Archive for January, 2010
Habits are easy to form but once set and established are almost impossible to break. The only way in which the power of an entrenched habit can be minimized or effectively blocked is by the gradual introduction of disturbing and conflicting changes in the time element, in the mode of operation and in the habitual procedure.
Let us assume that you are a chain smoker and for reasons of health must break that habit. You may have a strong will power and stop smoking because you will it so. But in most cases the craving will remain and the embedded tendency will be too strong to be completely ignored or discarded. Somewhere along the line you will be tempted to take one surreptitious smoke and then another and soon the old habit will reassert itself.
The only way in which you can crack the solid, impenetrable walls of the habit successfully is to attack it gradually, consistently, on one or more of these fronts:
1st. The “time-delay” attack. Introduce a time change in the usual smoking routine. Start with a five minute interval between smokes. Make it five minutes to the second. As soon as the time is up pat yourself mentally on the back for having the strength of character shown, light your cigarette and enjoy every puff of it. Keep up this five minute interval between smokes, consistently, until it stops being a hardship and becomes the new habit, of lighting cigarettes five minutes apart.
Lengthen the interval between smokes to ten minutes and then to fifteen minutes each. Turn the waiting period into a little game or a contest. If you have nothing else to do to occupy the time in between, improvise some form of temporary diversion to while away the passing moments. Continue this waiting period in a playful mood until the new interval between smokes becomes part of your regular smoking habit.
Thyroid problems are a huge issue throughout the world, especially low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism. Every day 
millions of people struggle with the common symptoms of low energy, weight gain and hormonal problems. However, a large percentage of these cases could be helped, if not completely resolved with some simple nutrition.The key nutrient for good thyroid function and one of the most common deficiencies in hypothyroidism is iodine. Thyroid hormones are built around a molecule of iodine in a similar way that red blood cells are built around iron. If we are lacking this vital nutrient in our diet then there is no way for the thyroid gland to create the hormones we need to regulate how much fat we store and how much we burn for energy.
The most abundant natural source of iodine is kelp, a form of seaweed. Although this is eaten in countries like Japan it is generally not part of the western diet. Many people in western countries used to get their iodine requirements from residue in dairy products, as it was used to sterilize dairy equipment, however many countries have now switched to chloride-based sterilizers. This has led to a measurable drop in iodine levels in the general population.
Many countries also have soils that are low in iodine (especially Australia), leading to deficiency even when the diet contains things that would normally be high in iodine.Taking a kelp supplement is one way to naturally boost your iodine levels. This is beneficial for many people, although there are some people who are not able to absorb iodine well in this form. Often those people respond much better to a pure natural organic iodine supplement.
The next vital nutrient for a healthy thyroid gland is selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant with many roles in the body, including the activation of thyroid hormones in the liver. Without sufficient selenium it is like the body is unable to “switch on” the thyroid hormones.Selenium is another nutrient that is low in many soils, and has been shown to be deficient in many people. Studies have linked low selenium levels to increased cancer rates, as well as other chronic diseases.
While adding these foods to your diet is beneficial, if you want to boost your thyroid function fast then also taking a supplement would be the best approach. There are many forms of selenium supplements available, and all forms probably have some benefit, but the specific form that most boosts the activation of thyroid hormones is Selenium Cysteine.
Yes, it does! Actually, it is only the known food source that can provide all the essential nutrients that our body needs. Because of its nutrition content, it even has the amazing ability of prolonging one’s life. The pollen from the bee is considered one of the most important natural foods found in our surroundings. However, a lot of man-made factors have been affecting the bees producing the pollens.
What are these factors?
These are the harmful effects of pollution and constant growth of the human population. If these factors continue to worsen, the bees may never produce the pollens that can help us survive. The harmful effects of these factors are often released in the environment such as toxins, chemicals, heavy metals, and other contaminants that can affect the bees. When the bees are not healthy enough and the pollens they collect are contaminated, the pollens they produce become affected as well.
Many giant producers of bee products come from China and USA. They fail to see or simply refuse to recognize this problem. A lot of people are gravely affected by the dangerous effects of the contaminated bee products they sell. Instead of improving their health, it is more aggravated and endangered by the development of various life-threatening diseases.
Does bee pollen help nutrition?
The answer is still yes if the bee product you use comes from New Zealand.
Why New Zealand?
This is due to the fact that this country isn’t affected by the factors aforementioned. They do not have pollution and heavy population that can greatly affect their bees. Researchers have confirmed that the bees thriving in New Zealand are the healthiest in the world that’s why the pollens they produce are of the highest quality, providing the necessary nutrients as well as protection for the human body.New Zealand pollens are the only known source of the most pure and natural pollens. No other country can surpass the untouched and pristine environment of New Zealand. It has been found that bee pollens found here can lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as rejuvenate the cell regeneration processes.We have also found out that they can restore health to the various organs and glands, increase mental clarity and concentration, double IQ levels in young children, strengthen the veins, increases vitality and vigor, and retards the aging process.They may also prevent cancer and tumor development, cure infertility problems in both men and women, aid in muscular development, treat various allergies, as well as increase red and white blood cells, and most importantly, they may prolong life.
Mesothelioma is a terminal, debilitating form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Though successful treatments for this cancer are oftentimes prohibitively expensive, new research indicates there may be preventative measures individuals can take. While it has long been known that proper nutrition with a diverse diet is important to one’s health and well being, there is new evidence suggesting that a specific nutrient could help reduce the risk of mesothelioma.
There have been many studies and much research on the link between proper nutrition and cancer survival. Specifically, there have been at least 4 major studies on the importance of a specific nutrient, vitamin A, and the related survival rate of mesothelioma patients. All of the studies conclude that in patients with higher vitamin A content, the chance of a positive prognosis is increased, enough so to make it statistically significant. A study performed by the National Cancer Institute in 1988 showed that when the dietary choices of mesothelioma patients were compared with healthy individuals, those diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer ate less cruciferous (brassica family) vegetables as well as less vegetables overall. Additionally, the intake of vitamin A was much lower in the cancerous patients.
One study completed in 1996 measured the link between mesothelioma and vitamin A intake. The reported results suggested that a higher intake of vitamin A, “may decrease the risk of mesothelioma.” Another study published in 2002 showed researchers studying mesothelioma cells in a laboratory setting that an oxidized form of vitamin A, known as retinoic acid, could prevent the cancer cells from spreading in the body. This study ultimately made the suggestion that those recently diagnosed with mesothelioma could benefit from increased intake of vitamin A, as it might slow the spread of the cancer. Most recently, an Australian study in 2006 focused on workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace. They found that those patients who had lower levels of vitamin A in their bodies had an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.