ReceiveHealing.com

Osteoporosis is a fearful topic for most women, yet the best way to overcome fear is to empower yourself with clear cut information. 

In this 3 – Part Post, we will cover Osteoporosis Risk, Prevention, and Treatment.  “Half of all American women over age 50 will suffer a fracture caused by osteoporosis sometime in their lives [while] one in five sufferers is male. “(1)

Before covering your risk factors, again let me emphasize that you can do much to reduce or eliminate a variety of risk factors with regard to your bone density.  Let me start with a great word of encouragement from WomentoWomen.com:

When you have a lot of risk factors, or just a few strong risk factors, it’s easy to feel like you’re doomed for problems with your bone health; especially with all the frightening statistics we see in the media about bone health and fracture.  But the statistics on lifetime fracture risk project what might happen if you do nothing to improve your bone health. On the other hand, when you take advantage of the many opportunities to support your bones, you will reduce your odds of a fracture.

Since the more risk factors you have, the greater the likelihood of a fracture, the most common sense response is to be proactive and reduce the number of your risk factors. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Let’s answer some questions as to what is safe exercise for diabetics, on checking with your doctor, and adjusting your glucose level. Information is based on article excerpts by Karen Kemmis, footnoted below.

What Exercise is Best?

Don’t groan about this one. In Part 1, we covered all kinds of common ways to increase activity in your daily life, but the truth still remains that aerobic activities are the most beneficial for people with diabetes and, more specifically, type 2 diabetes. Aerobic exercise should last more than 10 minutes and uses multiple muscle groups – preferably arms and legs – in a continuous movement. Aerobic activities should not make you short of breath.(1)

Should I Check First with My Doctor?

If you have not had a stress test, you should only do low-level physical activities until a stress test is done. Then, the level of exercise should be based on stress test results and what you are comfortable with. A good exercise program is 20 to 60 minutes, 4 to 7 days a week. If you are not in good enough shape to exercise this long, you can do several 10-minute sessions throughout the day to reach your exercise time.(1)

What Are My Exercise Choices?

If you did not read Part 1: Easy Activity Tips for Diabetes Prevention & Improvement, please use the above link for a great list of ordinary ways to add physical activity to your daily life.

Kemmis says that walking, stationary bikes, and swimming or water exercise are some of the good choices. Water exercise is popular because it is less stress on your joints. Another interesting choice Dr. Kemmis makes is exercise DVDs for walking, dancing, and even sitting! Sitting exercises, which many people do not know exist, are a great option for people with lower extremity disorders. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

This is Part 2 of easy, practical tips for preventing or improving your diabetes in your every day life.

In the first post, we discussed why simple daily changes can make a big difference in improving your diabetes or lowering your risk, as well as gave you 10 really easy ways to add movement and activity into your day. If you missed the first post, please click the above link for Part 1: Easy Activity Tips for Diabetes Prevention & Improvement.

Here are 15 easy-to-implement tips which will help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight, whichever you are in need of.

Notice for healthy weight you want a combination of food and activity tips. These are paraphrased excerpts from info by the National Diabetes Education Program.(1) My comments are in parenthesis.

1. Be physically active in some way for an hour every day. (It doesn’t need to be things we normally think of as exercise. It can be yard work, dancing, walking through the mall, vacuuming or other brisk housework, swimming, walking farther through a parking lot, etc.)

2. Choose mainly healthy foods.

3. Eat smaller amounts during both meals and snacks.

4. Don’t supersize your meals. Order a smaller size or split a large size with a friend.

5. Eat slowly and wait about 15 minutes before deciding if you are still hungry. It takes 15 minutes before your brain can tell if your stomach is full. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

There are easy, practical tips for preventing or improving your diabetes in your every day life.

Most people cringe or feel hopeless at the mention of preventing or improving their diabetes through increased exercise or weight loss. However, various national diabetes organizations have put together very simple daily practices which anyone can implement to significantly prevent or improve his or her diabetes. So remove from your mind the images of having to turn yourself into a professional weight lifter, marathon runner, or strict vegetarian to better your life!

This is Part 1 in a 3-Part Series to give you some concise information to easily improve your diabetes or greatly lessen your risk.

Why try to prevent or improve your diabetes? Because it can work!

Chinese and American researchers found that diet and exercise programs for people at high risk for diabetes can delay the development of the disease. Over a 6 year period, 577 adults with high blood glucose levels who followed a diet and exercise program reduced incidences of diabetes by 51%. Even though diabetes risk normally increases with age, the study showed that over a 20 year period, good diet and exercise still reduced incidences of diabetes by 43%. (1)

Here are 10 Simple Ways to Increase Your Activity Level in Your Daily Routine:

1. Walk to places you need to go that are close by instead of driving (at times and to places that are safe to walk.). You may even want to wear a pedometer to keep track of your steps each day and challenge yourself to keep improving.

2. If you do drive, park as far away from the door as is safe. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Gratifying

If you have a wide variety of health issues and have not been able to locate the source, you may want to check your B12 levels.

B12 is a vitally important nutrient in many bodily functions, yet studies show that 1 out of 4 adults in the US are B12 deficient, and nearly ½ the population has sub-optimal B12 levels. Most people over 50 are likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency, as you absorb less with age. Strict vegetarians and vegans are at risk as the only dietary source are animal products. Studies in India show about 80% of adults there are deficient in vitamin B12.

Today’s research are excerpts from a newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola. Click here to read his full article. His B12 article is very lengthy, but if, after reading these excerpts, you feel that the info applies to you, you will probably want to read his article in its entirety.

B12′s Work in the Body

Take a look at this extensive list of B12′s involvement in your health.

• Proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat
  metabolism
• Healthy nervous system function. B12 builds the myelin which
  insulates and protects your nerve endings, allowing them to
  communicate.
• Promotion of normal nerve growth and development
• Help with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
  cell formation and longevity
• Proper circulation
• Adrenal hormone production
• Healthy immune system function
• Support of female reproductive health and pregnancy 
• Feelings of well-being and mood regulation
• Mental clarity, concentration, memory function
• Physical, emotional and mental energy

Common Health Risks from B12 Deficiency

This is a partial list of health problems for which a B12 deficiency could create increased risk: Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Laughter  -  It is something we all enjoying hearing, something we all enjoy doing.  It has natural healing powers.  It’s time to do more of it! 

For over a thousand years, long before the realm of modern science, age old proverbs reminded people of the healing power of laughter, 

A rejoicing heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov. 17:22

Dr. Don Colbert shares that laughter is one of his prescriptions to patients who come to be placed on nutritional programs. He has discovered that when he asks patients how often they laugh, most cancer patients respond, “I never laugh.” He prescribes 10 belly laughs a day for his patients. (1)

Research has shown a wide variety of healing aspects from laughter:

Pain Relief - A study of patients recovering from surgery showed that the group which was allowed to choose the humorous movies they saw benefited the most from the laughter therapy and required fewer pain-killers compared with a control group that saw none at all. (2) Other research has also shown laughter to increase one’s pain threshold. (4)

Lower Blood Pressure - Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopamine (4); stress hormones, on the other hand, increase the number of platelets, causing obstructions in the arteries and raising blood pressure. (3) Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Gratifying

What’s in your wardrobe? Studies are showing that the most popular style of bras hinder lymph node function, increasing breast cancer risk.

Ill-fitting bras, as well as the most popular style of bra, the metal underwire, increase your potential health risks. Lymph nodes, which purpose are to daily excrete toxins from your body, are unable to drain properly when tight-fitting bras or underwire bras consistently press on their reflex points.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently sent out a newsletter with data from various doctors and researchers studying the effects of impaired lymph node drainage due to constrictive clothing. We are exposed to many dangerous toxins everyday that the body needs to eliminate. Dr. Mercola says that even the aluminum in antiperspirants is a dangerous toxin which the body needs to eliminate.

I’m categorizing below a few excerpts from this essential information related to breast cancer. Please use the newsletter link here or the one at the end of this post to read Dr. Mercola’s full article.

How do ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, and other constrictive clothing increase cancer risk as well as fibrocystic breasts?

Read the important medical findings from these 3 excerpts:

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow…as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast. Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

You can significantly improve your overall health and nutrition for only a few dollars a day by incorporating super foods into your diet.

Superfoods (or super foods) are foods that are so rich in nutrients that they can treat or prevent disease. One can incorporate the natural forms into your daily meal plans or obtain the benefits of a wide variety that would be virtually impossible to eat by using one of the many new superfood supplements available. The following data and suggestions are excerpts from an article by Dr. David J.Foreman, Herbal Pharmacist, author of the monthly newsletter for the Vitamin Shoppe chain of stores. See the footnote below for a link to the complete article.(1)

According to Dr. Foreman’s research, most experts are now recommending 9 servings per day of fruits and vegetables.(1)

Few of us ever achieve that level on a daily basis. In addition, there are certain “superfoods” which have vastly higher amounts of beneficial phytonutrients and phytochemicals than the average fruit or vegetables one typcially eats. You should try to incorporate natural forms of these foods into your diet as much as possible, but also seriously consider a superfood supplement, as some superfoods are either not easy to fix or not tasty to the average person.

You can enjoy common health benefits from superfoods such as:

-Increased Energy
-Balancing of Your pH
-Strengthening Your Immune System
-Detoxifying Your Body
-Good Source of Fiber
-Nutrients More Easily Digested and Absorbed

Dr. Foreman personally saw major changes in his overall health after using a superfood supplement, including increased energy, better sleep, more effective digestion, clearer skin, and improved vision.

Here are some ways superfoods treat or prevent disease: Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Impassioned

The desire for effective treatment of arthritis pain is a worldwide one.

Studies suggest about 40 million people suffer from arthritis in the USA alone. In Part 2 of this post on arthritis, I’ve compiled several lists and links for effective, natural arthritis treatment by various organizations. It is a lot of information. However, there are such a vast number of people whose quality of life is greatly diminished by the pain of arthritis that I wanted to provide you with as many options as possible. If one is not presently working for you, I trust you find here another method to receive healing in your body and restoration to your quality of life.

First, let’s take a look at this highly informative quote from Dr. Weil about arthritis. Dr. Weil is a well-known MD who encourages natural remedies when possible. He has a line of supplements available at health food stores and on the web.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune disorders, diseases caused by the immune system attacking the body’s own tissues. Autoimmune reactions may be triggered by infection, tissue injury, or emotional trauma in people with a genetic predisposition to them. Conventional medicine treats rheumatoid arthritis with steroids and other immunosuppressive medications, most of which are toxic when used long-term. Try to avoid these strong drugs if you can. Patients who are dependent on them are less likely to respond to natural treatments. (1)

I think 2 points from the quote are particularly of great significance.

• First, notice that autoimmune diseases such as arthritis can be triggered by trauma. I’ve referred to research in previous posts of our need to deal effectively with stress and traumatic experiences so that they will not create disease in our bodies. (Click here to read my posts on stress, Stress: How to Cope and  Stress; How to Cope Part 2 )

• Second, steroids and similar treatments hinder the effectiveness of natural remedies. This is significant even in my own family, as I have a relative who was on steroids for ITP and was taking natural supplements for various ailments. He is finally off the steroids, but this means that the supplements will have greater results now that he is off the steroids.

Here are excerpts from Dr. Weil’s natural arthritis treatments.  Please click here to read his article in full.

For General Arthritis:

• Follow a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet; minimize consumption of foods of animal origin.
• Eliminate milk and milk products including commercial foods made with milk.
• Avoid all polyunsaturated vegetable oils, partially hydrogenated oils, margarine, vegetable shortening.
• Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold water fish, walnuts or freshly ground flaxseeds.
• Get regular aerobic exercise (swimming is best for those with rheumatoid arthritis).
• Practice relaxation techniques.
• Avoid health care practitioners who make you feel pessimistic about your condition.
• Eliminate or reduce intake of coffee and tobacco as both have been liked to an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis. (1)

For Rheumatoid Arthritis:

• One at a time, eliminate the following categories of food for two months: (1) all sugar except natural fruits; (2) all citrus fruits; (3) wheat, corn and soy. At the end of each trial period, restore the eliminated items to your diet. You may find that one or more has an influence on your arthritis symptoms.
• For symptomatic treatment use aspirin and other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Take feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) for its anti-inflammatory effect; one to two capsules twice a day.
• Use anti-inflammatory herbs. Ginger and turmeric are particularly effective. I recommend Zyflamend, made by New Chapter Inc., which includes both. You can continue to take these herbs indefinitely. (1) Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Arthritis is a common concern in our society. A simple program of prevention is just as important as arthritis treatment after the symptoms have appeared.

There is a truthful old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Simple, beneficial lifestyle changes, most of which we all realize we should be living anyway, are an easy, pleasant way to prevent years of unnecessary pain and suffering. This Prevention List contains excerpts of practical tips from Symptoms of Arthritis.com. Please use the link below to read their article in its entirety.

Lose Weight

Being overweight puts a strain on your knees, hips and the ball of your feet…You can continue to loss weight gradually in order to reduce your risk even further, but ten pounds is a good, attainable goal to start with. You can lose pounds by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

Exercise

Exercise will help you maintain healthy muscle tone and keep weight at a proper level. Light exercise, like leisurely swimming, combats joint swelling and stiffness. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Allergies can be lessened by any of a wide choice of natural remedies.

I researched through some sites to find reputable info on natural remedies for allergy treatment. I’m posting excerpts from 2 sites below. The first excerpts are from a health site called Mother Earth News. The second set of excerpts is from an interview with Dr. Cliff Bassett which took place on Good Morning America. It is significant to note the agreement between the 2 sources for natural allergy relief. Please follow the links to read these articles in their entirety.

These excerpts are from Mother Earth News suggested natural remedies. Please click the above link for their full article.

Neti Pots have been used in India for thousands of years to flush the sinuses…It’s a bit like using nasal spray. [Studies show it is also an] effective way to treat seasonal allergies in children, and markedly reduced their use of antihistamines. Netis are inexpensive and widely available online and at natural food stores. Use about twice a day during allergy season..You also can use a neti pot before bed to prevent snoring caused by allergies and promote optimal overnight breathing. [Find full description for use on the Mother Earth News site.]

Quercetin A natural plant-derived compound helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. Quercetin also is a natural antioxidant. The recommended dosage is about 1,000 milligrams a day, taken between meals. It’s best to start treatment six weeks before allergy season. Those with liver disease shouldn’t use quercetin, so please consult your doctor. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Build your immunity with these easy-to-implement helps.

Any time is a great time to build your immune system, but such focus is especially helpful when there are extra viruses circulating at the job and at school.

Here are a couple of tips we use:

1. Add lemon to your drinking water. If you are drinking the proper amount of water for your weight each day (weight x 50% = ounces per day), then you have plenty of opportunity to use lemon to build your immune system. Of course, do not just drop it into your water as they do at restaurants; squeeze the juice of a slice into each glass of water you drink.

2. Stimulate your immune system reflex points. You can follow this link to see a chart of reflex point that you can press on to stimulate your immune system. This site recommends using this technique 3 times a week. Our chiropractor has us do a different immune system stimulator, rubbing on the outside of the left knee, rubbing about 6 inches up the thigh towards the hip, for about 30 seconds.

3. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Experts used to recommend 5+ ½ cup servings a day; though most of us do not eat that much of fresh or lightly steamed vegetables and fruit daily, I found a link that will give you the amounts to eat based on your age, gender, and daily physical activity levels. Click here to find your amounts of daily fruits and vegetables. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

You can elevate the rate at which your body burns calories and better manage your weight by minor adjustments to how and what you eat.

These are some excerpts from the footnoted Metabolism article below:

1. Don’t skip breakfast - Your metabolism slows down overnight and will continue to lag if you have too few calories for breakfast.

2. Eat small meals and snacks several times a day – Eating less food at a time but more frequently (instead of more food a few times a day) increases your metabolism.

3. Choose wise food types - Pick foods which are healthy proteins and take more energy to digest, high fiber foods which make you feel full and take longer to digest, soups, beans, fresh vegetables and fruits.

4. Eat spicy foods - Spicy foods such as chili speed up metabolism as much as 25% for a short time after eating them.

5. Eat cleansing foods - Do a good dietary cleansing. Include many high fiber, antioxidant-packed raw vegetables and fruits to remove toxins and unwanted fat.

6. Exercise - Exercising for more than 30 minutes can elevate your metabolism during exercise and for several hours afterward. The muscle you build from exercising also burns more calories.

Excerpts from “Raise Your Metabolism,” p.26, Extraordinary Health, Vol. 5

Reading Level: Leisurely

Giving some guidance to your children or grandchildren about your diabetes can bring mutual benefit to your family.

I recently came across an article by Martha Funnell about the importance of informing your children or grandchildren about diabetes. Not only does it help to dispel their fears, but it develops a healthy support system within your family.

Here are the main points from Ms. Funnell’s article:

1. Answer their questions honestly. Not knowing answers usually causes more fear. They also may have heard misinformation from friends.

2. Explain diabetes in simple terms, such as your body has trouble handling sugar so you are taking medicine and eating healthy to take care of yourself.

3. Children sometimes fear they will get diabetes. Encourage them to stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight to prevent diabetes.

4. Reassure them that you are doing everything possible to stay healthy.

5. Explain that you may have mood changes due to changes in your glucose levels. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

The winter months bring added desire for skin care help with dry skin problems.

Those already with dry skin do not look forward to the added irritation that winter weather brings, as severe dry skin can be quite painful, even leading to bleeding, and definitely an unwanted distraction during daily responsibilities.

I recently read a helpful article with good, easy skin care help for dry skin by Dr. David J. Foreman, Herbal Pharmacist, who writes a monthly newsletter for the Vitamin Shoppe chain of stores. (We buy most of our supplements there.) The information below contains excerpts from his article on “Winter Dry Skin Tips.” You can find more of Dr. Foreman’s articles at www.VitaminShoppe.com, click on Articles and More at the top, then on Advice from Experts/Herbal Pharmacist; you will then see the archives on the right.

The first step for skin care is using an EFA, essential fatty acid, such as fish oil or a vegetarian source containing flax, borage, or Evening Primrose oil.

Though either type works well for dry skin, Dr. Foreman prefers the fish oil as it provides many additional health benefits not derived from the vegetarian oils. He, his friends, and family have found that the EFAs work better than anything else previously tried Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »