Thursday, February 28, 2008

5 Foods that Help Fight Disease

Eat these foods and you not only will ward off health problems but you will take a great stab at fighting certain existing health problems.

1. Prunes - do not wrinkle your nose at this one.

Studies show that eating up to 12 prunes per day can actually fight osteoporosis by increasing bone density up to 3% in one year (better than medicines can do). A recent study conducted by Oklahoma State University showed that there were increases in serum markers of bone formation in post menopausal women after eating the prunes for just 3 months.

Prunes also have high amounts of vitamin A and both soluble and insoluble fiber. These also contribute significantly your well being.

2. Not one but 2 apples per day will do the trick (or 75 grams of dried apples). The pectin in these will help increase your good cholesterol levels.

3. Watermelon is loaded with lutein. Two large slices of watermelon daily will help improve your body's circulatory system.

4. Flax oil will reduce the amount of sticky build up leading to arteriosclerosis. Two teaspoons of the seeds daily will also give you another source of fiber.

5. One ounce of soy per day will improve osteoarthritis. I have found that a tasty way to meet this soy requirement is to drink vanilla soy milk by Silk. One cup contains 6.25 grams of soy protein, 30 percent of your daily calcium requirement, 50% of your vitamin B12 requirement, 30% of vitamin D, and 30% of the riboflavin you need. Not bad for only 100 calories.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

You Mindset Really Matters

Here is some good advice from Debbie Rocker who wrote Training for Life and also developed the weighted life vest.


Are you sticking to your fitness plan – or should I ask?
If you are – bravo; if not, let’s do something about it.

You need some glue, something that will make you feel committed, convinced, stuck on the idea that whatever you have chosen to accomplish in 2008 will make you not only look good, but feel better inside as well.

Here are some adhesive suggestions:

1. Write a list of pros and cons. Is the intended result really worth the work or sacrifice?

2. Edit or keep your goal/resolution.

3. Make changes in your methodology. Maybe you gave yourself a goal date that’s unreasonable, or your expectations for what you could actually do to achieve that goal were too high. Amend your plan. Make it so reasonable that it seems like it’ll be a cakewalk – then, doing more is icing on the cake.

4. Enlist a friend to do it with you – optional, but very effective.

5. Just focus on the task at hand for the day at hand. Don’t think about next week, next month, what will happen if work gets busier or the kids get sick, just stay in your plan for today.

Projection is the surest way to sabotage. Stay in the moment, stay in the day, do just what is right in front of you and everything will get done.

Hope 2008 starts to feel great, if it doesn’t already.

Peace and Happy Trails -
Debbie Rocker
2007 walkvest.com . All Rights Reserved.

Also see: http://www.debbierocker.com

Sunday, February 17, 2008

The Health Benefits of Tea

Drinking tea has so many health benefits and is so tasty, it makes you wonder why so many people in the US are consuming so much diet sodas and excessive amounts of coffee.

For dieters, tea has no calories and lots of flavor. If you want more flavor or sweetness, just add a stick of cinnamon (a helpful health wonder itself) or a natural sweetening agent such as stevia (with virtually no calories).

Check out this article by Dr.Maoshing Ni about the wonders of drinking tea:


Tea: The Elixir of Life Posted Thu, Feb 14, 2008, 12:47 pm PST
94% of users found this article helpful.
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Delicious, low-calorie, and brimming with antioxidants, tea is quickly becoming the most commonly consumed beverage worldwide, after water. Even in the U.S., its popularity is rapidly growing. And why not? With the health benefits you stand to gain, you, too, will want to drink up.

Soak Up the Health Benefits
It is no wonder that tea is the beverage most commonly enjoyed by centenarians around the world. Tea is full of powerful antioxidants that improve concentration, gently boost energy, and make people happier. The free radical-inhibiting property of tea is more potent than that of vitamin E, and tea is a proven preventive and treatment for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The polyphenols in tea, especially the catechins, are powerful antioxidants that help ward off diabetes and cancer.

To get the most health from your tea, brew it fresh from tea bags or loose leaves and herbs, as instant and bottled teas contain less active compounds. Let the tea steep for three to five minutes to extract the most beneficial compounds. Drink to your health!

Cut the Morning Coffee
For many people, the first thing they reach for in the morning is coffee. Although it may initially give you a jolt, coffee actually depletes your vital essence, "borrowing" energy that you didn't have in the first place.

Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It causes you to experience stress, anxiety, a racing mind, and even insomnia, working against your attempts to relax the body and calm the mind. A healthier alternative to coffee is herbal tea. On average, a cup of black tea contains about one third of the caffeine you would get from the same cup of coffee. Green tea contains about one sixth of that amount.

Of course, caffeine content will vary depending on the particular tea and the brewing time. One way to naturally decaffeinate your tea is to steep for 45 seconds, pour out the liquid but keep the tea leaves, then add fresh boiling water and let it steep for 3-5 minutes or longer to allow the beneficial polyphenols to be extracted from the tea.

Slim Down with Tea
As a weight loss tool, tea is a wonderfully cleansing way to flush the system, replace fluids - and pump the body full of powerful antioxidants at the same time. Aside from the health benefits, tea is a zero-calorie beverage, making it your best choice for weight loss. Pass on the diet soda, loaded with sugar and bone-weakening bubbles, and go for tea.

It is best to drink tea unsweetened and without milk, which can minimize some of the health benefits. To sweeten the tea without the extra calories, forgo the sugar and try instead honey, stevia products, or a stick of cinnamon.

The Healthy Varieties of Herbal Teas
Aromatic and chock full of amazing health benefits, herbal teas are made from various leaves, roots, bark, or flowers. Here are just a few:

* Ginger: Soothes the digestive system and keeps your energy fired up
* Chamomile: Settles the stomach and is calming and soothing for the nervous system
* Peppermint: Increases healthy gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, and settles the stomach
* Dandelion: Detoxifies and supports healthy liver functions
* Valerian: A natural herbal substitute for sleeping pills

You can combine these herbs in any combination according to your taste and health preferences. Among my patients, an incredibly popular herbal tea is Internal Cleanse Tea, which is specially combined to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, balance emotions, and ease digestion. This tea formula is available online at askdrmao.com.

I hope you reap the powerful health benefits of tea! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you stay healthy, live long, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

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To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.

Friday, February 1, 2008

The Mind/Body Connection

The Mind/Body Connection
Easing pain through meditation illustrates mind's role in healing
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By Jack Kelly, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For the full story go to:

http://no-drugs-fibro-treatment.com/