Month: October 2011

Once again, what we eat and drink can be a huge factor in determining our health. Coffee, in its most basic form, may be considered a food, or, an herb. And, it appears that among its many effects on our health, it might be protective when it comes to skin cancer.

Daily coffee may lower your skin cancer risk

Your morning coffee might do more than jump-start your day. Researchers say that daily caffeine jolt might also reduce your risk of developing a type of skin cancer.

‘Our study indicates that coffee consumption may be an important option to help prevent basal cell carcinoma,’ aid lead researcher Fengju Song, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of dermatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, ‘Our study indicates that coffee consumption may be an important option to help prevent basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with nearly one million new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. A diet that contains even a small protective factor may have great public health impact. The amount of caffeine consumption was inversely associated with risk…,’ meaning the more coffee consumed, the lower the risk of skin cancer.

The study could not prove cause-and-effect, however, and at this point the finding remains an association only.

Decaffeinated coffee was not associated with a decreased risk of basal cell carcinoma, and the researchers said any protective effect would likely be because of caffeine, a stimulant. The study authors also expressed surprise that coffee did not reduce the risk of two other types of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and the less common but potentially deadly melanoma.

Earlier experiments in mice found caffeine helped reduce the development of squamous cell carcinoma by eliminating cells damaged by ultraviolet radiation, but that effect was not seen in the current study.

The results were scheduled for presentation Monday at an American Association for Cancer Research International Conference in Boston.”

Add to the many great benefits of Green Tea… helping reduce body fat!

Green tea shown to fight obesity

“(NaturalNews) Pennsylvania State University researchers have discovered yet another impressive property of green tea – it can slow down weight gain and counter obesity. This recent study analyzed the health development of a test group of obese mice that were fed a high-fat diet mixed with green tea extracts, and compared it to that of a control group of obese mice that were fed the same diet, without the green tea compounds. The mice in the test group gained weight at a much slower rate than the mice in the control group, and they appeared to be in better health overall.

Assistant professor of food science in agricultural sciences, Joshua Lambert, who was part of this research, explained that ‘in this experiment, we see the rate of body weight gain slows down.’

Green tea is believed to have originated in China, although many Asian cultures traditionally prepare and consume this type of tea. It is produced from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have only undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea has the highest content of antioxidants among commonly consumed foods and beverages, and that is why it has consistently attracted scientific attention over the last few decades.

Green tea can also provide the body with considerable amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, and trace elements (including chromium, manganese, selenium and zinc). Both animal and human studies have revealed that green tea has the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and to help with the prevention of tooth decay by improving bone quality and density, as well as to fight against different forms of cancer.

The study recently conducted at Penn State had the test mice on a high-fat diet enriched with Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (or EGCG), which is an important compound found in green tea that is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. These mice gained weight at a 45% slower rate than the control group of mice, who were on the same high-fat diet.

The mechanism of action is believed to be linked to how the body absorbs fats. The analysis of fecal matter from the test mice revealed that they eliminated 30% more lipids than the mice in the control group, which implies that green tea may reduce lipid absorption.

Assistant professor Lambert explained: ‘[T]here seems to be two prongs to this. First, EGCG reduces the ability to absorb fat and, second, it enhances the ability to use fat.’ Moreover, green tea had no impact whatsoever on appetite, as both groups of mice consumed roughly equal amounts of food. To match the EGCG quantities used in the study, a normal person would have to drink around 10 cups of green tea per day; however, Lambert assures us that only a few cups per day may also help obese individuals control body weight.”

The husk of the Psyllium plant (that surrounds the seeds) is a beneficial cleansing agent. If you want to clean out your colon, then psyllium is the way to do it! Psyllium expands to several times its original size when mixed with water. As it moves through your colon, it bulks up and softens your stool. In fact, you may notice that your stool will become darker, and thicker, when using psyllium. Natural health practioners believe that this is due to old fecal matter being dislodged and cleansed from your colon.

Psyllium does not taste very good, but, fortunately, it can be combined with juices, to help make it more palentable. Some people can have allergic reactions to psyllium, so be careful using it! Start slow, and see how your body reacts to psyllium use.

Psyllium use is often combined with bentonite for a full cleanse. Psyllium and bentonite can help to eliminate parasites and candida, but shoudl be used with other treatments for a full effect in this area. Bentonite is a medicinal powdered clay which is also known as montmorillonite.

“Naturopathy is a philosophy which encompasses a view of life, a model for living a full life. The word naturopathy is a Latin-Greek hybrid which can be defined as ‘being close to or benefiting from nature.’” — Stewart Mitchell, Naturopathy: Understanding the Healing Power of Nature

A traditional, classical naturopath specializes in wellness. That is to say, teaching clients how applying natural lifestyle approaches can act to facilitate the body’s own natural healing and health building potential. The traditional naturopath does not undertake to “diagnose” or “treat diseases,” but rather recognizes that the majority of sub-health conditions are cumulative lifestyle effects, and that the underlying cause of what we call “disease” (or, “dis-ease”) is improper diet, unhealthy habits, and environmental factors which cause biological imbalances leading to a weakening of the bodies’ natural defenses and subsequent breakdown in health. The practice of Traditional Naturopathy is not considered the practice of medicine and is currently legal in all 50 states.

The practice of Traditional Naturopathy is recognized as a common occupation at the Federal level (U.S. Congress 1928, 1929, 1930 and 30 Federal Court rulings between 1958 and 1978) and as such it is a profession protected under the 14th and 9th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Several states have also made this stipulation either by statute or in the Courts.

All disease (dis-ease) is a “lack of ease” or lack of homeostasis in the body. What Allopathic (medical) doctors call diseases are only symptoms of a greater underlying problem. Disease is nothing more than a manifestation of our bodies trying to correct imbalances. These Imbalances are due to faulty nutritional patterns, improper rest, stress management and other lifestyle considerations which over time can result in a weakening of the body. By the time disease appears on the scene it is very late in the game!

Our body tells us early on when there is a problem and we can either respond to these “messages” or try to suppress the symptoms the body uses to tell us there is a problem. You can take Tylenol, or other drugs, to suppress the symptoms and they will help for a while but, unless the underlying problem is corrected, eventually the symptoms will no longer be suppressed by these drugs and one will need to take stronger and stronger drugs to quiet the body’s message.

Eventually, if the underlying problem has not been addressed, the body will begin to break down structurally. It is at this time modern medicine is finally capable of diagnosing something is really wrong and offer interventions to fix the structure, but still medical doctors fail to address the underlying problem.

Naturopathy concentrates on identifying destructive aspects of the lifestyle in the early phases, when lifestyle changes can occur to bring long-term benefit. Before symptoms manifest and long before a diagnosis can be rendered, these destructive aspects of our lifestyle can be identified and corrected. Once corrected, the body automatically begins to correct itself. Diagnosing disease and illness is totally unnecessary to correcting the underlying problems which result in disease and illness.

A true healer does not waste his time concentrating on naming diseases but rather on identifying those underlying factors, which if not addressed, will eventually result in the manifestation of disease and illness. These factors can be identified and corrected long before it is even possible to make any diagnosis. Even after a diagnosis is made, the same concepts of healing used by Traditional Naturopaths are equally effective, because once balance is restored the body automatically heals itself!

From my web site, Classical Naturopathy

Aloe Vera gel is a natural disinfectant. It is very beneficial as a natural salve and treatment for minor burns. In fact, my mother used to keep Aloe Vera plants handy for just such a use in the kitchen! It is also a soothing balm for sunburn! It can help relieve itching, scrapes, and insect bites. It is a powerful natural aid to help counter digestive disorders such as IBS or IBD. Aloe Vera gel is known for its mucilage, which is a thin clear jelly-like substance obtained from the parenchymal tissue that makes up most of the inner section of the plants leaves. This mucilage gel contains substances such as glucomannans and pectic acid, which are both carbohydrate polymers.

Pure Aloe Vera gel is also antibacterial. It promotes healing. It can help with cuts, constipation, headaches, digestive disorders, burns, stomach ulcers, irregular bowel movements, premenstrual syndrome, skin cancer, stomach disorders, skin disorders, infections, arthritis, IBS, inflammation and allergies!

Aloe Vera gel is, in essence, a complex water storage matrix, which contains mostly water. When you dehydrate Aloe Vera gel, you are left with a very small amount of powder.

Aloe Vera supports these organs and systems: large intestine, stomach, heart, liver, lungs, skin, the immune system, the intestinal tract, the spleen, and the digestive system.

Aloe can reduce or eliminate scars. Aloe vera maintains female hormone regulation. Dried powder is used for hepatitis, liver problems and constipation. It should be used with caution since, the concentrated dried leaf is a powerful laxative. It is also effective against intestinal worms and parasites.

In short, Aloe Vera gel is mainly used for its healing, soothing and moisturizing capabilities. The benefits of Aloe Vera gel can be credited to its many nutrients such as: vitamins (C, folic acid, B1, B2, B3, and B6), calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and copper.

How can an algae be a superfood? Most people today don’t eat algae! Well, turns out, it is, and is very beneficial to your health! Low calorie, and nutrient rich, it is something to consider in terms of your diet, or supplementation!

Spirulina – Packed with protein, B12 and iron

“(NaturalNews) Spirulina, a blue-green algae, is a superfood by any definition. It has been used since the 16th century by the Aztecs and North Africans. It was later rediscovered by the French, who later opened the first Spirulina processing plant in 1969, and soon after in Japan, Thailand, California, and Hawaii. Its nutritional benefits are impressive and vast, making it an invaluable food especially for vegetarians, vegans, anemics, diabetics, and those who cannot take in enough nutrients in their diet due to economics or location.

Spirulina is not a sea plant, but is found mostly in fresh water lakes and thrives in very warm water that is 85-112 degrees Fahrenheit. Blue-green algae like spirulina are what give bodies of water a dark green appearance. Spirulina is named for its shape since it forms swirling, microscopic strands. There are over forty thousand varieties, which only need a little bit of water and some sun to grow. It is able to grow by itself in the wild, and not on a farm with the help of humans. After it grows, it is harvested and turned into a thick paste, and then dried. Then it is packed into a powder or turned into a tablet or granulated so it can be filled into capsules.

Spirulina contains a high amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is about 60-70% protein, which is greater gram for gram than both red meat and soy. It also contains all of the essential amino acids, which makes it a complete protein; this is not very common in plant foods. It contains a large amount of Vitamin B12, which is very difficult to find in other plant foods. That is one reason why Spirulina is such a great choice for vegetarians. Spirulina is very rich in iron, which is the most common mineral deficiency. Spirulina also contains calcium, magnesium, and Vitamins A, B, C, D and E. Due to its ability to withstand high temperatures, it is able to retain its nutritional value during processing and shelf storage. Many other plant foods will deteriorate at these temperatures. It only contains 3.9 calories per gram and still has all of these great benefits. It is a low calorie, nutrient dense food.”