Apple Cider Vinegar For Ringworm: Natural Health Ezine

Monday, March 29, 2010 0 comments

Apple Cider Vinegar For Ringworm: Natural Health Ezine


Posted: 28 Mar 2010 03:01 AM PDT


Ringworm is caused by a fungal infection that affects the skin of humans, as well as the skin of domesticated animals like cats and dogs. The fungi of ringworm feed off skin that is moist and warm, and usually can be found in the nails, hair, or outer layer of the skin. They can sometimes be found on the outsides or the interior of hair shafts. Ringworm usually looks like a circular or a half moon shape on the skin. It can be inflamed, itchy, and painful. The fungi of ringworm are the same fungi that results in athletes’ foot.
Ringworm has been around since before the early 1900s. During that time, the condition was normally treated with iodine, sulfur, or with compounds of mercury. In today’s times, there are many more ways to treat ringworm. Using apple cider vinegar for ringworm treatment is an option for many people. Apple cider vinegar has natural anti-fungal properties, and matches human skin pH levels. Because of these properties, it’s safe to use on skin.

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How To Burn Fat Naturally: Natural Health Ezine

Sunday, March 28, 2010 0 comments

How To Burn Fat Naturally: Natural Health Ezine


Posted: 27 Mar 2010 04:59 AM PDT


You would be surprised to know that the body burns fat naturally. It just does the job very slowly. An easy and convenient source of food has made this process invisible to most of us. Many think they need to spend ridiculous hours at the gym or pay hundreds of dollars for pills and supplements. However, that is not necessary if you take advantage of the way the human body operates. Here are a few tips to use in your daily life.

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Libre Loose Leaf Tea Glass Review: Natural Health Ezine

Saturday, March 27, 2010 0 comments

Libre Loose Leaf Tea Glass Review: Natural Health Ezine


Posted: 27 Mar 2010 01:08 AM PDT


A couple of days ago I got a Libre loose leaf tea glass in the mail. Libre makes double walled thermoses for tea. The interior wall  is made of glass and the exterior is either glass or polycarbonate which is durable for travel. Because it’s double walled, it will keep your drink warm or cold for about an hour. But it is build with a filter in it and designed for steeping your tea directly in it. You can either choose to leave your tea leaves in while you drink, or remove them.

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Diabetes-What It Is and How to Prevent It: Natural Health Ezine

Friday, March 26, 2010 0 comments

Diabetes-What It Is and How to Prevent It: Natural Health Ezine


Diabetes-What It Is and How to Prevent It

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 01:46 AM PDT


Diabetes is a condition affecting over 48 million people every year. There are 2 types of diabetes, simply known as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is more common in children, but can develop at any age. It is also known as juvenile diabetes. Those affected with Type 1 diabetes are insulin dependant due to the pancreas producing little or no insulin in which the body needs.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body produces too much insulin. With this type of diabetes, your body is resistant to the effects of insulin and can be deadly if left untreated. This type of diabetes is more common than Type 1, and can go years undetected.

Diabetes is much more than a simple disease, as it causes other conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and in some cases, death.

Diabetes is not a curable disease; however there are many ways you can help prevent becoming diabetic. Those include:

1. Watch Your Weight
Type 2 diabetes number one cause: being overweight. The more fatty tissues in your body, the more resistant your body becomes to insulin. Loosing just 5 to 10% of your body fat can dramatically decrease your chances of developing diabetes.

2. Eat Your Fiber
Fiber is great for your body already, and it can help you prevent getting diabetes by improving your blood sugar. It is easy to get the fiber intake your body needs, as it is found in breads, cereal, and more great tasting foods you already enjoy.

3. Exercise
While you may prefer to sit on the couch and watch Seinfeld reruns, getting too little physical activity can cause an array of health concerns, as well as make you more susceptible to diabetes. Make sure you are getting plenty of exercise each and everyday, whether it is from a mild walk or a short workout. The CDC recommends at least 30 minutes of activity 5 days per week.

4. Eat Healthy
The burgers and fries are great every now and again, but not getting the proper nutrition can cause diabetes. Eat whole grain foods, as well as those that are low fat. Choose a variety of vegetables to include in your daily menu, and be sure to watch how many calories you consume daily. Eating smaller portions during meal time can also reduce your risk. Instead of filling up on 3 meals per day, consume 5 to 6 smaller portioned meals.

5. Drink Water
Our body needs water to survive. Drink the recommended 6 to 8 glasses of water per day to keep your body running great, and help ensure you will not suffer from diabetes.

6. Stay Away From Fat Free Foods
The label makes them sound appealing, yet eating foods labeled fat free actually do more harm than good when speaking of diabetes. Fat free foods send insulin levels into orbit and you may not be able to control these levels again.

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How To Fix A Clogged Drain With Baking Soda: Natural Health Ezine

Thursday, March 25, 2010 0 comments

How To Fix A Clogged Drain With Baking Soda: Natural Health Ezine


How To Fix A Clogged Drain With Baking Soda

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 04:54 AM PDT


It’s the sound that everyone dreads. The sound of a slow running drain. Whether it’s the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or the shower drain, clogs happen. Things go down the drain by accident, or it’s just a build up of stuff over time. Clogs are pretty much inevitable. They also tend to happen at inconvenient times. Let’s say you have a clog that is really causing your drain to run slow. It needs to get fixed as soon as possible, but you’re out of the standard Drano or Liquid Plumber. What do you do? You’re in luck. It just so happens that one of the most common household products can fix your drain problem. Regular baking soda. Baking soda is used for many household problems, including fixing a clogged drain. Here are a few tips on how to fix a clogged drain with baking soda. Either by itself, or in combination with other household items.

Before you get started, it’s best to try and clear out all the big chunks of debris from the drain. Grab those rubber gloves, and start pulling. Yes, it is a nasty job, but it needs to be done. Hair can wrap around the drain, and is usually pretty easy to get out with only a few tugs. Once you’ve done all you can, get the baking soda ready.

Using Baking Soda By Itself

If the clog isn’t too bad, baking soda can work well all by itself. First pour one cup of baking soda down the drain. Next, pour two cups of boiling water down the drain. The clog should break up and free up the pipes. You can repeat this process if needed.

Using Baking Soda In Combination With Vinegar

If the solution above didn’t quite clear the clog, here’s another tip. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, just like before. Next pour down one cup of vinegar. Allow the two ingredients to mix and do their job for a few minutes. The mixture of the baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzy paste. After they’ve mixed for a little while, pour a few cups of boiling water down the drain. The mixture of baking soda and vinegar will help to release any debris that is stuck in the drain. This combination helps to break down fatty acids. The hot water will help to rinse everything clear.

Using Baking Soda In Combination With Salt

Another option is to use salt along with baking soda. Just as in the other options, pour one cup of baking soda down the drain. Next, pour in one cup of table salt down the drain. You’ll need to let this sit for a few hours. Three maybe four hours should be enough. No longer than that. After a few hours have passed, pour in two cups of boiling water. The salt acts as an abrasive, and can scrub off the really tough clogged debris. The baking soda helps to break the clogged substances down, and again the hot water will rinse everything clear.

All of these options work well for any drain in your home. No one likes dealing with a clogged drain. To avoid them, place a strainer over every drain you have to avoid big chucks of debris, or hair from making their way down. Empty the strainer in the garbage when you’re done. This is a good idea even if you have a disposal in your kitchen sink. But if you do end up with a clogged drain, you now know a few ways on how to fix a clogged drain with baking soda.

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The Health Benefits Of Collard Greens: Natural Health Ezine

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 0 comments

The Health Benefits Of Collard Greens: Natural Health Ezine


The Health Benefits Of Collard Greens

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 10:53 AM PDT


Many people have said that southerners do not eat a healthy diet because a southern diet consists of mainly fried foods. A southerner will be happy to inform you that as different as they may seem, collard greens are actually considered to be a staple of that part of the nation. Collards are a form of the Brassica family which includes broccoli and cauliflower and they are also related to kale, but their dark blue-green smooth leaves make them quite different and recognizable. They are absolutely scrumptious when served as a "mess o’ greens" with black-eyed peas and cornbread or hush-puppies (little deep fried balls of cornbread with onions in them) and catfish freshly caught. Nothing could be better on a Sunday afternoon when all the family gets together down at the lake for a fish fry. It’s like having a giant family reunion every week. The other meat that is served with either collards, turnip greens, or mustard greens is pork, sometimes in the form of salt pork or a ham hock.

Health benefits of collard greensThe history of these foods go back to the slave days when the plantation owners threw all the parts of the pig they wouldn’t eat into a large iron pot for the slaves to eat. This is where chittlins came into the pot, which are the innards of a pig. After travelers began showing up with new food items such as corn, rice, squash and tomatoes, the unique Southern cuisine was born. One of the reasons this type of food did not become popular with the general population was the two negative factors produced from eating them was the fact that cooking these foods made the kitchen smell bad and then after eating the food it induced flatulence. The one thing that has stuck with this style of food is the fact that it brings good luck and a year of good fortune if eaten on New Year’s Day. The good luck meal should consist of hog jowl, black-eyed peas, and collards, along with cornbread. Also, hanging a fresh collard leaf over the door assures that evil spirits would not enter.

There are numerous health benefits to having collards as a part of your regular diet. Not to get too technical, but the glucosinolates, although small in number, seem to help with a large variety of female cancers, mainly breast and ovarian. The reason for this has not been established yet, but the detoxifying enzymes in the liver help the detoxification process. Testing done in this area have shown some connection between chemopreventive compounds in some of the foods in our diets such as collards that can influence cancer-related genes.

It has been known for many years that phytonutrients in collard greens work at a very deep level in the process of detoxification which cleans our bodies by eliminating harmful toxins. In articles discussing this process it describes the phytonutrients in collards as "dancing" inside our cells with detoxification partners. It describes each dancer performing its own special role in protecting the balance with the other dancers. The "dance" must work because more recent studies have shown that people that include the most cruciferous vegetables are at a lower risk for cancer of the prostate, colorectal and lungs.

The studies also showed that vegetables like collards won hands down over any other type of vegetables. It doesn’t even take that much of the cruciferous to be effective. Just one small cup a day can help with all degenerative diseases, including colon cancer, osteoarthritis, and diabetes. Also, since collards rid the body of free radicals it helps with asthma attacks which is an inflammatory disease.

Other benefits of a collard green filled diet is that it is loaded with the antioxidant trace mineral manganese. Not only does it help the body absorb vitamin C, but it is also a component of another antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase which also rids the body of free radicals. Collards are also a great source of calcium which is known for decreasing bone loss. It also has been found to help prevent migraines, reduce PMS symptoms, and helps with blood clotting, nerve conduction and muscle contraction.

Collard Greens Nutritional Value

Collards greens are known to have many nutrients in them including:

-A, K, and C.
-Omega 3
-Zinc
-Folate
-Niacin, potassium, and magnesium
-Iron
-Vitamin E
-Calcium
-Vitamins B1, B3, B2, B6

It has been stated in the Neurology Journal that eating collard greens 3xday lowers the decline of mental function by as much as 40%. This would be very beneficial to people who feel like they are loosing their mental capacity. This may include most of us sometime during each life. Let’s all put some collards in our diets and improve our health, mentally and physically.

Photo by Kables

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How To Use Vinegar To Get Rid Of Gnats: Natural Health Ezine

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 0 comments

How To Use Vinegar To Get Rid Of Gnats: Natural Health Ezine


How To Use Vinegar To Get Rid Of Gnats

Posted: 22 Mar 2010 09:49 AM PDT


It’s just another ordinary day. You feel the rumble in your stomach, and wander into the kitchen to find a healthy snack. What you find when you enter may make you change your mind. Gnats. Those pesky little insects are flying around the fresh fruit and other areas in the kitchen. This may be a result of fruit going bad, dirty dishes left in the sink, or from the trash can that needs to be emptied. Gnats are drawn to the odors of rotting food. They are also attracted to other warm and moist places, such as houseplants. These are areas in which they lay their eggs. Gnats multiply very fast, so it’s best to take action right away. Lucky for you, you may already have the answer in your kitchen pantry. Vinegar. Below are ways on how to use vinegar to get rid of gnats.

First of all, before you start, you’ll want to make sure any old fruit is thrown out, and toss the garbage bag in the dumpster. You’ll also want to clean out your sink of dirty dishes, and wipe down counters that have crumbs on them. Once you’ve done a basic kitchen clean up, grab that bottle of vinegar.

A popular way to get rid of gnats using vinegar involves a small empty bottle. Fill the bottle with vinegar, almost to the top. Put the cap on securely, and poke a few holes in the cap. Gnats are attracted to the vinegar, and will climb in. Once they climb in, they won’t be able to get back out. If the gnats are in more than one spot in the house, fill up several bottles and place them where they are collecting in groups. Let these bottles sit for a few hours, then simply throw them out with the trash. Repeat the process if needed.

If you don’t have any spare empty bottles, you can also use small bowls. You won’t be able to secure a lid very easily to a bowl, but don’t worry. In the bowl, mix the vinegar with some dish soap. The gnats will once again be attracted to the vinegar, and climb into the bowl. The dish soap causes the mixture to be sticky, in which case the gnats will get stuck and won’t be able to escape. Again, let the bowls sit for a while and then empty and repeat if needed.

For gnats that gather near the drain of the sink, you can pour a little vinegar around the drain, as well as down the drain. The gnats will gather around the vinegar, and you can simply rinse them down the drain with water.

If the gnats are collecting on surface areas such as counters, you can mix some vinegar in a spray bottle along with some warm water. Simply spray the mixture on the counter top where the gnats are, and wipe them away with a paper towel. Be sure to take the used paper towels out to the dumpster right away so they don’t make their way back into the house.

This spray also works well on houseplants. If the bottle or bowl trick doesn’t capture all of the gnats that have gathered in or around houseplants, they can be cleared out by wiping the leaves with a paper towel that is damp with water and vinegar.

Gnats can be annoying little insects that can invade your kitchen and home very quickly. It happens to every home eventually, no matter if you’re a clean freak or not. Just one piece of slightly rotted food item can attract gnats. Luckily, you have the secret weapon in your kitchen. You now know how to use vinegar to get rid of gnats.

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The 4 Main Health Benefits of Liquid Chlorophyll: Natural Health Ezine

Monday, March 22, 2010 0 comments

The 4 Main Health Benefits of Liquid Chlorophyll: Natural Health Ezine


The 4 Main Health Benefits of Liquid Chlorophyll

Posted: 21 Mar 2010 11:02 PM PDT


I can imagine you now, blinking at the title of this post. “Chlorophyll?” you ask yourself. “Isn’t that something that plants need? I think they told me about it in grade school.” You’re correct! Chlorophyll is often called the “blood” of plant life and is one of the leading components in photosynthesis. It’s what gives plants their distinctive green color. Of course you’re a flesh-and-blood human, not a plant, but ever since a couple of researchers from the University of Florida discovered how to properly preserve chlorophyll, we’ve been able to harness its properties to benefit humankind as well. Starting out mainly as food-coloring, chlorophyll in liquid form has since become a popular dietary supplement for some very good reasons.

Liquid Chlorophyll health benefits1. It replenishes your bloodstream

You know about hemoglobin, right? No, he wasn’t the villain in the Spiderman comics. We’re talking about what Wikipedia describes as “the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of vertebrates.” Basically, it’s the substance in your blood that gets oxygen and iron to all the right places in your body, and in fact aside from water it’s the largest component within your blood.

Chlorophyll’s molecular structure is nearly exactly that of hemoglobin – the only difference is that instead of iron chlorophyll contains magnesium. The components of chlorophyll get redistributed in the body to replenish blood cells, and that means oxygen gets more quickly and evenly distributed in your body, which in turn means you’ll be feeling more alert, energized and focused.

2. It aids muscle building

We’re starting to see liquid chlorophyll appear more and more often in fitness and bodybuilding nutrition retailers, and that’s because its aforementioned blood replenishing abilities also mean that blood is going to be pumping much more into muscle tissue. We already told you liquid chlorophyll is made up of magnesium, but it also has iron, vitamin C and K, folic acid, and protein which are all vital ingredients in strengthening and maintaining healthy muscle tissue. It might not make you Arnold overnight, but chlorophyll can make your workouts more effective for sure.

3. It cleanses the body

I dislike the nebulous term “toxins” because of its use in any number of silly health products products (remember those detox foot pads?), but chlorophyll’s been found to accelerate the removal of waste in the body, and that’s always a good thing. It removes old material in the liver, eliminates bacteria in the colon, and eats up heavy metals that could potentially form kidney stones. You’ll be getting over sickness faster – not to mention you’re more likely to be regular!

4. It makes you smell better

Of all the health benefits of liquid chlorophyll, probably the most immediate and tangible is that it just makes you smell better. Seriously! Chlorophyll is a certified deodorizer mainly because of the cleansing aspects already explained above: having a clean digestive tract means there’s less nasty stuff in your body to stink up your breath, and the less waste in your body, the less likely your sweat will contain body odor. In fact, many liquid chlorophyll supplements advertise themselves primarily as an internal deodorant!

Liquid chlorophyll is widely available online and at nutritional stores for great prices: usually between $7 – 10. It’s easy to take advantage of liquid chlorophyll’s benefits. It won’t make you green, though, which I guess depending on your point of view could be a good or bad thing.

photo by wakalani

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How To Pick Out Organic Sheets And Bedding

Posted: 21 Mar 2010 05:58 AM PDT


Roughly one third of the lives of humans is spent sleeping. That’s quite a lot of time to spend in one place. You want to make sure you have the best materials. Materials that are chemical free and safe for the environment. When you hear the word “organic,” you might first think of food. But food is not the only thing that is made organically. Sheets and other bedding are made organically, and are just as strong as the non organic varieties. It might be a bit difficult to know how and where to start looking for these items. Here are a few tips on how to pick out organic sheets and bedding.

Finding Organic BeddingA lot of non-organic bedding is made up of a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester. Just by itself, polyester is made up from a blend of petrochemicals. And the cotton used in non-organic bedding is sprayed with lots of pesticides by the farmers who grow it. It may not sound like a big deal, but when you think about it, do you really want to breathe in these chemicals and toxins every night?

You’ll want to look for bedding that is made from various types of organic fibers. Organic fibers to look for are silk, cotton, and wool. There are benefits to each type. Fibers from silk make the material very soft. Organic wool fibers are great for insulation. This will be good at keeping you warm on cold winter nights. Organic wool fibers are also fire proof, which is a huge benefit. Organic cotton fibers have the benefit of coming in a variety of colors. Organic cotton is grown worldwide, so this type is readily available.

Another thing to look for when picking out organic bedding, is that it is free of chemicals. Non-organic bedding is sprayed with chemicals and pesticides, which is not only bad for humans, but it’s bad on the environment as well. Pesticides and harsh chemicals are said to be a cause for the deterioration of the planet’s ozone layer. By eliminating these chemicals from your bedding, it will provide a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

Buying an organic mattress pad is another thing to look into. An organic wool mattress pad helps to resist moisture, bacteria, and dust mites. Using an organic wool mattress pad means it won’t need to be washed frequently. And since it’s made from organic wool, it means it will be fire resistant as well.

You might be wondering where to go to buy organic bedding. It might be easier than you realize. Most major retail stores carry organic sheets and bedding. The most convenient store which is located everywhere is Walmart. Kmart sells organic bedding as well. Online retailers such as Amazon and Overstock.com are great places as well to buy organic bedding. Less available retail stores include Crate & Barrel and Pier 1 Imports. If you’re not sure if the sheets you’d like to buy are organic, ask a salesperson to help you out.

Knowing how to pick out organic sheets and bedding is not only good for your health, it’s also a great way to do your part in helping the environment. Organic sheets and bedding are also made for babies crib and for children. So your entire family can breathe easy as they dream.

Photo by n.gottier

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