Healthy Body

The common cold is an ailment that almost everyone has at one time or another. It becomes even more common in the winter, when people tend to gather indoors and are exposed to more germs. There is no cure for colds but there are ways that you can help prevent it and lessen its severity if you do get one.

A healthy diet has many benefits. One that is often overlooked is the fact that it can boost your immune system. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals will give you more energy and help you ward off the cold, the flu and other infections.

What Foods Are Best for the Immune System?

One of the most important things in any diet is balance. You need to eat a variety of foods to keep your immune system in the best possible shape, not just a lot of one or two. Here are some foods that, when eaten as part of an overall healthy diet can improve immune function and help prevent colds and other health problems.

Fruits

Fruits contain a variety of substances that are good for your immune system. One of the most well known of these is vitamin C. Vitamin C increases production of white blood cells and interferon, an antibody that coats cell surfaces and prevents the entry of viruses. Citrus fruits have the most vitamin C but there are lots of other fruits that contain it.

Many fruits such as strawberries, cherries and blueberries are also rich in antioxidants. These nutrients help maintain healthy tissue and repair damage caused by a number of things, one of which is infection. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, as is vitamin E. Not all antioxidants are vitamins.

Vegetables

Most vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals. Spinach, parsley and carrots are good sources of vitamin A. Cauliflower and most green vegetables are rich in vitamin K. Turnip and mustard greens have lots of vitamins A and E. Collard greens and squash contain substantial amounts of zinc, which stimulates the immune system.

Carotenoids are also found in carrots and dark red, green and yellow vegetables. Beta carotene is the most recognizable of the carotenoids but there are many more. These work together to boost the creation of infection-fighting cells and are also antioxidants.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are an excellent source of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. Fiber is important because it helps cleanse the body of toxins. This aids in immune function as well as overall health.

Protein

Protein is found in meats, beans and soy products. Protein boosts energy and optimizes the production of cells including those that fight off infection. Fish is a good choice because it is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are also great for the immune system.

A healthy diet is one of the best ways to prevent illness including the common cold. Building up your immune system and taking other precautions such as washing your hands regularly could keep you from getting a cold in the first place. If you do get a cold, a healthy diet will give your body the nutrients it needs to fight it off quickly.

Candidate for Candida
and Yeast Infections

Because Candida is normally present in a healthy person, you could be suffering from Candida and not even know it. While it commonly presents itself in the vagina resulting in a yeast infection, Candida can surface in the areas where the skin is moist, as well as in the mouth, also known as thrush.

Specific to yeast infections, however, you may develop a yeast infection if symptoms such as itching or irritation of the vagina is present. You may also notice a thick white discharge or have pain and soreness during intercourse.

The cause of Candida is the overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans, which oddly enough is normally present in the vagina. However, when conditions change and become more inviting for the fungus to grow excessively, it replaces the good bacteria and Candida develops.

While yeast infections are common, the best way to prevent the infection is to follow these rules: wear cotton underpants, do not use deodorants or feminine hygiene sprays, avoid powders and deodorant tampons, and, above all, do not douche. It’s a common misconception that douching will alleviate the infection. In fact, what it does is take away the normal bacteria, which is present in the vagina as a protection against infection.

If you develop Candida and need help in diagnosing and treating the infection, you may want to talk to several doctors. The reason being is that because there have been no definitive studies to ascertain the cause and cure of Candida, many women have found it difficult to find a doctor who is willing to treat them. Or they have encountered doctors who could not or would not accept the fact this is a serious infection, one which could develop into a more serious problem.

Doctors who are aware of Candida and its effects have offered this advice to women, “Get somebody to take you seriously.” Others have agreed that doctors need to reassess their attitude towards Candida and understand the seriousness of the infection, especially if it spreads to the bowel or throughout the body.Â

If you are not satisfied with your doctor, find another. If he/she is non-sympathetic to your needs, then keep searching until you find a doctor who is willing to properly diagnose and treat the infection and take every precaution to ensure it has not spread.

While herbal remedies have been used in some cultures for centuries, other societies have just begun to accept their benefits. Even now, some people still rely on modern medicine for problems that can be treated effectively with an herbal remedy because they are leery about them. A great way to get the benefits of herbs without taking supplements is to brew them into a tea. You then get the benefits along with a great tasting drink. Here are three great herbal teas and what they can do to help you.Â

Valerian Tea – Valerian has been used for centuries to help with a whole host of medical problems. Most recently it has been used to calm nerves and even soothe severe anxiety and restlessness. It is a great tea to enjoy at the end of the day when you want to unwind and relax. Because it acts as a sedative, Valerian is often used to cure insomnia and get a restful night’s sleep. It is commonly used to help with cramps and digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

You should also be wary of continued use because it can become addictive and produce withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it. Â

When making Valerian tea, do not use boiling water, becasue by doing so you can decrease its potency: just use hot water.Â

Echinacea – Want to be able to strengthen your immune system and better fight off viruses like that flu? Or course you do. That’s why you should try to drink Echinacea tea regularly. This tea stimulates your t cells and helps boost interferon production, both essential parts of immune functioning.

A few people may be allergic to Echinacea, so if you experience any signs of an allergic reaction or an asthma attack, see a doctor immediately.Â

Hawthorn – If you’re looking for a natural, effective way to help improve your heart function and circulation, you should try hawthorn tea. This herb has been known to help the heart, relieve blood pressure problems, lower cholesterol, and improve circulation. It’s also an antioxidant which means it helps prevent cancer and improves overall health.

Before drinking herbal teas, taking herbal supplements, or taking any medications, you should talk to your doctor. Herbs can have side effects, complications, and drug interactions, just like prescription meds. You doctor will be able to tell you if it’s safe for you to use certain herbs or not.  Â

If used properly, herbal teas can be a great way to naturally improve your health and help you live a happier life. If you benefit from these teas, there are many other options that you can try to maintain good health.

Stressed out? Need a good way to relax and feel better about life? Why not get a massage? Getting regular massages helps relieve the physical and mental stress from your body, leaving you ready to take on new challenges. Here are some of the great benefits of massage:

Improves immune system functioning – Studies have shown that the number of white cells in your blood increases after a massage. These are the cells that help the body fight diseases. With regular massage, you can have a stronger immune system and get sick less often.

Improves circulation – By relaxing your muscles, blood is able to flow more freely through your veins. Improved circulation gives you a boost of energy for the rest of your day. Plus, increased circulation in the skin can even reduce the appearance of cellulite if done on a regular basis.

Reduces pain - When muscles are tight and tense all day long, they eventually become sore. By relaxing the muscles with a massage, you can ease the pain caused by sore, stiff muscles. Plus, increased circulation further helps relieve pain from the area that is rubbed, and can help relieve tension headaches.

Decreases stress and anxiety – Stress is one of the most prevalent, but preventable causes of health problems in modern society. De-stressing is not only a great way to feel better; it also helps you live longer. If you’ve ever had a massage, you already know how relaxed it makes you feel. With relaxed muscles, decreased pain, improved circulation, your body lets go of all the daily stress you’ve been holding on to.Â

Decreases blood pressure -Â There was a study conducted that showed that a simple, short touch can immediately cause a drop in blood pressure. Combine this with the improved circulation, relaxed muscles, and decreased anxiety and you get a great way to keep your blood pressure low (you should be careful if you have low pressure to begin with); make sure to get up slowly and take it easy after a massage.

Improves mood – Massage has been shown to make you feel better due to many of the reasons listed above.Â
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So, think a massage might help you but just don’t think you can afford it? You should check out massage schools. There you can get a quality massage at an incredibly low price.Â

So what are you waiting for? Go out and make an appointment for a massage today. You’ll be feeling great in no time.

Heartburn is not only painful, but if you suffer regularly, it can disrupt your sleep and your life. If taking over the counter or prescription medicine all day long doesn’t sound like the greatest idea, there are tons of natural remedies out there for you to try. They range from herbal pills and tea, to simple foods most people have in their house. Here are just a few ideas to cure your heartburn naturally.

Mustard. You read right. The same thing you put on the hotdog that causes your heartburn can also be used to stop it. Just take a small amount (about half a teaspoon) when you experience symptoms. Grey and yellow mustards both work, so you can choose your favorite brand.

Aloe Vera. While it’s normally found as an ingredient in lotions and burn creams, you can also find it in juice or pill form. Aloe Vera is a great way to prevent heartburn before it starts. Just take capsules or drink half a cup of the juice twice a day to protect your esophagus from damage.

Licorice. The herb, not the candy, (sorry!) Look for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL. It eases inflammation, and coats and protects your esophagus. It’s even used to treat ulcers, but works great on heartburn and acid reflux as well.

Slippery Elm. Like many other treatments mentioned here, slippery elm cannot only treat heartburn, it also helps with other digestive problems. The best part is, it’s available in a powder, a tea, and even lozenges.Â

L-Glutamine. This is a natural amino acid that can help ease your heartburn symptoms. You can take a supplement, or simply get more glutamine naturally in your diet. You can find it in foods like: beans, red meat, nuts, and fish. You should take it as a preventative measure between meals instead of waiting untill you are in pain.

Marshmallow. Again, the herb, not the candy. Marshmallow root can be brewed into a tea and drank three times a day to prevent symptoms. Like the other natural cures, this coats the esophagus to help aid digestion and ease heartburn pain.

Apple. Instead of taking pills or herbs the next time you have heartburn, why not eat a few apple slices? This will ease your heartburn after just a few bites. It’s also a great, safe cure if you are pregnant.

Yogurt. The live cultures in yogurt have often been touted for helping digestion. By aiding digestion, yogurt can also ease heartburn symptoms. If you don’t eat yogurt, you can get pills with the same good bacteria that work just as well.

You should consult your doctor before starting any kind of treatment, natural or otherwise You should consult your doctor before starting any kind of treatment, natural or otherwise (although, you probably already know if you can safely eat mustard, yogurt, and apples).Â

The lemon has been used as a medicinal treatment since the days of ancient Rome. Lemon juice has been used in this country to treat the common cold for ages. Why does it work? Let’s look at the origin of the lemon to find out.

The lemon, like any other fruit, grows on trees. The fruit does not develop from the flowers on the tree, but rather are present with the flowers. Lemons are thought to be a hybrid fruit – originating from the citron and the mandarin. Lemons have a bright yellow skin that is thick and pale yellow pulp. Lemons are hearty fruit with a strong pungent odor.

Now, let’s examine the common cold. Colds are caused by a virus that mutates. The strains of the common cold are too numerous to count. The average person may have two or more colds per year. Because the cold is caused by a virus, there is no cure. Modern medicine can only treat the symptoms.

The problem with colds is that they affect the entire body. Your cold may start with a sniffle, but it quickly progresses to sore throat, headache, chest congestion, fever, aches, sneezing, and chills. Once more, if one person in the house has a cold, everyone is sure to get a taste of it no matter how much you clean. A cold virus is highly contagious. It may take a week or two for the virus to run its course and leave your system.

Here’s where the lemon and its medicinal juices come in as a natural remedy for cold symptoms. The lemon contains over eighty percent of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C. This is from the juice of one lemon! Vitamin C has been shown to boost the immune system. When more white blood cells are present to fight infection, the life of the offending virus is cut short. Instead of taking pills, drink lemon juice mixed with warm water and a splash of honey. The water cuts the acidity of the lemon. The honey is added for a more pleasant taste. Lemon juice also decreases the toxicity of the virus in the body. Your entire body won’t be wracked with pain and suffering like it is when the cold is untreated. In effect, lemon juice shortens the duration of the cold.

Give it a try. Your body won’t be filled with medicines that leave you feeling groggy and disoriented. When you first notice cold symptoms, begin drinking the lemon mixture right away. Twice a day should provide enough Vitamin C to do the job. Compare your outcome to ones in the past when over the counter medications were used. Stay well the natural way.

While it is quite common, osteoarthritis is a painful and debilitating disorder. Symptoms can range from an annoyance to the complete inability to use affected joints. Currently the only “cure” for osteoarthritis is to completely remove the affected joints and replace them with artificial ones. This in itself is painful and annoying and brings a whole new set of health problems into play. The best way to deal with arthritis is to relieve the pain as long as you possibly can. Instead of turning to prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatories. Glucosamine and chondroitin are great natural alternatives for reducing the pain of osteoarthritis.Â

So what exactly are glucosamine and chondroitin and why do they help with arthritis symptoms? Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Everyone’s cartilage is constantly breaking down and being rebuilt; however, in a person with arthritis, the breakdown occurs faster and the build-up occurs slower. The body just can’t keep up. This causes progressive joint damage. The theory behind using glucosamine and chondroitin is to speed up the rebuilding process in the joint by providing an ample supply of the materials used to build cartilage.Â

Glucosamine is a substance used to build and repair cartilage while chondroitin makes cartilage more resilient to damage. A combination of these substances in the joint can help to build cartilage better and keep it from deteriorating as quickly. Strangely, while taking oral supplements is suggested for relieving symptoms, there is no evidence that it increases the amount of these substances found in any one joint.

Studies have been done to study whether these substances actually help relieve arthritis pain. They showed that the relief level from these products was about equal to the relief obtained from using prescription anti-inflammatory drugs. So why use these products instead of a prescription that will likely be covered by your insurance? First of all, the prescription medications come with a lot more side effects than glucosamine and chondroitin. Another more serious problem with prescription anti-inflammatory drugs is that they have actually been shown to increase the rate of damage to affected joints. Because glucosamine and chondroitin are the materials used to build joints, they not only don’t cause further damage to the joint, they may actually slow the progression of arthritis.

Glucosamine and Chondrointin are a great, natural way to deal with minor arthritis pain, but don’t rule them out if your problems are more severe. Many doctors will suggest using supplements along with traditional treatment to increase the amount of pain relief and because it may slow joint deterioration. You should consult with your doctor for advice on your best course of treatment before trying either of these supplements.

Earaches are common among adults and children. They are most likely caused by too much wax forming in the ear, or an infection. In either case there are earache home remedies you can use to alleviate the pain and irritation caused by this common condition.

• Apply a heating pad to the ear, and take aspirin.
• Warm some cooking oil and place a few drops into the ear (always check temperature of oil on wrist before applying).
• Chew gum on an airplane to relieve pressure in the ears.
• Keep infected ears dry and clean; wipe away any discharge with cotton.
• Never use Q-tips to remove ear wax.
• Use a blow dryer, set on low, and hold it about a foot away from the ear.
• Warm up some baby oil and place a few drops in the ear.
• For wax build up, place a few drops of mineral oil into the ear. Then use an ear bulb implement to withdraw the wax.
• Hydrogen Peroxide has also been effective in ridding wax in the ear quite efficiently.

While earaches can be very painful for children, it is always best to visit your pediatrician to determine the cause of the earache and the method of treatment. For adults, the same holds true although you can try the treatments above. If there is no relief, the condition may be serious enough to warrant a visit to your doctor. If you find the earache is causing vertigo, see your doctor immediately.

Depending upon whether the cause of your earache is an infection or wax buildup, you can be assured your doctor has the tools available to relieve your pain, and will most likely prescribe antibiotics or ear drops if necessary. Keep in mind, the time to become concerned is when the middle and inner ear is affected, causing you loss of hearing or signs of acute infection. In either case, earache home remedies may be applied in the short term.

There are thousands of products and treatments available to help improve the quality of your skin, but only a small percentage of these are natural. Most beauty products contain harsh, damaging chemicals. Treatments, like chemical peels and botox, can be scary. On top of it all, we really have no idea what most of these treatments and chemicals will do to our skin 20 years down the road. If you want to have great looking skin without dangerous chemicals or procedures, there is a way.Â

Here are some great tips to keep your skin looking fabulous the natural way:

Drink more water. All cells need water to function properly. If your skin cells aren’t properly hydrated, waste products build up in your cells and keep them from working right and looking their best. Also, if you don’t drink enough water, your cells will retain as much as they can and you’ll end up looking puffy and bloated.Â

Change your diet. You’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat” a lot. If you think about it, this old saying is 100 percent true. Your body is made up of what you put into it. If you want it to work properly and look its best, you need to feed yourself the nutrients it needs and avoid foods that may damage it. For beautiful skin, you should try to get more fiber and “good fats” in your diet and avoid foods with a lot of sugar.

Improve your circulation. To function properly, our cells need to get plenty of oxygen. If you spend your days sitting at a desk or remaining mostly immobile, your circulation probably isn’t as good as it could be. Increase your circulation by getting more exercise, stretching, or getting regular massages (they don’t need to be professional). You can also use a brush to exfoliate your skin which improves circulation while removing old, dead cells. Not only will this give your skin a better overall look, it can also reduce the appearance of unsightly cellulite.

Avoid the sun. A little sun is good for you. It provides vitamin D and can help give you a sunny disposition, but too much sun can do terrible damage. Try to use hats, clothes, or sun block to protect yourself from damaging UV rays.

Use certified natural skin products. Traditional beauty products contain all sorts of unnatural chemicals. Most are there as preservatives, or to give the product a certain scent, color or texture. These chemicals not only have no value to your skin, some may cause cancer and other dangerous problems. That’s why it’s beneficial to use natural products if you want to look your best and stay healthy. Just be sure to check labels, many products will claim they’re natural or organic and only contain one natural or organic ingredient. Be wary of ingredients you can’t pronounce and look for certification seals to be sure you’re getting what you pay for. Not only will these help normal skin, they’re also less likely to irritate sensitive skin.

With a little time, patience, and work, you can have fabulous looking skin in no time.