The RazorKnow Organisation

The Mediterranean diet concept is that of a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruit, cereals, legumes and nuts that are low in saturated fats. It also includes low consumption of dairy products, seafood, poultry, red meat and small to moderate quantities of wine. The Mediterranean diet is one of the most studied dietary patterns.

It has been noticed that people in the Mediterranean region, an area of three continents, differ in their culture, tradition and food habit, but lead very similar active lifestyles and share similar eating habits. It was observed that cases of chronic heart diseases, diabetes, gallstones and cancers were minimal in the Mediterranean region.

The daily Mediterranean diet includes mostly fresh vegetables, fruit mainly as dessert, cereals, whole grain breads, pastas legumes, beans and nuts cooked in olive oil. The diet is supplemented by low to moderate use of milk, cheese and yogurt along with mostly red wine or water.

Seafood, poultry and eggs are a weekly add on to the diet, and the consumption of red meat is limited to few times a month. Sweet and dessert intake is also limited to a few days a week. Fruit is the most preferred type of dessert.

The Mediterranean diet is well-balanced with a supply of essential vitamins, minerals, low in saturated fat, salt and sugar to ensure good health. As stated, people in the Mediterranean region lead active lives, but they also find enough time to relax, enjoy and socialize with every meal. This, in turn, helps in digestion of food and proper functioning of body systems.

Interestingly, the Mediterranean diet does not exclude any food from the diet that has a reasonable amount of saturated fats. In fact, it is the combination of the food products in the diet that provides the necessary nutrition to reduce possible health hazards, even curbing the chances of gaining extra weight. For instance, olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is a monosaturated fat that is “”good”" fat and does not increase the blood cholesterol level. It is therefore believed that a healthy Mediterranean diet can be practiced to fight heart ailments and to stay healthy and fit.

Mediterranean Diets provides detailed information about Mediterranean diets, Mediterranean diet benefits, Mediterranean diet cook books and more. Mediterranean Diets is affiliated with Mangosteen Fruit.

Back pain is extremely common, over 80% of adults will experience lower back pain in their lifetime, the lower back supports the majority of the body weight and it is very susceptible to pain caused by factors such as herniated or slipped disc, muscle or ligament damage, joint problems and poor muscle tone. Typical symptoms of back pain are a steady ache or a sharp pain that worsens with movement. A sharp pain will shoot down the leg if the sciatic nerve is irritated. People who are more likely to suffer from back pain are those who work involves lifting heavy objects, bending awkwardly and those spending long period of time sitting or standing, these factors are increased by being out of shape. Pregnant women are also susceptible to lower back pain.

Back pain can be helped by many factors, first look after your back, lift objects properly and participate in exercises that strengthen you back, quit smoking (smoking reduces nutrition to the spinal discs), do not stay in bed too long, try to get mobile (unless you have a slipped disc), try hot and cold compresses and with chronic back pain (back pain that last more than 3 months) see a chiropractor. If your back pain persists, then see a doctor, their may be other factors involved such as fractures, nerve damage, arthritis, spinal tumour and infections. Some people have found that acupuncture and massage also helps with back pain.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from back pain.

Boron

Bromelain

Calcium

Devil’s claw

Evening Primrose Oil

Extracts of New Zealand green-lipped mussels

Fish Oil

Glucosamine Sulphate

Magnesium

Manganese

Multivitamins and minerals

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B6

Vitamin C

Vitamin D

Vitamin K

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

We are often told: for better health we should eat 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The reasons for this are convincing enough, better health, anti-aging, improved fitness and a host of others, but like anything else we need to know just how to a fruit and vegetable diet, staying on it and making it fun and not boring.

Many factors do determine one’s success at eating such a diet that involves a high amount of fruits and vegetables and being the very basis of the dietetic lifestyle emphasized in the drugless fraternity, let’s go over the proper methods applicable based on years of research and experience on just how to eat these substances for optimal health.

Fruit and Vegetable Diet: How to eat your Fruits

1. First eat whatever is in season till you are satisfied. Wait ten minutes and treat yourself to 7-10 medium sized dates, wait 10 minutes and eat a stalk of celery or a leaf or 2 of plain lettuce.

2. Try to stay calm and immobile as much as possible after eating sitting upright for 10-15 minutes. (Although laughter does aid with digestion, of course when undertaken in moderation)

3. Do not eat acid fruits except for tomatoes after 2 pm on any occasion, not even their juices. They are best assimilated in the earlier part of the day.

4. Wash all fruits thoroughly (plain dishwashing liquid may suffice) but be careful to not have them sitting in the soapy water so long as to absorb the suds, wash briskly and rinse right away. Then immerse or soak in drinking water to ensure that you don’t consume tap water. Of course this is not necessary for bananas.

5. Do not store fruits in the fridge or where they are covered, let them breathe as much as possible.

6. Limit yourself to 5 oranges a day, if need be for that many and let your taste buds judge for you.

Fruit and Vegetable Diet: How to eat your Vegetables

1. Rinse your leafy vegetables under cold running water and re rinse with drinking water.

2. Don’t use soap to wash them because by nature they will absorb the suds which you might end up ingesting.

3. Store them in a clean plastic bag that you should pick up from the stores where you purchase them fresh.
4. Leave a little breathing space for the leaves by not sealing the bag shut.

5. Keep them in the fridge and pull out say 20-30 minutes before use.

6. For root vegetables all needed is the brief rinse and peeling before they are cooked in drinking water without salt.

7. Vegetables are best saved for night times, although they are powerful cleansers, they are not as proactive as fruit and thus would give you a much calmer sleep, not unless you have done a fast of a few to several days and are breaking it with fruit.

8. Try to consume leafy veggies within 5-7 days after purchasing them from the store.

In adhering to the suggestions listed above and with a wise combination of this dietetic lifestyle, proper exercise and mental attunements, you are well on your way to achieving bountiful health, improved fitness and longevity.

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and author of Fitness: Inside and out, a book on improving physical and mental health naturally. For more information on natural health and a safe weight loss visit www.bodyhealthsoul.com

Part 1:

A “better nutritional program” means the introduction of foods and supplements of a higher quality, such as (Mexican Wild) Yam, (mono)saccharides, Phytochemicals or/& Food Form Vitamins, in place of lower quality supplements. The closer the food comes to the natural state in which it occurs, or the closer it comes to its raw, uncooked form, the higher its quality. All the enzymes are found intact when foods are left in this condition and all the protein-containing amino acids are left in their finest form. The minerals, vitamins, trace elements, carbohydrates and “life force” are still present. When these are ingested, the body can reproduce healthy tissue. Think about it: your cells are made from what you eat - so food does effect your health.

If you are really interested in a better nutritional program; omitting highly toxic substances such as coffee, caffeinated teas, chocolate, tobacco, salt, and highly preserved and processed foods like sugar, white flour and chemical additives; will give you some definitely desirable results. Basically omit anything that comes in a bag, box, jar, or can. The higher quality of food that you eat, the faster you will reap the benefits in health, energy, and clarity of thinking. Assimilating and properly digesting higher quality foods enables the body to discard lower grade materials and tissues to make room for the superior materials which it uses to make new and healthier tissue. If we would stop interfering with the normal process of the body by overloading it with lower quality substances, it would function more freely to improve its health. That is always its aim and the plan of nature and adaptation. By observing the self-curing nature of colds, fevers, cuts, swellings, injuries, & etc. it is obvious that the body is always attempting to heal and repair itself except when we interfere with the process.

Part: 2 REMOVING THE TOXINS

When we first begin to omit the lower grade foods and instead introduce superior substances (which may supply nutrients our body can use to make the building blocks that we have been deficient in) and also when we suddenly reduce or stop using toxic foods, etc. we may experience headaches and or a letdown. This is because the body is discarding toxins which have been removed from the tissues and transported through the bloodstream during its bodily rounds. Before these noxious agents reach their final destination for elimination, these irritants register in our consciousness as discomforts. These toxins may also cause our liver and kidneys to work harder to process years of accumulated wastes out of our system in a short time. But if we don’t go through this process at some time, the accumulation will continue and our health will decline until something drastic occurs. The energy letdown may be due to the slower action of the heart, resulting from a resting phase. The resting phase follows the stimulation of the more rapid heart action which has been forced upon the body by certain toxins in our foods. Also fatigue may appear from energy being shifted from the live cycle to the heal and repair cycle. The discomfort will usually vanish within several days, and we will then feel stronger due to the repair which follows. Then this process may repeat again and again until our bodily systems are clean and rebuilt.

One reason people fail with their new nutritional program is that they lack understanding of how the body works. They are misled to believe that they felt better with their old habits and diet before they changed. They fail because they do not give the body a chance to adjust and complete its phase of cleansing and recuperative action. If they would wait a little while longer they would begin to feel better than before they started. The body’s power has been increased, but since this increased energy is used to discharge poisons via skin, sinus, lung, eyes, ears, the mind misinterprets it as some weakness. Any weakness which is felt here is not true weakness, but merely a gathering of the forces for the rebuilding of the more important internal parts. Here it is essential for us to stop wasting energy and to rest and sleep more. It is important to have patience and faith and just wait it out, realizing that the years of improper diet are the only reason for our discomfort and that the body is receiving a blessing during this crucial phase. After a short time, we will get increased strength which will far exceed what we felt before we began the new program. Be consistent in your use of a nutritional program so the body can develop a steady process of repair without interuptions. As one continues on the improved nutrition and gradually raises the food quality, interesting enough symptoms begin to appear in the first phase called catabolism. Here, the body begins a process called “retracing”. The cellular intelligence immediately starts getting rid of the toxic buildup throughout the body, ridding the liver and gall bladder of excess bile by sending it to the intestine to trigger the process of elimination, removing the “sludge” out of the arteries, veins and capillaries, cleaning up deposits in the joints, ridding the body of effects from irritating food preservatives, aspirins, sleeping pills and drugs along with other masses of excess fat which have made life so burdensome for us for so long. This may manifest itself in loose stools or constipation overload. Extra fiber is essential to keep the ’sewer line’ removing toxins.

Part 3: NEXT PHASES - FORMING NEW TISSUES AND INCREASING ENERGY

The second phase is called stabilization. During this phase, the amount of waste material being discarded daily is equal to the amount of tissue which is being formed and replaced by the newer, more vital and nutritious food. This occurs after the excess obstructing material in the tissues has been removed. This stage is followed by a third phase which is called anabolism. Due to the improved assimilation, new tissues are now being formed faster and are more durable and do not break down easily. The body’s need for more food is decreased; therefore we are able to maintain our weight and increased energies with less food. With the use of live concentrared food supplements and herbs many people are able to maintain optimum energy and health with only two meals a day. As the body progressively increases in efficiency and decreases in tissue breakdown under exercise, so do we gradually need less and less food to maintain life.

Part 4: HOW MUCH?

The higher the percentage of raw or live food one lives on, the slower the rate of tissue deterioration. A healthy body requires a gradual, carefully worked out entry into this stage, where one is able to live on a higher percent of raw food. For some people, it is important that they start with a very small quantity of each nutrient, such as 1/2 tablet once or twice a day in the beginning. This will enable the body to adjust to having such a high quality substance in it, without too fast of a cleansing effect. Most people are able to start with higher amounts. However, some people may be holding medicine, drugs and highly toxic matter, or viruses in their tissues due to their past diet, and upon the introduction of nutrients like these to the body, its natural response is to start a cleansing and cell rebuilding program. It is best, therefore, to start by using a fiber product and 8-10 glasses of pure spring water away from supplements to help dilute the poisons and carry them away rapidly. This should help to minimize the uncomfortableness of detoxing.

Part 5: DEALING WITH THE SYMPTOMS

You may be eating perfectly with regard to quantity, quality and observing all of the correct rules, and still undesirable symptoms may occur. Those who have eaten better foods in the past and have not abused their bodies with overeating, will have detoxing ranging from almost nothing at all or very mild, to symptoms which may be uncomfortable. Those who have eaten quantities of candy, ice cream, processed foods, etc. and have poisoned themselves more, might experience more symptoms if their liver, kidneys or other important eliminating organs have been weakened. When they have been renovated to the point of fair working order, they will no longer produce symptoms so noticeable. Even though you may be one of the ones who followed all of the rules of proper nutrition, you must realize that it is almost impossible not to take in a certain amount of toxins and heavy metals with the very air that you breathe and water that you drink. The symptoms will vary according to the materials being discarded, the condition of the organs involved in the elimination, and the amount of energy you have available. The more you rest and sleep when symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are completed. Be happy that you are having symptoms! Realize deeply that your body is becoming younger and healthier every day because you are throwing off more and more wastes which would have eventually brought rapid aging and much suffering. Those who have the worst symptoms-reactions and stick with the dietary improvements until their successful termination, are thus avoiding some of the worst conditions which would eventually have developed, had they continued their careless eating habits. Remember it is very rare that anyone would be allergic to top quality food supplements. The effects are usually due to a healing crisis and not because the product makes you sick or allergic. The key is to find those few rare manufacturers who not only claim to have no junk on their label; but who really use only pure products of high quality. Remember, though many people may have some good experiences within days or weeks, some people may not become aware of benefits for a few months. Often things may be going on inside our bodies that are beneficial though we do not notice them. Be aware that if you continue to put toxic foods into your body while using food supplements, the body may be strong enough to just keep detoxing each new poison as you put it in. So for optimal health, try to discontinue dead toxic foods. Eventually as the cleansing work is done we may get noticeable benefits too.

So plan on making a 3-4 month comittement to steady & consistent use of a pharmaceutical-grade nutritional supplements. Take them 3 times a day so you can notice the benefits. Also realize there may be other factors impairing your renewal - not addressed by the items you are using. You may wish to consult a nutritionist or natural physician for other products to provide needed factors to allow your body to continue to progress.
The mysteries of the body, the ‘operations of nature’, the vital forces working in ‘nature’ and the Cosmos are far beyond what our minds are prepared to understand at present. Even the greatest physicians and scientists, marveled in awe and humility at the wonders of ‘nature’. Let us give ourselves a chance to experience what it means to be really healthy and fully alive, and to feel the joy of living by aligning ourselves to God’s (nature’s) laws as intended for us, by the eating of natural foods and supplements. This indeed is a prime prerequisite in our physical, & mental well-being.

Zach Thompson works internationally as a Glyconutritional Consultant. He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of
rural Virginia. He serves primarily the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, & New Zealand. His clients range from Professional & Olympic Athletes to those with auto-immune disease & children with Learning Disabilities. He uses exclusively Pharmaceutical-Grade Glyconutritonals, & Dietery Supplements that meet or exceed the criteria set forth by The Council for Responsible Nutrition in his practice. The consumption of Organic & chemical-free foods along with a low-glycemic diet plan is an integral part of of his clients path to wellness. You can get more information at: http://www.myglyconutrientstore.com .

Do you ever wonder why the experts keep saying that you need to take supplements? Why won’t a healthy, balanced diet work?

There are 3 main reasons that you need to take quality nutritional supplements each & every day. In this article, I want to go over these 3 reasons we need to supplement our diets.

Reason #1: Food Production Methods

In between harsh farming methods, toxic chemical sprays, harvesting the foods prematurely, & storing foods for long periods of time, much of the nutrients that should be in our food just aren’t there. Recent scientific studies show that a mere fraction of the nutrients that should be in foods are still there.

Especially nutrients such as enzymes & phytonutrients, which are very fragile, are destroyed long before the food reaches your table, if the nutrients were even there to start with.

Reason #2: Modern Day Diets

I sincerely doubt that there are too many health experts that could honestly say that the average American’s diet is “healthy.” Saturated fat is not the only part of our modern day diet that is unhealthy…we don’t get enough vitamins, antioxidants, glyconutrients, etc, etc. in our diets. If you would like to know how unhealthy the modern day diet really is, go to http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/04/21/DDG8767ITN1.DTL

Reason #3: Environmental Stress

The amount of toxins that we absorb each day is nothing short of horrendous. Researchers recently announced that if you go to Los Angeles, CA for two weeks, you will absorb more dangerous toxins in two weeks than is healthy for you to absorb during your entire life! All of these toxins have a serious effect on your health. Nutritional supplementation is one way that you can fight the downward pull of sickness.

Even the American Medical Association now recommends that you supplement your diet. Historically, the AMA has been opposed to nutritional supplementationthey believed that most people got all they needed in their food. But, due to the unprecedented poor nutrient supply in the food, & the declining health of the US population, the AMA now considers nutritional supplements essential!

So, if you want to be healthyif you want to have wellnessget the best supplements that you can, & take them regularly.

The bottom line is that if you don’t supplement, you will never have the best health that you could.

To Your Health,

Adam J. Thompson

Adam J. Thompson is a nutritional consultant specializing in glyconutrients, a newly discovered class of nutrients. You can learn more about glyconutrients & order them at discount prices at http://www.glyconutrients-online.com
This article may be freely redistributed, published, & printed, as long as the above author info remains, & the above hyperlinks are clickable.

Diet and Testosterone….

Are you searching for ways to boost your testosterone levels naturally? Have you looked at your diet?

The following is a collection of tips from doctors, scientists and fitness experts about a healthy diet for optimum testosterone production, including lots of foods and even fruits that increase testosterone production.

Testosterone is produced by the body and is not found in the food we eat; however, certain foods lead to testosterone production and better blood circulation, which carries the testosterone to the appropriate organ, while other foods should be avoided.

So foods that encourage testosterone production may be called — for lack of a better term — testosterone food sources.

Testosterone Food Sources

Include:

Zinc: The best source of dietary zinc is meat. The best meat choice is the white meat of chicken. The best fish choice is salmon. For vegetarians, choose peanuts or beans. No fruits that increase testosterone in this category, because plant sources of zinc are harder for the body to use and are not good testosterone food sources.

Vitamin A: essential for the normal function of the reproductive organs. Lots of fruits that increase testosterone in this category: apples, blueberries, cantaloupe, pineapple and citrus fruits, just to name a few. Other food sources of Vitamin A include fish (salmon, again), leafy greens (spinach) and brightly colored vegetables like tomatoes, red peppers and yellow squash.

Hope you like salmon, because other than being an excellent source of Vitamin A and zinc, as well as protein, fish oil is said to keep SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) levels lower. When testosterone runs into SHBG in the blood stream, it becomes attached to it, and then can’t interact with any of the body’s cells.

The net effect of testosterone that is attached to SHBG is the same as a lack of testosterone since it is prevented from having any impact on the body. Salmon might be your number one testosterone food source followed closely by oysters which are naturally rich in zinc.

Diet and Testosterone

Avoid:

The following foods are not testosterone friendly food and drink sources: fried foods, sugar and caffeine over stimulate the adrenals, which produce some testosterone. Over stimulating the adrenals leads to “adrenal exhaustion”, means they are not going to produce testosterone or anything else.

So a breakfast of hash browns, toast with jelly and coffee with cream and sugar would have pretty much everything in it that you want to AVOID if you are looking for testosterone food sources.

In conclusion, a healthy diet and testosterone production go hand in hand.

It is not possible to include here all of the good testosterone food sources or even all of the fruits that increase testosterone.

Consult a nutritionist or dietician for a personal plan that addresses your individual needs.

In the meantime, for breakfast tomorrow have an egg omelet (egg yolk contains cholesterol which testosterone is made from) with tomatoes and red peppers (sources of Vitamin A) and orange juice to drink. Follow that up with some alfalfa-sprout toast (alfalfa is said to be a sexual stimulant) and some fresh apples, pineapples or other fruits that increase testosterone and you are sure to have a good start to your day.

Learn more about diet and testosterone and discover natural herbs to increase testosterone at http://www.testosterone-booster-guide.com

Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years and no matter how many come and go, we are always intrigued and excited by the next one feeling almost sure this will be the one to work. And they do work…for a while and then we bounce around like yo-yo’s going up and down in weight over the years.

Fad diets generally ask us to remove certain foods and often whole food groups from our diet. This most often results in a decrease in calories and ultimately weight loss. Although people lose weight on most fad diets, they tend to be too restrictive to follow over a long period of time. They aren’t realistic in the real world and once we go on that trip out of town or life gets too busy we drop the fad diet and go right back to our old eating habits. Once we go back to their old eating habits, we regain the weight and often gain even more than where we started. This is followed by feelings of guilt, and shame that we couldn’t stay on “the diet”, which can and does greatly affect peoples’ self-esteem and the way they view themselves and their relationship with food.

The secret to lifelong weight loss is looking at the old eating habits. After all, this is where we keep gaining weight in the first place! By making small, practical changes in our old eating habits we can achieve weight loss and have the knowledge and tools to keep that weight off for a lifetime. How can you be on an effective weight loss program if they don’t tell you how you were gaining weight in the first place? Everyone has different eating habits. Some people eat foods that aren’t the right balance, some get caught into the high calorie land of frequent restaurant eating, while others are emotional or stress eaters.

Learn about yourself and where your eating habits are out of balance. People who have achieved long-term weight loss did just that along with making small changes to their lifestyle. Don’t let another fad diet lure you in to the constant yo-yo effect. Empower yourself with knowledge and make small changes that will last a lifetime.

© Meri Raffetto, 2005

Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She is the owner of Real Living Nutrition Services providing interactive online weight management programs. Sign up for her free monthly nutrition newsletter at http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.

To understand the value and importance of antioxidants, you must first understand the destructive results of free radicals.

Free radicals occur naturally as a result of normal, daily reactions within your body. Essentially, when a molecule is a free radical, it is an unstable molecule which contains a free electron which is seeking a connection. These molecules seek to complete this unstable existence by latching on to tissues such as blood vessel linings or cell membranes, creating a chronic state of inflammation within the body. This on-going inflammation eventually results in damage to various tissues of the body. Antioxidants bind to the free radicals, thus preventing the damage they would normally cause.

The damage caused by free radicals has been linked to heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other conditions and illnesses. Free radical damage is also believed to contribute to many other degenerative aspects of aging, such as wrinkles, hardening of arteries, and some of the loss of mental acuity that sometimes occurs with age.

Antioxidants are available in many different forms and substances. Vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene (a form of vitamin A) are antioxidants in addition to their other benefits to your health and well-being. Selenium and zinc are two minerals which are also antioxidants.

Other compounds; cysteine, glutamic acid, and glutathione, for example, are also antioxidants, as are natural and herbal products such as ginkgo, hawthorn, rosemary, green tea extract, and grape seed extract.

Vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene, is water soluble and can be found in vegetables such as spinach. Vitamin A is important for skin health, helps growth in children and protects against night blindness in addition to other benefits.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is crucial to the body’s ability to produce collagen, an important protein that keeps skin damage minimal. Collagen can delay the development of wrinkles and saggy skin by helping skin hold onto its elasticity. Vitamin C also expedites the body’s ability to repair tissues so wounds heal more quickly. It is also important in the body’s ability to absorb and use several other nutrients.

Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol), like vitamin C, is not produced or stored in the body, so it must be constantly replenished through diet or supplementation. It encourages the proper development of muscles. It can help boost the effectiveness of the immune system, primarily by making it more resistant to bacterial and viral infections. Working with other nutrients, vitamin E can help prevent development of cataracts.

Selenium is a trace mineral, that is, the body does not need a large quantity for health. However, even in small quantities, in addition to its role as an antioxidant, selenium helps keep cell membranes healthy, helps the thyroid gland and pancreas function properly, and can help prevent dandruff in some people. A link between low selenium levels and HIV/AIDs victims is being explored.

Zinc is also a trace mineral. Zinc helps in the healing of wounds, helps maintain the senses of taste and smell, aids in normal growth, helps the reproductive system develop properly, and helps in the transport of Vitamin A from the liver.

Cysteine is found in poultry, oats, wheat germ, egg yolks, garlic and onions, and broccoli. It can protect against toxicity from smoking or pollution.

Glutamic Acid may reduce cravings for sugar and alcohol. It aids gastrointestinal healing and helps neurological and mental disorders. It is found in animal and vegetable proteins. Pregnant women and children should probably not take supplements of glutamic acid.

Glutathione protects against damage from chemicals, smoke and other toxins. It is valuable against cancer, skin problems, and cataracts.

Grape Seed Extract is often sold as a supplement for its antioxidant qualities. While the extract is often made from seeds taken from grapes made into juice, for example, you can actually get the same benefits by enduring the taste and crunching the seeds in grapes you can buy in the produce department of your local grocery.

Green Tea and Green Tea Extract can both provide antioxidant benefits, but green tea extract may be easier to deal with, say, when traveling or on a visit, than trying to brew a cup or pot of green tea. Green tea extract may also provide a more standard and dependable dose than the cup of tea you just brewed.

The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the ’70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s “Aerobics”. This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on the subjects of health and fitness, including yoga, which he practices regularly. Learn more about vitamins and mineral supplements.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that occurs when cells in the outer layer of skin reproduce faster than normal and pile up on the skin’s surface. This produces scaling, itchiness and irritation of the skin. Psoriasis is non-contagious.

Currently in the United States almost 5 million people are affected by this disease. It occurs in all age groups and about equally in men and women.

When psoriasis develops, thick patches of skin become red with silvery scales. Often the skin at the joints cracks making outbreak very painful. Psoriasis most often occurs on the knees, lower back, soles of the feet, scalp, elbows, face and palm.

There have been huge strides in understanding what causes psoriasis. Recently, a team from the University of Michigan looked for the gene — called PSORS1 — in more than 2,700 people from 678 families in which at least one family member had psoriasis. According to the researchers, PSORS1 is the first genetic determinant of psoriasis to be definitively identified in a large clinical trial. The finding may help in the development of new, more effective treatments for the disfiguring inflammatory skin disease.

Some other research has found that psoriasis may be a disorder of the immune system. In a normal immune system a type of white blood cell, called a T cell is produced, that normally helps protect the body against infection and disease. Top Scientists have concluded that an abnormal immune system produces too many T cells in the skin. These excess T cells trigger the inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction seen in people who suffer with psoriasis.

Doctors usually diagnose psoriasis after a careful examination of the skin. However, diagnosis may be difficult because psoriasis often looks like other skin diseases. A pathologist may assist with diagnosis by examining a small skin sample under a microscope.

For those people who have a suppressed immune system, the symptoms of psoriasis can be extremely severe.

Dietary change can help with psoriasis, avoid alcohol, gluten which is found in wheat, barley and rye, avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, avoid red meats, dairy products, eggs, cheese and sugar and if you are a smoker, then it is best to quit.

Topical applications to the affected areas with aloe vera gel, Dead Sea mineral salts or mud, Zambesia Botanica, mahonia ointment and gotu kola can all improve psoriasis.

Good supplements to take are fish oil, flax seed oil and borage oil. These oils are very good in hydrating the skin cells. A topical treatment that has received tremendous attention is Psoriaway which is available at www.fastpsoriasisrelief.com.
This is a topical cream combining natural moisturizers, coal tar, aloe Vera, blended in a unique formula to make this product extremely effective. It has been tested in the medical field, nursing homes and in the retail market with exciting and immediate results.

One important bit of knowledge is to stay away from alcohol and products that contain alcohol as it will dry the skin out even more.

At this time there is no cure for psoriasis but many effective treatments do exist.

Doctors are learning more about psoriasis by studying:

• Genes
• New treatments that help skin not react to the immune system
• Laser light treatment on thick patches.

The unpredictable nature of psoriasis makes treatment challenging for many people. A wide range of treatments are available. No single psoriasis treatment works for everyone, but something will work for most people. It is hard to predict what will work for a particular individual; however, it is important to be open-minded and willing to work with your doctor to find a treatment that will work for you.

Researchers are studying psoriasis more than ever before. They understand much more about its genetic causes and how it involves the immune system. The National Psoriasis Foundation and the federal government are promoting and funding research to find the cause and cure for psoriasis.

Fred Duckworth is the webmaster for http://www.fastpsoriasisrelief.com and an avid health researcher and enthusiast.
He writes a regular skin health newsletter available at http://www.fastpsoriasisrelief.com

Psoriasis Treatment

Creatine is a non-protein amino acid that is produced by the human body. It is produced by the liver, kidneys and pancreas from existing amino acids and from the food we take. Creatine helps in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a major source of energy for the body. The body produces 2-4g of Creatine daily. The main food sources of Creatine are fish and red meat.

Creatine is used as a dietary and food supplement, especially by sports people. The ability of Creatine to generate sudden bursts of energy when the body is exerted makes it an effective drug for people participating in sports like weightlifting, wrestling or sprinting. Creatine content in the body can be improved marginally by consuming more red meat and fish. But for some extra Creatine, most people depend on Creatine supplements available in the form of tablets, capsules or powder. Creatine supplements are approved by the FDA as a food supplement and are considered to be as safe as vitamin supplements though caution should be taken regarding the dosage. However, taking too much Creatine is also not very harmful as the body can absorb only a certain quantity and the rest is expelled from the body through the kidneys.

There are several Creatine supplement products in the market today. These are available in different forms and sizes meant for different kinds of people. Creatine supplements are available in different flavors and even in chewable forms. Discount Creatine supplements are also available at lower prices ranging from £4.99 for a 100g bottle, £14.99 for a 500g bottle and £21.99 for a 1KG bottle. There are many websites over the Internet that offer advice about discount Creatine. The products can also be ordered online. Wholesale dealers are another source of obtaining discount Creatine. Buying by bulk proves to be generally much cheaper.

Creatine provides detailed information about creatine, creatine benefits, creatine monohydrate, and more. Creatine is affiliated with Body Mass Index Chart.