What do we mean by juicing? We are talking about taking fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, removing the fiber with a juicer and having a nutritious juice as the result. Even though we need adequate fiber in our diet, when juicing is considered, it is for the nutritional value. Fresh juice has a tremendous amount of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes because it is not heated, and it goes directly into the system.

How can it do that? It is because the fiber has been removed, and the digestive time is extremely short. In fact, it is recommended that one chew juice because nutrients are absorbed into the body even through mucous membranes in the mouth.

Is this the only benefit from chewing juice?
Recent research has shown that adequately chewed food gives the body much more benefit than inadequately chewed food. Researchers discovered that tags, with instructions telling nutrients were to go, are attached if the food is chewed long enough. For example, if you have a problem with tennis elbow, the tags will direct nutrients to your elbow to assist your body in healing the problem. Without the tags, nutrients just go all over your body and not necessarily where they are needed.

This is a significant benefit of taking the time to chew one’s food long enough to do the job. Unfortunately, most people eat in a hurry, and their food is chewed only about 5-8 times. This includes those in school with 10 minutes or less to eat lunch between classes and no time to chew properly. This may be where we learn to “eat on the run.”

What are other benefits of juicing?
Because juiced fruits and vegetables have not been heated, nutrients remain intact. There are 3,000 enzymes that we need for nearly 30,000 reactions in our bodies, and enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 120° or above. Vitamins are also lost when food is heated. However, food that is juiced retains all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes intact.

Another benefit is that juicing shortens the digestive process to minutes instead of hours because the juice is separated from the fiber. The juice goes directly into the system for immediate usage by the body. When one needs a boost, this is a terrific way to acquire it.

Although vegetables are healthy foods for the body, they take a while to be digested. Juicing vegetables allows the body to have immediate access to the nutrients. Particularly, if one is seeking to build up their health, this method of taking in nutrients can be the quickest route.

How can you lose weight with juicing?
Weight loss will, probably, be a natural benefit of adding juicing to your lifestyle. Vegetable and fruit juices are both low in calories and fat. Furthermore, because there is a boost to your energy level, you should be more active, which will burn more fat and aid in weight loss.

Many people are overweight due to toxins. Juicing can help with this problem, as well, because juices benefit the body by getting rid of these toxins. Juicing advocates report feeling better, more energized, and suffering fewer illnesses. These added benefits are more reasons for including juicing in one’s diet.

Should you mix fruits and vegetables together?
One well known juicing advocate, 89-year-old Jay Kordich, recommends not mixing fruit and vegetable juices. The one exception is apples. He says they can be added to vegetable juices, particularly carrot juice, for a tasty, nutritious drink. In addition, for most of his diets, he juices vegetables and eats fruits whole as this provides fiber as well as nutrients in his diet.

Mr. Kordich and his wife both are vegetarians who do juicing, drinking 2 glasses of fruit juice and 4 glasses of vegetable juice a day. Both have followed this regimen for over 30 years and claim this lifestyle is the cause of their robust health and Mr. Kordich’s long life.

Others who do juicing also feel that it is responsible for the great health they enjoy. Some juice about 50% of their diet, and others eat a totally raw food diet. Should everyone follow these examples to these extremes? Not necessarily.

Any changes to lifestyle need to be carefully considered by individuals. There are nutrients in meat that some need in their diet. The book “Eating for Your Blood Type” indicates that people with O positive blood need meat in their diet.

Many health advocates recommend that everyone consume at least 50% or more raw food in their diets, for optimum nutrition. Those who do so may find that they do not need to take supplements, because they get all their nutrition from their food. This is a benefit that can help offset the higher prices that one must pay for organic food.

Making changes in your lifestyle should be considered a serious decision that needs to be addressed. Make sure that you make changes slowly, giving your body time to adjust and also ensuring that these changes will bring you health benefits.

Many diabetics are learning that they can take control of their diabetes and even reverse diabetes in many instances. When they realize that their lifestyle is at the root of their problem, they take steps to eat and conduct their life in a healthier manner, and they see changes for the better.

While some diabetics are prone to diabetes, due to genetics or other health issues, these individuals can benefit from lifestyle changes. Type 2 diabetics will see the most benefits, and type 1 will show improvement, although not a complete reversal. To date, type 1, and the problems it can cause, is considered incurable.

Type 2 diabetics can, in many cases, see a complete reversal of their diabetes. That may be a new thought for many; however, there is no surgery, no drug, and no treatment that cures. Give the body what it needs, and if it can still heal itself, it will do so. Any treatment will work with or against what the body is trying to accomplish.

In the case of diabetes, the diabetic has a lot of control over what his body can accomplish. In many cases, the diabetic is eating an unhealthy diet of all processed or cooked food with little or no raw food. Exercise is almost non-existent. Stress and lack of sleep can also be factors that contribute to diabetes as well.

What steps can diabetics take to reverse their diabetes? They include:

1. Watching one’s diet – Eating healthy food beginning with fresh food can help. Eating at least part of the food raw, such as salads or juices will add increased nutrients to a diabetics diet. Most diabetics are lacking in vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
2. Adding exercise to one’s lifestyle – Simply walking can make a difference by helping to lower blood sugar levels. Some exercises can help control insulin levels better as well.
3. Practicing stress management – No one, including diabetics, can eliminate all stress from their lives. However, having a stress management program can make a difference in controlling diabetes symptoms.
4. Getting enough sleep – Many diabetics suffer from poor sleep habits that include non-refreshing sleep or just not getting enough sleep. Our bodies are made to repair themselves when we sleep, especially deep sleep, and sleep is critical to having exceptional health.

Other alternatives could include taking whole food derived supplements, adding certain herbs (if they do not interfere with medications), yoga, massage, and taking care of one’s spiritual needs. In doing research, many have found a number of steps they could take to reverse their diabetes permanently, as long as they maintained a healthy lifestyle.

Please check with your healthcare professional before making significant changes in exercise or supplements with your lifestyle. Diabetics should not cut back or eliminate any insulin or medication without supervision. They may note, with a healthier lifestyle, their blood sugar levels are going down, and their insulin levels are more stable. This is information a healthcare professional needs to have so medication dosages can be adjusted.

Hopefully, most diabetics who decide to take control of their lives, and their diabetes will have excellent results. Many around the world are finding that diabetes can be reversed, and life can be lived without insulin or other medications. Loving themselves and taking care of themselves better has enabled them to reach this point. This has given them opportunities to live fuller, happier lives because they are enjoying the benefits that come with a healthier lifestyle.

Most people are familiar with digestive enzymes. Although digestive enzymes are vital for life, they only work in the digestive tract. Systemic enzymes are entirely different. They work throughout the whole body with every system and organ and can even act as digestive enzymes if necessary.

There are approximately 3,000+ enzymes in our bodies that are derived or created from protein digestive enzymes. These proteolytic (protein eating), system wide enzymes perform some very important functions in our bodies. Without them, we could suffer premature death.

Note:  Catalysis – an increase in a chemical reaction caused by the presence of a substance that is not permanently changed by the reaction

Catalyst – Any substance that causes catalysis

What is fibrosis?

 Basically, fibrosis is scar tissue. Specifically, it is the area of fibrous tissue that replaces damaged skin after an injury.

Many are familiar with the term adhesions. They may have had a friend or family member who developed adhesions (excess scar tissue) after surgery. Usually, they have surgery to remove the adhesions. Unless these individuals take preventative steps, they will develop adhesions again. They can prevent that by getting more systemic enzymes in their systems by eating more raw food or taking systemic enzyme supplements. These enzymes will eat the excess scar tissue. In fact, if enough systemic enzymes are present, the body will allow the proper amount of scar tissue to be produced and inhibit excess fibrosis.

A lack of systemic enzymes can produce other problems in women, such as:

• fibroids
• fibrocystic breast disease
• endometriosis

This lack can be caused by there not being enough enzymes to begin with or the enzyme pool is so small that the body is stingy in what it is willing to utilize. Why would the body not use these enzymes? It is thought that we have a finite amount of enzymes at the start of our lives, which means that we need to replace those used with the enzymes in live or raw food. At approximately 30 years of age, the body’s output of enzymes diminishes and the supply needs to be bolstered by the eating of raw food because enzymes are destroyed by heat above 118 degrees.

It is thought that fibrosis is what eventually kills all of us. At a young age, it definitely kills those with cystic fibrosis because they have essentially no enzyme production at all and their bodies continue producing scar tissue in the lungs until they are smaller in size and cannot function at all.

And any of us can develop arterial sclerotic plaque and scar tissue that builds up inside our organs restricting size and function. This is similar to what happens to those with cystic fibrosis. It just takes longer to develop in us. Eating enough raw food and/or taking systemic enzyme supplements can help keep those problems to a minimum.

Do systemic enzymes help clean the blood?

Yes, they do and are necessary because the blood can get thick due to debris expelled by the cells and the excess fibrin produced, which can form blood clots. Systemic enzymes eat the excess fibrin, thinning the blood and preventing the formation of clots that cause strokes and heart attacks. They also break down the debris so that they go directly to the bowels for elimination from the body. Systemic enzymes help white blood cells improve function and their ability to fight off infections.

Note: Systemic enzymes are natural blood thinners. If you are taking blood thinners and are considering taking enzyme supplements, check with your healthcare professional. The enzymes cause the drugs to work better and doing both could cause your blood to thin too much. In addition, if you have hemophilia, you should not take enzyme supplements. To add additional enzymes, you might eat more raw food and have your healthcare professional monitor you to keep your medication at the correct dosage.

Are systemic enzymes naturally anti-inflammatory?

Yes, they are. The last few years we have been hearing more and more about inflammation and the problems it causes. However, the body’s usage of inflammation can be beneficial. How is this so?

If we injure ourselves, we experience pain, redness and swelling at the area of the injury. In the case of a wasp sting, we experience the same symptoms. These are classic symptoms of inflammation and are indications to us that something is wrong, and we need to take care of it.

Too often, though, we respond with aspirin, ibuprofen or anti-inflammatories that relieve the immediate symptoms but cause problems of their own because they suppress some of the needed aspects of the immune system. These problems include side effects, from over the counter drugs, that kill 20,000 each year in the United States alone. Another 100,000 people deal with liver and kidney damage and bleeding intestines.

When we are injured, the immune system creates a protein chain called a Circulating Immune Complex (CIC). This chain goes to the site of the injury and causes the pain, redness and swelling from fluid retention that we experience. Unfortunately, the drugs don’t allow some of the good CIC’s to be produced thus causing the problems with the liver, kidney and intestines. The irritation from the injury causes the immune system to produce bad CIC’s in response.

Systemic enzymes do not cause the problems the over the counter drugs cause. They allow the immune system to produce all the CIC’s (good and bad) and then proceed to eat the bad ones so that inflammation is less and so is the pain without the side effects the drugs cause. You also cannot overdose on the enzymes either.

Systemic enzymes also modulate the immune system helping to keep it in balance so that it functions at its best. Because systemic enzymes can also tell the difference between good proteins and foreign proteins, they help protect us from viruses by disrupting the virus’s protein cell wall and rendering them inert.

When we think about it, systemic enzymes are not only vital for our lives, they are vital for our health as well. Many people are increasing the raw food in their diet to 50% and others up to 75%. To make sure they get enough enzymes, many are also adding supplemental enzymes to their diets.

Doctors in the United States have recently begun to understand that even old scar tissue can be eaten away by systemic enzymes no matter where it is in the body. What’s interesting is that doctors in Europe and Asia have been using supplemental oral enzymes for the past 40 years for these type problems and having success.

A good systemic enzyme supplement will have the main enzymes in capsules that are enteric coated. This means that they will not break down in the stomach but will be absorbed in the duodenum and spread throughout the body. There are a number of these supplements available, and you should do research to find the best for you.

So, whether you decide to just increase the raw food in your diet or to also add systemic enzyme supplements as well, know that you are helping yourself to a longer, healthier life.

In the United States, diabetes and heart disease, among others, are on the rise. Around 1900, heart disease was almost unheard of even though lard and butter were commonly used. That’s not the case today. Even among people who are trying to be more health conscious, by watching what they eat and getting more exercise, we still see heart disease and other diseases showing up.

Why the lack of nutrition?
Part of the problem is soil depletion. These giant farms supplying food to grocery stores all over the United States grow the food on soil that lacks the microorganisms and even earth worms with their castings that help enrich the soil. (Worms break soil down so roots of plants can grow deeper, thus, enabling the plants to become stronger and healthier. Worm castings or manure becomes food for needed microorganisms and also enriches the soil.) Because of the lack of microorganisms, the soil lacks the fulvic acid and other humic material that soil needs to grow nutritious food.

So, what is fulvic acid? Although over 40 uses for fulvic acid have been found, there are two that we will discuss here.

What does fulvic acid mean to you?
The term organic today means, basically, grown without pesticides or having no pesticides on it. That is not the scientific meaning of organic, which means “living” or having the carbon molecule.

If minerals have carbon attached to them, they are 100% bio-available and are truly organic. Carbon allows our bodies to recognize the minerals. Our bodies will then use the minerals and simply dump any that are not needed. Unused organic minerals are not stored in the body.

Fulvic acid plays a role when it is found in the soil where food plants are grown. The plants absorb the minerals and fulvic acid, and the fulvic acid attaches carbon to the minerals. It also acts as a transporter carrying the minerals throughout the body for usage when we eat the fruits or vegetables. If fulvic acid is not present, the minerals are considered inorganic and our bodies use only about 10-15% and store the rest in our joints, muscles or organs. They cause arthritis in the joints, possibly fibromyalgia if stored in the muscles and potential organ failure if stored in the organs.

There is a strong probability that most of the minerals in our food supply are inorganic, with the possible exception of those labeled organic. That may go a long way toward explaining the rise in major diseases and other diseases such as arthritis in the 20th century and now.

Very likely most of the mineral supplements on the shelves are inorganic. This would mean that we are only getting 10-15% usage out of our supplements as well, which clearly isn’t enough.

If we have enough minerals in our diet, our bodies will make every vitamin we need except for Vitamin C. That has to be obtained by eating raw food such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli and other food sources with Vitamin C.

So, if we are not getting enough minerals to begin with, we are also short in vitamins. Unless supplements are derived from food, we may lose the synergy found in foods, and the benefits organic minerals bring.

What does that mean to our health?
Fundamentally, people are made of the earth. Research has found that to stay healthy we need trace amounts of every element, found in dust or dirt, in a bio-available form. This includes metals such as aluminum, silver and gold and even poisons such as arsenic. When these have the carbon molecule and are found along with fulvic acid, they do not poison the body, and they do supply us with needed elements.

If our major food supplies are truly inorganic, then we are not getting the nutrition to keep us healthy. Buying and using organic foods could help in that regard. Otherwise, many of the health gains of the previous century will be lost, and people will not be able live as well or long as they should.

In the United States, most people prefer cold drinks, iced tea and coffee to drinking just plain water. That may also be true for most of the earth’s population. However, our bodies are about 70% water. What’s interesting is that the planet we live on is also about 70% water. Is there a connection that we may be missing? Possibly!

Every function of our bodies, including brain function, depends on water. Even our blood pressure being at a reasonable level depends on our having enough water in our body. When we are dehydrated, our blood is thicker, requiring more pressure to move the blood through the body and to get oxygen and nutrients into the cells. Thus, our blood pressure goes up. This is just one area where being hydrated benefits us.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj (pronounced Batman-ge-leej) was a medical doctor who studied the effects of water on the body for over 20 years. He made some startling discoveries that included the fact that most of his patients were dehydrated. When he encouraged them to get and stay hydrated, most gained relief from the symptoms of whatever they were dealing with. This included high blood pressure, asthma, and peptic ulcers among others. The symptoms they were displaying seemed to originate with being dehydrated.

He also found that dehydration manifests itself in the beginning as low back pain, pain in the five lumbar vertebras. The last symptom of dehydration seems to be thirst. Anyone who is very thirsty should take steps to get them hydrated as quickly as they can.

Because of his findings, Dr. Batmanghelidj treated his patients with nothing but water and achieved amazing results with many of them. His recommendation is to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, more if you are overweight sweating in summer heat. He also recommended that we take at least ¼ teaspoon of sea salt for every eight glasses of water we drink so we hydrate properly.

He saw amazing results simply by getting his patients hydrated.

Other problems that dehydration causes

The following problems are linked to dehydration:

1. Headaches, especially migraines
2. Fatigue
3. Poor concentration
4. Lightheadedness
5. Anxiety because of the release of the hormone cortisol by the brain

Because these could be symptoms of something else, seeing a healthcare professional may be a wise decision. In the meantime, if you are not a water drinker, increasing your intake of water could make a positive difference for you.

Even though the body is about 70% water, the brain is 77-78% water and the muscles 75%. A 3% drop in water detrimentally affects the brain and the muscles. One doctor commented that when the muscles experience a 3% drop in water, we lose 10% contractile strength and 8% of our speed. And 20-30% of an athlete’s performance can be detrimentally affected with a 5% drop in the water that their body needs.

If an athlete suffers a 20% drop in hydration, he could suffer death. Perhaps that is what happens when we hear of a player dying on the field, especially in the summer heat.

Water and your skin

Do you have dry, itchy skin? Is it worse in the wintertime when you deal with “winter itch”? What you may be experiencing is dehydration. Try an experiment. Begin drinking more water each day until you are drinking around eight glasses per day. Do you really need lotion for dry skin? You may find that properly hydrating yourself negates the need for lotion. Your skin may just need water.

So, what is the bottom line?

When we don’t drink enough water regularly, we are courting trouble. It is going to impact our health, our skin, how we feel and how we look. We may also find that our brain just won’t function as well as we would like. And it will be interesting to see if dementia and Alzheimer’s are connected to dehydration.

So, listen to your body. Drink plenty of water along with watching your diet, getting enough sleep and exercise and practicing stress management in your life. Otherwise, many of the health gains of the previous century will be lost, and people will not be able to live as well or as long as they should.”.

Celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, is a digestive disorder. Individuals with this illness are sensitive to a tiny protein, known as gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. For these individuals, eating gluten prompts an abnormal response of the immune system causing damage to the small intestine.

The precise cause of celiac disease remains unknown; however, it is known that it is most often inherited. It is also known that people with type 1 diabetes, other autoimmune diseases, microscopic colitis and Down syndrome seem to be at a higher risk for developing the condition.

Intestinal villi

Villi are tiny hair-like protrusions in the small intestine, which serve to increase the absorptive surface of the intestines. The role of villi in the body is to aid in the absorption of nutrients from the small intestine into the blood stream, nourishing the body. When the villi become damaged a person might become malnourished, due to an inability to absorb vital nutrients. Important enzymes that aid in the digestion of food are also found on the villi, such as the lactase enzyme that is required for digestion of food products containing lactose. When the villi are damaged, a person may experience difficulties digesting other foods, such as milk products.

Symptoms

As with many other autoimmune diseases, the symptoms of celiac disease may differ from person to person. Common symptoms experienced including bloating, abdominal pain or discomfort and intermittent diarrhea. Some people also experience joint pain, muscle cramping, depression, irritability, skin problems, sores in the mouth, sore joints and neuropathy. Still others experience bone disorders, such as osteoporosis. As the disease progresses, individuals might experience vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, weight loss, bloating and gas, severe abdominal pain, and fatty or oily stools. In children, celiac disease can adversely affect growth, prompting children to be underweight or short in stature. In some individuals even a small amount of gluten can result in a medical emergency, requiring treatment.

Diagnosis

Celiac disease is typically diagnosed by blood tests looking for the presence of antibodies, specifically anti-endomysium and anti-tissue transglutaminase, in the blood indicating an autoimmune response to gluten. A negative blood test does not necessarily mean that celiac disease is not present, particularly if an individual has preemptively removed gluten from their diet. Doctors might also order an intestinal biopsy, where small samples of the intestine are harvested to examine for damage. Some doctors prefer to use a capsule endoscopy in order to diagnose celiac disease. This requires the individual swallow a small capsule camera that takes pictures of the intestine to examine them for damage.

Treatment

The only treatment for celiac disease itself is a gluten-free diet for life. This includes removing any food that contains wheat, barley, rye or any ingredients derived from these items. When an individual is diagnosed with celiac disease, checking labels becomes an absolute necessity. Many processed foods, sauces and snack items contain gluten. Some examples of food to avoid include malt, spelt, bulgur, semolina, durum, farina, graham and triticale. Most beer, unless specially marked “gluten free” is restricted on a gluten-free diet. However, wines and distilled alcohols, like rum and rye are fine. Full lists of dangerous food items are widely available on the internet, to include those found on the Celiac.com web site.

Many people are advised by their doctor to purchase food that is specifically labeled “gluten free.” This ensures that there is no chance the food has come in contact with gluten in the factory during production, as special measures have been taken to protect the integrity of the food product. In the home, it is vital that cooking surfaces be kept clean of gluten containing products. Other family members need to be educated so that they are aware of the importance of cleaning up crumbs and other proper cleanup techniques. It is helpful if the person with celiac disease maintains separate containers for items, such as margarine, peanut butter and jam, to protect against accidental cross-contamination by other members of the family using these products on gluten containing foods.

Symptoms of celiac disease might require additional treatments such as supplements for vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by malnutrition, such as vitamin D, iron and calcium. Other medications to manage pain, neuropathy, osteoporosis and other complications of the illness might be required.

Prognosis

The outlook for someone with celiac diseases is quite good if they adhere to a strict gluten-free diet for life. The villi in the small intestine begin to regenerate after only a few days of following a strict gluten-free diet, and most people will start to feel better within a few days to several weeks. Full regeneration of the villi can take upwards of six months.

If an individual with celiac disease does not adhere to the diet, their prognosis might look quite different. Individuals with untreated celiac disease have a higher risk of certain types of cancers, such as bowel cancer and intestinal lymphoma. They are also at a higher risk from some neurological complications, such as seizures and peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. Some individuals suffer bone density loss caused by deficiencies of vitamin D and calcium.

Notes of caution

There are no known benefits to following a gluten-free diet in the absence of a diagnosis of celiac disease. In fact, there are risks associated with a gluten-free diet. A gluten-free diet might lead to insufficient consumption of vitamins and fiber that would otherwise be obtained by eating fortified cereals, breads and other grain products. It is important to review dietary needs with a qualified specialist, registered dietitian or nutritionist.

References

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC): Celiac Disease

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

MayoClinic.com: Celiac Disease

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research: Celiac Disease FAQ

http://www.celiaccenter.org/celiac/faq.asp#celiac

Celiac.com: nsafe Gluten-Free Food List (Unsafe Ingredients)

http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsafe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Unsafe-Ingredients/Page1.html

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or an attack on the immune system, and your body can respond quickly. Normally, inflammation goes away after the assault on your body is overcome. If your body cannot overcome the problem with inflammation, then the immune system takes over.

Chronic inflammation itself is not the problem, but it is a sign of other problems, and it is caused by a poor diet, not genetics. Allergens cause inflammation, but most people are not aware of food allergies because the symptoms are delayed and subtle. Foreign chemicals cause an inflammatory reaction that blood tests can measure.

Inflammation plays a role in obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s, irritable bowel syndrome, Chrohn’s, autoimmune disorders, Types I and II diabetes, hypoglycemia, arthritis, leaky gut, asthma, joint pain, allergies, osteoporosis, depression, obesity, kidney stones, eczema, acne, infertility, endometriosis, atherosclerosis, and many other diseases.

Causes of inflammation

Inflammation can be increased by sugar, starch, fried food, gluten (found in wheat and other grains) pasteurized dairy products, antibiotics, birth control pills, pesticides (found in all non-organic foods), soft drinks, diet soft drinks, meat (especially processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, and sausage), hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, polyunsaturated oils, MSG (which can be called yeast extract), table salt (but not natural sea salt), and foods cooked at high temperatures (pizza and baked foods). Unavoidable environmental toxins such as aluminum, mercury, industrial chemicals, and environmental toxins also contribute to inflammation.

Natural remedies for inflammation

Powerful anti-inflammatory foods include cherries, celery, cucumbers, carrots, peppers, peppermint, olive oil, chamomile and green tea. Omega-3 fatty acids have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, especially when they are consumed in a diet that reduces the omega-6 oils found in processed and fried foods. Rosemary, turmeric, and oregano oil are just a few of the herbs that have proven to fight inflammation. Stevia is a natural sweetener that can be used in drinks and cooking.

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory that has been scientifically proven. It is found in many foods, including salmon and trout, which eat the algae, plants, and phytoplankton that produce astaxanthin. It has no known negative side effects, and it is also an antioxidant which benefits the brain, immune system, central nervous system, eyes, and skin, and can speed up recovery after workouts. A positive side effect is that it a natural internal sunscreen, so it protects you from sunburn and sun damage.

Ginger has been scientifically proven to prevent inflammation and to have anti-inflammatory effects, especially in the colon. Ginger is also a strong antioxidant, which increase blood flow to bodily extremities. Organically grown ginger root can be used as a spice, in smoothies, or as a supplement.

When shopping for herbal remedies, look for products that use supercritical extraction. Many companies use hexane, which is an explosive petrochemical. Supercritical extraction uses carbon dioxide that is pulled out of the air, used in the extraction process, and then allowed to evaporate from the mixture.

By understanding how inflammation affects your health, you can make simple changes. Within weeks, you will be reaping the benefits.

Recently, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have published a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that establishes a strong link between eating red meat and elevated risks of developing Type2 diabetes.

According to the study, eating 50 grams of processed red meat daily increased risks of developing Type2 Diabetes by more than 51%. On the other hand, risks were much lower (19%) if the red meat was unprocessed. Furthermore, it was seen that risks went down considerably if red meat was replaced by healthy food choices like nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy.

The study thus offers a clear indication of factors that contribute to Type2 Diabetes. Given the fact that diabetes has almost reached epidemic levels in many parts of the world, findings such as these can offer valuable clues to its causes. The study clearly shows that replacing harmful food choices with healthy ones can lead to reduced risks of developing this dreaded disorder.

In this context, it must be remembered that diabetes affects more than 350 million adults all over the world, and the numbers aren’t showing any signs of abatement. Through data from such studies, there is the possibility to bring down these numbers in the coming years through proper food management.

Nutrition tips for children:
Proper nutrition is vital for children as it helps them grow to their full potential. Here are a few nutrition tips for parents.

• Introduce the toddler to a variety of foods early on.
• Children may not take in a fully balanced diet every day of the week. For picky eaters, it is better to ensure that the diet is balanced over the week.
• In early childhood, children do not grow very rapidly. Therefore, they do not need as many calories. By keeping optimal body weight, children can steer away from weight problems later in life.
• A growing child needs almost 1.5 cups of vegetables and 1.5 cups of fruits every day. Make veggies a part of the family routine. If the child watches his parents eating vegetables, chances are he will eat them too.
• Fruit juices are not as good as whole fruits.
• Children require foods rich in protein, including soy milk, eggs, low fat dairy, lean meats, fish, poultry, lentils, legumes, tofu and nuts.
• Plenty of iron rich foods like liver, lean red meat, beans, greens, spinach, broccoli, parsley and dates are vital for proper growth.
• Growing children need approximately 500mg-1,300mg of calcium per day, depending on their age. Calcium is abundant in low fat dairy and eggnog as well as tofu, peas, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and almonds. Calcium fortified foods are available. However, it is best for the body to absorb calcium from natural food sources.
• Children often forget to drink enough water, or they may drink juices or colas. It is vital to ensure that children drink plenty of water.

Nutrition tips for teens
Teen years are a time when children are growing rapidly. They may also be involved in a number of outdoor activities, which in turn leads to elevated calorie expenditure. Some important nutrition tips for teens are given below:

• Bones are developing rapidly, so, 3-4 servings of high calcium foods daily are a must.
• Increased physical activity necessitates more vitamins. Therefore, diet must contain greens and fruits.
• Caffeine and caffeinated drinks dehydrate the body and disturb the water balance of the body.
• It is important to keep sugary, starchy foods at a bare minimum.
• Meals should not be skipped.
• It is good to start the day with a healthy breakfast like a fruit smoothie or a peanut butter sandwich.
• Teens must be trained to read food labels. It is a good idea to involve them in food planning and cooking.
• Teens like to experiment with different kinds of foods.
• Girls in their teens must take in plenty of iron rich foods with sufficient amounts of Vitamin C (as the latter improves iron absorption)
• Teens need 8-10 cups of water everyday

Nutrition for adults
Adults do not require as many calories as teenagers, unless they lead a really active lifestyle. Here are some nutrition tips for adults.

• Choose baked over fried
• Eat small meals 4-6 times a day
• Snack healthy by buying pre-cut carrots or celery sticks. A handful of almonds is better than fries or cola.
• Keep fruits and vegetables handy and in the line of vision
• Low fat dairy is preferable to full fat foods
• Learn more about portion control
• Take in plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably raw but wash them well
• Take in more salads with healthy salad dressing
• Avoid red meat. Choose lean meat instead.

Nutrition tips such as the above ensure optimal health and fitness throughout life.

• It is holistic which means that therapy is intended to treat the body as a single unit and thus seeks to cure both the causes as well as the symptoms of a disease.
• It involves changes in eating patterns as it emphasizes the importance of optimal nutrition.
• It seeks to restore the inner balance of the body
• It advocates food supplementation
• It is a preventative system of therapy

The principle behind nutritional therapy
According to practitioners of nutritional therapy, the modern food industry is responsible for many of the diseases and health problems faced by people today. Also, modern medicinal practices seek to heal the symptoms of the diseases instead of curing the cause that are at the heart of the disease. On the other hand, nutritional therapy balances mental, emotional, physical and spiritual components of life. It teaches people to adapt their diet and lifestyle to generate optimum health.

Thus, nutritional therapy lays down the following as the foundations of good health:

• Good digestion
• Optimal blood sugar balance
• Optimal balance of nutrients, minerals and essential fatty acids
• Proper hydration

Nutritional therapy is not just about eating the right foods. It involves an increased awareness of the food that goes into the body, when and where food is eaten, how it is stored and prepared. Due to this, while the benefits of nutritional therapy may be immediate, its effects are long lasting.

Nutritional therapy is most commonly used to treat conditions such as:

• Allergies and food allergies
• Fatigue
• Anorexia
• Asthma
• Constipation, bloating and other problems related to the bowel
• Elevated blood pressure levels
• Insomnia
• Pain in the joints and legs, and various kinds of arthritis
• Migraine and other headaches
• Problems related to menstruation
• Obesity and weight gain
• Skin problems
• Digestive disorders
• Osteoporosis
• Stress related problems
• Symptoms of menopause

In addition, nutritional therapy is also effective for detoxification.

Typically, nutritional therapy begins with an evaluation by a therapist where the therapist evaluates the immune system, the endocrine system and the digestive system. After this, the therapist prescribes customized solutions that help individual patients regain their health naturally.

Even though nutritional therapy is an effective healing system, its practitioners agree that there are certain diseases that cannot be cured through nutritional therapy alone. In such cases, practitioners advise that it may be used as an adjunct to other therapeutic practices.

Nutritional therapy is slowly gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a relatively new form of therapy in which the nutritional status of patients is assessed to facilitative faster healing and lowered medical costs. Several studies indicate that MNT could be a useful addition to conventional treatment practices.

• Studies suggest that medical nutrition therapy as a part of conventional medical therapy is effective in treating and managing a number of chronic conditions including hypertension, diabetes, renal insufficiency and dyslipidemia.
• Studies further show that patients who undergo screening for nutritional therapy may be successful in decreasing the likelihood of diseases and complications relating to diseases. In hospitalized patients, this led to decrease in therapy costs.
• A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that aggressive therapy of diabetes consisting of conventional and nutritional therapy had long lasting benefits like significantly lower risk of complications associated with vision and the kidneys. Therapy included daily insulin injections combined with diet, exercise and frequent blood monitoring.

Thus, the benefits of nutritional therapy cannot be ignored when it comes to achieving all around good health.