MAGICS OF COCONUTS

What is amazing about coconut is that it has re-vitalizing properties which are almost instant, within few minutes of some fresh coconut one will feel a burst of energy, clarity of mind and well-being. SATURATED FAT Some believes that Coconut contains high level of cholesterol, this is not so. The fat from coconut is known as LAURIC ACID which is a type of fat which is easily absorbed by the human body and used instantly as energy. Lauric acid is a medium chain of fatty acid which is abundant in coconut oil and is considered responsible for many of its healthy benefits. Coconut is about 50 percent lauric acid. In fact, the only other abundant source found in nature is in human breast milk. ANTI-BACTERIAL Coconut is a potent anti-baccteria and anti-fungal, it is a great cleanser of human guts. It also helps to heal the gut infections such as LEAKY GUT SYNDROM. Coconut help body fight infections because body converts it to MONOLAURIN which fights infections (viral or bacterial). STABLE FOR COOKING Coconut is the best cooking oil, it is stable when subjected to high heat and it retains all of its benefits (this makes it preferable to Olive oil) and it will leave the food with a delicious taste. In the next post expect more on coconuts, these include its other benefits, uses and how-to of coconut water. Thanks.

HONEY: AN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

It is produced by bees, it is a sweet, sticky and edible substance. It is called HONEY. Honey bees transform nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation and evaporation. They store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive . Honey gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose , and has approximately the same relative sweetness as that of granulated sugar. Raw honey – which has not been pasteurized or filtered, and ideally taken directly from the hive – is a treasure chest of nutritional value and medicinal remedies. It contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful medicine, both internally and externally. The list of honey's beneficial functions is a long one. Honey increases calcium absorption; can increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia caused by nutritional factors; can help arthritic joints, when combined with apple cider vinegar; fights colds and respiratory infections of all kinds; can help to boost gastrointestinal ulcer healing; works as a natural and gentle laxative; aids constipation, allergies and obesity; provides an array of vitamins and minerals; and supplies instant energy without the insulin surge caused by white sugar. As an antiseptic, honey is also a drawing agent for poisons from bites or stings or infected wounds, and has outperformed antibiotics in treatments for stomach ulcerations, gangrene, surgical wound infections, surgical incisions and the protection of skin grafts, corneas, blood vessels and bones during storage and shipment. Dr. Cass Igram, D.O. in The Survivor's Nutritional Pharmacy writes, "Raw honey is exceptionally effective internally against bacteria and parasites. Plus, raw honey contains natural antibiotics, which help kill microbes directly. Raw honey , when applied topically, speeds the healing of tissues damaged by infection and/or trauma. It contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as sugars, all of which aid in the healing of wounds." Some Applications are: (A) Health i. Relieve Hangovers. A tablespoons of honey, which is packed with fructose, will help speed up body's metabolism of alcohol. ii. Heal Wounds, Cuts, Scrapes & Burns? Apply honey to the affected area. Honey works as a natural antiseptic. iii. Soothe Sore Throats and Coughs. Combine honey with the juice of one lemon and drink. It really works! iv. Remove Parasites. Drinking an equal combination measure of honey, vinegar and water. The combination of these three ingredients is the perfect parasite killer. (B) Beauty i. Moisturize Dry Skin. Honey is a fantastic moisturizer, especially on dry patches, like elbowsor hands and lips! Rub onto your dry, patchy skin and let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing off. Honey also makes a great lip balm! ii. Condition Damaged Hair. Honey is a great natural conditioner. You can simply add a teaspoon of honey to your regular shampoo to smooth your damaged locks. You can also combine it with olive oil for a deeper conditioning. Let it soak for 20 minutes with your hair wrapped in a towel before shampooing as usual. iii. Have an Amazing Bath. Relax your body and soak your skin in a soothing bath. Add 2 tablespoons of honey to 1 cup of hot water and let it dissolve for about10 minutes. Add 2 or 3 drops of lavender essential oil and add it to your bath. iv. Remove Acne. Stubborn acne can really benefit from a small daily dab of honey. Place a band-aid over the pimple, and take it off 30 minutes later. v. Give Yourself a Facial. Combine 2 teaspoons of milk with 2 tablespoons of honey. Cover your face with the mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes before washingoff. (C) Food i. Boost Your Energy. Quit turning to coffee for your daily energy boost! Replace your cup of Joe with a cup of tea. Mix in a tablespoon of honey. ii. Substitute Honey for Sugar in Baking. For every cup of sugar a recipe calls for, replace it with 3/4cup of honey. For best results, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and reduce another liquid in your recipe by 1/4 cup. Also, reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees. Honey is a great medicine. Stop the sugar: Use Honey instead.

Obesity: Causes and Solution

Multiple factors have contributedto the obesity epidemic. Social, sensory, cultural, medical, perceptual, conditioning, and developmental influences have combined to disrupt well established feeding controls. All are discussed individually and collectively from the perspectivesof causation and potential mitigation, on individual and at group levels.
Another major cause of obesity that has not received its due attention is the unhealthy marriage of addictive overeatingof sweet and fatty foods with federal policies of subsidizing agricultural industries through the USDA. These subsidies specifically target agricultural production that makes tasty, high-calorie foods widely available at very modest costs. This comes by eliminating subsidies for fruits and vegetables, resulting in higher, often unaffordable prices. The Food Stamp Program is discussed as one vehicle through which produce can be made more widely available to people who could not otherwiseafford their purchase. The complexities, limitations, and potentials of such a program areevaluated.
Vulnerability to overeating, which develops in infancy and inearly childhood, has been exploited by producers of children's foods (such as sweetened cereals) and by advertising campaigns to make them extremely enticing. The contribution to early obesity by extended inactivity through TV and computer engagement is discussed, as is increased dependence on the automobile (especially in unsafe public areaswhere there is no viable alternative) as the sole means of transportation.
http://tinyurl.com/solveobesity
Obesity identifies feeding strategies and unknown entrapments that cause severe overeating and ways that they can be combated. They range from exchanging large dishes and short, stout glasses for smalldishes and thin, tall glasses to strategies of better monitoring portion sizes and the caloric content of foods served at home.
http://tinyurl.com/solveobesity

What Causes Acne?(part 2)

Skin Hygiene Dirt does not cause acne. The oil on the skin's surface does no harm and is essential for healthy elastic skin tissue. In most cases, washing the face with ordinary soap strips the skin of oil, prompting the body to over correct and produce more oil. Many acne sufferers continually over-cleanse the face and scrub, which can aggravate acne, by forcing more sebum into the tissues. Picking or squeezing pimples can also result in scarring. Acne causing bacteria is not on the surface of the skin but under the skin. By scrubbing or rubbing you will only spread the infection all over the face. It is essential to cleanse, exfoliate and tone. Use an acne treatment such as Living Natures Manuka and Honey Anticeptic Gel or Devita Essential Control as neededto help reduce bacteria. How Acne Develops The most common form of acne is teenage acne (which can vary in severity). An understanding of what is happening in the body at puberty can prevent more serious acne developing. The acid mantle and its role in acne Our skin's main function is to literally hold everything together, ie. keep our organs in a collective group. To do this effectively the skin needs to be strong, elastic and keep everything in, as well askeep things out. The things we want to keep out are excess moisture, viruses, bacteria, fungi, corrosive things, and keep our body at the correct temperature and moisture level. The pores on our skin regulate the temperature and moisture levels, and the combination of oil and sweat glands (sebaceous and sudoriferous glands) on our skin keep it healthy and elastic. THE COMBINED EXCRETIONS OF OIL AND SWEAT FORM THE "ACID MANTLE" WHICH SURROUNDS OUR BODY AND HAS A pH OF 5.5. The ACID MANTLE is our body's first defense mechanism against bacteria invading it. The slight acid conditions are disliked by bacteria. The acid mantle develops at puberty for our adult system. When we are children we do not have an acid mantle, hence why children are more exposed to disease, viruses and fungal infections like ringworm, that adults do not tend to get. The mantle around a child is pH 7, which is neutral. The change from a mantle of 7pHto a more protective ACID MANTLEhappens at puberty when we start producing more hair on ourbodies. Each hair follicle has at least one sebaceous or oil gland, which becomes active as the hair starts to grow and this changes the balance of oil and sweat on the skin. The hormones that control sweat also become active,hence the whole surface of the skin in a teenager is totally different to that of a child. The body is trying to create a safer, more protective environment. THEOIL ON OUR SKIN PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE!!!! It is now that the problem of acne starts to occur, with the skinbecoming clogged with oil and dead cells, forming small pimples and black heads. A teenager often feels that they are not cleanso they tend to wash until the skin feels "squeaky" clean, stripping the skin of oil, and if using soap, altering the pH to alkaline conditions. This is opposite to what the body is trying to achieve, to protect the body, so it will naturally produce more oil, in order to correct the body to the "safest" condition which is a pH of 5.5. The continued cleansing of the skin with alkaline products like soap create a see-saw effect on the bodies hormonal system, which controls the amount of oil being produced. In order to correct an alkaline skin condition it will haveto produce much more oil than a neutral or slightly acid condition. Therefore one of the simplest ways to prevent an imbalance occurring is to get young teenagers to use an ACID BALANCED CLEANSER. Watch out for the final part.

What Causes Acne? (part 1)

WHAT CAUSES ACNE? Acne is the medical term for pimples, spots, zits etc. The severity of acne in the past has mainly been determined by genetic factors, but with today's environmental conditions, we seea great increase in acne conditions. Acne occurs most often on the face, but may involvethe neck, chest, back and upper arms. It does not affect general health, but has significant effects on the psyche of some sufferers. Acne occurs when oil glands of the skin (sebaceous glands) are out of balance. At puberty, because of hormonal factors, these glands start producing an oily material called sebum (see later notes on "the acid mantle"). Sebum is discharged into the skin's surface. Sometimes the wall of the duct carrying the sebum to the surface breaks. The sebum can then irritate the tissues causing redness, swelling and pus - a pimple. Bacteria which live on sebum appear in large numbers in acne lesions and aggravate them. The ducts may become plugged with sebum and keratin, forming blackheads and whiteheads (open and closed comedones). Blackheads are often worse in humid conditions. Acne sometimes signals a generaltoxic condition within the body. When the kidneys, lungs, and intestines become overloaded with more wastes than they can eliminate, the skin may be called upon to filter out wastes. Other factors can make the skin more prone to develop pimples such asallergies; preservatives, pesticide and herbicide residues; dehydration; emotional problems; environmental pollution; too much exposure to the sun; heredity; hormones; oralcontraceptives; poor hygiene; weakened immunity; and stress. Just because you broke out a day after you use a new skincare product does not mean it was the product. Consider these above possibilities. The friendly flora of human intestines can also diminish due to unhealthy food habits or erratic lifestyle. In such cases the toxins produced by unprocessed food in the digestive tract manifest as skin or digestive disorders. It’s not that any food item directly triggers an outbreakof acne, but the chemical decomposition of certain food in digestive systems increases the amount of such elements which help in acne proliferation. Like saturated fat in animal products and the hydrogenated fat in processed food, refined sugar, coffee, alcohol etc. All these produce bio-chemical toxins afterdecomposition in the GI tract andthese toxins are released throughthe skin pores causing or inflaming acne. Recently I found out that most of the cosmetics out there also cause flaring up of acne because of chemicals present in them. Thecosmetics which have oil bases are not ideal for people suffering from acne, as these will increase the already high amount of sebum (oily substance) in skin. Even water-based cosmetics sometime contain certain chemicals which worsen acne. Recent findings about acne-inducing cosmetics include blushers in which red tints have been used. Some of these red tints are comedogenic (acne producing) because they are coal tar derivatives. I am so happy that here at Natural Solutions acne sufferers can come to a place where all their cosmetics are free of these synthetic colors and fillers. Age and Acne Acne usually begins mildly in the early teens, gradually becomes worse, and then after a time usually improves. A persons genetic background, their diet, environmental factors and lifestyle can greatly affect how long the condition will stay. Acne that is mistreated can often set up a long term imbalance in the metabolism and may last into the 30's and 40's. In women, it may be more troublesome just before periods and occasionally persists until menopause.

High Blood Pressure

What Should My Blood Pressure Be? High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because in the initial stages it presents withno symptoms. It is only after an organ in the body is irritated or damaged, that the consequences of high blood pressure are realized. The blood pressure recording, measures pressures within the arteries at two different times. The first reading, the systolic pressure, measures the pressurewhen the heart is pumping blood to the body through the arteries. The second reading, thediastolic pressure, measures the pressure within the arteries when the heart is receiving blood returning from the body. Blood pressure measurement is listed with two numbers with normal being less than 120/80, with 120 being the systolic blood pressure when the heart is pushing blood through the arterial system; and 80 being thediastolic blood pressure when the arteries are at rest and the heart is refilling. Read more in-depth informationhigh blood pressure readings and treatments » What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries.Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart toall the tissues and organs of the body. High blood pressure does not mean excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can temporarily increase blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called "pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high. The top number, the systolic blood pressure, corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The bottom number, the diastolicpressure, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction. The diastolic pressure reflects the lowest pressure to which the arteries are exposed. An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease , hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). Thesecomplications of hypertension are often referred to as end-organ damage because damage to these organs is the end result of chronic (long duration) high blood pressure. For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications. It was previously thought that rises in diastolic blood pressure were a more important risk factor than systolic elevations, but it is now known that in people 50 years or older systolic hypertension represents a greater risk. The American Heart Association estimates high blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the United States -73 million people. High blood pressure is also estimated to affect about two million American teens and children, andthe Journal of the American Medical Association reports that many are under-diagnosed. Hypertension is clearly a major public health problem

Garlic and your health

Garlic has been utilized as a medication for ages. Numerous researches have in addition confirmed the utilization of garlic for wellbeing and health of human. A number of studies imply that garlic may decrease levels of cholesterol, triglycerides or fatty materials and plaque accumulation in the arteries. If individuals are fond of including additional garlic to their diet, there are definite tactics for cooking it to obtain its utmost advantage. Individuals are advised to be cautious of garlic supplements that are available in the market. Even though consumption of moderate amounts of garlic in food is not likely to be detrimental to health , taking excessive garlic in the shape of supplements can give rise to indications, for example giddiness or fainting, stomach pain and sickness. In addition, garlic supplements may not be a prudent selection for everybody. Like every vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements, garlic supplements too can trigger adverse reactions if taken with other medicines. Hence it is advisable for individuals to seek the help of a doctor before using garlic supplements for enhancing their garlic ingestion. The precise procedure by which garlic may be benefiting the body is yet to be comprehended. A number of the substances present in garlic, for example sulfur-containing compounds, have been connected with definite health advantages. Reducing cholesterol *. Garlic contains adenosine which may help in the deterrence of blood clots. *. Garlic is also known to contain certain substances that assist inthe deterrence of blood clots and also aids in reducing cholesterol. *. Organic sulfide compounds in garlic may help in reducing cholesterol and thwart cancer. *. Sulfur-containing amino acids such as S-allylcysteine in garlic also assists in reducing cholesterol. *. Certain studies have indicated considerable heart- linked advantages of garlic. Garlic has the antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C as well as selenium and the use of garlic helps in the decline in plaque anddeterrence of additional plaque accumulation which in turn diminishes the threat of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Studies have revealed that garlic helps in maintaining elasticity or flexibility of the major artery i.e. the aorta that pumps blood from the heart to the other parts of the body. Garlic seems to present the utmost health benefits when it has been permitted to remain in the crushed state for 10 to 15 minutes after being squashed or crushed. Throughout this time, sulfur-containing compounds areformed. Preferably, garlic is then ingested as an unprocessed flavoring on food. A number of health specialists even advocate that garlic cloves be chewed raw for maximum result. Nonetheless, other experts caution that consumption of excessive garlic can result in stomach trouble or heartburn. Consequently, cooking the garlic lightly after it has been preserved in a crushed state for a while could be the most excellent tactic.