New CDC Report: Americans Are Still Not Eating Healthy Foods

Yesterday, a report was released by the United States government stating that the majority of Americans today do not eat the correct amounts of fruits and vegetables that are recommended to eat in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The report also found that not one single US State accomplished the national objectives concerning the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Healthy People 2010

The Healthy People 2010 is a concept that promotes healthier eating and lifestyle choices for Americans. The program focuses on 28 specific areas. The Healthy People 2010 program attempts to build upon an assortment of ideas and schemes that have been pursued over the last two decades. A nationwide health agenda was established in the 1979 Surgeon General's Report. The program was continued through the 1980 Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation, and Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. These two later programs successfully created nationwide health objectives that served as the basis for the development of State and local community health plans.

To help the development process of such a health plan, the Healthy People Consortium was created. It existed of more than 350 national membership organizations as well as 250 State health, mental health, substance abuse, and environmental agencies. The jobs were to give meaning and advice to the Healthy People 2010 program. The Secretary's Council on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2010 also provided leadership and advice in the development of national health objectives. The public can also have their say by posting comments at the Healthy People 2010 website.

The main goal of the program is to have 75% of all Americans regularly eating two or more servings of fruit daily and 50% of all American eating the recommended three or more servings of vegetables daily as well.

The CDC

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted surveys in which it was established that a mere 33% of American adults ate the recommended amount of fruits daily whilst only 27% ate the recommended daily amount of vegetables. These numbers decrease for high school students: 32% are eating the recommended amount of fruit whilst 13% are eating the recommended amount of vegetables.

The CDC issued a news release in which their director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Dr. William H. Dietz, stated:

"A diet high in fruits and vegetables is important for optimal child growth, maintaining a healthy weight, and prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, all of which currently contribute to health care costs in the United States."

The report, entitled the State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009, is the first of its kind to provide state by state data regarding each individual State's consumption of fruits and vegetables both in the states schools and in the local communities. It is hoped that these figures would help boost both fruit and vegetable consumption.

"This report will help states determine what is taking place in their communities and schools and come up with ways to encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables," Dietz stated.

The Three Policies

The report focuses primarily on three major policy and environmental areas that are associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables, mainly, a food support system, the availability of healthier food choices in schools across America, and healthier food retail.

Even though a child's school can influence not only the child's eating habits but also those of his/her parents, school staff members, and therefore the community-at-large, the CDC's report only found 21% of all middle and high schools actually offered fruits and non-fried vegetables in vending machines, school stores and snack bars.

It is a known fact that a food store that stocks its shelves with high-quality fruits and vegetables can play a major role in the healthy food choices that local residents make. However, the report found only 8 states in which a policy regarding healthier food retail improvements actually existed. These polices can lead to an increase in the amount of grocery stores in areas that do not have a full-service grocery store, as well as increase availability of healthier foods in smaller grocery stores, whilst promoting healthier food options by providing information to consumers who frequent such grocery stores.

Organizations that take into consideration a State's, and their local communities, access to fresh produce are called Food Policy Councils. These councils provide suggestions regarding policies and programs geared towards the availability of fresh produce in supermarkets and farm-to-school programs, as well as community vegetable and fruit gardens and even farmer's markets. Only 59 local food policy councils exist throughout America, whilst 20 states have a state-level food policy council.

Photo Credit: tami.vroma

How Effective is Anti-Bacterial Soap Really?

The fall and winter months that bring sicknesses such as flu, stomach viruses, strep throat and other germ related illnesses often also bring an outbreak in the purchases of antibacterial soap. Most consumers feel safer washing their hands with a product that is labeled as being antibacterial. Our society has created the belief that ordinary soap is not as sufficient for getting rid of germs as those that are described as having antibacterial ingredients. However, many have questioned and preformed research to determine if antibacterial soap is really better at killing germs than regular soap.

Triclosan and Triclocarban

Soaps are considered and allowed to be labeled as antibacterial if they contain the ingredients Triclosan and/or Triclocarban. Soaps not containing Triclosan or Triclocarban are not labeled as being antibacterial. Research studies show that soaps with these two ingredients (those labeled as antibacterial soaps) are no more effective at killing germs or preventing sicknesses caused from bacteria and germs than those soaps not containing these antibacterial labeling ingredients.

While it is extremely important to wash your hands with soap after germ exposing activities such as using the restroom, changing a baby, sneezing, coughing, and touching raw food, it is not more effective to use an antibacterial soap to cleanse over plain soaps. Plain soaps without the antibacterial label will also provide the needed cleansing that is necessary to kill germs that often lead to sicknesses.

Research Studies

One study examined families that used antibacterial soaps for one year and compared them to other families that had used regular soaps for the same amount of time: one year. The results that were provided proved that the people who used the antibacterial soaps had no more of a resistance to bacteria or germs than those who did not use the antibacterial labeled soaps. These studies do not take into consideration the alcohol based waterless hand cleaners that are too labeled as being antibacterial.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have conducted three separate studies in which it was discovered that both Triclosan and Triclocarban pose a threat to the nervous system as well as affecting sex hormones. These ingredients have also been linked to a possible cause of autism.

At this point in time, the researchers have concluded that these particular chemicals, that are sold as part of antibacterial cleaner, do not work as well as a normal bar of soap does, and, in fact, they believe that these so-called healthier antibacterial soaps may even encourage the increase in resistant bacteria.

Triclosan and Triclocarban were manufactured during the 1950s and 1960s as an antiseptic agent in countrywide hospitals.

In the USA alone, annual sales of antibacterial products are over $1 billion. Over 76% of all antibacterial liquid soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, cosmetics, plastic food containers and even fabrics contain Triclosan!

Almost every antibacterial deodorant and bar soap contains Triclocarban.

Of course, the governments all over the world have a different spin on things. Although the EPA is currently re-evaluating the benefits and detriments of Triclosan, it did release a report that was published in the Federal Register in May 2008 in which the EPA stated that Triclosan was safe to use and therefore should not be a cause of concern for the public.

Across the globe, the European Commission released a similar statement after reporting on Triclosan in 2002 and Triclocarban in 2005.

In 2005, the FDA conducted research and made a statement that determined that there was no difference in the effectiveness of using an antibacterial soap in comparison to a soap that does not contain Triclosan when it comes to killing germs and ridding your hands of bacteria. At one point in time, the FDA panel even considered banning the label that uses the term antibacterial on soaps and similar products. However, this action never took place and thus the label in still in use.

Other Options

When it comes to purchasing and using soap, the key factor is simply to buy it and use it properly. It does not matter which brand or label soap is purchased to acquire the desired results of clean hands. Washing your hands with soap and water is just as effective at getting rid of germs no matter which type of soap is chosen. The real difference involved is in the technique of using the soap to wash your hands rather than in the type of soap that is used.

However, your best choice is to look for anti-bacterial soaps that are 100% natural, such as Neem Soap. Not only does it have anti-bacterial properties but anti-fungal and anti-septic as well. It can be used on humans and pets alike!

Another option is to make your own anti-bacterial soap using Tea Tree Oil for its natural anti-bacterial properties.

Photo Credit: Twon

The Legalities and Benefits of Drinking Raw Milk

It is interesting to think that the milk that we purchase from the grocery store is very far away from what people were used to drinking before World War II. In 1862, a French Microbiologist named Louis Pasteur, perfected a technique that made raw milk safe to drink. This technique was quickly adopted by many other societies around the world and came to be known as pasteurization. The technique sends milk through a process that makes microbial growth much smaller. What more and more people are saying, however, is that raw milk is the best source for many positive benefits, even if there does seem to be legal constraints against purchasing it!

The Benefits

It is important to remember that while pasteurization does kill off harmful microbes, it also removes many positive health benefits as well. It is interesting to note that raw milk has all eight essential amino acids in it as well as a wealth of proteins. The proteins, in turn, are easy to digest and about twenty percent of them are classified as whey proteins, meaning that they play an important role in your physiological health. You will also find that milk is high in lactic acid, which allows you to absorb nutrients more effectively and to stop harmful bacteria. Similarly, there are also many vitamins in raw milk that are removed through pasteurization, and these vitamins are essential for maintaining good health.

In comparison to pasteurized milk, which actually minimizes the bioavailability of several nutrients including calcium, raw milk naturally contains more of the following:

Calcium - 26.6%
Iron - 194%
Selenium - 10.7%
Zinc - 227%
Vitamin B1 (otherwise known as thiamine) - 25%
Vitamin B6 - This is totally eradicated by pasteurization, and so it is fully available in raw milk
Vitamin B12 - 11.1%
Vitamin C - 335%
Vitamin E - 17.6%

The Need for Pasteurization

We are taught that pasteurized milk is much safer for us and that drinking unpasteurized milk or raw milk, as it is often called, can make us ill or even cause fatalities. There is emerging evidence, however, that pasteurization was a process that dealt with bad dairy processing that was present at the time; these processes have been significantly improved, and some argue that pasteurization has no place in a modern set up.

Every single enzyme in raw milk is destroyed during the pasteurization process, which heats the milk to about 161 F. Commonly known as enzymes that are destroyed are:

Phosphates - This enzyme helps with calcium absorption
Lactoferrin - This enzyme helps with iron absorption
Lactase - This enzyme is needed to help digest the milk sugar lactose

It is quite common these days to meet people who are lactose intolerant, meaning that they cannot drink milk whatsoever. However, since raw milk has naturally occurring lactase, it can be drunk by lactose intolerant people.

Other health benefit claims of drinking raw milk include stomach and digestion issues clearing up, allergies going away, and some people even claiming that they feed raw milk to their dogs to help eliminate flea infestations.

Something else to consider is that most store bought milk comes from the modern Holstein cow which is only bred to produce insanely large quantities of milk, by being fed special feed, grains and antibiotics. Therefore a modern Holstein cow's milk contains high levels of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, even if the cow has not been injected with the genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone which is used to 'help' a cow increase her milk production.

The Legality of Drinking Raw Milk

If you are curious about raw milk, it is important to remember that there is actually no legal bar from drinking raw milk. However, it is worth noting that there are restrictions on selling raw milk that vary from state to state. The sale of raw milk is legal in 28 States in the USA. However, most States do not allow it to be sold to the general public and in some cases it cannot be sold as anything besides pet food!

There are a few stores in California, New Mexico and Connecticut that do sell raw milk on their shelves.

Both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe that unpasteurized milk has the potential to carry foodborne bacteria such as Listeria and E. coli, and have therefore deemed raw milk to be unhealthy and have therefore placed a variety of bans on the sale of it throughout the USA.

However, the more people who want the option of buying and drinking raw milk, the higher the possibility of the US government giving more leeway to small dairy farmers to allow them to sell raw milk.

Photo Credit: iLoveButter

Patrick Swayze and Pancreatic Cancer Prevention

Earlier this month, one of the world's most beloved actors, Patrick Swayze, passed away as a result of pancreatic cancer. He had been diagnosed nearly two years earlier.

Although he will be missed by many fans, doctors have recently discovered a new drug that could have prevented Patrick Swayze's death! This new drug is said to be able to prevent a protein called TAK-1 from working properly. TAK-1 causes cancer cells in the pancreas to become resistant to chemotherapy.

This scientific breakthrough is good news to pancreatic cancer patients as overcoming chemotherapy resistance is indicative of a step towards eradication of the cancer. Roughly 13% of pancreatic cancer patients are still alive one year after their initial diagnosis; this number drops by 2 - 3% after a period of five years. The American Cancer Society believes pancreatic cancer to be the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths overall.

The findings were presented by Dr Davide Melisi, from the National Cancer Institute in Naples, at a conference in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. Dr Melisi explained the effectiveness of the drug by stating:

"The use of this TAK-1 inhibitor increased the sensitivity of pancreatic cells to all three chemotherapeutic drugs."

However, there are a few natural ways to help prevent pancreatic cancer:

Lose the Weight

Researchers at the American Cancer Society discovered that being overweight, especially around the tummy area, doubles a person's chances of having pancreatic cancer.

Lose the Sugar

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in 2006 that found that ingesting high amounts of sugar is associated with pancreatic cancer. The most common culprit is sodas that contain high fructose corn syrup or sucrose.

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, in 2002, published a study in which diabetic and hypoglycemic women, who were also overweight and lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle, who also consumed large amounts of sugars, had a 95% increased risk for pancreatic cancer than other women.

Lose the Fat

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published a study online in August 2009, in which it was found that people who ate high amounts of total saturated and monounsaturated fats that mostly came from dairy and red meats, were 36% more likely to have pancreatic cancer, than those people who ate a low fat diet.

Avoid Over-Cooking Your Meat

The American Association for Cancer Research conducted a study in which they found that people who preferred eating their meat well-done, or slightly burnt, had a 60% increased risk of pancreatic cancer over those people who preferred their meat slightly undercooked.

Lose the Alcohol

Drinking two or more alcoholic drinks on a daily basis can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer by 22%, stated a report filed in the March 2009 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Quit Smoking

It is believed that roughly 30% of pancreatic cancers are due to cigarette smoking. Based on this, smokers have a risk that is two to three times higher than non-smokers in developing pancreatic cancer. Researchers at Michigan State University conducted a study in 2007 where they discovered that the chemicals which are produced through the burning of tobacco products actually prevents proper communication between the cell's in a person's body. In fact, the chemicals released by the tobacco are factors in what is essentially the start of the pancreatic cancer. According to another study, smokeless tobacco prevented a 60% increased risk of pancreatic cancer in comparison to non-tobacco users.

Avoid Periodontal Disease

Researchers from both the Harvard School of Public Health as well as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute established that people who had periodontal disease also had a direct link to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. This type of gum disease is simply a bacterial infection that causes an inflammation of the gums. Over a period of time, the periodontal disease then causes a loss of bone that holds a person's teeth. In 2007, the researchers conducted a study involving 51,529 people in America who had periodontal disease. Their research indicated that these people had a 63% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer when compared against people who had healthy gums and teeth.

Avoid Chemicals

The Environmental Protection Agency back in 2006 concluded that two specific chemicals called perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate, were "likely human carcinogens". These two chemicals have not only been linked to reproductive illness, but also to low birth weight in new-born babies and premature breast development in children as well.

These chemicals are commonly found in food packaging, nonstick pans, pesticides, stain-resistant clothing, upholstery, carpets and even in a few personal care items too.

It appears that whilst both of these chemicals are associated, in high concentrations, with cancer in animals, it is still vastly unknown as to whether they cause cancer in humans.

Photo Credit: Katiya Rhodes-Singh

Natural Remedies To Help With Hair Loss

Many men and women throughout the world suffer from hair loss due to a variety of reasons. The hair loss can be due to side effects from other types of medications, or it can be caused from stress, or it could even be a medical condition that is the reason behind the hair loss. No matter what the cause is, it can be very helpful to know some natural remedies to help in the battle of losing your precious hair.

Aromatherapy and Massage

Aromatherapy techniques have been used for centuries for a wide variety of illnesses and one particular condition that these methods work well for is hair loss. Massaging the scalp can help to stimulate more blood flow to the scalp which in turn helps produce new hair growth. There are a number of products on the market that you can use to do massages or you can go with manual massage techniques to help stimulate the scalp.

You can also you aromatherapy with the massage techniques to make things work even better. A good combination to try would be 6 drops of bay essential oil and 6 drops of lavender oil mixed in a base of an oil such as sesame or soybean oil. It is best to let this mixture sit on the scalp for at least 20 minutes for the maximum benefit.

Herbal Supplements

If you suffer with hair loss problems then you may want to look into natural hair loss remedies. Many times these treatments can be used in conjunction with any treatments that are prescribed by your doctor. There are many herbal supplements that are good to use to help promote hair growth. It is important to be sure that you are not allergic to certain herbs before trying anything new. Some herbs that have been known to produce good results are:

Jojoba Oil

For those people who suffer from eczema, seborrhea, psoriasis and/or dandruff, Jojoba Oil might just be what you need! People who are from Mexico as well as southwestern Native Americans have incorporated Jojoba Oil into their traditional medicinal treatments to eradicate dandruff and eczema and help their hair grow faster and healthier. It is a great moisturizer that imitates the scalp's own sebum, as well as being good for use on hypoallergenic skin.

Sage and Rosemary

When used together, these herbs can provide plenty of healthy hair benefits when used as a rinse. The best way to do this is to use the rosemary and sage, along with nettle, burdock and peach leaf and boil them all together. Once boiled, you can then strain the loose herbs and discard them. The remaining liquid can be used to rinse through the hair on a daily basis.

Saw Palmetto Extract

Scientists have documented that there is a correlation between hair loss in men and the prostate. This is where Saw Palmetto Extract comes into play. It appears that the continued use of Saw Palmetto Extract has proven to work in fighting benign prostatic disease by lowering levels of DHT.

DHT stands for Dihydrotestosterone, which causes androgenetic alopecia. DHT is the ensuing result of the testosterone hormone coming into contact with the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is commonly found in the skin and on the scalp.

Nettle Root Extract

Rich in lipids, numerous key minerals, and both A and C vitamins, Nettle Root Extract can be quite beneficial to the health of the hair.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera plants work well for healthy hair as well as hair growth. It has been used for centuries by Native Americans for various ailments including burns but many people are not aware of the hair benefits that it provides as well. It can help to heal the scalp as well as to prevent hair loss and it comes in many forms for you to use ranging from gels to supplements and it can be used with different products to make a nice rinse for the hair to help balance out the pH level.

Hair Essentials

If taking all those different herbal supplements seems a bit daunting, you can try taking Hair Essentials instead. It is an all natural, herbal remedy with Saw Palmetto, Polygoni Muliflori, Fructus Psoraleae, and Ecliptae Prostratae making up its ingredients list. These ingredients have been proven to help improve circulation, promote better functioning of the liver and kidneys, as well as to prevent premature graying.

Hair Essentials can be bought directly from the Natural Wellbeing website.

Proper Hair Care

Other simple measures can be taken to help prevent hair loss. Such as not washing your hair in water that is too hot, or washing your hair only twice a week using a mild or specially formulated shampoo.

Photo Credit: mikebaird

How To Beat The Freshman 15

The beginning of September marked the start of a new school year, which found many teenagers and young adults starting college.

Going off to college is one of the most exciting times in any young person's life. As they move into their dorm room they are presented with a new found independence and responsibility. However, that does not simply apply to a college student's academic career. This new found independence can bring about opportunities for unlimited junk food as well as episodes of emotional eating. All of this can lead to a thicker middle.

All parents are worried that their child will pack on the pounds in a matter of months whilst living away at college. Discussing the consequence of bad eating habits with your child will help them in making better eating decisions.

So how can the Freshman 15 lbs that so many students gain be avoided?

Students:

Stick to Your Schedule

College brings a much looser schedule to its students. This can have a detrimental effect on your eating habits. At times you might find yourself not eating until late in the day, and then your body hits starvation mode where you eat anything that you can get your hands on. Instead, you should try to build an eating schedule into your day. Be sure that you map out three times a day for you to actually sit down to have a meal. Additionally, you should try to build in about two or three snacks throughout the day. This will help to keep your metabolism at a higher rate which helps you stave off that extra weight and will also keep your energy levels up so that you can concentrate during your classes.

Beware of 'All You Can Eat'

Most colleges offer an 'all you can eat' or buffet style meal plan for its students at their dining hall. This can be a blessing and a curse. Typically, you can get a lot of variety for a very affordable price, but you can also usually pile on a rather large plate which can derail any well intended diet. A good rule of thumb is to really pay attention to what you are putting on your plate. Think of each plate as an opportunity to properly fraction off your nutrition. Fill half of your plate with fresh vegetables, and take care that they are not smothered in sauce or dressing. Then split the remaining half of your plate between rich whole grain foods and nourishing proteins.

You Are What You Drink

One thing that is often forgotten is that most drinks contain hefty calories as well. There are many different drinks that you might think are healthy that actually pack quite a punch on your waistline. Fruit juices and smoothies are generally jam packed with sugars, and they can sneakily start to add pounds to your frame. Sodas can also quickly add on the pounds too, as it is readily available, and in some cases your meal plan will even cover trips to the vending machine to get it. Take note as to how much soda you are drinking each day. Be careful in drinking too much alcoholic beverages as well. Alcohol has some of the highest calorie counts of all of the sugary drinks. Instead of ingesting unhealthy and empty calories try to make smarter drinking choices. Your best bet is to always carry a bottle of water with you at all times. You can usually refill it throughout the day at various drinking fountains found around campus.

Parents:

Care Packages

Every college kid loves receiving a care package from home. But don't just include those yummy cookies that your child grew up eating, also include a variety of nutritious and fun foods as well. Care packages don't always have to be about food though; you can also send gifts such as a pair of new running shoes or a tennis racquet. Items such as these will help encourage your child to stay active whilst in college.

Gym Membership

There are many things that parents find that they have to fork out money for during their child's first year at college. Let a gym membership be one of those things! Although most colleges do have their own gyms they are not always open during the hours when your child will have the time between classes to workout. Sometimes, being a member of a private gym has a lot more perks as well.

Grocery Shopping

Whenever you visit your child in college, take them on a funded trip to the grocery store. This is a great way to teach your child to make healthy choices when it comes to their food, and it will give you piece of mind too.

Photo Credit: anne.oeldorfhirsch

All-Natural Fatigue Busters

In today's hectic lifestyle many people are plagued with chronic fatigue. And it's really no wonder! What with all the business meetings, school and work projects, family get-togethers, rushing to get from one place and activity to the next in rush hour traffic can cause fatigue to creep up on us very quickly. Before we know it, we are tired, grumpy and in dire need of a good night's sleep.

When you are thinking about moving forward with your life, you will find that it is entirely possible to feel that you are too tired to do so! Given the pace at which so many of us live our lives, it only makes sense that we would start to feel tired and run down. If you are someone who is ready to get away from that, you need to think about what your options are going to be when it comes to getting rid of the fatigue that plagues you. Fatigue is something that can dramatically affect the way that you live your life and when you want to really be at your very best in life, you will certainly need to have combated your fatigue and put it to rest once and for all.

Diet

Between fifty and seventy five years ago our soil, in which our food was grown, was extremely rich in natural minerals, which provided our bodies with the precious nutrients we need to ensure good health. However, modern farming practices have made it virtually impossible for our bodies to absorb all of the nutrients that we need from our food and water supply. For example, drinking the mineral rich water from our wells is no longer possible due to pollution and contamination. Most of the fruits and vegetables that we buy from the grocery store is deficient in nutrient content, leading to malnutrition in people all over the world.

Therefore when you really want to rid yourself of fatigue, you should take a good look at your eating habits. Since a good night's sleep is tied to eating good food, you will find that if you are eating unhealthily, you are also going to have bad sleeping habits as well. Therefore an easy way to combat fatigue is to rid yourself of any bad and unhealthy eating habits. Eating eggs is great way to incorporate natural protein into your diet. Eggs also contain iron, vitamin A, and folic acid. This can be a perfect way to get your body back in order.

Supplements

Another way to make sure that you are going to be feeling in good shape is to make sure that you are taking care of your immune system. When your immune system is working overtime and if your ability to stay healthy is working too hard, you will find that you are going to feel constantly tired and run down. Look into the different supplements that are said to help boost your immune system, such as fish oil and vitamin C.

Carnitine is another great supplement as it is an amino acid that provides fuel to the body's cells. The additional benefit to Carnitine is that is helps the body to flush out wasteful toxins that keep a body from functioning at its best.

Coenzyme Q10, also called CoQ10, is a supplement that works alongside carnitine, by making energy from the fuel that carnitine provides the body. It also helps by restoring the body's cells.

Hydration

When you are thinking about making sure that your life is free of fatigue and when you want to make sure that you are well rested for important events, you will also discover that it is important to make sure that you stay well hydrated as well.

Drinking lots of liquids such as natural, sugar-free, fruit juices, milk and water are preferred over drinking sugary, carbonated, caffeine-rich sodas. Keep in mind that sodas are a type of diuretic and can leave you feeling more dehydrated in the long run.

Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will help keep your body feeling more energized.

A really quick pick-me-upper is to drink a glass of equal parts grapefruit juice and lemon juice.

Herbal Remedies

There are also quite a few herbal remedies that you can use when you are looking to bust fatigue. For instance, St. John's Wort can keep your energy high and keep you moving from project to project during the day. For the night, look into valerian root and melatonin to ensure more restful sleep.

As a breakfast treat try sprinkling fresh ground cinnamon on your porridge, cereal, or toast. Cinnamon actually triples the power of insulin to metabolize glucose.

Add garlic to your dinners, as it can help relieve chronic fatigue symptoms.

Photo Credit: obo-bobolina

The Beauty of Henna Tattoos

When you are interested in decorating your body with the beautiful art form of tattooing yet prefer something temporary, you should consider the beauty of henna tattoos.

A Brief History of Henna Tattoos

The henna plant is a small flowering tree or shrub. Originally, it grows in northern Africa, Asia and Australia. Henna ink is made of powdered henna leaves. Henna ink for henna tattoos is the use of the henna plant to make an ink paste. Henna or Mehndi, which are art forms of temporary tattoos, were a very popular form of celebration body decoration, for women in ancient India and Egypt. It is still very popular even today.

The Rise of Popularity of Henna Tattoos

Henna is symbolic of joy, blessings, love, fertility, birth, beauty, luck, life and other means of celebrating. Today this type of body art is increasing in popularity due to the trends of various celebrities and others who are interested in temporarily enhancing their creative and fun-loving sense and style of personal beauty. Henna tattoos seem to be very popular with the younger crowd who want to express themselves while having fun in a popular way.

The Benefits of a Henna Tattoo verses an Ink Tattoo

When you want the look and feel of a more natural form of body decoration that is temporary, the benefits of a henna tattoo will outweigh that of a permanent ink tattoo. Many individuals are only interested in temporary tattoos and henna provides an attractive alternative. A henna tattoo does not require the use of needles and is totally painless, which is another benefit of this type of creative body art. A henna tattoo will fade away within a few weeks depending on the application, the condition of the skin and its natural revitalizing properties. However, when you choose an ink tattoo, you are stuck with the selection for a lifetime. Many individuals choose henna tattoos as a means of having fun and staying fashionable.

Henna Tattoo Warnings

No information on henna tattoos is complete without the warning of steering clear of what some call Black Henna. There really is no such thing as black henna, which is fast staining. This type of product may contain a toxic dye, para-phenylenediamine or PPD. This can cause allergic reactions such as burning and blistering as well as scarring.

Last month a 4 year old boy from the UK, Charlie Latimer, suffered burns and blisters on his skin after receiving a red flower shaped Henna tattoo from a street artist in Lagos, Portugal, whilst on holiday with his family. However, Charlie's upper arm started to bleed and blister within days of having the tattoo done, after his body reacted to the dye.

The tattoo artist had used Henna that had been mixed with a cheap hair dye, paraphenylenediamine, or PPD, which can burn the skin.

Upon the family's return to the UK, Charlie's skin began peeling and he was placed on a course of antibiotics, but when his condition did not improve, his parents took him to Bath's Royal United Hospital where he was kept overnight.

A dermatologist at the hospital, Dr Chris Lovell, warned people about the possible dangers of Henna that is used by some unscrupulous artists in Europe:

'Under European rules, it is illegal to use PPD in henna tattoos and most professional salons use pure henna, which rarely causes allergies. But these rules are not always enforced and people getting their tattoos on beaches and in some developing countries, where the controls are less strict, are at greater risk.'

Regarding Charlie's Henna tattoo, his mother explains:

'He will have to live with this now for the rest of his life, although we are keeping our fingers crossed that it could one day disappear. Charlie has been told he can never have a tattoo or dye his hair for the rest of his life due to the seriousness of his reaction.'

Any time you choose to have a henna tattoo, make sure you find an experienced Henna tattoo artist who knows what the ingredients are in their Henna paste. You should also consider doing a skin test to check for any allergic reactions, especially when you have sensitive skin.

Overall, henna tattoos have a long and beautiful ancient history of adorning the beauty of women for celebrations and social occasions. For a while, it seemed to fall into the background, however today it is increasing in popularity all over the world, especially with the younger generations. You can get a henna tattoo without the fear of permanency or the fear of needles. Henna tattoos are a pain-free and temporary alternative to that of permanent ink tattoos. When you want to creatively express the inner you, choosing a henna tattoo is a beautiful option.

Photo Credit: MiiiSH

Health Benefits of Self-Hypnosis

Hypnosis has been touted as a great alternative health remedy for almost any ailment; but did you know that you self-hypnosis works just as well?

Generally speaking, hypnosis is merely a state of mind in which an extreme concentration of attention exists that helps to open up a person's mind to specific suggestions and thought forms. During a hypnotic state of mind, suggestions can be given to a person that pertains to a specifically desired outcome. Once the suggestion is given, the mind then reprograms itself to focus toward the goal of the suggestion.

Hypnosis works by manipulating the subconscious mind. This is the part of your mind that sends signals when you are in a primitive state. Things such as the fight or flight instinct when in danger are derived from the subconscious, based on experiences from your past.

Hypnosis has been used for years now as a treatment for a host of behavioral modifications. "Stop Smoking with Hypnosis" is a slogan that has been marketed for years, and obesity and overeating are now on the treatment list of hypnosis.

Hypnosis works by changing the "internal script" that causes current behavior. This is done by going into a state of deep relaxation. Once there, your mind will be open to suggestion. This is the point when you fuel your mind with the positive thoughts.

Most people succumb to such self-devastating acts as binge eating and smoking because of what they think, feel and believe. People who are aware of this can consciously change their thought patterns via subconsciously hypnotizing themselves. Simply put, self-hypnosis is a very successful tool to use to change thought patterns that have been formed during the entire course of a person’s life and are, therefore, difficult to change or get rid of by just using their ordinary conscious mind alone. Since you reach an entirely different state of mind during self-hypnosis, your mind is more readily able to accept any changes to your thought patterns that you suggest. Overall, self-hypnosis can help a person bring into existence new ideas about how they would like their life to be. Keep in mind, however, that self-hypnosis cannot force anyone to accept anything that they truly do not want to do.

Using self hypnosis will teach you mind control over your own thoughts. Use this as a spring board to increase your motivation to accomplish goals, enhance your sexual performance, increase physical well-being, or even to get into a better mental state.

Starting self-hypnosis is as easy as learning how to relax. Once fully relaxed, you will then be able to get yourself into a state of readiness. Many people prefer self-hypnosis since the issues being dealt with are personal and do not want to approach a Clinical Hypnotherapist for help. The individual can feel more relaxed and confident as they are completely in control during a self-hypnosis session at home.

How do you do this? There are hypnosis scripts. There are some that are free, whilst others charge for the use of their hypnosis scripts. Available online for downloading, in a book or through CD's and tapes, a person will need to become comfortable with the proposed script. One of the easiest scripts to follow is a simple mantra that you can repeat to yourself whenever you are in a peaceful state of being. Start by slowly relaxing every muscle in your body and, as you reach your point of relaxation, keep repeating the message to yourself that "I am (FILL IN THE BLANK)" until you begin to wake back up again.

Much like meditation, self hypnosis can help with a whole host of health disorders. Stress and anxiety, which lead to heart problems and high blood pressure, are the most commonly treated ailments. Learning to quit smoking though hypnosis has obvious health benefits and even obesity will benefit the person far more than self esteem!

While hypnosis may not be the magic pill you have been looking for, it is at the very least extremely relaxing. You must be willing and open to the idea of suggesting things to your mind for it to work. Just remember that using self-hypnosis, in conjunction with the care of a medical doctor who is monitoring your health, will help in reaping the most rewards.

Self Hypnosis can be a fantastic addition to any mental or physical treatment program, and you might even find that it is the final touch to finally get your health program jump-started.

Photo Credit: SantaRosa Old Skool

An Anti-Cancer Compound Has Been Discovered In The American May Apple

Who would have thought that a common weed might hold the key to fighting cancer? Known as the American May Apple the future of cancer fighting might finally be secure through this wild growing perennial plant.

What is the American May Apple?

Officially named the Podophyllum peltatum, this plant is known by a variety of nicknames including the umbrella plant, hog apple and devil's apple. The May Apple can be found throughout the entire eastern part of the United States of America. Though the plant has another nickname as the American mandrake it can also be found in the southern Canadian provinces of: Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario. In Florida as well as in parts of Quebec, the May Apple is considered to be an endangered plant species. The May Apple is a hardy plant and grows in colonies in forests, marshes, plains and other warm shady areas. The plant has proven itself to be both easy to plant and to grow, therefore showing it has a real potential as a 'cash crop'.

Early Uses of the American May Apple

The American May Apple has been used for hundreds of years by the Native American people. Early uses of the plant by tribes included treatment of internal worms, for wart removal, a tonic for gastrointestinal issues, treating rheumatism and as a laxative. Tribes even used the roots of the plant to create an insecticide and a large number of reports verify that some tribes may have even used the May Apple to commit suicide. Early settlers were taught the uses of the plant by Native Americans and used the May Apple for fevers, jaundice and as a liver cleanser.

Plant Appearance and Warnings

The stem of the May Apple grows up to 18 inches tall and mature plants are topped off by two or sometimes three leaves that fan out to give the plant a closed umbrella like appearance. The plant blooms a single white flower in May containing between 6 and 9 petals, between its leaves. This flower then turns into a small egg shaped yellowish-greenish fruit that fully matures by the end of August.

All parts of the American May Apple, including the unripe fruit, roots and leaves are highly toxic and could even be fatal if ingested. For some individuals, just touching the plant can result in dermatitis or skin inflammation. The fruit resembles a lime and once it ripens and changes color it is okay to eat, albeit in moderation. The fruit has a sweet and slightly acidic taste, similar to lemons. The fruit is then used to make jams, jellies, cooked in pies, eaten whole either cooked or raw and juiced to create a beverage.

How Can The American May Apple Fight Cancer?

The American May Apple is important to cancer treatment because the herb contains Podophyllotoxin, which is a compound that is utilized in manufacturing etoposide, teniposide, and etopopho, because of its anti-cancer properties. Specifically speaking, the compound has the ability to stop cell division. Cancer drugs used for treating lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain tumors and some forms of leukemia currently make use of the podophyllotoxin compound.

Other derivatives of the compound are also used to treat psoriasis, malaria and rheumatoid arthritis. The compound is also used in products marketed to treat genital warts. This discovery means that the American May Apple offers a viable alternative to the current commercial source of the podophyllotoxin compound, the Podophyllum emodi. Also known as the Indian May Apple this herb grows wild in India, Pakistan, Nepal and China, but extensive over harvesting has left the plant facing extinction.

A large study that was conducted by researchers at the Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi has shown that the American May Apple does have high concentrations of the podophyllotoxin compound. The study examined May Apple colonies in more than a dozen states and examined how soil content and nutrients available affected the May Apple across different locations of the eastern United States. Pharmaceutical companies are looking into the feasibility of commercial production and harvesting of the May Apple to provide enough of the compound needed.

Though the future looks bright for the American May Apple, the plant is far too toxic for at home medicinal treatments. Side effects associated with taking the herb include nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, rapid pulse, kidney damage, liver failure, seizures and death. For these reasons individuals wanting to experience the health benefits associated with the American May Apple should seek the advice of a professional herbalist prior to attempting to use the herb at home.

Photo Credit: uwdigitalcollections

Natural Makeup Choices

In today's world of cosmetics and beauty, natural makeup choices are becoming quite popular. More and more individuals are starting to realize that chemically based ingredients that are sold both in stores and online are not a productive choice when it comes to proper skin care. Examples of these chemicals include aluminum and various types of formaldehydes. Think about that for a minute: the human race was never supposed to put aluminum on their skin!

There are many different choices when it comes to choosing a natural makeup. Here are a few tips to help you make the best decision, including information about the chemicals that are commonly utilized in traditional makeup that can actually harm the skin, as well as some information pertaining to companies that claim to specialize in natural makeup choices.

Unsafe Chemicals Used in Makeup

There are many unsafe chemicals that are used in makeup that is sold over the counter. It is important to understand that the skin is the protective layer to who we are. It is a complex tissue system that we should work to protect. Many do not realize it, but it has the capability to actually absorb the chemicals that are placed on it. Do you realize that when your skin absorbs these chemicals that they go directly into the bloodstream? It has been estimated by medical professionals that at least 60% of the chemicals that are absorbed into the skin from the products that we use enter into the body's circulatory system.

There are many examples of chemicals that are placed into cosmetics that are then sold over the counter today. Besides the fact that many types of makeup contain aluminum and formaldehydes, there are many other chemicals that can wreck havoc on the skin as well as the body as a whole. These chemicals include, but are not limited to, the following:

Artificial Based Colors

Benzoates

Dibutyl Phthalate

Isopropyl Alcohol

Parabens

Toluene

Another commonly used and potentially harmful chemical is formaldehyde, which is usually found in eye shadows, mascaras and nail polishes. The National Toxicology Program's "Ninth Report on Carcinogens", released in January, 2001, stated that formaldehyde is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen". Even the Environmental Protection Agency classifies formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen. In liquid form, formaldehyde can quickly be absorbed into the body through a person's skin and nails.

Companies That Promote Natural Makeup

You may be surprised to learn that most companies that promote natural makeup do not offer a product that is completely free and clear from chemicals that have been proven to damage the skin, as well as the body. Many cosmetics that are said to be natural typically contain one or more ingredient that is not considered to be natural at all. Then, there are cosmetics that are natural and contain natural products, but the natural ingredients have been known to cause complications with the skin. Examples of natural items that may damage the skin in one way or another includes extracts from almonds, basil products, cinnamon, grapefruit, lemon, rose, and even wintergreen. If you want to purchase items that are considered to be natural makeup choices, it is essential to ensure that these types of natural products are completely avoided wherever possible.

Finding Natural Makeup Choices

When beginning your search for the perfect natural makeup choice, you will want to focus on makeup that is considered to be organically based. This means that they do not implement the use of fillers that are considered to be synthetic, nor do they have any type of preservative. They should also not contain any type of metal either. In addition to this, it is important to ensure that they do not contain any type of artificial dyes. In addition to market choices in organic natural makeup options, it is important to understand that there are certain steps that you can take in order to reduce the need to even wear makeup in the first place. These include:

Cleaning the skin with purified, hot water

Avoiding shampoos, conditioners, and facial cleansers that contain harmful chemicals and products

Indulging in an organic diet full of vegetables and fruits

If you follow the above three steps, you will find that your face is clear, beautiful, and glows naturally - therefore reducing your need to shop for natural makeup choices!

Cruelty Free Makeup

Another choice in eco-friendly and natural makeup is to ensure that the company from which you are buying your makeup from, does not conduct animal testing of its products during any phase of the products development, either by the company itself, or their laboratories, or suppliers.

To ensure that your makeup is cruelty-free look for the Leaping Bunny Logo on the products, by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics.

Photo Credit: dreamglow

How To Choose an Holistic Practitioner

There are several things that you should think about as you strive to find the perfect holistic practitioner for your specific needs. It is important to make sure that you choose one with a good reputation, one that is knowledgeable, and one that is willing to work with you and what you feel is important. Remember that a holistic practitioner should be someone that you can trust, and should make you feel at ease. If you are able to choose a holistic practitioner that meets all of these things, you should be satisfied with the result.

Check their Reputation

First of all, you want to look at the different reputations of the holistic practitioners that you are trying to choose from. It is going to be crucial for you to look at reputations, because by far the biggest indication of positivity or negativity that comes from holistic practitioners is going to come from what they have already done. Check with others who have used that practitioner, and see what they have to say. You want to choose someone who is going to be easy for you to get along with, and that others have enjoyed. This is the best way that you have of making sure you are choosing the right one.

Ensure They are Knowledgeable

Secondly, you do want to choose a holistic practitioner that is knowledgeable. There are many different types of medications and treatments that go along with the holistic practice, so you'll want to focus on understanding what their own knowledge level is, so that you can be sure you have chosen one that will be able to provide you with the treatments and medications that you need. Talk with them about the different things they do and what types of conditions they treat. This will help you maintain a good relationship with them, and will help you figure out what they can and cannot do for you.

Make Sure They Will Work with You

Thirdly, it is important to find a holistic practitioner who is willing to work with you and to work with what you think is important. There are so many different levels to the practice that it is going to be crucial for you to meet those levels at the same place. You will want to find someone who is willing to give you the types of treatments that you want, while listening to you about what is important to you and about what will provide you with the best care. You and a holistic practitioner should make decisions about your health and your care together, so it is crucial for you to make this idea commonplace when you are choosing one. Remember, you will want to talk with them about the relationship that they have with patients, and about what they personally believe, before you begin to work with them.

Trust is Important

Trust and feeing at ease are another important factor when it comes to choosing a holistic practitioner. It is very important for you to feel comfortable and easy with your holistic practitioner. Holistic medicine has a lot to do with going with your feelings and intuitions, so that you can get the best care for your needs. Therefore, you need to make sure that you feel trustful of your practitioner, and that you feel at ease. Working with someone needs to be easy, and it needs to be something that you can see yourself doing on a regular basis. Therefore, when you work with an holistic pracitioner, you need to know that you can ask them questions, and they can give you answers, but also that you will be able to bring up things that regular doctors might not talk about.

Bringing up different topics and talking about them together is going to be one of the tasks that you have when it comes to working with your chosen holistic practitioner. It is very important for you to work as well as you can with your holistic doctor, and you need to make sure that when you do bring something up, you feel at ease discussing it with him. It is going to be vital for you to keep track of the various things you talk to your practitioner about, so that you can continue to have a longstanding relationship with him or her.

By following these few steps, you should be able to find a reputable, holistic practitioner whom you can feel at ease with, in no time at all.

Photo Credit: Wonderlane

President Obama's Healthcare Reform: The Pros and Cons

There has been much debate about President Obama's controversial proposal to reform the health care system in the United States. There are a few simple facts that are important: firstly, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer some type of Universal Health Care; secondly, each year thousands of Americans lose their health care coverage due to circumstances beyond their control; and thirdly, the main reason that Americans file bankruptcy is due to outstanding medical expenses. No one will dispute that reform is desperately needed.

The most talked about proposal is the Public Insurance option that President Obama is presenting.

Pro 1: Insurance for Everyone

The Public Health Care option is there to help each and every person in the country get insurance that they can afford and that will cover expenses. President Obama stated that this is simply an option. If you currently have insurance that you are satisfied with you can keep it without penalty. If your employer currently offers insurance they will not be penalized.

Pro 2: Pre-existing Conditions to be Covered

Often medical coverage gets changed through an employer, or a company downsizes and an employee is left without insurance. The employee/individual has to go about finding coverage on their own. In most cases if this person has already been diagnosed with a condition, such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart conditions, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, the new insurance has grounds to refuse coverage to that person, or offer them insurance that does not cover any treatment related to pre-existing conditions.

Pro 3: Lower Prescription Costs

One of the highest costs in health care is medications. Even with insurance the co pays on medications can set patients back quite a bit, especially middle to lower income families and the elderly. The cost of medication often forces them to make the choice between buying groceries and getting their prescriptions.

Pro 4: Equal Coverage for All

With everyone having insurance the cost of health care for everyone will decrease. An insured person will no longer carry the burden of higher costs to cover the uninsured. Treatment options that are necessary will be available to everyone that needs them instead of to only those that can afford them or whose insurance will cover them.

Pro 5: No financial Burden on Our Children

In President Obama's speech on September 9, 2009 he stated that while the cost of the health care reform was $900 billion, it would be covered by money that was already in the budget that was being misused. He stated that the bill would not add one dime to the current deficit, it would actually decrease it by 1/10 of 1% each year.

Pro 6: Care for the Elderly

Obama's health care reform policy insures that Medicare is a treasure that must and will be protected for generations to come. He proposes to decrease wasteful spending in Medicare by tackling false claims and other Medicare abuses.

Pro 7: Medical Malpractice Reform

President Obama's plan includes a reform of the medical malpractice act. The reform will make fraudulent lawsuits stop, and they will help allow doctors to practice responsible medicine to make sure that patients are getting the care they need, and not care that protects the doctor.


As with everything in life, there are also cons to the Health Care proposal that is currently being presented.


Con 1: The cost

Many worry about the actual cost of the reform. It has been stated that the reform will cost $900 billion, and the President states that will be covered by money that is already in the budget that is being used wastefully. However there have not been any clear cut explanations of what wasteful spending is, and where it will be coming from.

Con 2: Possibility of Health Care Providers Increasing Coverage Rates

In an effort to still make the same income, health care providers may increase their fees. Without a policy that defines how health care providers can charge, the patient may still have to pay more in the end. Just as today a cash paying patient will pay a different amount than a patient with insurance, and each insurance company has negotiated rates with the providers already.

Con 3: Providers May Refuse to Accept Public Insurance

This issue has not even been covered in any information that is currently available. Not all health care providers accept all insurance carriers. Will providers be able to refuse Public Insurance?

These are just a few of the pros and cons of the current Health Care Reform proposal as we know it. As more information is released the positives and negatives will probably change. The bottom line remains that the United States needs health care reform.

Photo Credit: egadapparel

Natural Methods To Color Your Hair

Everyone wants hair that is beautiful, healthy and radiates with luminous color. However, obtaining such luscious locks these days usually require an expensive trip to the salon or a less expensive hair dye job at home.

However, walk down the hair dye aisle in any store and you will be met with a myriad of choices for hair color from just as many hair dye companies.

This multi-million dollar hair color enhancement market continues to grow despite the fact that the effects of a boxed hair dye only lasts up to 6 weeks.
There are, however, other methods to more naturally color your hair; all you have to do is look in your own kitchen.

Blonde Hair

Every sun lover knows that using lemon juice on their blonde hair will make it lighter in minutes. Lemon juice also works great for hair that is oily; it also removes unsightly dandruff.

Lemon juice is best used when two parts are mixed with one part water in a spray bottle which can then be sprayed onto your hair. Allow your hair to dry under direct sunlight in order to get the full lightening benefit; after an hour be sure to rinse all the lemon juice out of your hair.

This lemon juice mixture is best suited to lighten light and medium blonde hair.

Other natural options for blond hair include using chamomile and saffron. These help to brighten dark blonde and light brunette hair.

Chamomile is one of the most commonly found ingredients in shampoos and conditioners, as it a popular natural colorant for blonde hair.

To reap the benefits of chamomile you will need to prepare a rinse by adding one cup of lemon juice to 3 cups of chamomile tea. The rinse should then be poured through hair that has been towel dried, and then re-rinsed a second time. The mixture can be left on the hair for 30 minutes before being rinsed out with water.

Brown Hair

An easy way to enhance brown hair is to use black tea and coffee. Both will add shine, whilst intensifying brunette shades and covering up all visible gray hair.

To use coffee as a natural hair dye, brew 2 to 4 cups of strong coffee, such as espresso, and allow it to cool. Stay away from instant coffee as there far too many additives that can wreak havoc on your hair.

Next shampoo and conditioner you hair as normal and then pour the coffee through your hair. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it out with either apple cider vinegar or beer. Both of these liquids will help to seal in the gloss. You should then rinse your hair out with lukewarm water.

If coffee is not your cup of tea, try using black tea instead. Rinsing your hair with black tea will add chestnut highlights to your brown hair. Simply prepare 2 cups of black tea using 6 tea bags. Once it has cooled down, pour the tea over your clean hair, and then rinse it off after 20 minutes.

Another trick is to use rosemary that has been steeped in water for at least 5 minutes. Throw the rosemary out and pour the remaining water over your clean hair.
Next, run cold water over your hair to rinse the rosemary water out. This will help in adding new life to your limp, brown hair.

Red Hair

If you have strawberry blonde hair, you can use the water from carrots that have been steeped for five minutes, but if you have darker red hair then using the water from steeped beets will be better for you.

Another option is to use rose hip tea or cranberry juice as both add brightness to red hair to help it look more vibrant.

Prepare rose hip tea by adding 1 cup of rose hips to 2 cups of boiling water. Once cool, pour the tea over hair that has been towel dried. After one hour you
should rinse it off with lukewarm water.

If you want to add more of a reddish tint to your hair then pouring cranberry juice over your clean hair will do the trick! Remember to wash and conditioner your hair first and then to massage the cranberry juice into your scalp before you rinse. This can be repeated as often as you need to achieve the color that you desire.

Since these natural alternatives are great for people who are allergic to the chemicals or ammonia found in commercial hair dyes and they will not alter the natural structure of your hair, you can use them as often as you like. However, it is not advised to use them in the bath as the natural colors may stain the tub.

Photo Credit: House of Stims

Natural Home Cleaning Remedies

In today's harsh economic times, many individuals are saving money by creating their own natural home cleaning remedies. Another benefit of making your own natural cleaning product is that they reduce the amount of waste that is emitted into the atmosphere and allowed to sit in the landfills that result in global warming. Here are 6 different natural home cleaning remedies that can be used to create a wide assortment of cleaning supplies to clean practically any area in your home.

Vinegar

Vinegar is commonly used as a cleaning agent and is usually purchased for less than $1.00; which is why almost every kitchen has a bottle. The composition of vinegar makes it an effective all-purpose home cleaning product. Although there are many different cleaning recipes that use vinegar, it can also be used by itself to clean too! Many individuals simply put vinegar, or a mixture of vinegar and water, in a spray bottle for an easy-to-use spray cleaner. Vinegar is effective on most surfaces except for marble. It can also be used to clean toilets and bathtubs. In addition to this, it disinfects that which it is applied to and deodorizes the room in which it is used. Vinegar can also be used in conjunction with other natural cleaning products like baking soda and lemon juice.

Baking Soda

If you require natural home cleaning remedies for jobs that are considered to be "abrasive" like cleaning an oven, or other tough jobs, baking soda is the ingredient that you will require. Used all throughout history, this natural product has proven to be effective in many different ways. One of the most appealing aspects of this cleaning remedy is that it is an effective deodorizer. Baking Soda can be placed in bathrooms, refrigerators, freezers, and other areas in order to eliminate odors. Baking soda can also be used to remove stains from carpets, walls, and floors that implement the use of tile and similar types of flooring. Do you have a litter box in the home? If so, cleaning it with baking soda will not only scrub away all those germs, but it will leave a fresh scent lingering in the air.

Lemon Juice

If you are going to tackle tough jobs in the bathroom like removing soap scum from the bathtub, water stains from the toilet, or deposits of hard water in the sink, lemon juice is the perfect natural cleaner. Do you have brass or copper cabinet handles, door knobs, and other items around the home that need cleaned? If so, lemon juice can help! You can use lemon juice already in liquid form or you may simply cut a lemon and use half to handle those tough cleaning jobs.

Oranges

Believe it or not, oranges are considered to be one of the natural home cleaning remedies that can clean a wide variety of items, polish, and provide a fresh scent to the air. By using the peels of the orange, you can create a fresh smelling aroma that can optimize the fragrance of any room. Many will cut an orange in half and rub it on wood furniture and other wood accessories in the home in order to polish, immediately followed by rubbing s soft cloth over the surface. Orange is also an effective ingredient in removing stains from clothing, carpet, and furniture. The juice obtained from an orange can be combined with vinegar or lemon juice in a spray bottle to optimize its cleaning capability.

Cornstarch

Do you often have issues getting the windows in your home clean? Would you like to create natural home cleaning remedies that can be used to clean carpets and rugs in and around the home? Do you have furniture that needs to be polished? If so, you may benefit from creating a cleaning solution from cornstarch. You may create a simple paste using a bit of water, or you may combine items such as water and cornstarch or water and cornstarch with a bit of vinegar in order to make a spray cleaner. There are many creative ways to implement the use of this simple substance to create solutions to clean an assortment of items and rooms throughout your home.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Last, but not at all least, on our list is Isopropyl Alcohol. This substance makes an excellent bathroom and kitchen cleaner as it is considered to be a very powerful disinfectant. Simply combine this natural substance with water in a spray bottle and you can successfully eliminate germs lingering on counters, in sinks, on toilets, bathtubs, and more! If you would like to disinfectant your floors, you may create a mop solution by combining extremely hot water and pouring a half a cup of alcohol into the mix.

Photo Credit: Muffet

Drowsy Docs Down-Under Directed To Drink More Coffee

Overworked Australian doctors have been told that they should drink up to 6 cups of coffee per day in order to stay awake whilst they are working extended shifts.

The Fatigue Management Strategy

This advice comes directly from Queensland Health's 102 page "fatigue management strategy" in which it is stated that the "strategic use of caffeine" could prove to be quite advantageous to doctors suffering from minor exhaustion.

So as to stay awake on the job, Australian Doctors were encouraged to consume 400 milligrams of caffeine, which is roughly six cups of coffee a day, as per the suggestion that is found in Queensland Health's report.

However, drinking such an excessive amount of coffee is "not always feasible or realistic", and so it was added that the over-worked doctors could also swallow caffeine tablets or drink energy drinks as an alternative to drinking coffee.

An excerpt from the document reads:

"Compared with other psychoactive drugs, for example, modafinil (a prescription-only narcolepsy treatment), caffeine is supported in its use as it is more readily available and less expensive."

The State of Queensland issued the strategy report after a survey of 113 state hospitals revealed that 88% of the doctors routinely complained about suffering with dangerous fatigue whilst working their shifts.

Salaried Doctor's Queensland

In conjunction with this survey, a Queensland union representing the doctors, also issued a warning that those patients who were in public hospitals were actually dying as a result of their doctors being so tired after working nearly 80 hours without a break.

Not surprisingly, the mere suggestion that doctors should resort to drinking excessive amounts of coffee has brought disgust to most of Queensland's doctors. A member of Salaried Doctor's Queensland, which represents most of the doctors, Susannah McAuliffe, described the strategy as being "absolutely ridiculous" and is sure to put patients in more danger. Salaried Doctor's Queensland believes that forcing doctors to consume extreme amounts of caffeine is, in actual fact, a rather inadequate way of dealing with the fatigue of the doctors. The fatigue occurs due to doctors working up to 80 hours per week caused by a shortage of doctors in Australia. Most Australian doctors are emigrating to other countries to follow better offers of employment.

Other Opinions

The Chairman of the Australian Medical Association, Andrew Pesce, strongly feels that the real answer to fatigue management is a better rostering system that should ultimately be adopted by all of the hospitals:

"It would be hard for me to be convinced that caffeine that makes you feel less tired is going to necessarily improve your performance. I think at the end of the day, we should be focusing on a fundamentally safe rostering system and an acknowledgement that certain minimum number of hours of sleep is what is necessary to maximize performance."

However, Steven Hambleton, the Vice President of the Australian Medical Association, expresses his viewpoint:

"For management to just say go and have a cup of coffee and get over tiredness, it cheapens the whole issue. We are talking about serious issues here, and this is not just a serious suggestion at all. It can't be a weakness to say you're dog tired."

Queensland's Labor Health Minister, Paul Lucas, explained that Queensland was in the process of training more doctors and will also be attempting to limit all doctors' shifts to only 12 hours per day over the next two years, although he did not have any immediate answer to the fatigue problem that the doctors are currently suffering from due to staff shortages, saying:

"If the doctors are not there, we can't do it. We can't say we'd rather not have it as it is and create doctors out of the air."

The Australian Goverment's Plan

It is interesting to note, however, that the Australian government is under a lot of pressure to obtain control of the nation's deteriorating public hospital and health system. Most public hospitals are presently being managed by individual state governments with the use of federal funding. Such a radical takeover is estimated to cost about $20.5 billion.

During his 2007 campaign, Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, promised the Australian people that repairing the ailing public hospitals and health system would be a top priority, which some people believed to have been what helped him to win the election.

However, even though Rudd apparently delayed a decision on the matter by six months only last month, he has stated that a full takeover of all of Australia's public hospitals was still a strong possibility.

Photo Credit: Refracted Moments

How To Defend Yourself Naturally From Allergy Attacks

More than 50 million Americans suffer from a wide variety of allergies. These allergies are usually caused because the immune system is too active. The immune system is the body defense mechanism against all of the different substances that are in the air we breathe, as well as the food that we eat and the things we touch.

The immune system determines that an alien substance is a threat to the body and creates a response which you usually entails itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose.

Most people these days will reach for an antihistamine to block their body's reaction to a known allergen. Whilst these do work they can have long term negative side effects.

Your best bet to naturally defend yourself from allergens is by reducing your exposure to them.

Humidity

One of the most important aspects of allergy defense inside your home is to keep the humidity out by using a dehumidifier. Using an exhaust fan in your bathroom will help prevent mold and mildew from forming which can lead to allergy attacks.

Choose The Right Vacuum Cleaner

When looking for a new, or better, vacuum cleaner, look for one that has a "highly efficient particulate air" filter, as referred to as a HEPA filter. These filters have been designed to ensnare dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles from your carpet. Carpets usually hide the most allergens so remember to vacuum your home regularly.

Dirty Clothes

Once you have come inside for the night, place your dirty clothes in a hamper rather than leaving them on the floor. Your clothes attract a multitude of airborne particles such as pollen and dust which can then fall off your clothes and scatter around your house.

Showering

Although most people already do this, showering right before retiring to bed is a great way to rid yourself of any pesky allergen. The water will wash the allergens off from your body and hair. If you don't you are practically sleeping with a dirty film of allergens all over your body.

Dust Mites

Protect your bedding with special mattress and pillow covers to eliminate dust mites from living in your bed. Replace your pillow at least once every two years and regularly air your mattress as well. Dust mites eat the particles of your flesh that have fallen off your body whilst you twist and turn at night in your bed.

Household Products

Sometimes it is the products we use to clean ourselves and our house that we are allergic to. Before switching cleaning products or laundry detergents, ask the company to send you a sample first. Purchase trial sizes of a shampoo or hairspray that you wish to try before spending the money on the larger sizes.

Air Fresheners

As lovely as they smell, air fresheners can cause allergic reactions in some people; whilst in others they can make allergies seem worse. Scented candles and air fresheners that plug in to an electrical outlet are the worst culprits. Remove these from your house and see if your allergies ease up.

Pet Dander

Another leading cause of allergies amongst people is pet dander. A common misconception is that people are allergic to the hair on a cat or dog. The truth is that the proteins that are found in a pets dander, saliva and urine that cause allergic reactions in people. Dander is merely dead skin cells that have flaked off of a cat or dog. Make sure that you bathe and brush your pet's fur regularly to reduce the amount of dead skin cells that can fall off.

Food Allergies

If you find that after following all the above tips, you are still have allergy attacks, then perhaps you should consider the fact that you could be allergic to a particular food or drink. To figure out if a food allergy is behind your allergies, start writing down a list of everything that you eat and drink. Then when your allergies flare up you can remember what it was that you ate or drank. Most food allergies will occur a few minutes to an hour after ingesting an allergen. The most common are dairy products, wheat products, corn, and citric juices.

Holistic Practitioner

If all else fails to improve upon your allergy situation, that perhaps it is time that you consulted with a holistic practitioner or homeopathic doctor. They can perform skin tests by placing small samples of various common allergens onto your skin and then waiting to see if a reaction occurs on your skin. Once the cause of your allergens have been figured out, the holistic practitioner can then suggest herbal remedies for you to try to eliminate your allergy attacks.

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A Holistic Approach to Sinus Infection

For those who have ever had to suffer with sinusitis, you know the pain and misery of the headache that radiates into every part of your face. Perhaps you have already tried conventional medicine, with no or poor results. The traditional answers, such as antibiotics, nasal steroids, and antihistamines, all aim to treat the immediate problem. Holistic medicine takes a different approach to you healing.

A sinus infection is caused by inflammation of the sinus and nasal passages. There may be headache/pressure - usually in the eyes, nose, or cheeks. It may also be accompanied with a cough, fever, and thick nasal discharge.

Infections can be either caused by a viral infection or triggered by an allergen.

There are solutions if your sinus infections are frequent. You don't have to suffer with headache and pressure, wishing you would gain relief. Try some of these methods to find the one or more that work with you.

OIL PULLING

This practice goes back a long time. Use either organic sunflower oil or coconut oil to "pull" toxins from your body. Before you eat, drink, or brush your teeth, swish 2 tablespoons of one of these oils in your mouth for 20 minutes. Much like gargling, but don't swallow.

The idea is that the toxins and bacteria will "bind" to the oil, and help you get better. After 20 minutes, spit the once yellow oil out - it should be white and foamy from the swishing. Brush your teeth well to get the toxic oil out - you will notice that your teeth look whiter also. Do this every day. It has other health benefits as well.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Drink 1/4 cup of organic apple cider vinegar diluted with 8-12 ounces of water throughout the day. The vinegar will thin the mucus, making it easier to drain. This method works best at the first onset of a sinus headache, but can offer relief once you have an infection.

HERBS

Traditional herbs are known to help ease the pain of sinus headaches. Some of the more common herbs are barberry, goldenseal, or Echinacea. Consult someone who knows herbs well to find out the benefits of each type of herb and for dosing instructions.

AROMATHERAPY

Essential oils are believed to work at opening up sinus passages and relieving symptoms. Directly inhaling steam from two cups of water, mixed with thyme, rosemary, and lavender oils, will help open the sinuses as well as kill bacteria that can cause infection. Lavender oil diluted an applied to the forehead area is believed to alleviate pain as well.

ACCUPUNCTURE

This method of treating sinus infections has long been used by the holistic medical community. This practice should be done by a reputable, certified practitioner.

CHIROPRACTIC

Many have found relief through chiropractic care. Realigning the spine is believed to help get the body lined up so that the nasal passages drain properly.

IRRIGATE

This process involves irrigating your sinus cavity with a solution of salt water. The goal is to thin out the mucus lining to promote drainage. Read directions thoroughly before using a sinus irrigation system.

NETI POT

This ancient Indian remedy is a pot, which you fill with warm, slightly salty water. Insert the spout of the pot in on nostril, and allow the water to flow out the other nostril. This will take a few times to master, but this simple practice can help relieve your sinus problems and maintain your overall health.

HOT / COLD COMPRESS

For general relief from painful symptoms, use hot and cold compresses. The warm compresses applied for 3-5 minutes will help increase the blood circulation. This should be done 3-5 times a day for the best results. Cold compresses can help relieve pain and swelling.

DUST

Dust is a huge trigger for those who suffer with sinus problems. When working towards natural healing, make sure your environment in conducive to healing. Vacuum and dust your home - particularly the bedroom. Make sure to wash the curtains, too, so you can relax without irritants creeping in your body as you sleep.

REST

You do need rest. When your sinus problems begin to bother you, take some extra time to curl up in bed. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated.

Holistic medicine uses a combination of nature and science to provide natural healing remedies for all sorts of maladies. These treatments are safe, effective, and many come with additional health benefits as well. That is one headache I can afford to get rid of.

Photo Credit: Spring Dew

6 Tips On How To Cut Your Medical Costs

It is a very sad reality that rising medical costs are causing more unhealthy lifestyles for many people across America today. In fact, out of pocket medical costs, such as co-pays and health insurance premiums, have increased by 45% over the last five years.

Even though it is tempting to not see a doctor when you ill so that you are not forced to part with your money, that can lead to even more medical costs down the road. Here are 6 tips to help you cut your medical costs:

1. Study the handbook

Every health insurance plan has a handbook of policies and procedures. Study this book. Understand how the insurance company will pay for a doctor's visit or for a surgery. Follow their guidelines so that you are guaranteed to receive coverage for which you are paying a monthly premium.

2. Choose a GP

Choosing your own personal General Practitioner can save you money down the road. Instead of jumping from one doctor to another, your regular doctor will be able to get to know you more personally and will be able to recommend better medical aids and medications for your specific needs.

3. The ER is only for Emergencies

It's not surprising that receiving medical attention in the emergency room is one of the most expensive options for medical care. Emergencies cannot always be prevented but if you already know that you have a medical condition that can become worse at a moment's notice, talk to your doctor about other options. Perhaps there is a medication that you can keep handy to help you deal with the sudden onset of any complication associated with your medical condition.

Some insurance companies have a 24 hour nurse line that allows you to talk to a qualified nurse. If your insurance doesn't have this option find out if your general practitioner's office has an emergency number that you could call.

Another option is the urgent care clinics that are popping up grocery stores across the country. They are usually open late in evening and on the weekends as well. They are equipped to help with any minor urgent medical issue.

4. Get another quote

If you are faced with the possibility of needing a surgery, ask your doctor to give you a referral for at least two different facilities. Then call your insurance company and ask them which facility they would prefer you to attend. One of them may charge less.

However, always ask your doctor why he is recommending surgery or a test of any kind. Understand his reasoning, and then, if you disagree, get a second opinion from another doctor. Avoid unnecessary tests and surgeries if you can.

5. Check your prescriptions carefully

Prescription medications are an expensive part of medical costs. Unfortunately, it is something that everyone has to pay if they wish to get better or maintain their health. Take a look at your prescription medication to see how much you are really paying. Do you have prescription medication co-pay? Is that co-pay amount being properly utilized each time you get a new prescription? How about when you get a refill of an existing prescription?

Talk to your doctor about changing your prescriptions to include the choice of generic drugs as they are just as safe and effective as the brand name drugs are but are usually about 30 - 80% less in cost. If there is no generic drug available then speak with your doctor about changing prescriptions altogether. There may be a less expensive medication that you can use.

Another tip is to shop around for a better deal when paying for your prescription medications. Some places are more expensive than others. Some of the larger retail chains have generic medications for only $4 for a 30 day supply. However, some of the biggest savings are incurred when using the mail-order option that most prescription plans offer. This way you are able to order up to 90 days supply at a minimal cost and it will be shipped right to your front door.

There are even patient assistance programs that are sponsored by some of the bigger drug companies that you can become enrolled in. These programs provide free or low cost medication to people who are in need, whilst others offer pharmacy discount cards. Talk to your doctor to see if you are eligible.

6. Double check that bill

Read over your medical bill carefully and check for any typos or errors in the numbers. Make sure that you are being billed correctly by matching your explanation of benefits statements with the medical bill. Also check to see that you did receive the treatment for you which you are being billed and that you are not being billed twice.

Photo Credit: Lee Nachtigal