Many of us are seeking out ways to be healthier and have more energy. One of the best ways to do this is to listen to your body.
How can one do this? There are some specific ways and times that you can increase your awareness of the effects certain things are having on you.
1. When you eat certain types of foods, how do you feel afterwards? If your energy is increased that’s a great sign. If you feel more tired, your stomach aches, or you get heartburn, that’s a good time to examine what you ate and make some changes to create a better effect next time.
2. When you take nutritional supplements, try to add new supplements one thing at a time so you can isolate where any effects are coming from. If it helps to energize you, that’s great. Unless its a sleeping supplement! In that case, take a smaller dose and see if it relaxes you instead. A good natural sleep aid should help to relax you and also help you sleep sounder and longer. If there are any after-effects such as grogginess in the morning, take less of the supplement or take it earlier in the day than bedtime, such as at dinner.
3. If you do exercises or take walks, etc. try to notice the effect it has afterwards. A good exercise should not completely exhaust you or make your muscles overly sore. If you have a muscle spasm or cramp, you can either reduce the amount of exercise next time, or increase the calcium and magnesium in your diet (or use supplements).
This health information is brought to you by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective natural sleep remedy Sleep Minerals II. Here’s to your good health and well-being.
Having some body fat provides some benefits in maintaining the good health of our body.
* It can generate heat and provide a buffer against the cold weather.
* Body fat stores energy and fuel for metabolism, muscles, and organs.
* It helps us utilize the fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, which are vital for our bones, teeth and skin.
* It’s a shield and buffer that surrounds our organs such as the heart and liver, and protects them
This health tip is provided by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective natural sleep aid Sleep Minerals II. Sleep Minerals II contains calcium, magnesium and vitamin D in a softgel, mixed with natural oils for the best assimilation.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that eating 1.5 ounces of lightly salted, dry-roasted almonds each day (about 35 almonds) reduce overall hunger, does not affect body weight, and helped the participants to meet their ideal daily intake of Vitamin E.
With the majority of Americans eating more and more snacks, it’s a great thing to find a snack that doesn’t result in weight gain and that also provides nutritional benefits.
The test divided the 137 people into five groups: One group ate no nuts or seeds, another group ate almonds with breakfast, another ate them with lunch, the next group ate them alone as a mid-morning snack, and the last group ate them as a mid-afternoon snack.
An interesting aspect of the study is that the participants were people with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Eating almonds lowered their blood sugar levels after meals, especially for the in between meal “snack” groups. When consumed as snacks, the almonds reduce hunger even at regular meals.
Richard Mattes, PhD, professor of nutrition science at Purdue University and the lead researcher of the study says: “This research suggests that almonds may be a good snack option, especially for those concerned about weight.” The study shows that almonds can increase healthy fat and Vitamin E intake, while avoiding weight gain, despite the increase in calories from eating them.
This news is provided by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective natural sleep aid Sleep Minerals II.
A high percentage of menopausal and pre-menopausal women around the world are regularly experiencing hot flashes and night sweats. Due to the side effects of hormone drugs, many are reaching out to seek natural remedies for relief.
Vitamin E is famous for the health benefits it provides to glands, organs and the heart, however it may not be generally known that vitamin E is a proven remedy for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.
A hot flash, also called a hot flush, is a sudden unexpected feeling of warmth and often a breakout of sweat in the upper half of the body. These flashes occur with up to 80% of women around the time of menopause, and men can also have them due to a lessening of testosterone at middle age. A night sweat is a “hot flash” that occurs in the night, often while one is sleeping, and can cause frequent awakenings.
Vitamin E was shown in a recent study from Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation to be a natural alternative to estrogen therapy and an effective remedy for hot flashes. The researchers found there were significant statistical differences in the hot flash severity score after women took a 400 IU vitamin E (softgel cap) daily for 4 weeks. They concluded that based on the trial, hot flash vitamin E relief is a recommended treatment.
Adelle Davis, the first nutritionist to base her recommendations on science-based studies, says: “During the menopause the need for vitamin E soars ten to fifty times over that previously required. Hot flashes and night sweats often disappear when 50 to 500 units of vitamin E are taken daily, but they quickly recur should the vitamin be stopped.”
Calcium is directly related to our cycles of sleep. In one study published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. The study concluded that disturbances in sleep, especially the absence of REM deep sleep or disturbed REM sleep, are related to a calcium deficiency. Restoration to the normal course of sleep was achieved following the normalization of the blood calcium level.
Regarding the need for calcium need at the time of menopause Davis says: “During the menopause, the lack of the ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) causes severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur. At these times, high amounts of calcium should be obtained and every step be taken to insure its absorption into the blood. When these precautions are taken and the diet is adequate in other respects, the woman at menopause usually loses her irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, insomnia, and mental depression.”
Calcium works best when it’s balanced with about half as much magnesium in a two to one ratio. Mildred Seelig, M.D., a leading medical researcher on the benefits of magnesium says: “The Ca/Mg ratio of two to one (twice as much calcium as magnesium) has long been considered physiologic and best for normal functioning. This was confirmed on the basis of long-term metabolic studies in young men and women done by the Research Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
Estrogen-based hormone drugs may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. An increasing number of women are turning to non-pharmaceutical remedies for night sweats and insomnia. Vitamin E and highly absorbable forms of natural minerals are proven, soothing alternatives.
This news is brought to you by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective natural insomnia remedy Sleep Minerals II. Anita L. of New Caney, Texas says: “I was having hot flashes every 30 minutes to an hour through the night and was so miserable. After about two weeks of taking the Sleep Minerals, I noticed an incredible difference with my sleep. I have much less interruption from flashes, I’m sleeping much better and I’m a lot more comfortable.”
Richard P. of Parkville, Maryland says: “The Sleep Minerals are making quite a difference. I was regularly waking at around 3:00 a.m. and after a few days use of taking two, my sleep improved quite a lot. I wake once a night to go to the bathroom, but the great thing is, I then fall back asleep and sleep several more hours. This has been a great improvement.”
There is an ongoing battle between the healthy and unhealthy fats in our diets.
We’ll win the war by eating higher quality fats and the prizes will be less joint pain, stronger eyes, fewer heart attacks, lower blood pressure, and fewer cases of asthma and migraines.
The healthiest fats include fish and fish oil (salmon, sardines, trout), flax oil, walnuts, almonds, avocados, olive oil and coconut oil.
The unhealthy fats, and the ones that can contribute to conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation and stomach troubles, are fried food, fast food, processed foods like chips, crackers and cookies and baked foods with hydrogenated oil.
Fish oil is widely known for its benefits to heart health and inflammation, but until now, scientists were not entirely sure about its immunity enhancing effects. A new report appearing in an issue of a biology journal has shown that fish oil enhances the activity of a certain kind of blood cell responsible for immunity in the body. Fish oil may actually aid immune responses that help clear out various diseases.
Another study was recently done at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York regarding the use of fish oil for the health of the heart and arteries. Researchers there found that a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the accumulation of fat in the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart. The beneficial actions of fish oil that block cholesterol buildup in the arteries were found even at very high fat intakes.
Scientists at the University of California in Los Angeles compared fish oil with soybean oil for the fat component that was used in feeding tubes for children with stomach failure. The study was titled “Six months of fish oil reverses liver disease in children with intestinal failure.” With the fish oil, nearly 80 percent of the patients experienced a reversal of their liver disease, while only 5 percent of the soybean oil patients saw a reversal. This is a strong statement on the benefits of fish oil for stomach and liver health.
This health news is provided by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective natural insomnia remedy Sleep Minerals II.
An estimated 50 million U.S. adults (about 1 out of 5) report having doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
Arthritis is the nation’s most common cause of disability and is defined as painful inflammation, aching, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in joints. It can occur in any joint, but usually it affects hands, knees, hips or spine.
Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage absorbs the shock of movement. When cartilage is lost, the bones rub together, which can damage the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from the immune system attacking the body’s own tissues. It can affect body parts besides the joints, such as the eyes, mouth and lungs.
A recent study published in the journal “Arthritis” has found that a standardized ginger extract is as effective as the anti-inflammatory drug betamethasone for arthritis, but without the long list of side effects the drug is known for.
This test tube study used cells from joint fluid in people with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and healthy joints. The cells were exposed to special inflammatory triggers in the presence of either betamethasone (an anti-inflammatory drug), ibuprofen (an over the counter pain relief drug such as Advil), or a standardized herbal ginger extract.
The researchers discovered that Ginger extract was an equally effective anti-inflammatory agent as the drug betamethasone in this test. This makes it a good natural arthritis remedy, as according to Drugs .com, side effects of betamethasone can include fluid accumulation, glucose intolerance (a pre-diabetic state), nausea, vomiting, eye diseases, adrenal gland suppression, insomnia, nervousness and depression.
Ginger extract is available in capsules, tablets and tea, and fresh ginger root is often available in grocery stores and can be added to cooked dishes.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a form of insomnia characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs when they are at rest, especially during sleep.
RLS affects about 10% of the people in the U.S. It runs in families and may have a genetic component.
A recent study from Yazd University of Medical Science in Iran has found that the mineral selenium provides improvement for restless leg syndrome symptoms.
The theory behind why selenium is effective in RLS is an interesting one. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical messenger that helps in the transmission of signals in the brain and other vital areas.
The involvement of the dopamine system is considered by some to be the base reason for the development of RLS. Selenium has been shown to have healthful characteristics that promote the action of the dopamine pathways in the body.
The Iranian study of selenium for restless leg syndrome was a five month trial. The patients first took a placebo, and then took 50 micrograms (a microgram is one millionth of a gram) and then 200 micrograms of selenium.
The researchers concluded that selenium in the daily recommended dose of 50 micrograms reduces the occurrence of restless leg syndrome symptoms greatly. Due to the absence of side effects from selenium consumption, they recommend selenium for the improvement of RLS, and acknowledge it as an alternative remedy to dopamine enhancing drugs.
This health news is provided by Nutrition Breakthroughs. Since 2001 Nutrition Breakthroughs has been providing natural health articles and effective natural remedies. Their mission is to provide nutritional supplements that actually work and therefore help people to avoid harmful drugs and their side effects.
Since 2009, their natural sleep remedy Sleep Minerals II has been keeping that promise — by soothing even the worst insomnia and helping everyone from teenagers to seniors to get a good night’s sleep. Visit the Sleep Minerals II page for more information.
Sleep Minerals II is an effective natural insomnia remedy from Nutrition Breakthroughs. It is the original drug-free calcium and magnesium formula for relaxation and better sleep.
It contains powerful forms of these minerals in combination with vitamin D and zinc. The ingredients are formulated in a softgel with healthy oils, making them more quickly absorbable than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.
Frequently Asked Question #1:
Can I continue to take my regular calcium and magnesium supplement, or the calcium and magnesium provided in my multiple vitamin/mineral when I start taking Sleep Minerals II? Will I be getting too many minerals?
It is totally fine to continue to take your regular supplements. These are generally taken during the day, whereas Sleep Minerals II is taken in the evening. The calcium and magnesium in a hard tablet or a capsule is different than the form of minerals found in Sleep Minerals II, and is generally not absorbed as well. So there isn’t a large chance of getting too many minerals.
The minerals in Sleep Minerals II are mixed with healthy rice bran oil and this combination forms a creamy paste inside the softgel. This is why it is assimilated so well into the body and this makes it soothing and effective as a natural sleep remedy.
One thing that can happen if you take too many minerals for your system is your bowels may become too loose or you may become groggy in the morning. If this happens, you can reduce your dose of Sleep Minerals, or take less than one softgel if you’re taking only one. This is done by gently biting one end open and squeezing out half or less, and drinking it down. It can also be spread on some food. Save the rest in a baggie or other container.
In a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that drinking tart cherry juice resulted in significant improvements in sleep behaviors, most notably longer sleep time, less daytime napping and increased overall sleep efficiency (the ratio of time spent in bed to the time spent sleeping).
The results with tart cherry juice were compared to times when the people drank a non-cherry juice drink. These benefits are credited to the high natural melatonin content of cherry juice.
This health tip is provided by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective natural insomnia remedy Sleep Minerals II. Sleep Minerals II contains highly absorbable forms of the best known minerals for relaxation and sleep — calcium and magnesium, combined with vitamin D and zinc. The ingredients are formulated in a softgel with healthy oils, making them more quickly and fully assimilated than with tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.
Kimberly B. of Troy, Michigan says: “I have been taking Sleep Minerals II for about a month now. I have tried everything out there and this supplement is amazing. I have suffered with insomnia for 2 1/2 years. I have also had restless leg syndrome my entire life and this is the first relief I’ve ever had…gone for a month now.”
Here is a very useful link to the Organic.org website, which gives a great definition of organic and also tells us how to know if a food product is organic or not: