Certified Natural Health Geek

Beat Stress by Breathing like a Yoga

2011-09-17T05:06:00.009-04:00

How to Breathe Like a Yoga Master

You don't have to vacation in the Himalayas to learn to breathe like a Buddha. From the Pranayama tradition of yoga comes the "Complete Breath," which is a relaxing way to beat stress and improve your state of mind.

Steps

Lie flat while you are down on your back on the floor, a comfortable mat, or a firm mattress.
Place your hands on your abdomen an inch or two apart just below the navel, with your fingertips facing inward and your palms down.
Inhale through the nose and begin expanding the abdomen.
Continue inhaling. When the abdomen rises slightly, begin allowing the chest to expand and the abdomen to fall.
When the chest rises slightly, begin exhaling. Allow the abdomen to continue to fall.
Continue exhaling. As the chest empties, allow the abdomen to begin to rise again.
Repeat without pausing.

Tips

It can be tricky to get the hang of this at first, but it helps to imagine the breathing cycle as a circle. During each cycle, the chest and abdomen rise and fall in a smooth, uninterrupted manner.
Each inhalation/exhalation cycle should require several seconds to complete. Use a pace that is comfortable for you, but the deeper and slower you are able to breathe, the better.

Warnings

If you begin to feel light-headed or experience other unusual phenomena, discontinue the exercise.

For additional information about alternative medicine and other nutrition facts:

Herbal Nutrition Systems

To learn how to optimize nutrition and learn about holistic health:

SC Certified Natural Health Professionals : http://www.sc-cnhp.org

For high quality, all-natural, herbal nutritional supplements:

http://www.herbsexpress.com

An Early Start to Burn Fat and Lose Weight

2008-01-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

Did you know that in the morning before breakfast is considered the best time to exercise if you are trying to lose weight and burn fat?

Besides the cardiovascular and mood-enhancing benefits, exercise helps you slim down and become more toned. However, for optimal fat burning, it's just as important to plan when you work-out as to what exercises you will do.

As it turns out, early morning exercise is best. Studies have shown that working out on an empty stomach forces your body to burn much more fat than it would have later in the day. How does this work?

When you awaken in the morning, your body has gone without food for approximately 8 hours. Your insulin levels are low; your glucose and glycogen levels are low as well. Each of these factors contributes to burning more stored fat and thus losing the type of weight you want to lose. However, if you eat before you workout, your body has to burn off what you just ate before it can tap into your fat reserves.

Early morning exercise appears to also have a metabolism boost as well. This means that you tend to continue to burn calories for hours even after the work out is over. Combining weight training in your morning routine is a powerful one, two punch for weight loss. Weight training builds muscles which dramatically affects fat loss. By doing it in the morning, you have an even more extended metabolic rate increase.

Whether this fulfills some ancient instinct to expend energy before we could have food as our hunter-gatherer ancestors did, morning exercise appears to restore the natural order of things for a holistic balance and normal weight.

For optimal fat loss, consider setting the clock a little earlier and blending when you exercise into your weight loss program.

For additional information about alternative medicine and other nutrition facts:

Herbal Nutrition Systems

To learn how to optimize nutrition and learn about holistic health:

SC Certified Natural Health Professionals : http://www.sc-cnhp.org

For high quality, all-natural, herbal nutritional supplements:

http://www.herbsexpress.com

Digestion and Holistic Healthcare

2008-01-08T17:54:00.000-05:00

From a holistic perspective, it's not that you are what you eat, but that you are what you assimilate. Food passing through your system undigested does not do you any good, but actually causes harm. Bloating, gas, and/or constipation can be an indicator of poor digestion. Let's look at other digestive issues.

Roughly a third of all people over 65 suffer from atrophic gastritis, a condition that without noticeable symptoms, interferes with the absorption of vitamin B12 and very likely other nutrients and minerals as well. It's important to remember that such digestive and malabsorption disorders begin years before any type of symptoms appear and often go unnoticed for years or are misdiagnosed.

It's important to pay close attention to your digestion. You need to make sure that you are actually extracting nutrition from your food. However, after you have exhausted that food of its benefit, it's important to successfully eliminate its byproducts so that you do not have unhealthy build up of toxins in your system.

How do you maintain healthy digestion?
- A holistic approach ...

A holistic approach is best when it comes to your digestion. You should follow basic holistic guidelines for enabling healthy digestion.

Chew your food slowly and thoroughly. Take time to enjoy your food
Eat sitting down. Focus your energy on the process at hand - digesting your food
Don't consume too much liquid while eating as this dilutes your natural stomach acids
Finish dinner at least 3 hours before bedtime
Always include breakfast as a daily meal
Eat at regular intervals
Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet
Incorporate daily exercise into your day
Get sufficient sleep

But what if I already have digestive problems?

If you are already suffering from the effects of a poor digestive system. First incorporate the holistic lifestyle changes listed above for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Then consider nutritional supplements such as probiotics. Probiotics contain beneficial bacteria that are normally found in the intestinal system. These bacteria break down food and can help re-balance and maintain a normal digestion process. Other digestive aids such as pepsin, betaine hydrochloride can also be helpful.

Remember, digestion is all about absorption and assimilation. Even the best diet and nutritional supplements won't do any good if you have poor digestion. Take care of your digestive system and it will take care of you.

For additional information about alternative medicine and other nutrition facts:

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To learn how to optimize nutrition and learn about holistic health:

SC Certified Natural Health Professionals : http://www.sc-cnhp.org

For high quality, all-natural, herbal nutritional supplements:

http://www.herbsexpress.com

Technorati tags : nutrition, digestion, holistic, constipation, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, herbal, herbs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, probiotics, diet, digestive system

Licorice Root - a handy herbal remedy

2007-11-26T20:17:00.000-05:00

Natural licorice is an amazing herbal botanical used in western alternative medicine. Not to be confused with licorice flavored candies, licorice root has been used traditionally in the treatment of several ailments for centuries. Various studies have shown licorice to be anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, anti-viral, estrogenic and even useful as a cough suppressant.

Below is a listing of various traditional uses for licorice:

Anti-inflammatory : treatment of allergies, asthma, eczema and upper respiratory infections
How it works : it suppresses the enzyme that breaks down cortisone

Anti-viral : used topically as a salve, it halts the growth of cold sores
How it works : it inhibits virus growth and stimulates the white cells that kill viruses and bacteria

Dental Care : inhibits the growth of plaque and bacteria on teeth and reduces the occurrence of mouth ulcers and canker sores
How it works : it is anti-viral

Estrogenic: balances estrogen levels providing relief from PMS and hot flashes
How it works : it alters estrogen metabolism and thereby affects the estrogen-progesterone ratio

Soothing agent : cough suppressant reportedly as effective as codeine
How it works: licorice has a high gelatin content

One cautionary note: Licorice can cause high blood pressure, reduced potassium levels, and water retention. Therefore, although licorice is generally considered safe herbal medicine, it should be avoided if you are pregnant, have or suspect liver disease, are taking blood thinners, have heart disease, potassium deficiency, or high blood pressure. In general, do not take licorice longer than six weeks at one time.

For additional information about alternative medicine and other nutrition facts:

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To learn how to optimize nutrition and learn about holistic health:
SC Certified Natural Health Professionals : http://www.sc-cnhp.org

For high quality, all-natural, herbal nutritional supplements:

http://www.herbsexpress.com

Technorati tags : licorice, PMS, heart, allergies, nutrition, herbal, herbal remedies, holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, heart disease, herbs, hot flashes, high blood pressure, cold sores, dental care

Nutrition 101 - Phytochemicals

2007-10-28T04:06:00.000-04:00

Today, we understand more about nutrition than we ever have. There are an amazing array of active components in our foods that sustain our growth, repair our body tissues, and provide essentials nutrients for living. These active ingredients are commonly thought of as vitamins, minerals, herbs, antioxidants, and/or fiber. When these active ingredients are derived from plants, they are referred to as phytochemicals.

Examples of key phytochemicals include the following:

beta glucans from whole oat products - linked to reducing total and LDL cholesterol

catechins from black and green teas - associated with the reduced risk of several types of cancer

glucosinolates/ indoles from cruciferous vegetables - associated with reducing the risk of certain types of cancer

ligans from flaxseed - an omega-3 fatty acid linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer

limonoids from citrus fruits - associated to reducing the risk of certain types of cancer

lutein from spinach - associated with a reduced risk in age-related macular degeneration

lycopene from tomatoes- linked with a reduced prostate cancer risk

monounsaturated fatty acids from almonds and walnuts - linked to reduction of blood lipids (fats)

organosulfur componds from garlic - associated with lowering blood lipds and improve immunity

proanthocyanidins from cranberry - associated with reduction of the risk of urinary tract infections

soluble fiber from psyllium - linked to reducing total and LDL cholesterol

Phytochemicals provide basic nutrition and reduce your risk of chronic disease. Add more fresh vegetables and herbs in your diet to sustain your holistic health.

For additional information about alternative medicine and other nutrition facts:

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To learn how to optimize nutrition and learn about holistic health:

SC Certified Natural Health Professionals : http://www.sc-cnhp.org

For high quality, all-natural, herbal nutritional supplements:

http://www.herbsexpress.com

Technorati tags : nutrition, phytochemicals, lutein, cholesterol, holistic, ligans, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, fat, herbs, antioxidants, green tea, omega3, nutritional supplements

Holistic Health Insurance for Feet

2007-08-24T00:37:00.000-04:00

Our feet are amazing. Each step we take exerts pressure that is as much as 3 to 4 times our body weight. Nonetheless, the nerve endings are so sensitive that we can tell if we have stepped on a small pebble or pin or have experienced a change in elevation.

Over three-quarters of Americans experience problems with their feet at some point in their lives. Primarily due to circulatory issues, diabetics particularly are prone to foot problems. Diabetes affects blood circulation and reduces blood flow to the extremities. The feet often suffer the consequences. Women too, generally experience foot problems. This seems to be due to an overuse or abuse of high heels shoes. Whether it is corns or calluses or more serious problems, we need to take care of our feet to maintain our overall health. Like it or not, our feet are our foundation. Consider these tips below as holistic health insurance for your feet.

Practice daily foot hygiene. A daily scrubbing is essential for good foot health. Just like your mom always said. "Wash between your toes and get them good and dry when you're done."

Use a foot powder to keep moisture and odor at bay.

Never clip your toenails into the corners. Always cut straight across the nail leaving the nail slightly longer than the tip of the toe.

Always wear socks with closed in shoes, especially loafers and sneakers. Cotton socks are the best healthy choice as they allow your feet to breathe and air to circulate.

Rub tea tea oil on your feet daily to keep feet fungus at bay.

Don't wear the same shoes everyday! Alternate. Allow the previous day's pair to air out.

For particularly dry, cracked feet, slather on an ample amount of foot cream and aloe vera gel at night before bed. Sleep in a pair of cotton socks and your feet will be noticeably smoother in the morning.

From time to time, soak those tired tootsies! Not only can it soften tough, dry skin, it can deodorize your feet as well. Great additives for a foot soak include essential oils like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, or lemon oil. The aromatherapy benefits are an added bonus. Other great choices are herbal teas. The tannin in herbal tea really helps to eliminate smelly feet.

Don't go bear-foot. Wear protective footwear to guard against injury and contact with fungus.

Check your feet regularly for blisters, sores or an other abnormalities. These sources of breaks in the skin or inflamation can breed unhealthy bacteria and fungi. Persistent redness, bruises and/or swelling can indicate that there is a problem.

Hopefully, you can use these tips to insure optimal foot health and overall holistic well-being.

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To find out about natural health education, visit

Certified Natural Health Professionals - SC Chapter

Technorati tags : foot health, holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, diabetics, foot care, health insurance, diabetes, aromatherapy, herbal tea, foot fungus, tea trea oil, feet

Holistic Benefits of Fiber

2007-08-13T20:16:00.000-04:00

Dietary fiber may help prevent colon cancer, reduce blood cholesterol, and help maintain a health weight. Additionally, people with type-2 diabetes or insulin resistance are helped with fiber as it can help manage insulin levels by lowering their blood sugar.

But why is fiber a nutritional powerhouse and how does it benefit holistic health and wellness?

Dietary fiber is a member of the carbohydrate family and consists of fruits, vegetables, and the outer linings of seeds, grains, nuts, and beans. Dietary fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble fiber. The human body needs both types to be healthy.

Benefits of Soluble and Insoluble Fiber

Soluble fiber can be dissolved by water. It is often found in apples, bran, beans, oatmeal, seeds, bananas, carrots, and citrus fruits. When digested soluble fiber is combined with water, it can be absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal walls. In the blood stream, it works to balance cholesterol levels and block fat absorption.

Insoluble fiber, as opposed to soluble fiber, can not be dissolved in water. It consists of the cellulose that makes up plant cell walls. It is often found in wheat bran, whole grains, and the skins of most fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber is more resistant to digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract than soluble fiber. As such, it helps to gather up trapped or undigested foods in the intestines as it passes through the colon and therefore is a great remedy for constipation.

Nutritional fiber supplements can also be a healthy alternative for those who can not get sufficient amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. Nutritional supplements often include combinations of psyllium husks, oat bran, apple pectin, and/or other natural cellulose derivatives. Whether in powdered form or capsule, all-natural nutritional supplements can benefit a healthy diet. However, the best holistic plan is to incorporate a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and whole grains in your daily diet. Super-charge your nutrition and include dietary fiber as a natural health staple.

For additional information about alternative medicine and other nutrition facts:

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To learn how to optimize nutrition and learn about holistic health:

SC Certified Natural Health Professionals : http://www.sc-cnhp.org

For high quality, all-natural, herbal nutritional supplements:

http://www.herbsexpress.com

Technorati tags : fiber, nutrition, holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, insulin, weight loss, nutrition facts, cholesterol, nutritional supplements, blood sugar, carbohydrates, diet, insulin resistance

5 Ways to Partner with your Doctor and take Control of your Health

2007-08-05T00:53:00.000-04:00

For many people, the thought of taking control of their own health is a frightening proposition. We often are very comfortable turning over complete control of our health and well-being to another and less comfortable with determining and weighing specific options to maintain or regain our own health ourselves. This is evidenced in our lack of overall knowledge about our condition, the impact and efficacy of suggested treatments, and/or the things that we could do that would serve to either help or hinder our situation. Whether you are consulting a traditional medical doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner, you should become actively involved in the process in order to determine the best decisions for your health. Below, find 5 things that you can do now to work with your health-care provider and take charge of your medical health.

Prepare for your doctor visit; write down all of your symptoms. Face it. We all get nervous when visiting the doctor. It's easy to forget things. But if you have a list, you'll be sure to inform your medical doctor or holistic practitioner of any symptoms or reactions that you are experiencing.

Understand your diagnosis or evaluation results. At each visit, come prepared with a pencil and paper to write down all key information. Ask questions! Remember, the doctor is there to help you. Find out about your prognosis, alternative treatments or therapies, side effects, etc.

Research your condition and treatment. Use the internet or your local library to research and gain a better understanding of where you stand with your health. In addition to medical databases online where you can research both pharmaceutical drugs and herbs, there are also online support groups for every condition imaginable.

Get a second opinion. Doctors aren't perfect. If you have followed the previous steps, you should have a better understanding of your condition. You are in a better position to discuss treatment options with someone who may come from a different perspective than your initial doctor.

Incorporate preventative health care measures into your daily life. Address your diet, rest, and exercise from a holistic perspective. The old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, is quite apropos when it comes to preserving your health. Staying healthy minimizes your trips to the doctor.

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To find out about natural health education, visit

Certified Natural Health Professionals - SC Chapter

Technorati tags : holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, holistic health, naturopathic medicine, natural health, practitioner

Choosing a Holistic Practitioner

2007-07-23T00:30:00.000-04:00

In studying natural health, one question comes up over and over again. How does one go about choosing a good alternative medicine physician or holistic health practitioner?

Just as in allopathic medicine, the choice of health care provider is critical to your overall results. If it is a new experience, choosing an alternative health care doctor can be overwhelming. These 10 questions below adopted from the American Holistic Medical Association, can be used to help you find and build a relationship with a practitioner that you can partner with to secure your natural, holistic health.

How does this practitioner feel about second opinions or your interest in alternative health care therapies or treatments?

How do you react and respond to this practitioner's staff and office? Are you comfortable?

Is your personal dignity respected by this practitioner and his staff during examinations and any other interactions?

Does this practitioner honor your doubts, anxieties, or fears?

Do you feel like a valued partner in managing your health?

Does the practitioner himself appear healthy?

Are you treated as if this is an important, ongoing relationship?

Are you allowed sufficient time between consultation and treatment to allow time to make well informed decisions?

Does the practitioner offer you unconditional acceptance and an open mind?

Would you recommend this practitioner to another person that you care about?

Use these 10 steps to find a natural health practitioner and lay the groundwork for establishing a healthy relationship with them in securing your holistic health.

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To find out about natural health education, visit

Certified Natural Health Professionals - SC Chapter

Technorati tags : holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, holistic health, naturopathic medicine, natural health, practitioner

Insulin Resistance - The Silent Killer

2007-07-12T19:09:00.000-04:00

Insulin resistance, or the body's inability to properly use insulin to burn blood sugar, has become a silent epidemic. It has been labeled Syndrome X. Insulin resistance can be a precursor to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and a host of other diseases. Signs of insulin resistance can be obesity ( belly fat ), high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels.

To prevent syndrome X, consider these healthy lifestyle choices:

Avoid refined carbohydrates. These are foods that are generally white in color, e.g., white bread, cereals, cakes, pasta, ice cream.
Increase your protein intake in your diet. Limit red meat as it would have a tendency to aggravate further accompanying symptoms. Healthy choices would include fish and poultry.
Exercise daily. Walking, swimming, or cycling are all great choices.
Include dietary nutritional supplements that assist in metabolizing blood sugar and insulin, i.e., vitamins E and C, zinc, chromium, silymarin, and alpha lipoic acid.

To find out more about diet and nutrition, visit

Herbal Nutrition Systems

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To find out about natural health education, visit
Certified Natural Health Professionals - SC Chapter

Technorati tags : nutrition, holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, fat, insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes

Let Them Eat Cake, Nutritionally

2007-07-06T03:07:00.000-04:00

Here in the US, we just celebrated a major holiday, July 4th. For many of us this meant not only a day off from work to celebrate our nation's birth, but also a time to gather with friends and relatives for the annual 4th of July Cookout.

Traditional meals for the annual 4th day cookout typically include barbecued chicken, beef, and/or pork, potato salad or pasta salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, grilled vegetable kabobs, hot dogs, and dessert. ( My experience is primarily of the southern cookout, so mileage may vary across the country; but these foods represent a typical holiday feast. ) Desserts vary greatly. This may include ice cream, custards, fruit pies, and/or fresh fruit such as berries, watermelon or canteloupe. But often times, combined with any of these other choices is cake.

For those choosing cake instead of fresh fruit, even the type of cake selected for the meal can make a big difference. For example, an average slice of devil's food cake ( approximately 2.5 ounces with icing ) contains 234 calories, 8.5 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. However, a 2 ounce slice of angel food cake contains only 137 calories, zero grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. The angel food cake could be combined with fresh fruit for added flare and flavor. While this would add more calories, the fresh fruit would also add antioxidants, vitamins, and enzymes.

If choosing a traditional meal for the annual cookout, careful choices in ingredients and preparation can help make the meal healthier. The types of meats, dairy, and oils or fats selected can make a big difference in the overall caloric and fat intake. Adding fresh fruits and vegetables not only adds great flavor but adds a healthy component to the meal as well. Hopefully these are ideas you can integrate into your next holiday feast.

To find out more about herbs, diet, and nutrition, visit

Herbal Nutrition Systems

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

Healthy Fat - Nutritional Oxymoron?

2007-06-25T20:31:00.001-04:00

Many people consider the 3 letters, F-A-T, to compose a 4-letter word. However, fat is necessary for healthy living. It is one of the 3 basic food types - fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It is necessary for healthy metabolism and good nutrition. However, just like for carbs and proteins, there are both healthy choices and unhealthy choices for fat consumption.

Face it. You have to admit it. We all like the taste of fat. People have a strong sensory preference for foods high in fat. Fats provide reserve energy and provide essential fatty acids that we can not produce ourselves. These fats also carry fat soluble vitamins. Not only do fats make food taste great, but they also make you feel full.

However, we have to be careful in the source in which we derive our fats. Unhealthy fat is derived from saturated fats. These fats are derived from foods of animal origin, primarily red meat, and may contribute to the development of heart disease and illness. Over-consumption of saturated fats may be responsible for much of the premature death and disease in the country. Saturated fats are easily identifiable as they are generally solid at room temperature. For those seeking to pursue a holistic or natural health lifestyle, these specific fats should be avoided.

Unsaturated fats come from plants and are considered the healthier choice. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. But even unsaturated fat can be unhealthy if it has been synthetically altered. Hydrogenation is the process of adding hydrogen to unsaturated fats to make them "more saturated" in order to give them a longer shelf life. Trans fats, another type of altered unsaturated fat, is even more altered in order to give an even more extended shelf life ( ... or is that half-life?). As it is harder for the body to recognize and metabolize these substances, hydrogenated and trans fat laced products should not be included in a holistic diet. They not only have a long life on the shelf, but perhaps spend an extended time in the body as well.

So what's a person seeking a healthy diet and lifestyle to do? Fats from nuts, seeds, grains, and fish can provide needed essential fatty acids into a diet. My favorites in this category are oils and fat from flaxseed and salmon.

Eating fish can provide the healthy fats needed in a diet. All fish, especially fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon, and sardines are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can dramatically reduce the risk of stroke, cancer, and heart disease. For good nutrition and optimal holistic health, include fatty acids in your daily diet.

Be careful with tuna though, especially canned. Light meat tuna from bluefin or yellowfin tuna contains very little omega-3 fatty acids, while white meat tuna from albacore is a good source of omega-3. Avoid tunas packed in oil as the oil used generally does not have high nutritional value.

Try to get a much of your fat from nuts and grains. Read food processing labels and avoid trans fat and minimize saturated fat. Include "healthy" fat in your daily diet.

To find out more about diet and nutrition, visit

Herbal Nutrition Systems

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To find out about natural health education, visit

Certified Natural Health Professionals - SC Chapter

Technorati tags : nutrition, holistic, certified natural health professionals, alternative medicine, fat, omega 3 fatty acids, trans fat, saturated fat

Spring Cleaning - Time for Natural Detox

2007-05-25T19:55:00.001-04:00

It's spring and time for spring cleaning. ...Not just for your house but for your body systems as well. We are constantly bombarded by external toxins and create our own just through the basic metabolic process. These toxins build up over time and affect our health and wellness. In order to restore your holistic well-being, detoxification should be used to clean your internal house, so to speak. Detoxing helps the body to cleanse itself and heal. We can naturally detox in various ways: nutrition, herbal medicine, enzyme supplementation, hydrotherapy, and exercise. Let's briefly look at each of these methods.

By applying a targeted approach to our basic diet, we can minimize the impact of toxins with nutrition. By avoiding the problem foods that trigger toxic reactions, we can improve elimination and aid digestion. Foods such as unrefined sugars, dairy, wheat gluten, and meats which more often than not contain harmful amounts of hormones and antibiotics should be avoided or minimized. Adding lots of fresh fruit and vegetables provides the fiber necessary in the diet and adds loads of antioxidants and vitamins as well.

Herbal medicine can be used to supplement nutrition as it can help the organs cope with the detox process. Dandelion helps the kidney and bladder and is a great toning and cleansing herb. The herb milk thistle is particularly great in helping the liver cope with toxic stress and helping to eliminate toxins. Various herbs as well can be used as a gentle herbal laxative to cleanse the colon and small intestine.

Enzymes aid digestion. They are produced naturally by the body. But as we age, we do not produce the necessary amounts needed for proper digestion. They can be found naturally in raw fruits and vegetables or may be purchased in supplement form. Supplementing your diet with enzymes between meals can be especially helpful during a detox.

Drink plenty of water during a detox. This is very important. The water is necessary to dilute the toxins, hydrate the cells and organs, and assist with elimination. However, hydrotherapy can assist in external ways as well. Soaking detox baths containing epsom salts or baking soda can do wonders as they help draw heavy metals from the skin and support the kidneys. Be sure to soak at least 20 minutes in a warm bath and scrub with a natural fiber gently on the skin.

Heavy exercise make you sweat and sweating helps to eliminate toxins. Not only does this help with detox, but the act of exercise itself speeds up metabolism and releases toxins. It helps to oxygenate the body and mind and helps improve blood flow -- both of which move toxins out of the body.

By implementing these simple strategies, you will be well on your way to a healthy spring cleaning and natural spring detox.

To find out more about herbal support for detox, visit

Herbal Nutrition Systems

To find out more about natural methods of health and healing with alternative medicine, visit

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

To find out about natural health education, visit

Certified Natural Health Professionals - SC Chapter

Technorati tags: certified natural health professionals, nutrition, herbal medicine, alternative medicine, detox, herbal nutrition, herbal detox, hydrotherapy , holistic medicine, naturopathic medicine

Making Healthy Choices -- The Need for Caffeine Detox

2007-05-02T20:04:00.000-04:00

Many Americans grab a cup of coffee in the morning in order to start their day. Some say the aroma, the taste, the warmth all combine to give that morning boost. But actually, it's the caffeine that revs up the system and gets the nervous system excited and generally over-stimulated. Let's take a closer look however, at just how the daily caffeine affects the body and overall health. Does an herbal medicine approach exist to address this?

Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and adrenal glands. For many of us these systems are already overworked which leads to our feeling constantly tired and exhausted. Furthermore, caffeine disrupts natural sleep patterns making you even more tired. By adding caffeine to an already overly stressed - overly tired system, we only add to and extend the problem. Caffeine is a drug and anyone who has started this cycle and then tried to abruptly stop has experienced the withdrawal systems of stopping cold turkey. The feelings of irritability, sluggishness, anxiety, nervousness, and headaches are all common symptoms.

Coffee is by far our favorite method of digesting large amounts of caffeine. Just six ounces of brewed coffee contains 102 mg of caffeine. Just thinking about all the Grande Lattes from my past, the amount of caffeine that must have been in them, and the impact on my health makes me shutter even today.

Instant coffee contains only half the caffeine of brewed. Although, when I drank coffee, I never thought that instant tasted quite as good as fresh brewed. Now I'm not sure if it was really the taste or the fact that instant probably didn't feed into my caffeine addiction as much as the fresh alternative did!

Brewed tea has even less caffeine than coffee. Eight ounces of brewed tea contains approximately 40 mg of caffeine. Tea also contains antioxidants which makes it a much better alternative, especially green tea.

If you are looking to improve your health and trying to wean yourself from caffeine and don't want to suffer from all the withdrawal symptoms, drink lots of pure water and get plenty of exercise -- enough to work up a good sweat. This will help sweat out the toxins and help you with overall detox. An alternative is to use herbal support to minimize withdrawal side-effects. One great product to alleviate detox symptoms is a product offered by Herbal Nutrition Systems called Caffeine Detox. This is homeopathic medicine solution that provides natural relief for caffeine withdrawal. One product to consider combining with this is called Nutri-Calm. It provides an herbal combination of B-complex vitamins and nourishing herbs to support and nuture the nervous system and improve relaxation and encourage restful sleep. This herbal one-two punch not only assists with detox symptoms but also helps to address the underlying cause for the feeling for extra caffeine in the morning.

For other great solutions offered by Herbal Nutrition Systems that you can get at discount, check out this link

http://www.herbalnutritionsystems.com

For information and training on natural health, body systems, and the impact of toxins in the body, check out

http://www.sc-cnhp.org

Technorati tags: certified natural health professionals, caffeine, herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, coffee, herbal nutrition, herbal detox

Children's nutrition gets a holistic boost

2007-04-26T21:37:00.000-04:00

This week, the national news reported that many of our nation's schools are changing their school lunch menus to offer a more nutrition based, health-oriented meal plan. This major change in direction is based on the unprecedented incidents of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. Considering the overwhelming evidence supporting the links between nutrition and health, it's amazing that it has taken this long for action to take place in this area. The long-term effect of junk food served both at home and in our nation's schools has been devastating.

Insulin resistance is on the rise and is being seen in younger and younger victims. Cancer rates have skyrocketed and incidents of morbid obesity have soared. Heart attacks are now claiming our youth. Poor food choices ( or lack of good choices as has been the case with school lunches) and lack of exercise due to diminished physical education programs does not allow our children to thrive.

Americans are among the fattest and most unhealthy population on the planet. We are literally eating ourselves to death! Basic naturopathic medicine principles re-enforce the concept of you are what you eat. It's no wonder kids have so many problems with A.D.D., A.D.H.D., allergies and asthma when they only eat hamburgers, french fries, sloppy joes, and soft drinks! When I was growing up, there were generally only one or two overweight kids in the class. Now, it seems that being overweight is the norm.

I applaud the education system for finally recognizing this link and moving to include healthy food choices in its lunch menus and vending machines. By teaching children healthy eating habits, we can solve this nutritional crisis. Hopefully, the next target will be requiring daily exercise by bringing back PE!

Certified Natural Health Professionals nationally offers natural health education on advanced nutrition and have a capstone training seminar entitled "Childrens Nutrition & Vaccinations". To find out more about CNHP and their course offerings and local chapters, click this link:

Certified Natural Health Professionals of South Carolina

To find out more about naturopathic medicine and the impact of nutrition and healthy living, check out

Naturopathic-Medicine.net

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REVIEW: Certified Natural Health Professionals

2007-04-19T22:21:00.000-04:00

Certified Natural Health Professionals is a national seminar program where anyone interested in gaining knowledge about natural health and healing can receive guided instruction and attain certification in alternative medicine. A successful candidate must attend and complete 5 institute seminars based on actual theory and techniques used by natural health practitioners. The seminars are taught by competent, "active in their fields" faculty who are both dedicated and experienced. Classes are offered throughout the United States.

I have attained my CNHP status and greatly appreciate the professionalism and care in which the instructors guide you in learning. The course material and supplemental information provided by the instructors is always fresh and relevant. The opportunities for hands-on learning provide a very rewarding and unique experience in natural health education.

CNHP Required Seminars for Certification:

Nutrition
Body Systems
Iridology
Body Work
Practicum

In addition to the basic seminars, the National Association of Certified Natural Health Professionals offers advanced capstone courses for continuing education. In order to retain one's certification, you must enroll in at least one capstone per year or re-take a basic seminar. Again, as the material is always evolving, this gives you an opportunity to stay abreast of recent developments in holistic medicine.

Each seminar and capstone involves a minimum of thirteen hours of study, classroom participation and/or practical demonstration.

Advanced capstones include traditional naturopathic medicine specialties such as homeopathy, herbology or herbal medicine, dried blood cell analysis, clinical aromatherapy, bach flower remedies, advanced nutrition, enzymes, reflexology, etc.

If you are interested in CNHP courses or attaining your certification, you can check out their website at this address:

Certified Natural Health Professionals

In recent years, CNHP has started to organize itself into state chapters. You can check out the South Carolina chapter to find out more about state and regional chapters.

Certified Natural Health Professionals of South Carolina

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