Well Tuned Naturally

Anemia is a condition where the number or quality of red blood cells is compromised. A person with anemia has fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen around his body or the the red blood cells have a lower than normal level of hemoglobin, which is a component of red blood cells that absorbs and distributes oxygen throughout the body. Anemia is not classified as a disease in itself and is usually a symptom of some other disorder or condition.

There are three broad groups of causes for anemia:
1. Loss of blood volume due to bleeding.
2. Failure to produce sufficient red blood cells.
3. Red blood cells that are produced being destroyed.

The treatment of anemia would differ depending on the underlying cause. Therefore it is vital to properly diagnose the trigger for the anemia. Common causes include:

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Everybody wants clear skin. Nobody likes to be plagued by pimples, spots or acne. However, clear skin does not always mean beautiful skin. You can have clear skin but it may look dull and lifeless. Vibrant, glowing healthy skin should be the goal.

So, what causes dull skin?
There are several factors that can contribute to your skin looking tired and dull: stress, fatigue, a poor diet, lacking in essential vitamins and nutrients, smoking, drinking alcohol, illness, poor blood circulation, and environmental effects such as exposure to extreme temperatures, wind, sun and pollution.

More often than not, dull skin happens when something is interfering with your skin’s renewal process. You may think that washing your face daily should be enough. Unfortunately, just using your fingers to rub your face cannot completely clean off dead skin cells, dirt and accumulated sebum in the pores. These impurities are what makes your complexion look dull and listless.

What can you do to revive dull facial skin?

1. Exfoliate
If dead skin cells makes your skin appear dull, then obviously you need to get rid of them. Exfoliation is what you need to do. There are many exfoliation products such as facial scrubs, masks and peels available on the market. You can even opt to make your own facial mask with ingredients available in your kitchen. Corn meal, sugar, kosher salt are wonderful exfoliating ingredients and are usually mixed in together with a base ingredient such as honey, yogurt, egg white, olive oil or milk. It is recommended that you exfoliate at least once a week. Once you get rid of the impurities, your skin will breathe easier. Rejuvenation of cells will take place and you will feel your skin soft and glowing.

2. Facial massage
A facial massage increases blood circulation and collagen production. This effectively gives your skin that lovely glow you seek. You can do it yourself or employ a professional to do it for you. Relaxing at a spa and enjoying someone else pampering your skin is most people’s wish. However, it is not always affordable. Giving yourself a 5-20 minute facial massage daily is not only cheaper, but just as beneficial. You just need to learn how to do it right. Once you know how, it will become second nature to you. You can buy facial massaging cream to be used with your simple facial massage techniques.

3. Proper nutrition
If you eat a lot of junk food, it will reflect on your skin. Eating too much fatty and processed food will lead to dull and tired looking skin. If you want your skin to radiate, then you need to pile up on fresh fruits and vegetables. You should consume foods that are high in vitamins A, B, E and C. The following can be considered skin foods: berries (strawberries, blueberries), broccoli, mangoes, spinach, nuts, avocado, yogurt, and whole grains. If you want beautiful skin, you need to work at it both from the inside and out.

4. Keep your skin hydrated
If you are not drinking enough liquids, your skin cannot stay hydrated and it will begin to become dull. Keep your skin hydrated by taking in sufficient amounts of water; That means 6-8 glasses of water a day. Fruit juices, healthy drinks and soups are good too. Stay away from coffee and alcohol as they will dehydrate your skin. Don’t forget to use a good hydrating moisturizer.

If your skin isn’t glowing, consider the above and consider what changes you can make. You can’t just tackle the problem from the outside as lifestyle and diet play an important role. Healthy living and a good skin care regimen is the way to brighten you up.

The leading cause of death among North Americans continues to be cardiovascular disease. As lifestyle factors play such a major role in heart disease, it is important to understands some aspects of the disease and what you can do to prevent it.

The heart is a muscle in the body that like all muscles needs its own supply of blood in order to function. Working properly, it then pumps blood through the circulatory system, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body and removing wastes such as carbon dioxide.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Heart disease begins in many when plaque begins to build up in the arteries. This causes the arteries to become narrow thereby restricting the blood flow through them. As the blood flow is reduced, the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart is reduced. This tends to create pains in the chest, called angina. Heart attacks result when the blood flow to the heart is totally blocked.

Diets low in fat, high in fiber coming mainly from fruit and vegetables help the body respond to CAD. Omega-3 oils found in foods like cold water fish and flax seeds are of benefit for a healthy heart, as they are felt to inhibit the blood from becoming ’sticky’ thereby limiting the likelihood of clots forming and may slow down the process of plaque formation. In addition, regular exercise and stress reduction are also beneficial.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Congestive heart failure and related forms of heart failure affect over five million North Americans. It is a condition in which the heart cannot adequately supply the body’s other organs with blood. While a serious condition, the word failure does not mean that the heart stops beating.

As the pumping action of the heart is decreased, the blood does not move efficiently through the circulatory system and starts to back up, which then causes an increase of pressure in the blood vessels, and forces fluid from the vessels into body tissue. When the left side of the heart starts to fail, fluid tends to collect in the lungs, while when the right side starts to fail, fluid tends to collect in the feet and lower legs.

People with congestive heart failure tend to tire easily, have shortness of breath and can experience fluid retention and swelling. Diabetes, obesity and sleep apnea are commonly associated with CHF.

As with CAD a low fat, high fiber diet is recommended along with treatment for associated diseases. CoQ-10, a powerful antioxidant, has been clinically shown to be of benefit to CHF patients. Though exercise may be difficult for people with CHF, it would still be of benefit and therefore one should consult with their health professional to determine what the possibilities might be.

High Blood Pressure

As a leading cause of heart disease, high blood pressure, often called hypertension, is a condition in which too much pressure is being exerted on the walls of the arteries. Called ‘the silent killer’ high blood pressure can be present without a person experiencing any apparent symptoms.

In about 90% of high blood pressure cases an associated cause is not known. This is defined as primary hypertension. If it results from another disease or condition, it is called secondary hypertension and often returns to normal when the originating cause is treated.

There are some factors that though not causes, are often associated with high blood pressure such as: CAD as previously discussed, arteriosclerosis which is hardening of the arteries, imbalances in organs such as the kidneys, lungs and liver, obesity, lack of exercise, sodium (salt) sensitivity, alcohol consumption, and various pharmaceutical drugs. (Note this is not a comprehensive list.)

Once again a heart-healthy diet containing plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish, while low in saturated fats, salt and sugar is recommended for people with high blood pressure. As exercise helps lower blood pressure a regular exercise routine should become part of the daily routine.

Chickpeas, beans, soy products, proteins found in garlic, and other antioxidants such as bilberry help improve lipids in the blood and lower cholesterol. Avocados and nuts have been shown to boost your ‘good’ cholesterol.

Finally, a heart-healthy lifestyle will limit the amount of alcohol consumed as it has been shown to have an affect on cholesterol levels. It is recommended that women consume no more than one drink per day and men no more than two. Smoking has also been linked to heart disease, so the sooner a person can quit the better.

Do you remember the days of being able to eat whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, without seeing any change in what the scale was reporting? Weren’t those the days! So what happened? As time passes, digestive systems take a real beating and many find themselves starting to pack on extra pounds. The good news is, it does not have to stay that way.

The Problem Starts Early

Studies have reported that as early as the age of three the stomachs of many children are already in a state of shock from what they are forced to process. While it usually takes a few years for symptoms to appear, the assault started long before.

Shocking The System

Besides the affect of unhealthy food choices and chemical ingestion, the stomach and digestive system as a whole is hard-hit from the impact of life’s daily stress. Since our body systems are intertwined, a blow in one area ripples into the others.

Toxins Build

As the digestive system becomes impaired in its ability to process all that is sent its way, toxins start to build up in the body. As a survival mechanism the body then starts to gain mass to reduce the percentage of total body toxicity, storing the toxins in the fat cells. This then tends to push people to start dieting, which for many is the beginning of a frustrating loop of weight loss and weight gain – determination and disappointment.

A Fact About Weight Loss

The body really does not care how much it weighs. It is most concerned with how its systems are functioning and will spend its energy coming to the aid of any system working at a sub-optimum level. Since fat loss requires so much energy, there is none available for it if some system is out of order.

Lose The Fat Forever

So, the key to permanent weight loss is to get to the root of the problem, which for many is going to be getting their stomach out of the state of shock and back to operating at its full potential. While this can take some time, many will see results quickly when they start to provide their bodies with premium fuel: whole foods with live enzymes that the body can easily and readily assimilate for its essential processes.

Essentials of Good Nutrition

To adequately provide your body with good nutrition, the whole foods should include a variety of colors and should incorporate different tastes such as bitter, sweet, sour, salty, astringent (cranberries and tea) and pungent (hot, spicy). As you start to nourish your body with nutrient dense foods, you will find that yourself drawn to making healthy choices and find that you are totally satisfied with eating less, as it’s quality, not quantity that your body is look for.

Watch The Fat Melt Away

Once the body nourishes its systems back to health, it will then have the energy to focus on weight loss. As you nourish your body with nutrient-packed food, it will at some point turn its attention to the removal of the toxins that are stored in the fat. As those toxins are released, the body will shed the fat and you will effortlessly return to your natural healthy weight.

Win The Battle

If you have tried dieting and have been unsuccessful, don’t beat yourself up; instead turn your attention to finding ways to nourish your body with superior nutrition, then watch what your body will do for you.