You will find hundreds of organic supplements which have been shown to be of benefit to human health, but time and money frequently limit the quantity that one person can take. All correctly researched and developed supplementations are high-quality, although some stand out. This is not because they’re complex or unique, but because they’re so incredibly useful in sustaining and restoring wellbeing.

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Apple cider vinegar has long been promoted as a Natural Health Remedy for all sorts of health problems but recent research suggests that it turns on genes that help you fight fat and lose weight.

In a soon to be published study Japanese researchers found that mice given acetic acid, the main chemical in apple cider vinegar, developed less body fat when given a high fat diet than mice that had the same diet but no acetic acid. They believe that acetic acid turns on genes that produce proteins that help the body break down fats and help with weight loss.

Researchers prove benefits of Folk Remedy

Apple cider vinegar has been used as a folk remedy for many conditions since ancient times but modern research is slowly showing how it works. For example research has suggested that acetic acid, can help control blood pressure and blood sugar.

Previously studies have shown that apple cider vinegar taken before a meal significantly improved the blood glucose and insulin levels in people with non-diabetic insulin resistance. This is a condition where the cells become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin that is needed to allow glucose to enter cells to be turned into energy. As it cannot get into the cells the body converts it to fat. People with insulin resistance usually have difficulty in losing weight.

Dr DeForest Clinton Jarvis, an American physician, first suggested that people who consumed apple cider vinegar regularly would burn fat instead of store it in a book he wrote about the Natural Health Remedy in 1958. In the 1970′s people started taking it daily with kelp, lecithin and Vitamin B6 which were reputed to speed up the metabolic rate.

pH balance & apple cider vinegar

The body works best when the cells, tissues and blood are slightly alkaline. A very subtle shift in the pH towards acidity is believed to be the root cause of many health problems including inability to lose weight. Foods, once digested and metabolized, leave behind either alkaline or acid substances. The average diet tends to consist of foods such as protein, grains, sugar and dairy products that are acid forming. Apple cider vinegar is believed to help keep the body alkaline.

Many people take the recommended dose of 2 teaspoons – 2 tablespoons of it in 8 oz of water 3x a day 15 minutes before meals as a health tonic and as a natural remedy to boost weight loss.

You can learn more about how to boost your alkalinity and lose weight fast in Acid Alkaline Diet simplified.

With diabetes reaching epidemic proportions in the Western world sufferers will be heartened to learn that the herb Milk Thistle looks promising as a natural remedy to control Type 2 Diabetes. Shocking statistics show that the disease that usually develops in adults is now also being diagnosed in children.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when cells become insensitive to the glucose regulating hormone insulin or the pancreas does not produce enough. It is generally thought that the insulin insensitivity is present for some time before the insulin production fails although it may go unrecognized and undiagnosed.

As a result, glucose builds up in the blood eventually causing damage to the kidneys, heart, eyes and nerves. Triglycerides (blood fats) and cholesterol may be high too. Recent research on Milk Thistle shows that it can help control all three problems.

Benefits of Milk Thistle

Milk thistle, known to herbalists as Silymarin Marianum, is generally thought of as an antioxidant and a natural remedy for the liver but recent research has shown it can reduce fasting blood sugar levels. In a double blind clinical trial Type 2 Diabetics had a dramatic reduction in fasting blood sugar levels after they took 200 mg of Silymarin for 4 months. They also had a reduction in glycated hemoglobin which is another measure of blood sugar control.

Although the researchers suggest that larger studies are needed the Milk Thistle extract also significantly lowered blood levels of cholesterol, and triglycerides which remained unchanged in the control group. In another study a surprising result was that the treated patients lost weight.

The cause of type 2 diabetes is due to various lifestyle and dietary factors and many people have been able to control their symptoms with diet rather than drugs. In cases where diabetes was not being controlled well by diet or the drug glibenclamide Silymarin also reduced blood sugar levels significantly.

Bad fats & Insulin Insensitivity

Although obesity has been cited as a risk factor for developing diabetes the underlying cause is shown to be the damage caused to the cell structure by “bad fats” and the lack of good fats. What goes into and comes out of each body cell is largely regulated by the membrane surrounding it which is made up a variety of different fatty acids in a very precise ratio. When overheated and chemically altered (hydrogenated) “bad fats” are eaten they become incorporated into the membranes surrounding each cell and contribute to the insulin insensitivity.

By removing the bad fats from the diet and flooding the body with good fats especially omega 3 fatty acids many sufferers have been able to reverse diabetes in 7 – 12 months. Dr Gabriel Cousins at the Tree of Life Center has developed a program of entirely raw foods and green juices that can also cure diabetes in a short time.

The best general diet for diabetes involves eating a diet high that keep the blood sugar even. It helps to eat little and often choosing whole foods that are rich in fiber and low in sugar Eating complex carbohydrates with some protein helps to keep the blood sugar stable. Whole grains, beans and lentils with fresh vegetables are good. These foods release their sugars slowly. Cakes, cookies, and candy should be avoided as the sugar in them is absorbed fast and will trigger insulin.

Milk thistle contains a number of active substances called flavolignans but it is not known why it has these effects on blood sugar and blood fat regulation. Other natural health remedies that have been used for diabetes include cinnamon, Bitter Melon, Fenugreek, Gymnema Sylvestre and the mineral chromium.

Astaxanthin is an exciting natural and very powerful antioxidant. It is a carotenoid, a pigment that is responsible for the red coloration in salmon, trout, lobsters, shrimp, flamingoes and red ocean plants. Commercially it is extracted from microalgae. It has a lot of uses as an antioxidant from boosting immune system function, protecting against heart disease, eye and degenerative brain damage, and as a natural health remedy to promote tanning and prevent sunburn.

How can it do all this?

Much of the damage that occurs in the body is from free radical activity. Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur as a result of normal processes in the body such as metabolism but can also occur as a result of pollution, sunlight, strenuous exercise, X-rays, smoking and alcohol. They cause damage to cells, proteins and DNA, the bodies genetic blueprint. The damage caused to skin cells can result in skin cancers.

The body has its own antioxidant system to help counteract the activity of free radicals but it relies on having enough of the right nutrients in the body to function. The system is not perfect and the amount of free radicals generated can often exceed the capacity of the body’s own antioxidant system so cell damage occurs. Increasing antioxidants in the body by taking them as supplements is one way of trying to prevent free radical damage.

The antioxidant power of Astaxanthin

Many studies have shown that natural Astaxanthin, pronounced Asta-zan-thin, is probably the most powerful antioxidant ever studied. It is much more powerful than Vitamin C, E and betacarotene, a combination that is often used in antioxidant supplements.

Astazanthin was originally used in fish farming to give salmon a deeper pink color that shoppers looked for and the fish farmers noticed that the fish had healthier immune systems and lived longer.

So what has this got to do with sunburn prevention?

Sunburn is caused when the body cannot make enough melanin, a skin pigment, to protect the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light. Melanin is an amazingly powerful antioxidant that absorbs the ultraviolet light. The inability to make enough melanin in the skin to protect it from sunburn is down to lack of nutrients. Many nutrients are probably involved but it is known that the amino acid L-tyrosine with copper and Vitamins E & D improve the body’s ability to produce melanin.

Small amounts of UV light are beneficial as it enables the body to make Vitamin D. If you use sunscreen and avoid the sun then you may be deficient in Vitamin D which is essential to prevent certain cancers. Many health conscious individuals want to avoid the chemicals in the majority of sunscreen preparations that cause additional free radical damage, disrupt hormones, and are toxic to the human body.

Because of its extraordinary antioxidant power Astaxanthin acts as a fantastic internal sunscreen to prevent your skin from burning even when exposure is excessive although that is not recommended. It can also protect your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun. It does however, take time to build up the antioxidant protection in your skin. It may take 2 – 4 weeks to build up adequate sun protection.

Antioxidants from your diet provide additional protection

Antioxidants and other substances in fresh fruit and vegetables can help protect you from sunburn too. Lutein in green leafy vegetables and lycopene from tomatoes were found to be protective in studies. Betacarotene found in orange and red vegetables and fruit can help repair skin damaged skin and prevent DNA damage that leads to skin cancers.

Onions and garlic provide selenium, an important mineral involved in the bodies own antioxidant system. Green tea contains substances that have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects that prevent skin aging and skin cancers.

Other research suggests that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids reduces skin inflammation caused by UV rays and helps protect the skin cells.

So if you usually suffer from sunburn and want to avoid damaging sunscreens a combination of the right foods in your diet and the power of Astazanthin can provide you with excellent natural antioxidant protection from sunburn.

Although you may avoid eggs because of the popular notion that they will increase your cholesterol levels researchers have found that eggs may be a good natural remedy to lower blood pressure.

Eggs can produce proteins that have a similar effect to drugs that lower blood pressure although more research is needed to show this effect outside the laboratory. When the eggs come into contact with enzymes in the stomach they produce a protein that that stops narrowing of the blood vessels much the same way as ACE inhibitor drugs.

Other research has shown that the type of cholesterol contained in eggs is not a risk factor for heart disease.

There are many risk factors for heart disease including smoking, lack of exercise, overweight, stress, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity and high blood pressure although heart attacks can occur in people without high blood pressure.

High blood pressure also known as hypertension is a major medical problem that affects millions of people in the Western world and is associated with the Western diet. It is a condition where the muscles in the walls of the arteries constrict and the heart has to pump harder to circulate the blood. This can result in an enlarged heart, stroke and early death. It is usually controlled with drugs although most cases can be controlled with diet and lifestyle changes and some natural health remedies.

There are a number of underlying factors involved in high blood pressure and while drugs will control the blood pressure they do nothing to correct the underlying causes.

Causes of high blood pressure and how to avoid them.

Stress

Stress causes the release of certain hormones that cause the walls of the arteries to contract increasing blood pressure. Try to avoid worry and long term stress. Take time for relaxation and steps to reduce unexpressed emotions. Yoga, meditation or Tai Chi can be beneficial.

Diet

A vegetarian diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains can lower high blood pressure. Some people are salt sensitive so reducing sodium in the diet will help.

Avoid sugar. It increases sodium retention, increases insulin and secretion of adrenaline which in turn constricts the artery walls.

The mineral magnesium is needed for the relaxation of the blood vessels so include foods such as green leafy vegetables, peas, nuts and cooked dried beans.

Increase fiber foods, garlic, celery, olive oil and low mercury oily fish or fish oils free from pollutants.

Increase potassium rich foods such as bananas, peaches, apricots, prunes, legumes, vegetable broths and fresh vegetable juices. See my previous post on beet juice.

Avoid excessive caffeine in coffee, tea and caffeinated drinks as it can increase blood pressure in some people.

Avoid smoking and alcohol. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can cause hypertension in some folk. Smoking stimulates the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline that narrows the arteries.

Exercise

Exercise keeps the circulatory system healthy. Regular exercise and weight loss are essential to treat high blood pressure. Try brisk walking, swimming or cycling.

Natural Remedies

Craig Anderson explains how to normalize your blood pressure with a natural home remedy in 3 short weeks. In his special High Blood Pressure Remedy Report he reveals the truth about beta blockers, alpha blockers and other common and dangerous pharmaceutical blood pressure “cures”.

Follow his 100 % guaranteed step by step plan to permanently lower your blood pressure now. Click here.

Gout sufferers who want to avoid drugs have known for years that drinking large quantities of tart cherry juice can relieve the pain and inflammation of a gout attack in a few days. In fact one report found that this simple natural health remedy may relieve pain better than aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs that can cause ulceration and bleeding of the lining of the digestive system.

Sufferers find that drinking 2 or 3 pints of concentrated cherry juice or eating half a pound of fresh or canned cherries a day can relieve a gout attack in a few days. But as too much fruit consumption or the use of fructose is thought to aggravate some types of gout it may be better to use cherry extract capsules.

Gout is a type of arthritis and is caused by an excess of uric acid crystals that accumulate in the tissues around the joints resulting in extremely painful inflammation. People with gout usually either over produce uric acid or their kidneys don’t excrete it well.

In fact diuretic drugs and low dose aspirin can cause gout as they cause reduced excretion of uric acid. Cherries or their juice work by lowering uric acid levels and the anthocyanins, pigments which are responsible for their color, reduce inflammation.

Uric acid results from the breakdown of purine a substance which is found in the cells of plants and animals. Certain foods are high in purines and these food are best avoided if you have gout. They are: organ meats such as sweetbreads, liver, heart and kidneys; game meats, shellfish, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring, yeast and meat extracts.

Gout may be helped by a number of dietary changes:

Alcohol increases uric acid production and reduces its excretion by the kidneys so explains why drinking alcohol is associated with causing gout attacks. If you are prone to gout avoiding alcohol is all that you may need to do to prevent attacks.

Overweight and a diet high in fat and refined carbohydrate are known to contribute to gout so reducing weight with a high fiber, low-fat, and complex carbohydrate diet will help. Protein should be adequate but not excessive keeping it low in purines.

Adequate fluid intake helps with the excretion of uric acid by the kidneys.

Nutritional factors:

• Lead toxicity interferes with the ability of the kidneys to eliminate uric acid and leads to a type of gout. Plumbers who handle lead in their work can absorb lead which is toxic to the body. The use of a chelating lead agent such as liquid zeolite can help reduce lead levels.

• Doses of Vitamin C up to 4 grams a day can reduce uric acid levels.

• Quercetin 150–250 mg three times per day may inhibit the enzyme xanthine oxidase which controls the metabolism of uric acid in the same way that gout drugs do.

• EPA a fatty acid found in Omega 3 fish oils has an anti-inflammatory action. Take at least 3 grams a day. More may be needed to reduce pain. Make sure you get a make that is guaranteed free from pollutants.

• Taking 1000mg capsule of the natural health remedy cherry extract is the equivalent of eating half a pound of cherries or about 16 oz of juice. In an acute attack you can take 2000mg 3 times a day.

Lisa McDowell was so frustrated by the painful symptoms of gout that were taking over her husbands life that she spent months researching the condition. Now, many years later, she is considered to be the leading expert in the natural treatment of gout. You can discover the all natural method of preventing and treating attacks in her ebook Cure Gout Now .

More than 90% of all adolescents and almost 25% of all adults suffer from acne. Many are asking if they are sentenced to the ritual of tackling the symptoms or is there a natural health remedy that will cure acne. Is there a natural safer alternative to the endless use of creams and lotions and the side effects of drug treatments?

Most dermatologists claim that acne cannot be cured. They specialize in treating the symptoms but have no idea how to cure the internal cause of acne. By applying medications and creams that deal merely with the symptoms while ignoring the source or the internal cause of the disease, acne will never be truly cured.

The hormone connection.

The surge of hormones at puberty causes a change in the activity and size of the glands that produce sebum. Excess sebum causes the bacteria that normally inhabit the hair follicles to multiply and irritate the follicle lining leading to an inflammatory reaction. This results in the formation of pustules and cysts commonly known as ‘zits’ or pimples. Non-inflammatory acne appears as whiteheads or blackheads. Acne sufferers are understandably desperate for a natural acne cure.

The hormone testosterone that is normally thought of as a male hormone but is present in both sexes has been identified as a chief trigger of acne development. It is testosterone that stimulates the activity of the oil glands creating an oilier skin more prone to acne breakouts.

Women can get acne that flares up just before their period is due. Studies have confirmed that acne inflammation can increase 25% between day 22 and 28 of the monthly cycle. A sharp drop in estrogen and rise in testosterone occurs during ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy, just before and during the menopause.

The reason why some men continue to get acne in adult life is unclear but a continued hormonal imbalance, stress, genetics, certain medications and heavy perspiration are thought to contribute. At one time it was thought that chocolate and fried food was the cause but researchers have proven that this is not true although nutritionally they are foods that are best avoided.

Ultimately, every disease results from a breakdown within your body. All major diseases and chronic conditions are warning signs of something very fundamentally wrong inside. Without eliminating the source of your acne condition, you will never get rid of your acne. Without fixing the internal problem that is causing your acne, you may find temporary relief, but your acne will always come back.

Good nutrition helps to balance hormones. A vitamin A deficiency contributes to congestion of the skin and a zinc deficiency leads to a reduced ability to fight infection of the pores. A diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables avoiding sugar, fried and high fat foods is essential. Drink 6 – 8 glasses of filtered water every day.

Now, there are two choices you can make – you can:

1.Ignore the warning signs. – big mistake! The internal imbalance that caused your acne will, in most cases, turn into a chronic condition. Now instead of just having acne you’ll start having other hormonal imbalance or toxic overload related symptoms in addition to acne. Because the internal problem is not fixed, the disease symptoms get more and more intense.

2. Listen to your body and start fixing the internal problem that causes your acne to appear in the first place; you will not only get rid of your acne you will also achieve beautiful, healthy, even toned clear skin complexion, re-balance your body and prevent future hormonal or toxic overload related conditions.

We now live a ‘far-from-natural’ lifestyle. There are over 300 synthetic industrial chemicals present in our bodies that did not exist 50 years ago. We are filled with toxins from the food, and medication we ingest and use.

The Natural Health Remedy to Cure Acne

The natural health remedy that will cure acne is one that fixes the internal condition that causes your acne. The remedy will include a healthy diet, lifestyle, detox and hormone balancing. Your acne will cease to exist and you feel as healthy and attractive as ever!

It doesn’t matter what type of acne you have. Whether you suffer from: acne vulgaris, acne Conglobata, acne Rosacea, Acne Fulminans, Blackheads, Whiteheads, Papules, Pustules, Nodules or Cysts: The principles required to cure your acne are basically the same.

The natural “holistic” ways of treating people have been around for thousands of years, and they absolutely work whether you have teen or adult acne; whether you suffer from acne on your back, shoulders or chest or if you suffer from female related acne such as menopause acne or acne due to monthly cycles.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life.” Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in e-zines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike’s Holistic Clear Skin program, visit: Acne No More

I was shocked to learn today that 40% of the adult population suffer with hemorrhoids (piles) at some point of their lives. If you ever get blood on the toilet paper, intense itching in the anal area, or pain while having a bowel movement then you may have hemorrhoids. In severe cases they can protrude in a lump outside your bottom. So can you get hemorrhoid relief with a natural health remedy for this embarrassing and annoying problem?

Hemorrhoids are enlarged painful veins in the rectum which can be internal or external. They seem to be a disease of the Western diet as they are very rare in countries where whole foods with their high fiber content form a major part of the diet. Many sufferers have tried natural health remedies for hemorrhoid relief like creams, suppositories, and ointments but are disappointed that they don’t provide lasting results because they never fix the true root cause.

Some resort to surgery to remove the immediate symptoms but it does nothing to prevent a recurrence as once again it does nothing to get to the root issue. Prevention of hemorrhoids is much easier than the cure.

The major mechanical cause of hemorrhoids is an increase in the pressure in the abdomen. Although it can happen during heavy lifting while holding your breath the main cause is constipation and having to strain to pass a bowel movement. Overweight and lack of exercise can causes weakness of the abdominal muscles resulting in a sagging of the belly which will also predispose to hemorrhoids.

If you want some hemorrhoid relief avoiding these 3 mistakes that contribute to the problem act as a natural health remedy.

Mistake # 1: Eating too much processed food

The Western diet with refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice and pasta and other processed junk foods stripped of valuable nutrients and fiber is a major cause of constipation. Although it can be tough for some people the key here for hemorrhoid relief is to lower your intake of processed foods and add fiber to your diet naturally through whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables both raw and conservatively cooked.

Mistake # 2: Sedentary lifestyle

Jobs that involve a lot of sitting can create additional pressure on the bottom area which creates the perfect environment for a hemorrhoid to occur especially when combined with constipation or pregnancy. The solution is to find an excuse to walk around at least every hour. Abdominal strengthening exercises and stretches that promote healthy blood flow are vital.

Mistake # 3: Intake of laxatives and unnatural medication

You may be tempted to take laxatives or fiber supplements to cure the constipation but this creates the same potential problem as processed foods. You replace the fiber but not the many other nutrients lacking in a processed foods that the body relies on for proper function.

Many laxatives act as irritants and set up a vicious cycle needing even more laxatives. They create powerful bowel movements leaving the bowel in a weakened state unable to produce the muscular movements that propel the waste along its length.

Creams, while giving some hemorrhoid relief do not get to the root cause and can be a waste of time and money. The hemorrhoids can get worse over time if the root problem is not reversed.

Discover more about a little known completely natural health remedy for hemorrhoid relief and cure from expert Holly Hayden. You can get a FREE Special Report about What 95% of Hemorrhoid Sufferers Don’t Know…”

Psoriasis is a skin disease that has been considered virtually incurable by orthodox methods. Various external preparations such as coal tar, zinc pastes, vitamin D creams, ultra violet light and steroids are used with little real lasting success. So anecdotal reports of a natural health remedy such as turmeric offering relief from the unsightly and often irritating scaly red patches are very welcome. Turmeric has a strong anti-inflammatory action and as inflammation is thought to be at the root of psoriasis it can be very effective.

Benefits of turmeric

Turmeric, a spice that is used to make curry dishes, has a long history of medical use in India and China to aid digestion and liver function. Naturopaths and other practitioners of natural health believe the malfunction of the liver is one reason for psoriasis so perhaps that is why turmeric is effective.

Leaky gut and liver overload.

They believe that a number of factors contribute to psoriasis. The most common factors seem to be an increase in the permeability of the wall of the small intestine known as “leaky gut”. Toxins then enter the blood and lymph circulation which overload the detox capacity of the liver and triggers the inflammation that result in the scaly, red patches on the skin.

The thinning of the gut wall can be due to a number of things including constipation, food allergy or intolerance, candida overgrowth, faulty utilization of fats, excessive alcohol intake, spinal misalignments, and the effects of immunization and stress.

Limits of research

Western researchers have focused on curcumin, a component of turmeric, and a recent small study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that in spite of scientific evidence of curcumins inti-inflammatory effects only 2 out of 12 patients had an excellent which the scientists reported could be due to placebo effect or natural remission.

The trouble with these studies is that they only look at the effect of one component of turmeric whereas it may be the combined effect of all the components of the herb. Larger studies are obviously needed. And it is usually necessary to approach the condition from more than one angle.

Diet is of prime importance

Therapies that have been successful remove factors that cause leaky gut and provide a diet that is alkaline forming and soothing to the delicate lining. Chiropractor John Pagano who successfully treated psoriasis sufferers for over 40 years said that he never helped any patient who did not adhere to the diet. He maintained that diet and adequate bowel movements generally alleviated the condition.

So by all means try turmeric for your psoriasis but pay attention to the other contributory factors as well.

Here are some tips to reduce your psoriasis:

• Avoid processed meats, red meat except lamb, junk food, fried food, too many sweets, hydrogenated fats, saturated fats, heated fats or oils, carbonated drinks, alcohol and smoking.

• Get tested for food intolerance or sensitivity and avoid reactive foods.

• Avoid nightshade foods – tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant (aubergine), peppers and paprika.

• Eat an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. A 7 day vegetable juice fast can be an effective cleanser.

• Include whole grains, nuts, fish, poultry, a small amount of low fat dairy.

• Get checked for candida overgrowth and treat if present and consider bowel cleansing or colonic hydrotherapy.

• Do all you can to reduce stress.

• Try standardized turmeric in capsule form without fillers. The recommended dose for psoriasis is 1.5 grams (1,500mg) in divided doses eg 500mg three times a day.

Look for improvement in your psoriasis in a month although a healthy diet has to be adhered to for life for lasting results. Turmeric for psoriasis is safe for most individuals but some people report nausea, indigestion or worsening of gallbladder disease with high doses long term.

Learn about candida, leaky gut, bowel cleansing and detox in my new eBook The Definitive Detox Diet.

Vitamin D is being hailed as the new natural remedy for colds & flu. Vitamin D, known as the “sunshine vitamin” because it is made in our bodies after exposure to the sun, is more commonly known for its role in building strong bones. But researchers have found that Vitamin D can help balance the immune system helping to prevent a whole host of health problems as well as colds and flu.

It is known that flu predictably occurs in the winter months when Vitamin D is low. Much of the population living in Britain and countries that have similar seasons become deficient in Vitamin D during the winter and spring when exposure to sunlight is lacking.

While the natural remedy cod liver oil which contains Vitamins A and D is often taken by people to ease joint problems it was noted that it helped to prevent respiratory infections such as colds and flu. It is a fact that children exposed to sunlight get fewer colds and that children who were constantly sick from colds and flu were suddenly free from infection when they were given high doses of Vitamin D.

Researchers studying the effects of Vitamin D on the immune system have shown that it increases production of certain peptides that quickly destroy the influenza virus. They have only recently learned how Vitamin D increases production of antimicrobial peptides while simultaneously preventing the immune system from releasing too many inflammatory cells.

Although the main source of Vitamin D is exposure of the skin to sunlight you can get some Vitamin D from food. The main source from food is the flesh of oily fish and small amounts are found in cheese, egg yolks and beef liver. It is quite difficult to get adequate amounts from food and as it is so important for strong bones some foods like cereals, milk, yogurt and margarine have been fortified with it. In spite of this it is thought that people only get about a third of what they need from food.

Getting enough Vitamin D was not considered to be a problem until recently but some experts believe we are in the middle of an unrecognized pandemic of Vitamin D deficiency. According to one study an amazing nine out of ten people are deficient in Vitamin D during winter and spring.

So how do you know if you are deficient in Vitamin D?

There is no way of knowing whether you are getting enough without doing a blood test. Be sure to get a 25-hydroxy-vitamin D also known as a 25(OH)D test. Some doctors order a 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D but this goes up and down with calcium intake and is not a good indicator for Vitamin D deficiency.

How to boost your levels for good immunity and other health benefits.

Experts do not agree on how much you need but Dr Micheal Holick one of the world’s leading authorities on Vitamin D says that exposing arms and legs or hands face and arms to the sun without sunscreen for up to 15 minutes a day between 10 am and 3 pm in spring, summer and autumn is enough to keep levels up for most of us.

People with dark skin pigmentation may need 20 – 30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D.

Secondly eat vitamin D rich foods. Its difficult to say how much you need because it depends on how much you get from the sun. Some experts say we need about 800iu a day and others recommend 1000iu or more. One 100g (3.5oz) salmon contains about 360 iu of the vitamin and an egg around 20 iu.

If you think you may be at risk of a Vitamin D deficiency consider taking a supplement to keep free of winter colds and flu.

There are various forms of Vitamin D but the best form to take is Vitamin D3. This is the form that is made in your skin when exposed to ultra violet light.

Ideally find a doctor who is conversant with the current scientific evidence regarding the importance of Vitamin D to your health and monitor your blood levels for an immune system boost against colds and flu.

Garlic has been recommended by herbalists as a natural health remedy for catarrh for hundreds of years. Catarrh is excess mucus that the body produces as a result of inflammation in the nose and throat in response to a cold virus or hay fever which is known as allergic rhinitis.

Normally catarrh lasts only a few days while the body fights off the infection but in some cases it becomes chronic and results in headache, cough and blocked sinuses. While decongestant over the counter drugs can be used in the short term they can cause rebound catarrh when used excessively so garlic is a good natural alternative.

Garlic, a member of the allium family of vegetables, is one of the oldest known medicinal plants. We have been consuming garlic since Greek and Roman times for both for its strong taste and for its assumed benefits as a Natural Health Remedy. But reliable scientific studies have proven it has a significant number of health benefits.

Here are some of its known benefits:

• can detox toxic metals – metals attach to the sulfur compounds and are eliminated

• garlic sulfur compounds helps the liver break down cancer causing chemicals

• lowers blood pressure a little.

• lowers LDL Cholesterol (the bad stuff) a little.

• helps reduce build up of arterial plaque

• lowers or helps to regulate blood sugar.

• helps to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the possibility of strokes and thromboses.

• helps to prevent cancer, especially of the digestive system, prevents certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors.

• is a potent natural antibiotic if used raw and can still kill some strains of bacteria that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics.

• has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties.

• dramatically reduce yeast infections due to Candida species.

• has anti-oxidant properties and is a source of selenium.

So, what is it about garlic that makes it such a boon to our health?

When cloves are chewed, crushed or cut, they release a sulfur-bearing compound called allicin – the chemical that gives garlic its pungent taste and smell. And it’s the allicin that scientists have discovered is the magic ingredient thought to be responsible for garlic’s therapeutic qualities. Allicin is a very small molecule and can penetrate the cell wall. In effect. It prevents bacteria using the protein and enzymes they need to reproduce.

The famous American Herbalist John Christopher recommended placing a clove of garlic on each side of the mouth between the teeth and cheek at the first sign of a cold for it’s antiviral effect. The cold should disappear within a few hours or within a day avoiding the troublesome catarrh.

David Roser, director of the Garlic Research Bureau, claims that raw garlic will fix the most intransigent catarrh within a few hours. Add a clove or two to a salad. The finer the chopping and the more intensive the crushing, the more allicin is generated and the stronger the medicinal effect.

Allicin starts to degrade immediately after it is produced and its effectiveness decreases over time. Cooking speeds up this degradation and microwaving will totally destroy allicin. So for the most powerful medicinal effect on your catarrh as well as for other health benefits crush a little raw garlic and combine with the cooked food shortly before serving. But don’t overdo it. Garlic can irritate the digestive system in some sensitive individuals.

Cooked garlic is less powerful but is still beneficial. It has been suggested that organically grown garlic tends towards a higher sulfur levels which may be more beneficial. Some people prefer to take garlic supplements to avoid garlic breath. But for catarrh there is no finer Natural Health Remedy than garlic.

Many people are turning to the natural health remedy Forskolin for psoriasis due to the potential side efects of drug treatment. Millions of people suffer from psoriasis, the frustrating and puzzling skin disease that can be very resistant to treatment.

Forskolin, or Coleus forskohlii to give it its proper name, is a medicinal plant that is a member of the mint and lavender family. It is an important traditional Ayurvedic herb that has been used in Indian medicine for centuries.

Psoriasis is characterized by thick, red patches known as plaques, and dry, silvery scales that appear most often on the scalp, face, elbows, knees, palms, and soles of the feet. About one quarter of the population with psoriasis also experiences arthritic symptoms in their joints.

The exact cause of psoriasis is not known but it occurs when skin cells start reproducing much faster than normal and pile up on the surface resulting in the unsightly and often irritating or itchy patches. This is caused by an abnormal ratio of two cell growth regulating factors known as cAMP and cGMP. The natural health remedy Forskolin can often normalize this ratio by increasing cAMP. Some scientists believe that psoriasis is activated by bacteria and fungi.

Allergies or sensitivities to foods are common in psoriasis sufferers and they can trigger some of the symptoms. Determining the allergies through reliable testing and avoiding the foods or getting desensitized to them can bring about improvement.

Many naturopathic practitioners believe that the skin is a reflection of the stated of the bowel and can be improved with bowel cleansing and detox. Many natural herbal approaches cleanse or detoxify the blood, lymph and bowel.

Jason Vale, a health coach also know as The Juice Master virtually cleared his psoriasis when he changed his diet, gave up smoking and drinking alcohol and started juicing. Others have found relief with a meat free diet.

Jon Michel is another psoriasis sufferer who cured the psoriasis he had suffered with for 34 years by cleansing his body and changing his diet. He explains his Three-Step Blueprint To Curing Psoriasis his e-Book Ez Psoriasis Solution and Diet.

The Natural Health Remedy Frankincense has been shown to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis sufferers in as little a seven days. Researchers gave an enriched extract of the Indian herb Boswelia Serrata, known also as Frankincense, to 70 men and women with osteoarthritis of the knee for 90 days. Pain and stiffness were improved by up to two thirds according to the published report.

The herbal remedy is free of the severe side effects such as gastric irritation and ulceration that are normally associated with long term use of pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs that are often prescribed for the treatment of arthritis.

This comes as no surprise to Ayurvedic doctors as Indian Frankincense has been used as a herbal remedy in traditional Indian Medicine for the treatment of inflammatory condition such as arthritis, asthma and colitis for thousands of years.

But this was the first time that researchers had used an extract of the herb that was enriched with a type of Boswellic acid that is thought to be the most active part of the plant.

The use of this gummy resin substance extracted from the native Indian Boswellia tree is not new to practitioners of Alternative Medicine as it is often included in natural health remedies for arthritis. Boswellic Acids have proven anti-inflammatory effects and the remedies containing it have been used for a variety of inflammatory conditions.

Although it was generally believed that osteoarthritis did not involve much inflammation the blood tests on the participants of the study showed that it blocked enzymes that are involved in the production of leukotrienes which contribute to inflammation.

An additional benefit is that the extract, 5-Loxin, can inhibit the enzymes that break down cartilage and collagen in the joint that causes the pain. Boswellia has also been found to improve blood supply to the joints.

All natural Health remedies work better if the person also adopts certain diet and lifestyle changes. For example certain foods can contribute to inflammation and others can have anti-inflammatory effects.

Avoid these foods that promote inflammation:

• Red meats from corn-fed, antibiotic/hormone laden animals

• Saturated fats such as lard and meat fats

• Fried foods

• Partially hydrogenated (trans fats) found in margarines, chips, candies, cereals and baked goods

• Cooking oils that are exclusively corn, safflower, sunflower or soy based

• Soft drinks (both high sugar and diet varieties)

Concentrate on these foods:

• Include a colorful variety of fruits & vegetables

• Wild seafood or organic farmed fish (much fish is high in mercury and other toxins)

• Lean poultry, pulses

• Wholegrains and seeds such as amaranth and quinoa

• Walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds

• Virgin Olive is a source of oleic acid, another anti-inflammatory

• Use natural anti-oxidant herbs and spices such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, oregano

• Drink plenty of pure water, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas and green tea.

For more information about how to

1. Eliminate MOST – if not ALL – of your arthritis in just one month!
2. Get back to living your life without the pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
3. Do everything you have always wanted to do, but were not able to pursue because of your arthritis.
4. Live your life to the fullest without your arthritis.

Read Nancy MacGranahan’s book Arthritis Free For Life

Fresh ginger root juice has apparently formed part of the daily health regime that has contributed to saving the actor Patrick Swayze’s life. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year and given just 5 weeks to live. Ginger in both the dried and fresh forms has been used as a natural health remedy in Asia, India, and Arabia for thousand of years.

Ginger root is the thick knotted edible underground stem or rhizome of the ginger plant known as Zingiber officinale. The main active ingredients are the pungent compounds gingerol and shogaol. It’s is used around the world as an important cooking spice.

Ginger has many benefits as a natural health remedy. It has been used to aid digestion, for stomach upsets, colic, diarrhea, nausea and to treat arthritis and heart conditions for more than 2,000 years.

Several recent trials have shown that it can relieve the inflammatory pain of arthritis as effectively as aspirin and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without the side effects. It works by blocking the COX-2 enzyme that is involved in inflammation in the body.

But its ability to prevent nausea and sickness during chemotherapy is perhaps one of the reasons that Swayze is drinking the ginger juice. For although he has apparently totally changed his diet and boosted his vitamin intake he has had intense courses of chemotherapy for the pancreatic cancer that was diagnosed last March. A second reason may be the fact that scientific studies have shown that ginger juice can help to detox the liver by increasing bile secretion.

A few animal studies have also found that components in ginger may have anticancer activity but more research needs to be performed to determine its effects on cancers in humans. A few preliminary studies suggest that ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent the blood from clotting so could be a useful remedy for people with heart disease.

Fresh ginger juice is often added to vegetable juices to give them a bit of a kick. It can also be added to the oil that is used for a liver flush. It can help disguise the taste of the oil that many people dislike and help prevent the nausea that some experience during a liver flush. The fact that it stimulates bile is an added benefit for this liver detox.

Try this tasty ginger juice detox cocktail: 3-4 carrots, 1/4 raw beet (beetroot), 1 apple, cored, 2 cups baby leaf spinach, 1/4 bunch parsley, 1 celery stalk, 1” cube ginger grated. Put all ingredients through a good juicer. Vary the amount of the ingredients to suit your taste and size of the vegetables. Serves 1 -2.

Get more great detox & cleanse recipes in
“50 Easy & Delicious Recipes For Detox & Cleansing“

A British granddad claims that the natural health remedy broccoli juice is helping him beat bladder cancer. Mr. Ray Wiseman’s wife started making broccoli juice for him after doctors gave him little hope of survival when his cancer was diagnosed 5 years ago.

Recent scans show that his cancer has stopped spreading and Ray puts his amazing improvement down to his daily dose of broccoli juice that was recommended by a friend as a powerful natural health remedy.

Researchers believe a substance called isothiocyanate in the broccoli activates some genes that fight cancer and switching off others that cause it to spread.

All cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts contain natural chemicals that can enhance DNA repair which could stop them becoming cancerous. They contain several compounds that improve the liver detox function which will help get rid of cancer causing toxins.

Researchers at John Hopkins University have discovered that fresh broccoli sprouts contain as much protection as the vegetable itself.

Broccoli however is a powerhouse of nutrition. It is full of beta-carotene, vitamins B1 and C, the minerals calcium, sulfur and potassium and an excellent source of fiber and is 45% protein.

We all know that we should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day for health but the average adult in the USA manages just one and half portions while 60% of British people only eat one portion a day. The majority of people are ignoring their health and eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods.

Vegetable juices and green smoothies are your secret natural health remedy for good health. By juicing or blending (use a high powered blender like a Vitamix) a variety of vegetables each day you can dramatically increase your intake of nutrients, antioxidants and enzymes which prevent disease and aging.

Broccoli juice is an acquired taste and Mrs. Wiseman added carrot and apple juice to the broccoli juice to make it more palatable. Organic vegetables are best. Here is a recipe you could try:

60ml (2 fl oz) of carrot juice
60ml (2 fl oz) of apple juice
60ml (2 fl oz) of beetroot juice
60ml (2 fl oz) of broccoli juice
½ – 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Green juices and smoothies are loaded with vitamins, amino acids, chlorophyll and mineral such as iron and calcium. Vegetables and their juices are a great way to keep your body alkaline and flooded with oxygen. Cancer cannot thrive in these conditions.

A spokesman for Cancer Research UK said that there is a lot of research that is focused on broccoli and the healing properties of vegetables. There is plenty of evidence that the chance of developing cancer can be greatly reduced by a diet high in vegetables and fruit. Studies have found that boiling broccoli can reduce its anti-cancer compounds and that microwaving it destroys its antioxidant effects. Steaming briefly is probably the best way to cook it to preserve its natural heath benefits.

Get my detox recipe book free when you buy my Definitive Detox Diet eBook. It contains many easy to prepare recipes for juices, green smoothies and delicious vegetables dishes. While they are great for detox and cleansing they can also be used everyday as part of a normal healthy diet to help prevent disease and aging.