Sleep Disorders

Today I would like to bring your attention to a very interesting news article. I'm sure you've noticed how we are all being warned of not getting enough sleep, and that we're being inundated with sleeping pill advertisements telling us that we need more sleep...

This is just one more sign that we need to "get real" and go natural!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188924,00.html

Fruit contains valuable minerals, vitamins, enzymes and fiber

Fruit is easily digested and most are alkalizing, cleansing and balances overuse of rich foods particularly those of concentrated proteins. The alkaline element combined with its acids stimulates the liver and pancreas. Let's look at the health benefits of some fruits for examples.

Apples produce fluids for your body. They particularly moisten dryness of the lungs, protects the lungs from cigarette smoke, stimulate the appetite and remedies indigestion.

Avocados build the blood, harmonize the liver, and lubricate the lungs and intestines. They are a natural source of lecithin, which is a brain food. More than 80% of the caloric content is easily digested fat in the form of monounsaturated oils. They are rich in copper, which aids in red blood cell formation, and are a nutritious protein source.

Purple grape juice offers most of the same benefits for the heart as red wine but the moderate level of alcohol in red wine does offer one more apparent benefit: It increases HDL, the good cholesterol.

Reservatrol, another constituent of grapes, has demonstrated anti-cancer and chemopreventative activity, and may also protect and maintain brain and nerve health.

Learn about more nutritious foods here.

The Benefits of Sea Vegetables

Sea Vegetables (seaweeds) are classified by colors: red, brown, green, blue green and yellow green. The colors, light exposure, depth, temperature, tides and seashores in which they grow correspond to the distribution of nutrients and variety.

Sea plants contain ten to twenty times the minerals of land plants and an abundance of vitamins and other elements necessary for our metabolism. They are an excellent source of food and medicine. Certain sea vegetables actually remove radioactive and toxic metal wastes from the body. In addition, they are a wealth of iodine, calcium and iron.

For instance, kelp moistens dryness, softens hardened areas and masses in the body, benefits kidneys, is a diuretic, anti-coagulant, natural fungicide, and relieves hormone imbalances and more. Kelp greatly increases nutritional values of all food prepared with it as it is considered the most completely mineralized food. It is excellent added to beans since the minerals help to balance protein and oils and increase digestibility.

Find out about more beneficial foods ...

Healing Honey

Honey is valued for its many healing properties. Treatment with honey is called "apitherapy" and is used to replenish energy, enhance physical stamina and strengthening after illness.

Honey can help calm, promote rejuvenating sleep, relieve indigestion and is used to treat respiratory ailments and cardiovascular disease.

Simple sugars, glucose, and fructose, predigested by bees, are quickly and easily absorbed in our digestive tracts. This provides us with a quick pick-me-up and yet has an overall calming effect. Other ingredients in honey are water, pollen, organic acids, enzymes and various proteins. Since honey contains pollen, eating honey harvested locally is thought to be useful for the relief of hay fever.

Additionally, the germ killing substance in honey, inhibine, helps prevent infections in minor wounds. Spread a thin layer over the wound and cover with a sterile bandage.

Learn more about healing foods...

World Diets and What They Tell Us...

Different cultures have preferences for different foods and eating habits. We can learn a lot from this. Let's take a look at some of these differences and their effects on health....

http://www.eat-well-to-be-well.com/world-diets.htm

Since I wrote the article above, a new study has come out with supporting information. After only 3 months of eating a Mediterranean-style diet, study participants reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately 15 percent.

Mediterranean diets emphasize whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, low-fat dairy, and olive oil. Planning your meals around these items may be even better for your heart than a low-fat diet.

Two groups of participants with moderate risk factors for cardiovascular disease were placed on a Mediterranean-type diet or a low-fat diet for 3 months. By the end of the study, members of both groups experienced improvements in body mass index, blood lipids, and other risk factors. While those in the low-fat diet group reduced their risk for cardiovascular disease by an estimated 9 percent, participants in the Mediterranean-diet group lowered their disease risk by approximately 15 percent.

There are abundant disease-fighting nutrients in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts, and fish.

• Whole grains are rich in fiber, magnesium, and B-vitamins
• Fruits and vegetables are filled with heart-healthy antioxidants
• Olive oil, fish, and nuts provide artery-friendly mono- and polyunsaturated fats.

Your health is the most important issue that concerns you. Take better care of it through your nutrition choices. You'll look, feel, think, and live much better than ever before!