Eat Like Your Children to Stay Healthy

Had it with fad diets, calorie counting and worrying about nutrition?

Well, if you want to be lean, healthy and happy, don't take the adult approach to eating. Instead, watch how small children eat naturally and pick up a few tips from them. If you don't have any small children around you, here are a few insights to help you get started. Small children (those that are young enough not to be heavily influenced by social pressure):

• Only eat when they are hungry: they let hunger drive their food intake, not emotions.
• Eat small portions and stop eating when they are full: they are much too busy to sit through a huge feast!
• Eat more frequently: goes with eating smaller portions.
• Move and exercise between meals: again, much too busy to stay put.
• Take pleasure in eating: while we count calories, they're loving every bite.

Small children are healthy, happy, lean and well-adjusted, AND they don't know how to count calories. So, if you want to stay lean and sane, take a couple of cues from your children. It's a lot easier than counting every calorie!

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Photo credit: First Birthday Cake

Flower Essences for Rocky and Uncertain Times

Flower Essences for Rocky and Uncertain Times

We have been inundated with requests for help from people who are afraid and overwhelmed in these uncertain times. It can be very difficult to separate yourself from the stream of negative energy in which so many people are currently participating, but you can take steps to create a sense of sacred space in your life.

Creating your own flower essence combinations and taking them regularly is a great way to start creating sacred space. Bach flower essences offer a great selection of core essences, and are easy to find in most health food stores. They can also be easily obtained online.

Great Flower Essences for Not-So-Great Times
Here are a list of the core Bach essences that apply to our current times. Scan through the list and see if any of the remedies "pop" for you, and seem appropriate for your current situation. Although some purists don't mix essences, I have found that often a combination of 3-5 flower essences can be more powerful than a single essence. Rescue Remedy, which is available pre-mixed, is a great example of such a combination. If you don't feel that you can mix your own essences, taking Rescue Remedy is a great fallback plan.

Rock Rose
For those feeling so much fear and terror that they are paralyzed. This essence is particularly useful at this time. Rock Rose offers the gift of dauntless courage.

Aspen
For vague worries with no specific cause. In these times, it's quite possible that many people are tapping into the general tone of fear and uncertainty. If you feel a sense of impending doom, Aspen offers the gifts of connectedness and fearlessness.

Mimulus
For known and named fears. If you know what you are afraid of (such as dogs, spiders, public speaking, etc.) this remedy works well. Mimuls offers the gifts of fearlessness and confidence.

Cerato
For those who don't feel they can trust their own judgment or decision-making ability. If you need to make some hard decisions in your life but you don't trust yourself, Cerato (like the word "certain") can assist you. Cerato offers the gifts of certainty and strength.

Wild Oat
For those standing at a crossroad, unable to make a decision as to which way to go. This essence helps you locate and get in touch with your inner gifts and talents. Wild Oat offers the gifts of feeling your own character and bringing out your innate talents.

Hornbeam
For those suffering from the "Monday morning blues," regardless of the day of the week. If you feel a general sense of malaise and insufficient mental/physical strength to deal with life, this essence can offer support. Hornbeam offer the gifts of certainty and an abundance of energy.

Walnut
For those going through difficult life transitions or those feeling bound by old life conditions. If you need to break free and step onto a new life path, Walnut will help you ease the transition and protect you while you make your move. Walnut offers the gifts of stabilization, strong boundaries, and protection from outside influences during transition.

Mix Your Own Essences
You can easily mix your own essences to take on a daily basis. To do so, you will need to have the flower essences you want to use, a sterile 1 or 2 ounce dropper bottle, some spring water, and some alcohol (I like to use flavored brandies). Once you have these materials:

1. Put a small amount of alcohol at the bottom of the bottle
2. Add 4 drops of each flower essence you want to use to the bottle
3. Add more alcohol to the dropper bottle, until the bottle is 1/4 to 1/3 full
4. Top up the mix with spring water
5. Close the dropper bottle and pound the bottom of the bottle on your palm 50 times.

Now you are ready to use your flower essence. You can carry the bottle with you, and take 4 drops during the day (3-4 times per day or as needed). Another method is to add 4 drops to a bottle of spring water, shake, and sip the water all day. This method also works well with Rescue Remedy.

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Photo credit: Rosa de agua

Heart Healthy Habits

Heart Healthy Habits

It is never too late or too early to take care of your heart. Why not take a moment change your eating habits to be heart healthy? Check out these quick tips from the Franklin Institute, a museum where science and technology, curiosity and learning thrive.

A healthy heart starts with a healthy diet. You are what you eat! A heart healthy diet should include:

• Total fat intake should be less than 30 percent of total calories daily.
• Saturated fatty acid intake should be less than 10 percent of total calories daily.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake should be no more that 10 percent of total calories daily.
• Monounsaturated fatty acids make up the rest of total fat intake, about 10 to 15 percent of total calories daily.
• Cholesterol intake should be no more than 300 milligrams per day.
• Sodium intake should be no more than 3000 milligrams per day.
• Beware of chemicals in your food like caffeine, MSG, and other food additives.

Photo credit: String of Hearts

Detoxification: Just the Facts

Detoxification: Just the Facts

We hear the word "detoxification" so often these days that it's become a common part of our language, but do we really know what it is? If you've been a little confused about detoxing, this article will give you some basics about it. Our bodies detoxify everyday - it's simply the process of processing or getting rid of toxins through the colon, liver, kidney, lungs, lymph or skin.

Detoxification is the body's way of getting rid of the pollutants we're exposed to daily in our environment. These can include industrial chemicals in our water, pesticides in our food, heavy metals and second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, these days we are exposed to so many toxins that our bodies can't get rid of them fast enough. That's why it's often necessary for us to use herbs, nutrition and other alternative therapies to assist our bodies in the detox process.

How do you know if you need to detox? Here are some symptoms to look for:

• Frequent or unexplained headaches
• Bad breath or body odor
• Poor memory or sleep patterns
• Allergies
• Poor digestion, gas, bloating
• Chronic respiratory or sinus problems

If you do have some of the above symptoms or just feel the need for a good "clean out," we recommend you go on a 3-7 day juice fast. A juice fast means you don't eat anything, but drink only water and fresh juices. Fresh juices (that you need to juice each day) increase the cleansing process by picking up waste material and moving it out of the body. A fast that is shorter than 3 days doesn't give you enough benefit, and most people don't have the stamina for longer fasts. We also suggest you add enzymes to your fast for greater cleansing effects.

Photo credit: Biohazard

Five Simple and Cheap Ways to Recover from Stress

Five Simple and Cheap Ways to Recover from Stress

We live in a stressed out society. According to an annual "Attitudes In The American Workplace VI" Gallup Poll, 80% of workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress. Stress has become one the largest problems in our society, and regularly costs US industries more than $300 billion per year.

With today's uncertain economy, more and more people are feeling stress, even if they don't acknowledge it. The good news is that you don't have to be stressed out, even if everyone else is. Here are five simple and cheap ways to recover from stress:

Move Your Body
Taking a brisk 5 minute walk outside can release endorphins (those make you feel happy), increase circulation to the brain so you can think more clearly, and reduce the adrenalin and cortisol produced by stress (adrenalin and cortisol cause your body to store lots of fat). Moving your body also tends to move your mind, according to the spiritual principle of "as above, so below," so you tend to feel more relaxed and creative afterward. Taking a quick walk could result in some unexpected inspiration!

Vent for Five Minutes
If you're really stressed and you need to vent your frustration or anger, set aside five minutes and write everything down. Set a timer for five minutes and go. Write down everything you're angry, sad, frustrated, grieving, or generally stressed about. This is your five minutes to cut loose. When the timer goes off, you'll feel better and be able to think more clearly. The key to making this technique work is to stay disciplined. Don't allow yourself to get frustrated outside of those 5 minutes, and don't let yourself vent for more than 5 minutes.

Feed Your Brain and Body
When you're under stress, your brain and body need more nutrients to function. Taking in whole food nutrients can actually get rid of stress. Try blue-green algae, chlorella, or another chlorophyll-rich source. Fruits and vegetables, especially if freshly-juiced, also make a great source of nutrient-dense food that your body can use without a lot of digestive effort.

Breathe
When you're under stress, you stop breathing deeply and regularly. Studies show that when you take conscious control of your breathing, your level of stress decreases. If you're breathing consciously, you won't be stressed. Take three minutes and just breathe. You'll be glad you did!

Take Action
If you're stressed because you've been procrastinating about something, get moving and take some action. Procrastination is one of the biggest sources of stress--and it's also one of the easiest to take care of. Taking action and completing tasks can radically reduce stress!

The last thing you need to do when you're stressed is add more items to your to-do list. Instead, make stress relief simple. Take 5 minutes out of your day, here and there, to de-stress your life. You don't need to pay for an expensive gym membership or visit a shrink. Just take a little time to decompress and you'll be surprised at the positive results.

Photo credit: Paula writes the diary

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Need Sleep?

Most of us are so driven by the clock that we pay more attention to it than we do to our own bodies. Did you know that your body constantly working to stay in balance, and that it can and will balance itself if you let it.

There's a lot of debate out there about how much sleep a person really needs. The problem with any sort of generalized guidelines is that every person needs a different amount of sleep. In fact, you might need different amounts of sleep on different nights - depending on what's going on in your life.

The best way to determine how much sleep you need is to listen to you body. On the weekends, when you don't have to salute the alarm clock, experiment with waking up naturally. See what time you wake up and how many hours you slept. Check in with how you feel with that amount of sleep, then adjust accordingly.

Your body's internal wisdom is always right on the money. Trust it - it knows you better than anyone else!

Photo credit: need some sleep

7 Ways to Prevent Detoxification Symptoms

How to Avoid Bad Breath, Greasy Hair, Crankiness, and More ...

Mercury poisoning from dental fillings, chlorine hazards from the water we drink, steroid issues in the meat we eat ... it's no wonder many of us are scrambling get on a detoxification program!

There are hundreds of different ways to detoxify your body but most methods share one thing in common: detoxification symptoms. If you have ever done a detox regimen then you know all about these symptoms, which can include:

- bad breath
- skin breakouts
- greasy hair
- tiredness
- irritability
- bowel irregularities

Need we say more? Yuck. The good news is that if you do plan to do a detox regimen, there are steps you can take to prevent these symptoms from occurring, or at least lessen their effects. These steps are simple and easy to incorporate into your daily schedule.

7 Ways to Prevent Detoxification Symptoms

1. Drink Plenty of Water to Flush Toxins
As your body goes through detoxification, it uses water as one of the primary ways to move toxins through and out of your body. Therefore, when you're detoxing, you need to drink more than the usual eight glasses of water. I suggest people drink ten to twelve glasses of water. If you have difficulty drinking so much water, try adding salt, mint, or lime to your water. In addition, you can also try warming the water and adding honey or lemon to taste. Drink only non-chlorinated water, of course.

2. Take Enzymes
Enzymes help your body break down and flush toxins. People usually take enzymes with meals to aid with digestion, but if you take enzymes between meals they will actually assist your body with cleansing. They act as scavengers and trash-cleaners around the body when not needed for food digestion.

3. Avoid Stimulants
Although you may feel tired when doing a detox regimen, avoid taking stimulants like caffeine, if at all possible. Your body has to work doubly hard during a detox, and physical resources are already stretched to the limit. Stimulants like caffeine will only further overburden your system, not to mention stressing your adrenal system. In addition, although caffeine will give you an extra boost of energy, it will steal resources from your body's detox efforts to do so. If you need extra energy, turn to high-energy supplements like blue-green algae, wheat grass, or even freshly juiced apple-celery-carrot juices. You might need to visit your local juice bar for the juices.

4. Add Acidophilus and Bifidus to Your Regimen
Acidophilus and bifidus are the "friendly bacteria" in your gut that not only help you digest your food but also help your body flush toxins. To avoid any constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues during your detox, add 2-4 capsules of high quality bifidus and acidophilus to your daily regimen. Buy the kind that has to be kept refrigerated and comes in capsules. This kind tends to be more highly concentrated and powerful because it is freeze-dried. Trusting your morning yogurt to have enough of these kinds of good bacteria won't get you the quantities of acidophilus and bifidus you need.

5. Don't Overwork
Although adding many of the supplements mentioned here will help with detox symptoms, you also want to plan to take it easy while your body detoxes. Depending on how long your detoxification program lasts, you may want to rearrange your work and social schedule so you don't overwork. You may feel tired and irritable during the detox, and it can be a real struggle to work through low-energy periods. Plus, overwork has the exact opposite effect that your detoxification program is trying to achieve, which is a cleaner and healthier body.

6. Add Fermented Foods
Adding fermented foods like Japanese miso and ume plum balls (pills) to your daily diet can really help if you are doing a detox during the cold winter months. Another source of fermented food is Vegemite (sometimes called Marmite or Vegex). Fermented foods can help you feel warmer and more nourished during a detox, while not interfering with the cleansing process. Most of these products are available in your health store, although Vegemite and Marmite are international (British) products. and may have to be ordered online.

7. Sleep In
Whenever possible during the detox, sleep in. Get as much rest as your body asks for because detoxification is hard work! Sleep is one of the most nourishing acts you can do for your body. You relax body, mind, and spirit when you sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, you can try taking some valerian root herb or try the homeopathic chamomile.

Photo credit: greasy lady

Poison Ivy Relief at Home

Itching, scratching, burning, redness, and swelling … aaah, the joys of poison ivy and poison oak! It's often the price we pay when we go wandering into the wilderness. Did you know that poison ivy and poison oak affect mostly humans? Horses, goats, birds, and even bugs can eat the leaves with no ill effect whatsoever. But 80%-90% of humans who come in contact with poison ivy or oak will have an allergic reaction and will need ivy relief!

The ingredient that causes the problem, urushiol, is actually quite harmless, only our bodies mistakenly believe we are under attack when urushiol touches our skin. The body releases killer T-cells to the affected area and the T-cell basically kills every cell in the area. When the T-cells damage our nerve cells, we itch! And then we look for anything that will give us poison ivy relief.

Home Remedies for Ivy Relief
Luckily, there are a variety of home remedies that can give us ivy relief, as well as tons of over-the-counter ointments from the local drugstore. Some home remedies that have been reported to provide the most ivy relief include hot water, probiotic and enzyme poultices, a hair dryer, and even clear nail polish or duct tape. The most important first step, though, is to make sure that you have cleaned all the urushiol off the affected area. You can use witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or soap and warm water on the affected area. Make sure your hands are clean, too. Once you've washed the area and your hands, you can try one of these home remedies for ivy relief.

* Hot Water: Heat water until it is quite hot to the touch. Dip a clean towel in the water and apply the towel to the affected area. Keep the towel in place as long as you can. At first the area may become itchier, but after a while you should notice a decrease in sensation. Apply the hot water with care as you want to just relieve the ivy itch, not burn your skin.

* Probiotic and Enzyme Poultice: For ivy relief all day long, mix a capsule of the probiotic acidophilus with a capsule of food enzymes with non-chlorinated water. The consistency should be that of a paste. Apply the poultice to the affected area and let it dry. As the poultice dries the itch will fade. When the area starts to itch again, apply a new poultice.

* Hair Dryer: This works on the same principle as the hot water. Point the hair dryer, set at the hottest setting you can tolerate, at the affected area and keep it there until the itch fades. Again, be careful to just relieve the itch and not burn your skin.

* Nail Polish and Duct Tape: Some people swear by these two remedies although they might fall under the category of junk science. Certain people say that they get ivy relief by painting clear nail polish over the affected area or putting duct tape over it. Our only advice? Try it and see.


Photo credit: salvan

Simple Ways to Reverse Aging

Got Wrinkles? Aging?

Aging seems happens to all of us, but it doesn't have to. What are the top 3 causes of aging?

- Cell and tissue damage from free radicals because the body lacks anti-oxidants
- Reduced immune response
- Enzyme depletion

Did you know that you can reverse the effects of aging with very simple nutritional and lifestyle changes? Here are some ways to get started:

• Regular exercise for circulation, strength and flexibility
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
• Drink plenty of pure water every day
• Add blue-green algae to your diet
• Limit the amount of meat, butter, eggs and dairy you eat
• Eat whole, organic foods whenever possible
• Laugh and be happy (stress causes aging)
• Take the probiotics acidophilis and bifidus to improve immune response
• Use enzyme therapy to clean up waste in the body and cells

Remember that our cells don't really age - they are constantly being replaced by new cells. If you simply support your body's natural processes by using the guidelines above, staying youthful is easy!

Photo credit: Masarwa Man

Oddball Science: 11 Weird Health Facts You May or May Not Want to Know

Think you know what's going on in your body?

Maybe so ... and then again, maybe not. Check out these 11 oddball health facts:

1. No Pain in the Brain: Your brain can't feel pain, really! That's why they can do brain surgery while people are still awake!

2. About THE Finger (you know the one): The nail on your middle finger, the one you use to signal your displeasure in traffic, grows faster than all the other nails on your hand. Odd, ain't it?

3. The Tensile Tongue: The strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue. French kiss, anyone?

4. Sneeze at the Speed of a Tennis Serve: A sneeze can travel as fast as 100 mph … almost fast enough for a Grand Slam tennis serve. Are we powerful or what?

5. Men Must Have Good Dreams: The average man has an erection once every hour to hour-and-a-half. Girls just wanna have fun but men ARE having fun while asleep! Oh, alas, men can also get breast cancer just like women.

6. Bye-Bye Taste Buds: Food should start tasting blander as you age. By age 60 most people have lost the use of half of their taste buds. No wonder they serve tapioca pudding to people in nursing homes!

7. Sizzling Stomach Acid: Your stomach acid is so powerful it can dissolve certain metals, like a razor blade. Yowza!

8. Smile More and Work Less: It takes only 17 muscles to produce a smile, but if you want to frown you need 43 muscles. Smile 'cause it takes less effort.

9. Why It's OK to Deck Someone: The jawbone is the hardest bone in the human body. Want to punch out someone's lights? Hit 'em in the jaw but be prepared for your knuckles to hurt!

10. Think You're Clean? Something like 32 million bacteria live on every square inch of your skin!

11. Bloodshot Eyes: Why do your eyes look red in some photos? Because the flash goes straight through your pupil, which is clear, and reflects off the blood vessels in the back of your eye.


Photo credit: Tongue

All-Natural Homemade Facial Masks

All-Natural Homemade Facial Masks

Spring has sprung and it's time for transformation! Like snakes shedding their skins, it's time for us to shed our dull winter-damaged skin. It's the perfect time to mix up and use some all-natural homemade facial masks. Here are a few of my favorite recipes for homemade facial masks.

Refreshing Peach-Vinegar Facial Mask

To make this facial mask you need:
- 1 organic peach
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Peel the peach and mash it up to a fine consistency (or puree it in a food processor). Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the puree. Depending on the size of the peach you use, you may need to adjust the amount of vinegar you add. Add just enough vinegar so that the mask is firm enough to stay on your face after you apply it. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it one for about 15 minutes. Rinse your face with warm water and follow up with a natural moisturizer. This mask works well for all skin types.

Deep Cleansing Enzyme Mask

To make this facial mask you need:
- 1 or 2 enzyme capsules (available in health food stores or online)
- spring water

This mask is great for deep-cleansing your pores and works well on all skin types. To create this mask, mix powdered enzymes, which usually come in capsules, with spring water until the mix achieves a mud-like consistency. Apply the mixture over your entire face or just over your T-zone. Leave the mask on until it dries completely, and then rinse your face with warm water. Follow with a natural moisturizer. You'll notice your skin will be smooth and yours will appear smaller.

Banana-Honey Mask for Oily Skin

To make this facial mask you need:
- 1 very ripe organic banana
- 1 tablespoon honey

This sweet and fruity mask not only smells great but is fabulous for clearing up oily skin. Mash up your very ripe banana and then mix in the honey. Apply this gooey concoction to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse your face with warm water and apply a natural moisturizer. Your skin should feel clean and less oily.

Moisturizing Honey-Avocado Mask for Dry Skin

To make this facial mask you need:
- 1/2 ripe organic avocado (should feel slightly soft when squeezed)
- 3 tablespoons honey

If you have dry skin your face will love this mask! Peel 1/2 the avocado and mash until creamy. Mix in the honey and apply the mixture to your face. Leave the mask on your face for 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Follow up with a natural moisturizer. Your dry skin should feel deeply nourished and moisturized.

Photo credit: Neeta Lind

Flower Essences for Gentle, Natural Healing

The History of Flower Essences

Flower essences are part of an emerging field of life-enhancing subtle therapies that work through human energy fields to address issues of emotional health and mind-body well-being. Even though it’s new in America, the healing art of flower essences has struck a responsive chord in almost every healing discipline - medical and health practitioners, homeopaths, massage therapists, chiropractors, psychotherapists, counselors, dentists and veterinarians.

Like homeopathy and acupuncture, flower essences are exceptions to western type science. Also like homeopathic remedies, flower essences are highly diluted from a physical point of view. Yet they are powerful healers, potentiated vibrational tinctures from patterns of biomagnetic energies discharged by flowers.

Flowers are the highest concentration of the life force in a plant, the crowning experience of its growth. Flower essences are captured at the highest moment of the plant unfolding in blossom. The essence is generally prepared from a sun infusion of blossoms in a bowl of water, which is potentiated, then preserved with brandy.

The application of flower essences for specific emotions and attitudes was developed by Dr. Edward Bach, an English physician and homeopath in the 1930’s. Bach’s research showed that flowers discharged indentifiable patterns of biomagnetic energies that can be harnessed for healing power through emotional balance. Bach’s work on the relationship of stress to disease showed that the link between the mind and body is the most evident during stressful times. He also showed the significance of destructive emotions like depression, hate and fear.

Bach was one of the first modern healers to realize that true healing means the manifestation of one’s higher spiritual force. He saw that emotional balance strengthened the body’s ability to resist disease and he used flower essences as a healing tool to assist in that balance. In the last decade, modern medicine is also beginning to see the connection between negative emotions and lower disease resistance.

“What Bach was doing with his vibrational essences was working to increase his patients’ resistance by creating internal harmony and an amplification of the higher energetic systems that connect human beings to their higher selves.”
-Richard Gerber, MD, Vibrational Medicine

Bach was able to document scientifically the clinical criteria that is still used today in flower essence research. His compound, Rescue Remedy, is the most widely used flower essence - a gentle, effective remedy which restores emotional balance during stress or anxiety. It can also be used in emergency situations or at any time of upset, shock or trauma, like impending events which product anxiety. Rescue Remedy contains essence of cherry plum for fear of losing control, clematis for resignation and fatalism, impatiens for anxiousness, rock rose for panic, and Star of Bethlehem for fright.

Photo credit: A Cactus Flower for Capt. Suresh

Weight Loss Humor

A Giggle For Those on a Diet

Just couldn't resist -- we all need a little humor sometime, especially when it comes to weight loss. Enjoy!

"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart."
--Erma Bombeck

"No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office."
--George Bernard Shaw

"Eat as much as you like--just don't swallow it."
--Steve Burns

"A waist is a terrible thing to mind."
-- Tom Wilson

"I'm a light eater. When it gets light, I start eating."
--Tommy John

"Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip."
--Arnold H. Glasgow

"A moment on the lips, an eternity on the hips!"
-- Anonymous

Laughing yet??


Photo Credit: Kate Raynes-Goldie

Health and Wealth Are Both the Color Green

I love the color green because to me it stands for both health and wealth in my life. OK, I admit that other things are green, too, like jealousy, St. Paddy's day, and even mucus (sorry, I've been watching too many Mucinex commercials!).

But other green items aside, for me health and wealth are represented by the color green because of Simplexity's Super Blue Green Algae. I've be a Simplexity (formerly Cell Tech) distributor for over 20 years. The company and its products have been a steady source of income and health for me that whole time.

Even in these times of recession, my income from Simplexity has not dropped a bit … in fact, it's gone up. As you may know, people turn to MLM or network marketing during times of recession because they have lost their jobs and are looking for something to bring in income. MLM isn't a "get rich quick" scheme by any means but it is a way to create a side income that can eventually move you away from ever having a regular job again. And it makes your income fairly recession-proof over time. The green keeps coming in the mail.

Green is also the color of health because blue-green algae is, well, green. The algae products are a staple of my diet, and I feed it to my horses, dogs, and cat as well. I'm truly excited about the new stem cell product, Stemplex, which doesn't have all the baggage that comes with most stem cell research but does help to stimulate the growth of your own adult stem cells. The basic algae products plus enzymes and probiotics also can't be beat for total health and immune support.

Well, that's enough commercial from me. This blog is mostly informational but every now and then I can't help but slip in a blurb about the company that gives me the time and money to give away all the free information I do.

Want to get some green into your life? Drop me a line.

Bound for Mexico
One more item. Simplexity Health is opening its doors in Mexico and I'll be in Mexico City on March 28 for the big launch. If you know of anyone in Mexico or any Spanish speakers here in the States who want some green in their lives, let me know. I'll send you the details of the Mexico launch and hope to see you there!


Photo Credit: Go Irish! Go Green!

Pet Food Nutrition: Dos and Don’ts

Have you ever tried reading the ingredient label on a bag of dog or cat food? I have and I can tell you that you pretty much have to be a scientist to understand what it means. Most labels will tell you the amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients in the bag of food, but does it really tell you anything about pet food nutrition? Not really. Did you know that a 40 pound bag of dog food can contain less nutrition than a 5 pound bag of dog food? When it comes to pet food nutrition, it is the quality of the food that counts, not the quantity. Unfortunately, most of the time the 40 pound bag of food costs much less per pound than the 5 pound bag of food so we buy the cheap stuff.

So how can you know that your dog or cat is getting the all the nutrition it needs to stay healthy and happy? It's pretty hard to tell by reading the ingredients labels, but here's a quick guide that might help you translate the stuff on the label to find out just what kind of pet food nutrition is being offered. Basically, you want to avoid as many of the following as possible:

* BHA, Ethoxyquin, BHT: these are chemical preservatives
* Low quality protein: corn, wheat, and soy are examples
* Fats: most fats added to pet food are indigestible
* Artificial flavors or colors
* Corn syrup or sugar: just as bad for your pet as for you
* Byproducts: these include animal beaks, hooves, and guts

If you were to go to the grocery store and pick out fresh food for your pet, you wouldn't really include any of these items so try not to buy foods for your dog or cat that have these ingredients. There are commercially available dog and cat foods that do not have these ingredients and are not much more expensive than the cheaper brands. Check the internet or with your veterinarian for these brands that offer the right kind of pet food nutrition.

Another way to consider pet food nutrition is to look at basic biological requirements for cats and dogs. They are actually the same as for humans. Cats, dogs, and humans all need three basics to be healthy: probiotics, food enzymes, and minerals and trace minerals. No matter what brand of food you feed your pet, you can ensure that your cat or dog thrives by supplementing the feed with these ingredients. Here's what each one does:

* Probiotics: support the balance of natural 'friendly' bacteria present in the body of all organisms (an example is Lactobacillus acidophilus)

* Food Enzymes: aid in breaking down food into forms your dog or cat can use (examples include protease, amylase, and lipase)

* Minerals and Trace Minerals: used in almost every function of the body and are more easily assimilated than synthetic minerals

By adding small amounts of these natural ingredients to your pet's food (and you will be surprised at how little your pet needs on a daily basis) you can boost the nutrition in your pet's food no matter what brand of food you feed. Pet food nutrition doesn't have to be complicated. Just learn to read the labels, avoid foods with a lot of harmful or artificial ingredients, and supplement with probiotics, enzymes, minerals, and trace minerals as needed.

Help with Natural Health: Help for Bleeding Gums

Dear Alan,

I recently visited my dentist and discovered that my gums are in very bad shape. My dentist told me that my gingivitis is very advanced and I notice that every time I floss my gums bleed. My dentist wants to put me on antibiotics for several months, but I would like to try a more natural approach. Antibiotics make me sick to my stomach. Any suggestions?

-- Bleeding Badly, Lubbock, TX

Dear Bleeding Badly,

The poor condition of your gums is actually quite common and not something that you necessarily have to treat with antibiotics. Gums can bleed for two reasons:

1. Receding from teeth: if your gums are receding away from your teeth then they are easily irritated when you brush or floss. The extra space between the gum and the teeth also allows bacteria to collect, which causes further irritation and bleeding.

2. If you there is bacteria between your gum line and your teeth, your gums tend to become inflamed, which causes bleeding and further irritation.

In either case, it is possible to restore your gum health with some natural products rather than using antibiotics. In fact, some people who have pockets in their gums measuring 7 and 8 (a measurement used by dentists) have used these products to reduce those pockets to size 2. Here are some natural approaches that help with bleeding gums:

- CoQ10 (or Coenzyme Q10): this natural supplement helps rebuild both gum and heart tissue, as well as rejuvenate the metabolic function for every cell in the body. Our bodies need more CoQ10 as we get older, and especially if we suffer from gum or heart conditions.

- Acidophilus: this probiotic is a naturally-occurring bacteria in our intestines and has a similar action to antibiotics without the side-effects. Taking acidophilus with CoQ10 can help restore gum health and prevent bacterial growth between the gums and teeth.

- Ipsab: This Edgar Cayce product helps contract the gums, removes the bacteria and neutralizes the acids that erode enamel. Ingredients include salt, soda, prickly ash bark, and peppermint.

In addition to using these products, avoid brushing with toothbrushes that have stiff bristles, as this can further inflamed irritated gums. You might also try using a water pick appliance to remove particles of food between the gums and teeth after every meal. Finally, avoid brushing your teeth directly after eating anything acidic, as this tends to wear the enamel off your teeth. If you eat or drink something acidic, wait 30 minutes and then brush. Be patient with these natural approaches. It may take up to 3 months to notice a difference, but at least with a natural approach you are boosting rather than suppressing your body's natural immune response.

Photo Credit: Teeth

Indigestion How-To: The Natural Approach

Belching, burping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea … need we say more? What's the one word that sums up all of these symptoms? Indigestion. Anyone who has ever over-indulged, traveled to a foreign country, or tried out a new restaurant has had indigestion. As you well know, when you have indigestion you want to get rid of it as quickly as possible. It's also better for your long-term health if you use natural approaches that work with rather than suppress your natural digestive function. When it comes to indigestion how-to (how to get rid of indigestion, that is), there are two ways to go: prevention before it happens and fixing the situation after you've already got it.

** Prevention **
The first step in learning indigestion how-to is prevention. There many different ways to prevent indigestion and you just have to choose the right one for the occasion.

- Overindulgence: If you know you are going to be eating at a big buffet, take 2 digestive enzyme capsules before you leave for the buffet and slip 2-4 more in your pocket to take at the buffet. The enzymes will help your body digest the food as you eat, preventing symptoms like gas, bloating, and belching. For easy indigestion how-to, get enzymes with cayenne because they have extra digestive power.

- Travel: If you're going to be traveling to a foreign country (or any location where the food and water will be different) you definitely need some indigestion how-to. Just take Ume Plum tar or Ume Plum balls before, during, and after your trip. The balls and tar have highly concentrated Ume Plum, which is the most alkaline substance you can eat. Indigestion is an extremely acid condition and anything alkaline, like Ume Plum, will neutralize it. Be sure to get the highly concentrated tar or balls, which will appear almost black in color and should be available at your local health food store.

- Anytime: Sometimes indigestion just sneaks up on you. To protect the long-term health of your digestive system, add probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus to your daily regimen. Probiotics are the "healthy bacteria" that live in your gut and help you digest your food on a daily basis. Stress, chlorinated water, alcohol, and sugary foods all kill probiotics, which can lead to indigestion. Restoring these probiotics ensures that your gut stays healthy all the time. Be sure to take the probiotic capsules that are kept in the refrigerator as the off-the-shelf variety tends to be ineffective. The probiotics in yogurt also tend to have little effect.

** Fixing Indigestion **
If you already have indigestion, you can use the methods mentioned above to improve the situation. For some additional indigestion how-to after the fact, try these solutions.

- Olive Oil: To calm a queasy gut, take 1 teaspoon of cold-pressed olive oil every 2 hours.

- Alkathyme: Like the Ume Plum tar, alkathyme is an alkaline substance that will counter the acidity of indigestion. Alkathyme is an Edgar Cayce cure and is available online. Add 5 drops to a glass of non-chlorinated water and drink 1 glass per 2 hours.

- Enzyme Therapy: If you forgot to take enzymes before you started eating, take them afterward to ease indigestion. Take 1-2 capsules every hour to speed digestion and prevent food from fermenting in your gut.

Knowing some natural indigestion how-to remedies can really save you some trouble and discomfort when you overindulge or just feel a little digestive upset. All of these remedies are available online if not at your local health food store.