We just recently had our county fair back in September and one of the stands at the fair someone was selling flaxseed and flaxseed supplements. They had a banner behind their stand that showed all the health benefits of flaxseed. I’ve always known that flaxseed was good for the heart and also good for diabetes but I didn’t realize that there are many other health benefits as well.

Flaxseed has been a part of both human and animal diets for thousands of years. Even in the days of Hippocrates when he wrote about the benefits of flaxseed for easing abdominal pain.

Flaxseed has the natural properties of fiber, lignans, and omega 3 fatty acids that provide preventative and restorative abilities to your diet.

If you have never heard of flaxseed before, then you may be surprised to know that it can aid in a number of areas. Here are some of the potential health benefits of flaxseed:

• Lowers high blood pressure
• Lowers blood cholesterol levels
• Reduces threat of blood clots
• Protection against certain cancers like breast and prostate cancer
• Enhances immune system
• Weight management
• Helps with ADD
• Acne prevention
• Natural laxative
• Helps Menopause symptoms
• Depression
• Helps reduce inflammation associated with arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease, and asthma

Flaxseed can be incorporated into your diet by using the seeds and the oil.  You can put flaxseed in muffins, bread, cookies, cereals, cottage cheese, sprinkle it on salads and add it to soups. Experts recommend taking 1-2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily. I sometimes use flaxseed in my oatmeal.

One thing to be aware of however is that some people may experience gastrointestinal issues after suddenly increasing their intake of flax so its important to start with a moderate dosage and work your way up from there.

You can find flaxseed at just about any health food or grocery store but you do want to be careful where you buy it from. Buying organic flaxseed or flaxseed oil is best so that way you can be sure your getting it from a trusted source.

If you would like some recipes that have flaxseed in them please click on the links below for those recipes.

Ameriflax

Flax Health

Healthy Flax

Sparkpeople Recipes

   No bones about it, women need calcium! It doesn’t matter how old you are CALCIUM IS IMPORTANT! Whether you are young or old you need calcium.

Calcium is a mineral that, even before birth, plays an important role in almost all of our body functions. The National Institute of Health recommends that, in addition to a healthy diet, adult women have a daily supplemental calcium intake of 1000 to 1200mg before menopause and 1300 to 1500 mg after menopause.

Calcium is vital to a woman’s body in order to avoid osteoporosis and other problems that seem to target women. Osteoporosis affects 9 million women. An additional 34 million women are estimated to have bone loss that puts them at risk for osteoporosis.

The body also uses calcium to help regulate blood pressure, clotting of blood, secretion of hormones and digestive enzymes, muscle contraction, and for nervous system functions. Calcium also helps to prevent and treat certain ailments such as premenstrual syndrome, stroke, high cholesterol, colon cancer, obesity, and insomnia.

Women in the United States typically consume less than 500 milligrams of calcium per day through their diet. To ensure adequate calcium intake, most women benefit from taking a daily calcium supplement. Calcium supplements are best used by the body when taken in doses of 500 milligrams or less.

In order for the intestines to absorb calcium, vitamin D is necessary. If you plan on taking a calcium supplement, it is a good idea to choose a calcium supplement that also contains vitamin D.

Here are some food sources of calcium:

• 8 oz of orange juice or grapefruit juice
• 1 cup of skim milk
• 3 oz. canned sardines (with bones)
• 1 cup plain low fat yogurt
• 1 oz calcium fortified cereals with 1/2 cup milk
• 2 calcium fortified waffles
• Other sources of calcium are: salmon, tofu, almonds, dried beans, whole milk, 1% and 2% milks

Do you like yogurt? If your a person who enjoys yogurt, then you’ll love kefir. Kefir is a cousin to yogurt. Kefir is starting to gain popularity around the world because of the many probiotic health benefits.

Kefir has been consumed for more than 2000 years. It originated in Europe (in the Caucasus Mountains to be exact). People there drank it for health and longevity. The word kefir came from the Turkish word “keif,” which means “good feeling.” Many people have experienced better health from drinking Kefir.

Kefir contains beneficial yeast also the friendly probiotic bacteria that is found in yogurt. Kefir also contains many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes.

There are two types of kefir:

1. Water Kefir which is small transparent grains that ferment sweetened water.
2. Milk Kefir which is white or cream colored grains that look like cauliflower florets.

Kefir is made by adding a complex of yeast and bacteria to milk which are known as grains. These grains multiply as the milk undergoes fermentation which, in turn, creates more grains setting off a sort of self replicating process.

Kefir has many health benefits. It has antibiotic and antifungal properties. It has been used in the treatment of many different conditions including:

• Arthritis
• Chronic Constipation
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Poor digestion
• Allergic Reactions
• Tuberculosis
• Osteoporosis
• Metabolic disorders
• Controlling High Cholesterol
• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• HIV
• Herpes
• Lactose Intolerance

If you have never tried kefir I encourage you to try it! I have acid reflux and other stomach and digestive problems and I just recently started including kefir into my diet. You can buy kefir at your local grocery store or at a health foods store (the only brand that I’ve seen in my local grocery store is the lifeway brand).

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for centuries and there are many different uses for it. You can use apple cider vinegar for household cleaning, preparing food, and best of all apple cider vinegar has many health benefits.

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar go as far back as 400 B.C. The Father of Medicine, Hippocrates took advantage of the tonic as a means of using it for cleansing, energizing, and healing.

Apple Cider Vinegar is made from fresh ripe apples that are fermented and undergo a stringent process to create the final product. The vinegar contains vitamins such as beta-carotene, pectin and minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, chlorine, sulphur, iron, and fluorine.

Daily use of apple cider vinegar is said to have the healing ability to flush debris from the body. The traditional everyday dosage for apple cider vinegar is two tablespoons in eight ounces of water three times a day ( I usually put apple cider vinegar in my juice). It may taste horrible but the benefits definitely outway the bad taste.

Apple Cider Vinegar is also great for pets (dogs, cats, and horses). It helps them with arthritic conditions, helps control fleas, and gives a shine to their coat.

Apple Cider Vinegar is helpful for many different ailments such as:

• Weight Loss
• Acid Reflux
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Arthritis
• Indigestion
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes Control
• Diarrhea
• Eczema
• Chronic Fatigue
• Sore Throats
• Boosts the immune system
• Improve allergies and asthma
• Improves skin tone and complexion
• Improves circulation
• AND MANY MORE

Do you use apple cider vinegar? I would like to hear from you! Please post a comment about how apple cider vinegar has helped you!

Yoga is a proven technique with thousands of years of history. By practicing yoga, millions of people over the years have experienced many health benefits.

Yoga is not a recent development. Eastern cultures have been practicing yoga for about 5,000 years. The word yoga means “to bring together or merge.” One of the fundamental beliefs shared by yogis is that the mind and the body are a unified system, which in a proper environment, can find harmony and self healing.

Many doctors consider yoga to have therapeutic results, and recommend it for several illnesses and conditions including:

• Respiratory problems
• help to stabilize the nervous system
• gastrointestinal functions
• endocrine function
• immunity to diseases
• sleep
• energy level
• cardiovascular efficiency
• Arthritis
• Chronic Fatigue
• Fertility problems
• Depression
• And more

According to medical scientists, yoga is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influence all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and preventive therapy.

If you have never tried yoga I encourage you to give it a try! Yoga is not only good for many illnesses and conditions, its also great for your mental health too! You do not need to be an expert to do yoga or to enjoy the benefits of yoga. If you would like to learn more about yoga or different yoga poses click on the links below.

Beginner Yoga Poses

Iyogalife

My Yoga Online

Yoga Journal

Yoga Learning Center

Its a cold Monday morning and you wake up and you find that your head is pounding, your so stuffed up that you can’t breathe through your nose, your throat is sore, you have a fever, and you can’t stop coughing. The cold war has hit you like a ton of bricks!

YEP!! That’s right cold and flu season is just around the corner. It is a good time to start taking preventive measures to fight off illnesses and protect your immune system.

Every year it seems that I get at least 3 or 4 colds/sinus infections and maybe 1 bout of the flu. I always try to prevent myself from getting sick but that doesn’t always work. So I usually try to tackle my cold/flu with some good old home remedies (and if its bad enough I’ll also go see a doctor for medication).

As you may know, the immune system protects our bodies from bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms. There are many contributors to a weak immune system such as toxins in foods and the environment, poor diet, and stress can all cause a weakened immune system. Once your immune system becomes weak, you are susceptible to fatigue and illness.

The best treatment for colds and flu is prevention but if you do catch a cold or the flu there are many safe and effective remedies for prevention and treatment. Here are remedies to help boost your immune system.

1. Garlic contains the active ingredient allicin, which helps fight infections and bacteria. Garlic is effective against at least 30 types of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.
2. Yogurt which contains probiotics.
3. Vitamin C helps to promote the body’s production of interferon, a natural antiviral agent that helps fight infection. Vitamin C can also reduce the duration of colds and flu, and make symptoms less severe.
4. Eat berries. All berries are a good source of antioxidants which help boost the immune system.
5. Green Tea can stimulate production of immune cells.
6. Astragalus root is used by the Chinese to treat viral infections. It is also a powerful antioxidant and protects the liver from toxins.
7. Echinacea boosts the immune system and enhances lymphatic function.
8. Goldenseal strengthens the immune system, cleanses and detoxifies the body. It has anti bacteria properties. 

Also be sure to get plenty of sleep, exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, watch your weight, combat stress, wash your hands, and get a flu shot.

  Lately there have been a lot of food product advertisements saying that they contain probiotics as part of their ingredients. But what exactly are probiotics and what do they do for you? What’s the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?

The word "probiotic" simply means "for life" which explains why these nutrients are so important. Probiotics are the "good" bacteria. When you eat foods containing probiotics you add them to your digestive tract. Once in your stomach, probiotics fight against bad bacteria and aid in bodily function. Probiotics can be found in yogurts and other fermented products like sauerkraut. Probiotics not only keep harmful bacteria from growing in your digestive tract, they also aid in digestion and help produce Vitamin K.

So probiotics help to keep your digestive tract healthy, but what keeps the probiotics healthy? That would be prebiotics. But what are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that when consumed stimulate the growth of certain "good" bacteria in the gut. These prebiotic foods contain non-digestible sugars such as lactulose and fructo-oligosaccharides. By acting as a food source for "good" bacteria, prebiotics selectively promote the growth of these bacteria, which increase their population in the intestine.

Research shows that prebiotics can improve constipation. Probiotics have been shown to improve lactose intolerance, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and intestinal infections. Other potential uses for probiotics and prebiotics include improving calcium absorption, treating irritable bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, treating and preventing colon cancer.

Foods that contain Probiotics

• Yogurts
• Kefir
• Cultured Dairy Products
• Fermented Cabbage

Foods that contain Prebiotics

• Artichokes
• Onions
• Shallots
• Garlic

Prebiotics and Probiotics can help keep your digestive system healthy. So the next time you reach for a yogurt or any other cultured dairy product, think of it as a step towards better digestive health!

• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflamatory
• Anti-depressant
• Anti-diarrheal
• Anti-fatigue
• Anti-aging
• More energy
• Helps the immune system
• Help some allergies /natural histamine blocker

Mangosteen juice has become quite popular since it was first introduced in North America just a few years ago. When looking for a mangosteen supplement it is important to get the whole fruit. The rind is where most of the health benefits are found.

Where can you get mangosteen? The easiest way is to do it online. There are many online distributors of mangosteen juice and supplements. You may also be able to find mangosteen fruit at your local health food store.

Understanding the cause of acid reflux will help you to prevent it. Some factors that lead to acid reflux include what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat. Making the appropriate changes in these areas is the best way to treat acid reflux.

Some symptoms of acid reflux include heartburn, bitter or sour taste in mouth, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, wheezing, and chronic dry cough.

Click here to read about Acid Reflux facts & figures

The best way to treat acid reflux is to first try some natural treatments. Here are some natural ways to treat acid reflux.

• Drink plenty of water between meals. This helps to dilute any acids produced.
• Try drinking some aloe vera juice in the morning before eating breakfast. Aloe vera juice naturally soothes and heals inflamed tissues
• Start eating a low fat diet. Avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol, chocolate, coffee, spicy foods, fried foods, tomatoes, tomato based sauces, and citrus fruits. Keep a food diary. This is a good way to monitor your diet and its also a good way to find out which foods may trigger your reflux.
• Apple Cider Vinegar. Mix one tablespoon in water or juice
• Eat smaller meals
• Take a spoonful of honey before meals and then take a tablespoon when you feel heartburn symptoms returning.
• Yogurt has beneficial digestive bacteria to help counter the formation of excess acids in the stomach.
• Drinking chamomile or fennel tea soothes the stomach
• Use Active Manuka Honey.
• Marshmallow herb which is also known as Althaea officinalis. It helps soothe and coat the lining of the esophagus.

Other ideas that may help:

• Avoid eating too close to bedtime
• Avoid lying down after meals
• Eat smaller meals
• Do not wear tight clothing. It may increase the pressure on your stomach.
• Raise the head of your bed about 4-6 inches

Please feel free to comment if you know of any other natural remedies for acid reflux.