by Ed
Every Spring is a good time for internal cleansing. I suggest starting with the digestive tract, then doing a Gall Bladder flush. While these cleanses are safe for most people, it is always advisable to seek the advice of a qualified health professional, especially if you have any significant health concerns. After doing a cleanse many people find they have more energy, clearer skin, fewer allergy symptoms, and many other positive effects. It is certainly helpful for anyone with constipation.
One simple and safe way to cleanse the digestive tract is to do a short juice fast. Three days is safe and effective. Only drink juice of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Drink them immediately after juicing them, as they lose their goodness, and start to oxidize very quickly. Besides drinking fresh juice, you can drink herbal teas, ginger is particularly good. Also, first thing every morning, mix one teaspoon of psyllium husk in a glass of water or juice. It does not have a pleasant flavor, so you probably want juice. Psyllium husk is known as intestinal broom because is sweeps out the old debris that lines the intestinal walls. You may want to continue the psyllium for a few days after the fast is over.
While generally regarded as safe, a small minority of individuals do not tolerate psyllium well. Those experiencing discomfort should discontinue use, or start with a very small amount to allow the body to adjust. However a feeling of bloating, especially the first time you take it, is normal.
Use of psyllium can reduce the effectiveness of prescribed lithium.
Use of psyllium can reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Do not use psyllium within two hours of any medicinal substances. Use at least 30 minutes prior to eating.
Psyllium is generally safe and helpful for people with irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, and colitis.
by Ed
Probiotics are bacterial cultures,such as are found in yogurt, that also live in our intestines. They contribute to the digestive process and keep unhealthy microorganisms, such as candida yeast, from invading our systems.
Many people have insufficient healthy bacteria, and should be supplementing with a good probiotic formula. Antibiotics and pain pain medications can inhibit the good bacteria. Eating too much sugar can encourage candida, which may overcome even a mildly weak intestine.
You should consider taking probiotics if you: regularly or recently took antibiotics; regularly use pain killers such as aspirin and ibuprofen; have recurring fungal or yeast infections; have chronic digestive disturbances, such as IBS, colitis, multiple food intolerances, or leaky gut syndrome.
How do you know which probiotic to take? Generally more expensive ones are of higher quality. You want to make sure that you are actually getting the probiotics into your body, and the better quality ones have more living bacteria. You want to take a formula with several different bacteria in it. I recommend at least acidophilus, bifidobacterium bifidum, and lactobacillus casei. The different bacteria have overlapping and synergistic effects.
How to take probiotics. Generally it is best to take them on an empty stomach, but not when you are hungry. Stomach acid can easily kill the bacteria. First thing in the morning and bedtime work well for most people. One capsule twice a day is a good maintenance program. If you have symptoms that would benefit from probiotics you may want to take larger doses. Start at two capsules a day and slowly work your way up to six to ten a day. Stay there for a month then work your way back down. If you are healthy and maintaining a good diet, you may not need to continue taking them, as they thrive in a healthy intestinal environment. If you have any of the conditions mentioned above, it is unlikely that probiotics alone will heal you. It is best to see a health practitioner who has experience with digestive imbalances and yeast infections.
by Ed
In this post on vitamins, I talked about the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables. So, does it matter if they are organic or not? I have always prefered organic produce because I worry about eating the poisons the farmers use. Not only that, but the poisons are gettting into the ground, the water, poisoning the farmers and local animals.
Recently, scientists have discoverred another reason, which makes sense when you think about it. In a way, plants grown with herbacides and pesticides have it pretty easy. They don’t have to defend themselves. They don’t have to struggle to survive. Plants grown organically produce more chemicals that help them defend themselves. It just so happens that those same chemicals help us as well. Vegetables that have been grown organically have been found to have more cancer fighting substances in them than vegetables grown with poisons.
So support a healthy planet and defend yourself against cancer at the same time. Eat organic!
by Ed
Well, it’s late January, and that means, in the Pacific Northwest, that it almost feels like Spring. But don’t forget, the coldest week of the year is just around the corner. Where ever you live, you have your patterns of warming up and cooling down. But then again, weather has gotten pretty strange these past few years.
Typically, it’s during the changes of the seasons that we have to be careful of our health. It’s easier to get sick during that time when we are not acclimatized. These days, you never know when the weather might suddenly shift, so it is important to keep your immune system strong all the time. Get plenty of exercise, but don’t get a chill while your pores are still open. Always dress appropriately, protecting yourself from cold and wind. Eat warm nourishing foods like soups and stews. Be sure to get lots of fresh veggies. Fruits and vegetables are full of immune boosting chemicals that you can’t count on your vitamin pill giving you. Take time to relax and enjoy life with your friends and family. Both relaxation and joyful activities enhance the immune system, besides making life more worth living. If you tend to get sick frequently, seek out a Chinese herbalist, who can design a formula, specifically for you.
by Ed
I just found this post on another blog. Stress and Colds. I liked it so much I thought I’d share it. The whole blog is good, but he can get a bit too wordy at times. I got lost reading a couple of things he wrote.
