with medical and alternative treatments to help you regain health.

Proper nutrition will help eliminate excess fat from the body. A diet low in fat and high in fiber and lean meats will cause fat to melt off the body. This is important as fat and obesity often contribute directly to chronic diseases. Heart problems are often caused by the heart straining to pump blood through an obese body. Although conditions like eliminating fat cannot cure heart disease, they can definitely help add a bit less strain to an already struggling heart. 

In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that unhealthy diet and low physical activity can contribute to and aggravate Type II diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and cancer. In 2007, they found that less than half of American adults in engaged in enough physical exercise to receive health benefits from exercise. 

That is really the major benefit of a healthier diet on chronic disease, that it assists in ceasing to aggravate these conditions further. Which in turn lessons the strain of these conditions on your physical and mental health. Improved mental health can contribute directly to an increased chance at relieving many of these conditions and clearing up symptoms. 


Eating well also promotes a better metabolism. Stronger metabolism causes your body to digest its food more completely. More completely digested food will provide the body more energy and ability to focus. It will also help distribute more vitamins and nutrients throughout the body. These vitamins and minerals will help the body fight off many of the ailments associated with chronic diseases. 

People with more energy are also more likely to exercise. The importance of exercise on treating chronic diseases has been tested and proven in numerous studies showing a decrease of overall illness. Although nutrition and exercise don’t have to go hand in hand, a person who eats healthy will be more likely to have the energy, focus and desire to get up and move. 



It’s never too late to take control of your life back from chronic disease. Good health is a choice. Eating proper, well-balanced meals filled with vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and lean meats is one simple way to help get your body functioning the way it is intended.

Nutrition and exercise, while not a cure, are able to assist your body in healing and repair of itself. Talk to your doctor before beginning any changes in your diet and workout program. 


“Melanie Bowen is an awareness advocate for natural health and holistic therapies for cancer patients. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of different nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those with illness in her efforts to increase attentiveness and responsiveness on like topics”
Yours in Health,

Melanie

Follow the MCA on twitter: @CancerAlliance
http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/melanie/

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Stress and Your Immune System

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sarah

Stress can have a profound effect on your immune system and is a major contributing factor in its break down. Everyone has stress. It’s unavoidable. How you deal with your stress could have a good deal to do with how healthy you are over all and how often you get colds and flu’s.

In our daily lives we have both good and bad stresses. Good stress motivates us to get things done. Bad stress makes us feel isolated, tense and sometimes like we are crawling out of our skin. Like we, no matter how good the intent, just don’t have enough time, intelligence, drive or whatever is called for to get everything we feel that we have to accomplish done. In the end it makes us feel inadequate and often depressed. This leads to even more physical stress and strain on the body causing a further emotional and physical break down.

In a world where everyone is striving to get ahead and keep up with the Joneses, is it any wonder why so many of us turn to prescription pills looking for a quick answer? After all, all you need to do is watch the television and you are bombarded with drug manufacturer ads filled with smiling people who seem to have the world at their feet now that they have discovered the new magical (fill in the blank) drug.

In the past four years alone the number of prescriptions written for antidepressants has risen 43%. All of these drugs, self admittedly by the pharmaceutical companies, have side effects that range from mild to possibly life threatening with some even permanent. The FDA has become notorious for approving a drug only to see it within a very short amount of time on commercials for Law Firms with head lines like “If you have taken this drug and suffered injury or death, please call us and join the class action suit” (like you can call them if you happen to be in the unlucky few that have suffered death). With drugs being pulled off the market as fast as they are approved is it any wonder people are looking for a more natural form of healthcare?

*Dr. Ronald Dworkin tells the story of a woman who didn’t like the way her husband was handling the family finances. She wanted to start keeping the books herself but didn’t want to insult her husband. The doctor suggested she try an antidepressant to make herself feel better. She got the antidepressant, and she did feel better, said Dr. Dworkin, a Maryland anesthesiologist and senior fellow at Washington’s Hudson Institute, who told the story in his book “Artificial Unhappiness: The Dark Side of the New Happy Class.” But in the meantime, Dworkin says, the woman’s husband led the family into financial ruin. “Doctors are now medicating unhappiness,” said Dworkin. “Too many people take drugs when they really need to be making changes in their lives.”

There have been numerous studies done on this connection even giving it a scientific term “psychoneuroimmunology”. In laymen’s terms psychoneuroimunology means the study of the mind body connection giving credence to the idea that thoughts are indeed things (vibrational frequencies), which can translate into physical symptoms based on emotionally stressful conditions.

It has been shown that repressed immune response due to depression can actually intensify the growth and even begin the onset of cancer cells in lab animals and human patients.

So, now that we know and understand this, what do we do? The stress has not magically disappeared due to knowledge and understanding. But it is a great place to start!

Sometimes the human body does need some outside support. For these times a more holistic approach is suggested. There are many herbs and supplements, grown naturally, that have a mood elevating effect and help to support the immune system – St. John’s Wort, CoQ10, 5HTP, DHEA, Inositol, Antioxidants and so on.

It has been said that the definition of insanity is to do the same things over and over expecting a different result. We fully agree. If you want things in your life to change, you have to change things in your life! In an up coming blog we will discuss stress reduction and some simple things you can do to simplify and make your life more enjoyable.

Visit http://www.hcbl.com/ to learn more today!

Article Refrences:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470204504015979

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016756999090069L

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/apr/07/dramatic-rise-antidpressant-prescriptions-money-worries

*http://articles.cnn.com/2007-07-09/health/antidepressants_1_antidepressants-high-blood-pressure-drugs-psychotropic-drugs?_s=PM:HEALTH

Posted in Disease, Emotional Well Being, Health Center for Better Living Products, Herbs, higher learning, Home Remedies, Mental Health, Tips of The Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Alzheimer’s

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Sarah

Alzheimer’s Disease….. What?
Haven’t we had this conversation before? You look lovingly at your mother, father, grandmother, aunt, uncle, friend or neighbor – humoring them, not wanting to make them feel bad that once again they are repeating themselves.

Alzheimer’s is a disease as of 2011 effects approximately 1.5 million people per year here in the United States. Some times referred to as Senile Dementia, Alzheimer’s is a disease of the mind that gets progressively worse over time. It may start out as an occasional occurrence but can quickly become more and more frequent. This is a highly frustrating and saddening condition not only for the sufferer but for those loved ones around them as they get to watch as the person they once knew and loved slowly disappear becoming a shell of their former selves.

The number of patients experiencing these symptoms is expected to increase in the coming years. So far medically speaking, there is no known cure or really even a treatment.

How can you tell if someone is just forgetful or actually has Alzheimer’s? The list is long, but well worth educating yourself on. Dementia symptoms include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including: language, memory, perception (real or imagined), emotional behavior, calculation, abstract thinking, or judgment. The very first sign though, yes is usually forgetfulness.

Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal forgetfulness due to aging, and the development of Alzheimers. People with MCI have minor problems with memory that do not interfere with everyday activities. They are often aware of the forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops AD so don’t automatically be alarmed. Symptoms of MCI include:
Forgetting recent events or conversations, difficulty performing more than one task at a time, hard time solving problems, trouble finding the name of familiar objects, misplacing items, getting lost on familiar routes and personality changes.

As Alzheimer’s becomes more advanced, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with your ability to take care of yourself. These can include: forgetting details about current events, events in your own life history, losing awareness of who you are, change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night, difficulty reading or writing, loss of ability to recognize danger, using the wrong word, mispronouncing words, speaking in confusing sentences, hallucinations, starting arguments, striking out, and violent behavior due to fear and frustration, delusions, depression, agitation, difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, and driving.

People with severe Alzheimer’s can no longer: understand language,
recognize family members, perform basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and bathing, even incontinence and swallowing may become problems. At this point the patient will need round the clock care.
How do you deal with Alzheimer’s patients? – It’s not an easy task. They are often mad, frustrated and confused. Mirroring this behavior does not help their stress level or yours. Try your best to remain calm. If you have to repeat yourself, do it. If they make refrence to someone who is no longer with us, rather than shocking them with news of their death, maybe say something to the effect of “I wish Dad was here with us right now too” and move on to another subject. Personally? If it happens to be in the cards for me, what I would wish for was for someone to hand me a pina colada, a pair of snazzy sunglasses and tell me I am on a beach vacation in Tahiti. Just play along and make them as happy as you can. It will go easier on all involved.

Why do we develop Alzheimer’s? Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s. We cook in aluminum pans, wrap food in aluminum foil, and use antiperspirant that contains aluminum. Additional to these chem. trails being sprayed from airplanes contain aluminum that we all get the pleasure of breathing in. Additionally, copper has now also been linked. Older houses have copper piping and your tap water picks up small particles as it passes through. What can we do about this? Heavy metal detox – chelation therapy (it sounds worse than it is) will help your body rid itself of these unwelcome metals. You can detoxify your body from heavy metals with cilantro and algae which can be found in dropper form at most health food stores. And although the link has not been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt I personally choose not to cook in aluminum or wear deodorant containing it.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not known. Risk factors seem to include: family history and genetics, age (though this is not a normal part of ageing – symptoms begin to appear as young as 60), long standing high blood pressure and a history of head trauma.

What can you do if you have Alzheimer’s? There are two schools of thought. One being the medical drug based treatment in which drugs such as Donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and Galantamine (Razadyne, formerly called Reminyl) affect the level of a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. Side effects include indigestion, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and fatigue. Memantine (Namenda) is another type of drug approved for treating AD. Possible side effects include agitation or anxiety.

Or you can do a more natural treatment option and take folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Some also have found that the herb ginkgo biloba prevents or slows the development of dementia. However, high-quality studies have failed to show that this herb lowers the chance of actually developing dementia. DO NOT use ginkgo if you take blood-thinning medications like warfarin (Coumadin) or a class of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Starting to take B12 as early as 30 has been shown to help ward off Alzheimer’s in those who are genetically at risk for this disease.

If you are considering any drugs or supplements, you should talk to your doctor first. Remember that herbs and supplements available over the counter are NOT regulated by the FDA and that we here at HCBL can only offer suggestions.
http://www.hcbl.com/

References:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/18/health.vitamin.b12.alzheimers/index.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001767/

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-alzheimers-ess.html

http://student.biology.arizona.edu/ad/bbb.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8760703/Daily-Vitamin-B-pill-can-help-stave-off-Alzheimers-disease.html

Posted in Disease, Emotional Well Being, Health Center for Better Living Products, Herbs, Tips of The Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Flush Kidney Stones – Naturally!

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Sarah

Kidney stones can be excruciatingly painful. A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals and proteins. One or more stones can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time. They can range in size from tiny grains like sand all the way up to golf ball size, which totally block the passage of urine. These stones can affect both men and women but tend to be more common in men between the ages of 20-30.

How do you know if the pain you are experiencing is being caused by kidney stones? You may not experience any symptoms at all at first or until the stones move down the ureter tubes and into the bladder. With kidney stones pain my come on suddenly and be felt in the belly or side of your back, it may also appear in the groin area or testicles. Other symptoms may include: Abnormal urine color, blood in the urine, chills, fever, nausea and vomiting.

If you make a trip in to your doctor, they will likely run blood tests in order to check levels of calcium, phosphorus, uric acid and electrolyte levels as well as kidney function tests, urinalysis, and even CT scans, MRI and X-Rays. He or she will likely suggest that you drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, antibiotics, diuretics, phosphate solutions, water pills, or even surgery…

There are a few home remedies that can be tried before resorting to surgery.

The first, Coke and Asparagus – How it works: On an empty stomach, drink 6 cans of warm Coke (72 ounces) (*Pepsi doesn’t work) over the course of 2 hours. Quickly steam or boil 8 oz of asparagus, and puree in the blender. Within 5 minutes of drinking the last can of Coke, eat the asparagus puree slowly. The remedy should begin working immediately and the stones should pass in much smaller particles within a few hours. Drink as much distilled water after the asparagus as you can both to flush the stones out, and to keep you hydrated. Why this works: The acidity of Coke, combined with the healthy folic acid rich asparagus, create one powerful substance which breaks down the stones and causes a diuretic effect to get them out of the body.

The second remedy – Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil and Lemon Juice.
Directions: Mix 2oz of olive oil and 2oz. fresh lemon juice. Drink down. 2 hours later drink 2 oz. of apple cider vinegar. Drink as much distilled water as you can. You should see results in 3-5 hours. Why this works: The apple cider vinegar and lemon juice serve to break down the stone, the olive oil acts as a lubricant, allowing the pieces to pass more easily without pain.

And the third method – Common household baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). According to drugs.com the suggested dosage is 325-2000 mg 1-4 times a day to alkalize the urine. This translates to about ¼ teaspoon every 4 hours. Your urine should become cloudy as evidence that they are breaking up and passing. Pain should start to diminish the first day and there after. Make sure to drink as much distilled water as you can to expedite the process.

Whichever method you use to rid yourself of kidney stones, we always believe the natural way should be tried first before surgery. Your body’s natural state is health. Sometimes it just needs a little help to return to it.

Once you have rid yourself of the stones, make sure to drink plenty of water, lemon water will help you to keep new stones from forming. Drink as little soda as possible, as well as caffeinated coffee and tea, and we also recommend that you help your kidney’s get back to health with a little support: http://www.hcbl.com/product/Kidney-Flush/

Posted in Bladder, Home Remedies, Kidney, Tips of The Week, urinary, urology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Handwriting – The lost art form

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Sarah

Isn’t this a health blog? What does handwriting have to do with my health you may be asking yourself? Oddly, there is a link.

In the day and age where conversations and communications have switched mainly from paper to on screen based technology and our children in some schools are no longer even being taught the art of writing in cursive script. Text based conversations and a fast paced world are leading to more and more shortened and abbreviated terms to the point where your average adult cannot even understand readily what kids are talking about. And worse, not only are they typing these acronyms they are starting to speak in chat lingo. We are sliding backwards in our grasp of the English language and also in face-to-face communication ability. Handwriting quality, even for those of us who learned painstakingly how to write in cursive, is going massively down hill as most of our communication is now typed.

People who were born after 1980 seem to have a distinct slightly sloppy style that looks a bit childish; it’s a mix of cursive and penmanship. It was in the early 80’s when the school system became more lax – just as the personal computer began to emerge in the classroom.

Even so far back as the 1920’s educators had theorized that kids learned to read by looking at books which were printed, not written and they should learn to write the same way. Over the decades handwriting classes and the attention given to such have decreased and in some cases disappeared all together.

In 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act was in acted. While well meant, it has backfired badly passing kids through who aren’t ready and are uneducated just because they could fill in the circles and pass the tests. If something isn’t on a test, it is now considered a luxury – handwriting, music, art all of these fall into this category despite the fact that these right brain activation activities are amazingly helpful in the developmental growth of our youth.

So what does this mean for our future and how does this relate to health? What if “the grid” went down, we had no more Internet, and we all had to write by hand? Could we? How many of us have handwriting that can be understood by most? That number is fading and will continue to fade unless something is done.

Health wise physically writing is an important tool. It allows us to express our feelings, emotions and deepest thoughts. Writing is magical. Typing is not. It does not have the same effect vibrationally.

Quick physics lesson – We have been taught in school in science classes that everything is matter. And that matter is made up of the smallest molecules – atoms. Well it has been found in recent years that there is indeed something even smaller than the atom. Vibrational Energy. Everything we see or touch is made of vibrating energy particles. And all things and creatures and thoughts vibrate at a slightly different level. It’s what makes a desk a desk and a pen a pen, though they are made of the same thing, they vibrate at a different frequency and because of this are seen as different items. Along this same theory, the act of writing itself, the written word on paper – each word has an associated vibration. Each stroke means something. Because of this writing is special and certainly we all know that the written world can be very powerful. Look at all of the great speeches and books though the centuries. We have fought to preserve them for future generations. On a more personal level, Writing Therapy has been around since the 1970’s. Most people are not aware of the therapeutic results writing or “journaling” can have. Writing Therapy has been proven to relieve: abuse, disease, asthma, depression, arthritis, disorders and even trauma. It has also been proven to bring a positive change with heart rate, the immune system function, blood pressure, stress relief, infection and disease. It allows the author to gain control of their feelings and their life.

So where are we headed in a world without cursive writing? It stands to reason that with our lack of use and practice of the written form, that writing all together may go the way of the Dodo bird with typing and texting taking over as the only forms of utilized communication.

What can you do? We all need to use computers for work. They make our lives faster and easier. But try hand writing occasionally whether its for something as simple as a to do list or writing someone a letter. The more you write, the better your writing looks stylistically. If you have kids, take the time to teach them cursive and encourage them to practice regardless of what their school has in the curriculum.

The school of thought has long been held standard that “Eloquence of speech equals eloquence of mind”. Those who can express themselves easily and with style are held up in society as more intelligent regardless of actual intellect. So give yourself and your children a hand up. Writing needs to make a come back for an array of reasons. And it can only happen one person and one family at a time.

Health Centers for Better Living Links:

http://www.hcbl.com/category/Mental-Vitality/

Article References:

http://discovermagazine.com/2005/aug/cover

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02107-110.pdf

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1912419,00.html

http://gilliansblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/cursive-handwriting-a-lost-art/

http://inspirationmanifestation.com/1542/turning-a-wrong-into-a-write/

Global Information Network Level Training www.globalinformationnetwork.com

Posted in Emotional Well Being, higher learning, Mental Health, Tips of The Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Goodbye to Outdoor Allergies!

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Sarah

Environmental Allergies can wreak havoc on your health. You may be just fine one moment, and the next look like you are crying with uncontrollable watering eyes, headache, and pain in one side or area of the head, unbearable sinus pressure, and puffy redness around the eyes among other symptoms. You will do just about anything you can think up to get relief. After all, you can’t function like this – especially on a daily and ongoing basis. Allergies, when severe can inhibit your ability to function, ruin your mood, and just generally make you miserable.

How do I know this? Personal experience unfortunately. I have been dealing with horrid allergies for close to two years now. Having spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars with acupuncture therapy, it has worked wonders in dealing with my food allergies but the outdoor allergies, especially in a state like Florida where something is always in bloom, have up until very recently eluded an answer.

I knew that taking Advil Cold and Sinus wasn’t the cure, at least not on a permanent basis. But I had tried all natural solutions including eating local honey, ginger, cayenne, really any concoction I came across, I would try it. None of these helped much, and certainly not for long. I would be right back in the pharmacy handing over my license and signing my name for more Pseudoephedrine (Advil Cold n Sinus). This drug is also sold as many other brand names like Sudafed or Contac (see reference link included at the bottom of the article).

Pseudophedrine is used to relieve nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies and hay fever. It works incredibly well. One tablet and for 12 hours you totally forget there is anything wrong cold, flu or allergies! At first it seemed like a miracle. I had found relief! But, at what cost in the long run? I came across the side effects list (see again references at the bottom of the page) and decided it was not worth it and there had to be another way. This list was incredible… everything from mood changes to heart attack, to giant hives (and yes, it actually reads “GIANT hives”), to hemorrhage of blood under the skin to stroke! And I had been taking this medication on and off for nearly 2 years now. Long-term use can cause rhinitis medicametosa (rebound nasal congestion), anxiety, palpitations, nervousness, weakness, fever, chills, hallucinations, seizures, drowsiness and bruising easily.

Having recently started here at Health Center for Better Living, and being a true believer in the value and power of vitamins I decided to try their Allergy First Aid Caplets. They are made from a combination of Boswellia, Meadowsweet, Fennel and Eucalyptus Along with a propriety blend of Hyssop Whole Plant, Mullein Leaves, Thyme Whole Plant, Chrysanthemum Flower, Angelica Root, Vitex Fruit, Atractylodes Rhizomes, Field Mint, Immature Tangerine Peel, Moutan Bark, Perila Leaf, and Schizonepeta Stem.

As I personally woke up daily with a headache, I combined that with their Head-X formula. Which combines Fenugreek, feverfew, passionflower, peppermint, rosemary, wood betony, blue violet leaf, marjoram and thyme.

The first two days, I felt horrible. I wasn’t at all sure it was doing anything and my first reaction was to reach into the cabinet and see if I had any Advil at all left. Thankfully I did not. I stepped back for a moment and thought about it. I had been taking pseudophedrine for a long time, though not daily, what if I was going through a withdrawal state? I decided to give the vitamin blends a few more days. I did not feel well the next day either. But it has now been 11 days since I started the Allergy First Aid and the Head X and I have to say, I feel better than I have in a very long time, and with no dangerous drugs possibly causing me future unforeseen health problems.

I highly personally recommend to anyone out there with seasonal outdoor allergies to try this. HCBL has a 100% money back guarantee, so really you are losing nothing by trying it!

PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE:
Visit http://www.hcbl.com/product/Allergy-First-Aid/ and http://www.hcbl.com/product/Head-X/ to order today!

References:
PSEUDOPHEDRINE SIDE EFFECTS LIST:

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-54423-Advil+Cold++Sinus+Oral.aspx?drugid=54423&drugname=Advil+Cold+%26+Sinus+Oral&source=0&pagenumber=6

OTHER NAMES SOLD AS FOR PSEUDOPHEDRINE:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000731/

Posted in allergies, Emotional Well Being, FDA, Health Center for Better Living Products, Stroke | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Apple (Cider Vinegar) A Day Keeps The Doctor Away!

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Sarah

Everyone has heard the old adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” Apples are an amazing fruit and incredibly good for you. Sometimes overlooked with the recent popularity and media coverage of the newly deemed “Super Fruits” such as Acai, Black Currents, Blueberries and Pomegranates, which are known for the high antioxidant levels contained, Apples boast the ability to help with numerous aliments as well as maintain overall health.

Where did this saying come from? The first printed quote was in 1866 in the February issue of “Notes and Queries”. It was stated as “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” It was later translated to the more modern “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Any saying that sticks around for nearly 150 years must have some truth to it. Right?

So what is in apples that makes them so good for us? First of all apples contain Pectin, which is a form of soluble fiber helpful in maintaining proper digestion and cholesterol levels. Apples also contain Boron, which supports brain and bone health. Add to that Quercetin which helps to reduce free radical damage and shows possibility in offering protection against cancer. And everyone’s favorite, Vitamin C which boosts immunity and over all health!

Now add to that that apples also help to clean your teeth and kill bacteria in your mouth, reducing the risk of tooth decay.

Apple cider vinegar, made from pressed fermented apples, also has tremendous health benefits. Taking apple cider vinegar daily promotes weight loss and control, as it helps your body to work more efficiently and burn off excess calories, which can taper your waistline over time. It also helps to improve blood flow and supports the circulatory system while promoting free and easy movement of the joints. The benefits don’t stop there. Apple cider vinegar also promotes a healthy stomach and digestive tract as well as keeping blood sugar in check! Plus its great for your complexion.

When taken on a daily basis either as liquid mixed with water or in capsule form, this old time remedy is touted to assist in healing sinus infections, allergies, acne, high cholesterol, flu, chronic fatigue, Candida, acid reflux, sore throat, contact dermatitis, arthritis and even gout.

Even further this is also wonderful for your pets health. Including dogs, cats and even horses. It can control fleas, ticks, and barn flies while giving their coats a luxurious shine. Put a cap full in their water or fill a spray bottle with 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water, then use it as a mister to keep bugs at bay.

As if that weren’t enough to make you run out and buy a bottle, it is also fantastic for household cleaning, deodorizing and disinfecting! It works miracles on glass and is streak free!

Plus? They are just delicious, so next time you reach for a snack, grab an apple!

Visit http://www.hcbl.com/product/Apple-Cider-Advantage/ to order today!

Reference:

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html

http://www.superfruits.org/benefits/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html

Posted in allergies, Beauty, digestion, Disease, Home Remedies, Metabolism, Pets, stomach issues, teeth, Tips of The Week, Weight Loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments