Saturday, May 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Getting to Know Bad Breath Products for Dogs
If you think you are the only one suffering from bad breath, you may want to think again. Although bad breath is a condition common to human, your dog may also have the same fate. Incredible as it may sound; your dogs are also at risk of having bad breath.
But, you don’t have to worry that much. There are now lots of bad breath products for dogs available for your dog’s needs. In fact, most of these are products for home remedy; saving you from visiting the vets too often just to restore your dog’s pleasant breath.
Now, there are lots of home remedies for your dog’s bad breath. And since people have different interpretation of bad breath remedy for dogs, it is up to you to decide which one will best suit your pet dogs. The following are some remedies to try to keep your doggy’s breath always pleasant;
Dog Toys
Perhaps you won’t believe this, but some of your dog’s toys are not just designed to help you in training it. Some of these are also effective in cleaning the teeth of your dogs. Dental chews are among them. These are usually designed to massage the gums of your dogs as well as clean its teeth, removing plaques and food particles in between. Greenies and Nylabone are two of the most popular brands when it comes to doggy dental chews. You may want to watch out though, because most dental chews are not meant for dog with stronger chews.
Dental sticks are also great for your dogs. This is also designed to massage the gums and get rid of food particles and plaque between the teeth. You can fill the sticks with treats to make your dog happy while keeping yourself satisfied at keeping your dog’s breath pleasant.
If your dog likes bone for playing, it is fine because bones can actually help keep your dog’s teeth clean. However, you should be aware that giving your doggy some cooked bones is not a good idea at all. Why? It is because cooked bones can crack while they are playing with them and can cause serious injury to your dogs especially in the mouth. Instead, give your dogs some raw bone to play with.
Water Technique
If human needs plenty of water to keep anaerobic bacteria at bay, well so are your dogs. You need to provide your dogs with lots of water to keep its mouth moist and its mouth free from food particles. You also have to make sure that your dog’s water are always clean; thus, you can be sure that no food particle or bacteria will get back to your pet’s mouth. Or you can buy oxygenating solution meant for dogs; by mixing this to the water, you can be sure that bacteria are destroyed and your dog’s breath fresh.
Brushing
If you need brushing to keep your mouth and teeth clean, so are your dogs. There are brushes especially designed for your dogs. Just make sure that you brush your doggy’s breath properly and regularly and you can be rest assured that no visit to the vets is necessary.
Aside from these home remedies and bad breath products for dogs, you can also keep your pet’s breath fresh by choosing what it eats. Experts advise that you give your dogs some mixture of dry dog foods and canned ones. You can also consult your vets for guides on how to keep your dog’s breath pleasant all the time.
But, you don’t have to worry that much. There are now lots of bad breath products for dogs available for your dog’s needs. In fact, most of these are products for home remedy; saving you from visiting the vets too often just to restore your dog’s pleasant breath.
Now, there are lots of home remedies for your dog’s bad breath. And since people have different interpretation of bad breath remedy for dogs, it is up to you to decide which one will best suit your pet dogs. The following are some remedies to try to keep your doggy’s breath always pleasant;
Dog Toys
Perhaps you won’t believe this, but some of your dog’s toys are not just designed to help you in training it. Some of these are also effective in cleaning the teeth of your dogs. Dental chews are among them. These are usually designed to massage the gums of your dogs as well as clean its teeth, removing plaques and food particles in between. Greenies and Nylabone are two of the most popular brands when it comes to doggy dental chews. You may want to watch out though, because most dental chews are not meant for dog with stronger chews.
Dental sticks are also great for your dogs. This is also designed to massage the gums and get rid of food particles and plaque between the teeth. You can fill the sticks with treats to make your dog happy while keeping yourself satisfied at keeping your dog’s breath pleasant.
If your dog likes bone for playing, it is fine because bones can actually help keep your dog’s teeth clean. However, you should be aware that giving your doggy some cooked bones is not a good idea at all. Why? It is because cooked bones can crack while they are playing with them and can cause serious injury to your dogs especially in the mouth. Instead, give your dogs some raw bone to play with.
Water Technique
If human needs plenty of water to keep anaerobic bacteria at bay, well so are your dogs. You need to provide your dogs with lots of water to keep its mouth moist and its mouth free from food particles. You also have to make sure that your dog’s water are always clean; thus, you can be sure that no food particle or bacteria will get back to your pet’s mouth. Or you can buy oxygenating solution meant for dogs; by mixing this to the water, you can be sure that bacteria are destroyed and your dog’s breath fresh.
Brushing
If you need brushing to keep your mouth and teeth clean, so are your dogs. There are brushes especially designed for your dogs. Just make sure that you brush your doggy’s breath properly and regularly and you can be rest assured that no visit to the vets is necessary.
Aside from these home remedies and bad breath products for dogs, you can also keep your pet’s breath fresh by choosing what it eats. Experts advise that you give your dogs some mixture of dry dog foods and canned ones. You can also consult your vets for guides on how to keep your dog’s breath pleasant all the time.
Healthy Alternatives to Soda
No one really thought about the need for healthy alternatives to soda until we all became addicted to it in the 1970s. Prior to that Coke came in a 10 oz bottle, as I recall, that you could buy for 15 cents. It was a treat that was just that, a treat.
Fast forward to the 21st century and coke is the new water. (By the way, please understand I am from Texas. EVERY soda product is called coke here, even Pepsi, so keep that in mind.) It is not ingested by the ounce anymore by by the liter...and it is really bad for the body in those amounts.
But if you need your fizz, what are you going to do?
Italian Soda
One of the favorites around here is Italian Sodas. We started making them when we owned a tea room, and once we got used to them were too spoiled to stop. Italian sodas are really easy to make and have far less sugar that the cokes that you buy. The syrups also come in sugar free versions. I do not think sugar free alternatives, other than stevia, are healthy so I do not recommend them but they are out there if you want.
The best way to serve an Italian soda is in a tall iced glass, with some whipped cream on the top. If you make your own whipped cream from organic cream, and watch your sugar, it isn't unhealthy unless you are having to watch your fat intake. The combinations are almost endless.
Italian Soda: Basic Recipe
2 Tbs flavored syrup
8-12 oz club soda
Pour syrup into glass, add club soda and stir.
That is easy, isn't it? Now, when you need to add some luxury to that you want a Cremosa.
Cremosa:Basic Recipe
2 Tbs flavored syrup
8 oz club soda
4 oz half and half or cream
Stir together, or serve in layers. To serve in layers, pour the syrup in the glass. Add the club soda, then partially whip heavy cream and float it on top. It takes some practice but is a beautiful presentation.
Now that you have the basics down...Here are some of the best flavor combinations based on the Monin syrups which you can click on in the side bar for more information:
Victorian-1 tbs vanilla, 1 tbs rose
Creamsicle-1 tbs orange, 1 tbs vanilla
Creme Brulee-1 tbs caramel, 1 tbs vanilla
French Countryside- 1/2 tbs lavender, 1 1/2 tbs lemon
Summer Afternoon-2 tsp blackberry, 2 tsp white chocolate, 2 tsp violet
S'mores-1tbs toasted Marshmallow, 1/2 tbs Caramel, 1/2 tbs Chocolate
There are literally hundreds more combinations and ways of making them, and each of the recipes can be used for cremosas as well.
Now, healthy? Sure. Here is the breakdown:
Italian Soda
calories-90
sugars: 11 g
sodium 0
Coke
calories 110
sugar 30g
sodium:11
Plus, you have a natural, gourmet beverage that is exactly what you wanted without the chemicals. You can adjust the calories by using less syrup. There are no calories at all in club soda.
Fruit Soda
Another healthy alternative to soda is a drink made with fruit juice and club soda. Like the Italian sodas, the possibilities are almost endless. Various combinations of organic fruit juices, or organic fruit juices and tea are given some fizz by mixing them with the club soda.
In this case, you will want to make your drink half club soda, half juice.
Juicy Sodas :
Orange-
4 oz orange juice
4 oz club soda
Citrus Blast-
1 oz orange
1/2 oz lemon
1/2 oz grapefruit
1/2 oz key lime
2 oz green tea
4 oz club soda
a little sugar or honey if needed.
Sparkling Fruit Punch
4 oz organic mixed juice punch
4 oz club soda
Banana
1 banana liquified in the blender
4 oz club soda
1 tsp lemon juice
There are many combinations to choose from. Any organic, 100% fruit juice will be a great addition to your homemade beverage. Be sure to pour it into iced glasses because it is just so much better that way.
Fast forward to the 21st century and coke is the new water. (By the way, please understand I am from Texas. EVERY soda product is called coke here, even Pepsi, so keep that in mind.) It is not ingested by the ounce anymore by by the liter...and it is really bad for the body in those amounts.
But if you need your fizz, what are you going to do?
Italian Soda
One of the favorites around here is Italian Sodas. We started making them when we owned a tea room, and once we got used to them were too spoiled to stop. Italian sodas are really easy to make and have far less sugar that the cokes that you buy. The syrups also come in sugar free versions. I do not think sugar free alternatives, other than stevia, are healthy so I do not recommend them but they are out there if you want.
The best way to serve an Italian soda is in a tall iced glass, with some whipped cream on the top. If you make your own whipped cream from organic cream, and watch your sugar, it isn't unhealthy unless you are having to watch your fat intake. The combinations are almost endless.
Italian Soda: Basic Recipe
2 Tbs flavored syrup
8-12 oz club soda
Pour syrup into glass, add club soda and stir.
That is easy, isn't it? Now, when you need to add some luxury to that you want a Cremosa.
Cremosa:Basic Recipe
2 Tbs flavored syrup
8 oz club soda
4 oz half and half or cream
Stir together, or serve in layers. To serve in layers, pour the syrup in the glass. Add the club soda, then partially whip heavy cream and float it on top. It takes some practice but is a beautiful presentation.
Now that you have the basics down...Here are some of the best flavor combinations based on the Monin syrups which you can click on in the side bar for more information:
Victorian-1 tbs vanilla, 1 tbs rose
Creamsicle-1 tbs orange, 1 tbs vanilla
Creme Brulee-1 tbs caramel, 1 tbs vanilla
French Countryside- 1/2 tbs lavender, 1 1/2 tbs lemon
Summer Afternoon-2 tsp blackberry, 2 tsp white chocolate, 2 tsp violet
S'mores-1tbs toasted Marshmallow, 1/2 tbs Caramel, 1/2 tbs Chocolate
There are literally hundreds more combinations and ways of making them, and each of the recipes can be used for cremosas as well.
Now, healthy? Sure. Here is the breakdown:
Italian Soda
calories-90
sugars: 11 g
sodium 0
Coke
calories 110
sugar 30g
sodium:11
Plus, you have a natural, gourmet beverage that is exactly what you wanted without the chemicals. You can adjust the calories by using less syrup. There are no calories at all in club soda.
Fruit Soda
Another healthy alternative to soda is a drink made with fruit juice and club soda. Like the Italian sodas, the possibilities are almost endless. Various combinations of organic fruit juices, or organic fruit juices and tea are given some fizz by mixing them with the club soda.
In this case, you will want to make your drink half club soda, half juice.
Juicy Sodas :
Orange-
4 oz orange juice
4 oz club soda
Citrus Blast-
1 oz orange
1/2 oz lemon
1/2 oz grapefruit
1/2 oz key lime
2 oz green tea
4 oz club soda
a little sugar or honey if needed.
Sparkling Fruit Punch
4 oz organic mixed juice punch
4 oz club soda
Banana
1 banana liquified in the blender
4 oz club soda
1 tsp lemon juice
There are many combinations to choose from. Any organic, 100% fruit juice will be a great addition to your homemade beverage. Be sure to pour it into iced glasses because it is just so much better that way.
Natural Sleep Remedies
Lack of sleep can become a huge problem in overall health. Health problems such as mood swings, fatigue and weight gain are associated with poor quality sleep. When we are sleeping the body goes into repair and recharge mode. Growth hormones are released, our immune systems shift into high gear and our batteries are recharged. The question to ask is "do you have problems getting to sleep, or do you have problems staying asleep?" We are always being told to stay away from foods that stimulate our brains such as energy drinks, coffee and soft drinks. But there are other things besides food and drink that stimulate our brains. Stress and a hurry up attitude has a way of setting off stimulatory’ neurotransmitters in our brains that stimulate us.
The problem is that people stimulate their brains right before they go to bed by watching adrenal pumping television or dvd's, answering emails, searching the internet etc. These individuals deal with their insomnia by taking drugs that lead to dependancy and other serious side effects.
When we look back at history we see that peoples lives were much different. There wasn't the need for sleep aids like there is today. People worked in the day and the evening was a time to unwind. This is an essential step before going to bed. It causes inhibitory neurotransmitters to be released in the brain that prepare the body for sleep.
The brain has two types of neurotransmitters(stimulatory and inhibitory) which have been directly associated with insomnia, depression, anxiety, PMS, cravings, and weight loss. Drug companies know this and make billions of dollars selling sleeping pills, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, weight-loss drugs, and other medications that manipulate these brain chemicals.
In order for you tp get a good night sleep, your body must be able to manufacture enough inhibitory neurotransmitters to counteract the stimulatory neurotransmitters. Therefore you should plan to spend the last hour and a half of your evening doing activities that allow you to unwind and relax, like reading a book listening to music, stretching exercise and deep breathing.
Do you find it easy to get to sleep but a few hours later you wake up and stay awake? This could be a blood sugar problem caused by a poor diet. Or it may be associated with stress or adrenal fatigue, which would explain easily falling asleep at bedtime. In this case, the adrenals are unable to keep the blood sugar levels stable through the night so the body gives an emergency shot of adrenaline which wakes you up.
Nourish adrenal glands with vitamin C, vitamin B, zinc, and herbs such as rhodiola, ashwagandha, cordyceps, and ginseng. Increase inhibitory neurotransmitters which allow us to fall asleep by supplementing with magnesium, glycine, GABA, 5-HTP, L-theanine, and glutamine.
The reason that these nutritional supplements are so much better than drugs is because they cause the body to produce more inhibitory neurotransmitters. Drugs, on the other hand only manipulate how your body uses what little you are producing. Teas such as chamomile and valerian root are great for calming and relaxing the body at the end of the day.
if you can't stay asleep you will need to adjust your diet to overcome adrenal fatigue. Eat balanced meals that include protein and healthy fats to keep your blood sugar stable for hours. A piece of fresh fruit can keep the blood sugar stable through the night. Make sure you stay away from anything with refined sugar in it. Insomnia can greatly effect one's quality of life. Making the necessary changes to restore a good night sleep will take some effort but the reward of renewed health make it worth the effort.
The problem is that people stimulate their brains right before they go to bed by watching adrenal pumping television or dvd's, answering emails, searching the internet etc. These individuals deal with their insomnia by taking drugs that lead to dependancy and other serious side effects.
When we look back at history we see that peoples lives were much different. There wasn't the need for sleep aids like there is today. People worked in the day and the evening was a time to unwind. This is an essential step before going to bed. It causes inhibitory neurotransmitters to be released in the brain that prepare the body for sleep.
The brain has two types of neurotransmitters(stimulatory and inhibitory) which have been directly associated with insomnia, depression, anxiety, PMS, cravings, and weight loss. Drug companies know this and make billions of dollars selling sleeping pills, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, weight-loss drugs, and other medications that manipulate these brain chemicals.
In order for you tp get a good night sleep, your body must be able to manufacture enough inhibitory neurotransmitters to counteract the stimulatory neurotransmitters. Therefore you should plan to spend the last hour and a half of your evening doing activities that allow you to unwind and relax, like reading a book listening to music, stretching exercise and deep breathing.
Do you find it easy to get to sleep but a few hours later you wake up and stay awake? This could be a blood sugar problem caused by a poor diet. Or it may be associated with stress or adrenal fatigue, which would explain easily falling asleep at bedtime. In this case, the adrenals are unable to keep the blood sugar levels stable through the night so the body gives an emergency shot of adrenaline which wakes you up.
Nourish adrenal glands with vitamin C, vitamin B, zinc, and herbs such as rhodiola, ashwagandha, cordyceps, and ginseng. Increase inhibitory neurotransmitters which allow us to fall asleep by supplementing with magnesium, glycine, GABA, 5-HTP, L-theanine, and glutamine.
The reason that these nutritional supplements are so much better than drugs is because they cause the body to produce more inhibitory neurotransmitters. Drugs, on the other hand only manipulate how your body uses what little you are producing. Teas such as chamomile and valerian root are great for calming and relaxing the body at the end of the day.
if you can't stay asleep you will need to adjust your diet to overcome adrenal fatigue. Eat balanced meals that include protein and healthy fats to keep your blood sugar stable for hours. A piece of fresh fruit can keep the blood sugar stable through the night. Make sure you stay away from anything with refined sugar in it. Insomnia can greatly effect one's quality of life. Making the necessary changes to restore a good night sleep will take some effort but the reward of renewed health make it worth the effort.
The Best Natural Foods that Unclog Your Arteries
There is a natural way to unclog your arteries to prevent a heart attack or stroke...
Your arteries are the rivers within your body that continually transport essential nutrients and oxygen from your heart to the rest of your body.
A big part of staying healthy and also keeping your arteries clean and clear is related to your diet and what you eat. There’s no joke in the popular saying that says: “You are what you eat.” It just makes good sense that what you put in your body is what will reflect out in all aspects of your health.
If you eat a lot of processed foods laden with saturated fats, chemicals and toxins, all that gunk is going to cling to and clog up your arteries over time – eventually causing serious heart-related problems and other nasty stuff. You also run a high risk of suffering a heart attack or devastating stroke.
It’s been reported over and over that eating a cleaner diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables (preferably organic) can really help prevent heart disease and other life-threatening ailments – plus help scrub away built-up clogging plague in our arteries.
There’s power in knowing that we have the choice to eat and consume healing healthy foods that can help keep us healthy and strong – especially when it comes to our heart health.
Below is a list of some very special foods that can particularly help keep your arteries clean and unclogged – these are some of the best:
Garlic…
If you don’t do anything else and want to really clean out your arteries – do eat garlic and eat it regularly… eat at least 1 to 4 cloves a day. You can eat garlic raw or cooked. Garlic adds a wonderful flavouring to all kinds of recipes and is very versatile. You can include garlic in your diet in many ways – in soups and casseroles, on salads mixed with healthy olive oil as a dressing, roasted along with fresh vegetables in the oven and more.
Garlic has a long history dating back to ancient times of use in treating all kinds of heart-related diseases and hypertension. Studies have shown that high doses of garlic (2,400 mg of deorderized garlic per day) significantly lowered both diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
Also, many studies have shown that eating garlic regularly reduces harmful cholesterol by 10 percent or more. It may also prevent blood clots from forming.
Eating 1 – 4 cloves a day is estimated to provide 4,000 mcg of allicin, one of garlic’s most beneficial compounds. If you prefer to take a garlic supplement instead of eating raw garlic because of the strong smell, look for one with the active ingredient “alliin”, because this substance is relatively odorless until it is converted into allicin in the body.
Grapes…
Red seedless grapes are a good source of lutein – a carotenoid that’s been shown to reduce early atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that lutein also helps prevent thickening of the carotid artery in the neck, an indication of atherolscrosis. It also lowers inflammation of LDL cholesterol in artery walls.
Concord Grape Juice…
Both grape skin extract and grape seed extract together have excellent heart-health properties. Grape juice, made from whole concord grapes is a powerful artery-clearing wonder. It protects your artery walls from cholesterol because of some powerful, potent substances.
Found in the skin of the grape is a flavinoid called “quercetin” which acts as an antioxident to prevent LDL cholesterol from sticking on the walls of your arteries. “Resveratrol” also found in the skin, removes inflammation and blood clots. Also, “procyanidins in the seeds help keep your blood vessels clear including added antioxident properties.
A new study indicates that not only does Concord grape juice stimulated an arterial relaxation effect in a similar fashion to red wine, in fact it even induced a prolonged relaxation effect that has not yet been reported with red wine.
Dr. Valérie Schini-Kerth and a team of researchers of the Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg, France, found that Concord grape juice stimulated the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells, providing a vasorelaxation effect. It is known that nitric oxide is important in the body’s natural system for maintaining healthy, flexible blood vessels and helps support healthy blood pressure.
Researchers further discovered that Concord grape juice produced this relaxation effect by stimulating the same chemical reactions in the arteries that are activated by red wine.
The beneficial effect provided by Concord grape juice lasted up to six hours, whereas this extended effect has not been reported with red wine. This research suggests that the benefits of drinking Concord purple grape juice may last long after finishing the juice.
For more info about the wonderful benefits of the Concord Grape, visit: http://www.concordgrape.org/bodyproducts-health.html
Cherries…
The tiny sweet fruit contains over 17 compounds to clear away clogged arteries of plaque even better than vitamin supplements. These compounds, found in the anthocyanins that give cherries their red colour.
Cherries hold more antioxident power than well-known vitamin C and E supplements. Plus being a whole food, you will better absorb all the wonderful nutrients including beneficial fiber which helps to lower cholesterol.
Strawberries…
Perfect to toss into your breakfast cereal, strawberries are also loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C and E, ellagic acid, assorted carotenoid and anthocyanins. They can cut cholesterol levels by 10 percent. Try to buy organic strawberries as they tend to be heavily sprayed with pesticides.
Apples and Grapefruit...
Both of these fruits contain pectin, a soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol. It has been shown in animal studies that pectin will slow down the progression of atherosclerosis and the clogging of arteries.
Apples are a rich source of “quercetin” including potassium and magnesium – minerals that keep your blood pressure under control. A French study found that eating two apples a day can help prevent and reverse “hardening” of the arteries. Red Delicious and Granny Smith varieties of apple are also rich in procyanidins.
Sweet Potatoes…
Full of cholesterol-lowering fiber, potassium, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C, Sweet Potatoes help to lower your blood pressure and keep your arteries clear.
Green Tea…
Drinking just one cup a day will give great antioxident protection. The flavinoids in green tea are known as “polyphenols” – which are powerful antioxidents that may be greater than or equal to that of Vitamin C and vitamin E.
Healthy green tea also contains “procyanidins”, which also help prevent blood clots forming and promote healthy “endothelium” - the tissues that line your blood vessels and heart.
Hawthorn Tea…
The extract from the hawthorn berries can calm palpitations, help restore blood vessel elasticity, ease fluid build-up in the heart, stop fatty degeneration of the heart, help dilate coronary arteries and also reduce blood pressure.
Hawthorne can be used by those already on cardiac medication and may help you decrease your dosage.
Buy a bag of organically-grown hawthorn berries at a natural food store and steep them in hot water as a tea to help your heart stay healthy. Hawthorn has not been shown to have any adverse side effects.
Olive Oil...
Omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation by countering the inflammatory effects of omega-6, another type of fatty acid. Most people eat diets overloaded with omega-6 which is found in vegetable oils like soybean or corn oil.
Olive oil is on the list of “good” oils and a “monounsaturated” fat. Using a “cold-pressed” organic olive oil as your main source of oil may cut your risk of coronary heart disease almost in half.
Studies have show that particles of LDL (bad) cholesterol that contain monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil) are less likely to become oxidized. This is important because only oxidized cholesterol is able to stick to your artery walls and form plaques.
Also, canola oil, avocados and nuts like almonds are other good sources monounsaturated fat that help to clean your arteries.
But just remember, fat is still fattening – so, go easy to not eat too much. A good strategy is to avoid the bad fats like the cookies, ice-cream, red meats, salt-laden cheeses and butter and replace them with the healthier unsaturated fats.
Salmon…
Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, herring and tuna have some of the best source of omega-3 fatty acid nutrients. The American Heart Association recommends including two fatty-fish meals a week in your diet.
Wild salmon, in addition to tasting great is really rich in the omega-3 good fats, which makes the blood less likely to clot within your arteries, thus preventing cholesterol from becoming damaged or oxidized. (Farmed salmon is not recommended because it is full of toxins and far less omega-3s).
A nice combination for dinner is to include salmon and spinach – which will give you plenty of omega-3 fats, vitamin C and vitamin A, which are all very good for your arteries.
Note: It’s recommended to limit your consumption of tuna and halibut as they are known to have more toxins present being “deep-water” fish – salmon is definitely better.
Spinach…
Vitamin C and vitamin A which help prevent cholesterol from becoming “oxidized” will help to prevent clogging plaque from building up in your arteries. Spinach is also chocked full of Vitamin C and A.
Swiss Chard…
This leafy-green alternative is an excellent source of vitamin E, another antioxidant which helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol. Eating a diet rich in vitamin E has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing clogged arteries.
Tomatoes…
Tomatoes are rich in carotenoid lycopene, an antioxidant that can significantly lower your risk of atherosclerosis nearly in half. Tomato juice, soup and ketchup (low sodium choices) give you a more-concentrated form than fresh tomatoes.
Also, antioxident-rich tomatoes may make LDL cholesterol much less susceptible to becoming oxidized – being a first step in the formation of artery-clogging plaque formation which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Garbanzo Beans…
All beans contain both important soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, but garbanzo beans are one of the best – which help to remove cholesterol-containing bile from your body. They are also known to help prevent heart disease.
So, happy eating folks! As time goes by, I will add to this list on my blog (see address below) – so, I invite you to visit again soon... I wish you all great heart health!
Sincerely, caro weaverl...
Your arteries are the rivers within your body that continually transport essential nutrients and oxygen from your heart to the rest of your body.
A big part of staying healthy and also keeping your arteries clean and clear is related to your diet and what you eat. There’s no joke in the popular saying that says: “You are what you eat.” It just makes good sense that what you put in your body is what will reflect out in all aspects of your health.
If you eat a lot of processed foods laden with saturated fats, chemicals and toxins, all that gunk is going to cling to and clog up your arteries over time – eventually causing serious heart-related problems and other nasty stuff. You also run a high risk of suffering a heart attack or devastating stroke.
It’s been reported over and over that eating a cleaner diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables (preferably organic) can really help prevent heart disease and other life-threatening ailments – plus help scrub away built-up clogging plague in our arteries.
There’s power in knowing that we have the choice to eat and consume healing healthy foods that can help keep us healthy and strong – especially when it comes to our heart health.
Below is a list of some very special foods that can particularly help keep your arteries clean and unclogged – these are some of the best:
Garlic…
If you don’t do anything else and want to really clean out your arteries – do eat garlic and eat it regularly… eat at least 1 to 4 cloves a day. You can eat garlic raw or cooked. Garlic adds a wonderful flavouring to all kinds of recipes and is very versatile. You can include garlic in your diet in many ways – in soups and casseroles, on salads mixed with healthy olive oil as a dressing, roasted along with fresh vegetables in the oven and more.
Garlic has a long history dating back to ancient times of use in treating all kinds of heart-related diseases and hypertension. Studies have shown that high doses of garlic (2,400 mg of deorderized garlic per day) significantly lowered both diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
Also, many studies have shown that eating garlic regularly reduces harmful cholesterol by 10 percent or more. It may also prevent blood clots from forming.
Eating 1 – 4 cloves a day is estimated to provide 4,000 mcg of allicin, one of garlic’s most beneficial compounds. If you prefer to take a garlic supplement instead of eating raw garlic because of the strong smell, look for one with the active ingredient “alliin”, because this substance is relatively odorless until it is converted into allicin in the body.
Grapes…
Red seedless grapes are a good source of lutein – a carotenoid that’s been shown to reduce early atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that lutein also helps prevent thickening of the carotid artery in the neck, an indication of atherolscrosis. It also lowers inflammation of LDL cholesterol in artery walls.
Concord Grape Juice…
Both grape skin extract and grape seed extract together have excellent heart-health properties. Grape juice, made from whole concord grapes is a powerful artery-clearing wonder. It protects your artery walls from cholesterol because of some powerful, potent substances.
Found in the skin of the grape is a flavinoid called “quercetin” which acts as an antioxident to prevent LDL cholesterol from sticking on the walls of your arteries. “Resveratrol” also found in the skin, removes inflammation and blood clots. Also, “procyanidins in the seeds help keep your blood vessels clear including added antioxident properties.
A new study indicates that not only does Concord grape juice stimulated an arterial relaxation effect in a similar fashion to red wine, in fact it even induced a prolonged relaxation effect that has not yet been reported with red wine.
Dr. Valérie Schini-Kerth and a team of researchers of the Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg, France, found that Concord grape juice stimulated the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells, providing a vasorelaxation effect. It is known that nitric oxide is important in the body’s natural system for maintaining healthy, flexible blood vessels and helps support healthy blood pressure.
Researchers further discovered that Concord grape juice produced this relaxation effect by stimulating the same chemical reactions in the arteries that are activated by red wine.
The beneficial effect provided by Concord grape juice lasted up to six hours, whereas this extended effect has not been reported with red wine. This research suggests that the benefits of drinking Concord purple grape juice may last long after finishing the juice.
For more info about the wonderful benefits of the Concord Grape, visit: http://www.concordgrape.org/bodyproducts-health.html
Cherries…
The tiny sweet fruit contains over 17 compounds to clear away clogged arteries of plaque even better than vitamin supplements. These compounds, found in the anthocyanins that give cherries their red colour.
Cherries hold more antioxident power than well-known vitamin C and E supplements. Plus being a whole food, you will better absorb all the wonderful nutrients including beneficial fiber which helps to lower cholesterol.
Strawberries…
Perfect to toss into your breakfast cereal, strawberries are also loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C and E, ellagic acid, assorted carotenoid and anthocyanins. They can cut cholesterol levels by 10 percent. Try to buy organic strawberries as they tend to be heavily sprayed with pesticides.
Apples and Grapefruit...
Both of these fruits contain pectin, a soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol. It has been shown in animal studies that pectin will slow down the progression of atherosclerosis and the clogging of arteries.
Apples are a rich source of “quercetin” including potassium and magnesium – minerals that keep your blood pressure under control. A French study found that eating two apples a day can help prevent and reverse “hardening” of the arteries. Red Delicious and Granny Smith varieties of apple are also rich in procyanidins.
Sweet Potatoes…
Full of cholesterol-lowering fiber, potassium, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C, Sweet Potatoes help to lower your blood pressure and keep your arteries clear.
Green Tea…
Drinking just one cup a day will give great antioxident protection. The flavinoids in green tea are known as “polyphenols” – which are powerful antioxidents that may be greater than or equal to that of Vitamin C and vitamin E.
Healthy green tea also contains “procyanidins”, which also help prevent blood clots forming and promote healthy “endothelium” - the tissues that line your blood vessels and heart.
Hawthorn Tea…
The extract from the hawthorn berries can calm palpitations, help restore blood vessel elasticity, ease fluid build-up in the heart, stop fatty degeneration of the heart, help dilate coronary arteries and also reduce blood pressure.
Hawthorne can be used by those already on cardiac medication and may help you decrease your dosage.
Buy a bag of organically-grown hawthorn berries at a natural food store and steep them in hot water as a tea to help your heart stay healthy. Hawthorn has not been shown to have any adverse side effects.
Olive Oil...
Omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation by countering the inflammatory effects of omega-6, another type of fatty acid. Most people eat diets overloaded with omega-6 which is found in vegetable oils like soybean or corn oil.
Olive oil is on the list of “good” oils and a “monounsaturated” fat. Using a “cold-pressed” organic olive oil as your main source of oil may cut your risk of coronary heart disease almost in half.
Studies have show that particles of LDL (bad) cholesterol that contain monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil) are less likely to become oxidized. This is important because only oxidized cholesterol is able to stick to your artery walls and form plaques.
Also, canola oil, avocados and nuts like almonds are other good sources monounsaturated fat that help to clean your arteries.
But just remember, fat is still fattening – so, go easy to not eat too much. A good strategy is to avoid the bad fats like the cookies, ice-cream, red meats, salt-laden cheeses and butter and replace them with the healthier unsaturated fats.
Salmon…
Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, herring and tuna have some of the best source of omega-3 fatty acid nutrients. The American Heart Association recommends including two fatty-fish meals a week in your diet.
Wild salmon, in addition to tasting great is really rich in the omega-3 good fats, which makes the blood less likely to clot within your arteries, thus preventing cholesterol from becoming damaged or oxidized. (Farmed salmon is not recommended because it is full of toxins and far less omega-3s).
A nice combination for dinner is to include salmon and spinach – which will give you plenty of omega-3 fats, vitamin C and vitamin A, which are all very good for your arteries.
Note: It’s recommended to limit your consumption of tuna and halibut as they are known to have more toxins present being “deep-water” fish – salmon is definitely better.
Spinach…
Vitamin C and vitamin A which help prevent cholesterol from becoming “oxidized” will help to prevent clogging plaque from building up in your arteries. Spinach is also chocked full of Vitamin C and A.
Swiss Chard…
This leafy-green alternative is an excellent source of vitamin E, another antioxidant which helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol. Eating a diet rich in vitamin E has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing clogged arteries.
Tomatoes…
Tomatoes are rich in carotenoid lycopene, an antioxidant that can significantly lower your risk of atherosclerosis nearly in half. Tomato juice, soup and ketchup (low sodium choices) give you a more-concentrated form than fresh tomatoes.
Also, antioxident-rich tomatoes may make LDL cholesterol much less susceptible to becoming oxidized – being a first step in the formation of artery-clogging plaque formation which is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Garbanzo Beans…
All beans contain both important soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, but garbanzo beans are one of the best – which help to remove cholesterol-containing bile from your body. They are also known to help prevent heart disease.
So, happy eating folks! As time goes by, I will add to this list on my blog (see address below) – so, I invite you to visit again soon... I wish you all great heart health!
Sincerely, caro weaverl...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Why does the hair on your arms stay short, while the hair on your head can grow very long?
Each hair on your body grows from its own individual hair follicle. Inside the follicle, new hair cells form at the root of the hair shaft. As the cells form, they push older cells out of the follicle. As they are pushed out, the cells die and become the hair we see.
The hair follicles on your head are programmed to let hair grow for years at a time.
A follicle will produce new cells for a certain period of time depending on where it is located on your body. This period is called the growth phase. Then it will stop for a period of time (the rest phase), and then restart the growth phase again.
When the hair follicle enters the rest phase, the hair shaft breaks, so the existing hair falls out and a new hair takes its place. Therefore, the length of time that the hair is able to spend growing during the growth phase controls the maximum length of the hair.
The cells that make the hairs on your arms are programmed to stop growing every couple of months, so the hair on your arms stays short. The hair follicles on your head, on the other hand, are programmed to let hair grow for years at a time, so the hair can grow very long.
Animals that shed have hair follicles that synchronize their rest phase so that all of the follicles enter the rest phase at once. This way, all of the hair falls out at one time. A dog that sheds will lose its hair in large clumps. Many animals can also switch the coloring agent in the hair follicle on and off -- so in the summer, the hair is pigmented brown with melanin, but in the winter it is not pigmented, leaving the hair white.
The hair follicles on your head are programmed to let hair grow for years at a time.
A follicle will produce new cells for a certain period of time depending on where it is located on your body. This period is called the growth phase. Then it will stop for a period of time (the rest phase), and then restart the growth phase again.
When the hair follicle enters the rest phase, the hair shaft breaks, so the existing hair falls out and a new hair takes its place. Therefore, the length of time that the hair is able to spend growing during the growth phase controls the maximum length of the hair.
The cells that make the hairs on your arms are programmed to stop growing every couple of months, so the hair on your arms stays short. The hair follicles on your head, on the other hand, are programmed to let hair grow for years at a time, so the hair can grow very long.
Animals that shed have hair follicles that synchronize their rest phase so that all of the follicles enter the rest phase at once. This way, all of the hair falls out at one time. A dog that sheds will lose its hair in large clumps. Many animals can also switch the coloring agent in the hair follicle on and off -- so in the summer, the hair is pigmented brown with melanin, but in the winter it is not pigmented, leaving the hair white.
What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.
It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.
What causes excessive hair loss?
A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.
Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.
Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.
Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.
Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.
Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.
Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?
Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.
What is common baldness?
The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.
Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.
Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?
Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.
Is there any treatment for hair loss?
Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.
Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.
If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.
The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.
It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.
What causes excessive hair loss?
A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.
Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.
Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.
Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.
Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.
Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.
Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?
Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.
What is common baldness?
The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.
Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.
Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?
Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.
Is there any treatment for hair loss?
Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.
Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.
If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
TWIST TO A DREAD
The starting point when starting dreads. The first step of the dreadlocking process is to learn patients. With patients yours dreads will grow as long as you want them to grow. Healthy clean oiled sclape helps out alot wash your hair at least 2 times a month. When starting dreads the perferable product to use is a twisty comb, locking twist gel its healthy for natural hair and leaves your dreads with a shine. The locking process takes a while before you see results. Patients is the key.
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