tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89637482613543620962024-03-14T01:56:40.799-07:00VitalityJovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-648490075985886732019-04-12T09:33:00.002-07:002019-04-12T09:33:34.560-07:006 Popular herbs to increase curves naturally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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There are ways to naturally promote the development of curves in the body with herbs. These herbs typically work to increase curves naturally by balancing female hormones and affecting fat distribution.</div>
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The hormone that is primarily responsible for the development of curves is the female hormone estrogen. Think back to puberty when we started developing our female parts. That was our estrogen hormone in full force telling our body fat where to go. For some women, as a result of hormone imbalance or other causes, estrogen is not produced at optimal levels which can affect shape.</div>
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That is where certain herbs that promote curves become beneficial. They generally work by promoting balance if the woman has a deficiency. Some of the herbs are rich in phytoestrogens, meaning that they contain compounds that can mimic the human estrogen. When these herbs are combined with the right types of exercise, they can produce some amazing results. The great thing about these herbs is that when taking in appropriate quantities, they can also be beneficial to the overall health and reproductive system of a woman.</div>
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Here is a list of five popular herbs that are commonly used to enhance bust and butt sizes.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Maca</span></b></div>
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When it comes to building a fuller hips and butt, there’s no other herb more popular than maca. There are hundreds of stories from women who have used this herb with great success. </div>
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Originally from Peru, this herb has been said to bring energy and vitality, especially as an aphrodisiac. The beauty of maca is that it contains no hormones unlike many other herbs that are traditionally use to increase curves. It works with your pituatary glands to promote hormones at optimal levels.</div>
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The standard dosage for maca is 500mg daily and can be taken up to 3000mg or 6x daily. </div>
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Maca in powder form can be easily mixed into smoothies or other fruit juices. Combining maca with strength training workouts that target areas such as glutes, thighs, hips and lower back to accentuate the curves can produce fantastic results.</div>
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For those that are prone to digestive issues, look for maca in cooked or gelatinized forms as it is easier for the system to tolerate. Maca in gelatinized form has also purified and is considered more potent than the raw form because all the goodies have been extracted.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fenugreek</span></b></div>
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This is a unique herb that has a wide variety of uses and benefits. It is traditionally used as a seasoning in cuisines from across the world. Fenugreek also has medicinal uses and is commonly used by lactating mothers to increase milk production. It is also known to increase breast size by mimicking conditions in a woman’s body associated with breastfeeding, increasing blood flow to the area.</div>
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It is perfectly okay for women who are not lactating to take it, it will not cause milk production. It may just lead to firmer and fuller bust, and thicker hips.</div>
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Reports from women who have managed to use fenugreek for curves suggest it is quite effective. It contains a special component known as diosgenin that increases estrogen levels in the body, resulting in bigger breasts and fuller curves overall. Fenugreek does contain phytoestrogens that mimic human estrogens and help to regulate hormones. The standard dosage for fenugreek is 500-1,000mg daily.</div>
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It should be noted, however, that fenugreek can cause allergic reactions in people with peanut allergies as the herb is a part of the legume family. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Saw palmetto</span></b></div>
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Saw Palmetto is among the most effective herbs for bigger breasts. It is widely used for breast lifting and enlargement. This herb is renowned for its anti-androgen characteristics as well as its role in reversing the shriveling of breasts. It contains phytonutrients that stimulate the breast tissue and cause an increase in breast size.</div>
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It also serves as an aphrodisiac and increases women’s sexual activity. In the past, Saw Palmetto was used to treat disorders related to breast and enlargement of the male prostrate.</div>
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The standard dosage for saw palmetto 160-320mg once daily.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fennel</span></b></div>
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Popular in cooking, fennel is high in estrogenic compounds just like fenugreek. </div>
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It’s been used for centuries to enhance the size of women’s breasts and to increase the milk supply in nursing mothers. The phytoestrogens in fennel are able to mimic the effects of estrogen in the body and this includes the distribution of fat to the buttocks. </div>
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Besides a curvier figure, fennel can help in weight loss by treating bloating and indigestion. It can also help prevent the signs of aging and is believed to aid in the prevention of certain types of cancer. </div>
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Fennel is also chock full of copper, iron, manganese, potassium, selenium, and zinc as well as vitamins A, B-complex, C, and E.</div>
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There are fennel supplements available on the market, but fennel has a pleasant taste and most herbalists believe that fennel tea made with whole fennel seeds is the best way to ingest fennel. Simply steep fennel seeds in hot water and drink it.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Pueraria mirifica</span></b></div>
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This plant has long been used for its medicinal value especially among the people of Thailand where it is native. The Buddhist monks appraised it as having great effects on the hair, skin and even mind.</div>
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Pueraria Mirifica is a highly estrogenic herb and therefore should be used cautiously by those with estrogen sensitive conditions. It promotes curves by elevating estrogen levels in the body impacting fat distribution.</div>
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It is known to be a very effective breast enhancer for women. This is because the herb contains hormone balancing properties that enable it to increase the size of a woman’s bust. Many women that have used the herb regularly have reported a significant increase in bust size or simply fuller breasts.</div>
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Standard dosage is between 20-50mg daily taken during the mornings to increase absorption.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dong Quai</span></b></div>
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This is possibly one of the most commonly used herbs in women’s reproductive health for good reasons. It has a mild estrogenic effect that makes it great for most women. It helps to regulate hormones and increase the efficiency of other natural herbs taken for the same effect. The herb by itself is not typically associated with increasing curves.</div>
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Other benefits of dong quai, including increasing sexual activity of both men and women by increasing the effect of testicular and ovarian hormones on the body. Aside from this, Dong Quai may help to alleviate menstrual-related disorders such as irregular menstrual cycles, infrequent periods and cramps.</div>
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According to Dr Weil, the standard dosage for dong quai is generally 2,000 to 4,000 mg per day.</div>
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It is advisable to start with a low intake of these herbs, to allow room to watch out for any allergies that may come up. This also helps the body to adjust to the changes. Some women go over the board with herbs by taking extraneous dosage to boost estrogen levels thinking that this mean bigger curves. Taking too much of anything on a regular basis is usually not a good idea. Overloading the body with herbs high in phytoestrogens can create a toxic environment in the body and lead to more imbalance. It’s important to remember that these herbs are extremely powerful and should be used with care.</div>
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Adding to that, bone structure and genetics also dictate our curves. Meaning your butt or breasts can only grow as much it is biologically allowed to, doing anything extra is just that-extra. Otherwise, it is safe to increase the intake gradually with time until the desired dosage is reached.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/05/21-anti-aging-herbs-and-nutrients.html" target="_blank">21 Anti-Aging Herbs and Nutrients</a></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/07/10-best-herbs-for-boosting-female-sex.html" target="_blank">10 Best Herbs for Boosting Female Sex Drive</a></li>
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Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-54209999655460038712019-01-08T10:03:00.000-08:002019-01-08T10:03:40.368-08:00Neuroscience reveals how gratitude changes your brain to be happier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We often hear about the power of gratitude for creating a more positive and happy mental state. But did you know that gratitude literally transforms your brain?</div>
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According to UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center, regularly expressing gratitude literally changes the molecular structure of the brain, keeps the gray matter functioning, and makes us healthier and happier.</div>
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When you feel happiness, the central nervous system is affected. You are more peaceful, less reactive, and less resistant. And gratitude is the most effective practice for stimulating feelings of happiness.</div>
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In one study of gratitude, conducted by <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/having-gratitude_b_1073105?ec_carp=8762552659325640359" target="_blank">Robert A. Emmons</a> at the University of California at Davis and his colleague Mike McCullough at the University of Miami, randomly assigned participants were given one of three tasks. The participants kept a journal each week, with one group describing things they were grateful for, another describing what’s hassling them and the other keeping track of neutral events. After ten weeks, the participants in the gratitude group felt 25 percent better than the other groups, and had exercised an average of 1.5 hours more.</div>
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In a later study by Emmons with a similar set up, participants completing gratitude exercises each day offered other people in their lives more emotional support than those in other groups.</div>
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Another study on gratitude was conducted with adults suffering from congenital and adult-onset neuromuscular disorders (NMDs), with the majority of people having post-polio syndrome (PPS). Compared to those not jotting down what they’re grateful for every night, participants that did express gratitude felt more refreshed each day upon wakening. They also felt more connected with others than did participants in the group not expressing gratitude.</div>
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A fourth study didn’t require a gratitude journal, but looked at the amount of gratitude people showed in their daily lives. In this study, a group of <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201211/the-grateful-brain" target="_blank">Chinese researchers</a> found that higher levels of gratitude were associated with better sleep, and also with lower levels of anxiety and depression.</div>
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Better sleep, with less anxiety and depression. Some compelling reasons to express gratitude more regularly.</div>
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<b>Three simple steps to becoming more grateful</b></div>
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If you’ve only got time to say one prayer today, make it the simple words of “thank you.”</div>
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Here are three practical steps you can take to infusing routines of gratitude into your life.</div>
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1) Keep a daily journal of three things you are thankful for. This works well first thing in the morning, or just before you go to bed.</div>
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2) Make it a practice to tell a spouse, partner or friend something you appreciate about them every day.</div>
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3) Look in the mirror when you are brushing your teeth, and think about something you have done well recently or something you like about yourself.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/want-to-live-longer-think-positively.html" target="_blank">Want to live longer? Think positively! </a></li>
<li><a href="https://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2018/04/people-who-fret-over-minor-things-for.html" target="_blank">People who fret over minor things for more than a day have a much higher risk of chronic disease</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/impatience-speeds-up-ageing-in-dna.html" target="_blank">Impatience speeds up aging in DNA: People with quick tempers ages faster</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-27458352232921731202018-07-27T11:09:00.001-07:002018-10-01T10:01:11.943-07:00Boost Stem Cells. Live Longer <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fhFnNjvZ7ojrOP-53yZebc5qf3vuY7kcndV4Et1qU9MqLEarQffhmCLTumQFGupwa0BwBWemAd0S1e3vL3y0sf9VcM_PAsyDyU1TbjxUxugnVD8Q1IPz3C1VVrVXf-iCsrTFUZ_1z8QU/s1600/HP-Header01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1600" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fhFnNjvZ7ojrOP-53yZebc5qf3vuY7kcndV4Et1qU9MqLEarQffhmCLTumQFGupwa0BwBWemAd0S1e3vL3y0sf9VcM_PAsyDyU1TbjxUxugnVD8Q1IPz3C1VVrVXf-iCsrTFUZ_1z8QU/s640/HP-Header01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stem cells are a type of cell that has the potential to develop into different cell types in the body. Because of this, these types of cells can serve as a repair system and theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells for as long as you are alive. When a stem cell divides, each "daughter" cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a heart muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell. </div>
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Your body already produces stem cells naturally and there’s a reserve of these replacement cells inside your bone marrow and fat tissue.</div>
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But, with age, you start to lose your stem cells and they become less effective. This is caused by overall degradation in joint health and the mitochondria.</div>
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Stem cells consist of mitochondria, which are tiny organelles in your cells that produce your body’s energy. If your mitochondria are slow and sluggish, then you’ll experience more fatigue and exhaustion in everything you do, including stem cell functioning.</div>
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In theory, we might want to simply boost stem cells while we are young and then use them to keep our heart, hips, brain, and other parts our body healthy as we age.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Stem cell therapy</span></b></div>
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Stem cell therapy involves bone marrow transplants, umbilical cord blood injections, somatic cell nuclear transfers, and many other similar sources. Basically, you take young and fresh stem cells and you inject them into your body where they’ll start healing and rejuvenating your old cells and muscle tissue.</div>
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Stem cells have been used for years to treat cancer patients and it’s been found to be effective against neurodegenerative diseases and other conditions, such as diabetes, and heart disease.</div>
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Some say that stem cell therapy is bringing about a new paradigm in health and longevity research. At the same time, there’s a lot of controversy about culturing and isolating embryonic stem cells, which is associated with abortion politics and human cloning.</div>
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That’s why it hasn’t received that much publicity nor widespread use by the general public. Until now…</div>
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If possible isn’t that a better, simpler, & safer idea than getting a transplant of stem cells?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How to promote stem cell growth naturally:</span></b></div>
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<b>Vitamin B3 Stem Cells</b></div>
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There have been studies on how giving old mice vitamin B3 helped them to revitalize their stem cells. B3 is also called niacin, niacinamide or nicotinamide, and it’s one of the essential nutrients that has a big role in energy production and metabolism.</div>
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Mice who were taking niacin saw incredible anti-aging effects. They saw muscle regeneration, growth of brain and skin cells thanks to stem cell activity. Their life spans were also substantially longer than the mice’ who didn’t get B3.</div>
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In another study on a group of mice, they gave half of them vitamin B3 for 3-4 months and they had more energy, less weight, and improved insulin sensitivity. They could even run 33% longer than the mice who didn’t get the vitamin.</div>
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Foods rich in niacin are fish, poultry, meat, beef, mushrooms, organ meats, peanuts, sunflower seeds, coffee, tahini and fortified cereal.</div>
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Taking a B3 supplement can also be a good idea. I recommend at least 250 mg a day.</div>
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<b>Boost Your NAD+ Levels</b></div>
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Vitamin B3 helps to break down a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is needed for transferring calories into the mitochondria where they’ll be converted to ATP. NAD can work in 2 forms: NAD+ and NADH.</div>
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Low levels of NAD+ increase brain degeneration, inflammation, body fat, fatigue and muscle loss.</div>
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If you have too much energy coming in from the outside, then this will lead to the accumulation of NADH, which prevents your body from using its internal fat stores. Thus the mitochondria will become less efficient. Caloric restriction has been shown to raise NAD+ levels in the cells, as does carbohydrate depletion.</div>
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States of ketosis can also increase NAD+ levels by promoting the mitochondrial ability to burn fat for fuel. Other ways of increasing NAD+ are exercise, and cold-heat-exposure.</div>
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<b>Fasting</b></div>
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Intermittent fasting is another great way to not only boosting NAD+ but to also trigger stem cell activation.</div>
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An article recently came out saying that fasting boosts stem cell numbers. The team from USC found that even just a few days of fasting increased the number of stem cells in our blood system.</div>
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There are many studies showing how fasting for up to 3 days reduces inflammation, boosts the immune system by increasing white blood cell count, and promoting autophagy.</div>
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<b>Turmeric</b></div>
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Curcumin or turmeric contains a bioactive compound called Aromatic (ar-) turmerone, which can induce neural stem cell proliferation.</div>
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Turmeric has also many other anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties that promote the creation of new brain cells and reduce oxidative stress in the body.</div>
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<b>Herbs</b></div>
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Different herbs and herbal extracts can be used to promote tissue regeneration in both stem cell therapy and tissue engineering.<br />
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Examples of stem cell boosting herbs are</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Dried root of Drynariae fortune, Rhizoma Drynariae, which contains flavonoid and triterpenoid compounds and its use increases bone cell viability and intracellular total proteins.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Dried root extract of the Korean herb Dipsacus asper is used in the treatment of bone fracture.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Foeniculum vulgare has been used in traditional medicine to increase milk secretion, promote menstruation, facilitate birth, and alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Dhanwantram kashaya, used in Ayurvedic medicine to stimulate growth and nerve regeneration.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The root extract of Angelica dahuricae has been used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, and antioxidant remedy in Chinese and Korean herbal medicine.</li>
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You get the point – aim for the more micronutrient dense herbs.<br />
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<b>Spirulina and Algae Supplements</b></div>
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Mice who were fed spirulina for 28 days grew new and stronger stem cells.</div>
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Spirulina promotes stem cell genesis and protects against declines in neural stem cell proliferation.</div>
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Spirulina and chlorella also contain small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and EPA, which are the most important fatty acids for the brain. They already promote cognitive functioning and neural health so it makes sense that they’ll also have longevity effects on the entire body.</div>
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<b>Exercise</b></div>
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The human body seems designed to increase stem cell numbers when we are more active. This makes great sense if you consider that the more active that we are the more new cells that we’ll need as we are likely to lose more of our older cells by exercising. Here are two papers backing up the idea of exercise boosting our stem cell numbers.</div>
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Macaluso, FKH Myburgh (2012) <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10974-012-9302-0" target="_blank">Current evidence that exercise can increase the number of adult stem cells. Journal of muscle research and cell motility.</a> 33:3-4:187-98.</div>
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Blackmore, DG, et al. (2009) <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19544415" target="_blank">Exercise increases neural stem cell number in a growth hormone-dependent manner, augmenting the regenerative response in aged mice. Stem Cells.</a> 27:8:2044-52.</div>
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<b>Tai chi</b></div>
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Researchers in China have reported that people who practice the martial art Tai Chi saw a several-fold boost in their stem cell populations (by which they meant a specific type of cell called a “Progenitor CD34+Cells” cell. This seems a little too good to be true in terms of magnitude, but could fit in with the exercise boost discussed above.</div>
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<b>Sleep</b></div>
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Although I wrote earlier about how activity could boost stem cell levels, it also kind of makes sense that stem cells may do their thing while we are asleep. Stem cell science also supports this idea as well.</div>
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<b>Protect yourself and your stem cells from radiation</b></div>
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When you read this you probably are thinking of dental or chest x-rays or CT scans, but I think a far more important source of radiation for most of us is UV light from the sun.</div>
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It is smart to protect your skin stem cells. Become an educated user of sunscreens and about sun exposure. Their use is complex and in fact may be harmful if misused as most of us do. In any case, the best protection from skin cancer is shade or if you have to be out in the sun, clothing. Do not let sunscreen increase your sun exposure dramatically or its use will backfire.<br />
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Next article will be about foods that can protect skin from sun damage.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/07/stem-cell-brain-implants-could-slow.html" target="_blank">Stem cell brain implants could 'slow aging and extend life', study shows</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-31845049193016826172018-07-02T09:56:00.001-07:002018-07-02T09:58:14.991-07:00Do YOU suffer from insomnia? You may be lacking in MAGNESIUM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH1z4fZ0iwmsMYZmPUatixIWsz5QjUHPiz-kxyhyUjKFX7Ik_QTc9Mtqi8WuQwXI633P6Zwv4VazBouvGSmf3Jydl16EkK78l-fqyRTMEV4dqOxxDYzjyop-TTEBfU1R6PWlxMcjDfwzJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-02-07+at+8.29.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="629" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH1z4fZ0iwmsMYZmPUatixIWsz5QjUHPiz-kxyhyUjKFX7Ik_QTc9Mtqi8WuQwXI633P6Zwv4VazBouvGSmf3Jydl16EkK78l-fqyRTMEV4dqOxxDYzjyop-TTEBfU1R6PWlxMcjDfwzJ/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-02-07+at+8.29.19+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Consuming too much caffeine after 3pm, not enough exercise or an overload of stress hormones are most often the culprits of insomnia. But an array of recent trials have pointed the blame at a magnesium deficiency for thousands of people who toss and turn at night.</div>
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Studies have shown magnesium supplements can increases sleep time, efficiency and natural melatonin levels - a hormone critical for the regulation of normal sleep. </div>
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Now, new research has found magnesium applied directly to the skin can deliver the mineral to the body quicker and more efficiently than ingested supplements - and help improve sleep quality in 92 per cent of deficient people. </div>
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<b>What is insomnia? </b></div>
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Insomnia is a huge global problem, affecting around a third of men and women in their 30s and 40s and nearly half of women over 65.</div>
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There are two types, Type 1 insomnia where you can't get to sleep and Type 2, where you can get to sleep okay, but tend to wake at least once during the night.</div>
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And if you have either type, the chances are you have heard a million and one remedies: get black out blinds, eat some peanut butter before bed, get a sleep mantra, take a Valium. Actually don't. The latter is addictive and the formers, well, they're hit and miss at best. </div>
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<b>Magnesium: The facts </b></div>
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Indeed, waking in the small hours is often associated with stress, anxiety or depression and these are conditions that can be exacerbated by magnesium deficiency, said nutrition expert Greg Weatherhead. But there are many more.</div>
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'Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body and all our cells rely on adequate levels being maintained,' said Mr Weatherhead. </div>
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'It's responsible for over 300 biochemical functions in the body and sufficient amounts allow us to be more flexible, develop stronger bones, produce energy more efficiently and be better able to resist disease.'</div>
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While magnesium is predominantly found in nuts, wholegrain seeds and green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, decreasing levels in our Western diets have long been reported and amounts in our most common foods have declined by about 20 per cent since the 1950s, Mr Weatherhead added.</div>
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In fact, the most recent government funded UK Diet and Nutrition Report updated in March this year, showed more and more of us have below optimal intakes of magnesium, with teenage girls and the over 60's being at particular risk of deficiency.</div>
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Moreover, diets that include an excess of processed foods and bad fats such as those found in takeaways, donuts and commercial vegetable oils as well as refined sugars can all decrease our magnesium levels.</div>
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<b>How does magnesium help sleep?</b></div>
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So, how can supplementing with a drug free mineral help people sleep, when so many other sleep remedies rarely make the cut?</div>
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'Magnesium is critical to many physiological and psychological processes that are essential for staying asleep,' Mr Weatherhead said. These include calming the mind and also helping muscles relax.</div>
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Along with helping to reduce levels of cortisol and adrenaline that could be waking us during sleep or causing erratic slumber, magnesium also works on a lesser known hormone essential to sleep.</div>
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'It helps improve sleep quality through its interaction with a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid),' Mr Weatherhead said.</div>
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'GABA is an amino acid responsible for reducing anxiety, promoting relaxation and preparing our bodies for sleep.'</div>
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Magnesium sensitises GABA receptors in the brain, increasing the positive effect of this molecule.</div>
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<b>Why is magnesium on the skin better for insomnia than tablets?</b></div>
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'Unfortunately, our intake of magnesium has declined dramatically due to intensified farming methods, food processing and negative interactions with an increasing number of prescribable mediations,' said Mr Weatherhead.</div>
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'Magnesium is a mineral we evolved to have little and often and our digestive systems are not well equipped to absorb large single doses of magnesium such as those found in tablets and capsules.</div>
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'Either, much of the dose is simply not broken down and absorbed or it is lost through a loosening of the bowels, a common effect seen with a high intake of ingested magnesium tablets.'</div>
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There are a number of clinical studies published showing that magnesium delivered via the skin is an effective alternative to traditional tablet supplementation, said Mr Weatherhead.</div>
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In 2017, a study published in PLOS One, found that magnesium absorbed through skin significantly boosted magnesium levels in the blood.</div>
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A pilot study published in 2010 showed that BetterYou Magnesium could elevate cellular magnesium levels faster than traditional tablets or capsules.</div>
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Topical magnesium specialists BetterYou have worked with the Cardiff University academics on absorption testing for magnesium.</div>
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They are now in the final stages of the world's first clinical study with St Mark's Hospital London, investigating how magnesium applied to the skin can replace intravenous drips and subcutaneous injections for patients with severe bowel and digestive disorders. </div>
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<b>WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY? </b><br />
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<li>Poor quality sleep</li>
<li>Stress</li>
<li>Anxiety</li>
<li>Restless legs</li>
<li>Joint discomfort</li>
<li>Muscle tension and pain</li>
<li>Muscle or eye twitching</li>
<li>Weak bones</li>
<li>Low mood</li>
<li>Headaches</li>
<li>Migraines</li>
<li>Poor concentration</li>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/03/13-scientifically-proven-tips-to.html?showComment=1529385202222#c5876602065372363893" target="_blank">13 scientifically-proven tips to improve your sleep</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/10/america-has-hit-dreamlessness-epidemic.html?showComment=1530165529736#c1865804731702780448" target="_blank">America has hit a 'dreamlessness epidemic', and it is affecting our mental and physical health</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-single-poor-nights-sleep-can-age-you.html" target="_blank">A single poor night’s sleep can age you</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/01/lack-of-sleep-will-make-you-sick.html" target="_blank">Lack of sleep WILL make you sick</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/02/clean-sleeping-latest-preachy-trend.html" target="_blank">Clean sleeping - the latest preachy trend</a></li>
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Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-19451008824235296322018-05-22T12:30:00.000-07:002018-05-22T12:30:31.215-07:00CBD Oil Shows Remarkable Health Benefits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEn536VUqZwC1_pCA0wDh7vYfN9O9IcX5PDwwJL4axYS1OlKZDJ1mU6ScgjGGftX6vD-ByAhSM7_Ky9neAedHylLeo1cmbzLN1ksiKyBVTe_7hE1rqLY2lV5IJSebzxnxvwydxTIXPNfI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-05-22+at+1.49.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="678" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEn536VUqZwC1_pCA0wDh7vYfN9O9IcX5PDwwJL4axYS1OlKZDJ1mU6ScgjGGftX6vD-ByAhSM7_Ky9neAedHylLeo1cmbzLN1ksiKyBVTe_7hE1rqLY2lV5IJSebzxnxvwydxTIXPNfI/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-05-22+at+1.49.30+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The use of medical marijuana continues to be an emotionally and politically charged issue. Although cannabis oil preparations have been used in medicine for millennia, the concern over the dangers of abuse led to the banning of the medicinal use of marijuana in the 1930s.</div>
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Only recently, marijuana and chemically related compounds have come back to being considered of therapeutic value. A prominent compound found in marijuana or cannabis, CBD, or cannabidiol, has shown to treat numerous diseases. Researchers believe that in view of the very low toxicity and the generally benign side effects of CBD, neglecting or denying CBD benefits and its clinical potential is simply unacceptable.</div>
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<b>What Is CBD?</b></div>
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CBD is one of over 60 compounds found in cannabis that belong to a class of ingredients called cannabinoids. Until recently, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) was getting most of the attention because it’s the ingredient in cannabis that produces mind-altering effects in users.</div>
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<b>Does CBD Oil Create a High?</b></div>
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The short answer is: No. (Though oils with THC can also contain CBD).</div>
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Unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive. This means that it does not change the state of mind of the person who uses it. However, it does appear to produce significant changes in the body and has been found to have medical benefits.<br />
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Most of the CBD used medicinally is found in the least processed form of the cannabis plant, known as hemp.<br />
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Hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, cannabis sativa, but they are very different.<br />
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Over the years, marijuana farmers have selectively bred their plants to be very high in THC and other compounds that interested them, either for a smell or an effect they had on the plant's flowers.<br />
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On the other hand, hemp farmers have not tended to modify the plant. It is these hemp plants that are used to create CBD oil.<br />
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<b>Marijuana CBD vs. Hemp CBD: Which One is Best?</b><br />
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As mentioned, the main difference when thinking about marijuana-derived CBD vs hemp-derived CBD come down to the plant differences more than the CBD oil/CBD extract. It's kinda like clover honey vs. orange blossom honey - there's a slight different in taste but they're both honey when it comes down to it. So what becomes the tie breaker? Legality.<br />
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To use medical marijuana, it has to be legal in the state that you live in as well as for the condition you have. As mentioned above, hemp-derived CBD is far more accessible and can be bought from many different places. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">CBD Oil Benefits:</span></b></div>
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<b>Relieves Pain and Inflammation</b></div>
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Among common CBD benefits, natural pain relief tops the list for many. Evidence suggests that cannabinoids may prove useful in pain modulation by inhibiting neuronal transmission in pain pathways. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that CBD significantly suppressed chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rodents without causing analgesic tolerance. Researchers suggest that CBD and other nonpsychoactive components of marijuana may represent a novel class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic pain. </div>
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<b>Has Antipsychotic Effects</b></div>
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Research shows that CBD benefits include producing antipsychotic effects. It appears to have a pharmacological profile similar to that of atypical antipsychotic drugs as seen using behavioral and neurochemical techniques in animal studies. Additionally, studies show that CBD prevents human experimental psychosis and is effective in open case reports and clinical trials in patients with schizophrenia, with a remarkable safety profile.</div>
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<b>Reduces Anxiety</b></div>
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Studies using animal models of anxiety and involving healthy volunteers clearly suggest an anxiolytic-like effect of CBD. Cannabidiol has shown to reduce anxiety in patients with social anxiety disorder and researchers suggest that it may also be effective for panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.</div>
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A 2011 study aimed to compare the effects of a simulation public speaking test on healthy control patients and treatment-native patients with social anxiety disorder. A total of 24 never-treated patients with social anxiety disorder were given either CBD or placebo 1.5 hours before the test. Researchers found that pretreatment with CBD significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance, and significantly decreased alertness in anticipation of their speech. The placebo group presented higher anxiety, cognitive impairment and discomfort. </div>
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<b>Helps to Fight Cancer</b></div>
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Several scientific reports demonstrate that CBD benefits include possessing antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic effects that inhibit cancer cell migration, adhesion and invasion. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics found for the first time that CBD potently and selectively inhibited the growth of different breast tumor cell lines and exhibited significantly less potency in non-cancer cells. </div>
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In 2011, researchers added light on the cellular mechanism through which CBD induces cell death in breast cancer cells. They showed that CBD induced a concentration-dependent cell death of both oestrogen receptor-positive and oestrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells. They also found that the effective concentrations of CBD in tumor cells have little effect on non-tumorigenic, mammary cells.</div>
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CBD behaves as a non-toxic compound and studies show that doses of 700 milligrams per day for 6 weeks did not show any overt toxicity in humans, suggesting that it can be used for prolonged treatment. Not only does the research show that CBD benefits including being effective in fighting breast cancer cells, data also suggests that it can be used to inhibit the invasion of lung and colon cancer, plus it possesses anti-tumor properties in gliomas and has been used to treat leukemia. </div>
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<b>Relieves Nausea</b></div>
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Cannabis has been used for centuries for the suppression of nausea and vomiting. Research has revealed that among more than 80 cannabinoid compounds found in marijuana, both the intoxicant THC and the non-intoxicant CBD helps to get rid of nausea and vomiting in animal studies. A 2012 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that CBD benefits including possessing anti-nausea and antiemetic effects when it was administered to rats. </div>
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<b>Might Have Neuroprotective Properties</b></div>
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Researchers believe that CBD’s ability to act on the endocannabinoid system and other brain signaling systems may provide benefits for those with neurological disorders.</div>
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In fact, one of the most studied uses for CBD is in treating neurological disorders like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Though research in this area is still relatively new, several studies have shown promising results.</div>
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Sativex, an oral spray consisting of CBD and THC, has been proven to be a safe and effective way to reduce muscle spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis.</div>
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One study found that Sativex reduced spasms in 75% of 276 people with multiple sclerosis who were experiencing muscle spasticity that was resistant to medications.</div>
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Another study gave 214 people with severe epilepsy 0.9–2.3 grams of CBD oil per pound (2–5 g/kg) of body weight. Their seizures reduced by a median of 36.5%.</div>
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One more study found that CBD oil significantly reduced seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome, a complex childhood epilepsy disorder, compared to a placebo.</div>
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However, it’s important to note that some people in both these studies experienced adverse reactions associated with CBD treatment, such as drowsiness, fatigue, fever and diarrhea.</div>
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CBD has also been researched for its potential effectiveness in treating several other neurological diseases.</div>
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For example, several studies have shown that treatment with CBD improved quality of life and sleep quality for people with Parkinson’s disease.</div>
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Additionally, animal and test-tube studies have shown that CBD may decrease inflammation and help prevent the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.</div>
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In one long-term study, researchers gave CBD to mice genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease, finding that it helped prevent cognitive decline.</div>
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<b>Lowers Incidence of Diabetes</b></div>
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A 2006 study found that CBD treatment significantly reduced the incidence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice from an incidence of 86 percent in non-treated mice to an incidence of 30 percent in CBD-treated mice. CBD benefits also showed a significant reduction of plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. A histological examination of the pancreatic islets of the CBD-treated mice revealed significantly reduced insulitis. </div>
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In 2013, the American Journal of Medicine published a study that highlighted the impact of marijuana use on glucose, insulin and insulin resistance among U.S. adults. The study included 4,657 adult men and women from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2005 to 2010. Of the participants, 579 were current marijuana users and 1,975 were past users. The researchers found that current marijuana use was associated with 16 percent lower fasting insulin levels. They also found significant associations between marijuana use and smaller waist circumferences, a factor connected to the onset of diabetes symptoms. </div>
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<b>Promotes Cardiovascular Health</b></div>
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A 2013 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reports that CBD protects against the vascular damage caused by a high glucose environment, inflammation or the induction of type 2 diabetes in animal models; plus, CBD proved to reduce the vascular hyperpermeability (which causes leaky gut) associated with such environments.</div>
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<b>CBD May Be Beneficial for Rheumatoid Arthritis</b></div>
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Due to its anti-inflammatory effect, cannabinoids may provide relief of joint pain and swelling, and decrease joint destruction and disease progression.</div>
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Administration of CBD protected joints against severe damage, decreased progression, and produced improvement of arthritis in animal models.</div>
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The first controlled trial showed that administration of Sativex over 5 weeks produced significant improvements in the intensity of pain on movement and at rest, quality of sleep, and inflammation. No serious adverse effects were observed.</div>
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<b>Cannabidiol May Help with Inflammatory Bowel Disease</b></div>
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Studies confirmed that CBD prevents colitis in animal models of IBD.</div>
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The combination of CBD and THC may reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of IBD, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and reduced appetite.</div>
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Studies also showed that CBD may be a good candidate to normalize gut motility in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.</div>
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CBD may reduce gut inflammation severity through activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma).</div>
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<b>Fights Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria</b></div>
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Researchers discovered that cannabinoids (including CBD) have an unusual ability to destroy bacteria (especially drug-resistant strains). More research is needed to find out how and why it works.</div>
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A 2011 study found that CBD can also slow the progression of tuberculosis in rats. Researchers concluded that CBD likely does this by inhibiting T-cell proliferation, rather than possessing antibacterial properties.</div>
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Whatever the mechanism is for destroying bacteria, CBD seems to be a potent weapon against the antibiotic resistant “superbugs” that are becoming more and more of a problem today.</div>
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<b>Reduces Oxidative Stress</b></div>
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Oxidative stress is responsible for many ailments today. Oxidative stress is when the body has too many free radicals and can’t keep up with neutralizing them (with antioxidants). This is more of a problem now than in the past because our environment is so much more toxic than it once was. A 2010 study shows that CBD oil acts as an antioxidant and another study found CBD has neuroprotective qualities. So CBD can reduce neurological damage caused by free radicals.</div>
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<b>Cannabidiol May Treat Depression</b></div>
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According to researchers, CBD has antidepressant-like effects in mice.</div>
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Studies found that antidepressant effects of CBD were fast, continuous over time, and comparable to a common tricyclic medication imipramine, also known as Tofranil.</div>
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<b>Promotes Healthy Weight</b></div>
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Cannabidiol can help maintain healthy blood sugar, stimulates genes and proteins that helps break down fat, and increase mitochondria that helps burn calories.</div>
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CBD also encourages the body to convert white fat to brown fat. White fat is the kind of fat we typically think of when we think about body fat. Brown fat is fat that is in small deposits that behaves differently than white fat. Brown fat is said to improve health by enhancing the bodies ability to burn white fat, create heat, and even regulate blood sugar.</div>
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<b>Cannabidiol May Help with Insomnia</b></div>
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Research suggests taking CBD before bed improves sleep in people with insomnia.</div>
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Can’t fall asleep at night and wake up feeling more tired in the morning than you did the night before? Biohacking Insomnia is the only sleep resource guide that looks at all the possible factors you’re missing out on restorative sleep and works to get you sleeping better from a holistic viewpoint so you can finally get your nights-and your days-back the way they should be.</div>
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<b>Improves Skin Conditions</b></div>
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CBD oil can be used topically to treat skin conditions. Studies show CBD oil has a high potential for treating skin conditions like eczema by encouraging abnormal cell death. It can also help regulate the skin’s oil production, reducing acne. CBD also contains many nutrients like vitamin E that help improve and protect the skin.</div>
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<b>CBD Reverse the Signs of Aging</b></div>
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Science has shown that not only is CBD a powerful antioxidant, it might actually be a more powerful antioxidant than both vitamins C and E. In fact, a study released in 1998 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America expressed that “cannabidiol was more protective against glutamate neurotoxicity than either ascorbate or α-tocopherol, indicating it to be a potent antioxidant”.</div>
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<b>May Reduce Acne</b></div>
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Acne is a common skin condition that affects more than 9% of the population. It is thought to be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, bacteria, underlying inflammation and the overproduction of sebum, an oily secretion made by sebaceous glands in the skin.</div>
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Based on recent scientific studies, CBD oil may help treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to reduce sebum production.</div>
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One test-tube study found that CBD oil prevented sebaceous gland cells from secreting excessive sebum, exerted anti-inflammatory actions and prevented the activation of “pro-acne” agents like inflammatory cytokines.</div>
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Another study had similar findings, concluding that CBD may be an efficient and safe way to treat acne, thanks in part to its remarkable anti-inflammatory qualities.</div>
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Though these results are promising, human studies exploring the effects of CBD on acne are needed.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Other Potential Benefits:</span></b></div>
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<b>Antipsychotic effects:</b> Studies suggest that CBD may help people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders by reducing psychotic symptoms.</div>
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<b>Substance abuse treatment:</b> CBD has been shown to modify circuits in the brain related to drug addiction. In rats, CBD has been shown to reduce morphine dependence and heroin-seeking behavior.</div>
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<b>Cannabidiol Promotes Bone Growth</b></div>
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Rodents with broken limbs healed much faster when treated with CBD.</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-32474735835767342672018-05-17T11:46:00.002-07:002018-05-17T11:46:49.889-07:00Feeding the Narcissist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY1nqbhZFWhWe3PWDz9jDk_qDzdqrHn1sv7qmJ2Vtfaq1pTVbnRqWmTf_6TBX5kuLdPi5XYQuAPsHVPDSW51JmS66rtXEuvtb8sF54KyG-BNji8w6xKVBlpcZtnPZAYQOrhty8n1SvFGz/s1600/5c84af0add129b57854d15cdaa15791c.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="409" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY1nqbhZFWhWe3PWDz9jDk_qDzdqrHn1sv7qmJ2Vtfaq1pTVbnRqWmTf_6TBX5kuLdPi5XYQuAPsHVPDSW51JmS66rtXEuvtb8sF54KyG-BNji8w6xKVBlpcZtnPZAYQOrhty8n1SvFGz/s640/5c84af0add129b57854d15cdaa15791c.png" width="476" /></a></div>
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We all know people who require constant attention and affirmation--so much so that supporting and propping them up can even feel like a second job.</div>
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And no one's talking about restaurant food here. What narcissists really need is something psychologists call "emotional supplies." People who feel defective or empty are everywhere - and they suffer deeply. Most spend their days attempting to shore themselves up, maintain self-esteem, and garner enough external emotional support to make it through the day without feeling they will fall apart. This self-focus and preoccupation is what makes narcissists seem selfish, even arrogant.</div>
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But appearances do not tell the whole story. What looks like bravado or conceit often masks an underlying insecurity.</div>
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Everyone loves a compliment. Who doesn’t like to be praised and adored. Who doesn’t want to be honoured.</div>
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Your self esteem is very much important. Feeling good about yourself is a wonderful experience. In fact, compliments have been known to aid a healthy lifestyle. So having other people voice out how wonderful, beautiful and awesome you are is even a big plus.</div>
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However, things become interesting when you begin to fish for compliments. </div>
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Do you know that your crave for praise and compliment, though genuine, can cause a drastic effect and shape your world in ways you never imagined?</div>
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<b>You are hurting your relationships:</b></div>
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The more you keep fishing for compliments, the more you appear to be old and needy.</div>
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When you constantly seek the validation of others to feel worthy and happy, you constantly put pressure on your family, friends, colleagues and loved ones to make you feel happy. </div>
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Too much of everything isn’t good so what turns out to be be sweet and awesome, turns into hatred and disdain.</div>
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Love is never forceful. Happiness isn’t external. You don’t need the validation of others to be significant. You don’t need the permission of others to feel worthy.</div>
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<b>You are hurting your self esteem:</b></div>
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If you can’t be happy or feel good about yourself without hearing from others. You can’t do the best at work without someone saying that you did a good job or you need the compliments of others to feel loved, then you are hurting your self esteem.</div>
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When you hurt your self esteem, you are hurting your existence. You are making your thoughts lie about you.</div>
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Each time you seek for validation, you give power to others to define your existence. You give them permission to write your own story.</div>
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You are special because you have so much inside to make a difference. Your existence lights your world and you matter to your generation.</div>
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By being you, there are people whose lives you will definitely change for the better. </div>
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Do you know that fishing for more compliments doesn’t make you feel better about yourself?</div>
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Think about it! That is the more reason why you seek more compliments.</div>
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The more compliments you seek, the more you become addicted to hearing more compliments.</div>
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Standing on the shoulders of compliments to make a difference in your life is limiting yourself plus your existence.</div>
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You are powerful beyond measure which is why compliments should never replace your inner drivers (passion, purpose and God-given gifts)</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-33970242628040281592018-04-19T09:42:00.000-07:002018-04-19T09:48:47.481-07:00The Remarkable Benefits of Astragalus Root<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8DbrIpZ4LQ-zQou6pxTwTXw96743JFxqjIsJUTpCJmxAKRdqqlGGSLUBgk95CMmjvceucuIsm4XZ0IlPRaK4TCEAwXNs3Q3mtpVr0r3t36YMfhx-BS2_R5F8LiZqEeUcPZIO72vQiTPJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-19+at+11.33.24+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="960" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8DbrIpZ4LQ-zQou6pxTwTXw96743JFxqjIsJUTpCJmxAKRdqqlGGSLUBgk95CMmjvceucuIsm4XZ0IlPRaK4TCEAwXNs3Q3mtpVr0r3t36YMfhx-BS2_R5F8LiZqEeUcPZIO72vQiTPJ/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-04-19+at+11.33.24+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Astragalus root is a herb that’s tremendously important in traditional Chinese medicine. It is known for its many health benefits, especially its potential to slow the aging process. The herb was hailed as a protector against stresses, both mental and physical. Astragalus provides health benefits to a number of body systems and ailments. Because of the tremendous success of so many research studies and trials, new information about astragalus is coming to light all the time. In general, its greatest strength is preventing and protecting cells against cell death and other harmful elements, such as free radicals and oxidation.</div>
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According to continuing research, astragalus health benefits include:</div>
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<b>Acts as an Anti-Inflammatory</b></div>
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Inflammation is at the root of most diseases. From arthritis to heart disease, it’s often the culprit of the damage. Many studies show that thanks to its saponins and polysaccharides, astragalus can reduce inflammatory response in connection to a number of illnesses and conditions, from helping to heal wounds and lesions to reducing inflammation in diabetic kidney disease.</div>
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<b>Boosts the Immune System</b></div>
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In terms of reputation, boosting the immune system is astragalus’ claim to fame. It’s been used in this capacity for thousands of years. A study out of Beijing displayed its ability to control t-helper cells 1 and 2, essentially regulating the body’s immune responses.</div>
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<b>Contains Antioxidative, Anti-Aging, and </b><b>Longevity</b><b> Capabilities</b></div>
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Astragalus is well-known for its anti-aging effect. New and exciting research is currently being conducted that shows that Astragalus does, indeed, have powerful anti-aging properties, slowing the aging process at a cellular level.</div>
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Oxidation due to free radical damage is the main component in disease and aging, and many elements found in astragalus fight free radical damage and prevent of oxidative stress. </div>
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It has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine for longevity, to invigorate qi (vital energy) and to strengthen the body. It seems to have solid scientific basis too, since a component of Astragalus called cycloastragenol is found to increase telomerase, an enzyme that promotes telomere health. Telomeres are the end portions of DNA; they get shortened every time the cell undergoes division. Hence, telomere length is a more reliable indicator of biological age and longevity than the chronological age of a person.</div>
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<b>Slows or Prevents the Growth of Tumors</b></div>
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Many recent screenings have shown the success of astragalus saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides in decreasing or eliminating tumors. In instances of chemoresistance treating liver cancer, astragalus has shown potential in reversing multidrug resistance and as an addition to conventional chemotherapy, according to a study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.</div>
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<b>Protects the Cardiovascular System</b></div>
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The flavonoids present in astragalus are antioxidants that help prevent plaque buildup in arteries and narrowing of vessel walls by protecting the inner wall of the vessel. In addition, a 2014 study published in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine suggests injection of astragalus, combined with conventional treatment for viral myocarditis (inflammation of the middle layer of the heart wall), makes treatment more successful in heart conditions.</div>
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Other studies have shown its ability to reduce blood pressure and level of triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides put individuals at risk for many forms of heart disease, such as stroke, heart attack and hardening of artery walls.</div>
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During a heart attack, heart muscle damage occurs when there is a lack of blood supply and oxygen. At that time, calcium overload creates secondary damage. Astragalus may prevent additional heart muscle damage by regulating calcium homeostasis in the heart.</div>
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<b>Regulates and Prevents Diabetes and Illnesses Related to Diabetes</b></div>
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Astragalus has been studied progressively as an antidiabetic. Studies show its ability to relieve insulin resistance and treat diabetes naturally. The herb’s collection of saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides all are effective in treating and regulating type 1 and 2 diabetes. They’re able to increase insulin sensitivity, protect pancreatic beta cells (the cells in the pancreas that produce and release insulin) and also act as anti-inflammatories in areas related to diabetes symptoms. </div>
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Kidney disease in diabetics is also a common problem, and astragalus has been used to treat kidney illness for many years. More recent studies in humans and animals have shown astragalus can slow the progress of kidney problems in diabetics and protect the renal system.</div>
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<b>Aids in Wound Healing and Minimizes Scarring</b></div>
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Because of its anti-inflammatory qualities, astragalus has a long history of treating wounds. Radix astragali, another name for the dried root of astragalus, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the repair and regeneration of injured organs and tissues.</div>
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In a 2012 study by the Institute of Pharmaceutics at Zhejiang University, wounds treated with astragaloside IV (the active ingredient in dried astragalus root) showed recovery rates increase two- to threefold over 48–96 hours. It was concluded that astragalus is a promising natural product for anti-scarring and healing in wounds.</div>
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<b>Alleviates Symptoms of Chemotherapy</b></div>
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Astragalus has been shown to help patients receiving chemotherapy to recover more quickly and extend their life spans. In cases of severe chemotherapy symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and bone marrow suppression, astragalus has been given intravenously and in combination with other Chinese herbal mixtures. Early research suggests its ability to reduce these symptoms and increase the efficacy of the chemotherapy treatments.</div>
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<b>Treats Colds and Flu</b></div>
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Because of astragalus’ antiviral capabilities, it has long been used to treat common colds and the flu. It’s commonly combined with other herbs like ginseng, angelica and licorice. As with many other natural cold remedies, it seems to work better when used when healthy individuals use the supplement regularly in order to prevent the illness before it happens. A regimen of astragalus before the colder months of winter may help to prevent or decrease the number of colds and upper respiratory illnesses individuals will have throughout the season.</div>
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<b>Provides Supplemental Therapy for Chronic Asthma</b></div>
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Astragalus has been used to treat chronic asthma and determined to be a successful supplemental therapy and asthma natural remedy. After being treated, hypersensitivity in airways decreased substantially and mucus production and inflammation were reduced in studies. By preventing or reducing asthma attacks, individuals could be relieved of chronic asthma issues.</div>
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<b>Sexual Health</b></div>
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Traditionally prescribed in Chinese Medicine for male infertility, Astragalus has now been scientifically proven to increase sperm motility in a study conducted by the Institutes of Traditional Medicine and Clinical Medicine. It is extremely supportive of male hormones, by balancing glucose levels it can optimise testosterone and growth hormone levels. </div>
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<b>There is also evidence to suggest astragalus can successfully:</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">prevent collagen degradation </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">help heal lung tissue affected by bronchopulmonary dysplasia in newborns</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">inhibit herpes simplex virus 1 </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">prevent the replication of viruses like Coxsackie B-3, a virus that triggers illnesses ranging from mild stomach issues to major heart complications</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">treat inflammation in allergic dermatitis (an allergic reaction of the skin) </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">help treat hepatitis by inhibiting hepatitis B virus cells in the liver</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">treat HIV by protecting t-helper cells fight the virus for much longer</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">be used as a mild diuretic </li>
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<b>Typical Use</b></div>
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Astragalus Tincture: 3 - 5 ml, three times a day. Powdered Astragalus root: 1/2g - 1g, three or four times per day.</div>
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<b>Precautions</b></div>
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Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use Astragalus.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/10/he-shou-wu-fo-ti-herb-of-intuition-and.html" target="_blank">He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti): The Herb of Intuition and Longevity</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/08/schizandra-quintessence-of-tonic-herbs.html" target="_blank">Schizandra, The Quintessence of Tonic Herbs</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-amazing-benefits-of-ashwagandha.html" target="_blank">The amazing benefits of Ashwagandha</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-55574271493779193882018-04-11T09:38:00.003-07:002018-04-11T09:38:58.942-07:00People who fret over minor things for more than a day have a much higher risk of chronic disease<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4caYOnzhyphenhyphenGcGHQLRlbqSvh1INInataoUyhdSGszuP2Bkq_Pt_1z-2MCWJKiewKzdj9kBj9jf5SmolnPz1hJDGENv9mwfV-JYI2Alk_PAH3j2VPBIL_qoV8PWiRPprKEMAPNP_l5CpcCl/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-11+at+11.35.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="745" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4caYOnzhyphenhyphenGcGHQLRlbqSvh1INInataoUyhdSGszuP2Bkq_Pt_1z-2MCWJKiewKzdj9kBj9jf5SmolnPz1hJDGENv9mwfV-JYI2Alk_PAH3j2VPBIL_qoV8PWiRPprKEMAPNP_l5CpcCl/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-04-11+at+11.35.48+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>It's time to let go of the minor upsets. </b><b>People who get easily agitated by a family argument or flat tire have a much higher risk of developing chronic diseases years later, new research has found.</b></div>
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A study of more than 1,000 people found those who dwelled for more than 24 hours on mundane stressors had much weaker immune systems and more heart problems 10 years down the line. By contrast, those who could 'let it go' did not experience significant health changes over the decade-long study. </div>
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The findings, published today in the journal Psychological Science, provide some of the clearest evidence to date that negative emotions can impact physical health. More importantly, the researchers at the University of California, Irvine said, the study hammers home that everyday upsets can be just as damaging to our minds and bodies as major traumatic events like divorce or death.</div>
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'Our research shows negative emotions that linger after even minor, daily stressors have important implications for our long term physical health,' said Kate Leger, a graduate teaching assistant at UC Irvine.</div>
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'When most people think of the types of stressors that impact health, they think of the big things, major life events that severely impact their lives, such as the death of a loved one or getting divorced.</div>
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'But accumulating findings suggest it is not just the big events, but minor, everyday stressors that can impact our health as well.' </div>
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Leger and her team analyzed 1,155 people in the Midlife in the United States Survey, a nationally representative study of adults. In the survey, the participants answered questions about the daily stressors they had experienced across eight consecutive days - and the effect they had on them. Each day they reported how much of the time over the previous 24 hours they had felt a variety of emotions, such as being lonely, afraid, irritable and angry. </div>
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The subsequent part of the study took place a decade later, when they completed surveys that assessed their chronic illnesses and functional limitations.</div>
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All together, Leger found a simple flat tire, bad grade or argument has an effect on an individual's health when the bad feeling it generates spills over into the following day. </div>
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Critically, this revealed a link between lingering bad feelings in response to a stressor and a greater number of health problems. These included chronic illnesses, functional impairments and difficulties with everyday tasks. The associations remained regardless of individuals' gender, education and health at the outset. And they held even after the researchers took their same day emotional responses and average number of stressors into account. </div>
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Leger said: 'This means health outcomes don't just reflect how people react to daily stressors, or the number of stressors they are exposed to.</div>
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'There is something unique about how negative they feel the next day that has important consequences for physical health.'</div>
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The researchers suggest the phenomenon could play out through activation of stress-related systems or through health behaviors - two potential mechanisms that offer avenues for future research. </div>
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Leger added: 'Stress is common in our everyday lives. It happens at work, it happens at school, it happens at home and in our relationships.</div>
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'Our research shows the strategy to 'just let it go' could be beneficial to our long term physical health.' </div>
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[<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5599811/People-fret-minor-things-day-higher-risk-chronic-disease.html" target="_blank">dailymail</a>]</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/impatience-speeds-up-ageing-in-dna.html" target="_blank">Impatience speeds up aging in DNA: People with quick tempers ages faster</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/want-to-live-longer-think-positively.html" target="_blank">Want to live longer? Think positively!</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/12/positive-thinking-can-fend-off-cancer.html" target="_blank">Positive thinking: Just believing you are healthy cuts your risk of early death by 71% </a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-43084890778548862552018-03-22T08:02:00.000-07:002018-03-22T08:02:58.770-07:00Watching birds near your home is good for your mental health<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3TkVELUcL4bozyQCO19g4cCy5JBxM_F6qr3Ekw1ovjTemNn-TAYqE2iLHe3TYryJSoTmBnTZF9s8bM7H0kGYUi2byzWGE3tFQ__G3IYPQnStOeHHs1RFdkTeqh1XzGo1MX6GPuJuKOIt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-03-22+at+9.57.24+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="666" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3TkVELUcL4bozyQCO19g4cCy5JBxM_F6qr3Ekw1ovjTemNn-TAYqE2iLHe3TYryJSoTmBnTZF9s8bM7H0kGYUi2byzWGE3tFQ__G3IYPQnStOeHHs1RFdkTeqh1XzGo1MX6GPuJuKOIt/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-03-22+at+9.57.24+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>According to this study, people living in neighborhoods with more birds, shrubs, and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress.</b></div>
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The study conducted at the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Exeter</a>, involving hundreds of people, found benefits for mental health of being able to see birds, shrubs and trees around the home, whether people lived in urban or more leafy suburban neighborhoods.</div>
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The study, which surveyed mental health in over 270 people from different ages, incomes and ethnicities, also found that those who spent less time out of doors than usual in the previous week were more likely to report they were anxious or depressed.</div>
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After conducting extensive surveys of the number of birds in the morning and afternoon in Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Luton, the study found that lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress were associated with the number of birds people could see in the afternoon. The academics studied afternoon bird numbers – which tend to be lower than birds generally seen in the morning – because are more in keeping with the number of birds that people are likely to see in their neighborhood on a daily basis.</div>
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In the study, common types of birds including blackbirds, robins, blue tits and crows were seen. But the study did not find a relationship between the species of birds and mental health, but rather the number of birds they could see from their windows, in the garden or in their neighborhood.</div>
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Previous studies have found that the ability of most people to identify different species is low, suggesting that for most people it is interacting with birds, not just specific birds, that provides well-being.</div>
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University of Exeter research fellow Dr. Daniel Cox, who led the study, said: “This study starts to unpick the role that some key components of nature play for our mental well-being.</div>
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“Birds around the home, and nature in general, show great promise in preventative health care, making cities healthier, happier places to live.”</div>
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The positive association between birds, shrubs and trees and better mental health applied, even after controlling for variation in neighborhood deprivation, household income, age and a wide range of other socio-demographic factors.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/having-access-to-green-places-helps.html" target="_blank">Having access to green places 'helps people live longer'</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-13341375433958167292018-02-15T11:24:00.000-08:002018-02-15T11:24:34.517-08:00The Silent Treatment Is Emotional Abuse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx-YPulvXA9f_ucSeWv2_1z8uXTB9BgIUxNyWcppieYM_ekLEMRuQsK_waSTWnjLuQ55F5ZW64FlImWt0Yn5cxZA7pJj2zVCWkgTyXGyujS36E61csVu5tTaoMk_k_WAk4_DxGgccpT8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-13+at+5.26.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="691" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx-YPulvXA9f_ucSeWv2_1z8uXTB9BgIUxNyWcppieYM_ekLEMRuQsK_waSTWnjLuQ55F5ZW64FlImWt0Yn5cxZA7pJj2zVCWkgTyXGyujS36E61csVu5tTaoMk_k_WAk4_DxGgccpT8/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-02-13+at+5.26.57+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"Emotional abuse is any type of abuse that is not physical in nature. It can include anything from verbal abuse to the silent treatment, domination to subtle manipulation"</i>— Beverly Engel</div>
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<b>Origin of term</b></div>
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The term originated from "treatment" through silence, which was fashionable in prisons in the 19th century. In use since the prison reforms of 1835, the silent treatment was used in prisons as an alternative to physical punishment, as it was believed that forbidding prisoners from speaking, calling them by a number rather than their name, and making them cover their faces so they couldn’t see each other would encourage reflection on their crimes.</div>
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<b>In personal relationships</b></div>
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Silent treatment is refusal to communicate verbally with someone who desires the communication. We see it in all types of relationship: couples, friends, parents and children, relatives, etc. Use of the silent treatment implies a prior conflict. Sometimes, however, the victim of this type of behavior is not aware of the conflict, precisely because the other party has not expressed it openly.</div>
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The silent treatment is a form of attention, power, and control over another person and is a passive-aggressive approach in communication. Someone might use the silent treatment as a way to avoid conflict or deflect responsibility. At times, people use the silent treatment as a way to punish another person. Ultimately, the person lacks the ability to communicate their feelings appropriately.</div>
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For example, a person may want to shift blame onto you instead of owning their faults. Or, they want to magnify your faults instead of recognizing their own. Whatever it is, the silent treatment makes you feel guilty or at fault instead of them.</div>
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Abusers punish their victims by refusing to speak to them or even acknowledge their presence. Through silence, the abusers loudly communicate their displeasure, anger and frustration. The consequences of this behavior on the person isolated by silence are feelings of incompetence and worthlessness.</div>
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The silent treatment is sometimes used as a control mechanism. Sometimes the goal of the silent treatment is simply to communicate displeasure and once the message has been received and understood the silent treatment ends.</div>
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What is really going on though is the more they ignore you, the more you want to fix it. And that is what they get such satisfaction out of, which is watching you squirm and "Jump through hoops" to try to get them to pay attention to you and to communicate with you. It is a real EGO BOOST for them and they actually get a rush from the entire experience. It also puts them in control and gives them tons of attention, from you.</div>
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The silent treatment is nothing more than the adult version of a childhood temper tantrum. It’s juvenile and to be blunt, incredibly narcissistic. In most cases, the person who has “gone silent” will internalize their emotions and regresses to an earlier point in life. In many ways, this is a learned behavior that was likely picked up during early childhood.</div>
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These types of behavior are quite harmful. Not only do they demonstrate immaturity, meanness, and a lack of emotional intelligence, but they can have serious consequences for the other person. Engaging in this behavior is an attempt to control and harass and it doesn’t represent anything positive for a relationship.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtVqikfUXSkY_PkPYG_-yJxF6y_UBswmAUA3PY0MsQXBvB5OfGo38BWkbCMPgMe1oHF6wyapsBUng7_hY0Ziop8zYH1xBOB71EmLmrC6cTDFtwylrwyIt83jI5Quzd7fCq0vzfcFb5VZx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-13+at+3.47.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="873" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtVqikfUXSkY_PkPYG_-yJxF6y_UBswmAUA3PY0MsQXBvB5OfGo38BWkbCMPgMe1oHF6wyapsBUng7_hY0Ziop8zYH1xBOB71EmLmrC6cTDFtwylrwyIt83jI5Quzd7fCq0vzfcFb5VZx/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-02-13+at+3.47.50+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The silent treatment can cause stress and emotional trauma</b></div>
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The effects of emotional abuse are frequently underestimated. Just because you cannot see the damage being done, does not mean that it does not exist. </div>
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A person who is the target of the silent treatment can feel very intense negative emotions. Ignoring a person means that they are worth nothing, that they don’t matter. Things become even more unhealthy when all this is happening in a cruel and cold silence, which the victim doesn’t know how to interpret.</div>
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People who are ignored eventually become overwhelmed by feelings of sadness that can sometimes lead to depression. They also feel anger, fear, and guilt. Ignoring someone is a way of accusing or pointing the finger at them in an indirect way. This is exactly what makes this strategy an unhealthy way to deal with conflict.</div>
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Victims of this type of behavior tend to feel extremely distressed. They can’t understand what they are doing wrong or why exactly the other person is treating them in this way. It’s as if they are losing control and this causes a lot of stress. This is why this it is considered a form of abuse. There is no shouting or hitting, but there is plenty of violence.</div>
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<b>The silent treatment can damage</b><b> your health</b></div>
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Victims of psychological abuse are more likely to suffer from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), than victims of physical abuse. This is because the pain of social-exclusion, such as being ignored and ostracised, can be relived far more easily than the pain suffered by a physical injury.</div>
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Psychologically abused women, in particular, are likely to encounter poor mental health, with 70% experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Furthermore, sufferers of emotional abuse are more likely to go on and form other unhealthy relationships. They also have greater difficulty trusting a new partner.</div>
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<b>The silent treatment has physical effects as well</b></div>
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Studies have been done that show that feeling excluded or ignored can cause changes in the brain. A zone of the human brain called the “anterior cingulate cortex” is responsible for detecting different levels of pain. Scientists have proven that this zone is activated when something receives the silent treatment.</div>
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Activation in this zone means that physical symptoms also start to appear. Some very common symptoms are headaches and digestive problems. Fatigue and insomnia are also frequent complaints. If the situation is severe and prolonged, serious problems can arise, such as an increase in blood pressure, diabetes, or even illnesses like cancer.</div>
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The autoimmune system is also affected, primarily because of the high levels of stress that the situation causes. The consequences are even more serious if the person giving the silent treatment is an authority figure such as a teacher, parent, or boss.</div>
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<b>Difference between a cooling-off period and the silent treatment</b></div>
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Following a disagreement or awkward episode, silence can be a good thing. Silence can be healthy when tempers are high and a pause is needed before something exacerbates the situation. </div>
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A cooling-off period works best if both parties can agree to a time when they will come together to resolve the issue. However, do note that the silent treatment differs from a cooling-off period in that its duration is extended and unknown.</div>
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And if silence is used as a method of control or punishment, it becomes abuse.</div>
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<b>How to handle silent treatment</b></div>
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Sometimes the silent treatment is used by two people who love each other, such as romantic partners, good friends, siblings, etc. Sometimes people think that if they use the silent treatment, the other person will change their behavior or do what the other person wants them to do. They think of it almost as an educational tool. They are, however, very wrong. Ignoring another person as a form of punishment only destroys relationships.</div>
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If someone is purposefully trying to hurt you through the silent treatment and acting out of malice, don’t keep begging them to talk to you. Just don’t contact them. Don’t return the silent treatment in this situation either, but don’t let the situation get to you.</div>
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You can’t change the other person, no matter how hard you try to make things better. People who have long histories of this behavior aren't likely to be "fixed" for your friendship or relationship. If the relationship is abusive and harmful for you, consider walking away. Your well-being is more important than spending time around someone who has no qualms about emotionally abusing you. Know that you are worthy of a healthy relationship with someone who can communicate in a mature, emotionally healthy manner. </div>
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The silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse that no one deserves nor should tolerate. If an individual experiences this absence of communication, it is a sure sign that he or she needs to move on and heal.</div>
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No one should try to resolve a conflict using the silent treatment. When there is a problem between two people, the only healthy thing is to engage in dialogue to find solutions. Silence and distance only generate more problems and, in the end, solve absolutely nothing.</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-22544193591826597842017-12-25T11:03:00.000-08:002017-12-25T11:03:02.033-08:00Blue Zones Secrets: How to Live 100+ Years<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIrPH-t7BHX5XzyFDpfngbZSNdxR8fJFlUQF3oAHYHgx8j3OD_b7eqfD1U_4ovJOwJc3LJfCtsLORosJPktnLB2L9-OvNQmwUqgFIMA_JbWxe22E8Dxr3eoQ3QJCfgdrihU5QJupgUDxb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-25+at+12.21.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="836" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIrPH-t7BHX5XzyFDpfngbZSNdxR8fJFlUQF3oAHYHgx8j3OD_b7eqfD1U_4ovJOwJc3LJfCtsLORosJPktnLB2L9-OvNQmwUqgFIMA_JbWxe22E8Dxr3eoQ3QJCfgdrihU5QJupgUDxb/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-25+at+12.21.27+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Experts have long worked on creating a magic pill that can make you live longer. But the answer to living until you're 100 could be much simpler than a new drug.</b></div>
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“Blue zones” are areas of the world where people live considerably longer lives. On these territories we can find octogenarians, nonagenarians and many centenarians, and even some supercentenarians (people who have reached the age of 110).</div>
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These regions were named “blue zones” after the Belgian demographer Michel Poulain and the Italian doctor Gianni Pes discovered a population with such features in the region of Barbaglia (Sardinia, Italy), and they marked out the area with blue ink.</div>
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In the region of Barbaglia, located in the Sardinian mountain area, there is the world's largest concentration of centenarians. Okinawa Island is inhabited by the oldest women on Earth. Icaria – an island which is located in the Aegean Sea – has the long-lived population with the lowest senile dementia levels. Loma Linda is home to a community of Seventh-day Adventists whose life expectancy is 10 years over the average lifespan in the United States. And in Nicoya we can find the second-largest community of centenarians in the world.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULHHXQE8JkC-1u1Mza9NnLGnwsXcvkL26XAtfLES3ZEc_9p5ttnU4jkoeOkxanqPRBjUEfZs3uYJb4RWaTyismH-L15bHEj-Lenj4RGe6oXB2kkOLn9-Xgtel8Le9bdf03hgqviy10Gq8/s1600/Blue-zones-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="1000" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULHHXQE8JkC-1u1Mza9NnLGnwsXcvkL26XAtfLES3ZEc_9p5ttnU4jkoeOkxanqPRBjUEfZs3uYJb4RWaTyismH-L15bHEj-Lenj4RGe6oXB2kkOLn9-Xgtel8Le9bdf03hgqviy10Gq8/s640/Blue-zones-map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What is the secret behind this great longevity; the mystery of the blue zones, where so many centenarians live?</div>
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A team composed of several specialists (doctors, anthropologists, demographers, nutritionists, epidemiologists) travelled many times to the different blue zones. They identified the following nine general longevity factors, which are related to diet and lifestyle:</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1.</b></span> Intense and regular physical activity in the performance of daily duties. The concept of a sedentary lifestyle is unknown to the people living in these regions</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>2.</b></span> Having an “ikigai” – a Japanese word (Okinawa) which is used to define our own “reasons for being” or, more precisely, the reasons why we wake up every morning</div>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">3.</span> </b>Reduction of stress, a factor which is closely linked to almost all ageing-related diseases. Stress reduction means interrupting the normal pace of our daily lives in order to allow time for other activities which are part of normal social habits. For example, taking a nap in Mediterranean societies, praying in the case of Adventists, the tea ceremony of women in Okinawa, and so on.</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>4.</b></span> “Hara hachi bu” – a Confucian teaching that means we should not continue to eat until we are full, but only until 80% of our eating capacity</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>5.</b></span> Prioritizing a diet that is rich in plant-based products. Meat, fish and dairy products may be consumed, but in lower amounts</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>6.</b></span> A moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages, which confirms the belief that moderate drinkers live longer lives than nondrinkers</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>7.</b></span> Engaging in social groups that promote healthy habits</div>
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8. </span></b>Engaging in religious communities with common religious practices</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>9.</b> </span>Building and maintaining solid relationships between family members: parents, siblings, grandparents and others.</div>
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To sum up, the above nine longevity factors could be synthesised in just two.</div>
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Firstly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle – which implies regular intensity exercise, including routines to “break” from daily stress, and including mainly plant-based products in our diets, eating without filling up and not drinking excessively.</div>
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Secondly, integrating in groups that promote and support those “good practices”: family, religious communities, social groups, and so on – all of which must have their own “ikigai”, that is, their own “reason to live”. There is a personal “ikigai”, but there is also a collective “ikigai” that sets the goals for each community as well as the challenges to overcome in order to achieve them.</div>
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Living this way means living better and longer. Longevity may be determined by genetics, but it is also something that can be trained, as can be seen in the example of the inhabitants of the blue zones.</div>
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<b>Foods that are especially prominent in the diets of the blue zones include:</b></div>
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<li>Vegetables</li>
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<li>Nuts and seeds</li>
<li>Beans and legumes</li>
<li>Quality fats like olive oil</li>
<li>High-quality dairy products, like grass-fed goat milk and homemade cheeses</li>
<li>Fermented products like yogurt, kefir, tempeh, miso and natto</li>
<li>Whole grains, such as durham wheat or locally grown (organic) corn</li>
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Eating plenty of high antioxidant foods just like people in the blue zones do — such as making them about half of your plate or more at any meal — contributes disease-fighting nutrients and naturally controls your body’s hunger signals so you know when you’re full. These types of foods lower inflammation, which is crucial because we know inflammation is at the root of most diseases.</div>
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Plant foods deliver loads of fiber, antioxidants, potential natural anti-cancer agents (insoluble fiber), cholesterol reducers and blood-clot blockers, plus essential minerals. This is likely one reason why people in the blue zone eating a healing diet suffer much less from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, dementia and cancer than people living in the U.S.</div>
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The centenarians in the blue zones didn’t necessarily avoid meat or animal products altogether (although the Seventh-day Adventists did for religious regions); most just didn’t have access to meat very often. Meat is typically eaten only a few times a month in most of the blue zones, while sheep or goat milk, eggs, and fish are eaten more often, usually a couple of times per week. Centenarians in the blue zones usually eat animal-based meals on occasion, such as for holidays, festivals or when they have access to meat from their neighborhood farmers.</div>
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When they do have animal products, they obtain more nutrients since their food is always raised locally, grass-fed, pasture-raised, wild-caught and free from harmful substances commonly used in the U.S meat and dairy supply, like antibiotics and growth hormones.</div>
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<b>Avoid processed, packaged foods</b></div>
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When researching diets of the blue zones, something that really stands out is how low in sugar, pesticides and artificial ingredients their diets are compared to the standard American diet (sometimes called SAD). Blue zone diets only use small amounts of natural sweeteners on occasion, while refined carbohydrates and artificial flavors are unheard of for the most part. Considering the high rate of diabetes in the U.S., many people can afford to adopt similar principles that can serve as a natural diabetes cure.</div>
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It’s not that those living in the blue zones never let themselves enjoy a “treat,” they just opt to have antioxidant-rich “guilty pleasures” like locally made red wine (1–2 glasses per day) or sake, small amounts of coffee or herbal tea, or simple desserts like locally made cheese and fruit. Soda, sports drinks, candy bars and packaged baked goods don’t play a part in their diet at all.</div>
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A nutritional assessment of diets in the blue zones showed a high adherence to whole foods and a nutritional profile similar to the Mediterranean diet, with foods low on the glycemic index, almost always free from added sugar and high in healthy fats and plants.</div>
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<b>Exercise Often but Make It Enjoyable</b></div>
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Centenarians in the blue zones lead active lives, yet they never set foot in a gym and don’t dread exercise. Being active is just a part of their day and way of life: They walk almost everywhere (usually up to five to six miles every day), they do chores using their hands instead of machines and their errands are run on foot. They tend to be active by practicing types of exercise they enjoy, such as yoga, tai chi, or playing sports and games with friends.</div>
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Many of them also have jobs that are physically demanding, such as farming — which is a big contrast to sitting behind a desk all day. And almost all of them love to garden, which gives them some exercise; time spent de-stressing in nature; and also provides fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit. Staying active consistently in a healthy way adds to longevity by reducing inflammation, improving heart health, improving resilience to stress, and maintaining bone and muscular health.</div>
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Living a longer, healthier, more enjoyable life doesn’t come from a single practice alone, such as a good diet or even good genes, but from a combination of habits.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/09/10-longevity-secrets-from-greek-island.html" target="_blank">10 Longevity Secrets from the Greek Island of Ikaria</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/japanese-diet-linked-to-longer-life.html" target="_blank">'Japanese diet' linked to longer life</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/05/another-powerful-reason-to-eat-like.html" target="_blank">A powerful reason to eat like the Greeks</a></li>
</ul>
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</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-64596353964692678842017-12-23T08:42:00.000-08:002017-12-23T08:42:34.417-08:00Frequent flyers age faster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGt-dzwDMlvzR3LZdN4oAyeaFGaEOthizXqRw8y9NWpyFV1_LNBhxyvJgmleANEPTdaQgevZ90CAeXI505AY-bMKogQExqx0Vypp3PPqK0LbwZsAVXCq3n0DvS99Ut7DwS2Tn1TCOgMaW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+11.59.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1255" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGt-dzwDMlvzR3LZdN4oAyeaFGaEOthizXqRw8y9NWpyFV1_LNBhxyvJgmleANEPTdaQgevZ90CAeXI505AY-bMKogQExqx0Vypp3PPqK0LbwZsAVXCq3n0DvS99Ut7DwS2Tn1TCOgMaW/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+11.59.45+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>If you fly a lot, I have some bad news for you. Every time you go up to those really high altitudes, it exposes you to ionizing radiation. That's the type of radiation that leads to DNA damage and aging. </b></div>
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You might guess that a frequent flyer’s radiation dose is coming from the airport security checkpoints, with their whole-body scanners and baggage x-ray machines, but you’d be wrong. The radiation doses to passengers from these security procedures are trivial.</div>
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The major source of radiation exposure from air travel comes from the flight itself. </div>
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Earth’s atmosphere protects us from solar, stellar, and magnetic radiation from the cosmos and is less dense the further we get from the surface. The logic goes that the higher up we are, the more radiation we are exposed to, damaging our cells and ultimately aging our bodies.</div>
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Frequent travelers are exposed to more radiation than is considered healthy. Radiation exposure is hundreds of times higher at high altitude than at ground.</div>
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According to Scott Cohen, deputy director of research of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey:</div>
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<i>“there have been calls to classify frequent business travelers as ‘radiation workers,’”</i> he says, and notes that just seven round-trip flights a year from New York to Tokyo (about 85,000 miles) exceeds the limit for public exposure to radiation. As Cohen notes in his paper, <i>“radiation exposure amongst commercial aircrew even exceeds that of nuclear power workers"</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8jRqIUeRl7-gvy0TzM-jUP2pAL3_Ay6SpPUI21GyTuOWrU1lVqjddDkQ4874ILUaM0ygqrKHwIKOdy7DoF8AfjKMAY0BftApIwhMJqCTdEcTZ_hRAIRUud3yY4XU_GIu1tiQmibelHdh/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+12.10.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="794" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8jRqIUeRl7-gvy0TzM-jUP2pAL3_Ay6SpPUI21GyTuOWrU1lVqjddDkQ4874ILUaM0ygqrKHwIKOdy7DoF8AfjKMAY0BftApIwhMJqCTdEcTZ_hRAIRUud3yY4XU_GIu1tiQmibelHdh/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-22+at+12.10.19+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>A Pilot's risk of Cancer</b></div>
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Airline pilots are at risk of deadly skin cancer because they are exposed to cockpit radiation similar to levels from tanning beds.</div>
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Pilots flying for an hour at 30,000ft get the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes on a tanning bed. And researchers believe the levels could be higher when pilots are flying over thick clouds and snow fields, which can reflect UV radiation</div>
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A team from the University of California measured the amount of UV radiation in airplane cockpits during flights.</div>
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The cockpit radiation was measured in the pilot seat of a general aviation turboprop airplane through the acrylic plastic windshield at ground level and at various heights above sea level.</div>
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Sun exposures were measured in San Jose, California, and in Las Vegas around midday in April.</div>
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They then compared them with measurements taken in tanning beds.</div>
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While short-wave UV-B ultraviolet radiation cannot easily penetrate glass and plastic windows, long-wave UV-A is much more likely to get through.</div>
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Both kinds of UV can cause skin aging and cancer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-cEq8LNtdpmUOhd3JoH71lK_h9JU7gA-0g06EoUJ7qneI_Zemx-pdlM0Mp7bhZOyvCHQDxWkJrT1ODlIzi4cNNZZVEsajhv2je52n0LDQxDH6Pvhst1VW44tsRv-gaYwAxcch0K78Zrr/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-08-30+at+11.16.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="694" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-cEq8LNtdpmUOhd3JoH71lK_h9JU7gA-0g06EoUJ7qneI_Zemx-pdlM0Mp7bhZOyvCHQDxWkJrT1ODlIzi4cNNZZVEsajhv2je52n0LDQxDH6Pvhst1VW44tsRv-gaYwAxcch0K78Zrr/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-08-30+at+11.16.30+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>However, there is some good news.</b></div>
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A study says there's an easy way to protect yourself.</div>
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In this study, researchers followed 82 male pilots. They studied the pilots for chromosomal translocations. That's a biomarker for cumulative DNA damage. The researchers found that the pilots consuming the highest levels of fruit and veggies didn't suffer as much damage.</div>
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They looked specifically at high vitamin C and E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lutein-zeaxanthin from food sources, such as citrus fruit and green leafy veggies. The pilots eating a high (but not the highest) quantity of these food had about 40% less damage to their DNA. Those consuming the highest level of these foods had way less damage — 73% less.</div>
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<b>Other negative effects</b></div>
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Academics have warned there is “a darker side of hypermobility”, which means frequent flyers are at risk from serious physiological, psychological, emotional and social damage.</div>
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The most obvious consequence is jetlag, which affects sleep times and gastro-intestinal patterns. The condition is caused as the brain struggles to adjust to a new time zone, and affects mood, judgement and the ability to concentrate.</div>
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Many report feeling the effects even six days after flying, although the researchers say it can take up to 11 days for the body to return to its usual rhythm following a transmeridian flight.</div>
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Frequent flying can lead to chronic jet lag, which can cause memory impairment and has been linked in studies to disrupting gene expression that influences aging and the immune system, and increased risk of heart attack or stroke.</div>
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As with occasional flyers, frequent travellers are at risk of developing deep-vein thrombosis and subtle discomforts such as dry eyes and dehydrated skin.</div>
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Pilots, flight attendants, and others who work for extend periods in the air may be adversely affected by increased oxidation.</div>
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Flying at high altitudes results in less cabin oxygen and pressure which does increase oxidative stress in the human body, the Journal of Nature found. </div>
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The effects were measured on athletes training at moderate altitudes of 3,000 feet for 2 weeks. Although there was a measurable increase in free radicals, the test subjects who were given antioxidants were less effected.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/regular-exposure-to-phone-radiation.html" target="_blank">Regular exposure to phone radiation 'speeds up aging'</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/12/california-makes-official-warning-about.html" target="_blank">California makes official warning about the radiation dangers of cell phone use</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/11/how-tomatoes-beat-wrinkles-fruit-is.html" target="_blank">How tomatoes beat wrinkles: Fruit is high in antioxidant that can project against harmful UV radiation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/01/lack-of-sleep-will-make-you-sick.html" target="_blank">Lack of sleep WILL make you sick</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-single-poor-nights-sleep-can-age-you.html" target="_blank">A single poor night’s sleep can age you</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/10/is-artificial-lighting-making-us-sick.html" target="_blank">Is artificial lighting making us sick?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-little-known-dangers-of-emfs-and.html" target="_blank">The little-known dangers of EMFs and how to protect yourself</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-59146001248681817872017-12-20T16:30:00.000-08:002017-12-20T16:30:06.110-08:00Eating salad every day may keep your brain a decade younger <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6r9wYiC9NSSwI5t1RS23QzxfoUXSEzL_-hyWyMFq0uhEs0Oybivls98jrSzh3clAslHdI0YvAVQNOh_M-8W_Lr-bcbuxEqTsOtbwZjv33Zaojvwl9NwRcXvaV8XXYaxW5ZjCJrJODhCe/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-20+at+6.16.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1018" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6r9wYiC9NSSwI5t1RS23QzxfoUXSEzL_-hyWyMFq0uhEs0Oybivls98jrSzh3clAslHdI0YvAVQNOh_M-8W_Lr-bcbuxEqTsOtbwZjv33Zaojvwl9NwRcXvaV8XXYaxW5ZjCJrJODhCe/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-20+at+6.16.42+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Eating greens or salad every day boosts our memory, according to new research.</b></div>
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The findings suggest that eating about one serving per day of green, leafy vegetables may be linked to a slower rate of brain aging - the equivalent of keeping our brain 11 years younger.</div>
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The Rush University study found that people who ate at least one serving of green, leafy vegetables a day had a slower rate of decline on tests of memory and thinking skills than people who never or rarely ate such vegetables.</div>
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Salad eaters' brains functioned as though they were more than a decade younger than those of people who did not eat their greens, according to the research team. </div>
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Study author Professor Martha Clare Morris, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said: 'Adding a daily serving of green, leafy vegetables to your diet may be a simple way to foster your brain health.</div>
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'Projections show sharp increases in the percentage of people with dementia as the oldest age groups continue to grow in number, so effective strategies to prevent dementia are critical,' she said. </div>
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The study, published online by the journal Neurology, involved 960 people with an average age of 81 who did not have dementia and were followed for an average of 4.7 years.</div>
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The participants completed a questionnaire about how often they ate certain foods and had their thinking and memory skills tested yearly during that time.</div>
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The survey asked how often and how many servings they ate of three green, leafy vegetables: spinach, with a serving being a half cup of cooked spinach; kale, collards or greens, half cup cooked; and lettuce salad, with a serving of one cup raw.</div>
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The participants were divided into five equal groups based on how often they ate green, leafy vegetables.</div>
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The people in the top serving group ate an average of about 1.3 servings of greens per day. Those in the lowest serving group ate on average 0.1 servings per day.</div>
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Overall, the participants' scores on the thinking and memory tests declined over time at a rate of 0.08 standardized units per year.</div>
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Over 10 years of follow-up, the rate of decline for those who ate the most leafy greens was slower by 0.05 standardized units per year than the rate for those who ate the least leafy greens.</div>
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That is the difference of about 11 years worth of change, according to the study authors. </div>
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They said the results remained valid after accounting for other factors that could affect brain health such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, education level and amount of physical and cognitive activities.</div>
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But Professor Morris noted that the study doesn't prove that eating green, leafy vegetables slows brain aging, it only shows an association.</div>
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She also warned that the study cannot rule out other possible reasons for the link.</div>
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Professor Morris added that because the study focused on older adults and the majority of participants were white, the results may not apply to younger adults and people of other races. </div>
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[<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5199613/Eating-salad-day-brain-years-younger.html" target="_blank">dailymail</a>]<br />
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/eating-plenty-of-fruit-and-veg-does.html" target="_blank">Eating plenty of fruit and veg DOES help us live longer - by keeping our immune system young </a></li>
</ul>
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Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-48657469553552160162017-12-16T09:09:00.001-08:002017-12-16T09:09:40.626-08:00California makes official warning about the radiation dangers of cell phone use<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiZJ1E_EBSABQH7RnnF7WHWY78DFYUc2vTa-xpGDU3B6uudGDrNwydoRkaTFxOdy7hBbM9dkMCUhvUfqiiGddePU0Nq8YEgvQo6iksJdv2sRm3oC6mOTSGC5m_8eNA7Dx_xE967EdnSGV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-16+at+11.03.21+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="825" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiZJ1E_EBSABQH7RnnF7WHWY78DFYUc2vTa-xpGDU3B6uudGDrNwydoRkaTFxOdy7hBbM9dkMCUhvUfqiiGddePU0Nq8YEgvQo6iksJdv2sRm3oC6mOTSGC5m_8eNA7Dx_xE967EdnSGV/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-16+at+11.03.21+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The California Department of Health warned that people need to keep their cell phones several feet away from them to reduce radiation exposure and health risks.</b></div>
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California released <a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/EHIB/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Cell-Phone-Guidance.pdf" target="_blank">guidance</a> for reducing exposure to cell phone radiation on Thursday, amid mounting evidence that cell phone use may be linked to cancer, attention, mental health and reproductive health issues. </div>
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Cell phones transmit information using low frequency radio signals, which may expose us to unhealthy radiation, especially when streaming or downloading large files.</div>
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Research has not been able to prove definitively that cell phone radiation is dangerous, but there have been enough studies linking the two to warrant caution, especially for children, according to the health department press release. </div>
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The statewide notice comes after several cities, including Berkeley and San Francisco, issued local warnings that their citizens should make some distance between their phones and their bodies.</div>
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The radiofrequency (RF) energy cell phones use to transmit information are at the bottom of the radiation totem poll, but research suggests that our frequent, close-range exposure to cell phones may be enough to endanger us. </div>
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'Keeping a phone directly on the body has never been a good idea,' says Dr Devra Davis of the Environmental Health Trust. </div>
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In fact, cell phone makers themselves seem to agree. Apple, for example, includes an 'RF exposure' notice in the iPhone's settings. </div>
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The notice explains that the iPhone's RF emissions were tested at 5 mm - about the thickness of a fine point pen - from the body, and fall within the US standards of safety. </div>
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But it also includes advice for reducing exposure - not unlike California's new guidance - by using speakerphone or hands free accessories. </div>
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'Most people are not aware that there is a clear warning to keep the phone off the body embedded in the phone,' says Dr Davis. </div>
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This is particularly worrisome because most parents aren't aware of these warnings are are not managing their children's exposure to phones. </div>
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The California guidance notes that RF may more easily penetrate the brain matter of children than that of adults. The exposure may also be more damaging and have more lasting effects on the developing brain. </div>
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Studies have shown evidence that cell phone exposure may cause tumors in the brain or ears, where the body is frequently in contact with the device. </div>
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Though research on RF's effects on children specifically is fairly scarce, many psychologists have already warned that cell phone use may be linked to poorer attention, mental health and sleep for adolescents. </div>
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Less than a week ago, France banned cell phones from primary and middle schools. Though the ban's goal was primarily related to mental health, it has drawn praise from experts worried about radiation exposure. </div>
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The country has also been at the forefront of research on the physical health effects of cell phone exposure. </div>
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'The French have tested the phones the way they are used' - touching the body - 'and RF exposure exceeds the French standards by four more times, and apply that to the US standards, and it's even much more than that - about seven times [the recommended levels],' says Dr Davis. </div>
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Other research has shown strong links between RF and male sperm counts and sperm quality. </div>
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Studies in multiple countries 'have show that men who keep phone in their pockets the longest have lowest sperm count, with most damage,' says Dr Davis. </div>
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'Many people keep their phones in their pockets for hours a day, esp in the summer with thinner exposures will be far greater,' she adds. </div>
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Contemporary cell phone signals use 'the weakest signals, but strength of the signals is not issue when comes to biological effect.' It's not the power, it’s the irregular nature of signal.' </div>
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The California guidelines address this by explaining that the most dangerous exposures happen when there are surges of RF energy. This happens when, essentially, the technology has to work harder to transmit information.</div>
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The state warns against close contact when phones have two or fewer bars of signal, when you're in a moving car, or if you are trying to receive or send large quantities of data by streaming or downloading media. </div>
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Californians, the release advises, should use headsets, sleep with their phones away from them (not under pillows or on nightstands) and carry them in a bag, instead of in a pocket, bra or belt holster. </div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/regular-exposure-to-phone-radiation.html" target="_blank">Regular exposure to phone radiation 'speeds up aging'</a></li>
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</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-69160874330459052322017-12-05T09:01:00.002-08:002017-12-05T09:01:50.797-08:00Exercise changes gut bacteria in just six weeks, new research reveals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AxP9PrMtQNjrCmvCAkXKAhFlFS8Voze4bTWr7IpnXU0bnuZepSWtFhulH-bCuvRMH2umeZfhk_6kTDi4PVViCJvtHxEb_S3Jc2UPdjWwBU050LeBYufygglCHVVNuZTYVkvFxk7CTavQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-05+at+11.00.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1075" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AxP9PrMtQNjrCmvCAkXKAhFlFS8Voze4bTWr7IpnXU0bnuZepSWtFhulH-bCuvRMH2umeZfhk_6kTDi4PVViCJvtHxEb_S3Jc2UPdjWwBU050LeBYufygglCHVVNuZTYVkvFxk7CTavQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-05+at+11.00.14+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Previously inactive people who exercise for at least 30 minutes a day three times a week experience increased levels of gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a study found.</b></div>
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Butyrate is an anti-inflammatory acid that has been linked to protection against bowel cancer, as well as weight loss and stronger immunity.</div>
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The same findings were previously found in mice, who became less likely to develop the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis if they were active. </div>
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Lead author Professor Jeffrey Woods from the University of Illinois, said: 'These are the first studies to show that exercise can have an effect on your gut independent of diet or other factors.'</div>
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Yet, the catch is exercise's positive impact on gut bacteria is reversed if people revert to being inactive.</div>
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<b>How the research was carried out </b></div>
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The researchers analyzed 18 lean and 11 obese women.</div>
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All of the study's participants were previously sedentary before undergoing six weeks of endurance-based activity for three days a week that progressed from 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day to one hour of vigorous activity.</div>
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The participants then went back to a sedentary lifestyle for six weeks.</div>
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Their diets were consistent throughout the study. </div>
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Fecal samples were collected before and after the participants became active.</div>
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Results reveal exercise changes gut bacteria, which is largely reversed if people revert to being inactive.</div>
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In particular, species that produce an anti-inflammatory acid known as butyrate increase, which has previously been linked to bowel-cancer protection, weight loss and stronger immunity.</div>
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For unclear reasons, the findings are greater in lean people than those who are obese.</div>
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The same findings also previously occurred in mice, who become less likely to develop the inflammatory bowel condition ulcerative colitis if they exercise.</div>
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Professor Woods said: 'These are the first studies to show that exercise can have an effect on your gut independent of diet or other factors.</div>
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'The bottom line is that there are clear differences in how the microbiome of somebody who is obese versus somebody who is lean responds to exercise. We have more work to do to determine why that is.'</div>
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The current study's results were published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. </div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/exercise-is-fountain-of-youth.html" target="_blank">EXERCISE is the fountain of youth</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/05/just-30-minutes-of-jogging-day-could.html" target="_blank">Just 30 minutes of jogging a day could add 9 YEARS to your lifespan</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/12/want-to-improve-your-memory-then-go-for.html" target="_blank">Want to improve your memory? Then go for a morning jog</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-42864298925049629492017-11-07T12:17:00.000-08:002017-11-07T12:17:11.481-08:00Key to a long life? Having good BLOOD circulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X_-XJM93FyPH98Qa47_xbAAj8JnwRHSUO9VcVZmkGUx-1C_Y8r70eMAFMQWUfe2DN6unuJJv5XgPImHVpOdwVf7IksSFmO7_L_9Jn2SXZz7SuXJlIIHnHAJ47ngX4A1i0DR7qxgg9Vrn/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-07+at+1.45.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="699" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X_-XJM93FyPH98Qa47_xbAAj8JnwRHSUO9VcVZmkGUx-1C_Y8r70eMAFMQWUfe2DN6unuJJv5XgPImHVpOdwVf7IksSFmO7_L_9Jn2SXZz7SuXJlIIHnHAJ47ngX4A1i0DR7qxgg9Vrn/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-11-07+at+1.45.26+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Healthy circulation is the key to a longer life, research suggests.</b></div>
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People with good blood flow to their body’s smallest blood vessels live for longer, scientists found, according to express.co.uk.</div>
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The link between longevity and ‘micro-circulation’ was uncovered by research into Italian ‘SuperAgers’ with a median age of 92.</div>
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The body’s microcirculation delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells while removing toxins and waste products.</div>
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It also controls blood pressure and body temperature by dilating or constricting the capillaries that supply the muscles, organs and skin.</div>
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Centenarians showed similar levels of a chemical called Bio-ADM that boosts blood flow in the body’s capillary networks as people 30 years their junior.</div>
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Genetics, exercise and a Mediterranean diet all play a role in living longer, but scientists have been searching for ‘biomarkers’ that indicate longevity.</div>
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Professor Salvatore Di Somma said: “Very low concentrations of this biomarker (Bio-ADM) indicate a microcirculatory system allowing good blood perfusion of organs and muscles.</div>
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“A good microcirculation is what makes marathon runners perform better than the average man or woman at the same heart rate.”</div>
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The La Sapienza University pilot study looked at residents of the Cilento region in the province of Salerno in southern Italy.</div>
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Women in the region live to an average of 92, eight years more than the Italian average, while men live to 85, six years longer than average.</div>
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The first group consisted of 29 ‘SuperAgers’. The second was made up of 52 relatives with a median age of 60 living in the same household.</div>
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These were compared with a group of 194 healthy people with a median age of 64.</div>
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Scientists found that the SuperAgers’ bio-ADM values were as low as those in both younger groups.</div>
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Andreas Bergmann, of the German diagnostic company Sphingotec which carried out blood analyses, said: “We are excited about the connection between bio-ADM levels and a good microcirculation as an indicator for good quality of life.</div>
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“If bio-ADM proves to be a reliable biomarker for longevity this will open up the avenue to a systematic analysis of the factors contributing to longevity.”</div>
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Researchers now plan to explore whether elements of the local Mediterranean diet affect bio-ADM levels.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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</div>
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<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/05/another-powerful-reason-to-eat-like.html" target="_blank">A powerful reason to eat like the Greeks</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-15185341104191366232017-11-02T11:22:00.000-07:002017-11-02T11:22:01.382-07:00Healthy gut bacteria could help protect you from almost EVERY age-related disease<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoBiywaWqrUVH6bw9RlK34bEwPfIZkKX4J6GJQimqAx-NUsbrXnxfsqoMGX0UvqxvIF5lRx0ZwxVgpn8spN3oYf_qt2OibhRG_7E-LOzuVpzUaaID1Wlgl56GrMO_E9YMDfasEmdFY-Ga/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-02+at+1.15.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="992" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoBiywaWqrUVH6bw9RlK34bEwPfIZkKX4J6GJQimqAx-NUsbrXnxfsqoMGX0UvqxvIF5lRx0ZwxVgpn8spN3oYf_qt2OibhRG_7E-LOzuVpzUaaID1Wlgl56GrMO_E9YMDfasEmdFY-Ga/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-11-02+at+1.15.30+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Changing your diet to maintain healthy gut bacteria could help to protect you from nearly all age-related diseases, new research suggests.</b></div>
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Imbalanced gut bacteria may to blame for many age-related diseases, according to the new study from University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.</div>
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The researchers found that the poorly balanced gut bacteria in older mice could induce ‘inflammaging’ in younger mice when it was transplanted to them.</div>
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Inflammaging is a chronic inflammation condition associated with aging, which is linked to most serious age-related health conditions, like stroke, dementia and cardiovascular disease.</div>
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Scientists know that elderly people tend to have different gut bacteria profiles from younger people. This new research suggests that this change in balance is linked to inflammaging, which is in turn related to most late-onset diseases and disorders.</div>
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In recent years, we’ve found out that the gut is at the heart of just about everything, with many calling our second brain.</div>
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Inflammaging is a catch-all term for the tendency of elderly people to have generalized inflammation. It is thought to be related to evolved changes that the immune system undergoes as a person gets older.</div>
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It isn’t clear whether aging causes inflammation or inflammation causes aging, but the two go hand-in-hand, and susceptibility to many diseases goes along with both of them.</div>
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Since they knew that the bacterial microbiome also undergoes changes with age, the researchers, led by Dr Floris Fransen, wanted to test the relationship between the three factors.</div>
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They took samples from older mice – whose gut bacteria composition, like humans’, changes with age – and introduced them to the bodies of younger mice. After the procedure, the younger mice developed chronic inflammation, like the inflammaging that would normally have struck them later in life.</div>
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The scientists also transplanted gut bacteria from one group of younger mice to another group of mice of around the same ages to see if the immune response was just to the introduction of foreign bacteria.</div>
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But only the mice with transplanted gut bacteria from older ones developed inflammaging.</div>
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The differences in the responses suggested to the researchers that aging leads to an imbalance in gut bacteria, such that there are more ‘bad’ bacteria than good in the microbiome.</div>
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The proliferation of the bad bacteria leaves the gut lining more permeable to toxins that can contaminate the bloodstream and lead to disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, anxiety, autism and even cancer.</div>
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The study suggests a causal relationship between aged gut bacteria and inflammaging in mice, and, though the same has not been proven in humans, the researchers report that a correlation has already been observed.</div>
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Still, the findings are enough to determine that ‘strategies that alter the gut microbiota composition in the elderly,’ such as developing a good diet and taking probiotics and prebiotics, ‘reduce inflammaging and promote healthy aging,’ says Dr Fransen. </div>
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[<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5040845/Study-links-gut-bacteria-age-related-disease.html" target="_blank">dailymail</a>]</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/02/artichokes-leeks-and-onions-could.html" target="_blank">Artichokes, leeks and onions could improve sleep and relieve stress by boosting levels of gut bacteria</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/03/latest-treatment-for-acne-and-eczema.html" target="_blank">Latest treatment for acne and eczema? Rubbing good bacteria into your skin</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/02/old-food-accelerates-aging-at-cellular.html" target="_blank">Old food accelerates aging at a cellular level, study reveals</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-60118642830647672802017-10-22T12:24:00.000-07:002017-10-22T12:24:31.860-07:00He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti): The Herb of Intuition and Longevity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuUVCLOKdt9DzH9IOyI6hU2l9lDWnj2CVYbjuBuynik1dIRei3tYE_JZTK_dSa7YxpjY34NqPhMSCC44abrnGp0ZlNJfHt_dHzVQDlmfjCcV4W7B6WoKetwTGiuWyAfLR1JakhZgHqKtg/s1600/HeShouWuPowder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="516" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuUVCLOKdt9DzH9IOyI6hU2l9lDWnj2CVYbjuBuynik1dIRei3tYE_JZTK_dSa7YxpjY34NqPhMSCC44abrnGp0ZlNJfHt_dHzVQDlmfjCcV4W7B6WoKetwTGiuWyAfLR1JakhZgHqKtg/s640/HeShouWuPowder.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The Fascinating History and Benefits of He Shou Wu</b></div>
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Long revered as one of the most important and powerful herbs in the Chinese Medicine pharmacopeia, He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), which is also known as Fo-Ti, has a rich and mystical history that illustrates exactly why it grew to such stature and fame and hints at some of its more exotic—and highly sought after—benefits and effects. It was recorded in ancient Daoist texts that Fo-Ti was discovered around 812 AD, when a frail, weak, sterile old man who had fallen asleep in the forest after a night of heavy drinking awoke next to an exceptionally long He Shou Wu vine.</div>
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Something about the plant struck him as unusual and so he proceeded to dig up its roots (a common practice in China at the time) to take home for further investigation. Upon inquiring in his village about the nature and properties of the plant to no avail, a local hermit suggested he ingest it to discover the effects for himself. Adventurous as he was, he prepared the He Shou Wu roots according to Daoist herbal principles and began consuming it regularly. Within a week, he became quite virile and managed to father a child a few months later after decades of impotency and sterility, which was a miracle in itself. He continued to take Fo-Ti everyday and his strength and vitality returned despite his old age. Eventually, his hair color returned, almost magically shifting from gray to a rich, lustrous black. Over the years that followed, he went on to father at least five more children and lived well into his hundreds, with some sources recording his final age as 160 years old. The man’s name was He Tianer, for which the herb was named He Shou Wu, meaning “He’s Black Hair,” alluding to its incredible origin story.</div>
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<b>1. DNA Protection and Repair, Longevity and More</b></div>
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For some, the tale is a stretch of the imagination; however, in recent decades, credible scientific studies into the properties, composition and benefits of He Shou Wu have confirmed that it does indeed stimulate the body to produce many longevity-promoting substances, including superoxide dismutase, which is the most powerful antioxidant in the human body; and it has been credited with reversing many diseases, DNA protection and repair, and extending lifespan in a number of studies [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25449462" target="_blank">1</a>]. It also inhibits the MAO-B enzyme that correlates to measurable life-extending and health-enhancing effects. And while this is a compelling reason on its own to take Fo-Ti, it only scratches the surface of the many incredible benefits this herb has for promoting health, wellness, and spiritual awareness [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4471648/" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/ArticleFullRecord.jsp?cn=E1HSBY_2009_v15n2_83" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20622335/" target="_blank">4</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24534954" target="_blank">5</a>].</div>
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<b>2. Libido Booster and Sexual Health Tonic</b></div>
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As alluded to by Mr. He’s story, Polygonum (He Shou Wu) is a powerful, but paradoxically gentle, aphrodisiac and sexual tonic. Known as a kidney Jing tonic, it stimulates and harmonizes adrenal gland function and promotes general endocrine system balance [<a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/88/9/4077/2845682/Estrogen-Bioactivity-in-Fo-Ti-and-Other-Herbs-Used" target="_blank">6</a>]. Jing, in the Chinese Medicine tradition, loosely translates to “vital essence” and refers to the primordial energy that fuels all life and, by extension, our sexuality and drive. Fo-Ti works to increase kidney/adrenal Jing, which is where Daoists believe this energy is stored in the body. This also has the added benefit of harmonizing, balancing, and ultimately calming the nervous system, making He Shou Wu an excellent tonic for those facing burnout or under high levels of stress [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23911879/" target="_blank">7</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16214209/" target="_blank">8</a>].</div>
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Rich in iron and zinc—two hard-to-get essential minerals—He Shou Wu is a first-class blood builder and cell proliferant. There are a number of compounds in the plant that enhance circulation, strengthen red blood cell membranes and stimulate blood-generating hematopoietic stem cells. Fo-Ti also protects and helps maintain the structural integrity of the liver, improves brain function and memory, and enhances immune system functioning in humans and other mammals [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16214209/" target="_blank">8</a>, <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(199702)11:1%3C42::AID-PTR940%3E3.0.CO;2-5/abstract" target="_blank">9</a>].</div>
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<b>3. Hair Growth and Rejuvenation</b></div>
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As alluded to in Mr. He’s miraculous story, He Shou Wu also has a long history of use as a hair growth and rejuvenation tonic. There are literally thousands of first-person reports and a handful of clinical studies [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21419834" target="_blank">10</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23896496" target="_blank">11</a>] of Fo-Ti (or preparations including the herb) demonstrating a remarkable ability to reverse hair loss and restore rich color to white or graying hair. Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, substances with a marked harmonizing effect on the endocrine system (hormone-producing glands) and high zinc content tend to have beneficial effects on hair growth and restoration.</div>
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But perhaps the most impressive of all He Shou Wu’s benefits and properties are its effects on our spiritual awareness and higher mental functioning.</div>
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<b>4. Psycho-Spiritual Effects: Intuition Enhancing Properties</b></div>
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In the Traditional Chinese Medicine system, He Shou Wu is also classified as a Shen and Yin tonic. Shen translates to “spirit” and anything with Yin properties, which correlates to the feminine element/energy, promotes receptivity. Therefore, we have an herb that makes us “receptive to spirit,” which the more sensitive among us will definitely notice after consuming Fo-Ti for any length of time. In addition to its powerfully rejuvenative physical effects, He Shou Wu benefits and stimulates our intuitive abilities as well, opening us to our deeper spiritual nature and awareness. Users of Fo-Ti often notice a distinct increase in creativity, inspiration, and intuitive guidance, making it an important herb for artists, meditators, or anyone seeking to expand their experience of reality in profound ways.</div>
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<b>How to Use He Shou Wu For Maximum Benefit</b></div>
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He Shou Wu is unique in that it must be prepared in a more elaborate process than other herbs in order to make it effective for the above uses. Through a centuries-long process of refinement, Daoist herbalists discovered that the Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-Ti) root must be first cooked in a stew of black beans to somewhat alchemically activate its desired benefits. Scientifically speaking, this process has the effect of rendering certain constituents of the plant inert and activating others in a complex series of chemical reactions between the heat and the various nutrients in black beans [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25449462" target="_blank">12</a>].</div>
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As a rule of thumb, all He Shou Wu should, by default, be prepared in this way; but if you don’t see it explicitly mentioned in the product literature, inquire further to be sure. (Note: All recommended products in this article have been verified to be properly prepared He Shou Wu.)</div>
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As with any herb, quality, purity and potency are of the utmost importance. As such, look for organic, wildcrafted, or authentic “Di Tao” labeled herbs, as these tend to be of the highest quality.</div>
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Fo-Ti has a pleasant, mild, slightly sweet taste, making it an ideal herb to consume as a tea, tincture, or simply mixed in a glass of water. However, capsules are a viable option as well if you simply cannot stand the taste of powdered herbs. Although it is always recommended to take it internally for maximum benefit, those interested in its hair growth-stimulating properties and benefits of He Shou Wu may also rub the powdered herb directly into the scalp after mixing with water or oil for a deeper effect.</div>
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<i>If you are pregnant, lactating or taking pharmaceutical medicines, be sure to check in with your naturopathic doctor or midwife before consuming.</i></div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/08/schizandra-quintessence-of-tonic-herbs.html" target="_blank">Schizandra, The Quintessence of Tonic Herbs</a></li>
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Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-75920486627730773852017-10-20T10:05:00.000-07:002017-10-20T10:05:16.260-07:00America has hit a 'dreamlessness epidemic', and it is affecting our mental and physical health<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<b>Research shows links between dreaming less and worse mental and physical health.</b></div>
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Throughout the night, we pass through four stages of sleep several times. We do the majority of our dreaming during the fourth stage, called the 'rapid-eye movement' (REM) phase.</div>
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Research has found that about one in three American adults don’t get enough sleep in general and missing out on dreaming that occurs during REM-sleep can have particularly dire consequences for both our mental and physical health.</div>
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A study from the University of Arizona highlighted the wide array of REM-related problems that are forgotten as dreaming-sleep slips through the cracks between sleep science and psychology.</div>
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Science has come a long way since Sigmund Freud wrote The Interpretation Of Dreams, in 1899, but we still don’t have a clear answer to the question of why we dream.</div>
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The stage of sleep during which we have the most active dream lives, the REM cycle, was once thought to be the most deeply restful phase of sleep.</div>
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Now, much contemporary research says that the stage before REM sleep, called deep non-REM sleep is the most restful. But Dr Rubin Naiman, a psychologist specializing in sleep and dreams at the University of Arizona, says that we need both.</div>
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He compares much of sleep and dreaming to bodily nourishment. He says that prioritizing deep non-REM sleep over dreaming REM-sleep is like ‘saying which is more important, food or water?’</div>
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‘We can actually go without food for weeks and weeks, but without water for only a few days. The brain prioritizes deep sleep over REM sleep, and if someone is sleep deprived they will dive into deep sleep to catch up,’ Dr Naiman says.</div>
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‘But in order to be healthy, you need to have both,’ he adds.</div>
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Loss of not just sleep, but the REM sleep during which we dream, has been associated with greater risks of inflammation, pain sensitivity, obesity and memory problems, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.</div>
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The link between REM sleep and Alzheimer’s is quite clear. Studies have shown that those that don’t enter the dreaming phase of sleep as quickly are more likely than others to develop Alzheimer’s.</div>
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When sleep is disrupted, a chemical called soluble beta amyloid tends to build up, interfering with cognition and kill brain cells. The presence of the chemical in the brain is one of the earliest warning signs for the onset of Alzheimer’s.</div>
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Dr Naiman laments the fact that many of his colleagues dismiss dreams as meaningless, and cites evidence that memory consolidation happens during REM sleep, and that dreams may be a part of this process.</div>
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Studies have shown an increase in REM sleep activity in the brain for those who are learning a new language, suggesting the sleep phase’s involvement in declarative memory formation.</div>
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<b>‘We have known for years that there is a strong correlation between memory loss and damaged dreaming,’</b> says Dr Naiman, <b>‘when we don’t dream well, we don’t remember well.’</b></div>
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REM sleep affects different parts of our anatomy than other stages of sleep do.</div>
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‘The brain and viscera are more relaxed in deep sleep,’ says Dr Naiman, ‘but voluntary muscles are actually more relaxed in deep sleep,’ says Dr Naiman.</div>
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He also cites a long line of research documenting links between dreamless sleep and depression.</div>
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During REM sleep, the brain’s paralimbic system, which is responsible for emotional information processing (among other things) becomes much more active, while suppressing the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is involved in executive functions.</div>
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This pattern appears to occur only during REM sleep, when research has shown that the brain is engaged in the process of consolidating negative emotional memories.</div>
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‘Dreaming down regulates negative emotion,’ says Dr Naiman. ‘There’s a strong correlation between certain kinds of damaged dreams and depression.’</div>
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He says that sleep is comparable to emotional nourishment too.</div>
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If, as recent research suggests, ‘the gut acts as a second brain, then the brain is a second gut in dreaming,’ he says.</div>
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‘The brain chews, swallows, sifts through, digests and mediates what [experiences] we keep,’ Dr Naiman says.</div>
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<b>‘If we don’t dream well, we are no longer digesting experience…it’s like psychological indigestion or constipation, which, for me, is a synonym for clinical depression,’</b> he says.</div>
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Counterintuitively, perhaps, drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, or taking sleeping pills all disrupt sleep, and particularly dreams.</div>
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Dr Naiman says that while a glass of wine with dinner is probably okay, a night cap (or two, or three) after dinner probably aren’t.</div>
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He says that this is because ‘the body and brain are always seeking equilibrium.’</div>
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Alcohol acts as a depressant, slowing down the brain and the nervous system, like the brakes in a car.</div>
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‘When the brain is braking, the body tries to balance things out by releasing adrenaline,’ like pressing the gas pedal, Dr Naiman says.</div>
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But once alcohol is processed by the digestive system, ‘that foot comes off the brake pretty quickly, but the other foot stays on the gas.’</div>
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This leads to a surge of adrenaline that can pull us out of any sleep, including REM sleep, and disrupt the whole resting process.</div>
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He says that data suggests that marijuana may help people fall asleep, but then lead to a similar disruptive rush. Sleeping pills similarly can help to put you to sleep, but, like antidepressants and allergy medications contain compounds that interfere with acetylcholine, which mediates REM sleep.</div>
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Dr Naiman says that he and his lab have used ‘effective combinations of exercise, morning light and nutrients with vitamin D’ to help people eliminate alcohol, drugs and even alarm clocks – which he says can shake us from important dreams too early – form their lives, and promote healthy, dreamy sleep.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-single-poor-nights-sleep-can-age-you.html" target="_blank">A single poor night’s sleep can age you</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/01/lack-of-sleep-will-make-you-sick.html" target="_blank">Lack of sleep WILL make you sick</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/02/clean-sleeping-latest-preachy-trend.html" target="_blank">Clean sleeping - the latest preachy trend</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/03/13-scientifically-proven-tips-to.html" target="_blank">13 scientifically-proven tips to improve your sleep</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-75131503015310014112017-10-03T11:34:00.000-07:002017-10-03T11:34:22.263-07:00Benefits of Quinoa: The Supergrain of the Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrMqlL-I__BIL3ZSBGIUqwl2r7qeHT39KsymNWhdidfvDGpshEpwNfjcdDHJeIGvx7OsgqEFRAYJQ1j17QoDKA8Px5SwN4psniZroXFmYrc3PjAUsFvuhjCRj9cbstFE7C8c4H61-xVHA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-10-03+at+1.30.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="773" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrMqlL-I__BIL3ZSBGIUqwl2r7qeHT39KsymNWhdidfvDGpshEpwNfjcdDHJeIGvx7OsgqEFRAYJQ1j17QoDKA8Px5SwN4psniZroXFmYrc3PjAUsFvuhjCRj9cbstFE7C8c4H61-xVHA/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-10-03+at+1.30.04+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Quinoa is an interesting form of pseudocereal that is not technically a grain, or a traditional cereal. It is a crop that has been grown for thousands of years, and is grown mainly for its edible seeds. Quinoa is related to spinach and beetroots, and is a becoming a major food in America, Europe, China, and Canada, despite the fact that it must be imported.</b></div>
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This plant is a species of the goosefoot genus (Chenopodium quinoa), which originated in the area surrounding Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia.</div>
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The plant dates back 3,000 to 5,000 years BC when it was domesticated by the peoples of America, according to existing historical evidence.</div>
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Moreover, archeological evidence exists of quinoa in tombs of Arica in Chile, Tarapacá, Calama, and in different regions of Peru.</div>
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Pre-Columbian civilizations cultivated and used quinoa as a staple food in their diet at the time.</div>
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The Incas called quinoa the “mother grain.”</div>
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An Incan emperor would break ground with a golden implement at the first planting of the season in recognition of what the plant provided them.</div>
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Eventually, quinoa was replaced by cereals after the Spanish arrived.</div>
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But the Incas weren’t the only ones ahead of the game on quinoa. In 1993, NASA researchers — who were looking for ways to keep astronauts healthy on long journeys — suggested quinoa as sustenance for long-term space missions because it’s rich in protein, versatile enough to mix with other foods, and easy to grow in controlled environments.</div>
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<b>Health benefits:</b></div>
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<b>High in protein, with all the essential amino acids. </b>Protein is made out of amino acids. Some of them are termed "essential" because we can not produce them and need to get them from the diet. If a food contains all the essential amino acids, it is seen as a "complete" protein. The problem is that many plant foods are deficient in certain essential amino acids, such as lysine.</div>
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However, quinoa is an exception to this, because it contains all the essential amino acids. For this reason, it is an excellent source of protein. It has both more and better protein than most grains. With 8 grams of quality protein per cup, quinoa is an excellent plant-based protein source for vegetarians and vegans.</div>
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<b>High in fiber.</b> Fiber is most widely known to relieve constipation. It also helps to prevent heart disease by reducing high blood pressure and diabetes. Fiber lowers cholesterol and glucose levels, may lower your risk of developing hemorrhoids and may help you to lose weight as it takes a longer time to chew than does other foods because it makes you feel fuller for longer and is less “energy dense” which means it has fewer calories for the same volume of food.</div>
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The fiber content in Quinoa is what gets many people interested in eating it. If you have trouble thinking of ways to increase your fiber and have resorted to buying and eating fiber bars or fiber fortified cereals to get the job done, you might be better off getting a supply of Quinoa. It contains a fifth of how much fiber you need each day in every one cup serving. That’s pretty impressive considering that most Quinoa recipes are filled with other foods like black beans that have a good amount of fiber so you can get a substantial portion of your fiber needs met in one meal.</div>
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<b>High in Iron. </b>Iron helps keep our red blood cells healthy and is the basis of hemoglobin formation. Iron carries oxygen from one cell to another and supplies oxygen to our muscles to aid in their contraction. Iron also increases brain function because the brain takes in about 20% of our blood oxygen. There are many benefits of iron some more of which include neurotransmitter synthesis, regulation of body temperature, aids enzyme activity and energy metabolism.</div>
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For those that have trouble keeping up with their iron needs, Quinoa can be a big help with that, and it also is a tastier option than taking an iron supplement. In just a one cup serving you’re getting 15% of how much iron you need each day. That’s a good boost to your system and can assist with any deficiencies.</div>
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<b>High in Magnesium. </b>Magnesium doesn’t get as much attention as some other vitamins and minerals do, but it’s still an important mineral that your body needs in order to help prevent things like osteoporosis and heart disease, while helping to balance blood pressure and helping with diabetes. Other health benefits of magnesium include transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, detoxification, energy production, and the formation of healthy bones and teeth.</div>
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You can get one third of your RDA of magnesium from just one full serving of Quinoa. That’s pretty impressive since many foods only contain a trace amount of it, or none at all. If you feel like your levels could use a boost, try these other foods that are high in magnesium.</div>
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<b>High in Riboflavin. </b>Riboflavin is also known as Vitamin B2, part of the family of B Vitamins and responsible for providing much needed antioxidants to assist the body with a number of functions. It also helps with enzyme performance and oxygen delivery throughout the entire body. It’s a pretty important vitamin. </div>
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Six percent of your daily needs per 100 grams of Quinoa might not sound like a lot, but many foods contain a bit of riboflavin, so it adds up throughout the day, Quinoa just gives it a nice contributing boost.</div>
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<b>Rich in Manganese.</b> Manganese is an antioxidant, which helps to prevent damage of mitochondria during energy production as well as to protect red blood cells and other cells from injury by free radicals.</div>
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Manganese is something you definitely don’t want to go without for any stretch of time, and with Quinoa you won’t have to because it provides almost half of what you need in just one serving. The symptoms of being low on manganese include having high blood pressure levels, high cholesterol levels, neurological problems, hearing impairments, and more. The number one cause of running a manganese deficiency is not eating enough foods that are rich in it. That’s why making Quinoa a part of your lifestyle is a good idea.</div>
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<b>Contains Lysine. </b>One special amino acid that Quinoa contains is called Lysine. Lysine is mainly essential for tissue growth and repair.</div>
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Lysine is usually found in sports supplements by those trying to add lean muscle to their body. It’s been said to also help strengthen the immune system, so Quinoa is great to eat during those months when everyone seems to be getting sick. It’s also been proven to help raise serotonin levels, which is a way to help you feel more relaxed and get into a calm state. Instead of using a supplement to get it, you can simply start eating more Quinoa.</div>
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<b>Very high in antioxidants. </b>Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals and are believed to help fight aging and many diseases.</div>
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Quinoa also happens to be very high in antioxidants. One study looked at antioxidants in 10 foods: 5 cereals, 3 pseudocereals and 2 legumes. Quinoa had the highest antioxidant content of all 10. Allowing the seeds to sprout seems to increase the antioxidant content even further.</div>
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<b>Contains fatty acids.</b> Close to 30 percent of the fatty acids in quinoa come from oleic acid, the same monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil and linked to reduced blood pressure and heart disease risk. About 5 percent of quinoa’s fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a beneficial form of plant-based omega-3s.</div>
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Most foods lose their healthy fatty acids when oxidized, but quinoa’s nutrients hold up to boiling, simmering, and steaming.</div>
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<b>Prebiotic. </b>In a 2016 study, quinoa and amaranth were assessed for their function as prebiotics. Prebiotics are undigestible fiber compounds that work with probiotic enzymes to become “fuel” for the beneficial bacteria living in your gut, and are associated with lowered disease risk, lowered inflammation levels and a better functioning immune system.</div>
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Scientists found that both of these pseudocereals (which they referred to as common superfoods) have prebiotic potential and can serve to improve gastrointestinal health by balancing the levels of good bacteria functioning there. </div>
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<b>Has Antiseptic Properties. </b>During the processing of Quinoa there are saponins which are removed from it and then reused as an antiseptic, as well as a detergent. This shows just one more aspect of this superseed. There is some misperception as to what Quinoa is exactly, whether it’s a grain or a seed. The part that is edible is the seed, which makes it great for grain-free diets and diet plans. But the plant that it grows on is grain-like which causes the confusion. There are many benefits to the plant, and it shows just how versatile it can be, much the same way aloe can be eaten, and used to treat the skin.</div>
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<b>Supports a Gluten-Free Diet. </b>When you’ve gone gluten free either for medical reasons or for dietary ones, you’ll quickly find out that while there may be more GF options than there were a decade ago, there is still a lot of room for more products. In the meantime you can stay gluten-free by using Quinoa. It’s not a grain, it’s a seed, and it doesn’t contain any wheat or gluten in it, so you can feel free to enjoy it in loads of different Quinoa recipes without worrying if it’s going to upset your system.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
<a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/new-wave-of-trendy-superfoods-that-will.html" target="_blank">New wave of trendy superfoods that will revolutionize your diet</a>Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-75635614638000558582017-09-12T11:27:00.001-07:002017-09-12T11:27:35.915-07:00Sea Buckthorn: The Miracle Berry <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6U9Gln_Q-J9QZ3pqTimr-Mn5zZJvqnshm0m7wc8NDbBaqWDnTXLlirHrwWRKJy5pjly4lRlKY6Gr4hHSUrbNUlf2W_FAbRLT2xfJi9W2X-X2xONl0P2ABR7WgGWPNnhefOPN-kwKWx3C/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-12+at+1.22.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="851" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6U9Gln_Q-J9QZ3pqTimr-Mn5zZJvqnshm0m7wc8NDbBaqWDnTXLlirHrwWRKJy5pjly4lRlKY6Gr4hHSUrbNUlf2W_FAbRLT2xfJi9W2X-X2xONl0P2ABR7WgGWPNnhefOPN-kwKWx3C/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-09-12+at+1.22.39+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides) is a super fruit full of all the Omegas – 3, 6, 9 and the rare 7, as well as a host of antioxidants and other healing nutrients. It has been used to heal psoriasis and make skin glow, boost immunity, slow aging, and lower cholesterol, but it also has numerous other qualities that make it a superior source of vitamins and minerals we all need. </b></div>
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Sea buckthorn has been used in China for more than 12 centuries to heal various disorders and is used in modern times by allopathic and Ayurvedic practitioners alike. Legend has it that even Genghis Khan, the Mongol conqueror, used Sea Buckthorn to propel the fight against his enemies.</div>
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The fruit grows primarily high in the Himalayan Mountains (Spiti Valley), which makes it particularly hearty. It is even called “Holy Fruit’ among the locals there. It is here, under the conditions of high altitude, exposure to extremely strong ultra violet radiation due to its proximity to the sun, and reflected light from heavy snows, severe cold, scorching heat, and dry, ‘barren’ soil, that this plant becomes a ‘super’ food. It is extremely life-giving and enhances both health and beauty.</div>
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<b>Health Benefits of Sea Buckthorn</b></div>
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Sea buckthorn has multiple uses due to its protein building amino acids, vitamins B1, B2, K, C, A, E, and folic acid, over 60 antioxidants, at least 20 minerals, and healthy fatty acids. The fruit is full of carotenoids, xanthophylls, phenolics, and flavanoids, too. Its an absolute power house of nutrients!</div>
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The leaves, berries and roots can all be used in different forms. It is a complete food that can support the body in all the following ways:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Treats gastrointestinal disorders including ulcers</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reverses gout</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Eliminates skin rashes</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Cures infections</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Improves sight, lessens eye soreness</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Promotes colon health</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Contributes to proper brain and nervous system functioning</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reduces inflammatory response in the body</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Improves mental clarity</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Treats asthmatic symptoms</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reduces skin markings associated with measles or mumps</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reduces illness associated with cancer</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Lowers cholesterol</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Boosts lymphatic circulation and immunity</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reduces hunger (due to Omega 7s)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Improves the look of skin and hair (also due to Omega 7, 3, 6, and 9s)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Neutralizes free radicals in the body</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Slows the aging process</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Supports internal organs</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Boost health of the mucous membranes lining the digestive and respiratory tracts</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Supports urogential system</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reduces the condition of a fatty liver</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Helps to increase cellular vitality</li>
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/08/amazing-benefits-of-amla-indian.html" target="_blank">Amazing Benefits of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-54418284792322892522017-08-28T13:01:00.001-07:002017-08-28T13:01:53.354-07:00Amazing Benefits of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqvCES6qXnY0OaNkYsd0ZOggnNY9M_mJzhxzVmQtfaVZhZ-hzqB_Z0n75HSyxvL-I87BJqa8i2mF25vMrxjyJ7BkL41R6WfXJUwDKIap4bi6sd2kxOO9wUr1FlE6kK9vD6HRafzKbKqA2/s1600/Cures-A-Sore-Throat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="700" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqvCES6qXnY0OaNkYsd0ZOggnNY9M_mJzhxzVmQtfaVZhZ-hzqB_Z0n75HSyxvL-I87BJqa8i2mF25vMrxjyJ7BkL41R6WfXJUwDKIap4bi6sd2kxOO9wUr1FlE6kK9vD6HRafzKbKqA2/s640/Cures-A-Sore-Throat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Amla is a deciduous tree that grows up to 30 feet in height. The botanical name for the Amla plant is Phyllanthus emblica. The amla tree is native to India and Nepal, and that is why it is referred to as the Indian Gooseberry. This tree is considered sacred in India. It has been worshiped since ancient times as the “Earth Mother”. The tree is best known for its succulent fruit. The fruit is small and light green in color with six vertical stripes and a hard seed inside. The fruit has a sour and astringent taste.</div>
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The word “amla is derived from the Sanskrit word “amlaki”, which means “the sustainer” or prosperity. Amla is considered as one of the most popular herbs for improving our health and well-being. It is a major part of the Triphala Churna, which is a combination of three potent herbs. According to Ayurveda, regular consumption of amla balances all three doshas of the body- Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In ancient Ayurveda, amla was used for promoting longevity, digestion, for enhancing concentration and alleviating respiratory problems.</div>
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Alma is very rich in Vitamin C and contains many minerals and vitamins like Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Carotene and Vitamin B Complex. It is also a powerful antioxidant agent.</div>
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Many health problems are caused by oxidative damage (when body cells use oxygen, they produce by-products called free radicals that can cause damage). Antioxidant agents prevent and repair these damages. Vitamin C is a good antioxidant agent, which makes gooseberries a powerful tool against a variety of conditions, including various types of cancer.</div>
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Some of the most amazing benefits of the Indian Gooseberry are:</div>
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<b>Anti-Aging</b></div>
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Amla is virtually a superfruit. It is full of antioxidants that are effective in reducing cell damage. It reduces the effects of free radicals (which are responsible for damaging protein, DNA, and cell membranes) and thus effectively combats the aging process.</div>
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Amla contains high levels of Vitamin C and antioxidants, making it very beneficial for skin health. It restores skin firmness by stimulating collagen production. Amla reduces pigmentation, and gives your skin a smooth and youthful look. It is known to exfoliate skin and remove dead skin cells. Amla juice can also be used as a face mask. Simply leave it on your skin for 30 minutes and wash it off.</div>
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Drinking amla juice on a regular basis can also help to brighten the skin tone. The anti-bacterial properties of the fruit purify the blood, revealing the natural glowing complexion beneath. It also revives the skin’s texture, making it smooth and supple.</div>
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<b>Mental Health</b></div>
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Amla improves nerve health by facilitating proper flow of blood. Regular consumption of amla improves cognitive function, increasing concentration and memory. It also protects the nerve cells from free radical damage, preventing diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. The high iron content in amla facilitates oxygen transportation, preventing brain degeneration.</div>
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<b>Boosts Immunity</b></div>
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Amla is a rich source of antioxidants and vitamins, and contains tannins. Tannins, when combined with polyphenols, makes the fruit a free radical scavenger. What this means is, it reduces the damage free radicals cause to the cells and thus improves your body’s disease fighting ability.</div>
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Vitamin C in amla makes it a mighty herbal medicine against cold and cough. </div>
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Consumption of amla is known to boost immunity, reducing flu and throat infection. It helps to deal with chronic cough, tuberculosis and blocked chest problems. It is also found to alleviate asthma symptoms.</div>
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<b>Fight Infections</b></div>
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The antibacterial properties of amla help the body to fight against bacterial, fungal and viral infections, making the body more resistant to diseases. It strengthens the immune system by removing toxins from the body. It also improves the defense mechanism of the body.</div>
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<b>Fights Against Heart Disease</b></div>
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High cholesterol is the leading cause of heart disease. By reducing the build up of bad cholesterol, Amla reduces the risk of heart disease. It also reduces clogging in the arteries by boosting good cholesterol or HDL. Studies have also shown its benefits in preventing the thickening of blood vessel walls, the first sign of heart disease.</div>
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<b>Reduces Blood Sugar</b></div>
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Research has shown that fruits that are rich in polyphenol protect the body from the oxidative nature of high blood sugar. Amla can thus be therapeutic for people afflicted with diabetes. It also assists the body in the proper absorption of insulin, thus reducing blood sugar levels. Because of this, it is invaluable for people afflicted with diabetes and should be a part of their daily diet.</div>
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<b>Increases Metabolic Activity</b></div>
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Because of its ability to increase the absorption of protein, Amla is a great way to boost your metabolic rate. Your metabolic rate is how fast your body burns calories. Boosting it will lead to faster weight loss, higher energy levels and an overall increase in lean muscle mass.</div>
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<b>High In Digestive Fiber</b></div>
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Amla is high in fiber, water content, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Fiber is essential for healthy bowel movements. Fiber also stimulates the secretion of gastric and digestive juices, so food is digested efficiently, nutrients are absorbed in an optimal way, and you feel lighter and healthier. Reducing constipation can also help protect you from various gastrointestinal disorders, even colorectal cancer.</div>
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<b>Increases Diuretic Activity</b></div>
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Any fruit that is diuretic in nature improves the frequency and volume of urination. Because urination helps your body release unwanted toxins, salts, and uric acid, consumption of Amla has a detoxifying effect on your body.</div>
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<b>Prevents Formation Of Gall Bladder Stones</b></div>
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Extra cholesterol is the primary cause of gall bladder stones. Vitamin C converts the cholesterol into bile in the liver. Consuming Amla regularly reduces the chances of a build-up of cholesterol as well as the likelihood of any pesky gallstones. It also keeps the gallbladder functioning well and in perfect health.</div>
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<b>It Protects Your Liver</b></div>
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Studies have shown that regular consumption of Amla can ward off the ill effects that alcohol has on your liver . It also prevents the oxidative damage that is usually caused by them.</div>
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<b>Prevents Ulcers</b></div>
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Due to its antibacterial properties, Amla is a great way of preventing ulcers. They reduce the acidity level in the body and thus avoid the formation of ulcers. Additionally, mouth ulcers can be caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. As Indian gooseberries are rich in vitamin C, they can provide relief from ulcers.</div>
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<b>Is Anti-Inflammatory</b></div>
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It reduces the level of acid in the stomach and combats stomach inflammation. </div>
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Because of its anti-inflammatory properties it reduces the joints (like knees) pain and swelling in the person with arthritis.</div>
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<b>Treats Menstrual Cramps</b></div>
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Some of the minerals and vitamins in Amla combine to make it very useful in the treatment of menstrual cramps. Since it takes a while for the necessary elements to accrue in the body, it is better to consume Amla on a regular basis so its nutrients are always in the system and menstrual cramps can be prevented by women.</div>
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<b>Reproduction</b></div>
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Amla is known as a vrishya herb, which means that it helps to enhance all seven tissues, including the reproductive tissue. Amla supports the reproductive system in both males and females, overcoming difficulty in conceiving. The vipaka properties of amla help to revitalize semen in men by improving the quality of sperms.</div>
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<b>Improves Eyesight</b></div>
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Amla is very beneficial for eye health as well. It is believed to improve eye sight and prevent age-related macular degeneration. The antioxidants present in amla protect the eye retina from oxidative stress, reducing the risk of cataract. </div>
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<b>Purifies Blood</b></div>
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Because it is packed with antioxidants, Amla works as a blood purifier. It also increases haemoglobin and red blood cells count.</div>
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<b>Strengthens Bones</b></div>
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Amla is excellent for strengthening bones not just because of its high calcium content, but also for the fact that it lowers osteoclasts. These are the cells responsible for breaking up bones. Thus regularly consuming Amla will result in stronger bones.</div>
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<b>Cools The Body</b></div>
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Amla has three times the vitamin C of an orange. Vitamin C improves tannin levels in the body that shield from heat and light. It keeps your skin cool in the summer by regulating the heat.</div>
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<b>Reduces The Risk Of Cancer</b></div>
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The high levels of antioxidant in amla restrict the growth of carcinogenic cells, preventing cancer. It keeps the harmful free radicals at bay, preventing stomach, skin and liver cancer. Its Oxidative Radiance Activity Capacity (ORAC) prevents cell damage from oxidative stress, preventing tumor cell growth. Amla also counteracts the side effects of anti-cancer drugs.</div>
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<b>Hair Care</b></div>
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Amla is used in many hair tonics because it enriches hair growth and hair pigmentation. It strengthens the roots of hair, maintains color, and improves luster. Eating fresh gooseberry or applying its paste on hair roots improves hair growth and color. Amla oil is very popular in India because it has been shown to reduce the chances of hair loss and baldness. This quality is due to the carotene content of Amla, as well as its iron content and general antioxidant capacity, which reduces hair loss by not allowing free radicals to damage hair follicles or impact the hormones that can cause premature hair loss.</div>
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/08/schizandra-quintessence-of-tonic-herbs.html" target="_blank">Schizandra, The Quintessence of Tonic Herbs</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-64294253334433087352017-08-04T10:26:00.002-07:002019-08-22T09:40:51.416-07:00Schizandra, The Quintessence of Tonic Herbs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEtS0F7ufa-R02PGGnLgszrdeTCyagEBitJYSbhH26UgMKYWrgq4Zfwv5-p03Q8ILUjW0Fwn9RwKktXXNmXfCy3jV7o30KCuvlbZNR4IMfy8EYvjmyfk5WRcw1H67SOGiFwA0FyHuS3TA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-08-04+at+12.12.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="950" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEtS0F7ufa-R02PGGnLgszrdeTCyagEBitJYSbhH26UgMKYWrgq4Zfwv5-p03Q8ILUjW0Fwn9RwKktXXNmXfCy3jV7o30KCuvlbZNR4IMfy8EYvjmyfk5WRcw1H67SOGiFwA0FyHuS3TA/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-08-04+at+12.12.26+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) holds a special place in history since it was used along with other ancient herbs like ginseng, goji berry and reishi by Taoist masters, Chinese emperors and elitists. </div>
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Historically in TCM, schisandra was used to promote a balance between yin and yang. It’s said to help “calm the heart and quiet the spirit” by positively affecting the brain, kidneys, liver and lungs.</div>
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Schizandra is “the herb that does it all.” It develops and protects the primary energies of life. Schizandra, known as the "quintessence of Chinese tonic herbs,” supports vitality and beauty when used regularly for some time. It is said to promote beautiful skin. Schizandra is said to help purify the blood, support the mind, help maintain a strong memory, and help maintain sexual energy and sexual functions in both men and women.</div>
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The very name of Schizandra in Chinese, Wu Wei Zi, tells us a great deal about the qualities of this herb. Wu Wei Zi means “Five Flavors Fruit.” Due to the fact that Schizandra possesses all five of the classical “tastes” (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty) and thus possesses the essence of all five of the elemental energies (wood, fire, earth, metal and water).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Benefits:</span></b></div>
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<b>Liver Cleansing</b> — Schizandra protects the liver from harmful toxins. Radiation and other unwanted exposures are properly escorted from the liver and excreted out of the body. Schizandra liberates the liver from any unwanted toxins. It has also been used in the treatments of liver diseases such as hepatitis.</div>
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<b>Longevity Herb</b> — helps maintain vitality. Schizandra is a great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which supports healthy cellular function, making it a superb tool against aging. In China they believe the berry to contain all three primary life energies: Jing, Qi and Shen, these life forces restore vitality and extend life.</div>
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<b>Skin Health</b> — increases skin wellness and beauty with long term use. Schizandra has been used in treatments of skin disorders because of its amazing powers to radiate the skin. With 100 days of use, your skin will be glowing and your energy will be greatly increased. Known as an anti aging herb, it actually works to deactivate free radicals that attack liver cells. Free radicals damage cells throughout your entire body and therefore promote aging.</div>
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<b>Increases Brain Activity</b> — Schizandra will give you a boost of energy. It stimulates the central nervous system giving your brain a renewed sense of focus. It has been used to help adults suffering from ADHD. Studies have shown that schizandra increases concentration and memory. It has the ability to promote mental functioning and increase work productivity.</div>
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<b>Menopausal Symptoms</b> — Schizandra supports the adrenals and balances the hormones in the body. In Korean medicine, schizandra is used to treat cardiovascular issues that are associated with menopause. This magical little berry enhances blood vessel health and aids in better blood flow.</div>
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<b>Combats Stress</b> — Schizandra is an adaptogen, which facilitates the bodies ability to cope with stressors. It has also been reported to decrease blood pressure, which is commonly associated with higher stress. Schizandra will help fight adrenal fatigue which is commonly linked to or made worse by chronic stress.</div>
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<b>Immune Booster</b> — Schizandra will enhance your immune system, helping your body to fight off infections. If you suffer from chronic stress you might also suffer from lower immune system functioning. The active ingredients in this berry are known to reverse many issues of the central nervous system, allowing your immune system to take over without the added work of trying to deal with stress, depression and anxieties that you might be facing.</div>
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<b>Increases Sexual Health </b>— Schizandra is said to increase the “Water Qi in the Kidney.” In particular, it is said to support the “water of the genital organs,” referring to the sexual fluids. Schizandra is said to support the production of semen. It is famous for its ability to relieve sexual fatigue and for increasing the sexual staying-power in men. It is thus an ingredient in the vast majority of men’s sexual tonics in Asian herbalism. Women benefit from the same capacity to increase Water Qi of the Kidney. Schizandra is said to increase circulation and sensitivity in the female genitals. Many women claim increased genital warmth and sensation after using Schizandra for a period of time. The Chinese sexual classics claim that continuous use by a woman will increase the amount of “female elixir,” a euphemism for vaginal secretions, during intercourse.</div>
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<b>Combats Insomnia</b> — Even though Schizandra aids in mental clarity and stimulation, it is also fantastic in the fight against insomnia. It works to relieve anxieties and stressors therefore allowing you to relax at night.</div>
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<b>Increases Stamina </b>— Athletes have had amazing results with using schizandra as a part of their daily regimen. It actually reduces fatigue and improves physical power and endurance. Athletes have shown better performance results with long term use of the berry.</div>
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<b>Cardiovascular System </b>— This berry is very beneficial to your lungs. Not only does schizandra help with good blood flow but will help your body maintain healthy levels of blood sugar as well as lower your cholesterol. It has been used to ease coughing and increase energy and endurance, making it quite the powerful supplement for people with upper respiratory issues, such as asthma.</div>
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You can find Schisandra in a couple of forms. In Chinese groceries and medicine shops, you can find dried Schisandra berries. Just a few dried berries daily will impart the benefits described there. Or, you can also find Schisandra supplements.<br />
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<b>Also read:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/05/21-anti-aging-herbs-and-nutrients.html" target="_blank">21 Anti-Aging Herbs and Nutrients</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/07/30-amazing-benefits-of-moringa-plant.html" target="_blank">30 Amazing Benefits of Moringa Plant</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-wonderful-benefits-of-maca.html" target="_blank">The wonderful benefits of Maca</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-7999047490148887862017-07-27T14:02:00.001-07:002017-07-27T14:02:14.271-07:00Stem cell brain implants could 'slow aging and extend life', study shows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_mn1fArZwKo7D8-i4bbTZhBXuEuV98HAsZ7wUITsOvFxbb-Qs6ileM2I1HIbfHZKPggS1nLpcYFiFxCXFa4wo0UgpqXS8LbLabiSzfFqzNYUFBOwn5vx_1qDcGJIqOnT8iB0nipzJMho/s1600/6000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1225" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_mn1fArZwKo7D8-i4bbTZhBXuEuV98HAsZ7wUITsOvFxbb-Qs6ileM2I1HIbfHZKPggS1nLpcYFiFxCXFa4wo0UgpqXS8LbLabiSzfFqzNYUFBOwn5vx_1qDcGJIqOnT8iB0nipzJMho/s640/6000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Scientists have slowed down the aging process by implanting stem cells into the brains of animals, raising hopes for new strategies to combat age-related diseases and extend the human lifespan.</b></div>
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Implants of stem cells that make fresh neurons in the brain were found to put the brakes on aging in older mice, keeping them more physically and mentally fit for months, and extending their lives by 10-15% compared to untreated animals.</div>
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The work, described as a tour de force and a breakthrough by one leading expert, suggests that aging across the body is controlled by stem cells that are found in the hypothalamus region of the brain in youth, but which steadily die off until they are almost completely absent in middle age.</div>
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Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York hope to launch clinical trials of the procedure soon, but must first produce supplies of human neural stem cells in the lab which can be implanted into volunteers.</div>
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“Of course humans are more complex,” said Dongsheng Cai, who led the research. “However, if the mechanism is fundamental, you might expect to see effects when an intervention is based on it.”</div>
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Previous experiments had already hinted that the hypothalamus, an almond-sized part of the brain in humans, played some role in the ageing process, but what it was remained unclear. The latest investigation from the US team pinpoints which cells are important and how they might work.</div>
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In the first of a series of experiments in mice, Cai showed that neural stem cells, which are found in a handful of brain regions at birth, disappear from the hypothalamus over time. The stem cells are known to form fresh brain cells in youth, but the process slows down dramatically in adults. Though small, the hypothalamus forms a crucial connection between the body’s nervous and hormonal systems.</div>
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To test whether the decline in stem cells was causing aging, and not itself a result of old age, the researchers injected mice with a toxin that wiped out 70% of their neural stem cells. The effect was striking. Over the next few months the mice aged more rapidly than usual, and performed much worse than control animals on a battery of tests of endurance, coordination, social behaviour and ability to recognise objects. “Behaviourally mice aged faster when these cells were removed during early aging,” Cai told the Guardian. The animals died months earlier than healthy control animals.</div>
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Next, the scientists looked at what happened when aged mice received injections of fresh neural stem cells. This time the mice lived longer than controls, typically several months more, an increase of about 15%. If a similar extension was achieved in humans, a person with a life expectancy of 80 years could live to 92.</div>
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Having proved that it was neural stem cells that were important for aging, the scientists ran further tests to work out what the cells were doing. They found that molecules called microRNAs, or miRNAs, that are released from neural stem cells were responsible for most of the aging effects. When the molecules are produced in the hypothalamus, they flow into the clear fluid in the brain and spinal cord and affect how genes operate.</div>
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“The mechanism is partially due to these cells secreting certain miRNAs which help maintain youth, and the loss of these leads to aging” said Cai, whose study is published in Nature. The next step is to create human neural stem cells in the lab for testing.</div>
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“It is a tour de force,” said David Sinclair at Harvard Medical School. “It’s a breakthrough. The brain controls how long we live. I can see a day when we are implanted with stem cells or treated with stem cell RNAs that improve our health and extend our lives. I would love to know which brain stem cell secretions extend a mouse’s lifespan and if human stem cells make them too.”</div>
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[<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jul/26/stem-cell-brain-implants-could-slow-ageing-and-extend-life-study-shows" target="_blank">theguardian</a>]</div>
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2017/03/scientists-discover-protein-that-can.html" target="_blank">Scientists discover a protein that can make old blood young again</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/07/anti-aging-study-finds-how-human-skin.html" target="_blank">Anti-aging study finds how human skin cell batteries burn out</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/08/impatience-speeds-up-ageing-in-dna.html" target="_blank">Impatience speeds up aging in DNA: People with quick tempers ages faster</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8963748261354362096.post-82845677196592664952017-07-21T09:32:00.000-07:002017-07-21T09:35:54.722-07:00Positive thinking: Just believing you are healthy cuts your risk of early death by 71% <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsMS0t1M6-CnOAmAoKzJ5by1xx93nWgnNIJL2083uOkoKXoPmI_5-9LtXw0lWDT7SC-k4GdQZGpSqKbZRZbS95fQL_ssSwN7vmnfTMhrINj7FtxIThwX9R3vsM4N-zsqkwYaGatjuVmT7/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-07-21+at+11.29.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="795" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsMS0t1M6-CnOAmAoKzJ5by1xx93nWgnNIJL2083uOkoKXoPmI_5-9LtXw0lWDT7SC-k4GdQZGpSqKbZRZbS95fQL_ssSwN7vmnfTMhrINj7FtxIThwX9R3vsM4N-zsqkwYaGatjuVmT7/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-07-21+at+11.29.19+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Many of us accept we're not the healthiest person on the planet. But new research warns this mindset could be dangerous. </b></div>
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In fact, according to Stanford University, people who view themselves as less healthy than others are at risk of suffering a premature death - no matter how active they actually are.</div>
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The study, published in Health Psychology, is the latest of many to show how our thoughts, feelings and beliefs have a direct impact on our health. </div>
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Experts say this shows we should equally prioritize feeling positive and working out.</div>
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'Our findings fall in line with a growing body of research suggesting that our mindsets - in this case, beliefs about how much exercise we are getting relative to others - can play a crucial role in our health,' co-author Dr Alia Crum said. </div>
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Dr Crum, an assistant professor of psychology, and Octavia Zahrt, a doctoral candidate at the Graduate School of Business, analyzed surveys from more than 60,000 U.S. adults from three national data sets. </div>
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The surveys documented participants' levels of physical activity, health and personal background, among other measures. </div>
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In one of the samples, participants wore an accelerometer to measure their activity over a week.</div>
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They were all asked the same question: 'Would you say that you are physically more active, less active, or about as active as other persons your age?'</div>
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The researchers then viewed death records from 2011, which was 21 years after the first survey was conducted. </div>
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They found that people who saw themselves as less active than others were up to 71 percent more likely to die in the follow-up period than people who thought they were more active than their peers.</div>
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This was even true after they controlled for physical activity, age, body mass index, chronic illnesses and other factors. </div>
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Dr Crum's prior research shows that the health benefits people get out of everyday activities depend in part on their mindsets - that is, whether or not they believe that they are getting good exercise. </div>
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In her 2007 study, Dr Crum told a group of workers at a hotel that the activity they got at work met recommended levels of physical activity.</div>
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Previously, most of the workers had seen themselves as inactive. </div>
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Through this shift in mindsets, the workers experienced reductions in weight, body fat and blood pressure, among other positive outcomes. </div>
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Zahrt and Dr Crum offer possible explanations for mindsets and perceptions having such powerful effects on health. One is that perceptions can affect motivation, both positively and negatively. </div>
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Those who are made aware of their healthy activity levels - like the hotel room attendants in Dr Crum's 2007 study - can build on them and exercise more.</div>
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Those who deem themselves unfit are more likely to remain inactive, fueling feelings of fear, stress or depression that negatively affect their health.</div>
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The researchers also cite the established influence of placebo effects, where patients who think they are getting a treatment experience physiological changes without receiving actual treatment. </div>
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In the same way, people who believe they are getting good exercise may experience more physiological benefits from their exercise than those who believe they aren't getting enough exercise.</div>
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'Placebo effects are very robust in medicine. It is only logical to expect that they would play a role in shaping the benefits of behavioral health as well,' Dr Crum said.</div>
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The researchers emphasize that the study is correlational in nature and thus does not prove that perceptions of inactivity cause earlier death. However, other experimental research - such as Dr Crum's 2007 study - does suggest a causal nature to the link between perceived amounts of exercise and health outcomes.</div>
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'So much effort, notably in public health campaigns, is geared toward motivating people to change their behavior: eat healthier, exercise more and stress less,' Dr Crum said. 'But an important variable is being left out of the equation: people's mindsets about those healthy behaviors.'</div>
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In fact, a growing volume of research from Dr Crum and other labs shows that perceptions and mindsets predict health and longevity, for example, in the domains of stress, diet and obesity.</div>
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It seems unlikely. But Dr Crum insists it is not surprising, considering the 'everyday experiences where our beliefs or a simple thought have very palpable and physiological effects.'</div>
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'In the case of stress, a thought about something going wrong can make us sweat or [become] shaky or increase our heart rate,' Dr Crum continued. </div>
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'With sexual arousal, a simple thought or idea can have immediate physical effects. </div>
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'We experience these things regularly, and yet we're not cataloguing them as something that matters. </div>
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'For whatever reason - dualism or a prioritization of the material - we tend to ignore the fact that our thoughts, mindsets and expectations are shaping our everyday physiology.'</div>
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Zahrt and Dr Crum say the findings could help change our perception that vigorous exercise in a gym is the only way to attain a proper activity level. </div>
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Being mindful of and feeling good about activities you do every day - like taking the stairs, walking or biking to work, or cleaning the house - could be an easy first step for everyone to benefit their health, they say.</div>
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'It's time that we start taking the role of mindsets in health more seriously,' Dr Crum said. 'In the pursuit of health and longevity, it is important to adopt not only healthy behaviors, but also healthy thoughts.'</div>
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[<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4712408/Positive-thinking-cuts-risk-early-death-71.html" target="_blank">dailymail</a>]<br />
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<b>Also read:</b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/people-who-view-themselves-as-healthy.html" target="_blank">People who view themselves as healthy are less susceptible to the common cold</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/is-using-power-of-your-mind-best-way-to.html" target="_blank">Is using the power of your MIND the best way to beat chronic pain?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/feel-younger-than-your-age-it-may-help.html" target="_blank">Feel younger than your age? It may help you live longer</a></li>
<li><a href="http://secretsofvitality.blogspot.com/2016/06/want-to-live-longer-think-positively.html" target="_blank">Want to live longer? Think positively!</a></li>
</ul>
Jovanna Goettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11175815999300927570noreply@blogger.com0