Seaweed Nutrition Facts
Seaweed Nutrition – Good And Good For You!
Many natural health advocates are turning to seaweed nutrition sources and sea vegetables to supplement the minerally depleted foods commonly found in grocery store shelves and produce aisles.
Yes, you read that right – the fresh fruits and vegetables that are commonly found in your local produce aisle are depleted of vital minerals that are essential to your good health.
The reason? Widespread large-scale corporate farming and agriculture practices, flood control (silt from flood waters replenishes soil when it floods), irradiation, and a lack of good crop rotation practices have led to food that is just not as nutritious as it once was.
For this reason, many health-conscious and nutrition-savvy people are turning to sea kelp and other sea vegetables to supplement their diets with naturally occurring “seaweed nutrition“.
Here are some quick seaweed nutrition facts:
- Seaweed and sea vegetables are consumed by people who populate coastal regions of the world on a daily basis -
- Seaweed is high in iodine, calcium, and magnesium – minerals which are often found to be deficient in the modern diet -
- Seaweed also contains numerous trace and rare minerals that have been depleted from our soils; this is likely due to the fact that the minerals that have leached out of our soils have ended up in the oceans for ages on end -
Many Asian restaurants serve seaweed as a condiment or as a wrap for sushi and other foods. You might even be able to find dried seaweed (“nori”) in your local supermarket or whole foods store.
However, if you can’t find a good source of natural sea-harvested seaweed in your local area, another way to enjoy the benefits of seaweed nutrition is to take a liquid supplement that contains sea vegetables every day.
So What’s The Deal With Green Drinks?
How Green Drinks Help Keep You Healthy
Green drinks and powders have recently experienced increasing popularity among people interested in naturally healthy living. But what’s the deal with these green drinks that make them so popular among die-hard natural health fans?
For starters, green drinks are chock full of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are a classification of chemical compounds that are naturally occurring in fruits and vegetables. These phytochemicals are believe to contribute to our overall health and wellness, although they are not considered to be essential nutrients by mainstream medical science.
The fact is we know very little regarding the role these plant chemicals and compounds play in our health. However, what we can observe is that when people follow a diet that is high in raw uncooked fruits and vegetables, they generally experience a greater degree of health and wellness.
It is believed that certain phytonutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables serve to protect the body at the cellular level from oxidant damage, perhaps by acting as powerful antioxidants. Many diseases and illnesses can be traced back to cellular and DNA damage caused by cell oxidation, which is why health practitioners often recommend supplements that contain antioxidants such as A, C, and E.
Since most of us don’t eat nearly enough fresh fruits and veggies, taking a good greens supplements every day can be a form of nutritional insurance to ensure we’re getting all those phytonutrients that our bodies potentially need each and every day. Simply mixing a scoop or two of greens into your favorite juice is a quick and efficient way to get more the nutrition your body needs.
So when it comes to green drinks, drink to your health and drink up!
Overcoming Autoimmune Disease With Natural Healthy Living
How To Help Manage Your Autoimmune Disease Through Natural Eating and Living
If there’s ever been a more controversial topic related to natural health, it’s overcoming disease through naturally healthy living, diet, and supplementation.
For mainstream Western medicine, the controversy surrounds the proliferation of poor information being disseminated online regarding natural health and healing. Their primary argument usually hinges on the fact that much of the information shared online regarding natural health and healing is not proven science.
Yet, unfortunately most of the research dollars “invested” into medical research go to studies testing new pharmaceuticals, while scant little is set aside for researching alternative and complimentary medicine.
This is no surprise, considering most of the research funding and grants come from government coffers and big pharma.
Yet, for those of us who have been through the modern medical merry-go-round in search of a cure for what ails us, blind faith in what the Western medical establishment has to say about dealing with chronic autoimmune disease has almost certainly left us wanting.
As someone who has lived with an autoimmune disease for nearly a decade, I can honestly say that if I hadn’t taken my health into my own hands, I would not be living anything near what could be considered a normal life at this time. After being cut on (needlessly due to being misdiagnosed), prodded, poked, bled, prescribed, and led to believe that there was nothing to be done over a six-year period, I’d had enough.
So, I went looking elsewhere for answers.
As it turns out, the road back to health through natural living is a long one, and full of detours. And I’ll be the first to admit, I fell for quite a few natural health remedies that weren’t what they claimed. Such experiences can be discouraging, to say the least.
Yet, I can also say wholeheartedly that learning to live a naturally healthy lifestyle over the course of several years has led to the greatest improvements in my overall health and quality of life.
Here are some suggestions that I can make for those of you who are suffering from autoimmune diseases, based on my own experiences:
- First off, find a good rheumatologist who is open to integrative approaches to health and wellness. There’s nothing worse than having to fight your physician to get alternative treatment options. A good doctor’s attitude should be that if it doesn’t hurt you and it makes you feel better, keep doing it. So, find a physician who cares more about your well-being than his or her own ego; believe me, it will make a world of difference in your care.
- Start with your diet. Many autoimmune disorders have shown a correlation to food and diet. I have personally experienced this in my own road to recovery, and can attest to the fact that what you eat does make a difference. Start with eliminating all junk food, sugar, alcohol, fried foods, foods high in saturated fats, and other foods that are commonly known to be bad for you from your diet. Then, look into following an elimination diet (eliminating common “trigger foods” like wheat, soy, dairy, and corn can make a HUGE difference in how you feel). I actually wrote a whole guide on this, which you can purchase for instant download here. But, if you have time you can find plenty of information online as well. And, eat as much whole, raw, organic fruits and vegetables as possible.
- Cut down on your stress. Stress causes a whole cascade of hormonal and chemical changes in your body, that if left unchecked and unaltered, can cause a host of illnesses. You may even notice that stress triggers symptomatic flare-ups of your condition. This is common among people with autoimmune disease. So, start doing deep-breathing, yoga, self-reflection and quiet time each day. Believe me, it helps.
- Supplement your diet with whole-food nutrition. I suggest starting with a good liquid vitamin, as well as taking supplements that are known to help the body deal with stress and alleviate inflammation. Make sure you check with your physician to avoid any drug interactions if you’re on medicines, as many herbs and some vitamins and minerals can interfere with drug absorption, etc.
- Rest. This may require altering your lifestyle considerably. Do it. Your body needs time to heal. Once you eliminate the culprits from your diet, and start providing it with the nutrients it needs to heal it will still take time to heal. Also, avoid overexertion on your “good days” as this can trigger a relapse.
- Hydrate with clean water. Drink purified and filtered water only. Remember that the stuff in clear bottles can leach chemicals from the plastic. Best to have your own water filtration system. Get a good one if you can. If not, even the $20 water filtration pitchers are better than nothing.
- Exercise, but in moderation. It’s tempting to start pushing it when you have good days or when you start feeling better. Resist this temptation. 30 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week, along with a brisk walk each day is plenty. But, keep moving. Movement helps move lymph and helps the body clean out toxins and waste. Also, being outdoors in the sun is one of the best things you can do to improve your mood. Get some sunlight every single day.
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you learn to manage your autoimmune symptoms. Remember that our bodies break down from years and years of constant abuse and insult; it will take time for you to recover.
Be patient, and stick with the suggestions above over time. Your health will improve when you convert to and stick with a naturally healthy lifestyle.
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Kale…
Kale is one of those oft-maligned vegetables that just doesn’t get any respect…
You say you don’t like kale either?
You may just change your tune after hearing this podcast on David Grotto’s nutrition blog, where he and his guests discuss the health benefits of kale and share some helpful preparation tips as well:
Not all saturated fats are bad for your heart…
As many natural health advocates have long theorized, not all saturated fats are bad for your health. Apparently, some saturated fats can actually have a positive impact on heart health.
The most recent research indicates that “several factors can influence the atherogenic potential of specific saturated fatty acids, including chain length, fats eaten concurrently, overall diet, carbohydrate intake, and the person’s state of health.”
You can read the full article here:
http://www.naturalproductsmarketplace.com/articles/2010/02/the-skinny-on-fats-and-heart-health.aspx
Natural Home Remedies for the Flu
Fighting the Flu At Home With Natural Alternatives
There are numerous different strains of cold and flu viruses, which change and alter themselves each year as a response to changes in their environment.
The flu will typically affect between 10 and 35% of the population each year, depending upon the virulence of seasonal flu variety and how well protected individuals keep themselves.
Because of the tremendous adaptability of the flu virus, a cure from traditional Western medicine is a pipe dream at best. This is in part due to the way in which modern antibiotics and medications are researched and developed. For this reason many of these same home remedies which were used by our ancestors continue to be used today as remedies for the flu.
Why The Flu Spreads So Rapidly
In close quarters, conditions are always right for the spread of the virus which explains why the highest incidence of the flu is in school-age children. However, the most serious complications occur in older adults and those whose immune system is compromised from underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or AIDS.
In the past several decades the overuse of antibiotics has become a serious problem which led to resistance in many disease causing bacteria as well as the mutation of the influenza virus when exposed to these drugs. Each year or pharmaceutical industries come out with another flu shot to help with the seasonal flu variety, and over-the-counter cough and cold medications sales are several billion dollars each year.
The Public Turns To At Home Flu Remedies
However, these measures are unable to prevent flu-related illness as well as we might hope. This is because the flu virus mutates from year to year and the vaccine is produced based on the previous years virus.
In an effort to decrease the amount of symptoms and illness which is experienced many people are turning to alternative forms of treatment that are believed to be less invasive and less toxic to the body. Of course, one of the best cures for the flu is prevention. It is much easier to prevent the body from contracting the flu virus than it is to cure it once it is already happened.
How To Prevent Yourself From Catching The Flu
Building a healthy immune system is the number one defense mechanism an individual can use to help themselves prevent the flu.
Steps To A Healthy Immune System:
Rest - Getting plenty of rest, at least eight hours each night, during which the body regenerates and heals.
Stop Eating Sugar - Eliminating as much sugar from the diet as possible. A teaspoon of sugar will negatively impact the immune system for up to six hours. It is better to satisfy your taste buds with sweet organic fruit then ice cream or chocolate.
Increase Your Fluid Intake - Drinking as much water as possible each day to help flush out toxins and waste products. This actually helps to decrease the workload on the kidneys and it improves your immune system.
Exercise regularly - Exercise is an important factor in maintaining the health and well-being of your immune system. It helps to move the lymph system through the body, sheds unwanted pounds, removes toxins, improves vitamin D production when done outside and improve blood circulation throughout the extremities. New research has shown that vitamin D plays an important role in both the prevention and cure of the common cold, flu, and other illnesses that are caused by invasion of bacteria and viruses.
Take Your Vitamins - Take a quality natural multivitamin with vitamin C each day. Vitamins C works in conjunction with vitamin D in order to boost the immune system and may help the body overcome or prevent the flu.
Wash Your Hands - Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. The flu virus can be easily transmitted from your hands to your eyes, nose or mouth and effectively inoculate yourself with the virus. Wash your hands frequently, after coming in contact with solid objects, shaking hands with people, each trip to the bathroom and before bed. Do not use antibacterial soaps because they are likely to spread antibiotic resistant bacteria. Instead practice good hand washing techniques under her warm water with friction and for at least a minute and a half.
Decrease Your Stress - Decrease the amount of stress in your life, as much as possible. Stress will negatively impact your immune system and increase the likelihood that you will contract a cold or the flu. Learn to manage your stress with deep breathing, walking, music or exercise.
Learn to manage your stress by also eliminating the individuals are situations which cause an increase in the stress level that you feel each day. You may leave that it is impossible to remove these situations from your life but it is much more difficult to accommodate your lifestyle to the stress related illnesses which can result.
What To Do If You Feel The Flu Coming On
If you do feel that you’re starting to get the flu you can help to decrease the symptoms and shorten the illness by taking a few simple measures:
- Salt Water Gargles - Begin to gargle with salt water three to four times a day to kill the viruses which are breeding in the back of your throat.
- Saline Nasal Sprays and Flushes - Use a normal saline spray in each nostril and gently blow the excess fluid out three to four times a day. This accomplishes the same thing as the gargle wash except it addresses the viruses in your nasal cavity and sinuses. Use the Netti pot to flush the viruses out of your sinus cavities.
- Vitamin C - Take vitamin C in divided doses several times each day. Be sure that the vitamin C you are taking is ascorbic acid and take the recommended dosage on the bottle.
- Drink Water and Fluids - Drink plenty of fluids and fresh vegetable juices to help flush out the toxins and give the body added enzymes required to decrease inflammation, pain and flush the viruses from the body.
- Zinc - Using zinc lozenges has been shown to shorten the length of colds and flu. It is important to recognize that you must suck on the lozenge and not chew them. If you find that you’re nauseous you should stop using the think lozenges immediately because it is a sign of zinc toxicity. However, many people find that think lozenges themselves make them slightly nauseous so evaluate your nausea based on how you feel when you are not sucking on the lozenge.
- Vitamin D - Go out in the sunlight for at least 20 minutes each day, twice a day, in order to absorb and manufacture vitamin D. Vitamin D has been shown to improve the body’s immune system and help to decrease the length of any illness caused by viruses and bacteria.
- Take Garlic - Garlic is another alternative treatment for the flu. It has antibacterial and antiviral properties that help the immune system to fight infection. Coupled with Echinacea it makes a strong fighting force against many infections.
- Ginger Teas and Capsules - Ginger is another herbal roots that is a natural antiviral. It is also pain relieving and often recommended for individuals who suffer from arthritis. It is valuable both in the prevention and treatment of illnesses caused by viruses as well is inflammation of mucous membranes in the treatment of sore throats. It has a mild sedative effect which helps an individual to rest while ill. It can be added to tea, soaked in hot water or taken as a tincture.
Traditional Western medicine has not yet found a cure for the treatment of in the influenza virus. Although the immune system of most healthy individuals is able to fight off the flu virus after one to three days, those who have underlying medical conditions can experience more severe complications from the influenza virus that can even lead to deaths.
For this reason, it is very important to help bolster the immune system using healthy nutrition to decrease the likelihood of any serious complications. However, if you believe your flu is getting more serious, do not hesitate to see your physician.
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