Lets Get Healthy! :D

What Are The Health Benefits of Lutein?

2017-03-18T14:23:00.001-04:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Apricots?

2017-03-17T08:30:00.001-04:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Colors?

2017-03-14T09:06:00.001-04:00

How To Treat Age Spots Naturally

2017-03-13T08:29:00.001-04:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Kefir?

2017-03-12T08:55:00.001-04:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Pickles?

2017-03-11T09:08:00.001-05:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Olive Oil?

2017-03-11T07:37:00.001-05:00

What Are My Top 3 Best Skin Care Secrets!

2017-03-09T10:42:00.001-05:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Lime?

2017-03-09T09:08:00.001-05:00

What Are The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Hair?

2017-03-08T08:17:00.001-05:00

Does Emu Oil Help Hairloss and Frontal Regrowth?

2017-03-07T09:16:00.003-05:00

Does Emu Oil Help Hairloss and Frontal Regrowth?

2017-03-07T09:16:00.001-05:00

What Are The Health Benefits of Tomatoes?

2017-03-06T10:20:00.001-05:00

A Message To Vegan Mothers

2013-05-28T10:22:00.001-04:00

A Message To Vegan Mothers

2013-05-27T08:26:00.002-04:00

In this post I would like to address a very important point about being a vegan mother. As you know many mothers decide to become vegan for reasons of improving and preventing health problems. Many times when mothers decide to become vegan they are ignorant of making sure they are getting all of the necessary nutrients to be healthy as well as keep there children healthy. This is a sad and unfortunate thing as many children have been hurt or died. For example you can read of one such instance here: http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/baby-breastfed-by-vegan-mother-dies/

This was really a result of being ignorant and careless about making sure that the mother and child were well fed and taken care of. Many times people will hear all the great benefits about adopting a vegan diet without giving any care for nutritional requirements. I would highly encourage all of you who read this to go over to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism and read about the Health Concerns and Pregnancy, babies and children.

It always important to make sure that whatever anyone eats to make sure they take full responsibility for their health. All vegans should take care in making sure they are getting enough vitamin b12, vitamin a, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc!

What I would like to say though is that many times people will use examples of what had happened to the death of a child under the care of a vegan parent to somehow associate the vegan diet with that of nutritional deficient children that are dying. This is simply not honest to health seekers out there. Just because one mother was ignorant and careless about making sure her and her child had enough nutrients and food does not automatically somehow make the vegan diet bad or unhealthy. This is simply a lie!

The truth of the matter is that a plant based diet and even low fat vegan diets have been used to reverse and cure disease. For example Dr Neal Barnard has used a low fat vegan diet to help people cure type 2 diabetes. Also at the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida they use a raw vegan diet to help people cure cancer and many other degenerative disease.This is not possible if it was somehow detrimental to our health. The problem comes when people go to extremes or does not take care in making sure they are sufficiently fed and without depriving themselves of nutrients that are critical.

People and especially mothers need to be mindful of making sure they are well fed on a vegan diet and obtain all the nutrients necessary in order for them to be healthy and their children.

Thanks for reading,
Samuel aka adkpinecone
:)

Is Saw Palmetto Dangerous?

2012-08-27T11:34:00.002-04:00

Is Saw Palmetto Dangerous?

Many people seem to have this idea now that saw palmetto is somehow very dangerous to men. There are people claiming that saw palmetto can make you impotent, cause you to grow breasts, and essentialy turn you more into a women. They are saying these things based on there own experiences with saw palmetto and what they know about the drug Finasteride aka Propecia. There has been scientific evidence that Propecia does indeed cause many problems for men who take it. You can read about the real harm that Propecia has done to people by going here: http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateSideEffectsofPropecia8-12.html and http://www.naturalnews.com/036931_hair_loss_drugs_testosterone_male_hormones.html

As you can see by reading these two sources that Propecia can absolutely cause a lot of problems for men and sometimes it can be irreversible damage to them. People need to understand though that there is a huge difference between a pharmaceutical drug and a natural plant.

Pharmaceutical drugs are actually derived from plants, but they change them from there original form into a form that the body doesn't recognize. This is why drugs are toxic and can cause side effects and sometimes serious ones. Drugs only seek to treat the symptoms instead of treating the root cause of the problem. Natural herbs/plants have natural medicine in them that works with the body. The body can actually become healthier when given the right herbs and usually is always side effect free. Saw Palmetto works with the body instead of against it like a drug does such as propecia. To see an actual study of saw palmetto and its positive side effect free effects on AGA (Androgenetic Alopecia). http://www.hairloss-research.org/sawpalmetto.html

You see Propecia as far as I am aware works to naturally lower serum DHT whereas Saw Palmetto inhibits DHT binding to receptor sites without giving you those dangerous side effects that sometimes are irreversible.

Also if it makes any of you feel more comfortable then you should know that I would only recommend things to people that I know are safe and have personally used. I have taken Saw Palmetto extract for many years and have never experienced any of the side effects or dangers that people are speaking about either while im taking it or not taking it.

Another point to consider is this. Saw Palmetto works by inhibiting the enzyme 5 alpha reductase from converting testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone. This dihyrdotestosterone is considered to a contributing factor in baldness and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The reason this is so important is to realize that there is many natural substances that have 5 alpha inhibiting properties. Many foods do the same thing as saw palmetto, but do we hear people accusing these foods of such dangerous effects to the body? Of course not! People just seem to like to pick on natural herbs that God has given to us.

If it makes anyone feel any safer you should know that Saw Palmetto has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years. The Mayans drank it as a tonic, and the Seminoles used the berries as an expectorant and antiseptic.^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_palmetto_extract}

Saw Palmetto doesn't totally inhibit DHT alltogether, but it does seem to help balance mens hormones and actually increase free levels of testosterone. You can read more about how Saw Palmetto can help with your hormones here. http://www.jonbarron.org/anti-aging/natural-health-remedies-newsletter-testosterone and http://www.jonbarron.org/natural-health/male-pattern-baldness-natural-hair-loss-remedies-blog

There is also many well respected naturopaths, herbalists, etc that actually recommend saw palmetto for supporting the male hormonal system, keeping the prostate healthy, and for hair..

Here is just a list of some really well known and respected people who recommend it.
1. Mercola:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYifMIE27Xc and http://products.mercola.com/saw-palmetto/ (in fact mercola even says that if he had known about saw palmetto when he was younger he would have looked at it more closely for his balding issues!"

2. Dr. James A Duke :
http://books.google.com/books?id=TE2rQjgUhesC&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=baldness+dr+james+duke&source=bl&ots=LyRJenLg_l&sig=936C7-pXG5ndHBksLIddoHcXaMY&hl=en#v=onepage&q=baldness%20dr%20james%20duke&f=false

3. Djehuty Ma'At-ra:
http://www.cherryfones.com/saw-palmetto-100-capsules.html

4. Naturalnews! http://www.naturalnews.com/baldness.html

5. Dr Weil: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03030/Hair-Loss-Alopecia-Baldness.html

I could list many more, but hopefully you get the picture that this herb can be safe and helpful for male pattern baldness. At the end of the day everyone needs to make there own informed decisions, but please just because some may have had some side effects by taking it does not mean we should go around and tell others that its really bad and that we shouldn't take it. There is many people that have been helped by this herb and I do count myself as one of them.

Thanks for reading this! Please like, favorite, share, and subscribe to my channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/adkpinecone?feature=mhee

Carbohydrate Fear

2012-08-25T09:52:00.001-04:00

Carbohydrate Fear

That word probably sounds so scary to so many of you. You probably are thinking, "CARBS MAKE YOU FAT AND KILL YOU!"

I would have to guess that a lot of people have this common belief, but is it really true? I hope to shred any ounce of fear that any of you have by the time you finish reading this short and insightful article by yours truly (the adkpinecone).

Without getting right into why carbohydrates are not the evil that so many people mistakenly believe they are I first would like to explain in a nut shell what carbohydrates are. Carbohydrates simply are the number one source that your body uses for energy, body functions, and muscle uses.

Interesting Fact: Did you know that fats actually require carbohydrates for their breakdown within the liver!

So the fact that your body uses carbohydrates for immediate energy already makes a lot of common sense that they are good for you. The real confusion surrounding carbohydrates is the type people are talking about and consuming. I put carbohydrates into two categories. Good Carbs and Bad Carbs. Lets talk about the Good Carbs.

The good carbs are the ones that come from whole foods that grow out of the ground like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and even whole grains. These are whole food based carbohydrates that provide the body with immediate energy and are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and a lot more nutritional goodies!

The bad carbs are the ones that come from whole foods that have been processed and refined to the point they become extremely toxic! These are processed and refined carbohydrates. These carbohydrates would include sugar, soda, sweetened juices/drinks, candy, chips, cookies, pastries, white bread, white pasta, cakes, donuts, and pretty much everything in a box, bag, or can.

Do not get deceived into eating bad carbohydrates. A lot of times when people go grocery shopping they will see products that say, "All Natural or Natural" This is very deceptive as it may have been natural originally, but after all the refining and processessing it becomes a dead food with all its nutrients stripped from it. In order to make it look healthy to people they will enrich it with synthetic vitamins and minerals.

So lets get this straight... First they take a really great whole food like whole grain.. then they refine and process the heck out of it( which destroys all the good nutrients)... and then finally they add back all the nutrients, but with synthetic forms that were made in a lab! Can you say, "WOW!"

So now that we have a good idea of carbohydrates lets go back to the most common belief that carbs make you fat. With this small amount of knowledge we can now explain why carbs would make you fat and it has to do with the type of carbs a person consumes. Many people are consuming the bad carbs and thats what makes them fat and gives them all these health problems. People that are eating good carbs though that come from whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans are never fat, but rather extremely healthy individuals!

I eat a ton of carbs that come mostly from fruit and I am extremely lean and thin. I am not even close to being fat.

Point of this article is to stop listening to the nonsense that carbs make you fat and that they are unhealthy. The good carbohydrates in whole foods will always be safe and helpful for the human body.

Just take a look at my videos and pictures and you will clearly see that if eating fruit and other good carbs did make you fat then I surely would be far bigger/fatter than what you see.

Thanks for reading my article! Please like, favorite, share, and subscribe!

MSM For Hair

2012-03-06T15:54:00.000-05:00

MSM For Hair

What is MSM? Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is the third (tied with potassium) most abundant mineral in the body. MSM is sulphur. Many people never hear the need for sulphur like we do with other minerals such as calcium. This is unfortunate because its very important for our health.

What foods contain MSM? Sulphur is found in garlic, onions, vegetables, and other natural plant foods. It is also found in some animal products. The best source of sulphur though is MSM which is available as a supplement in powder or tablet form.

Can we rely on food to get MSM? If we lived in nature and only ate raw wild foods then yes we probably could get all the organic sulphur that we need. Unfortunately, sulphur is chemically altered and destroyed when foods are processed, heated, or dehydrated. Most Americans are eating cooked and processed foods. This would logically mean that most people are very deficient in sulphur. This means that most of our food is deficient in organic sulphur. We need to make a conscious effort to replace this very precious mineral in our bodies on a daily basis if we are to expect a healthier body which includes healthier hair.

How does MSM help your hair? Sulfur helps the body to form keratin, the protein that makes up the main part of the outermost layers of your hair and nails. It is a tough, fibrous protein that is very resilient to the effects of damaging chemicals and other harmful agents. Each strand of hair has its own keratin supply, which is stored in the root. Sulfur is also contained in biotin, a B vitamin that is essential for shiny hair and strong nails. You may be interested to know that the natural inclination of hair to be straight or curly is maintained in part by the sulfur amino acids. MSM benefits dry scalp and hair and improves nail growth and benefits your cuticles and nails. My nails are nice and strong now along with being whiter!

My experience with MSM on Male Pattern Baldness? I have noticed that when I take large amounts of MSM my hair grows much faster. I have taken MSM for many years. In my experience MSM definitely helps to slow down male pattern baldness as it keeps the hair stronger and thicker. It is definitely something you should consider adding into your diet in your fight against baldness. There are many other benefits of MSM, but today were just talking about how it helps the hair.

Will MSM help me grow my hair faster? Absolutely! Nothing works better for growing the hair than MSM as far as I am aware. If you want to have faster and thicker hair then absolutely start taking MSM.

How do I know if I have a deficieny of MSM? Some common deficiency symptoms would include slow wound healing, scar tissue, arthritis, joint disorders, skin problems, and of course thin/slow growing hair and nails. Most people have these symptoms if they are honest with themselves.

Why don't doctors recommend MSM? Very few doctors will, because the American Medical Association does not endorse, nor do the Pharmaceutical Companies produce, MSM. This does not mean that there is NO cure for your disease, there certainly may very well be, and it may have existed from the beginning of time itself. This only means that within the politics of the current medical bureaucracy, doctors are instructed to tell you that there in NO cure for your disease.

What happens if my body doesn't get enough sulfur?
Sulfur is found naturally in the human body. Sulfur is stored in every cell of the body. Your body won't be able to repair or replace damaged tissue fast enough. If this occurs, the body compensates by producing abnormal cells that may lead to illness and disease. You will also experience a sensitivity to pain. Sulfur deficiencies are also associated with gastrointestinal problems, a poor immune system, arthritis, and rheumatism, memory loss and acne. It can also lead to brittle nails and hair, dermatological problems and dry skin.

What are the available forms of MSM? MSM comes in forms of capsules, crystals, flakes, powder, tablets, lotion and gel. In my experience I have found that taking the powder or crystals is the best form to take and easiest.

How much MSM should I take and in what form? You should take whatever form is convenient for you. You should always take the least possible amount of msm that gives you the relief you desire. Drink lots of water with msm. For first time users of MSM, it is better to take with meals to help prevent heartburn. First time users start at a low level and build up. Try 500-1000 mg (eighth to a quarter teaspoon) per day. Take it for that way for one week then increase it another a little more. Once you have taken it a long time you will be able to take it without food. The recommended dosage is 2,000 to 6,000 mg. per day. Please be aware that a single dose of MSM will not help! The recommended dosage for a person weighing 150 lbs. should begin by taking 1/2 teaspoon once in the morning and mid afternoon. MSM needs to be taken for at least 1-2 weeks or even up to two month before you may see results. When MSM is taken by mouth with meals whether it be capsule, crystal, flake, powder or tablet form, the body will distribute MSM where it is needed. The precise dose of MSM is not really that critical. For the first week or two, larger doses of MSM may be needed to compensate for an extreme deficiency and depending on your situation . For general maintenance start out slow, take 1/2 teaspoon 2-3 times a day. then take more each day until you build up to 6,000 mg. Then once you see improvements continue same dosage for about 1 month, then reduce intake as general maintenance (1/2 teaspoon 2-3 times a day).

What does some experts say about baldness? David Wolfe who is an expert in superfoods and nutrition says this about MSM, " Another thing that I want to mention in that regard, sulfur. MSM it just goes to work at getting that connective tissue all rebuilt. MSM is ultimately a Jing tonic in the Chinese medicine understanding it gets the container back in order and it builds thick strong hair. Lets talk about dosage of MSM because I've had people come to me and say, I took MSM and it didn’t work. Its like, have you taken 10,000mg of MSM every day for three months?

LF: 10,000mg? That’s like a…

DW: 10,000mg like if you wanna really hit it, that’s the level you’ve gotta hit it. Now you don’t start there but you build up to that and you work that for awhile until you are saturated and that’s…

LF: …is that like a shovel full?

DW: It’s a massive amount.

LF: Wow.

DW: Its like a golf, we used to call them MSM golf balls and you just put it in your mouth and you just down it with water and you just go through that process but its an amazing cleanser that’s why you ramp up, you start off small, you just you know 500mg and then you do 1,000 the next week and 2,000 the week after that, then 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, just build your way up until you are just massively saturated your body with that stuff and then you do that for 3, 4, 5, 6 months and then back down to say 2,000mg or something at the maintenance dose."

Does this advice really work? I have done this before and can honestly say it does work.

What is jing? According to Wikipedia it states:

Jīng (Chinese: 精; Wade-Giles: ching¹) is the Chinese word for "essence", specifically kidney essence. Along with qì and shén, it is considered one of the Three Treasures Sanbao 三寶 of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. Jīng is stored in the kidneys and is the most dense physical matter within the body (as opposed to shén which is the most volatile). It is said to be the material basis for the physical body and is yīn in nature, which means it nourishes, fuels, and cools the body. As such it is an important concept in the internal martial arts. Jīng is also believed by some to be the carrier of our heritage (similar to DNA). Production of semen, in the man, and menstrual blood (or pregnancy), in the woman, are believed to place the biggest strains on jīng. Because of this, some even equate jīng with semen, but this is inaccurate; the jīng circulates through the 8 extraordinary vessels and creates marrow and semen, among other functions.^[1]

One is said to be born with a set amount of jīng (pre-natal jīng, also sometimes called yuan qi) and also can acquire jīng from food and various forms of stimulation (exercise, study, meditation.) Theoretically, jīng is consumed continuously in life; by everyday stress, illness, substance abuse, sexual intemperance, etc. Pre-natal jīng by definition cannot be renewed, and it is said it is completely consumed upon dying.

How does jing effect hair loss/baldness? Basically the more you use up jing the more you lose that essence/energy that your born with and thus it has a negative impact on your hair. When you are young and have a lot of jing you have a full head of thick hair. As you get older and go through life you start using up a lot of that jing.

Does MSM help build up jing? Yes taking MSM acts as a jing tonic. It will help build that jing(energy/essence) back up.

Whats a really high quality brand of MSM? I would say the sunfood brand of MSM is very high quality.

What does sunfood say about there MSM?

Opti-MSM is of US Origin and processed using the distillation method.
MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) is a naturally-occuring form of dietary sulfur found in fresh, raw foods and rain water. Sulfur is a vital mineral that is needed by the body for normal structure and function. It makes up the protein and connective tissue that comprises our body mass, assists enzymes in performing chemical reactions, and protects us from oxidative stress and harmful effects of toxicity. MSM softens leathery internal tissues by rebuilding connective tissue with elastic sulfur bonds. MSM increases flexibility, hastens recovery time from sore muscles, and is excellent for recovery from athletic injuries.
MSM is found throughout nature but is most notably a component of rainwater. It all starts when tiny plankton in the oceans give off a gas called dimethylsulfide (DMS). DMS rises into the atmosphere where it reacts with sunlight and oxygen. The DMS is oxidized and MSM is created. Water droplets in clouds absorb the MSM and return it to the Earth in the form of rain.
Traditionally MSM has come into the human diet by drinking rainwater or by eating foods watered primarily by rain. It can also be absorbed through skin by direct contact with rainwater. But modern living and food production leave most people with very little contact with rainwater. Most crops are watered by irrigation or are grown in greenhouses and both techniques can leave foods lacking natural amounts of bio-available sulfur.
Sunfood MSM is extracted from natural sources and is extensively tested to be free of contaminants. Some low quality MSM is created using solvents that can result in toxic by-products.
Below you can purchase high quality MSM! Just click on the link or picture and you will be taken to purchase! :)
MSM Powder - 16oz (OptiMSM SUNFOOD BRAND)

Sunfood MSM Powder in Capsules - 400 Vegi Caps

If you would like to spend a little less on MSM here are some other good brands of high quality MSM!
Doctor's Best, Best MSM Powder (1 gram / serving), 250-Grams

Jarrow Formulas MSM Sulfur, 1000mg, 200 Capsules

I want to personally thank everyone for taking the time to read this article. I really hope that it will benefit you! Please feel free to share my information with others. I would love it if you could comment or share your stories about how MSM has helped you. Just comment in the section below! Please like, favorite, and share! :-)
If any of you need extra help with MSM please get in contact with me!

Natural Pain Relievers

2012-03-04T15:24:00.002-05:00

What do you take for pain?
If you are like most people you would probably answer, "Aspirin!" Aspirin is very commonly taken for headaches, toothaches, arthritis, and even fever.

Is pain good?
Pain serves to warn us that something isn't right. Pain is simply natures way of getting our attention.

Is aspirin dangerous?
Yes aspirin is dangerous. Aspirin is a drug. All drugs are poison. Have you ever read, "Contact poison control center immediately if accidental overdose?" Why would they say contact a poison control center if it wasn't in fact poison?

Why is Aspirin and others like it harmful?
Aspirin and ibuprofen (called NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can damage the lining of the stomach. And because aspirin interferes with your blood's ability to clot, it can increase your risk of harmful bleeding.

If you are like most people you grew up taking Aspirin, Tylenol, etc.. for your headaches, pain, or fevers. You didn't know any better, right? Right! Now you do know better though and because you know it is a drug and unhealthy you have two choices.

Choice #1 - Continue to take drugs!

OR

Choice #2 - Take herbs for medicine!

The wise person will choose #2!
Taking herbs for our medicine works because its what the body is designed to handle. The body is not made up of poison. Poison toxifies the body and stops its process of detoxification. Were all detoxing everyday, but that can get slowed down when we constantly bombard ourselves with poisons/toxins.

For Christians out there or people who believe in God.. think about this!
The Bible tells us that God made the herbs for the service (benefit) of man, Psalms 104:4; that the leaf of trees is for medicine, Ezekiel 47:12; and that the leaf is for the healing of the nations, Revelation 22:2. So if God has clearly instructed man on what should be used for healing (which are herbs), why are millions of people taking man-made drugs for healing? Now what does this say about man?

What natural herb or herbs can I take for pain?

1. White Willow Bark.
This pain-relieving plant contains the active ingredient, salicin, which converts to salicylic acid in your body. Salicylic acid is a natural medicine that has been used for centuries to relieve pain and inflammation from diseases, like arthritis, as well as injuries. Salicylic acid and the active ingredient in aspirin–acetylsalicylic acid–work in essentially the same way. However, all-natural salicylic acid doesn't cause stomach bleeding or the other known adverse effects of its synthetic equivalent. Though it may take a little longer for white willow to work, its pain-relieving effects may last longer.

2. Cherry extract is another all-natural pain reliever. Anthocyanins both give cherries their pretty hue and rid the body of pain and inflammation. Cherry extract helps shut down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation in the first place, preventing and treating many kinds of pain, like arthritis and gout.

3. The natural pain reliever, Boswellic gum resin extract (from the Boswellia serrata tree), is a powerful anti-inflammatory and vascularsupporting herb. It relieves headaches by opening up the blood vessels that are constricting and causing the pain. This extract also blocks the formation of leukotrienes, other chemicals made in the body that cause inflammation and pain. Also, it is one of the rare treatments that decreases elastase, an inflammatory mediator found to be elevated in those with fibromyalgia.
4. Meadowsweet is more effective than aspirin for headaches.

So as you can see there are many natural herbs for pain! Thats not even including several foods which have anti-inflammatory properties which can help pain.

Whats the best way to take these natural medicines?
The best pain relief comes when people use these three our four herbs together. That's because pain and inflammation often create a "cascade" in the human body—a trickle of pain that builds to a stream joined by a surge of inflammation, thus combining forces, causing on-going and unrelenting misery. Research shows that the best way to halt this cascade is to use medicines that work synergistically to stop both pain and inflammation. The combined power of white willow, Meadowsweet, cherry extract, and Boswellia extract provide this synergistic relief.

What are some other ways to relieve pain?
Probably one of the best ways to relieve pain is to eat a anti-inflammatory diet that focuses on fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, superfoods, omega 3 fats, and olive oil. This would sometimes be referred to as the mediteranean diet. This is a very powerful strategy at attacking the root cause of mainy pain related problems.

Interesting facts:

All of your commercial pharmaceutical drugs originally came from plants. After originally using real herbs in their medicines, drug companies got greedy (due to wanting to patent their products) and began making synthetic variations of real alkaline compounds that were derived from herbs.
Drug companies would isolate the major alkaloid from a plant and use it in their drug. The major alkaloid is what gives an herb its major property or function. For example, THC in marijuana gives marijuana its function as a hallucinogen.
All of your drugs or their major alkaloids came from herbs. Aspirin was derived from Aspirae (Meadowsweet); Marinol was derived from Marijuana. Birth Control was derived from Dioscegenin (Wild Yam Root). Morphine was (and still is) derived from Poppy. LSD was derived from Ergot. Digitalis was derived from Foxglove and Hellebore. Valium was derived Valerian Root. Caffeine was derived from Kola Nut. Cocaine was (and still is) derived from Coca leaf. Codeine was derived from Wild Cherry Bark. Quinine was derived from Magnolia Bark and Dogwood. Menthol was derived from Eucalyptus and Peppermint.
Patients who need relief from acute or chronic pain, have many pain medicines available to them. While most are effective, none are completely safe—they all have side effects. Even over-the-counter (OTC) medications have significant side effects.

A good example is Tylenol® or acetaminophen. Though a common pain and fever reliever, taking 4,000 milligrams (eight 500 mg tablets) daily—the maximum dose—can cause serious, even fatal liver disease. In fact, acetaminophen overdose is one of the leading causes of liver failure in the United States. Acetaminophen should never be used by people who have existing liver disease, who consume more than a daily drink of alcohol, and should not be taken with aspirin or ibuprofen. Another real danger is that many combination products, such as sinus medications and sleep aids, contain acetaminophen, so many people are completely unaware of how much they are taking in a day.

Why do people experience pain?
There are many reasons, but some common reasons are:
1. Toxcitiy in the body! Thats why detoxing is very important. We will cover that in another blog.
2. Nutritional deficiencies! Many people eat processed foods and don't require the nourishment they need to feel there best.
3. Inflammatory diet! Many people eat the SAD(Standard American Diet) which is highly inflammatory(Pain).
4. You may have injured yourself and experience pain caused by an accident.
5. Can you think of others reasons why you experience pain?

How can I purchase these natural medicines?
You can purchase these natural medicines by simply clicking on any of the links below. You will be taken to the product and you may purchase.

I recommend that everyone has a bottle of at least one or two of these natural herbs in there kitchen cabinet to replace the DANGEROUS aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofen, etc..
This is a very simple and cheap thing to do that will make a huge difference in your health!
Below you can purchase all of these products which will help you with pain and without dangerous side effects. The only side effect of these plants is that it will help promote health!

Thanks so much everyone for reading this article! Please share, like, favorite, subscribe! ;-)

Are You New To iHerb?

2011-06-28T09:22:00.002-04:00

Are you new to eating healthy? Are you trying to look for really awesome deals on vitamins, superfoods, groceries, and personal care products? If so then you have come to the right place! If you go to www.iherb.com and are a first time customer you can save a whopping $5.00 of any product just by typing in my coupon code REK978!! This is an awesome opportunity to save a lot of money of that certain product you really want!! I will be making future blog posts of things I personally buy from iHerb and would highly recommend to others.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and watch this!
Samuel

Water

2011-06-27T21:02:00.002-04:00

Today I want to talk about the importance of water! Water is so important for good health. If there was just one thing I could tell someone to improve there health it would be to drink more water! Why? Well because water is the single most important nutrient for our bodies. Water is involved in every function of our bodies! Did you know that you can only go about 5 days without water. It is that important! Here are some really cool facts about water that you should know:

1. Your body is about 70% water!
2. Your muscles are about 75% water!
3. Your brain cells are about 85% water!
4. Your bones are approximately 25% water!

You're probably saying to yourself, "Wow that is amazing!" and "Geez I didn't realize water was so crucial and important for me!"

I always am in shock when I see people drinking soda, energy drinks, juice, and other things when the very best liquid to drink is just plain old water! The fact is the average person just doesn't drink that much water. A lot of people don't like the taste of water. Some people never were taught or realized the importance of water. So many health problems that people have today like skin problems, headaches, depression, heart burn, arthritis, back pain, digestion problems, and on and on are most likely dehydrated! Water could be said to be a miracle cure and that is because it really is! Back in our ancestors days people would actually dig into the ground looking for water and if they found water they would name the well after there name and defend it with there very lives. That is how important water was for them to survive.

Here is some more facts about water that you may find really amazing!

A recognized physician, F. Batmanghelidj, MD, in his book titled Water for Health, For Healing, for Life, points out some of the benefits of maintaining your body properly hydrated:
1. Water is the main lubricant in the joint spaces and helps prevent arthritis and joint pain.
2. Water increases the efficiency of the immune system.
3. Water prevents clogging of the arteries in the heart and brain, and thus helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
4. Water is directly connected to brain function --it is needed for the efficient manufacture of neurotransmitters, including serotonin; it is needed for the production of hormones made by the brain, such as melatonin; it can prevent attention deficit disorder (ADD); and it improves our attention span!
5. Water helps prevent memory loss as we age, reducing the risk of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Lou Gehrig's disease.
6. Water affects our appearance, making our skin smoother and giving it sparkling luster; it also reduces the effects of aging!

Some other things to realize and understand is that if your body doesn't get enough water everyday then whatever what your body get it goes to directly to the most important parts of your body which are your vital organs like the Brain, Heart, Lungs, Liver, and Kidneys first. That means that the other parts of your body (nonvital organs) may suffer such as the skin (acne and skin problems), gastrointestinal tract (GI), and joints! Usually you will see symptoms develop first in those parts of the body! This is why it is absolutely crucial to drink enough water everyday.

Now I want to talk about using water to keep you looking young for a really long time. Here are some facts about your skin.
1. Your skin is the largest organ of the body and weighs about sic pounds!
2. Your skin grows faster than any other organ.
3. Your skin is tough, flexible, and waterproof.
4. Your skin stores water, fat, and vitamin D.
5. Your skin protects the body from germs, heat, cold, and sunlight!
6. Your skin is replaced approximately every thirty days. This means that if you eat healthier the quality of your skin being replaced will be much healthier than it was 30 days ago! The question then becomes how much healthier will it be? It is up to you how healthy you wish your skin is to a large degree.

Water really is the best thing for your skin. No pill, cream, lotion, vitamin, or anything can give you healthy and vibrant looking skin like water can! In fact water keeps your skin supple, your eyes bright, and your body spry.

What happens when you remove water from plums? You get prunes!
What happens when you remove water from your skin? You get wrinkles!
When you get dehydrated your skin suffers. It can become dry, flaky, and wrinkled faster! Water therefore is very important for skin health. Babies have very nice skin because there body is so full of water and because there organs are basically brand new and haven't been bombarded year after year with toxins and an unhealthy lifestyle. That is just an easy observation anyone can notice.

Do you want to grow new brain cells? There is a lot of research showing that by drinking more water you can actually grow new brain cells. The human brain is roughly one-fiftieth of the total body weight, and brain cells are said to be approximately 85% water. The brain is also constantly active and so therefore you defiantly want to give it water. Your brain loves water!! Stop depriving it!!!

Of course there is so many other benefits of drinking water and it would take a huge endless book to cover it all, but I just wanted to give you the basic information of why water is so darn important!

As important as it is though to drink water we also have to consider the quality of water. Drinking from the tap is not a smart thing to do as it is loaded with chlorine (toxix poison), flouride (poison), drugs, and so many other dangerous things. Not to mention it taste awfully disgusting compared to clean purified and filtered water. So what is a person to do? Well the simplest and cheapest way I have found to have clean and healthy drinking water is to buy a Aquasana water filter. It is one of the best filters out there and it does a really impressive job at filtering your water. Go to these links and videos to learn more!!! These are videos of Mike Adams aka The Health Ranger interviewing Charles Strand, the founder and President of Aquasana!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaP15Myh8K8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UygclHKJPcE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgE2osExEo8&feature=related

Go check out aquasana at: http://www.aquasana.com/

I personally have the kitchen sink filter and the shower filter. Once you take a shower with the aquasana shower filter it will leave your skin so soft and healthy. Why? Because the filter removes the chlorine which dries out your skin.

Did you know that Chlorine is actually an Anti-Vitamin? Yes that's right folks its a anti vitamin! Chlorinated water can destroy nutrients your body needs: Vitamins A, B, C, and E, and fatty acids. Chronic skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and eczema may clear up or improve by simply switching to unchlorinated drinking and shower water!

So now that we know the importance of drinking water and having good quality water lets talk about how much water you should actually drink. Basically the rule of thumb is that you want to drink half your body weight in water. So all you have to do is weigh yourself and divide that number by 2. So if you weigh 150lbs you divide that by 2 and you get 75. So you should drink 75ounces of water a day. There is 8ounces of water in 1 cup. So that comes out to be about 9 cups of water a day. This is fairly easy to drink and if your consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables like I always talk about then you will also get even more hydrated with the added benefit of all the nutrients.

So start drinking your water today! Your body wants it!!!

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Thanks for reading and I hope to see you again in the next blog post. :)

Aging

2011-05-02T15:15:00.003-04:00

Today I want to talk about aging. Most people associate aging with getting old and diseased. Well I have good news! The good news is that you can age gracefully free of diseases. I use to think that as I got older that I would look older, but all that has changed for me throughout the years. As I learned about the dangers of sugar, processed foods, rancid fats and oils, and the damage the sun can do to the skin I quickly made it my mission to cut those out of my life! I replaced all those bad things with good things. The good things being fresh whole foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, super food products, and good clean water! I also made it a habit to protect my face from the sun by wearing a hat if I went outside. I also started using amazing regenerative oils on my face like rose hip seed oil, sea buck-thorn seed oil, coconut oil, and even extra-virgin olive oil! I even used a very expensive vitamin c serum called Camu C Serum by the Amazon Herb Co.! As I put all these things into practice everyday I started noticing several things happen with myself. I started to notice that my skin was healthier and had a fresher look to it. I noticed that my hair and nails grew faster. I noticed that my vision improved. I noticed I didn't feel as depressed. I noticed I could start remembering things much better. My brain started to work better! I also noticed that I started to get really fit. I was never really athletic or anything, but by making these changes in my life I started to notice abs in my stomach area! Many positive things started to happen to me! This drove me to continue with this experiment ever since and so far has produced amazing results for me. You might be thinking to yourself that is a lot of change and how could I possibly do all that? Well I believe that when someone really wants to make a change they will! Many people are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Lots of young people and even some old people are sick in tired of getting pimples. Lots of men don't wanna lose there hair. Many people will run to the store and try to find a quick fix , but unfortunately it isn't that simple. Many people will run to the doctor and think a pill will fix all there problems or maybe some new nutritional supplement. Well the good news is that you don't have to waste your money or your time anymore! You can make simple changes like I did and get the same results. Your results depend on how much effort your willing to put into it. You could start drinking several cups of green tea each day for all the amazing health benefits it has to offer or you could simple drink 1 cup a day. You could start swapping some of your breakfast cereals or pop tarts in the morning for freshly blended green smoothies! These small changes can make a huge impact on your health and well being. Over time your body will gradually want better and you will not even crave unhealthy things. This is true for many people! When you start putting all of these things into practice that i'm talking about you will come to learn as I did that aging doesn't mean having to get old and worn out. Aging can mean a regenerative and strengthening process! How? By learning about the things that cause you to age and then learning about the things that slow aging you can create a army of anti aging soldiers in your body. What are those soldiers? Those soldiers are all the amazing medicine found in natural whole foods from plant and animal kingdom! All those amazing antioxidants, phytonutrients, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals found in natural whole foods are our medicine! When you have more natural medicine in your diet and less of the aging things you will start to reverse the effects the bad things have had on you. Your skin will look younger because your supplying it with the resources it needs to regenerate. In fact our skin regenerates every 30-40 days and its quality is all dependent on the nutrition we give to the body. It is kind of like a builder building a house. If the builder has all the resources(workers) and tools at hand then he can build a strong house fast, but if he does not have extra workers helping him or the tools at his disposal the house will not be built as fast. So if you have all the supplies necessary at hand then you can certainly expect a greater degree of change at a much faster rate. As you continue with this strategy the body will be much healthier because its being built with all the necessary resources instead of things that break down the body like sugar, drugs, rancid oils and fats, etc. So what are you waiting for? Give the body the tools and resources it deserves today and watch your body regenerate for you! Remember you are worth it! Give yourself the best. ;-)

My New Blog!

2011-05-02T14:45:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone and welcome to my new blog! In this blog you will learn all kinds of exciting things that I have learned over the past 10 years of my life. My purpose for this blog is to help educate people so they can feel empowered to take control of there health! In this blog you will learn about anti aging, herbs, how to fight hair loss, skin beauty, and on and on! I hope you all enjoy my new blog.