Some 50 years ago, researchers were looking into Milk Thistle’s liver-protecting properties that include an array of compounds that we now know can protect us from the dangerous side effects of prescription drugs.
In a world of over-the-counter drugs that millions of people feel are free of side effects and the myriad of television drug commercials that rattle off the side effects at the end with blinding speed, have led many to take Milk Thistle on a daily basis for healthy liver protection. Milk Thistle has been used for over 2,000 years by the earliest of herbalists, shamans and physicians, and was the go-to herb when your eyes or skin turn yellow (jaundice). History tells us they used the herb for hepatitis and cirrhosis and other ailments associated with liver and gallbladder function. Germany’s Commission E recommends milk thistle for liver damage caused by toxins or cirrhosis of the liver and as therapy for liver inflammation. This healing herb contains compounds called flavonolignans also known as silymarin and silybum, which protect liver cells from damage caused by alcohol, acetaminophen and many drugs, toxins and food chemicals and can protect against ‘death cap mushroom’ poisoning or anything that can affect the liver. Milk Thistle is known to protect, strengthen, detoxify and regenerate the liver when taken daily as a tea or standardized extract in supplement form. According to the National Cancer Institute, silymarin in the herb protects the liver by preventing toxins from entering cells and by improving enzymatic function that detoxify toxins in the liver. Silymarin can protect liver cells during chemotherapy and appears to boost the effect of certain chemotherapy drugs. Other uses for Milk Thistle Another amazing effect of milk thistle it protects the kidneys against drug injury, radiation and prevents ultraviolet damage to the skin.
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'The Power of the Lion's Mane Mushroom: Regenerate Your Brain with Lion's Mane by Ward Bond, PhD and Ken Babal, CN The Lion's Mane Mushroom has been nicknamed the "Gift of God" and for pretty good reasons. This is the brain mushroom. The secret to this amazing medicinal mushroom is it's ability to improve nerve growth factor in the brain. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) belongs to a family of proteins that play a part in maintenance, survival and regeneration of neurons during adult life. As we age, NGF declines, resulting in less efficient brain functioning. In mice, its absence leads to a condition resembling Alzheimer's disease. Nerve Growth Factor has been shown to play a role in a number of diseases, such as coronary atherosclerosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. NGF could also be related to various psychiatric disorders, such as dementia, depression, schizophrenia, autism, Rett syndrome, anorexia and buliminia. NGF has been shown to accelerate wound healing, and there is evidence it could be useful for treating skin and corneal ulcers. Learn More with our available downloads below. We have known for years that grapes contain vital nutrients that benefit our health, but what do these nutrients do? Researchers have studied the juice, seed, and skin of grapes collectively and separately to unlock the treasures these fruits provide. With many health-promoting compounds in grapes, it is the flavonoids, particularly resveratrol, which has gained international attention as a powerhouse antioxidant. Resveratrol is concentrated in the skin, seeds, and stems of grapes and may be a key ingredient in dark purple grape juice and red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces LDL cholesterol (the bad one) and inflammation, and prevents blood clots. Purple and other dark-colored grapes contain greater concentration of flavonoid compounds than light-colored grapes.
Other laboratory research points to resveratrol’s ability to slow the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the formation of tumors in lymph, liver, stomach and breast cells. Resveratrol has also triggered the death of leukemic and colon cancer tumors. In one series of studies, resveratrol blocked the development of skin, breast and leukemia cancers at all three stages of the disease (initiation, promotion and progression). With research showing the benefits of grape seeds are beneficial for your health, they contain powerful antioxidants known as proanthocyanidins, which science is finding may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and cataracts. Human studies have found grape seed extract can lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce inflammation. So drink up! Dark colored grape juice tastes great and it’s great for your health too! Passionflower is one of the calming herbs that provides a soothing effect on the nervous system. Extracts of its flowers, leaves, stems, and fruits are used to combat anxiety and sleep problems. The exact way passionflower exerts its psychological effects is unknown but may involve inhibiting enzymes in the brain with known psychological effects. Also, compounds in passionflower bind to the same areas of the brain affected by a calming neurotransmitter called GABA. These effects would explain why passionflower is able to tone down the nervous system, leading to relaxation and sleep. Many prescription drugs for anxiety, depression and other neurological conditions use the GABA receptors in the brain to make them work.
Passionflower contains various flavonoids, compounds that are well known antioxidants and may also contribute to anti-anxiety effects; flavonoids may be more concentrated in the leaves than other parts of the plant. Passionflower also contains alkaloids, bitter tasting compounds found in many plants that have a range of medicinal activities. This herb can be used for panic attacks when needed as well as for general anxiety and stressful issues. It is mild in action for those who use for insomnia as it has no known morning-after hangover effect that one may experience when using Valerian for example.
Every 66 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease. To learn more about how you can help find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease, go to BrightFocus.org
Sandalwood is of the most appealing fragrances of all essential oils. The highest quality comes from India where it has been used for more than 4,000 years.
Sandalwood has many medicinal properties as it is an antiseptic, making it effective for urinary disorders, especially cystitis. It is also an antibacterial, astringent, and an insect repellent. Effective for respiratory conditions to clear mucus from the lungs making it helpful in cases of bronchitis, sore throats and dry coughs. Other uses of this aromatic herb is the oil soothes the stomach, relieves fluid retention and reduces inflammation. Sandalwood is also indicated for many skin conditions such as dry, chapped skin, acne, psoriasis, eczema as its soothing action is perfect for re-hydrating the skin. Sandalwood is best known for its anti-depressant action as it calms the nerves. It is very helpful in removing anxiety and it's well known for its ability to increase the feelings of sexual desire. We all know cucumbers are great on salads or placed on the eyes to remove puffiness. Cucumbers one of nature's most effective diuretics promoting the flow of excess water retention from the body. This vegetable has very powerful health promoting properties and is great for improving hair growth due to its silicon and natural sulfur content (no one is allergic to sulfur. When someone says they are, they are actually referring to the medication called sulfa, which is not the mineral, but a chemical that has no relation to the healthy mineral sulfur)
Cucumber juice is best mixed with carrot juice to help with pain conditions associated with uric acid such as gout. Adding beet juice is also helpful with high uric acid levels. Cucumbers have a high potassium content which helps those with high and low blood pressure. One can improve the health of their teeth and gums by drinking cucumber juice daily. In addition to healthy hair, your nails will benefit from the high nutritional value in cucumbers. Your nails will stop splitting and of course your hair will stop falling out! So raise your glass to better health and drink your cucumbers! Cordyceps has received quite a bit of attention since the news broke that record-breaking Chinese Olympic runners and swimmers use it to vastly increase their performance. The mushroom’s energizing properties have been prized in the East for thousands of years, but it was in relatively short supply until modern advances in growing techniques made it more widely available to consumers. The same vitality-enhancing properties that aid athletes to achieve feats of strength and endurance can help you live longer; cordyceps helps increase cellular energy metabolism, boosts adrenal functions to adapt to stress, modulates immune function, increases capillary circulation, and improves oxygen utilization, all the reasons why I personally take it every day.
Another amazing use of Cordyceps is for those with lung deficiency such as COPD and Emphysema. Cordyceps has helped to improve breathing and help regenerate lung tissue. Many have reported the use of this mushroom to help them reduce the progression of COPD and Emphysema. Tomato’s red pigment, called lycopene, is an antioxidant that has been studied extensively for its cancer prevention properties. Eaten in high quantities, tomatoes can lower the risk of prostate, stomach, colon, and rectal cancer. Lycopene also inhibits the development of cancer cells in the breasts, lungs, and uterus. A rich source of beta-carotene and vitamins A and C, tomatoes are also known to reduce heart disease and prevent cataracts. Not bad for a fruit regarded as deadly in some parts of the world as recently as the early 1800s. Some people with arthritis and other autoimmune disease symptoms may be aggravated by eating tomatoes.
Lycopene Food Sources The best sources of lycopene are tomatoes and tomato products, which is where about 80 percent of lycopene in the average American diet comes from.1 Small amounts can also be found in guava, watermelon, and pink grapefruit.1 Table 1 shows the estimated lycopene content of some foods. Product Serving Size Lycopene (mg/serving)
When the word berry is mentioned, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries come to mind. But a prized berry that has been used for thousands of years to rejuvenate and revitalize the senses, schisandra contains several vitamins and flavonoids that possess antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. It is considered an energy tonic that enhances both physical endurance and mental concentration and at the same time soothes the nerves, taking the edge off anxiety. As a beauty treatment, schisandra is said to promote radiant skin tone. It has been used as an adjunct support for immune function in patients undergoing chemotherapy and helps to protect the liver and kidneys.
Alpha Lipoic Acid plays the key role of converting our food into cellular energy. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a very special compound because, unlike other antioxidants, which only work in either water or fatty environments, this one functions in both. When the body uses up vitamins C and E during times of stress, Alpha Lipoic Acid converts the by-products into new antioxidant compounds, thus “recycling” the vitamins. This nutrient prevents the type of nerve damage seen in diabetes and aging-related ailments such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases; it also helps ward off cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and diabetes.
Due to the chemical assaults of the world we live in, most people’s livers are overburdened by chemical overload and function sluggishly. Artichoke to the rescue! This delicious vegetable is also a potent liver protector due to a flavonoid called silymarin, the same compound found in milk thistle. Silymarin has strong antioxidant properties, and studies on animals indicate that it may protect against liver toxicity and cancer. So next time it’s in season, steam and eat a couple of artichoke flowers to keep your liver filtering healthily along.
Conventional meat, poultry, and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health. Add the risk that your meat comes from diseased animals raised in stressful, inhumane conditions, and you have a good case for converting to vegetarianism. Commercial feed for animals is full of growth-stimulating hormones, coloring agents, pesticides, and drugs. And that’s not all – of the 140,000 tons of poultry condemned annually as unfit to eat, mainly due to cancer, a considerable amount is processed into animal feed. More than 40% of antibiotics produced in the United States is used as animal feed additives. The ecological result, after we urinate and defecate the antibiotics, is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains that can sicken or kill us. Whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range animals for your health, peace of mind, and well-being.
Orange peel has been used to improve digestion of fatty and rich foods, and in Chinese cooking it is often found in dishes with red meat. Orange peel may actually lower cholesterol better than some current medications, and without side effects. Studies show that compounds called poly-metho-sy-lated flavones, found in pigments of oranges and tangerines, reduce bad cholesterol without altering the level of good cholesterol (HDL). Next time you eat a fatty meal or red meat, make sure you use orange peel as one of the ingredients.
Regular soda contains up to 11 teaspoons of sugar per can. The sugar causes your blood sugar to spike, which results in a release of insulin. Soda also contains phosphoric acid, and shortly after you take a drink, it hits your lower intestine and binds with magnesium, zinc and calcium. Instead of those minerals reaching your bones, you pass them out of your system when you urinate, leaving your body depleted. Diet and regular soda both contain high levels of phosphoric acid, so switching to the “healthier” variety isn't healthier after all.
The bone-depleting effect of soda might affect women and teens more than adult men, according to MedPage Today. Women who drink an average of six servings of soda per day for just six weeks could see a notable -- between 3 and 6 percent -- drop in their bone mineral density. The decrease in bone mineral density was lower with women who drank diet soda, but even diet versions still resulted in a notable decrease. Teenagers are at an even bigger risk when drinking soda. When nine of 10 teen girls and seven of 10 teen boys already aren't eating enough calcium, they can't afford to lose calcium to the phosphoric acid in soda. Teens whose bones don't get enough calcium have a higher risk of breaks, fractures and, later in life, osteoporosis. If you’re going to live a good long time, you’ll need healthy bones, so it’s best to choose teas, light juice blends, and flat spring water to quench your thirst. |
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