Iridology & Homeopathy

LEAFY GREENS SLOW COGNITIVE DECLINE

Just a serving of leafy greens per day, over time, takes away years of aging effects in the brain. In the Rush University Medical Center research, 960 volunteers ages 58-99 participated for over four years. They ate two servings of leafy greens per day. Regular evaluations showed an evident slowing of cognitive decline in many study participants. Those who the most greens, and did so regularly, showed cognitive results equal to people 11 years younger. Leafy greens are kale, collards, spinach, lettuce and others. Their anti aging effect probably related to folate, lutein, beta-carotene, and vitamin K1, which are plentiful in leafy greens. So, just add those greens to your daily shake, or in a delicious summer salad to reap benefits of it.

STRESS LEVEL AND WAYS TO DEAL WITH IT

The cumulative stresses over the past few years have had a tremendous impact on our lives. Stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, fly around the body, putting our entire system on high alert. When lasting for too long, stress starts to damage the body. So, you need to recognize symptoms of excessive stress to help lessen your stress load.

Symptoms of stress:
- Heart racing (palpitations)
- Digestive problems
- Sleep problems
- Increased colds and infections
- Skin flare-ups
- Weight gain, especially around your waist
- Snapping or withdrawing

Ways to deal with stress:
- Meditation
- Regular exercise
- Deep breathing
- Positive psychology
- Healthy diet with less sugar

The importance of nutrition. 7 essential rules of healthy eating

The importance of nutrition. 7 essential rules of healthy eating Nutrition is very important for your body. |We are what we eat. Healthy nutrition means healthy body. Follow 7 essential rules of healthy eating

THE INFLUENCE OF SLEEP QUALITY ON FOOD INTAKE

In recent years researchers have discovered that our sleep habits strongly influence the amount and type of foods we eat and even whether we gain or lose body fat. In general, research shows that consistently poor sleep can set the stage for weight gain. Researchers found that people who routinely slept less than seven hours per night had a 26 percent higher risk of developing obesity compared with people who got the recommended amount of sleep. One trial found that when people slept just five and a half hours a night over two weeks period they consumed an extra 300 calories a day, mostly from snacks such as pretzels, cookies, chips, ice cream, and candy.
The good news is that it's possible to undo the damaging effects of sleep loss on our diet and waistline. In a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, scientists recruited 80 overweight adults who routinely slept an average of about six hours a night. One group was counseled on how to get more sleep. The other group did not get any extra info and served as controls. A critical part of the counseling sessions was training people to stay off their smartphones and electronic devices as they were getting ready for bed. The researchers then followed the groups for two weeks. They found that people in the counseling group extended their sleep by 1.2 hours per night and reduced their food intake by 270 calories per day. They also lost a slight amount of weight compared with the control group, and they reported feeling better and having more energy.

How to stay healthy

How to stay healthy Learn about different strategies to improve your health and well-beingProper diet and nutrition, exercise and meditation will prolong your life

THE DANGER OF ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS

In many households, ultra-processed foods are the mainstay at the kitchen table. They include products that you may not even think of as junk food such as cereals, muffins, snack bars, and yogurts Of course, soft and energy drinks. These foods represent an increasingly large share of the world's diet. Almost 60 percent of the calories that adults in America eat are from ultra-processed foods.
Every year food companies introduce thousands of new ultra-processed foods with an endless variety of flavors and ingredients.. These products deliver potent combinations of fat, sugar, sodium, and artificial flavors. They are irresistible, easy to overeat, and capable of hijacking the brain's system and provoking powerful cravings.
In many large studies, scientists have found that ultra-processed foods are linked to higher rates of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer. A recent study of more than 22,000 people found that people who ate a lot of ultra-processed foods had a 19 percent higher likelihood of early death and 32 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease compared with people who ate few ultra-processed foods.

BODY FAT PROBLEM

Being overweight is associated with a host of health problems including heart disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and dementia. But it's not just how much you weigh, but where in your body you store that fat that counts. And not all fat is created equal. Subcutaneous fat which lies just under the skin is the least worrying form. The most toxic form of fat is the "visceral" or internal fat that accumulates deep in the upper body. This fat causes our waistlines to expand. Visceral fat is metabolically active increasing production that affects chronic diseases including inflammation and Type 2 diabetes.
Abdominal fat is the worst one, upping the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and even depression and dementia. This type of fat pours inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream and can infiltrate organs. Fat cells in the liver can cause fatty liver disease, which can permanently scar the organ and even cause cirrhosis.
A healthy lifestyle with calorie restrictive diet and exercise program can burn that fat and significantly decrease weight and associated with it health problems

SYMPTOMS OF BODY ACIDOSIS
(see more about acidosis in a previous post)

MILD ACIDIC SYMPTOMS:
- Acne and skin rashes
- Cold hands and feet
- Muscle pain
- Low energy
- Migrating joint pains
- Restlessness and hyperactivity
- Digestive problems: heartburn, bloating, constipation, diarrhea
- Strong smelling urine
- Mild headache
- Allergies and chemical sensitivities
- Mucus excess and white coated tongue
- Difficulty getting up in the morning
- Metallic taste in mouth

MODERATE ACIDIC SYMPTOMS:
- Loss of memory and concentration
- Migraine headaches
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Viral, bacterial and fungal infections
- Hayfever, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis
- Gastritis, stomach ulcers, colitis
- Hair loss
- Psoriasis and hives

ADVANCED ACIDIC SYMPTOMS:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer
- Tuberculosis

BODY ACIDOSIS
One of the main problems we face as we age is the inevitable build-up of acidic waste products in our body. This acidification of body tissues is the root cause of most health problems seen today, including premature aging. Acid wastes build-up in the body in the form of cholesterol excess, gallstones, kidney stones, calcium deposits in the joints, and arterial plaque. Acids become out of balance in the body when there is over consumption of acidic foods and protein, excessive use of prescription and recreational drugs, including coffee and alcohol, dehydration, digestive problems resulting in incomplete food breakdown. When the amount of acids entering the body surpasses the body's ability to neutralize and eliminate excess acid, body acidosis begins. And body acidosis is the preliminary step in the development of most chronic diseases.
Acid waste elimination is the first step to cure or reverse health problems.
Ways to eliminate excess of acids in the body:
1 - Decrease or eliminate consumption of acidic foods. The most acidic foods are junk foods,, sugar, coffee and alcohol. Also in this category is excess of protein intake.
2 - Increase consumption of alkaline foods. Fruits and vegetables are the most alkaline foods. Alkaline foods should compose 75 percent of your diet
3 - Drink alkaline water. Spring and mineral water are the best.
4 - Regular body detoxification including taking detoxifying herbal and homeopathic preparations, together with the usage of infrared sauna

NOISE POLLUTION: THE INVISIBLE DANGER
The world is getting louder and silence becomes a precious commodity. The World Health Organization, which has been tracking noise levels for more than a decade, described noise pollution as an "underestimated threat" that hurts our health, contributing to everything from stress to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, and hearing loss. This comes at a cost of one million healthy life years and huge financial losses.
Noise can come in different forms: Sometimes it is sonic, but sometimes it's also the relentless demand that our increased connectivity places on us.
In the contemporary world, with the achievements of modern-day technology, people have fear of missing out. The need for silence is a response to this feeling of being overwhelmed by the constant demand for engagement.
In response, there are silent zones and retreats created. People need silence to stay healthy. And one of the best ways to reclaim silence and tame your mind is through meditation.

PRUNES REDUCE THE RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS

A new study found eating dried plums is a a good way to counter the inflammation that contributes to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is often referred to as “the silent thief” because bones lose their density slowly over the years without presenting any obvious symptoms. As adults age, the natural process that replaces old bones becomes less effective, resulting in a loss of bone tissue. Approximately 2.2 million Canadians aged 40 or older are living with an osteoporosis diagnosis, Older women are particularly susceptible to osteoporosis because their bones are generally less dense than those of men and as they age they experience a decline in estrogen, a bone-protecting hormone.
To see if prunes might be able to reduce some of the inflammatory fallout of aging, researchers recruited postmenopausal women with a low bone mineral density score (an indicator of osteoporosis) and divided them into three groups. The first group was required to eat 50 grams (about six prunes) a day for a year; the second ate 100 grams (about 12 prunes) a day for a year; and a control group did not eat any prunes.
Researchers, who took blood samples from the women before and after the study, discovered a significant reduction in inflammatory markers in both groups of prune-eating women compared to the control group.
This findings suggest that consumption of six to 12 prunes per day may reduce pro-inflammatory mediators that may contribute to bone loss in postmenopausal women. Thus, prunes might be a promising nutritional intervention to prevent the rise in inflammatory mediators often observed as part of the aging process.”

HOW TO REMOVE MENTAL TOXINS

For optimal health regular mental detox needs to be integral part of living a healthy lifestyle. Toxins that stress your body, mind and spirit come in many forms. Mental toxins are negative thoughts, beliefs and behavior which poison your mental health by creating unhappiness and stress. Triggers often revolve around problems with relationships, job, finances, business, illness, negative self talk, and other challenges. Rigid rules you are lived in which are not aligned with your true beliefs cam also keep you chronically stressed.
Every day we take in the mental environment of positive and negative thoughts. Our brain does everyday job of mental detoxification, rejecting harmful thoughts and ideas. However, when you have too much negativity, your brain is simply overloaded with harmful thoughts. To help brain to remedy the overload mental environment, we need to activate mental detoxification. To streamline the natural mental detox function, you need to meditate, read inspirational books, write gratitude notes and empowering statements.
To remove mental toxins:
- Abandon social media for a while
- Write your reflections and lessons you learn in your journal
- Move your body, get up and exercise
- Get involved in community project or volunteer for an organization. You will be happier by giving and helping others
- Speak to yourself lovingly
- Take a break from family, friends and the phone. Spend this time in reflection. Reflect on your life - where you are, where you want to be and how you will get there

HOW SOMETHING THAT LOWER STRESS CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE STRESS

In a classic study, researchers put two rats in a cage, each of them locked in a running wheel. The first rat could exercise whenever he liked. The second was yoked to the first, forced to run when his counterpart did. Exercise, like meditation, usually tamps down stress and encourages neuron growth, and indeed, the first rat's brain bloomed with new cells. The second rat, however, lost brain cells. He was doing something that should have been good for his brain, but he lacked one crucial factor: control. He could not determine his own "workout" schedule, so it did not perceive it as exercise. Instead, he experienced it as a literal rat race.

This experiment could be projected to human existence. When human being has no control of his life, stress can literally kill

KNOW THE BODY TOXICITY SIGNS

Some signs it may be time to detoxify your body include:
- constipation or diarrhea
- bad breath
- frequent headaches
- frequent cold/flu
- low energy
- skin problems
- allergies and sensitivities
- mood swings

HEALTH BENEFITS OF TOMATOES

Researchers at Cambridge University found that the lycopene in red tomatoes keeps the endothelial lining (the inner part of the human artery healthy, decreasing the risk of blockage. We all know what happens when too much rust collects inside the plumbing in a house. The same scenario in arteries sets the stage for a variety of cardiovascular troubles.
Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene. It provides the distinctive red colour to fruits and veggies. In addition, it's a powerful antioxidant, 10 times more potent than vitamin E.
Researchers in Harvard found a 41 percent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer when there were high blood level of lycopene. Lycopene also benefits females, showing a significant and consistent effect in decreasing the risk of precancerous changes in the cervix

HABITS TO LIVE A LONG LIFE

Definitely, genes play big role in longevity. However, environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle are key. Here are some habits linked to long life.

CALORIE RESTRICTION. Animal studies suggest that a 10 to 50 percent reduction in normal calorie intake increase maximum lifespan. Studies of human populations renowned for longevity also observe links between low calorie intake, an extended lifespan, and lower likelihood of disease. Also, calorie restriction may help reduce excess body weight and belly fat, both of which are associated with shorter lifespan.

DIET. Say no foods with artificial additives, sweeteners, trans fats, excess salt and sugar, fast foods, frozen, processed and packaged foods. Eat every day plenty of fruits and vegetables, together with seeds and nuts, which have beneficial effects on heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Add to your diet TURMERIC which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and linked to increased lifespan.

EXERCISE. As few as 15 minutes of exercise per day may help you to achieve benefits, which could include an additional three years of life and decrease by 4 percent the risk of premature death. People who hit daily the 150-minute recommendation are 28 percent less likely to die early.

DON"T SMOKE, DRINK AND TAKE RECREATIONAL DRUGS. Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death. Overall, people who smoke may lose up to 10 years of life and be three times more likely to die prematurely than those who never smoke. Heavy alcohol consumption and use of recreational drugs are linked to liver, heart and pancreatic disease, as well as overall increased risk of early death. However, moderate consumption of red wine is associated with reduced likelihood of several diseases, as well as an 18 percent decrease in your risk of premature death.

PRIPRITIZE YOUR HAPPINESS, AVOID CHRONIC STRESS AND ANXIETY. People suffering from stress and anxiety are reportedly up tp two times more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer. Studies show that pessimistic individuals have a 42 percent higher risk of early death than more optimistic people.

DEVELOP A GOOS SLEEPING PATTERN. A recent study reports that longevity is likely linked to regular sleeping patterns, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day. Too little sleep may also promote inflammation and increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

REPLACE COMPUTER/TV TIME WITH WALK OUTSIDE TO HAVE FRESH AIR

RESISTANCE TRAINING IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH

Th study published in the Journal of American Medical Association analyzed 33 clinical trials for the effect of resistance exercise on depression and anxiety. Results showed that resistance exercise "significantly reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms" among participants. One notable finding was that participants showed an improvement in mood regardless of whether they grew physically stronger. That means that triggering a mood boost may not depend on how exercises you or how hard you train.

Exercises like squats, lunges, and planks strengthen the core, which leads to better posture, and the research is showing that better posture promotes better mood.

YOGA AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

The Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of the eight-week study which determined that "a yoga-based regimen was more effective than wrist splinting or no treatment in relieving some symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome".

MANY STUDIES LINK PROCESSED FOODS WITH PREMATURE AGING AND CHRONIC DISEASE

Diets high in processed foods such as chips, chocolate bars, soft drinks, instant noodles, and packaged bread and buns are more likely to result in the chromosomal changes associated with aging. Researchers from Spain found that people who eat more than three servings of ultra-processed foods per day were twice as likely to have shortened telomeres, the protein structures capping each end of chromosome, which act as protection for the chromosome and can be used as an indicator of aging.

In addition, Canadian researchers found that people who eat the most ultra-processed foods are at greater risk of developing obesity (31 percent increased odds), type2 diabetes (37 percent increased odds), and high blood pressure (60 percent).

The conclusion is evident- stay away from ultra-processed foods!

GOOD HEALTH DEFINITIONS

"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not" Mark Twain

"Good health and sleep are the only two things that have to be interrupted to be appreciated" Winston Churchill

CELL DEATH IS SLOWING BY CUTTING CALORIES

Research suggests that cutting calories may do more than trim your waistline, it may also help slow the normal process of cell death with age. The body naturally goes through a process known as apoptosis or cell death to destroy old cells so that new ones can be made. Aging may increase this process.

Age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, cause higher than normal loss of cells in the brain, which can lead to loss of function.. Calories restriction has been shown to have some protective effects on aging brain cells.

Researchers found that in the brains of rats, levels of certain proteins, which increase with normal aging, increased in those fed with unrestricted diet, but did not increase in those on a restricted diet.

These results point on neuroprotective effect of calories restriction

MEDITATION IMPACTS GENES

There are well known benefits of meditation: reduces stress, alleviates fatigue, improves one's mood, and enhances brain function. In recent years, research has been found that meditation can improve our genes, basically altering gene expression.

The study in at Massachusetts General Hospital revealed that relaxation exercises such as visualization, yoga, deep breathing, and prayer will guide one into the depths of physiological state of rest. This state of deep rest allows the gene expression of the immune system, metabolism and production of insulin secretion to undergo positive changes.
The study analyzed two groups of participants - one group consisted of healthy participants who just learned meditation and relaxation techniques and another group consisted of meditation practitioners with 4 to 25 years of regular relaxation practice. Blood samples for gene expression profiling were collected in both groups immediately before, immediately after, and 15 minutes after listening to the 20-min health-education CD.
The analyses of the blood samples showed that there were significant changes to a few important gene expressions.
and these changes were particularly evident in the meditation
practitioners who had significant prior experience.

Research showed that after going through a relaxation response-elicit exerciser, the functions of the biological pathways responsible for cellular metabolism within the human body improved significantly, especially the function of the mitochondria (which is kind of powerhouse of the cell). Also it was discovered that relaxation exercise inhibits inflammation, stress, trauma, and cancer.

All of this shows the necessity to incorporate relaxation exercise in daily routine of all groups of people.

OBESITY

We now have great clarity that obesity is a chronic and complex, progressive, primarily genetically conferred, centred-in-the-brain, environmentally influenced, real medical condition.
The tendency is to blame obesity primarily on poor food choices - sugary drinks, salty, greasy processed foods, staggering portion sizes.
But a growing body of research suggests that the appeal of these foods, as well as the drive to overeat, is rooted in our genes. Many of these genes evolved over millions of years to collect and store excess calories as fat whenever food was available, and to keep early humans from starving, whenever food was scarce. However, now for most people, we don't have famine anymore, we have only feast. And Instead of a survival mechanism, gaining excess weight is now a liability.
There 's now evidence that people living with obesity have different gut flora than those who are not. According to some scientists, it may be that microbiota - not just our genes - are reducing the expression of gut satiety hormones.
However, obesity ultimately still comes down to physics. If calories in are higher than calories out, weight will go up. So dies is very important. And don't forget about exercise either.

KEEP YOUR EYES HEALTHY

During our day time we use our eyes reading, writing, typing, watching Tv, working on computer etc. All of this results in eye fatigue and over the long period it can cause eye diseases. There are some prevention tips to keep your eyes healthy.

FOUR SIMPLE EXERCISES TO REFRESH YOUR EYES:
1 - Rub your hands together for 10 seconds to create adequate heat. Put the palms over your eyes for 5-6 seconds. Repeat three times.
2 - Look up for 3 seconds and then slowly and continuously circle the eyes clockwise ( for ten times) and counterclockwise (for ten times)
3 -Blink your eyes frequently for 5 seconds, ten close your eyes and gently massage them. Repeat 4 times.
4 - Gently massage your temples in small circular motions for 15 times in one direction and 15 times in the other. Repeat it for five times.

Once you have completed these exercises close your eyes and relax for 4 minutes. During this time you can also place slices of freshly cut cucumber over your eyes.

Remember that your eyes are always resting when looking at nature. Never forget about it

THE MICROBES-OBESITY CONNECTION
Researchers think that many "non-communicable" diseases - including obesity, heart disease and diabetes - may actually be transmitted through the trillions of microbes in and on the human body.
For over a century, since microbiologists Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur showed that microbes caused infectious diseases, our approach to prevention and treatment has been to kill pathogens through sanitation and the use of antibiotics.. And it was only 10-12 years ago- after research into increased rates of child asthma - that researchers started to realize that in getting rid of all the bad microbes we had also been destroying of the beneficial ones. The research proved that if children don't get early exposure to beneficial microbes, they won't develop normally and are at greater risk of developing asthma later on.. Since then, most other prevalent Western diseases - including allergies, obesity, Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease - have also been linked to a lack of beneficial microbes.
The best exam[e of casual role for microbes is cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that people can get atherosclerosis because the microbes that break down red meat use an enzyme to do so that leads to a secondary product, which causes hardening of the arteries, leading to heart disease and stroke.
Researchers also demonstrated that people with a wide range of conditions, from obesity and inflammatory bowel disease to type 2 diabetes, have altered microbiota.

THE EFFECT OF NIACINAMIDE ON OSTEOARTHRITIS

People are living longer. As a result, they complain of increasing stiffness and joint discomfort. In the treatment of such patient, the use of analgesics and physiotherapy are primary choices. However, it was found that niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 is often effective in improving joint mobility at any age.

Seventy two patients with osteoarthritis were randomized for treatment with niacinamide or an identical placebo for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included global arthritic impact and pain, joint range of motion and flexibility, and blood work. It was found that niacinamide improved all these markers on average 22-30%.

The study indicated that niacinamide may have a role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Niacinamide improved joint flexibility, reduced inflammation, and allowed for reduction in standard anti-inflammatory medications.

GLUTEN-FREE DIET

Not so long ago none of us had even heard the word "gluten" and now we have $ 3 billions glute-free products sales. So what is gluten. Gluten is the protein component in wheat, rye, barley, spelt responsible for giving dough elasticity. Most breads, pastas, pizza, crackers, cereals, cookies, cakes and baked snacks contain gluten. Also gluten is also used as a thickening agent in soups, candy, processed meats and seafood, marinades, gravies, soy sauce, ketchup and wafers.

Unfortunately, gluten can trigger a negative physical response in many people. The most extreme example is celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting millions of people. Even more people are now estimated to be gluten sensitive. The reason for it is that we used to only be exposed to gluten through wheat products but now gluten is in so many different types of food.

Digesting gluten may also be an ability we haven't quite developed because in terms of evolution, gluten is a relatively new dietary staple and people lack the enzymes to break down gluten completely

So if you discover that you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you will need to become an avid label reader. You also must forgo processed foods and snacks together with fast food.