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Simple eye care supplements can improve your eye health and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss in people over 50.  it is a hardening of the arteries which nourish the retina,  depriving the retinal tissue of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function. Cataracts and decreasing night vision are also affected by the result of a loss of nourishment to aging eyes.

The 2 nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin, are carotenoids which play a vital role in the health of our eyes.

Carotenoids are found in plants such as spinach, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, honeydew, and kiwi. A 1995 study showed that eating spinach and collard greens five or more times a week was found to noticeably reduce the risk of MD. (1)

In a 2004 study, lutein has been shown to not only help prevent, but to actually reverse symptoms of ARMD. Patients were supplemented daily with Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

If you eat healthy and still gain weight, the problem may be a lack of sleep.

An estimated 50-70 million Americans are suffering mentally and physically from a lack of sleep (1). Though eating habits obviously play a role in weight gain, studies have shown that there is a definite relationship between a lack of sleep and weight gain.

Various hormones released during your sleep regulate your weight and appetite.

Leptin, released during sleep, is the hormone which tells your body that it is full and doesn’t need more food. The lower the levels of leptin in your body, the more of the hormone ghrelin is released to increase your hunger (2). The growth hormone is also released during sleep; while this hormone causes growth in children, it controls muscle mass and fat level in adults (1).

A University of Chicago research found definite relationship between too little sleep and increased appetite/weight gain. The people in the study who slept only 4 hours a night had leptin levels decrease by 18 percent. This caused the ghrelin levels, which stimulate appetite, to increase by 28 percent (2). These results should be motivational in getting a good night’s sleep. Many of us just stay so busy that sleep is the easiest thing to cut back on.

If stress is causing your lack of sleep, not putting into action a plan to deal with stress will only add to your weight problems.

Stress increases your levels of adrenaline and cortisol, mobilizing the body’s sugar supply, for the purpose of quick thinking and action in emergency situations. If you live in a frequent or continual state of stress, the excess cortisol will make your body think that it is in need of more and more energy supply for a “fight or flight” response that is not physically taking place Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

What can practically be done about the past failures and guilt?

There are some simple steps you can daily implement to help you move past guilt.  (If you missed Part 1 of this 2-part post, please use the above series link. Part 1 explains what God Himself says about His compassionate, forgiving, uncomdemning nature to help you remove emotional hindrances in receiving the good He desires to bring into your life. This is heavier reading than most posts on this site but should help those of you struggling with guilt, condemnation, and other negative thought patterns that hinder healing. )

First, a reminder– as mentioned in Part 1, to receive healing it is only logical that all habits of a destructive lifestyle need to be left in the past.   Scripture refers to this as repentance, a 180 degree turn around. Otherwise, it is like the continually unsuccessful dieter who starves herself or himself for a couple of days, only to binge for several days thereafter. Next, as also mentioned in Part 1 of this post, just as God’s mercies toward us are new every morning we need to have mercy on ourselves and release the guilt of past failures. If God deems us worthy of such mercy, we can honestly show such mercy to ourselves.

But what about those who are plagued by guilt, not as much self-imposed, but from inaccurate childhood teachings about God that have left them with images of an angry, harmful, unforgiving God? If you suffer from harmful, inaccurate childhood teachings about God, it will take some discipline of focusing on truth to eradicate that input.

On the practical side, many people print out a list of verses such as covered in this article and spend sometimes even months of daily repeating out loud the truth God says about Himself, i.e., God’s continually renewing compassion, graciousness, desire for our wholeness and superabundant life in quality. Another beneficial verse along this line is Psalm 103:10, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” If people have put into your mind as a child the image of God standing over you eagerly desiring to punish you for the slightest mistake, Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Whether or Not You Believe You Deserve to be Well Greatly Affects All Aspects of Your Health!

Though it sounds like an absurd question, but medical science has proven that your mental perspective, what you think about yourself and God, has a great effect on physical, emotional, and spiritual health. (This is Part 1 of a 2-part post. It is heavier reading than most posts on this site but should help those of you struggling with guilt, condemnation, and other negative thought patterns that hinder healing. )

For the purpose of example, there is a particular area in the medical field in which the procedure actually brings back to one’s mind past emotional hurts that are causing current physical health problems. Brief, physical treatments are then done which actually remove the pent up emotion from that bad emotional experience which has been stored in the body. During the physical treatment, you are asked to state out loud phrases along the lines of, “I deserve to be healthy. I deserve to be free from allergies” etc. People are then cured of various recurring physical ailments once that stored negative emotion from a past experience was removed from the body.

Believing that you deserve to be well is just as necessary a perspective in the area of faith and the spiritual realm.

In Matthew 9:29, while bringing healing to people, Jesus said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” The Amplified Version (expanded from the Greek) says, “According to your faith and trust and reliance on the power invested in Me be it done to you.” Most anyone you talk to, regardless of their religious beliefs or the lack of them, believes that Jesus healed people. Yet even Jesus said that people’s healing was dependent on whether or not people believed that they would be healed or, one may say, whether or not they believed that God desired to heal them. (1. Click on the text link for “faith” to open a window with the Greek definition. 2.Click on “to be done” for the Greek definition. 3. Click the text link here to read why I use Greek definitions.)

Whether you are a believer in God, or if you are just interested in knowing what Scripture says about God’s desire to heal our lives, it will be beneficial to focus on a few brief examples which show God’s heart and character with regard to healing. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

When it comes to improving one’s health by eliminating toxins from your diet or environment, most people just start with what they can afford. The most important point is that you start.

Usually it is not in most people’s budget to buy all organic foods. Nor can every food type your are interested in be readily found in organic form at your local grocery. I came across this list last year as to which produce is most important to buy organic, though I didn’t reference the source. If your budget limits you to what you can buy organic, here is a list of which is most important produce to choose in organic form.

Focus on buying in organic form the fruits and vegetables that are most heavily sprayed with pesticides.

The following fruits and vegetables are ones that are heavily sprayed with pesticides and are listed in order of the worst offenders in pesticide residues, number one being the highest.

1. strawberries
2. bell peppers
3. spinach
4. cherries Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Various studies have been done linking both average and low Vitamin B-12 levels to brain shrinkage and dementia.

Last week I posted an article on Alzheimer’s prevention, so I thought it would be good to follow it up with these results of 3 different studies regarding B-12 deficiency and memory problems. I’ll paste abbreviated results below with their references in case you want to read the full articles. Top sources of Vitamin B are listed at the end of the post.

Take note of these main points:

-Though western cultures normally eat enough food with B-12, the absorption of it decreases with age.

-The push for using antacids has also decreased people’s absorption of B-12.

-If you divide a normal range of B-12 absorption into thirds, the elderly people in the lower level of what is still considered normal B-12 blood level range had 6 times more brain shrinkage than those in the upper third. Thus, a normal level could still be risky unless you are at the higher end of the range. Two studies below showed risk in normal ranges.

-Dairy products, fish, and meat are the typical sources of B-12.

-Daily oral doses of B-12 in 1000 mcg were effective in raising B-12 levels in elderly and reducing memory problems. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

As over 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s and over 500,000 of them are under the age of 65, it is well worth looking into preventative measures.

I’m highlighting 10 points from an AOL article by Vicki Salemi with a link below to the full article. The sentences in parentheses are my comments on some of the points. The doctor in Ms. Salemi’s article does recommend certain drugs as preventative measures; we, personally, prefer non-drug methods as much as possible, as all drugs have some negative side effects which can outweigh any benefits.

Vitamin B Work with your doctor to put together a plan to incorporate whatever vitamins you are deficient in, particularly Vitamin B. [Our doctor said that Vitamin B is the most difficult vitamin for the body to absorb, so he suggests a quality B complex even if it is the only vitamin you take.]

Heart Healthy Foods Implement a heart healthy diet that’s low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Mental Gymnastics Taking your brain out of the comfort zone is one way to make connections and remain stimulated, such as doing crossword puzzles, creates a multi-dimensional connection.

Exercise Thirty minutes of exercise several times a week is beneficial for brain health. Exercise brings more oxygen to your brain, it helps burn excess sugar, it enhances hormones and is good for blood flow.

Avoid Heavy Metal Contamination Avoid shrimp and shellfish due to the mercury. Avoid exposure to aluminum in general, aluminum foil, pots and pans or deodorant with aluminum as an ingredient. [When buying fish, we look for "wild caught" on the label, and albacore in tuna, as they are supposed to be lower in heavy metals, though some doctors avoid fish completely, such as Dr. Mercola.] Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

If you rated your health practices, where would you rate with the national average?

Do you think your score card would compare to the national average or with what is necessary for a long, quality state of life?  Consumer Reports (1) recently put out an article based on the U.S. Government’s Healthy People 2010 initiative.  We’re going to look at some of these check points so you can see how you rate.  For our readers outside the U.S., you will still benefit from the health goals in these areas and the “how-to’s” of achieving good standards for a long healthy life.

Moderate Exercise

Average- 26 minutes per day for men, 19 per day for women.

Goal- 150 minutes moderate exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise for cardiovascular health, good cognitive function, lower body fat, and less age-related muscle loss.

Optimum- For more health benefits, increase to 300 minutes moderate exercise per week or 150 minutes vigorous exercise and strength training 2 days a week.

Body Weight

Average- Body mass index of 28 for men and women, waist circumference of 39.7 for men and 37 for women.

Goal- BMI of under 25 for men and women, waist circumference of 37 for men and 32 for women to lower rate of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and premature mortality.

How to Calculate- Your weight in pounds divided by your height in inches squared, then multiplied by 703. For ease, a BMI calculator is available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org/BMI . For waist, measure circumference at belly button height.

Healthy Diet

Average- Less than 3 servings a day of fruit and vegetables for men and less than 4 for women. 

Goal- 2-4 servings per day of fruit and 3-5 servings per day of vegetables (5-9 total) to reduce risk of Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Though those of us who run our own businesses often feel it is impossible to get away for a vacation, it is this seemingly impossible idea that is essential for the prosperity of your business.

In times of stress, and more so when the weather turns wintery, most of us begin to dream of a relaxing getaway in a warm, responsibility-free environment.  The thought is wonderful, motivational, yet for the small business owner, it often seems only a dream.  Rod Kurtz, Small Business author for AOL, recently wrote a post reminding small business owners of the essential nature of vacation.  Especially since small business owners usually work 24-7, he says a relaxing getaway is crucial for

-renewed motivation
-rejuvenation
-increased productivity

As getting ready for such a vacation usually brings even more stress, business owners are more likely to cancel vacation plans than follow through.  According to Mr. Kurtz, while most Europeans take a month long vacation, almost 2/3’s of American business people have canceled vacations due to the recession.

Different vacations for different purposes!

I love this quote by Clint Greenleaf, Greenleaf Book Group, as to the different types of vacations necessary for the business owner Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Here are 10 tips for easing your holiday digestion and allowing you to ensure your enjoyment of all those holiday foods!

All our favorite, lavish foods for the holidays can cause even the healthiest eaters to be tempted to overindulge, creating digestive discomfort that distracts from holiday enjoyment.  Dr. David J. Foreman, Herbal Pharmacist, has written a helpful article on “Holiday Digestion.”  You can read the full article (1) and others by Dr. Foreman at www.VitaminShoppe.com .  Click on Articles and Recipes at the top, then on Advice from Experts, then Herbal Pharmacist; you will then see the archives on the right.

Below are some excerpts from “Holiday Digestion.”   Dr. Foreman writes a monthly newsletter for the Vitamin Shoppe chain of stores.  

1. Maintain a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

2.  Avoid drugs that may exacerbate your condition like aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

3.  Avoiding alcohol and caffeine at the holidays may be difficult for many, but this will be helpful to your digestion.

4. Do your best to decrease stress. This will have a huge impact on your digestive health.

5. Use a combination digestive enzyme, the best being ones that contain protease to digest proteins, amylase to digest starches, lipase to digests fats, and even lactase for lactose. Dr. Foreman’s suggestions are: Multi Enzyme by Vitamin Shoppe, Digest Gold by Enzymedica, Advanced Digestive Formula by Vitamin Shoppe, and Digest More by Renew Life.  Take supplement right before your meal.  If you are still bloated in an hour, repeat the dose. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

A couple of readers asked about health problems stemming from past hurts and how positive thinking brings healing, so let’s touch on both today!

There is an endless stream of little things happening everyday which can irritate you if you allow them to, but they are not even worth the negative thoughts and resulting physical consequences.

The first main point here is “little!” For most of us, it is allowing little situations to consistently irritate or worry us that ruin our health. Medical studies have shown that up to 80% of physical illnesses are caused by emotional issues. Some of us may be experiencing health problems due to living in an emotionally and/or physically abusive environment; if that is the case, health cannot come without a change “in” the environment or “of” environments. (If this is your case, please go to the Cloud Tag in the side column and click on “boundary violations” for posts to help you with that type of situation.) The majority of us, however, allow our health to be ruined by instances that actually come down to a matter of our own choice of thoughts. We can be the cause of our own poor health by allowing a multitude of small instances throughout the day to create irritation or anger or worry. Because we allow these negative responses so often, harmful chemicals such as cortisol are continually being released into our bodies. Studies show that cortisol, a chemical released by stress, increases irritability, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and is associated with numerous diseases (1).

The little things that set you off will vary with your personality. For example, what negative thoughts come to mind when:

• someone cuts you off in traffic?
• cuts you off to take the closest parking space?
• a family member spills something on the carpet or furniture?
• the kids start fighting?
• the dog had an accident in the house?
• a co-worker makes a cutting remark about you in front of other staff? Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

Reading Level: Leisurely

Most people admit to being tired and exhausted the majority of the time. Many suffer from restless sleep for a variety of reasons and would do anything for a good night’s sleep!

I recently read an article, it may have been by Dr. Mercola, that said most Americans actually exist in a continual state of jet-lag due to throwing off their internal clocks by not making a habit of a dusk to dawn sleep pattern. The article below quoted in Dr. Mercola’s newsletter says that “Americans now get about 25 percent less sleep than they did a century ago.” In addition to health problems such as weight gain, depression, high blood sugar, increased cancer risk, and brain damage, it said “an estimated 71,000 people are injured in fall-asleep crashes each year.”

In this quote from Dr. Mercola’s newsletter, there are 10 steps for achieving deep sleep.

Below the quote is a link to his full newsletter. Once there, look for 2 other links. After the 10 steps to deep sleep quoted in his newsletter, there is a link to a Reader’s Digest Article with 14 more steps for a good night’s sleep. However, Dr. Mercola has made his own list of 33 Secrets for a Good Night’s Sleep and you will see it at the end of his comment section. These are all good, practical tips, some of which we had already implemented in our household, and some we are going to begin tonight!

1. Sprinkle just-washed sheets and pillowcases with lavender water, and then iron them before making your bed. The scent is proven to promote relaxation.

2. Hide your clock, so that its glow won’t disturb you and make sure there is no light coming from other sources including your windows as this will seriously impair your body’s ability to produce melatonin.

3. Choose the right pillow — neck pillows, which resemble a rectangle with a depression in the middle, can enhance the quality of your sleep and reduce neck pain. Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

There is one food item consumed daily in the US that raises blood pressure levels 77%.

High blood pressure is a common issue in our culture; when left uncontrolled, it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.  We all know that food and lifestyle habits affect blood pressure.  Ignoring it is dangerous and yet it can so easily be helped!  Studies show that there is 1 great place to start  –  a food that is a main factor in high blood pressure.  Anyone can make a lifestyle change of just one food!

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently discussed the relationship studies show between fructose and high blood pressure. 

Here are some excerpts.  See the link below for Dr. Mercola’s full e-news post.

A recently published study (2010) showed that:

those who consumed 74 grams or more per day of fructose (the equivalent of about 2.5 sugary drinks) had a 77 percent greater risk of having blood pressure levels of 160/100 mmHg. (A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mmHg.) Consuming 74 grams or more of fructose daily also increased the risk of a 135/85 blood pressure reading by 26 percent, and 140/90 by 30 percent. (1)

Dr. Mercola says what makes this significant is that the average American consumes 70 grams of fructose every day.  It’s time to read those food labels and see what the sources of fructose are in your diet!

Here are Dr. Mercola’s recommendations for safe fructose intake Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

If you have consistent low energy, especially upon standing, and have been unle to find a medical cause, you may want to check the possibility of adrenal fatigue.

Your adrenal glands not only give you bursts of energy for your “fight or flight” mode, but are responsible for increasing the flow of blood when you need to put out energy, such as just standing up from a lying or sitting position. With adrenal fatigue, which is common after long periods of extreme stress or for people with easily stressed personalities, the adrenal glands are unable to produce adequate quantities of its hormones, particularly cortisol.(1) Unfortunately, it is an often overlooked medical condition.

We had a friend who had passed out upon standing up and thereafter was consistently having difficulty just getting the energy to stand.  The lack of blood to his head was causing dizziness and lightheadedness.  He went through 6 months of medical testing at the hospital with no conclusive results. 

In only 5 minutes, you can easily do a self test with a home blood pressure kit to see if you have adrenal fatigue.

Finally, a different doctor did the Ragland’s blood pressure test on him and in less than 5 minutes discovered the cause to be adrenal fatigue.  With the Ragland test, you take your blood pressure while lying down and resting.  Then, stand up and immediately take your blood pressure again. The systolic pressure (the first number) should go up about 10 points.  If it stays the same or drops, you probably have adrenal fatigue. (2)

Here are some lifestyle factors that contribute to adrenal fatigue.

As I mentioned, an easily stressed personality overworks the adrenals, but these common lifestyle factors also contribute to it, provided by AdrenalFatigue.org (3): Immerse Yourself in the Full Healing Contemplation Here »

A study published by the American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that daily journaling about one’s illness brings improvement.

Someone forwarded to me a photo of an article by Healthcommunities.com . I was unable to locate the article on their website, though it was listed as “Remedy 17.”  Here is the quote about the study done by Boston University:

If you have IBS, a pen and paper may help.  A Boston University study published by American Journal of Gastroenterology finds that symptoms of IBS improve when the patients write about their feelings and experiences with the illness.  People with IBS suffer from chronic stomach discomfort, alternating of diarrhea and constipation and psychological distress.  Much like talks with the therapist, daily writing appears to ease some of the anxiety, depression, and other negative feelings that accompany IBS.  And when people feel better psychologically, they often feel better physically. (1)

A sideline to the idea of journaling, Healthcommunities.com recommends that you pay attention to the following certain foods and beverages which tend to aggravate IBS symptoms–chocolate, milk, soda, fats, caffeine, and large meals.
(1)Healthcommunities.com  Remedy 17

See these related posts:

Is Your Crohn’s Disease Food Allergy Related?

Olive Leaf Extract: The New Multi-Faceted Supplement