Natural Health Remedies

"After 43-Years of Suffering with Arthritis I Shocked My Doctors (Who Predicted I'd Soon Need A Wheelchair) When I Naturally Cured My Arthritis... Without Expensive Medication Or Surgery!" And I Know You Can Do The Same!

- Margie Garrison

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VIBE is a blend of essential nutrients, powerful antioxidants, concentrated minerals and vitamins, and green tea extracts, ideal for combating free radicals that ravage our bodies every day.

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As See On TV

The information contained on this site is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

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The Every Other Day Diet™

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Lower Cholesterol Naturally and Eliminate Harmful Prescription Drugs.

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Super Omega 9® Premium Cooking Oil is the gourmet "Queen of Cooking Oils" exquisitely blended for taste and health. It is loaded with stable omega fatty acids that contribute to good health, similar to olive oil, so prominent in the healthy Mediterranean diet, without the taste of olive oil. The fatty acids in this product promote heart health, support healthy cholesterol, and aid in improving lipid profiles, brain function, and hormonal balance.

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Calcium Supplements and Heart Disease?

People associate calcium with strong bones, so there is a tendency for over use of calcium and/or not taking it correctly.

When taking supplements you must know the correct amount and balance to achieve optimum benefits and avoid health complications.

When taking calcium it needs to be balance with Vitamin D, Vitamin K and Magnesium to be utilized correctly in the body.

Calcium supplements act differently than the calcium we get from foods. Foods enriched with calcium have what is called natural calcium balancers.

Without the correct balance of Vitamin D, calcium can cause arterial calcification and vascular calcifications that can accelerate arteriosclerosis, which can result in a heart attack.

Lower amounts of vitamin K can speed up arterial calcification. On the other hand, correct amounts of vitamin K has shown to reduce Coronary Artery Disease by 57%.

Magnesium is a critical mineral in balancing calcium. The National Institute of Health states 62% of Americans have low magnesium levels.

The dairy industry wants you to associate calcium with dairy, but dairy is known to have too many negative effects to be considered as a main source of calcium.

Read the article, The Question of Dairy Products.

Non-dairy, calcium enriched foods:

· Spinach

· Kale

· Collard greens

· Turnip greens

· Broccoli

· Peas

· Brussel sprouts

· Sesame seeds

· Bok choy

· Almonds

· Soybeans

· Tofu

· Rhubarb

· Okra

· White beans

· Baked beans

Magnesium enriched foods:

· Green, leafy vegetables (kale, turnip greens and spinach)

· Beans, peas and soybeans

· Nuts

· Whole grain cereals

Vitamin K enriched foods:

· Vegetables like asparagus, spinach and broccoli

· Beans including Soybeans

· Strawberries

· Meat

· Eggs

Do your research when choosing the best supplements for you. Consider a liquid all-in-one supplement that has balanced nutrition with a proven combination of vitamins.

A good place to start your research is with the detailed information found through these links.

Potency Supplement Facts, Anti-Aging Science, Advanced Liquid Nutrient Delivery, All-In-One and Scientific Foundation.

Comparison sheet of popular supplements. Including: RDA Ingredients Comparison, Market Comparison and Price Comparison.

Feel free to contact me anytime, I am here to help.

Send me an Email -or- In USA and Canada call 727-391-1994.

Margie Garrison

Mosquitoes and Possible Effects on Your Health

When most people think of mosquitoes, they consider them as just one of those buzzing little nuisances leaving you with a red itchy bump.

We should be aware and protect ourselves from the possibility of West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, both of which can affect humans and horses.

The first case of West Nile Virus in the US was diagnosed in 1999 in New York City. Previous to that, the virus had only been seen in the Middle East and Uganda.

Mosquitoes spreading West Nile Virus can cause serious and even fatal disease. Experts believe it to be a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continuing into the fall.

About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus was first recognized in Massachusetts, USA in 1831 when 75 horses died of encephalitic illness. It is present in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

From 1964 through 2008, human EEE cases have been reported in Alabama (7), Delaware (3), Florida (66), Georgia (28), Indiana (3), Louisiana (16), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (35), Michigan (13), Mississippi (6), New Hampshire (11), New Jersey (20), New York (2), North Carolina (16), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (13), Texas (2), Virginia (4), and Wisconsin (1).

***** There have been four deaths related to Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus reported in Florida since July 1, 2010. The deaths were the first in the United States since 2008 and in Hillsborough County, Florida since 1964. *****

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Most cases occur in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states (see map).

The incubation period for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus ranges from 4 to 10 days from infected mosquito bite to onset of illness.

Most persons infected with EEE have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33% mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms.

No human vaccine against EEE infection or specific antiviral treatment for clinical EEE infections is available. Patients with suspected EEE should be evaluated by a healthcare provider, appropriate serologic and other diagnostic tests ordered, and supportive treatment provided.

***** There is an EEE vacinne for horses. Please be a responsible owner, contact your veternarian to get your horses vacinnated. *****

If you think you or a family member may have EEE, it is important to consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis.

You can reduce your risk of being infected with West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis by:

Using Mosquito Repellent
Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs
Install or repair window and door screens
Wearing protective clothing
Avoid outdoors activities when mosquitoes are most active and places they are likely to be.
Clean out birdbaths and wading pools once a week.
Clean roof gutters and downspout screens

Resources:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Mosquito Repellents - Natural or Commercial?

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and certain odors, but most repellents work by covering up your normally attractive aroma.

Most commercial Insect repellents are not eco-friendly or good for you, especially ones containing DEET. DEET may be effective keeping pests away, but it's not something you want seeping into your bloodstream, where it ends up as it's absorbed through your skin.

There are a number of effective, less toxic insect repellents available. They need to be applied more frequently than DEET based repellents, but they do not carry the same health risks.

Two botanical repellents which performed particularly well in a Florida study were Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Lotion Insect Repellent (also marketed as FiteBite Plant Based Insect Repellent) which protected for 120 minutes, and Bite Blocker for Kids, a 2% soybean oil formula, which was effective for 95 minutes. Citronella products in the study provided about 30-40 minutes of protection.

Cutter has a natural based mosquito repellent - Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent.

Bug shirts or hats are an excellent, non-toxic method of protection.

Side Note: Citronella, tea tree and eucalyptus are volatile oils and may trigger reactions in people with chemical sensitivities.

For people looking to protect their health by avoiding mosquito bites without the use of chemical based repellents, there are several recipes for natural repellents.

Since I don't have my own recipes, you can find natural mosquito repellent recipes by using Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Just enter either the phrase "make your own mosquito repellent" or "natural mosquito repellent".

Home Made Repellents

Different homemade repellents perform better or worse depending on your body chemistry, the kind of bug conditions you face, and other factors.

Many recipes base ingredient is alcohol, either rubbing or vodka, and essential oils. For an alternative to alcohol you could use Witch Hazel, a mild all natural astringent that many people use on their face to reduce acne and oily skin.

Side Note: Witch Hazel can be safely applied with a cotton ball directly on cuts, poison oak, poison ivy, cold sores, bug bites, and skin abrasions to soothe and treat the area.

The essential oil and base ingredients should be ones that work best for you and of course ones you're not allergic to.

Essential oil repellents don't last as long as commercial ones containing DEET, so you would need to reapply about every 30 minutes to an hour as needed.

Things to keep in mine when using essential oils and homemade repellents:

Don't apply essential oils full strength directly to your skin. They are best used in dilution.
Don't use oils or repellents internally; they are only to be used externally on skin or garments.
Store your homemade repellent, preferable in a dark bottle, away from heat and sunlight.
Mix a small amount first and test it on your wrist to avoid negative reactions; allergic reactions or skin irritation.
Avoid the essential oil pennyroyal because of its potential toxicity.
If you are pregnant or nursing, do not use any mosquito repellent, natural or otherwise, until you check with your physician first.

The essential oils that work well against mosquitoes:

Castor Oil
Catnip Oil
Clove Oil
Cinnamon Oil
Citronella Oil
Eucalyptus Oil
Lavender Oil
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Lemongrass Oil

Side Note: Citronella, tea tree and eucalyptus are volatile oils and may trigger reactions in people with chemical sensitivities.

Safe base oils and alcohols:

Olive Oil
Sunflower Oil
Any other cooking Oil
Witch hazel
Vodka

To help ward off mosquitoes while relaxing in your back yard try; using yellow outdoor light bulbs at night, since mosquitoes are not strong flyers use a fan when it's not windy, put mosquito-repelling plants like lemon balm, catnip, basil and lemon geraniums around outdoor sitting areas. Encourage mosquito predators like bats and dragonflies to help reduce mosquito populations.

Here are some additional mosquito repellent ideas that people have reported:

"Regular Listerine (buy the cheaper generic brands) Spray Listerine around the deck, patios, and on screens."

"Vicks is very useful, applying Vicks to a few places on my legs, arms and forehead I had no problems with mosquitoes."

"Taking excessive amounts of Vitamin C for a few days before going camping keeps mosquitoes and bugs in general away from me. Being water soluble, Vitamin C won't accumulate in the body, but instead will be excreted in sweat. Bugs hate it! NOTE: If you experience diarrhea you're taking too much."

Commercial Repellents

Mosquito coils contain around 70 different volatile chemicals including allethrin, phenol, benzene, toluene and xylene, all toxic when being inhaled as they are burning.

DEET was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1946. And has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as an approved active ingredient since 1957.

The EPA estimates that more than 38% of the US population uses a DEET-based repellent each year. Worldwide use exceeds 200 million people annually.

When applied to skin, DEET volatilizes and forms a vapor barrier around your skin, this barrier block mosquito's antennae receptors, "Making you Invisible to Bugs!"

The DEET Myth: Higher Concentration means Stronger Protection… Higher DEET level does NOT mean that it repels bugs BETTER; it means that it repels bugs LONGER.

The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, "Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates intact human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream." Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per liter have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied to skin in the prescribed fashion. The gut also absorbs DEET.

In 1998, the US EPA made it illegal for any product containing DEET to make any child safety claims. Products with DEET are required to carry instructions that they should not be used at all for children under 6 months. Additional required warnings state that for children 6 months to 2 years, only concentrations of less than 10% DEET should be used, and only once a day. For children from 2 -12 years old, only concentrations under 10% should be used, and repellents should not be applied more than 3 times a day.

For adults, Health Canada has now banned products with DEET concentrations over 30%, citing health risks and evidence that increasing the percentage does not do much more to repel insects. Health Canada has also banned two in one products, which combine sunscreen and DEET, saying they create the potential for people to be exposed to too much DEET.

Products containing DEET are now required to carry labels, which specify:

Do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
Do not apply to hands or near eyes and mouth of young children.
Do not allow young children to apply this product.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
Do not use under clothing.
Do not spray in enclosed areas.

Experts recommend that if using DEET, its best to wear long sleeves and long pants, when possible, and apply repellent to clothing rather than skin to reduce exposure. They state DEET based products should only be applied sparingly; saturation does not increase efficiency. DEET repellents should not be inhaled. Repellent-treated clothes should be washed, or kept outside living areas to reduce exposure. Following all these precautions reduces risk, but does not eliminate it.

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Health Hazards of Household Cleaning Products…

Research is showing that certain chemicals in household cleaning products may be hazardous to our health.

Children are also vulnerable to the toxins coming from the cleaning products because their immune systems are not fully developed. These toxic items can interfere with not only the immune system, but also the neurological and endocrine systems. Most labels on cleaning products will indicate that they may 'cause skin and eye irritation'.

Common Hazardous Ingredients in Cleaning Products:

Acetone - A neurotoxin, acetone may cause liver and kidney damage, and damage to the developing fetus. It is a skin and eye irritant. Found in spot treatment cleaners, mark and scuff removers, and other products.

Aerosol products - Aerosol propellants may contain propane, formaldehyde, a carcinogen, neurotoxin and central nervous system depressant, methylene chloride, a carcinogen, neurotoxin and reproductive toxin, and nitrous oxide . Products applied with aeresol sprays are broken into minute particles, which can be more deeply inhaled than larger particles, which may increase their toxic effect.

Ammonia - Undiluted, ammonia is a severe eye and respiratory irritant that can cause severe burning pain, and corrosive damage including chemical burns, cataracts and corneal damage. It can also cause kidney and liver damage. Repeated or prolonged exposure to vapours can result in bronchitis and pneumonia. Found in a wide range of cleaning products (such as disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners). Ammonia will react with bleach to form poisonous chlorine gas that can cause burning and watering of eyes, as well as burning of the nose and mouth.

Bleach: see sodium hypochlorite

Diethanolamine (DEA) - Listed as a suspected carcinogen by the State of California, this chemical is a skin and respiratory toxicant and a severe eye irritant. Used in a wide range of household cleaning products.

D-limonene - This chemical is produced by cold-pressing orange peels. The extracted oil is 90% d-limonene. It is a sensitizer, a neurotoxin, a moderate eye and skin irritant, and can trigger respiratory distress when vapours are inhaled by some sensitive individuals. There is some evidence of carcinogenicity. D-limonene is the active ingredient in some insecticides. It is used as a solvent in many all-purpose cleaning products, especially 'citrus' and 'orange' cleaners. Also listed on labels as citrus oil and orange oil.

Ethoxylated nonyl phenol - Nonyl phenols are hormone disruptors and some contain traces of ethylene oxide, a known human carcinogen. They are eye and skin irritants. Used in laundry detergents and other cleaning products.

Formaldehyde - In lab tests, formaldehyde has caused cancer and damaged DNA. Formaldehyde is also a sensitizer, with the potential to cause asthma. Several laboratory studies have shown it to be a central nervous system depressant. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. While formaldehyde naturally occurs in the human body in minute amounts, it is estimated that 20 per cent of people exposed to it will experience an allergic reaction. Used in a wide range of products, including some furniture polishes. Formaldehyde may be released by other chemicals, eg.quaternary 15.

Fragrance - Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients, most of which are synthetic. Many compounds in fragrance are human toxins and suspected or proven carcinogens. In 1989, the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health evaluated 2,983 fragrance chemicals for health effects. They identified 884 of them as toxic substances.

Synthetic fragrances are known to trigger asthma attacks. The US Environmental Protection Agency found that 100% of perfumes contain toluene, which can cause liver, kidney and brain damage as well as damage to a developing fetus.

Symptoms reported to the FDA from fragrance exposure have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observations by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes. Fragrance is a common skin irritant.

Phthalates - is a carrier for fragrance in glass cleaners, deodorizers, laundry detergents and fabric softeners are linked to allergic symptoms and asthma in children.

Methylene Chloride - Methylene chloride is a carcinogen, a neurotoxin and a reproductive toxin. On inhalation, it can cause liver and brain damage, irregular heartbeat, and even heart attack. It is a severe skin and moderate eye irritant. Used in stain removers.

Monoethanolamine - This chemical may cause liver, kidney and reproductive damage, as well as depression of the central nervous system. Inhalation of high concentrations - when cleaning an oven for example - can cause dizziness or even coma. The chemical can also be absorbed through the skin. It is a moderate skin irritant, and a severe eye irritant. Found in many cleaning products, including oven cleaners, tub and tile cleaners, laundry pre-soaks, floor strippers and carpet cleaners.

Morpholine - This corrosive ingredient can severely irritate and burn skin and eyes, and can even cause blindness if splashed in eyes. It can cause liver and kidney damage, and long-term exposure can result in bronchitis. It reacts with nitrites (added as a preservative in some products, or present as a contaminant) to form carcinogenic nitrosomines. Morpholine is a moderate to severe eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant. Used as a solvent in a number of cleaning products, including some furniture polishes and abrasive cleansers.

Naphthalene - This registered pesticide is listed as a suspected carcinogen in California and is most commonly found in mothballs, and some other pest repellants, as well as in deodorizers. As a reproductive toxin, it is transported across the placenta and can cause blood damage. It can cause liver and kidney damage, and corneal damage and cataracts. Skin exposure is especially dangerous to newborns.

Parabens - Parabens are hormone disruptors. Widely used in cleaning products as preservatives, paraben is usually preceded by the prefixes methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, or propyl. Parabens may cause contact dermatitis in some individuals.

Paradichlorobenzene - This highly volatile registered pesticide is in the same chemical class as DDT. It is a suspected carcinogen, and may cause lung, liver and kidney damage. It is used in mothballs and some washroom deodorizers and urinal blocks.

Phosphoric acid - Extremely corrosive, it can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. Breathing vapours can make the lungs ache, and it may be toxic to the central nervous system. Found in some liquid dishwasher detergents, metal polishes, some disinfectants, and bathroom cleaners, especially those that remove lime and mildew.

Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate Dihydrate - This corrosive chemical is a severe eye, skin and respiratory irritant. It may cause liver and gastrointestinal damage, and may be toxic to the central nervous system. It will react with bleach to form poisonous chlorine gas that can cause burning and watering of eyes, as well as burning of the nose and mouth. It is found in some toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers, as well as industrial detergents and some institutional dishwashing detergents.

Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) - A corrosive chemical, sodium hypochlorite is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant, as well as a sensitizer. It is especially hazardous to people with heart conditions or asthma, and can be fatal if swallowed. It may be a neurotoxin and toxic to the liver. Found in a wide range of household cleaners.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used as a lathering agent. This chemical is a known skin irritant. It also enhances the allergic response to other toxins and allergens. The U.S. government has warned manufacturers of unacceptable levels of dioxin formation in some products containing this ingredient. SLS can react with other ingredients to form cancer-causing nitrosamines

Toluene - Exposure to toluene may cause liver, kidney and brain damage. It is also a reproductive toxin which can damage a developing fetus.

Turpentine - This chemical can cause allergic sensitization, and kidney, bladder and central nervous system damage. It is an eye irritant. Found in specialty solvent cleaners, furniture polish and shoe products.

Xylene - Xylene has significant neurotoxic effects, including loss of memory. High exposure can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. It may damage liver, kidneys and the developing fetus. It is a severe eye and moderate skin irritant. Used in some spot removers, floor polishes, ironing aids and other products.

It is the responsibility of companies to label their products and remove the hazardous items from the common household cleaners. A few of the chemicals found in cleaning products are listed below:

Take control of your health and create a healthy environment using only 'natural' or 'biodegradable' cleaning products and avoid the products that are hazardous to your health and maybe causing allergic asthma.

A growing chronic health problem is allergic asthma and this can be linked to the chemicals in cleaning products.

Allergic asthma (allergy-induced asthma) is the most common type of asthma in the United States. Other respiratory symptoms can also be traced to industrial cleaners.

So many households are inclined to use 'air fresheners' as part of the household cleaning process. What the average person does not think about is that these air fresheners may contain many hazardous chemicals, one of which is the fragrance. Many people can experience watery eyes, headaches, skin and allergic reactions just to the fragrance.

Air fresheners may also contain xylene, ketones and aldehydes along with benzene and formaldehyde, which are known as carcinogens.

Studies

A study was done in New York with urban minority asthma sufferers and it revealed that 61% of individuals working in janitorial jobs reported an escalation with their asthma symptoms.

Another study done in Spain found that women who either were doing or had done domestic cleaning, showed a much higher rate of asthma than women who had never done it. The researchers came to the conclusion that 25% of asthma cases were linked to domestic cleaning.

Studies have been done in the UK at the University of Bristol with 14,000 pregnant women showing there is a link between the use of air fresheners, aerosol sprays and an increase in headaches and depression.

The study showed that when air fresheners and aerosol sprays were used in the home, 25% more headaches and 19% more post-natal depression occurred among the women.

It was even more surprising to find that babies under 6 months old who were exposed to air fresheners had 30% more ear infections and a 22% greater chance of diarrhea. The results of this study have definitely raised concern about the safety of air fresheners and general household cleaning products. It is not yet clear which chemicals or combinations may be responsible, but nonetheless, the evidence has proven there is a definite link.

Natural Cleaning Alternatives

While they sometimes get a bad rap for not being as effective as chemical cleaners, if you know how and when to use them, natural cleaners can be incredibly powerful household cleaners, according to Annie Berthold-Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living (Crown). Also, they're less likely to irritate the skin and lungs; another good reason to use them.

Here's what she recommends:

Baking soda: It's great for absorbing odors and makes a great nonabrasive cleaner in kitchens and bathrooms too. Combine half a cup of baking soda with some liquid detergent and you've got an excellent soft scrub for cleaning sinks and tubs. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the mix to make it an antibacterial scrub.

Vinegar: It's not just for French fries! Vinegar kills germs, viruses, mould and 99 percent of bacteria. Fill a clean spray bottle with vinegar and then use it to clean your cutting board or spray it around the rim of your toilet bowl. Combine vinegar with water and a little dab of soap for a good glass and window cleaner. Adding the liquid soap removes years of wax buildup left by commercial products.

Washing soda: Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is in the same family as baking soda, and it makes a good all-purpose cleaner. Combine it with water to make a paste that is strong enough to cut grease and oil and remove wax from surfaces. You'll find it in the laundry section of your supermarket.

Natural laundry detergents: Laundry detergents are made from petroleum-based cleaners which use oil.

Looking for an environmentally friendly alternative? Check out Seventh Generation products, which include vegetable-based laundry detergents that are non-toxic, biodegradable and don't contain chlorine or dyes.

Ecover also makes natural cleaning products, which include plant-based laundry detergents and fabric softeners.

Help for Insomnia

by Doug Fogel

Lots of people have trouble sleeping at night. Here are a few tips you can implement very easily to help you get the rest you need.

Don't eat sweets before you go to bed. This will raise your blood sugar and inhibit drowsiness. And later, when your blood sugar drops, you might not be able to fall back to sleep.

Sleep in the darkest possible conditions. Even a tiny bit of light can disrupt your sleep. How? Light can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and seratonin. And if you get up at night to relieve yourself, it's a good idea to have as little light as possible in the bathroom. Otherwise you will immediately cease your body's production of melatonin.

Do not watch TV before you go to bed. This is too stimulating and will "wind you up," so to speak. (Besides, TV is a vacuous wasteland of mindless drivel that will rot your brain).

Go to bed early - at least by 11 p.m. Your body's adrenal system does the majority of its recharging/recovering between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. And at the same time, your gallbladder dumps toxins during the same period. If you're awake too late at night, these toxins back up into your liver, which can disrupt your sleep - and your health.

Keep your bedroom cool.

Avoid overindulging in alcohol. While alcohol can make you drowsy, it's effect is short-lived and you may find yourself waking up hours later and unable to fall back asleep.

Don't drink fluids two hours before going to bed. This will reduce the likelihood of needing to urinate in the middle of the night.

Exercise regularly. If you exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, you will sleep better. However, don't exercise too close to bedtime or you may be too wound up to sleep.

8 Reasons Why the Human Body Needs to Sweat

by Frank Mangano

Thousands of years of evolution has ensured that the modern human body is capable of growing and naturally healing itself - through its own efficient systems.

Everyday we take in dozens of types of toxins that occur in the air we breathe, in our food, in the household products that we use and even our furniture.

If the body did not have an efficient method of cleansing itself, then it would have been easily broken down due to large amounts of chemicals and heavy metals it is absorbing. But no - the body has a way of protecting itself from irreparable damage. It uses the liver, lymph nodes, kidneys and yes - the body’s numerous sweat glands.

The human skin is full of sweat glands. These glands secrete water for homeostasis (or body regulation) and for natural detoxification. Whenever we sweat, toxins that have been trapped by the skin and nearby tissues are transported outward. Sweating is such an essential function that our species wouldn’t have survived this long without this capability.

If we were to trace our evolutionary cousins, we would find that one particular species of hominid, the Goliath species was not able to survive natural selection because it was far too large and did not have any means of regulating its body temperature.

The Goliath hominid had to hunt and move from place to place, just like the other hominids. But since its body did not sweat that much, this particular species simply disappeared. That’s how lucky we are for our extra-efficient sweat glands.

Why sweating matters

Sweating is more than just temperature regulation for the body. Sweating allows oil soluble toxin-forms to be transformed to water-soluble toxin-forms, which allows the body to remove it more efficiently. Regular sweating, whether aided by health saunas or not, provides the following benefits:

Regular sweating improves the circulatory function and the breathing rate.

Sweating through regular exercise can help rid your body of toxins and keep your weight down - a double advantage.

Sweating reduces the amount of trapped dirt and over-production of skin oils, which makes the skin suppler and more radiant.

Sweating requires energy - so when you’re sweating you’re burning off calories!

Sweating may also help people manage chronic pain.

Sweating it out improves cardiac function - so make sure you get enough exercise throughout the week.

Sweating allows the immune system to naturally bolster itself, thereby preparing your body for real illnesses.

As a natural detoxification method, sweating is capable of removing compounds like arsenic from the body. Once you take a shower after profuse sweating, these toxic substances are washed away for good.

Sources:

archaeology.org

articles.latimes.com

infrared-sauna-reference.com

Wash, Rinse and Repeat: Is Your Shower Toxic?

From: The Healthy Back Institute

Your hair looks glossy, feels clean, and smells like a mountain breeze. What could possibly be wrong?

What if the next time you used your “herbal” shampoo, you read a warning label on the bottle that revealed some of the ingredients are commonly used as industrial solvents linked to cataracts, cancer, and even blindness? Would you still use it?

What does your label say? Go grab a bottle from your bathroom and see if any of these potentially hazardous ingredients are listed: DEA, TEA, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Sodium laureth sulfate, or Propylene glycol.

Every one of those ingredients has been linked to potential harm – as either being carcinogenic (causes cancer), a neurotoxin (brain damage), or having the potential to cause birth defects.

Are you sure you want to put that on your skin? Or even worse, your child’s skin?

Who’s Watching Out for You?

In reality, no one is.

The beauty and personal hygiene aisle is one of the least regulated sections of your grocery store. The average woman in the US uses 12 personal products a day. The average man uses six. The problem is fewer than twenty percent of all chemicals in cosmetics and hygiene products have been tested for human safety.

In other words, your bathroom is a minefield of toxins and you get to play the guinea pig.

Toxic Soup

If you think the FDA has your back, think again. Since 1938, they’ve banned only eight out of 12,000 chemicals used in products. Eight.

Shampoos, soaps and cosmetics regularly include chemicals known to be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, or to be reproductively toxic. Chemicals proven to affect brain development in animals. Worse yet, the FDA doesn’t even require that all of the ingredients be listed on the label.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health analyzed 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products. Here’s their final tally:

884 of the chemicals were toxic

778 caused acute toxicity

376 caused skin and eye irritation

314 caused biological mutation

218 caused reproductive complications

148 caused cancerous tumors

Among these, DEA and SLS are two of the most widely cited offenders you should be on the lookout for.

Diethanolomine (DEA)

One of the most common toxic compounds found in personal care products is DEA (diethanolomine). DEA is used extensively in hundreds of soaps, detergents and shampoos. You probably have DEA in your bathroom right now and don’t even know it. It could even be in your baby’s shampoo.

So what’s the big deal about DEA? The industry claims it has only a very low toxicity rating.

Well, according to a 1995 study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, DEA does have low acute toxicity. But it also found that DEA cannot be easily excreted from the body. It builds up in fatty tissues of the liver, brain, kidneys, and spleen through repeated oral and dermal (skin) exposure.

As your body repeatedly gets exposed to this toxin, significant cumulative toxicity develops in your tissues which can lead to tissue and nerve damage and even premature death.

Fifteen years later you can still find DEA in consumer products all over the grocery and department store shelves. Buyer beware.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS)

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), and its cousin Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), are detergents used to dissolve oil and grease and provide suds. The primary difference between your shampoo and a product used to degrease the engine in your car is how much SLS is used.

Tests reported by the American College of Toxicology nearly three decades ago still hold true today. Those tests found acute skin irritation with concentrations of 0.5% to 10% SLS. Concentrations above 10% were found to be highly irritating and above 20% were considered dangerous, causing skin corrosion and severe irritation.

In fact, SLS is the universal standard chemical used to irritate skin in clinical testing. SLS has showed penetration into the eyes, as well as systemic tissues (brain, heart, liver, etc.)

While manufacturers are beginning to reduce the amount of this chemical used in their products due to consumer outcry, you’re still better off eliminating products using it altogether.

It Adds Up

Here’s the deal. Unless you have an allergic reaction, using a toxic shampoo probably won’t hurt you the first time you use it. Or the second time, or third. You may not have any noticeable effects the first hundred times you lather up with it.

The problem is, we don’t know how long it takes to do lasting damage. It’s the long term, gradual effects linked to these chemical ingredients we’re exposed to again and again through multiple hygiene and cosmetic products that increases our risk.

The lead in your lipstick may not hurt you tomorrow, but it adds yet another drop of poison to your body. The formaldehyde from your soap, the pesticides and neurotoxins from your shampoo, and all the the products you use on a daily basis all add up. Once the damage is done, it may be too late to reverse it.

Become a Label Detective

On cosmetic and hygiene products, words like “herbal,” “natural,” and even “organic” have no legal definition. That means anyone can put anything in a bottle and call it natural.

So what should you do to protect yourself? Become a label detective! Avoid products with chemicals that you know are unsafe, and even those with chemicals you’re not yet sure about. Do your own research or ask a trusted friend who does their own.

Here are a few other ways you can protect yourself:

Try your own home-brewed shampoo and conditioner using baking soda and vinegar. To create your own mixture, add one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup warm water. Shake well. Wet hair and comb mixture through. Use about a tablespoon of vinegar in 2 cups of water for a finishing rinse.

Look for products with no artificial fragrance – it can take hundreds of chemicals to make one artificial fragrance.

Use fewer products. Do you really need to use 15 products a day? Save time, money and your health by cutting back on the number of products used on your skin and hair.

References:

Environmental Working Group: Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Bouillon, C. “Shampoos and hair conditioners.” Clinics in Dermatology, 1988; 6(3): 83-92.

Conry, T. Consumer’s Guide to Cosmetics. Garden City, NY: Ancor Press / Doubleday, 1980, p. 74.

Final report on the safety assessment of sodium lauryl sulfate. Journal of the American College of Toxicology; 1983; 2(7).

Sixth Annual Report on Carcinogens, 1991. Summary. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1991, pp. 192-195.