Archive for January, 2010

Green Tea Weight Loss Plan

By pinky, 29 January, 2010, 1 Comment
a cup of sencha
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Many people are now turning to inexpensive and natural green tea weight loss plans to help them in their weight control efforts. It is simple too. Green tea can be drunk like any other tea, usually without milk or sweeteners, or if you do not like the taste you can purchase green tea extract, which is said to be more effective due to it’s potency.

Research has shown that green tea helps to reduce weight by stimulating the body’s thermogenesis process, which increases the expenditure of energy and the oxidization of fat in the body. Many compounds found in plants have this effect. The special thing about green tea is that it does not increase the heart rate, and is therefore believed to be safer than diet pills such as ephidrine that also work by stimulating thermogenesis.

A lot of people who are overweight have or are at risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular problems, so the fact that green tea does not put pressure on the heart makes it a good choice. Ephidrine is not usually recommended if you are in this group but green tea is considered a safe option. It means that you can gradually increase your exercise levels without increasing your risk of heart problems.

There are only two ways to lose weight: one way is by eating less (consuming fewer calories) and the other is by increasing expenditure of energy (using up more calories). Green tea works by increasing output and this can be by around 4%. Most scientists believe that this is caused by the high quantity of catechin that is in the tea and its extract.

Green tea has the added benefit of containing powerful antioxidants that may be beneficial to your health in many ways, strengthening the immune system and protecting against disease.

Keep in mind that green tea does contain caffeine so you should cut out coffee and other forms of tea while you are taking it. Decaffeinated green tea is not recommended because the chemical processes that are used to remove the caffeine may destroy the beneficial properties of the plant.

At the same time you will need to exercise control in what you eat. If you eat more to compensate for the calories that are burnt by the tea, you will not lose any weight. Keeping to the same calorific intake that you have now and taking green tea should result in gradual weight loss and better energy levels over a few weeks. You can of course increase the speed of this by reducing calorie consumption and/or increasing exercise.

Green tea is a simple, easy and inexpensive weight control aid that can easily be incorporated into any weight loss program. The choice of tea or extract offers something for everybody. Natural and safe, green tea weight loss should feature in your program if you want to keep the weight off permanently.

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Natural Remedies For Fibroids

By pinky, 23 January, 2010, 10 Comments

Although there are no guaranteed natural remedies for fibroids, there are a few treatments that you can try which may help to reduce their size or at least prevent them from growing further, and reduce the heavy bleeding that is often associated with uterine fibroids.

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Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors usually found in the womb (uterus) and are very common in women of childbearing age. They appear in about 25% of white women and 50% of black women. Some women may have them without knowing, but in other cases they can grow to a size where they cause pain and a noticeably swollen abdomen. The swelling may make a woman look pregnant. She will often have very heavy and painful periods.

Fibroids may cause pain at other times too, for example during sex. They can also interfere with pregnancy, either making it difficult to get pregnant in the first place or causing miscarriage, premature birth or bleeding during the pregnancy. If they press on the bladder they may cause incontinence as well as pain.

The cause of fibroids is thought to be hormonal. They almost always shrink or disappear after the menopause, unless a woman takes hormone replacement therapy. Genetics may also play a part in the causes of these uterine growths.

The standard medical treatment, if required, is surgery. In the past, the only option was hysterectomy, i.e. complete removal of the womb. Now it is possible in many cases to have what is called a myomectomy in which only the fibroids themselves are removed. If successful, this means that you can still have children afterward. The surgical procedure that is recommended will depend on the size and number of the growths.

If you do not need surgery or decide against it, you may want to look for a natural remedy that will help deal with the symptoms. Doctors will often recommend contraceptive pills but not every woman wants to take these. You may want to try the following home remedies that some women have found helpful. Consult your doctor first and again if the symptoms persist or increase.

Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV may shrink the fibroids. It certainly reduces discomfort in many cases, and unless there is some reason why you should not take vinegar, it will not do you any harm. If you are overweight you may find it has the added benefit of helping you to lose a few pounds. Take one tablespoon three times a day.

Molasses

Some women recommend molasses for reducing the size of fibroids. The usual dose is one tablespoon 3 times per day.

Be aware that molasses is high in calories, iron and copper. It is important to monitor your intake of all of these, as too much can cause other problems. Blackstrap molasses also contains sulfur which can thin the blood and may therefore increase the menstrual bleeding in some women.

Herbs

There are some herbal medicines that may help in some cases. Herbs that balance the hormones, such as agnus castus or yarrow, may be recommended.

Do not take blue or black cohosh which are likely to increase the symptoms.

If you want to try herbal medicine the best solution is to see a qualified and experienced herbalist who will take a full history, consider different possibilities and monitor the results of the suggested herbal natural remedies for fibroids.

Amanda Leto has written an excellent book called Fibroids Miracle. You can check out the book here for more information.

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Teas For Various Ailments

By pinky, 21 January, 2010, 1 Comment
Herbal tea
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I love teas, especially herbal teas. I now have a variety of herbal teas at home…….no I don’t have every variety for every known ailment. I’m also very interested in learning more about what I consider exotic teas, especially teas used in Chinese medicine, so when I came across this website called Tea Recipes, I decided to share it with you.

All the recipes are listed on the page here. You’ll find recipes for:

Oolong Tea (For Slimming)

Banana Tea (For High Blood Pressure)

Lotus Tea (For High Blood Pressure)

Chrysanthemum Tea (For Reducing Internal Heat & Mild Sunstroke)

Peanut & Ginger Tea (For Restoring Health & Vigor)

Lichee & Plum Tea (For Restoring Health & Vigor)

Longan Tea (For Restoring Health & Vigor)

Dry Fried Rice Tea (For Restoring Health & Vigor)

Eight Treasure Tea (For Restoring Health & Vigor)

Shrimp Tea (For Strengthening the Immune System)

Red Date Tea (For Restoring Blood)

Ginger & Onion Tea (For Common Cold)

Sweet Ginger Tea (For Cold & Feverish Headache)

White Radish Tea (For Coughs)

Licorice Tea (For Itchy Throat But No Cough)

Honey & Lemon Tea (For Dry Sore Throat)

Lei Cha Tea (For Flu)

Cold Chrysanthemum Tea (For Quenching Thirst & Mild Sunstroke)

Tomato Tea (For Improving Appetite)

Mung Bean Tea (For Diarrhea)

Rice Vinegar Tea (For Bowel Pain)

Ginseng Tea (For Restoring Energy)

Rose Green Tea (For Relieving Stress)

Imperial Kuding Tea (For Reducing High Cholesterol & High Blood Pressure)

Wild Bitter Tea (For Helping With Weight Loss)


Related articles on tea
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Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites

By pinky, 19 January, 2010, No Comment
A female mosquito of the Culicidae family (Cul...
Image via Wikipedia

The best home remedies for mosquito bites, of course, are those that stop the little critters biting in the first place. But if it is too late for that, there are still a few things you can try.

A mosquito bite is not like the sting of a wasp or bee which is an injection of poison. Mosquitoes just want a little taste of your blood. But to stop it coagulating so that they can easily drink it, they also deposit a protein which causes an allergic reaction in some people.

It seems that some people get bitten constantly and others never have a single itch, but this is probably nothing to do with whether the insects like you. The truth is that some people do not get any allergic reaction and so they don’t realize they have been bitten.

If you ask a hundred bite-scratching people what they recommend, you may get a hundred different answers. Here are some of the most popular ideas.

Ice: apply an ice cube to reduce the inflammation and temporarily numb the area. Ice also restricts blood flow which may reduce the allergic reaction. The bite will probably itch again later, but maybe by then you will be busy doing something else and will not notice.

Roll-on anti perspirant: most commercial anti perspirants contain vasoconstrictive substances which, like ice, restrict blood flow to the area. Additionally, the aluminum in the anti perspirant may help the bite to heal. Do not use if the bite has been heavily scratched.

Fingernails: press down on the bite with a fingernail so that the nail digs in and leaves a mark. Then do the same thing at another angle to form a cross. This should temporarily stop the itching.

Toothpaste: some people recommend smearing toothpaste over the bite. The fluoride is said to reduce the allergic reaction. If desperate, why not give it a try!

Scratching: it has been shown that if you go so far as to open up the bite and make it bleed, some of the allergen may be forced out by the blood flow. However, the bite may become infected, so doing this deliberately is not recommended. If it happens by accident, apply antiseptic.

The good news is that the itching from bites will only last between 24 and 48 hours. Then, cover yourself in insect repellent or keep those mosquitoes out with netting to stop yourself from being bitten next time.

You can also look for an anti itch cream that contains camphor, and keep it with you whenever you risk being bitten. Camphor can stop the itching and if applied early enough, it may even prevent the itchy bump from forming. This makes camphor one of the best home remedies for mosquito bites, but you have to buy some ahead of time.

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Raw Vegan Recipes: The Essentials

By pinky, 18 January, 2010, 2 Comments
Tomato slices ready to be dried in a food dehy...
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There is a huge selection of raw vegan recipes available online now that the raw food diet is becoming so popular. You can also buy raw vegan cookbooks either on the internet or in stores, but often times these focus on either gourmet raw foods or recipes high in superfoods which are usually more expensive to prepare and are not everybody’s idea of the simple raw diet.

Raw or living foods are those which have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Strictly speaking, this rules out a lot of commercially dried and prepared foods which are often heated above this temperature at some point in the process.

Many foods which could be sold raw, such as milk and Californian almonds, are pasteurized to reduce the risk of microbial disease. It seems crazy to pasteurize almonds while fruits which are much more likely to come with bacteria if not well washed are sold raw everywhere, but it is a fact of life. Source your almonds from elsewhere if you want to eat raw.

Many raw vegan recipes include foods such as agave nectar which are processed food products and it is hard to know exactly what temperatures have been used in the preparation. You will also find recipes online which may claim to be raw but include ingredients such as Braggs or soy sauce which are not raw foods. So a certain amount of caution is required when looking at recipes on the internet.

Although it is possible that commercially dried foods may have been dried at temperatures below 115, many raw eaters prefer to dry their own. This is best done with a dehydrator which includes a thermostat to control the temperature. Food is dried on trays which sit inside the dehydrator. Most dehydrators have between 5 and 9 trays. Most raw foodists agree that the best dehydrator for drying living foods is the Excalibur, available to order online.

Having a dehydrator allows you to make raw ‘breads’ such as onion bread which is made from chopped onion, flax seeds and any other ingredients that you choose. We like to add finely chopped leeks and carrots.

Another essential piece of equipment for your raw kitchen is a high speed blender. With this you can make everything from green smoothies to nut pates. Vita-Mix is the brand to choose. While not the cheapest, Vita-Mix blenders are strong and long lasting. Anything else is a pale imitation.

You will also want a food processor for chopping and grating your vegetables. You can use a juicer, although many people prefer to put whole fruit in the blender with a little water instead of juicing, so that the fiber is not lost. Cheap juicers especially are very wasteful of fruit and vegetables, so you may be better off skipping the juicer purchase and investing in a better blender to enjoy your raw vegan recipes to the full. Apart from being wasteful of fruits and vegetables, juicers can be very messy, not to mention, hard to clean. Higher end blenders are great investments because you can control the texture of your smoothies or drinks.

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Corrolation Between Mediterranean Diet and Cancer

By pinky, 17 January, 2010, 1 Comment

We recently had a family member pass away from colon cancer. Although I’m not entirely sure how long this had been going on, I was told she had suffered abdominal pains for 6 months  and had been unable to eat.

I also learned she a made numerous trips to her doctor and had tests performed, only to have the doctor tell her to take tylenol for her pain. I sure doesn’t sound very promising when tests don’t reveal anything, or should I say I find that very hard to believe.

Anyway, I found these articles about the corrolation between the Mediterranean diet and cancer that I wanted to share.

Use Your Diet To Fight Cancer | Cure Pages

Most cancer is caused by lightning. It strikes out of the blue. But cancer doesn’t just happen by chance. It has a cause. Diet is one of the environmental.

foodconsumer.org – Mediterranean Diet Prevents Stomach Cancer

Saturday Jan 16, 2010 (foodconsumer.org) — A new study published on Dec 9 in the online journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has associated use of Mediterranean diet with a lower risk of stomach or gastric cancer. …

More articles about the Mediterranean diet

Great book about the Mediterranean diet

Click Here!

Hives Relief

By pinky, 14 January, 2010, 1 Comment
Allergic urticaria on the arm
Image via Wikipedia

Hives, also known as urticaria, are raised white or yellow welts surrounded by an area of red inflammation. It is an allergic (skin) reaction, causing the body to release histamine into the effected tissues resulting in extreme itching.

The size of the welt itself varies, with the larger ones sometimes joining together in places to form an irregular rash. The more you scratch, the bigger the welts become. They usually appear on the limbs and trunk, but can appear anywhere.

Acute urticaria develops rapidly and usually lasts for just a few hours.  It can sometime make you fell feverish, faint and occasionally nauseous. Chronic urticaria can persist for a long period of time. I had chronic urticaria years ago when I was in college.

Common Triggers

Drugs such as aspirin and penicillin, food additives, food sensitivity such as milk eggs, shellfish and nuts, environmental factors such as exposure to cold, heat or sunlight, stress, anxiety, bites and stings are common triggers.

Vitamin C

During the time I had chronic urticaria, I did some research and found that supplementing my diet with vitamin C would help. All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C. Foods that tend to be the highest sources of vitamin C include green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip greens and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes, cantaloupe and spinach. Vitamin C helps promote a healthy immune system and releases antihistamines. Green tea is also reported to have an antihistamine effect.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 has been reported to reduce the severity of acute hives as well as to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks in chronic cases. Vitamin B12 is found in  fortified foods, and some fermented foods. Some sources of B12 are eggs, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and foods made from soy.  Salmon and low-fat milk are particularly good sources.

If you suffer from food allergies, it’s important to keep a detailed food diary.  Note what you ate when you have hives breakouts, as it may be just a simple matter of eliminating a food or several foods from your diet in order to avoid suffering from hives.

Looking for a homeopathic solution to hives? Try OxyHives

Hives Relief related articles

Natural Skin Hives Treatment

A cool shower or a cold bath in baking soda can provide relief. In some cases, spots with a little ‘calamine lotion or milk of magnesia to the hive were reported that to reduce the swelling and the itch to disappear. …

Calming Stress Related Hives – Life123

Sufferers of stress related hives often want relief, both from the discomfort of their rashes and from the stress that prompted the skin conditions in the first place. Learn how to calm both your skin and your nerves.

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Share Your Thoughts On Alkaline Diet

By pinky, 13 January, 2010, No Comment

I’ve been covering the pH Miracle Diet, also known as the alkaline diet for some time now. Have you considered switching to an alkaline diet or are you a raw foodist? Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas in the comment section below.

I’d love to hear what you have to say.

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In The News – Alkaline Diets

By pinky, 13 January, 2010, 1 Comment

Alkaline diets is a hot topic these days. I’m hoping doctors will one day acknowledge the benefits of alkaline diets and start educating their patients about the direct corrolation between bad eating habits and how they impact our health. In the meantime, I found some articles that may be of interest to you.

7 Ways to Make Alkaline Diet Benefit You

The premise of an alkaline diet is that the nutrients found in supplements, alkalizing foods, and water can bring the body back to balance. These vitamins, minerals, and herbs infuse the body with new energy, vitality, and better health …

Alkaline Diet Questions With Gareth (5)

As I get older I’m finding I’m feeling that acidic tummy and am looking into trying to go the 70/30% alkaline diet. Spirulina has always been a favourite energy drink. If it’s alkaline (do you know?) what would you suggest one mixes it …

Home Remedies For A Toothache

By pinky, 13 January, 2010, No Comment

I found this  informative article about cloves called What is a natural rememdy for a toothache? Although I briefly mention cloves in my article below, the author of this article provides some good information about cloves.

Cloves

Cloves can be found in the spice rack and are often used in apple dishes, but they are also one of the best known home remedies for a toothache.

To relieve the pain of mild toothache, chew two cloves on the affected tooth. If chewing is too painful, you can use oil of cloves. Mix 3 drops oil of cloves with a quarter teaspoon of olive oil. Soak a cotton ball or gauze pad in this mixture and rub it over the painful tooth and gum. Then keep it against the affected tooth by biting down on it. You should feel better within 10 minutes or less.  I prefer using the oil of cloves since I’m not too fond of the taste when you chew on cloves. It’s very strong, but if that doesn’t bother you, it’ll work faster than the oil.

Salt

Salt can be a very effective remedy for toothache as well as any gum infection or sore in the mouth, especially where bacteria are at the root of the problem. Ever wonder why dentists tell you to rinse with salt water after having work done on your gums? It has a soothing effect, as well as the ability to draw out bacteria so the gums heal faster.

Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a small glass of lukewarm (body temperature) water. Take a sip and swirl it around the mouth, working it through the gaps between the teeth where possible. Do not swallow. Just spit it out and then take another sip and repeat.

By the time you finish the glass your pain should be much less. If it comes back later, just repeat. Even if you stay pain free, it is a good idea to do this after every meal for a few days. It will help clear any bacteria that might be forming around food particles in the mouth and prevent the problem from recurring.

If you have salt crystals, then alternatively you can take one or two and press them against the painful place with your tongue until they dissolve.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that can be used to relieve the agony of toothache in much the same way as oil of cloves. Alternatively, add a few drops to a small glass of water and swirl around the mouth before spitting out.

Ice

Ice can numb pain and reduce swelling in the mouth as well as on joint sprains and strains. Either hold an ice cube against the painful tooth in the mouth, or make an ice pack from ice wrapped in a cloth or a pack of frozen food and hold it against your cheek where you have pain.

If you use frozen food as an ice pack, you should throw it away when you are done. It will have partially thawed and it is not safe to refreeze and eat.

Lower The Head

Increase blood flow to the head by putting your head between your knees, as if you were feeling faint. Combined with other methods this will strengthen the body’s ability to fight the infection.

See your dentist or doctor if home remedies for a toothache do not resolve your problem.

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