Natural Constipation Relief

It's definitely summertime and many of our readers are traveling to places near and far for vacation and fun in the sun. Several of them have asked us what we can recommend for occasional or chronic constipation, especially while traveling. We have a one-word answer: Spectrabiotic.

Simplexity Health's Spectrabiotic is a full spectrum probiotic (the "friendly" bacteria that live in the gut) that keeps your digestive process functioning and healthy. Traveling often means that you eat different and sometimes unhealthy foods, which can lead to constipation. When you feel constipated, your digestive process becomes slow and sluggish, and you may feel bloated and uncomfortable-not fun on vacation!

Adding Spectrabiotic to your daily regimen can keep your digestion moving efficiently. We recommend taking two to four capsules with pure non-chlorinated water each evening, starting the night before you travel.

Other suggestions for dealing with or preventing constipation while traveling include:

* Homeopathic Remedy Nux Vomica 30c (gets your digestion moving)
* Ume Plum Tar or Balls (restores the pH balance in your system)
* Simplexity Enzymes with each meal (take two to four with each meal)

These simple steps can help you enjoy your summer travels without feeling uncomfortable! As always, you can order Spectrabiotic and Enzymes online at a wholesale discount.


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Photo credit: Those Constipation Blues

Water ... The Missing Ingredient

Did you know that ...

- Humans require about 2 1/2 quarts of water a day.

- A human can live more than a month without food but only as much as one week without water.

- Over sixty percent of an adult's weight is water.

- You lose close to a liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements.

- You lose more water if you exercise, live in a dry climate, or are suffering from illness.

The International Sports Medicine Institute recommends the following formula for deciding how much water you need to drink: drink a 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight if you're not active (that's ten eight-ounce glasses if you weigh 160 pounds), and 2/3 ounce per pound if you're athletic (13 to 14 glasses a day, at the same weight).

Do you have difficulty drinking as much water as you should? Try this little regimen suggested by Brenda Taft of S. Windsor, CT: add a pinch of high-quality sea salt per pint of water. Salt often makes the water tastier and more palatable, easier to drink!

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Photo credit: |Reflex|

Does Mother Know Best? No, Your Body Does!

We often get questions from people about how much to take of certain supplements, especially the Simplexity Health products. How many enzymes do you really need? What about probiotics like Acidophilus and Bifidus? And antioxidants ... how many of those?

It's always good to have guidelines, of course, but in addition to guidelines we also encourage people to follow their bodies' own natural wisdom. How do you know what your body is trying to tell you? It's simple. Just try the free choice approach.

Suppose you have a regular group of supplement your normally take: probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, and so on. Instead of following a regimented approach of so many of each type of supplement, let your body decide.

Look at your little group of supplement bottles and see which ones jump out at you. Or just pick one up at random. Then open the bottle and tip it toward your hand. Allow just the "right" number of pills to tumble into your hand. Whether you end up with four capsules or none, it is just the right number. Get the right number of pills from each bottle in the same way.

Try this "free choice" approach for a few days or a few weeks. See how you feel. You might be impressed and amazed at how easily you can "hear" your body's wisdom with this simple approach. Enjoy!

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Amazing Facts and Figures About Your Gut!

There's no way to look inside your guts without surgery, but you can at least get acquainted with some of these eye-opening facts and figures about your insides:

How many species of bacteria live in the gastrointestinal tract?
More than 400 (the majority are Bifidus in the colon, and Acidophilus strains in the stomach and small intestine)

What is the approximate total weight of these bacteria in an average healthy adult?
3-5 pounds

What is the surface area of the human digestive system?
About 2,700 sq. ft. (the size of a tennis court - due to folds in the intestinal walls).

What is the surface area that, in most adults, is actually clean enough to absorb nutrients efficiently?
Due to compacted, undigested food on the intestinal wall, only an area about the size of a ping-pong table is actually clean enough to absorb nutrients efficiently.

If the intestinal wall is compacted, as is the case for 80% of the population, is it true that you will need to consume more of each isolated nutrient than others with fully functioning digestive systems?
Yes. For example, the RDI (recommended daily intake) for zinc is 15 mg, whereas someone with a healthy intestinal wall may only need 5 mg per day. Why take more than you need, when a fully functioning digestive system could handle less?

How much yogurt would be required to equal the amount of active acidophilus in one serving (2 capsules) of Simplexity's Super Blue Green Acidophilus?
20-40 quarts
Benefits of Acidophilus and Other Friendly Bacteria
o Help keep intestinal walls clean
o Produce natural antibiotics
o Create a favorable environment for "good bacteria" growth
o Produce natural B vitamins
o Improve absorption of food nutrients such as protein, and help retain minerals
o Assist in the production of enzymes that break down milk sugars
o Boost the immune system
o Aid in maintaining regular elimination

No Need to Stuff Yourself with Yogurt!
Want all the benefits of acidophilus and other friendly bacteria? No need to stuff yourself with yogurt (20-40 quarts to be exact!). Just add Simplexity Acidophilus, Bifidus, and Spectrabiotic:

Order Simplexity Online at Wholesale Prices

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Photo credit: Belly Waves

Be Kind to Your Bones, Naturally!

If you watch television at all, chances are that you have been bombarded with ads from pharmaceutical companies touting drugs to prevent bone loss.

Confused about osteoporosis and whether those drugs really work? So are most Americans, but you don't have to be.

First, here are some facts about osteoporosis:

• Not everyone is at risk
• About 8 million women and 10 million men in the US have the disorder
• Women over 50 are the most vulnerable, especially if they are Caucasian or Asian and have a family history of osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis can lead to loss of mobility and depression

The drugs produced by pharmaceutical companies can help, but many patients refuse to take them. Some cause heartburn or indigestion while others increase the number and severity of hot flashes. Finally, some are too expensive, costing upwards of $8,000 per year.

But you can ensure the health of your bones with a natural and inexpensive solution: OsteoSun by Simplexity Health. OsteoSun's ingredients include a very special patented formulation of red yeast rice, a natural food product that has been used in Oriental cuisine for centuries for a variety of health benefits. Using patented technology, many different strains of red yeast rice were tested, but only the strain that is the most bone active was chosen for use in OsteoSun.

Unlike other products on the market, OsteoSun enhances the body's natural ability to restore bone mass, and is scientifically proven in vitro and in an animal model to build new bone. Scientific research has shown that OsteoSun increases bone mineral density significantly (by up to 47%).

Read more about OsteoSun research here.

Ready to Be Kind to Your Bones?
Order Simplexity Health's OsteoSun online at wholesale prices:

Prosperity Abounds - OsteoSun

*Fact about osteoporosis quotes from Newsweek, August 6, 2007, "Be Good to Your Bones," by Karen Springden.

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Photo credit: iX-ray

Are You Getting Enough Green?

Surveys show that 80% of North Americans fail to get optimal amounts of fruits and vegetables in their daily diets, as recommended by the USDA and the National Cancer Institute. Consuming "green foods" (nutrient-dense, minimally processed, whole foods) is an important way to achieve a healthy diet. But what makes green foods so great? Chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, is essential in the photosynthesis reactions that convert radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy for life processes. Inside the cells of green plants, chlorophyll combines with carbon dioxide and sunlight to form simple sugars. Without chlorophyll, plants would be unable to perform essential metabolic functions such as respiration and growth.

Chlorophyll has a similar effect in humans. There is considerable research and anecdotal evidence that chlorophyll is effective in rebuilding the blood, through metabolic processes that are not yet completely understood.

Chlorophyll has also been shown to stimulate liver function and excretion of bile, strengthen immunity, and detoxify chemical pollutants. Numerous recent studies have also indicated that chlorophyll has anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties.

Chlorophyll is found in highest concentrations in green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, and in cereal grasses like wheat grass and barley grass, but the highest concentration is found in blue-green algae. Given all the potential benefits of adding chlorophyll, why not consider adding more "green" to your diet?

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Photo credit: Chinese chicken salad

Older People More Stressed by Losing Jobs

A recent study conducted by William Gallo, a research scientist at Yale University's School of Medicine, showed that older people were more stressed by losing their jobs than their younger counterparts.

The study, which followed older people who lost their jobs after a plant closing, found that this population was at high risk for depression, heart attack, and stroke. In fact, these older people had more than double the risk for heart attack and stroke than people who did not lose their jobs. Older job losers also suffered more symptoms of depression and were at high risk for cardiovascular problems. All of these risks were reduced when study participants found jobs again.

But the baby boomers are not alone in dealing with stress from job loss. According to one study, led by Sheldon Cohen, psychologist at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, people living with unemployment or underemployment were twice as likely to develop colds than those not dealing with the same kinds of stress.

How to Deal with Stress from Unemployment
Stress plays major havoc with the body's hormonal systems that regulate the various organ systems. If you are stressed by the economic situation and/or unemployment, there are a number of things you can do to restore your body's balance:

Breathe Deeply: shallow breathing sends panic signals to the brain while deep breathing seems to have the opposite effect

Get Involved: whether you read the mystery, volunteer at a local charity, or visit with friends and family, get involved in activities that take your mind off your situation. Thinking about other things prevents stress, which can restore your body's hormonal balance.

Get Healthy for Cheap: with so many unable to afford health insurance, it's time to take health into our own hands. For $40-$50 a month, you can boost your immune system and nourish your body on a daily basis with the Essentials from Simplexity Health.

Let it Out: Laugh, cry, rage … do whatever you need to do but don't hold it in. Suppressing emotions will only make you sick. Whatever you are feeling about your situation, let it out of your system and then get on with life!

Finally, try to get some perspective on your situation. Our nation has been through recession before. You may have been through unemployment before. We have survived. Remember past hardships and note how you have survived those. You are still alive and breathing, and that's saying a lot. Sometimes getting a little perspective makes all the difference in the world!

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Photo credit: 1-26-07

Minerals for Great-Looking Skin from the Inside Out

Want great-looking skin this summer? No problem. You just have to make sure that you are nourishing your body from the inside out. Your skin is often a revealing organ that shows the state of your inner health. When we are healthy, our skin has that fabulous "glow" that people often comment about. So if you want healthy skin on the outside, just make sure you give your insides the proper nutrition.

Your skin needs a number of things to get that healthy glow. These include the right vitamins and minerals, good protection, essential fatty acids, and the right amino acids. In this article, I'm going to cover the minerals you need to have healthy skin, in addition to the foods that are rich in those kinds of minerals.

Minerals Needed for Healthy Skin
Your skin is made up of cells, and like any cells in the body, skin cells needs very specific minerals to stay healthy.

Iron - plays a crucial role in forming hemoglobin in our red blood cells, which deliver oxygen to skin cells. Oxygenated skin cells are healthy and radiant.

Calcium - skin cells need a specific enzyme for cellular repair, and this specific enzyme is activated by calcium.

Chromium - found commonly in brewer's yeast, chromium has been used with some success in treating acne.

Copper - working in concert with several enzymes, copper helps to remove cholesterol from our cell membranes. Copper also helps cells product collagen and elastin, which are two proteins that contribute to your skin's tightness and elasticity.

Magnesium - Skin cells need a specific enzyme to help repair the collagen protein, and this enzyme needs magnesium to function.

Zinc - prevents acne because it inhibits the action of certain enzymes that cause skin inflammation and duct blockage.

Foods High in Minerals for Healthy Skin
There are plenty of foods high in these minerals. For instance, avocados are high magnesium. Need zinc? Go for oysters, lean meats, and poultry. Green tea is high in zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Romaine lettuce, onions, and tomatoes are high in chromium.

But what if you are not into creating a whole diet around these minerals? No problem. Studies show that there are two other sources that provide all of these minerals. One is mineral water. Says Mary Sullivan, RN, the co-founder of Olympian Labs, says that drinking spring water or washing your face with mineral water can give your skin the minerals it needs.

Researcher Karl J. Abrams points to another source, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, or blue green algae, as a complete source of all of these minerals.

Try either of these two sources for a simple way to nourish your skin from the inside out, and enjoy!

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Photo credit: Flawless Skin

Patient-Centered Care - Doctors Quashing Patient Ratings

With the advent of eBay and Amazon, the consumers of the world are crazy about rating everything, from product quality to service delivery. We rate movies on Netflix, books on Amazon, and products at Walmart.

You may or may not have noticed, but these days many people are also rating their doctors on the quality of care they receive. Yup, doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes all have report cards now. For instance, the Golden, CO based company, Healthgrades, gives out grades based on its survey of Medicare and other records. If you are a consumer and you want to access the report on a specific physician or hospital, you must pay a small fee. For instance, I checked on my family physician and I could buy the report for $12.95.

On another site, called RateMDs, you can actually rate your doctor publicly. I again checked on my family physician and found her among a huge list. I clicked on a button to add my rating, and was about the quality of the staff's helpfulness, the doctor's punctuality, the doctor's helpfulness and approachability, and finally, the doctor's knowledge.

I was asked to rate each of these categories from 1 through 5. I was also asked about my method of payment, the amount I paid, and whether I had any further comments. The site also included a detailed warning:

"Libelous or very short comments will be deleted. Further, this is not the right forum for reporting illegal activity, unless you include a link to a site with supporting evidence. And remember, you are legally responsible for what you write here. Submitted data become the property of RateMDs.com. IP addresses are logged."

Doctors Rebel Against Report Cards
After this little experience, which was interesting, I did a little research on physician report cards and discovered two things: doctors don't like being graded, and they might be right.

On the first point, doctors don't like report cards for a number of reasons. Ratings, like those offered by Healthgrades, can be tricky, depending on whether the ratings adjust for the quality of data. For instance, one study compared the outcomes of angioplasty patients in New York and Michigan. The New York physicians that performed the angioplasties came up smelling like roses, since their patients had far fewer complications. However, once researchers reviewed the patient data, they realized that the Michigan patients were far sicker to begin with. When they adjusted the ratings based on this further refinement, the physicians in the two states came out relatively equal.

In reaction this kind of grading, which often is subjective or doesn't take into account all the necessary factors, some physicians are rebelling against scorecards. A percentage of physicians are now asking their patients to sign legal forms promising not to reveal "any unfavorable information about the doctor's care, manner or office staff."

There are questions about whether these waivers are legal and whether they will stand up in court. In the meantime, however, don't be surprised if your physician hands you one of these waivers, along with the other reams of normal paperwork.

Will You Sign a Waiver?
Will you sign one? It's up to you. It really depends on the relationship you have with your physician. Patient-advocacy groups claim that patients really need to have a voice, and that websites like RateMDs give patients that voice. On the other hand, this kind of "grading" can cause some physicians to deny certain kinds of patients care, afraid that complex cases will drag down their statistics.

It's a tricky situation, and this is just a "heads up" that you may soon be seeing these new waivers. Start thinking now about whether you will sign.

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The Power of Atomidine for Self-Healing

Atomidine: Golden Liquid Fish
Atomidine has poetically been referred to as the "golden liquid fish" because of its iodine content. It is actually a clear, yellow-gold liquid that is a concentrated source of iodine, a mineral particularly abundance in the ocean, and in its products and creatures.

Edgar Cayce on Atomidine
Atomidine, at least according to Edgar Cayce, is uniquely different from substances based on molecular iodine compounds. By a special process, iodine is compounded in a solution that liberates the element in an atomic or nascent state on contact with an excess of solvent, such as the fluids of the body. Our bodies readily use iodine in this form. In addition, what Cayce called "atomic iodine" or Atomidine, he believed to be more active, less toxic, and less irritating to the system than molecular iodine, and thus suitable for internal use in small quantities. It's also a wonderful external antiseptic.

Atomidine was mentioned in about 830 of Edgar Cayce's readings. Cayce said that there were few human ailments that would not respond to the iodine since it would correct a better balance in the system if used correctly. He went on to say that Atomidine could be indicated whenever there were signs of imbalance, either in glandular functions, or in the activity of the assimilations and eliminations. Cayce indicated it especially for thyroid function, as well as building the blood, asthma, and teeth and gums.

How to Use Atomidine
Most people take Atomidine in cycles, as follows:

Monday: 1 drop in 4 oz pure water
Tuesday: 2 drops in 4 oz pure water
Wednesday: 3 drops in 4 oz pure water
Thursday: 4 drops in 4 oz pure water
Friday: 5 drops in 4 oz pure water
Saturday: none
Sunday: none

The minimum dosage is 1 drop per day. You can also apply it externally to cuts, scrapes, insect bites, or other wounds where infection is a possibility.

Atomidine is available from the Heritage Store.


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Coffee's Bad Rap Came from Cigarettes - Coffee's Actually Not Bad

How Coffee Got a Bad Rap

Get this: for many years scientists claimed that drinking coffee was responsible for all kinds of ailments and illnesses, and they were wrong. In actuality most of the ailments were caused by the cigarettes on which most of the coffee drinkers were puffing. It turns out that coffee and cigarettes are habits that go hand-in-hand for many people, a factor that the studies did not take into account.

Not that coffee is as healthy as, say, a drink from an unpolluted spring high in the mountains. It's not. The caffeine from coffee can be addictive, and those who drink coffee on a regular basis will find that quitting can be somewhat painful. In addition, coffee can be a bladder irritant and disturb your sleep. People who drink a lot of coffee are also at greater risk for developing osteoporosis.

Health Benefits of Coffee
On the other hand, coffee also has its health benefits. Aside from a mild (and sometimes useful jolt) here are a few:

Reduced Suicide Rates
Caffeinated substances act like mild antidepressants. According to the Nurses' Healthy Study, suicide rates 50% less among coffee drinkers than among those who don't drink coffee.

Decreased Chance of Gallstone Development
Although researchers are not sure why, coffee-drinkers are less prone to gallstones than non-coffee drinkers. Part of the reason may be that coffee stimulates the gallbladder to contract regularly, and this movement may not allow gallstones to form. Caffeine also slows the crystallization of cholesterol, which is part of the how gallstones form.

Less Risk of Type-2 Diabetes
According to the Stockholm Diabetes Prevention Program, people who regularly drink significant amounts of coffee (5 or more cups per day) are less likely to develop this kind of diabetes than those who drink 2 cups or fewer.

Like red wine, dark chocolate, and the egg, coffee is making a comeback as a substance that isn't totally sinful, and actually has health benefits. As with everything we put into our bodies, "moderation in all things, even moderation" is a fabulous motto to follow!

P.S. If you're a coffee-drinker, you can decrease your chances of developing osteoporosis.

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Photo credit: Strong coffee

The Power of Acidophlius

Acidophilus is often called "nature's antibiotic" because it plays such a vital role in our immune systems. Acidophilus is a form of friendly bacteria that lives in our small intestine and is necessary for proper digestion and a healthy immune system. Stress antacids, antibiotics, processed foods, pesticides, chlorine in drinking water, and high-fat, high-protein diets are all factors that destroy the Acidophilus in our system.

When we don't have enough Acidophilus we get sick - everything from the common cold to indigestion, skin problems and allergies. To stay healthy, avoid the insulting habits mentioned above and replenish the Acidophilus in your system every day.

For the most potent and effect strain of Acidophilus (the Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 strain), order online:

Order Simplexity Acidophilus Online

QUICK TIP:
When you feel yourself start to get sick, take 10-20 Acidophilus at once with pure water, then 2-4 every 2 hours. The quantity of Acidophilus gives your immune system incredibly strong support!

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