What is going on? For the most part, it is a case of NOT exercising our brains. We may be in great shape physically, but if we don’t know how to exercise our brains, and don’t know how to exercise our memory, we will be forgetting things more and more.

About 7 months ago, I discovered a remarkable man, Jim Kwik. He has a wonderful way of making you feel better about yourself. He teaches you to get almost immediate results in improved memory and this brings with it feeling better about yourself.

This is a remarkable video with Jim Kwik teaching. It is about 20 minutes long. Sign up for the free 26 day A to Z Kwik Tips, below the video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Discover 26 Brain Hacks for a Better Memory, Faster Reading, and Supercharged Thinking.

Each of the “26 Kwik Tips A to Z are presented daily in easily digestible two to four minute practical lessons that will give you a better mind and memory.

Click 26 Kwik Tips – to sign up for the 26 Kwik Tips.

It is fr-ee.

I know you will love it. I sure did.

I want to encourage you – any time you need to go upstairs in a building – don’t take the elevator. Find the stairwell, and your body and mind will appreciate the few more minutes that it takes. This is a wonderful article about the huge benefits of regular stair climbing.

By Nancy Bruning  My most recent article was all about how you can use the steps and step streets in northern Manhattan as part of your fitness plan. As a reminder, the reasons you’d want to climb stairs at every opportunity include: it’s a low-impact alternative to running; it builds muscles in your lower body; it improves your endurance; it increases your metabolism and helps burn fat; it’s efficient; and its’ free. In this article, I’ll add a little-known surprising benefit that I didn’t know about until recently. In case you haven’t noticed, we have lots of indoor steps too and that means we have a health club wherever there are stairs. Why not take advantage of this convenient exercise tool—whether at home, at work, or at school? I often recommend this tactic to my clients who have trouble fitting formal exercise sessions into their busy lives, or can’t afford health clubs or don’t like them. You’d be surprised how easy it is to sneak in a couple of stairs here and there throughout the day. Because stair climbing is more intense than walking, and every little bit counts, you don’t need to do it for very long to reap the benefits. For the past six years, The New York City Department of Health has partnered with The New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects on a yearly conference, “Fit City.” Each year, key thinkers and practitioners discuss how we can make the city more fitness friendly. Part of the plan is to creatively re-think building design in order to encourage people to take the stairs whenever they can, instead of the elevator or escalator. One recurring theme has been to encourage architects to design buildings with staircases that are located up front, and elevators towards the back (the opposite of what we have been seeing). They also could be more attractive to be in, with windows or skylights, or retrofitted with artwork and pleasant colors. I remember one year, the staircase at fashionista Diane von Furstenberg’s new offices were presented—the hope was that by making the stairs an open design and decorating it with hundreds (thousands?) of Swarovski crystals, employees would be more likely to scamper up and down the staircases. Dr. Karen Lee, Director of the Built Environment at the New York City Health Department, believes that, “Daily stair use is an easy and inexpensive way for people to incorporate physical activity into their life. Stair climbing is a vigorous activity that can burn more calories per minute than jogging. Just two minutes a day has been calculated to burn enough calories to prevent the average yearly weight gains seen in U.S. adults. ” That’s pretty impressive! According to Dr. Lee, “The NYC Health Department has been working with building owners and managers to get more stairs in buildings opened up for daily use. We also make available for free by calling 311 simple and effective signs that building owners and managers can post at elevators and escalators to encourage people to ‘Burn Calories, Not Electricity. Take the Stairs!’” And it seems that simply posting the signs really works, according to Dr. Lee’s study, which was recently published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Signs were posted in three different types of buildings. Right after the signs were posted, stair use increased 9.2% at a health clinic, 34.7% at an academic building and 33.6% at an affordable housing site. At the health clinic and affordable housing units the signs were left in place, and increased stair use was pretty much maintained at a nine-month follow-up. While delighted with these results of indoor stairs, Dr. Lee reminds us, “Additional opportunities in NYC such as outdoor street steps can also be incorporated into your daily routine when you encounter them or into an intentional exercise routine.” In case you find climbing stairs to daunting for some reason, don’t worry—it’s also good for you to go DOWN the stairs. In fact, going down the stairs is actually better for you than going up—in some ways. Studies show that while climbing up stairs (or walking uphill) is a great way to get a cardiovascular workout and lower triglycerides, descending the stairs (or walking downhill) is a better way to help control blood sugar—which could help stave off diabetes, or contribute to controlling it if you already have blood sugar problems. Going either up or down helps reduce LDL cholesterol. Stuart Dean, a local yoga/qigong instructor, says, “Walking down stairs actually works the leg muscles in a way that is quite different from climbing stairs.” It has to do with the way the muscles are worked—simply put, going up they contract, going down they stretch. Dean continues, “It seems that when you do stretch work you are engaging a very different set of neural pathways and calling upon a very different set of nutrients than you otherwise do. Science has a long way to go in understanding this but it seems that the chemistry underlying stretch work helps counteract and possibly prevent the breakdown of internal metabolism that results in some types of diabetes.” He also points out that the injuries resulting when an older person falls often are ultimately fatal. “And stairs are often where those falls occur, especially when going down them. As it turns out, though, it is possible that the reason elderly people tend to fall down stairs is that they have not been doing enough stretch work. Ironically, then, it seems that the elderly should be practicing going down stairs!” Dean offers some tips on going down stairs: Never have your hands in your pockets; always try to have at least one hand free; and if you are over 50, try to stay at least near the side of the stairs and the handrail if there is one. So, if you have diabetes or if you are over, say, 50, talk to your health care provider about exercise that emphasizes stretch work (you might want to use the phrase ‘eccentric muscle contraction’ to get their attention, since this is what it is called in technical language). Just for fun, if you start climbing stairs in earnest, you might like to know that many major cities hold tower running or stair race events in their most notable tall buildings, including the Empire State Building in New York. And there’s an app called Monumental to track your steps and translate that into climbing a real Monument, such as Mount Olympus, and challenge your friends to compete. It then supplies you with views and allows you to share your achievement on Facebook and Twitter. For more information and to download the NYC Department of Health sign to print and post in your building: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2008/pr033-08.shtml Nancy Bruning has a master’s degree in public health, is a certified personal trainer, and is the author or co-author of over 25 books on health and fitness. Her next book, “Nancercize: 101 Things to Do on a Park Bench” will soon be published. She also is the Chair of the Friends Committee of the Fort Tryon Part Trust and leads “Nancercize” outdoor fitness experiences and weight loss workshops. Visit Nancy’s web site at www.Nancercize.net, hear her at www.blogtalkradio.com/Nancercize, or email her at nbfitinthecity@aol.com .

Thanks to Manhattan Times for this interesting post.

So here are a few real inspiring stories of women who are doing more than most women half their age.  If this inspires you to action, leave a comment below, and let us know your story, OK?

59 Year Old Woman Looks & Trains Better Than You

Meet Rayca, the 59 year old woman who looks better, trains smarter, and lifts more than most women half her age. … Not exactly what you’d expect an almost 60 year old woman to look like, huh? … a woman who rows and squats and deadlifts and bench presses and just generally trains correctly overall, what advice would you give to the majority of women out there who think the key to getting the body they want (“fit and toned”) involves hours and hours of aerobics classes and doing …

Publish Date: 01/31/2012 12:57

Carol Evans, now 81 years old and student of Master Coach-Kevin Jodrey, performs a 10 minute Long Cycle set.

Carol had a terrible inner ear infection as a kid and lost a good portion of her equilibrium and hearing as a result. Always a very strong woman, both mentally and physically, she had gotten bored with normal gym fare and thought she might try the kettlebell class we offered-and she loved it. Carol began using a 10 pound bell for short sets and eventually got up to short jerk sets with the 12kg and 30/30 in the swing with the 12kg. She went over 180 in the snatch in ten minutes with one switch using the 8kg ball. She trained 4 days a week for 14 months.

For more information on American Kettlebell Club, visit: http://www.AmericanKettlebellClub.com

Kirstie Alley And Her Triumph Over Dropping Pounds

The renowned 60 year old Hollywood celebrity is actually considering getting married to someone more youthful, lively, courageous along with brave. Surprisingly, she appears more youthful, hotter along with more sexy than …

Publish Date: 02/05/2012 2:25

Fit Hero: 60-Year-Old Trainer Barbara McKeon

So this week we’re celebrating Barbara McKeon, an incredible 60 year old fitness instructor (whose birthday just happens to be today!) who says her … That class was successful and soon I began teaching it regularly. Then I …

Publish Date: 10/26/2011 9:38

Wales’ Oldest Female Fitness Instructor – Welsh Icons News

Peggy Sullivan is Wales’ oldest female aerobics instructor – and has no plans to retire in the near future!

Despite celebrating her 80th birthday on Sunday, 5 February, Peggy says she sees no reason to stop doing what she loves, with her weekly classes in Rhondda Cynon Taf still pulling in large crowds of keep-fit fanatics.

While many people of her age would be quite content to sit back and take it easy, Peggy is the perfect ambassador of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Leisure for Life campaign.

Her classes at the Michael Sobell Sports Centre in Aberdare are proving as popular as ever, with more and more people than ever before turning to a Rhondda Cynon Taf Leisure Centre in 2012.

Leisure for Life is a highly-successful Rhondda Cynon Taf Council campaign that aims to get people of all ages active and undertaking exercise in a bid to improve their health and well being.

It is all about talking simple steps to make exercise part of your daily routine and reaping the benefits alongside potential weight loss, enhanced fitness, muscle gain or even improved socialisation.

Publish Date: 02/04/2012 10:26

The Prostate’s Purpose:

1. Gland: The primary job of the prostate is to produce and secrete some of the alkaline seminal fluids during ejaculation (about 30-35% of the semen ejaculate). Being alkaline, the prostate fluid, which is milky whitish in color, helps the sperm survive in the acidic vaginal environment. The prostate is considered to be a gland since glands secrete something.

2. Mix Master: The prostate mixes its fluids with those from the seminal vesicles to transport the sperm made in the testicles. Together these fluids surge through the prostate into the urethra during ejaculation. The urethra doubles as the semen tube during ejaculation and as the urine tube from the bladder, both fluids exiting the tip of the penis. The section of the urethra that runs through the prostate gland is called the prostatic urethra and is about 3cm (1½”) long.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a fluid produced in the prostate, playing a key role in enabling the sperm to swim into the uterus by keeping the semen in liquid form. It counteracts the clotting enzyme in the seminal vesicle fluid, which essentially glues the semen to the woman’s cervix, next to the uterus entrance inside the vagina. PSA dissolves this glue with its own enzyme so that the sperm can dash into the uterus and impregnate an egg if it is there.

It is this same PSA that is tested during the PSA blood test, a very controversial test because of the many factors that can cause the results to vary widely.

3. Muscle: The prostate is also a muscle that pumps the semen out through the penis with enough force to enter into the vagina to help the sperm succeed in reaching the cervix and ensuring procreation of the species.

4. AH!: An added bonus for males, the pumping action of the prostate sure feels good, making sex desirable and thus helping procreation.

5. G: The prostate is the male G-spot. Prostate stimulation can produce an exceptionally strong sexual response and intense orgasm in men that are receptive to this sexual technique. The ability to control ejaculation at the prostate can also lead to prolonged orgasms and “injaculations” where no semen is expelled. This is done in advanced Taoist and Tantric sexual practices to contain the sexual energy internally.

6. Filter: The prostate also filters and removes toxins for protection of the sperm, which enhances the chance of impregnation and ensures that men seed with the optimum quality of sperm. This is perhaps the prostate’s most important function and, at the same time, can be one of the main reasons there is a growing epidemic of prostate disease and cancer as men deal with more and more toxins in food and the environment.

7. Erections: The prostate erection nerves are responsible for erections. These nerves trigger the penis to swell and harden with extra blood flow into it, producing an erection.

If these nerves, which attach to the sides of the prostate, get damaged then erectile difficulties are guaranteed. That is why many medical prostate procedures (surgery or radiation) have an unwanted side effect of erectile difficulties or impotence.

8. Secretions: Prostatic secretions also play a valuable role by protecting the urethra from urinary tract infections, which seem to be much more rare in men than women.

9. Valves: The prostate, which surrounds the upper part of the urethra tube just below the bladder (the prostatic urethra), controls the flow of urine. It prevents urine from leaving the bladder, except when released by urination. It also prevents urine from damaging ejaculate during orgasm.

It does this with two small prostatic muscles called sphincters. They act as gatekeepers with shut-off valves to control and regulate the dual-purpose urethra tube. These gatekeepers ensure the right fluids flow at the right time – urination or ejaculation. Not a bad design!

One sphincter is located where the bladder and the upper part of the prostate meet (the internal upper sphincter). When functioning properly, it prevents urination until it’s time to go and stops seminal fluid from shooting backwards into the bladder during ejaculation. When damaged, semen is forced back into the bladder and eventually exits with normal urination. This is known as retrograde ejaculation and is another possible side effect of prostate surgery – no chance of seeding a woman then!

The second, external lower sphincter is at the base of the prostate and is subject to our control. It prevents dribbling after peeing and is how we voluntarily can delay urination when inconvenient to go. Incontinence occurs when control of either sphincter is damaged and urine leaks or flows uncontrollably, thus forcing many men with prostate problems to wear adult diapers.

It’s easy enough to voluntarily control the lower sphincter and to stop urine or semen from exiting if you have enough Kegel muscle control, the ability to squeeze the flow shut. Either one of these sphincter muscles will block the urine until the urge to pee happens and the timing is right to release and let the urine flow.

An enlarged prostate or BPH can squeeze the prostatic urethra tube and the upper or lower sphincter, making urination difficult with a host of unpleasant, uncontrollable symptoms. BPH surgeries that remove part of the prostate can easily have side effects of incontinence or retrograde ejaculation.

10. Hormones: The prostate gland contains a crucial enzyme, 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme converts the hormone testosterone in the body to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is at least ten times more powerful than simple testosterone. This potent hormone DHT has several purposes including male sexual drive and function. Over time, a build-up of toxins in the prostate may affect the production of this enzyme, which is then responsible for the declining sex drive in men as they age.

DHT and testosterone have mistakenly been targeted as guilty hormones in prostate problems rather than the excessive rise in modern male estrogen levels, leading often to medical interventions with serious side effects including lack of libido. Estrogen levels rise because of the prevalence of estrogens in factory foods, commercial meats and dairy, and estrogen-mimicking chemicals present in body-care and household products. It’s even found in municipal water and some plastic food packaging.

With such a complex gland having so many functions, prostate disease can wreak havoc on a man’s health. Men would be wise to do all they can to enhance the health of their prostate – an unhealthy prostate can have an enormous impact on sexual function and simple daily urination.

The prostate is a powerhouse: a remarkable gland with huge repercussions on a man’s quality of life!

————————–
Ronald M Bazar, a Harvard MBA, is a health enthusiast and author of the new comprehensive book on the prostate called “Healthy Prostate: The Extensive Guide To Prevent and Heal Prostate Problems Including Prostate Cancer, BPH Enlarged Prostate and Prostatitis”, which is available on Amazon, iTunes, Kindle and more outlets.

Thanks to BeWell Buzz for this report!

Sugar Blues

Candida is a type of parasitic yeast-like fungus that inhabits the intestines, genital tract, mouth, esophagus and throat. In a normal person, this fungus is held in check with the good bacteria found in the gut. When out of balance, this fungus proliferates and becomes “Candida.”

Many factors contribute to the overgrowth of Candida. Among them are antibiotics, food allergies, birth control usage, and SUGAR! In Ginger’s case it was clearly her intake of sugar. Want to read more?….click below.

Sugar Blues or Sweet Living « Lifestyle for Health

10 Steps For Beating Your Sugar Addiction

1. Reduce or eliminate caffeine. The ups and downs of caffeine include dehydration and blood sugar swings, causing sugar cravings to be more frequent.
2. Drink water. Sometimes sweet cravings are a sign of dehydration. Before you go for the sugar, have a glass of water and then wait a few minutes to see what happens. Caution: soft drinks are now America’s number one source of added sugar.
3. Eat sweet vegetables and fruit. They are sweet, healthy and delicious. The more you eat, the less you’ll crave sugar.
4. Use gentle sweets. Avoid chemicalized, artificial sweeteners and foods with added sugar. Use gentle sweeteners like maple syrup, brown rice syrup, dried fruit, stevia, barley malt and agave nectar.
5. Get physically active. Start with simple activities, like walking or yoga. Start with 10 minutes a day and gradually increase. It will help balance your blood sugar levels, boost your energy, and reduce tension without medicating yourself with sugar!
6. Get more sleep, rest and relaxation. When you are tired or stressed, your body will crave energy—in the form of sugar. These cravings are often a result of being sleep-deprived, going to bed late or waking up early, sometimes for months and years on end.
7. Evaluate the amount of animal food you eat. Eating too much can lead to cravings for sweets. So can eating too little! A good health coach will help you sort this out. Experiment. Respect your body’s individuality.
8. Eliminate fat-free or low-fat packaged snack-foods. These foods contain high quantities of sugar to compensate for lack of flavor and fat, which will send you on the roller-coaster ride of sugar highs and lows.
9. Experiment with spices. Coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom will naturally sweeten your foods and reduce cravings.
10. Slow down and find sweetness in non-food ways! You body does not biologically need sugar, but it does long for hugs, time with friends, outside time, workouts, massages, etc. When life becomes sweet enough itself, no additives are needed! — Kilee Johnson, Nutrition Consultant

YouTube has tons of videos about sugar addiction. I encourage you to do a search, and find videos that will help you get a “handle” on curbing sugar cravings. I have tried to cut out sugar from my diet, and have been successful for a few months, but the addiction remains. I am committed to pushing forward again, though. I hope you join me in this fight for better health, and more energy.

Just a few weeks ago I received an email about Alzheimer’s disease being reversed by something as simple as coconut oil. I read the whole article on my cell phone – which surprised even me! The article was about a medical doctor who used coconut oil to reverse the horrible effects of Alzheimer’s disease on her own husband. The video below shows their story.

Here are a few articles that will give you a lot more information about this exciting venture into natural health.

SHOCKING HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL! | Holistic Healing News

Meanwhile during this same 60 years the American levels of heart disease, obesity, elevated serum cholesterol and Alzheimer’s have skyrocketed compared to our ancestors, and even compared to modern-day primitive societies using saturated fat as … Did you know that multiple studies on Pacific Island populations who get 30-60% of their total caloric intact from fully saturated coconut oil have all shown nearly non-existent rates of cardiovascular disease? …

Is coconut oil the secret cure for Alzheimer’s disease …

NFA’s Guide to Health & Healing – Prevent disease, improve your health, and heal your body by using traditional foods and nature’s medicine.

Can Coconut Oil Help Fight Alzheimer’s Disease and Protect Your …

Ketone bodies, substances found in the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in coconut oil, appear to be the preferred source of brain fuel for diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease patients. A study by Dr. Richard Veech, …

Visit www.OrganicCoconutOil.info for more on the use of coconut oil….Dr Newport learns that the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil may help her husband Steve, who suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s.

As the baby boomer generation continues to get older, stories like this will become more important and relevant. I would love to hear your input. What are your thoughts about natural healing? I thought it was very exciting for a medical doctor to be treating her own husband with all natural and probably organic coconut oil.

I have discovered through not only walking, but reading quite a bit on the subject, that 45 minutes is the optimum time for your walk. Sure, if you only have 15 minutes, that’s OK. But if you can, build up to 30 minutes per day, and then to 40 and 45 minutes.  This will give you the optimum cardio and aerobic exercise.

I found a few articles that will help you out if you are contemplating starting a walking program. Let me know what you are doing, and if you also find that walking is a wonderful habit to help you stay fit.

Top Ten Summer Physical Fitness Ideas!

Summer is fast approaching, here is actually our top ten checklist for making come july 1st your own fitness and best yet!

• One. Set a goal. It may be to run the 5k or to lose a stone. Then break your ultimate goal into more compact portions, such as a every week instruction plan or perhaps a weekly weight loss target. Write your own objectives and focuses on lower and set all of them someplace you can see it everyday as a reminder to maintain going.

• 2. Reveal your ultimate goal along with friends and family, you could even go a measure further a post your ultimate goal upon Facebook. This will make you responsible for your actions and you are more likely to not give up….read more.

A Walk A Day

The popularity of walking as a fitness activity has grown by leaps and bounds. Low-risk and easy to start, walking has proven its health benefits in numerous studies. An eight-year study of 13,000 people found that those who walked 30 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of premature death than those who rarely exercised. In addition, research has shown that regular walking can decrease total and intra-abdominal fat and reduce your risk of developing diabetes or breast cancer.

A regular walking program can also:

• Improve your cholesterol profile
• Lower blood pressure
• Increase your energy and stamina
• Boost “couch potato” bone strength
• Prevent weight gain

Experts at the CDC and National Institute of Health recommend that every American adult engage in 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity just about every day of the week. One way to meet this standard is to walk 2 miles briskly (about 4 miles/hr). If this is too fast,choose a more comfortable pace.

Get Ready

A walking program is simple to start. All you need are comfortable clothes and supportive shoes. Layer loose clothing, keeping in mind that brisk exercise elevates the body’s temperature. Shoes specifically designed for walking or running are best. Make sure you have a little wiggle room between your longest toe (1/2″) and the end of the shoe. Avoid cotton socks since they….read more..

This universal truth, Live Life in Balance, is especially profound when considering the pH levels in the human body (the internal balance between acidity and alkalinity).

The pH, or “potential of Hydrogen” is the scale that measures the relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Solutions are measured from zero (totally acid) to fourteen (totally alkaline); seven is neutral.

One recognizable example of the importance of pH is a swimming pool.

People will spend hundreds of dollars each year on chemicals to maintain the pH of their swimming pool to prevent an unsightly, smelly, unhealthy environment from occurring.

The human body is made of 55% to 60% liquid – it is a swimming pool inside your body.

Mostly water, this internal swimming pool surrounds all of your cells, tissue and organs.  It is vital for the transportation of nutrition, minerals, oxygen and other important bio-chemicals. It is important for these water-based fluids to be pH balanced and that water is abundant in your diet.

Maintaining the internal pH of the body is crucial.

The optimum pH in a healthy body is slightly alkaline. The body needs to maintain this level of alkalinity to work efficiently.  For example, the pH of blood in the human body must remain at the slightly alkaline level of 7.35-7.45 to carry, and release, oxygen, nutrients and support immunity.

In addition to maintaining blood pH, different fluids, in your body, are maintained at different pH levels to keep you healthy.  The different fluids, tissues and cells of the human body are composed of different chemical elements that are very sensitive to pH balance.  To sustain these pH levels throughout your body, your cells and organs are constantly working and filtering your internal swimming pool.

Many researchers believe that helping your body balance its pH levels is very important in maintaining health and fighting disease.

Body pH levels and diet appear to be closely linked.

The kidneys are one of the hardest working organs when it comes to body pH balance because:

1. The body’s natural metabolic processes produce acidic waste

2. The acid producing foods and beverages that we consume

These cellular and dietary wastes must be neutralized to avoid damaging tissues of the glands and organs responsible for detoxifying the body.  Your kidneys rely on the phytonutrients contained in green leafy vegetables, and the minerals they contain, to maintain body pH.  Calcium, magnesium, potassium and trace mineral cofactors are just a few examples of the nutrients they contain.

Maintaining this slightly alkaline state is a constant challenge for the body for two reasons:

1.      Acidity (high pH) encourages decomposition, decay, disease and energy loss.

2.      Prolonged pH imbalance decreases the body’s ability to absorb protein, minerals and other nutrients, decreases energy production in the cells, decreases the body’s ability to repair damaged cells and detoxify heavy metals.

Most Americans experience high acidity because of diet, stress, exposure to toxins in the environment and dehydration. Therefore, “alkaline input” (supplements, foods, lifestyle habits) is essential to insure a healthy level of balance.

One of the easiest ways to restore your pH is to make key dietary adjustments.

You can access a brief explanation of the impact of an acidic pH, a list of alkalizing foods and suggestions for which foods mix best together.

Taking the following steps will pay you dividends.

Step 1

Reduce the foods in your diet that can cause your acidity levels to elevate. It is those deep-fried foods, cakes, cookies, burgers, fries, muffins and white bread that cause the grief.  Foods such as pasta, cheese, eggs and milk are not necessarily unhealthy, but they are high in acid.

Step 2

Eat green food.  Optimally, 70% of your diet should consist of vegetables that grow above the ground.

If you can’t, or won’t eat 5 to 7 baseball-size servings of vegetables daily, you should consider supplementing your diet.  Look for powdered “green supplements” that contain any combination of vegetables, barley, wheat grass, chlorophyll and spirulina.  Pour water into a shaker cup, add the powder and close the lid tightly. Shake the ingredients until the mixture looks smooth.  Drink the beverage.

Powdered green supplements will have a more appealing taste if mixed with more liquid.  For example, NUPRO BeneVita-Green, when mixed with 12 ounces of water, has a similar taste to sweet tea.

Step 3

Include more foods in your diet that are highly alkaline. Asparagus, leafy greens, cucumbers, cabbage, radishes, and kale are all examples of these. Eat these foods in as close to their raw forms as possible and do not add sugar, butter or cheese to them.  Steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to keep the nutrient content high.

Step 4

Reduce consumption of sweet tasting fruit juices, sweetened tea (and any other beverage that contains sugar) and reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages and coffee.  Replace them with water.  Add slices of lemon, lime or cucumber to your water to boost the alkaline content.  If you choose, you can supplement your diet with a trace mineral supplement to support the body’s alkalizing processes.

Answer this question:  “Would you enjoy a dip in a swimming pool that had an acidic pH?”  My guess is that once you dove in, you would quickly get out!  One last question:  “What do you think the acidic pH is doing to the inside of your body?”

This article from NuPro.

Improve Your Energy, Memory and More

This writing about our liver is one of the best and concise articles I have seen on this subject. I was reminded of how important our liver is to our health. Please read and study this article. Your fitness and health could quickly improve.

People generally give little thought to liver health… and that’s a mistake. Poor liver function can lead to a wide range of physical and mental health problems—from allergies and bad breath to bloating and chronic fatigue, food sensitivities, memory problems and migraines, to name just a few.

In naturopathic circles, we have a saying, “If you aren’t sure what a patient needs, treat the liver.” This approach is in step with the great healing practices of old, including Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasize the importance of a healthy liver for optimal wellness. Here are steps you can take to protect, detoxify and heal your liver—and the dangerous “treatments” some misguided people try that actually do more harm than good.

WHAT DOES YOUR LIVER DO?

Roughly one-quarter of the blood in the body flows through the liver every minute. Oxygen-rich blood is delivered directly from the heart… and nutrient-rich blood travels nonstop from the intestines. Liver cells called hepatocytes handle more tasks than any other cells in the body. They also contain high concentrations of mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of the cells. The liver affects numerous bodily functions…

Digestion. Before the small intestine can absorb fats—including fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K—the fats must be emulsified (suspended in fluid). To do that, the liver produces up to 27 ounces a day of the digestive fluid bile. Some bile goes directly to the small intestine to meet immediate needs, and the rest is stored in the gall bladder.

The liver metabolizes food, turning it into fuel called glucose… and converts glucose into glycogen and stores it as a fuel reserve for times when blood glucose runs low. The liver also transforms vitamins and minerals into forms the body can use… stores reserves of numerous nutrients… and breaks down various substances into waste products, which the body then excretes.

Detoxification. Toxic substances, such as alcohol, and prescription and nonprescription medications (which some people cannot properly metabolize for genetic reasons), meet their ultimate end in the liver. How: First the liver filters toxins from the blood… then changes the toxins’ chemical structures to make them more water-soluble so that they can be excreted through urine and stool. The various enzymatic processes through which the liver accomplishes these tasks are called detoxification pathways.

Circulation. The liver produces components that allow blood to clot, plus proteins to dissolve clots that are no longer needed… breaks down old red blood cells, freeing the iron they contain so that it can be reused… and produces albumin, a blood protein that transports certain minerals and medications throughout the body.

Hormone activity. The liver synthesizes cholesterol, which is necessary for the production of hormones… and produces carrier proteins that transport hormones via the blood.

Immune function. The liver produces immune cells that help remove bacteria from the blood.

IF THE LIVER IS UNHEALTHY

When the liver operates suboptimally, it is called “sluggish,” meaning it cannot detoxify substances rapidly or thoroughly enough for them to be efficiently excreted. Consequently, lingering toxins exit the liver and migrate to other areas of the body, producing free radicals—unstable molecules that can damage body tissues. Eventually, the body tucks the toxins into fat tissue and cells of the brain and central nervous system. These toxins may be slowly released into the blood and contribute to many chronic health problems, including arthritis, chronic fatigue and poor memory. A sluggish liver also may affect blood flow—one possible reason why liver problems are linked to cold hands and feet, migraine and nearsightedness.

Sluggish liver is not recognized in the world of conventional medicine, so it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. One reason: Blood tests intended to detect the elevated liver enzymes that signal poor liver function generally do not show marked abnormalities until liver impairment is severe.

Many conventional doctors dismiss mildly elevated liver enzyme levels as unimportant and therefore do not recommend follow-up testing or treatment. However, small elevations can indeed indicate liver damage. Evidence: In a study in the British Medical Journal, researchers followed up on abnormal liver enzyme test results in 873 patients. They found that physicians ordered further testing and/or treatment for 531 patients who had known liver disease. Among the remaining 342 patients, doctors’ notes suggested that 157 merited further investigation—but 91 of those patients were not sent for follow-up testing. When the researchers ordered additional tests on all 157 patients, 62% of them had an identifiable diagnosis—including contagious viral hepatitis or other chronic liver diseases that required hospitalization.

My approach: When initial tests show elevated liver enzyme levels, I work with the patient to address possible contributing factors, including diet, pharmaceutical use and toxin exposure… and I prescribe natural supplements that enhance liver function. After four to six weeks of this protocol, I retest to see whether the problem has been corrected.

DETOXIFICATION: WHAT HURTS, WHAT HELPS

The following protocol promotes liver health and generally is beneficial for everyone. Unless noted, supplements are sold at health-food stores, are safe and have no side effects (as a general precaution, do not use if you are pregnant or breast-feeding).

DO NOT try “liver flushes.” Currently popular is a one-to-three-day fast during which the person consumes only a mixture of water, lime juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper (or a similar concoction). I strongly advise against this. First, flushes don’t work. It takes more than a few days to clear out toxins, reestablish normal bile flow and heal liver cells. Second, flushes can be dangerous, especially for people with nutritional deficiencies, gallstones or severe chemical toxicities. Risks include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue and muscle aches.

DO follow a detox diet. Most plant foods contain phytochemicals that aid in detoxification. Aim for two or three servings per day of foods rich in the following phytochemicals…

• Allium—from garlic, onions, chives.

• Chlorophyll—from spinach, chard, turnip greens.

• Ellagic acid—from red grapes, raspberries, blackberries.

• Gallic acid—from mangoes, rhubarb, soy foods, green and black teas.

• Glucosinolates and indoles—from cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts.

• Isothiocyanates—from horseradish and cruciferous vegetables.

• Limonene—from citrus fruits and peels.

• Sulforaphane—from broccoli sprouts and cruciferous vegetables.

Also helpful: Curcumin, found in the spice turmeric. To incorporate it into your diet, add turmeric liberally while cooking.

Important: Avoid—or use sparingly—foods that stress the liver, including alcohol, caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners, saturated fats (found in meats and nonskim dairy foods) and trans fats (such as hydrogenated vegetable oils and shortening).

DO hydrate. Each day, drink 80 ounces of water that has been purified through a faucet-mounted or pitcher-style charcoal filter or a reverse-osmosis filter (installed on your home’s main waterline).

DO steer clear of toxins. When possible, avoid secondhand smoke… pesticides… automobile exhaust… fumes from paints, glues, fire retardants and cleansers… arsenic (in unpurified water, contaminated shellfish and nonorganic chicken)… lead (in old pipes, paints, crystal and dishware)… and mercury (in some vaccines, amalgam dental fillings and some seafoods, such as swordfish and tuna).

DO use healing roots and herbs. Beetroot, dandelion root, Oregon grape root, wild yam, wormwood and milk thistle stimulate production of bile and its flow from the liver. Convenient: A formula that combines liver-supporting herbs, such as Gaia Herbs Liver Health (888-917-8269, www.GaiaHerbs.com) or Solaray Liver Blend (800-669-8877, www.Nutraceutical.com). Follow dosage instructions on labels—typically one capsule before each meal. For a general liver tune-up, I advise all adults to take an herbal liver formula for one month per year. If your liver enzyme levels are elevated, take it for six weeks or until enzymes normalize. If you have chronic hepatitis, continue indefinitely.

DO take supplements that support detoxification pathways. I advise everyone to take a multivitamin/mineral daily, continuing indefinitely. In addition, I recommend the following supplements. Take them for one month per year (the same month in which you use the liver support formula, described above)… or indefinitely if you have chronic liver disease or frequent exposure to any of the toxins described above.

• N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an amino acid derivative, at 250 mg twice daily.

• Vitamin C at 500 mg twice daily (in addition to the vitamin C in your multivitamin).

• Chlorella, a green algae, taken as directed on the label. Good brand to try: Sun Chlorella (800-829-2828, www.SunChlorellaUsa.com).

DO limit medication. Avoid unnecessary prescription and nonprescription drugs—and never use higher-than-recommended doses. Certain drugs can harm the liver by creating the following problems…

• Liver inflammation—from more than 100 products that contain the painkiller and fever reducer acetaminophen (Tylenol).

• Bile flow impairment—from birth control pills, the antibiotic erythromycin, the psychiatric drug chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and anabolic steroids.

• Elevated liver enzyme levels and possible liver failure—from cholesterol-lowering statins.

• Drug-induced hepatitis—from statin drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).

• Liver toxicity—from the arrhythmia drug amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) or the rheumatoid arthritis and cancer drug methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall).

DO reduce stress. Every day, practice a relaxation technique, such as meditation or deep breathing. Regular exercise also alleviates stress.

When your liver is once again operating optimally, you will be amazed at how much better you feel.

The more symptoms you have, the more important it is for you to adhere to the recommendations in this article and to seek help from a holistic doctor. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, a poorly functioning liver could contribute to numerous ailments, including blood sugar regulation problems (hypoglycemia, prediabetes, diabetes)… body odor that is very strong… cold hands and feet… depression… frequent diarrhea… fibrocystic breasts… gassiness… joint and/or muscle pain… irregular menstrual periods… nasal congestion… prostate enlargement or prostate cancer… skin rashes… and weight gain.

Tension may induce colon spasms in persons with irritable bowel syndrome. When your mind is anxious or overwhelmed by an circumstance or thought, it releases chemicals. These chemicals act on the nerves inside the colon and induce the intestines to contract or spasm, too fast or too slowly. Exactly like the heart and also the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to tension. These nerves control the regular contractions of the colon and trigger abdominal distress at times of stress. Men and women often experience cramps or “butterflies in their stomachs” when they are really nervous or troubled. In men and women with IBS, the colon can be excessively responsive to even slight conflict or tension. Tension makes the mind much more aware of the sensations that arise inside the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as uncomfortable.

If you ever eat while feeling stressed these spasms can speed up or slow down your digestive process to the point where you start getting signs or symptoms of looseness of the bowels or perhaps constipation. An overactive digestive system can also produce excess gas when exposed to tension. This gas can lead to bloating, cramping and even severe abdominal painful sensation.

Men and women with a significant requirement to achieve can also put themselves as well as their digestive system under significant pressure and are likely candidates for irritable bowel syndrome. In actual fact, there is some fascinating research that indicates IBS sufferers tend to fall into one of a couple of types: those who consistently put others before themselves, and those who drive themselves extremely hard.

In an attempt to find efficient treatments for the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, researchers have been investigating the numerous substances which might be released during the anxiety response. One substance that looks to have major relevance in the anxiety reaction is corticotrophin-releasing-factor (CRF). CRF is really a family of peptides, which are molecules that link amino acids which are found in both the brain plus the gut. Inside brain, CRF receptors are found inside areas related to digestion, emotions plus the autonomic nervous system. Inside gut, CRF acts within the colon to boost mucous and water secretion, influences the speed of colon contractions, and appears to be related to the sensation of abdominal pain. It’s hoped that a better comprehension of the role of CRF might lead to refinements in the production of medicines which focus on IBS signs and symptoms.

Some evidence indicates that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection inside the body. For all these reasons, anxiety management is an significant component of treatment for IBS. Tension management options include:

anxiety minimization training and relaxation therapies such as meditation
guidance and support
regular exercise such as walking or yoga
changes to the stress filled situations in your life
adequate sleep

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