Only Mother Nature can make an apple. Only nature can make a cell.

Scientists and chemists continue to try in vain to duplicate in a laboratory the molecular structure of many different isolated natural substances. When you analyze them with an electron microscope they can look identical, yet in some invisible, yet significant, way they are not. Although scientists can make seawater with exactly the same chemical structure as natural seawater, when you put a salt-water fish in this synthetic environment, the fish dies. What is it in natural seawater that sustains life?

VITA means life. Vita defines the difference between synthetic and what is now known as naturally-occurring.

Putting the word “Natural” on the vitamin label is deceptive. The word is constantly abused and as such its meaning has been diluted to a point where it holds little value. Many misleading labels on supplement products take advantage of the ambiguity of the word “natural” to project a wholesome marketing image – most often when the product does not merit it.

Naturally-occurring vitamins are obtained by taking a nutrient-rich plant, removing the water and the fiber in a chemical-free vacuum process, and packaging it for stability. The entire vitamin complex is captured intact, retaining its full-spectrum functional and nutritional integrity.

Another primary difference between real full-spectrum whole-food vitamins and synthetic vitamins is that real vitamins contain the essential trace minerals necessary for the vitamins’ synergistic operation. Synthetic vitamins contain no trace minerals and must utilize the body’s own mineral reserves. Ingesting real vitamins does not require the body to deplete its own reserves of nutrients to replace any nutrients missing from the false vitamin complex.
Mega doses of synthetic vitamins can have very serious toxic effects. Naturally-occurring whole-food vitamins are not toxic since the vitamin is complexed in its natural whole integral working form, and requires nothing from the body to “build” a vitamin. Naturally-occurring whole food vitamins are only necessary in small quantities on a daily basis.
Mainstream marketing of vitamins and minerals has created the myth that vitamins and minerals may be isolated individually and from one other, and that we can derive total benefit from taking these fractionated chemical creations. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Vitamins, minerals and enzymes work closely together as co-factors for each other’s efficacy. If one part is missing, or is fractionated, or in the incorrect form or the incorrect amount, entire chains of metabolic processes cannot and will not proceed normally. Only nature can provide us with naturally-occurring vitamins as found in real, wholesome organic foods.
The overwhelming majority of vitamin products sold in groceries, drug stores or mass-marketing retailers contain synthetic ingredients. What our bodies require are supplement products made exclusively from naturally-occurring nutrients rather than toxic laboratory synthesized ones. Currently only conscious companies produce supplements with naturally-occurring ingredients. These companies should be commended and supported for offering natural health-promoting products to the consumer.
Difference between natural vs. synthetic
Each year in North American alone, people spend over $20 billion on vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplements, believing that these products are benefiting us. But are they? What is the real truth about vitamins? If we eat a balanced diet, do we really need nutritional supplements? To answer this question we have to go back to our roots – our soil.
The body is unable to manufacture most vitamins for itself, and so they must be obtained from nutritional sources. In our grandparents’ time the soil was rich with nutrients that produced healthy, vigorous crops rich in vitamin content. Today our soils are laced with industrial pollution, pesticides and chemical fertilizers that not only pollute our soils, but also activate further soil erosion. Our foods have only a fraction of the nutrient value of 70-100 years ago.
Our polluted air and water systems deplete our bodies of their store of nutrients, and the stresses of modern life are weakening our genetic and immune systems. The answer is that today we do need vitamin and nutrient supplementation, whereas 100 years ago we did not.
The mineral depletion of our soils and foods is not news. The U.S. government has been issuing official warnings since 1936. The U.S. Senate Document #264, published by the 2nd session of the 74th Congress in 1936 stated the following:
“Most of us today are suffering from certain dangerous diet deficiencies which cannot be remedied until the depleted soils from which our foods come are brought into proper mineral balance. Foods, fruits, vegetables and grains that are now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain needed minerals, are starving us – no matter how much of these foods we eat. Leading authorities state that 99% of the American people are deficient in these minerals, and that a marked deficiency in any one of the more important minerals actually results in disease. Any upset of the balance or any considerable lack of one or another element, however microscopic, causes problems and we sicken, suffer, and shorten our lives. Lacking vitamins, the system can make some use of minerals; but lacking minerals, vitamins are useless.” That was over 70 years ago. Just imagine how the report would read today.
Unfortunately, we all have a big job ahead to restore our soil quality – even on organic farms – and bring back the nutrients that have been farmed out of our food. It is urgent that we reintroduce proper organic farming as the primary method, as well as the rotation of crops to improve the quality of our soils, among other benefits. It has taken many decades to ruin our soils and it will take time to revive them and bring them back to health again; but, it can be done. As world citizens we can transform our farmlands; one way is by purchasing organic foods. In the meantime, the only way we can guarantee getting adequate nutrients then, is through food supplementation with naturally-occurring, non-synthetic vitamin and nutrients, preferably from organic farms that focus on soil conservation.
Vitamins are organic micronutrients essential to normal human metabolism. Unlike fats, carbohydrates and some proteins, vitamins are not metabolized to provide energy. Most are not manufactured by the body but are present in minute quantities in natural foodstuffs. Each of these naturally-occurring organic compounds performs a specific vital function and is required by the body for disease prevention and good health.
The known vitamins are divided into four fat-soluble types (A, D, E and K) and nine water-soluble types (eight B vitamins and vitamin C). The fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in the body and do not need to be ingested every day. Because the fat-soluble vitamins are not eliminated from the body through the urine, ingesting too many of them creates toxicity. The water-soluble vitamins are more easily eliminated and can be taken in larger amounts without danger of toxicity. Vitamin C and the eight B vitamins (except for Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid) are water soluble. They cannot be stored and must be consumed frequently for optimal health.

As an initial convention, vitamins were given letters to go with their chemically defined names. Not many people know about the form of vitamin E d-alpha tocopheryl succinate, but most people know what “Vitamin E” is and what it can be used for. Some nutritional factors were originally given “B” names but turned out not to act as vitamins at all. You may not have heard of vitamins B-4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 which were ultimately rejected as vitamin factors.
We know that vitamins prevent disease and promote health, but what do we know about the actual quality of the vitamins we ingest? Hundreds of millions of people take a daily vitamin and/or herbal supplement. For more than 70 years we have been ingesting synthetic vitamins in our supplements and our fortified foods, believing that our health is being protected and improved. But is it? What is the truth about vitamin supplementation and food fortification?
There are two categories in the family of vitamin and nutritional products with labeled potencies – synthetic and naturally-occurring. Nearly all vitamin supplements available today fall into the synthetic category. Some consist of 100% synthesized vitamins, and some are combination formulas containing one or more naturally-occurring vitamin ingredients combined with synthetic vitamins. Naturally-occurring vitamin supplements are comprised of naturally-occurring food and botanicals. They contain no synthetic vitamins or nutrients whatsoever. Presently there are few manufacturers of this type of vitamin supplement.
Synthetic vitamin supplements packaged as tablets, capsules, gelcaps, or powders comprise the majority of vitamin products found in natural food stores, grocery stores, drug stores and large retail outlets. Within this category there are certain types and distinctions.
Type 1: In some vitamin supplement products a natural base is used and then the synthetic vitamins or nutrients are added to that natural base. An example of a natural base could be Acerola cherry or Rosehip, and even a mixture of botanicals, as a natural base with the synthetic vitamins and nutrients added. Many Vitamin C products which claim to be from Acerola or some other fruit or food are usually spiked with synthetic ascorbic acid or ascorbates. Many multiple vitamin products use a natural base spiked with multiple synthetic vitamins to get their labeled potencies.
Type 2: Some supplements are derived from specially “grown” materials (referred to as “food source” or “whole food” source) such as yeasts and algae. These products typically then combine the yeast or algae and create other “mixtures” as a base to which synthetic vitamins are added. Manufacturers call these supplements “natural” because they are derived from yeast or algae – natural botanicals. However, they are not because synthetic vitamins or nutrients have been added to the product. This is most often not mentioned on the product label and is “hidden” from consumers, most of whom, ironically, are reading labels to ensure the highest levels of nutrition. Tragically, they fall prey to misleading and dishonest information.
A manufacturer of this cultivated base which has been spiked with synthetics nutrients will supply their own as well as other supplement companies with this raw substance. They will then use the raw substance to produce and market their own vitamins under different product names. The fact that this raw material contains a cultivated, so-called “natural” base enables the vitamin producers to make the claim on their label that they are derived from natural sources and contain the listed potencies from the “food source” referring to the base. But as you can now see this is deceptive.
Most vitamin companies compete for customers with identical synthetic vitamin products made from compounds produced by the same few drug companies. The vitamin companies differentiate their products with different names and fancy labels, each making claims of “high potency”. But the higher the potency of the synthetic vitamin or nutrient, the more likely it is to exhibit drug-like, toxic effects, the stress of which can actually lead to disease.
Most vitamin companies take advantage of loopholes in labeling laws to mislead the consumer. The truth is that the vitamin potencies for most supplements are derived from synthetic vitamins. Consumers are fooled by the label claims and believe that the vitamin and nutrient potencies are derived from a natural source. Avoid this trap by examining the label. Look for the phrase “Naturally Occurring.” If the label does not say “Naturally Occurring” and also name the food source of the potency, then be aware that the supplement probably contains synthetic vitamins or nutrients.
The second category of naturally-occurring vitamin supplements are derived from full-spectrum food and botanical sources. These are truly natural vitamin potency supplement products and can be identified by their designation “Naturally Occurring” or Naturally Occurring Standard (NOS).
Although vitamins from naturally-occurring sources are relatively lower potency, they are actually much more effective at these potencies than synthetic vitamins, for the simple reason that the body can easily assimilate their nutrients without toxic side-effects.
Over the past two decades, we have seen the negative impact of synthetic supplements by viewing tens of thousands of blood samples with the assistance of a high-powered microscope. What we know is that the body perceives a synthetic supplement, like it would perceive any other foreign chemical, as an invader and threat to its survival. As such, it responds by releasing immune-preserving cells such as leukocytes (white blood cells) to combat the enemy and preserve immunity. Unfortunately, this activity detracts these cells from their other crucial role of eliminating microbes (viruses and bacteria), spirochetes (such as those that result in Lyme’s Disease), and mutagenic cells (such as those that can result in cancer). Consequently, when one introduces a large number of chemical invaders, such as non-N.O.S. supplements, into the body, there are fewer immune-preserving cells to combat more deleterious cell activity, and there is a greater probability for disease.
Just as natural vitamins from food are more effective than synthetic vitamins, so are natural vitamin supplements from whole-food sources. Low potency from a full spectrum, naturally-occurring source of the vitamin will produce effective nutrient activity, while positively impacting immune function.
Vitamins are biological complexes. They represent multi-step biochemical interactions whose beneficial action depends upon a number of variables within the biological terrain. Vitamin activity only takes place when all co-factors and components of the vitamin complex are present and working together. Vitamins cannot be isolated from their complexes and still perform their specific functions within the cells. When isolated into artificial chemicalized commercial forms, these purified crystalline synthetics act as toxic drugs in the body that compromise the immune system, which can ultimately lead to disease. They are no longer actual vitamins, and to call them such is inaccurate. A vitamin is: “a working process consisting of the nutrient, enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, and trace mineral activators.” – Dr. Royal Lee (“What Is a Vitamin?” Applied Trophology August 1956.)
Several studies on natural vs. synthetic vitamins have shown that synthetic vitamins are 50 to 70% less biologically active than natural vitamins.
Synthetic vitamins are actually just fractions of naturally-occurring vitamins synthesized in the dextro- and levo- forms (known as “right” and “left handed” molecules) which form geometric mirror images of each other. It may seem strange, but the geometry of the nutrient compounds is crucial for the bioavailability of the nutrient. The body uses only the levo-forms. Synthetic vitamin compounds have little of the correct geometry (levo-forms) of naturally-occurring vitamins present in food and botanicals. Furthermore, the levo-forms of synthetic nutrients or vitamins are of little use without the associated factors (enzymes, minerals and other co-factors) present in a natural source of the nutrient or vitamin.
So, can a synthesized, isolated vitamin fraction made in the laboratory be called a real vitamin? Can it provide you with the nourishment that naturally-occurring, whole-food supplements can? The answer is a resounding and undeniable NO.
Throughout much of the last century, we have been programmed to believe that synthetic chemicals are an acceptable substitute for natural food-source nutritional substances. This bizarre concept is broadcasted mainly by commercial interests who promote this fallacy through sophisticated marketing programs to sell inferior “food” and nutritional supplements.
The problems we now have with synthetic vitamins are parallel to the overall problems we have with pharmaceutical drugs and the development of modern medicine. We have abandoned our history of traditional medicine and are suffering the consequences because of it.
Although chemistry has provided us with many benefits, when it comes to food and nutrition, a better life through chemistry is a fallacy. We are now in the midst of a chemical “feast” of harmful and polluting chemical preservatives, excipients, colorings, flavorings and other killer chemicals. A century ago when we discovered how to chemically synthesize various isolates of natural compounds, synthetic nutrients became fashionable.

Many of the problems that we have today developed when we embraced the chemical paradigm and rejected our time-proven traditional medicinal practices. It is imperative that we return to our traditional values and ways of living for healing before the hazardous imbalances we have created destroy us.
Only Nature can create a real vitamin. The differences between vitamins extracted from food and those manufactured by chemical processes is vast; there are very important distinctions. Vitamins manufactured in the laboratory come to us without the naturally occurring associated factors and trace substances that insure a vitamin’s bioavailability. If the body can easily digest and absorb nutrients from a food, then they are said to be bio-available. Tests on natural vs. synthetic vitamins have revealed that synthetic vitamins are less biologically active and bio-available than natural vitamins. Since our bodies often do not absorb more than 50% of the vitamins and minerals we consume, to ingest a product that is already less active than its natural counterpart leaves virtually little of the original potency available for our use.
It sounds like a simple concept: you are what you digest or more accurately what you assimilate. The digestive system of humans, similar to that of apes, grazing animals and other herbivores, is complex. The adult alimentary canal measures up to 36-feet; it is long and convoluted. Yet it squeezes into the small space of our abdominal cavity. Many of us assume that we have good and proper digestion and assimilation, and that our bodies can extract nutrients no matter what we eat. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, which is why it is important to eat wholesome and nutritious foods and maintain high levels of good intestinal flora and other living bacteria that break down our foods completely so that nutrients can be absorbed.
Furthermore, the human biology has never been able to “digest” synthetic chemicals. Even though we may ingest synthetic chemicals, our digestive systems have not suddenly changed to recognize them as food or nourishment. All the synthetic nutrients in the world are useless, and potentially even dangerous, if they are not digested. The best way to improve digestive absorption of nutrients is to eat good nutrient-rich, living foods and use naturally-occurring vitamins and mineral supplements. You are what you digest also means that if your digestion is weak, then you absorb fewer nutrients from your food than necessary, which can lead to obesity or other imbalances. When enjoying quality foods, the health of your body and all of its systems are strengthened.
Research with polarized light shows the differences in bioavailability between synthetic and natural vitamins. The experiment involves taking a sample of a natural vitamin and its chemically identical synthetic counterpart, and passing a beam of polarized light through each. The beam passing through a natural vitamin always bends to the right due to the direction of its molecular rotation. When passing through a synthetic vitamin, the beam splits in half. Half the light beam bends to the right, and the other half bends to the left. The direction of the molecular rotation makes half of the synthetic vitamin impossible to use, which is why there is only 50% biological activity in synthetic, isolated vitamins. They are lacking the factors found in a full-spectrum real vitamin and more importantly they are not viewed by the body as real nutrition, and are therefore counterproductive to health.
Furthermore, synthetic vitamin supplements cannot work properly in the body. Molecules in the body always rotate to the right.
Even if the vitamins you take are “natural” ones extracted from food, they will not be effective if they have been extracted from their full-spectrum matrix. Extracting a vitamin from its full-spectrum matrix eliminates the necessary co-factors which assist in the functioning of that nutrient. When you extract and isolate Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from an orange, you remove the bio-flavonoids which are necessary for Vitamin C’s activity. It’s better to use a full-spectrum concentrate of the whole orange rather than to extract the ascorbic acid or other isolated Vitamin C fractions.
For a complex matrix like Vitamin C to be effective, it has to be used as nature created it. Always use a full-spectrum food source supplement of Vitamin C and other supplements to insure that all the factors are available to your body.
Worldwide, there is no official government-regulated definition for the term “natural” for the natural products industry. Here in the U.S., the FDA refers to natural ingredients as “ingredients extracted directly from plants or animal products, as opposed to being produced synthetically.” (Ref: FDA Consumer Information & Publication No. (FDA) 95-5012).

While it’s fine to set a legal definition for natural, the problem is that the FDA’s entire system of standards for vitamins is not based on nature. This system, known as the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) or what has now been updated to “Daily Values” (DV’s) and RDI’s (Recommended Daily Intake), pertains to the amount of vitamins we require daily for maintaining our health and is based on the assumed nutrient value of synthetic supplements.
The RDA’s, DV’s or other “standards” that the FDA has proposed are based mainly on animal testing using synthetic vitamins – supplements that we have already determined not only lack nutritional value but also are indigestible.

There is a proposal for a new standard for vitamins and nutrients called the: “Naturally Occurring Standard” or “NOS”. This standard is related to verifiable amounts of naturally-occurring vitamins, minerals or other nutrients as found in vegetables and botanicals. It is our strong opinion – in the interest of public health – that the NOS should be adopted by the food industry as a consumer standard for all food supplements or fortified foods. The NOS symbol printed on dietary supplements or food products labels will ensure that a product contains only naturally-occurring whole food materials, enabling consumers to make the healthiest choices for themselves and their family.

Toxic Ingredients Widespread in Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements Today

Check the labels on your vitamins and nutritional supplements – do they list magnesium stearate or stearic acid as ingredients? “Natural” flavors? Sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate? Gelatin?

“Natural” flavors are found in lots of protein supplement drinks.

It is also common to find ingredients in vitamins and nutritional supplements that have been irradiated, fumigated or contaminated with pesticide residues. In fact, up to 70% of raw materials that are imported into the US today are irradiated. This irradiation process creates toxic radiation by products, that remain in the ingredients that you ingest from your vitamin or other nutritional supplement. Other common additives to avoid include silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, cellulose, palmitate (usually synthetic Vitamin A) and starch.

Toxic Fillers Often Used to Reduce the Cost of Nutritional Supplements, including Vitamins

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an excipient as: a usually inert substance (such as gum arabic or starch) that forms a vehicle (as for a drug). The International Pharmaceutical Council of the Americas states that “excipients are substances other than the pharmacologically active ingredients which are included in the manufacturing process or are contained in a finished product. (In many drugs as well as vitamins and other nutritional supplements), excipients make up the bulk of the total dosage form.” Excipients are used in nutritional supplements and vitamins for many reasons, as fillers, lubricants, colors that liven up the product, preservatives, sweeteners, and coatings and glazes that make it easier to swallow. Many of the excipients, especially the lubricants, are used to make it easier and cheaper for the company to manufacture. One example is talc, a suspected carcinogen, that is used in many capsules for vitamins and other nutritional supplements today when they are manufactured with a high-speed encapsulator.

Magnesium Stearate Used in 90% of Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements

Magnesium stearate is also known as stearic acid, and is used as a lubricant in over 90% of the vitamins and other nutritional supplements consumed today. This enables the manufacturers to run their machines more efficiently and save them money, but it can create many problems for the consumer:

Stearic Acid Found in Nutritional Supplements like Vitamins is Harmful to Liver, Causes Cell Death and Depresses Immune System

So stearic acid, also called magnesium stearate appears to inhibit absorption, be harmful to the liver, cause cell death in your body and suppress your immune system. If you take nutritional supplements to boost your immune system and liver function and for your overall good health, does it really make sense to be taking vitamins or other nutritional supplements with these ingredients in them? IT only makes sense to Big Pharma and the boys. Sell you a product that is supposed to help you become a healthier being and what it really does is make you more ill, they win. When this happens they are able to sell you even MORE products to combat the NEW ailment that you have acquired due to the toxin that they sold to you to make you healthy.

Most Supplements Labeled 100% Natural Actually Contain Stearates

Most retailers do not know about the health problems created with the consumption of magnesium stearate, and mistakenly claim 100% purity or 100% natural for their so-called “nutritional” supplements and vitamins that do in fact contain these toxins. This is particularly important for products you take on a daily basis or if your immune system is already not functioning up to par, as is usually the case with any chronic illness.

Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate Found in Many Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements

Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are often used as preservatives in foods as well as in vitamins and nutritional supplements. They show up most often in liquid vitamins and mineral drinks, as well as in juice drinks. You can find these preservatives in nutritional supplements on your regular grocery shelf, in “health” food stores and also in many drinks sold in multi-level marketing programs. Many of these juice companies tell you about how people living out in the tropics consumed these fruits and/or their juices and lived to be very old. Please note these long-lived peoples undoubtedly did NOT drink juices in nutritional supplement form with sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate in them!

This poisoning of the people is not something new.

Way back in the 1920’s, around the time when the Food & Drug Act was passed, Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, M.D. tried to get sodium benzoate outlawed. He called it a “monstrosity” and thought it was harmful to health and should not be used in foods. Dr. Wiley taught at Harvard and also worked for the US Department of Agriculture assisting Congress in answering questions about chemical preservatives in foods. Sodium benzoate was, however, a boon to food manufacturers, since it greatly extended the shelf life of many processed foods, including vitamins and nutritional supplements. That is why it can still be found in many products today, especially in processed foods and nutritional supplements, including vitamins.

The Chemical Analysis Data Sheet on sodium benzoate tells you to “Store away from food and beverages.” Can you believe that? They tell you to store sodium benzoate away from food and beverages, yet it is an additive in many of them, including various nutritional supplements, especially liquid vitamins, minerals and juice drinks!

Stay Away From Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate, whether in your foods, your vitamins, or other nutritional supplements!

Even if your vitamins and nutritional supplements do not list any of the toxic ingredients we mentioned, like magnesium stearate, THEY MAY STILL BE PRESENT.

They even found vitamins and nutritional supplements that contained less than 5% of the amount of nutrients claimed on the label! Even the US Department of Agriculture reported in a May, 1999 study, that “a number of nutritional preparations claiming to contain certain doses of product have significantly less, or none, of the dosages described.”

And yet, even though those ‘watch dog’ agencies who are supposed to be there to make sure the American people receive the best quality of food, meds, etc., know that this is going on, we still have the products stamped with a USDA or an FDA stamp of approval and sitting on the shelves waiting for us to purchase them.

Consumer Beware – Not All Ingredients Are Listed on Labels of Nutritional Supplements, Such As with Vitamins and Herbal Products
With regard to toxic manufacturing excipients, many nutritional supplement manufacturers simply skirt the issue by not listing them on their label. In this way, they avoid alarming consumers about their use of these toxins. If you don’t see it on the label or on their website, ask your vitamin or nutritional supplement manufacturer to provide you with a written statement that guarantees their supplements are free of stearates, palmitates, stearic acid, FD&C food colors, “natural flavors”, polyethylene glycol, acetate, titanium dioxide, sucrose and other toxic excipients and potentially harmful manufacturing additives.
It is also common today to find the wrong herbal species and ingredients that are out of date, fumigated, irradiated or contaminated with pesticide residues. So, even if the vitamins and nutritional supplements you are taking are toxic excipient-free, you need to find out if it they are also free of heavy metals and pesticide residues, as well as if they contain the potency and ingredients promised by the supplier.
When you use nutritional supplements, including vitamins, you are taking them to enhance your health – it’s imperative that you ask these questions and find supplements that are free of harmful additives and are filled with the promised ingredients.
Most Manufacturers of Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements Do Not Test Raw Materials
You may not know this, but those who produce vitamins and nutritional supplements do not have to prove the safety or effectiveness of their products before selling them in the marketplace! Most vitamin manufacturers do not test the raw materials used to make their vitamins and nutritional supplements. They accept what is called a “Certificate of Analysis” (C of A) from the suppliers. But the C of A usually tests only for harmful bacteria, not toxic contaminants like pesticides or harmful radiation by-products. So unless a company performs their own testing, you don’t know if the ingredients they use for their nutritional supplements like vitamins are really pure and free of contaminants.
If you want vitamins and nutritional supplements that are free of pesticides and have not been irradiated or fumigated, you must test every incoming batch today, as pesticides, irradiation, and fumigation are all widespread. Tom Brokaw did a report in the 1980’s about how there is no more uncontaminated fresh water left in the United States. That means that all irrigated crops in the US are given contaminated water that then makes its way into the plant. So if your whole food vitamins or nutritional supplements are made in the US, they probably contain some of those contaminants. If the company goes outside the United States to source ingredients, you need to know that up to 70% of raw materials coming into the United States today for vitamins and nutritional supplements are irradiated, creating extremely toxic radiolytic byproducts.
Many vitamins and other nutritional supplements use plant sources that do not have a high nutritional content. As you probably could guess, the nutrient content and phyto-chemical properties of any plant including medicinal herbs can vary drastically, depending on the growing and harvesting methods, and the mineral content of the soil it was grown in. Just because an herb or a plant is supposed to offer certain benefits (as quoted in scientific literature), does not mean that it actually does! Many herbs grown commercially today are too weak, too toxic, or both, to offer all the typically quoted benefits when actually used in vitamins or other nutritional supplements.
For example, a plant’s mineral content can vary by over 900%, depending on how it was grown! Likewise, its phyto-chemical nutrients can range from very potent, with terrific nutritional properties, to almost inactive. If an herb is poorly grown, or grown in mineral-deficient soil, it cannot offer the same results as a plant that is grown under optimal conditions. If you want to find truly effective nutritional supplements, including vitamins and minerals and other herbal supplements, you need to find ones that have used potent ingredients.
Many, if not most, of the vitamins and nutritional supplements you find in the stores today are isolated nutrients that come from synthetic sources. This is generally because these supplements cost much less to manufacture than vitamins whose ingredients come from living food sources. These synthetic nutritional supplements are most often either made or processed with hydrogenated sugars or with petroleum derivatives like coal tar (Ugh!).
Sales for synthetic vitamins and drugs involve up to a 3500% profit margin while whole food nutritional supplements are only marked up 20% to 50%.
Myth: Synthetic Vitamins Enhance Long-Term Health & Longevity
The nutritional industry has successfully created the myth that synthetic vitamins and inorganic minerals in precise milligram amounts can be utilized by the cells of the body to enhance long-term health and longevity. Synthetic means “man-made” and nothing synthetic is ever found in nature. Yet, products are labeled “Natural” when they are full of USP synthetic ingredients.
Nobel Prize laureate, Dr. Albert Szent-Georgie, who discovered vitamin C, found that he could never cure scurvy with synthetic ascorbic acid. Yet, he reported always curing scurvy with vitamin C found in foods and concluded cell utilzation requires a food matrix that includes nature’s co-factors. Our bodies are created to be a part of nature. They are designed to use natural product, they are not designed to use synthetic product. That is why the rate of disease has increased over the years. Our lifestyles have really messed with our way of eating, we eat processed food, junk food and we don’t eat healthy anymore.
Synthetic forms of the fat soluble vitamins such as A, D and E are especially dangerous. I recommend that you avoid synthetic fat soluble vitamins in any and all nutritional supplements that you take.
There have been more articles in the media lately regarding the dangers of vitamin supplements. This seems to stem in large part from studies that showed adverse affects of consuming high amounts of synthetic vitamins, especially the fat soluble ones. It is unfortunate that the media and even the medical establishment are not for the large part distinguishing between synthetic and natural forms of these vitamins. It has actually been decades ago that researchers discovered the numerous benefits of vitamins A, D & E, and they used to recommend the consumption of rather high amounts, not in the form of manufactured, synthetic, nutritional supplements, but in natural forms like cod liver oil, butter and liver.
Traditional diets of healthy peoples were very high compared to today’s standards in fat soluble vitamins, especially A & D. However, these populations were extremely healthy – no cancer, no heart disease, no arthritis, etc. They especially recommended high amounts of the fat soluble vitamins to their women of child bearing age and to those who were pregnant or nursing, with no adverse health effects. In fact, they saw the adverse effects when they didn’t consume enough of these vitamins! They found that high levels of A & D found in butterfat, liver, shellfish and cod liver oil gave their children strong teeth and bones and good health all around.
In fact, traditional native peoples that were studied had more than ten times the amount of vitamins A & D than we have in our diets today. 10 Times! So once again, emphasize natural sources in all your vitamins, whether in whole foods or nutritional supplements, especially with the fat soluble vitamins A, D and E.
Research done by Dr. Agnes Faye Morgan (University of California) reported that taking synthetic vitamins is worse than starvation.
Animals fed synthetic vitamins had toxic reactions or died quickly of degenerative diseases compared to those fed whole foods. She reported in Science that animals on a synthetic vitamin enriched diet died long before the animals on an unprocessed diet. She stated that the enrichment of processed foods with synthetic vitamins may “precipitate conditions worse than the original deficiency.” Other animal studies reveal untimely deaths, sterility, and serious health deficits with the use of synthetic nutritional supplements versus once-living source whole foods in animal feeds (Scandinavian Veterinary; Journal of Natural Agriculture).
Many Studies Show No Health Benefits From Synthetic Vitamins
A Harvard study of 22,000 physicians reported no health benefits from synthetic vitamins.
A 1994 study in the New England Journal of Medicine on elderly Americans, designed to improve muscle weakness and physical frailty, demonstrated no benefits whatsover.
In a study, published in the 1945 American Journal of Digestive Diseases, Vitamin E-deficient laboratory animals that were fed synthetic tocopherols died before the control group that did not receive any nutritional supplements at all.
Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School ran a four-year study to see if antioxidant nutritional supplements could prevent the recurrence of adenomas of the colon after surgical removal in 864 patients. After four years of giving 25 mg of beta-carotene, 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, and 400 mg of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), all in synthetic forms, there were no positive effects noted and the researchers concluded that: “Current data do not support the use of antioxidant (synthetic) vitamin supplements for purposes of cancer prevention.” (July 22, 1994 New England Journal of Medicine).
Medical Research Shows Synthetic Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements Can Increase Cancer Risk
In a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study, 18,000 American men and women at risk of lung cancer took either a placebo or supplements of synthetic vitamin A. The researchers, led by Dr. Gilbert Omen, stopped the study in January, 1996, because the group on nutritional supplements had a 28% higher incidence of lung cancer. Regarding these troublesome findings, Dr. Susan Taylor Mayne of Yale University told New Scientist “I’m concerned about all of these nutrients that people go out and take in massive doses. These nutrients have adverse effects.” She was, of course, talking about synthetic vitamins.
Other studies show that synthetic beta carotene can block antioxidant activity and the anti-cancer activity of antioxidants (carotenoids) in the diet.
A study of 29,000 Finnish smokers proved that synthetic vitamins increased death rates significantly enough to stop a 10-year study prematurely. To the researchers’ horror the risk of cancer increased by 16% and there were more heart attacks, more strokes, and an 8% higher increase in the overall death rate of those smokers taking the synthetic nutritional supplements.
A New England Journal of Medicine (Nov, 1995) study at Boston University School of Medicine found that synthetic vitamin A given to pregnant women, in medium to high doses, increased the risk of birth defects by 240% at the lower dosage and 400% at the higher dosage. Serious genetic damage that caused cleft lip, cleft palette, heart malformations, and nervous system damage were linked to synthetic vitamins. This comprehensive study of 22,748 women over a period of four years reported that there was no birth defect risk noted from foods containing Vitamin A.
Synthetic vitamins are made in a lab, often from toxic substances, and only “mimick” the real vitamins found in nature. These artificial forms of vitamins might help in the short run, but they can age you faster in the long run, and give you even more symptoms. A good example is that of the B complex. Did you know that most B vitamins are made from petrochemicals? Yes, that’s right, they are mostly coal tar derivatives!
Research shows that even a small amount of a naturally occurring vitamin can out perform the same synthetic one in much larger amounts. For example, synthetic A (palmitate) is far less effective than the natural vitamin A from butter and cod liver oil and pro-vitamin A that is contained in young grasses. In addition to natural pro-vitamin A, young grasses contain every nutrient known to sustain life; vitamin A palmitate does not. Cod liver oil also contains vitamin D and essential fatty acids; vitamin A palmitate does not. The list could go on and on.
Natural vitamin C, for example, contains bioflavonoids and many other co-factors that help your body absorb the ascorbic acid. Many manufacturers will tell you that ascorbic acid IS vitamin C, but that is just not the case.
It is really just the outer protective ring for the entire C complex of nutrients.
So even if you think you got a “bargain” on your nutritional supplements, your body probably did not.
Start taking 100% whole nutrient vitamins and nutritional supplements today! Even vitamins that say “food-based” are usually synthetic with small amounts of food mixed in, so the manufacturer can say “food-based.” In fact, if you type “whole food vitamins” or “whole food supplements” into any search engine, and then closely study the websites that come up, you will see that most of them have some whole foods in the nutritional supplements, but lots of synthetic vitamins and toxic fillers as well!
Look for nutritional supplements that use only 100% living plant concentrates – NO synthetic ingredients.
Vitamin RDA’s
RDA’s or Recommended Daily Allowances were set up as guidelines to make sure people don’t get some of the most severe deficiency diseases. They were never designed to represent optimal vitamin and mineral levels. In spite of these low levels, a recent survey by the US Department of Agriculture showed that out of 21,500 surveyed, not even one person got 100% of the RDA for all the nutrients in the survey over a period of three days!
Although that study showed that almost everyone needs to either increase the level of vitamins and minerals in their diet or take nutritional supplements, there are certain population groups who are the most affected. These include people with diseases or on medication that interfere with digestion or absorption of nutrients, the elderly and pregnant or nursing women, those who recently were injured or burned, or recently had surgery, and vegetarians and dieters.
In addition, if you are still eating processed foods like white sugar and flour and hydrogenated oils, or using tobacco, alcohol or drugs, including many prescription drugs, you are depleting your body of many micro nutrients. If you are under stress of any type or exposed to chemicals in our environment (who isn’t?), you will also have higher requirements for many nutrients, especially the antioxidant vitamins like B, C & E, and may want to consider whole food nutritional supplements.
Many people have a hard time these days finding and eating only truly superior, nutrient-dense foods. Even back in the 1930’s it was recognized that our soils and consequently our foods were depleted of essential minerals. This is even more of a problem today, and even amongst many organic farmers, not all have corrected this problem with their soil. In addition to the mineral deficiency, since 1980 there has been a 50% reduction in antioxidants in our foods, including vitamin B, C, and E complexes, and unless acquired fresh from the farm or from your own organic garden, and consumed shortly within picking, your food will be lacking these vitamins and other antioxidants. At the same time, our world is now filled with chemicals that bombard us on all sides. This increases our body’s need for nutrients, especially for antioxidants like the B, C, and E vitamin complexes, DHLA and green tea.
So even if you are getting the RDA of all the vitamins, you are probably not getting enough micronutrients for optimal health.
When you go shopping for a natural vitamin or other nutritional supplement, it is important that you look for one that is made of highly potent ingredients. Depending on the richness of the soil in which it was grown, and how it was harvested and preserved, the nutrient content of various plants can vary by over 900%! This means you can get something that runs from barely containing the nutrient that you are looking for to something that is spectacularly potent. Always ask about how the ingredients were grown and harvested. Organic produce tends to have higher concentrations of nutrients in it:
Organic Means More Minerals
Not only do organic foods have fewer chemicals like pesticides in them, but they have been shown in many studies to have higher levels of various nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. This would of course apply to organic vitamins & nutritional supplements as well. An article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition studied the mineral content of organic vs conventionally grown apples, pears, wheat, potatoes and corn. In general, the organic foods in this study had much higher levels of minerals.
In addition, this study showed that organic produce had much lower levels of toxic metals:
Mercury – 25% less
Lead – 29% less
Aluminum – 40% less
Mercury, lead and aluminum are all toxic heavy metals with various dangers. Mercury can cause neurological problems, lead lowers IQ levels in children, and aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer’s and autism. It is important to reduce heavy metal intake, especially in vitamins or nutritional supplements that you are taking for your health!
Organic Means More Vitamins
Other studies have compared vitamin levels of organic vs conventional foods. These studies showed that when certain pesticides are applied, it lowers some vitamin levels – especially the B and C vitamins and beta carotene. These are all known as antioxidants and are necessary for our bodies to properly deal with all the chemicals that we are exposed to in our environment today. (hmm, perhaps the plants used up some of the vitamin B and vitamin C and beta carotene in order for them to deal with the onslaught of the pesticides…) In any case, eating organic foods or taking organic nutritional supplements means getting higher levels of vitamins.
Organic Means Fewer Pesticide Residues
It goes without saying that there are fewer pesticide residues on organic foods, since pesticides are not being used on them. It is sad to say, however, that some pesticides are found even on organic foods because of pesticides in the water used for irrigation and from drift from adjacent fields. However, the amounts of pesticides are much lower if the crop is grown organically, and this will apply to vitamins and nutritional supplements as well.
Although it has been difficult to prove the adverse health benefits of consuming small amounts of pesticide residues on our foods, and some people don’t need a study to tell them that chemicals that kill living things are not good for them. Recent studies have shown a clear relationship between pesticides in women’s fat cells and an increased risk of breast cancer. Although we cannot always control our breathing in chemicals or what is in our water, we can choose to eat more organic food and use organic whole food based nutritional supplements so as to reduce our risk.
Most whole food supplements are concentrated – they are usually dried out and converted to a powder form and either put into a tablet or a capsule. This concentrates the nutrients, but will also concentrate any toxins like pesticides or heavy metals. So besides having a higher vitamin and mineral content, organic whole food nutritional supplements will be lower in toxins like heavy metals and pesticide residues. It is worth seeking out organic vitamins and minerals for your best health.
You can easily grow and make your own supplements. The caplets are readily available at most herb and natural stores. They come in different sizes too. If you grow your own herbs, spices, plants, etc., you will be better able to control their nutrient factor and you will be able to take advantage of this via making your own supplements.
Vitamin Deficiencies
It is difficult to know when you have certain vitamin deficiencies, as they can take weeks or months or even years to develop. Often your body will slowly function less and less well when it does not get proper nourishment, before finally succumbing to disease.
The reverse is also true – adding vitamins and other nutritional supplements and/or changing your diet for the better will not make you feel better or cure diseases overnight. This is because it takes time to rebuild your supply of vitamins and other nutrients in the body, and it takes time to rebuild the degenerative changes that got you sick in the first place. This is also the reason why those who supplement with high quality, food based vitamins and super foods often get better faster than those who simply make positive changes in their diets.
Some health care professionals believe that using higher amounts of nutritional supplements for a short period of time followed by lower amounts for a longer period of time brings better results than simply supplementing with the amounts you need on a daily basis.
Those who start from a position of great lack often need more to begin with to make up for that huge deficiency. If you don’t see any results from adding vitamins or nutritional supplements to your diet, you need to ask yourself
1) Are you taking potent, high quality, 100% food-based nutritional supplements?
2) Is your body absorbing these supplements, and
3) Are you taking high enough levels to get your body to overcome the long-term short-fall?
Benefits of Vitamin A
Vitamin A’s scientific name is retinol, because of its presence in the retina of the eye, where it is essential for good eyesight. However it is used in far more functions that just that of the eye. Vitamin A in crucial for strong bone and tooth development, proper reproduction, cell differentiation and immune system function. This vital nutrient is also needed for the growth and repair of body tissues and is a major factor in the health of the skin, hair, teeth and gums. It also helps protect mucous membranes of the throat, mouth, nose, and lungs and it helps in the proper digestion of protein. Last but not least, it seems to lower the risk of many different types of cancers, and it aids in the production of RNA.
(RNA stands for ribonucleic acid. RNA belongs to the same class of molecules as DNA ~ deoxyribonucleic acid. While DNA stores the genetic information of the cell, the RNA is a copy of that information that is used by the cell to make proteins).
There has been much vitamin A research on its role in cancer prevention. Dr Max Gerson, for example, successfully treated many “terminal” cancer patients with raw liver juice, which is a concentrated source of natural vitamin A. Other researchers have also had success treating cancer with vitamin A, but these findings have been largely ignored by the medical community.
According to Weston A. Price, the diets of healthy traditional peoples that he studied contained at least ten times as much vitamin A as the American diet of his day, which was back in the 1930’s. We undoubtedly get even less vitamin A today in our diets. Dr. Price’s work showed that vitamin A, along with several other fat-soluble activators, are present only in animal fats, but are necessary for the assimilation of minerals in the diet, amongst other things. So this means that if you don’t get enough A, no matter what you do to try to get enough minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, your body will not be able to use the minerals properly!
In addition, because of our “factory farms” and the consequent way we feed our animals with vegetable oils, there are drastically reduced amounts of vitamin A in most of our dairy products and eggs today. Research has shown that animal fats will contain lots of vitamin A if the animals have a high amount of carotenes in their diet, like cows get from green pasture, and chickens from insects. However this is not the case for most of our dairy cows or chickens – they are in confinement and being fed a very unnatural diet. It is worth it to search out sources of pastured animals.
Weston Price thought that all basic biological processes depended on getting enough of the fat-soluble vitamins, and especially vitamin A, in the diet. His research showed that in order for the body to use the water-soluble vitamins, like B and C, and also minerals, people needed to have enough vitamin A in their diets. He found that primitive peoples especially valued vitamin A rich foods for pregnant mothers and children.
It was a physician named Bloch who found out that a diet with whole milk, real butter, cod liver oil and eggs can cure night blindness. He conducted an experiment where he fed one group of children margarine as the only fat and the other group got whole milk, eggs, butter and cod liver oil. Those receiving the whole milk, butter, eggs and the cod liver oil stayed healthy while half of those fed the margarine got corneal eye problems. Now, of course, we know that those in the healthy group were receiving lots of vitamin A, which only occurs in animal foods full of saturated animal fat, and in natural nutritional supplements like high vitamin cod liver oil.
Still wanna turn your nose up when I tell you to make your homemade soaps and lotions
Using a lard base?
Beta Carotene is NOT Vitamin A
There is a lot of misinformation out there about vitamins, including beta carotene. Many health professionals say that we can get vitamin A from various vegetables and fruits, like carrots, yams and watermelon. However, this is really not correct information. We can get beta carotene from them, and the beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A, but beta carotene is NOT vitamin A! The FDA even allows labels for foods with beta carotene to label the carotenes as vitamin A, even though this is very misleading. In addition, the food pyramid has demonized most of the foods that provide us with the most vitamin A: egg yolks, liver, organ meats, butter, cream, whole fat dairy products and shellfish.
Beta carotene is of course a powerful antioxidant in and of itself that seems to protect against cancer, heart attack, environmental pollutants, allergies and more. However, if you are taking beta carotene or eating beta carotene-rich foods thinking you are getting vitamin A, this may not be the case. If we were truly healthy, humans could indeed convert carotenes to vitamin A.
But of course you only get the conversion to take place if you have enough bile salts and fat enzymes to make it happen.
Many People Don’t Covert Beta Carotene Easily To Vitamin A
The problem is that there are huge portions of the population, children and infants, diabetics and those with thyroid or pancreatic problems, or with celiac or sprue disease, who either have a hard time making this conversion or can’t do it at all.
Other things can also get in the way of the body making this conversion, such as use of certain Rx drugs, too high of a consumption of polyunsaturated oils or a low fat diet.
The reason that a low fat diet can cause a problem with converting carotene to A is because you need bile salts and certain enzymes in order for this conversion to take place, but most of us try to follow the mistaken advice of eating low fat. When we eat a meal low in fat, not enough bile is released to do the conversion. This is why putting butter on your vegetables or eating cream with your vegetable soup is a wise tradition! But we are brainwashed to believe that cream and butter are bad for us.
Last, but not least, even people whose bodies do a good job of converting carotenes like beta carotene to A do not seem to be able to quickly or adequately replenish their vitamin A stores from plant foods. So if you are under a lot of stress, like most of us are in today’s modern world, you really need to get some of your A from animal foods, not just from beta carotene in plant foods like carrots.
Lately we have been reading a lot in the popular press that vitamin A may be toxic if we consume it in more than the rather low RDA amounts.
This warning is actually quite ridiculous, considering that just a couple decades ago, pregnant women were told to take cod liver oil every day as well as eat liver several times per week. They often did just that, without causing birth defects. Liver can contain up to 40,000 IU of vitamin A, and 1 tablespoon of high vitamin cod liver oil can have more than 15,000 IU! This means that pregnant women were getting easily 25 to 30,000 IU’s of natural vitamin A per day with no side effects. And the number of miscarriages and birth defects were LOWER than they are today.
Once again, that fear comes from studies done with synthetic vitamin A, not natural A. . Some of the confusion also stems from poorly conducted studies that did not even take blood measurements of vitamin A levels.
Toxicity from synthetic A has been reported by people who took 100,000 IUs per day for a period of several months. However, think about this, in order to get 100,000 IU of A in your diet naturally, you would need to consume 3 tablespoons of high vitamin cod liver oil, 7 pounds of butter, 3 – 100 gram portions of beef liver or 309 egg yolks!!! Every day, you would need to consume these amounts – can you imagine anyone doing that? So we think it is actually quite safe, in fact, quite healthy for you to add butter, cream and egg yolks back into your diet, especially if they came from pastured animals.
Some of the symptoms of A deficiency include dry eyes and the inability to tear, rough itchy skin, night blindness, weak eyesight, poor bone growth, chronic diarrhea, weak tooth enamel and frequent respiratory infections. In pregnant mothers, all sorts of birth defects can occur if there is a deficiency of vitamin A, such as cleft palate and harelip, abnormalities of the heart and blood vessels, eye defects and displaced kidneys.
Humans are able to store large quantities of vitamin A in the liver, as well as in other organs. We are made this way because A is so important to our bodies! So if we have a well-stocked supply, we can get by for quite a while on a low-fat diet before deficiency symptoms appear. However, when we are under a lot of stress, even good stress like being pregnant or exercising, our A stores can become rapidly depleted, and some of the above symptoms can start appearing. Traditional peoples left spaces between children, like 3 years, so as to give our bodies a chance to replenish our Vit A stores.
Food Sources of Vitamin A and Recommended Amounts
Food sources of vitamin A are all animal sources, although much of what you read in books and magazine and newspaper articles will lead you to believe otherwise: Butter, cream and full-fat dairy products from grass-fed cows, liver, especially duck, beef and goose liver, high vitamin cod liver oil and eggs from pastured chickens are some of the best sources. It is very important to note that the amounts of vitamin A can vary greatly depending on what the animal was fed, as well as the season.
Due to much scientific research showing the value of vitamin A, especially for growing children, many children were routinely given high vitamin cod liver oil up until sometime after the Second World War. Even now, there are very successful programs to administer vitamin A to children in Africa in order to prevent blindness and infectious diseases, although it is in a synthetic form. Baby books used to routinely recommend cod liver oil and liver to pregnant women and to give cod liver oil to babies once they reached the age of three months.

Vitamin B

The B vitamins really function as a complex and most health professions agree that they should be taken together, as they are found together in foods such as nutritional yeast, whole grains, milk and eggs, nuts, fish, fruits and leafy green vegetables. They are vital to many processes in the body, including energy production as well as metabolism of amino acids, fats and carbohydrates. They are also essential for a healthy liver, skin, eyes, hair, mouth and nervous system. The B Complex includes vitamins B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (Cyano Cobalamin), Biotin, Choline, Folic Acid, Inositol and PABA.

Our modern day life contributes to B deficiencies in many ways: Refined sugar consumption is now estimated to be at 150 pounds per person per year! Every time you eat white sugar, which is devoid of all vitamins and minerals, your body has to use up B vitamins from somewhere else in the body simply to process that sugar. Over time, eating refined sugar can cause a major depletion of B vitamins in your body.

Many recreational and even prescription drugs including painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-acids, blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-depressants, tranquilizers, antibiotics and more also deplete the body of various B vitamins. So do all the toxins and chemicals we are exposed to today, in our community’s air, in our home building and furnishing materials, in our cleaning and body care products and in our foods. Furthermore, our diets, full of refined, processed foods contribute to our B vitamin deficiency. Stress is another major factor in B depletion.

Symptoms of Vitamin B Deficiencies
There are many and various symptoms of B deficiency, including mental problems like depression and anxiety, chronic fatigue and exhaustion, ADD and its symptoms, like inability to concentrate and irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations and arrhythmias and more. If you suspect you have symptoms of B deficiency, stop eating refined, processed foods like white sugar and flour, and eat more foods with high B content. You might also want to supplement with a high quality natural food source of B vitamins.

Don’t forget if you decide to supplement, it took you a while to become deficient in B vitamins, and it will take a while for you to correct the deficiency. In severe cases it can take up to a year to replenish your vitamin B supplies. Even in moderate cases it can take months of supplementation with food-based B vitamins before you start feeling better.

Vitamin B1 – Thiamine
B Complex Vitamin

Vitamin B1 is known as the “morale” vitamin because of its dramatic effect on our nervous system and our mood. Besides supporting the nervous system, it aids in carbohydrate metabolism, enhances our immune system, wards off mosquitoes, helps develop red blood cells, maintains muscle tissue, promotes growth in children and helps control motion sickness. A synthetic version is added to white flour in America in order to ward off beriberi, but it is better to consume the natural form in whole grains. Because thiamin helps with carbohydrate metabolism, it makes energy available for the body, including the brain. So if you are not getting enough thiamine, you may not be feeding your brain enough glucose for it to think well.

Extra Thiamine Requirements

If you are pregnant or nursing, use oral contraceptives, cigarettes or diuretics, you will need more vitamin B1. Those with diets high in refined foods, too much sugar and junk foods and/or alcohol will also have higher requirements for thiamine. Last, but not least, heavy metal pollutants like mercury and stress also use up thiamine in the body and will increase your need for it.

Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin B1

Fatigue and insomnia, poor memory, brain function and muscle coordination, headaches, weakness and confusion. Insufficient thiamin has also been linked to mood changes, disorderly thinking, fear and feelings of uneasiness – all signs of mental depression that can often affect memory as well. Beriberi is a disease that can develop from a severe deficiency of B1, and is characterized by weakness, limb swelling and heart enlargement. It affects the nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems.

Food Sources of Vitamin B1

Nutritional yeast, whole grains like whole wheat, brown rice and oatmeal, rice bran, watermelon, asparagus and fresh peas, pork, including ham and beef, legumes, nuts and seeds like sesame seeds.

Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin
B Complex Vitamin

You may not hear about it as often as vitamin C or E, but vitamin B2 is often deficient in the American diet, and you may be hearing more about it in the years to come. Along with B1, it aids in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and helps give us energy. It is very good for the eyes and can help prevent corneal ulcers and cataracts. It also helps protect the body from toxicity from drugs as well as chemicals in our environment, promotes healthy skin and helps with psoriasis.

Research also shows that B2 can help neutralize harmful free radicals because of its antioxidant properties. Free radicals are unbalanced molecules in your body that try to balance themselves by stealing electrons from elsewhere in your body. This taking of other electrons can cause damage, and antioxidants quench free radicals by offering an electron of their own. This helps protect other cells in your body and keep them healthier. This may help your body to reduce cholesterol buildup and prevent cancer.

Riboflavin also helps the body to make red blood cells.

Deficiency Symptoms of Riboflavin

Some of the diseases associated with a deficiency in vitamin B2 are: hypothyroidism, severe dermatitis (skin rash), anxiety, diabetes, cataracts, drug abuse, anemia, congenital heart disease and ulcers. Riboflavin deficiency can also cause other vision problems, like blurred vision and light sensitivity, and cracks and redness in the corners of the mouth as well as on the tongue. A deficiency of B2 is often seen at the same time as other B vitamin deficiencies, another reason to not just add more B2 to your diet, but all the B Complex vitamins.

Food Sources of Vitamin B2

Synthetic vitamin B2 is added to white flour and cereals, but synthetic vitamins cannot hope to have the same effects on the body as the whole food nutrient complex. Food sources of B2 include nutritional yeast, whole grains like whole wheat and wild rice, asparagus and broccoli, leafy greens like spinach and turnip greens, yogurt and milk (especially fresh, raw milk), cheeses, liver and kidney, mushrooms and eggs.

Vitamin B3 – Niacin
B Complex Vitamin

Niacin performs many functions in the body, including helping with proper digestion, producing sex hormones, promoting healthy nerves and skin, metabolizing cholesterol and producing energy.

Nicotinic acid has been shown to significantly lower the risk of heart disease and lower the bad cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol, according to James McKenney, professor in the School of Pharmacy at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. However, some slow-release synthetic niacin has caused liver damage and other severe side effects, so as with all vitamins and minerals, we recommend only whole food based supplements.

Deficiency Symptoms of Niacin

Deficiency of niacin can result in depression, dermatitis and headaches, like with Vitamin B1 and B2 deficiencies. It can also cause gum disease, high blood pressure, and other negative personality behaviors. Those with low levels of niacin are more likely to have bronchitis or wheezing with asthma than those with more niacin.

Severe deficiencies can cause pellagra, that causes diarrhea, depression and skin inflammation. Other symptoms include: mental confusion and weakness, inflamed and swollen tongue, irritability and loss of appetite. Pellagra can actually end in death. Very few people now get pellagra because of the fortification of white flour, however, this is once again a synthetic variety of B3 and we recommend that you use whole grains instead to get the real thing!

Food Sources of Vitamin B3

Some good food sources of Niacin include nutritional yeast, brown rice and other whole grains, poultry like chicken and turkey, eggs, milk nuts organ meats, yams and broccoli, legumes and veal.

Supplementation of Vitamin B3

Once again, I don’t recommend any synthetic vitamins.

Vitamin B5 – Pantothenic Acid
B Complex Vitamin

Vitamin B5 is an antioxidant that is very important for good adrenal function because it helps produce cortisone. Once again, antioxidants provide an extra electron to free radicals so they don’t have to steal one from somewhere else in the body. This seems to provide protection from all sorts of degenerative diseases like heart disease, cancer and just general aging. It also protects the body from the side effects of stress, and helps to prevent fatigue and nervous disorders. It can help you fight infection by building antibodies, and also inhibits loss of hair color. It is also important in overcoming the side effects of drugs, especially after surgery. Like many other B vitamins, pantothenic acid is also needed in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Deficiency Symptoms of Pantothenic Acid

Tiredness, fatigue, insomnia and muscle cramping, as well as anemia and lack of coordination can result from a deficiency of pantothenic acid. Further symptoms include gastrointestinal distress like constipation and vomiting.

Food Sources:

Nutritional yeast, whole grains including brown rice, poultry and organ meats, broccoli and yams, mushrooms, salmon , eggs, peanuts and other legumes. When you cook, can or process foods containing pantothenic acid, up to 50 percent of it can be destroyed.

Vitamin B6 is as important to your body as oxygen and water.” Like many other B Complex vitamins, Pyridoxine is very important in fat, protein, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. It also supports many aspects of nerve health, including nerve problems with those with epilepsy, carpal tunnel syndrome and psychiatric disorders.

B6 is also a major factor in helping red blood cells to regenerate, and seems to be a primary immune system stimulating factor, which has been shown in particular to help defend the body against liver cancer.

Vitamin B6 is vital in helping the body produce various neurotransmitters, and hence is important for memory. It also seems to help avoid or reduce glucose intolerance, which is when your blood sugar spikes abnormally high after eating. Dr. Ellis’ research also shows that it may help reduce asthma attacks since it seems to lower the body’ histamine levels. It also seems to help protect the body from artheriosclerosis because it reduces a chemical in the bloodstream that damages the walls of the arteries.

It can also help promote healthy skin, reduce acne and morning sickness. B6 inhibits histamine production, and hence may help with allergies and asthma. In addition it seems to be helpful in cases of PMS, acting as a natural diuretic.
It also seems to be needed in higher amounts by smokers, those under a lot of stress, and those exposed to high levels of environmental chemicals (that would be most of us today!).

Deficiency Symptoms of Pyridoxine

Depression and anxiety, as well as anemia and lethargy and have been linked to Pyridoxine deficiency. Carpal tunnel syndrome and numbness and tingling in the knees, shoulders and hands can also be a sign of a deficiency of vitamin B6. Some additional symptoms include extreme PMS, insomnia and kidney stones.

Food Sources of Vitamin B6

Nutritional yeast, whole grains like whole wheat and brown rice, bananas, eggs, poultry and organ meats, avocados, nuts and legumes like peanuts and walnuts.

Vitamin B6 – Pyridoxine
B Complex Vitamin

B6 or Pyridoxine is a powerhouse of a vitamin! Vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12, like all the B vitamins, plays many key roles in the body. It is required for energy production and red blood cell formation, as well as for proper nervous system development and maintenance. B12 has been shown to improve memory and promote a healthy heart, as well as to prevent infertility in men. It also works as a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic, and is involved in immune function.

New research shows success with B12 and managing cancer, especially in blocking development of tumors. It also helps to relieve fatigue, depression and poor concentration. It is associated with lower levels of homocysteine in the blood, which has been shown to be good for lowering the risk of heart disease and perhaps also that of Alzheimer’s.

B12 is also important in the production of myelin, the covering that insulates nerve fibers and keeps electrical impulses moving in your body. Which means that it is also very helpful to prevent multiple sclerosis and to combat it once it has been diagnosed.

Deficiency Symptoms of B12

It has also been linked to multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Food Sources of Vitamin B12

The best food sources of Vitamin B12 are all animal sources, which is why vegans need to supplement. Some of the best sources include seafood like cooked oysters, king crab, herring, salmon, and clams. It’s also found in cheese, poultry, yogurt, eggs, organ meats and nutritional yeast.

Folic Acid
B Complex Vitamin
Folic acid, also called folate, like many of the B vitamins, plays many key roles in the body, including blood formation. It is essential during pregnancy to prevent spinal bifida, as well as other neural tube defects in the embryo, because it is needed for division and growth of new cells and for the synthesis of DNA. It helps make enzymes work better, prevents anemia, seems to help control pernicious anemia and leukemia. It also seems to be useful in cases of alcoholism.

Folic acid seems to work well against some pre-cancerous lesions, and also helps to strengthen the immune system during or after chemotherapy. In addition, research from a study at the University of Alabama in Birmingham found that women with high folate levels had 2 to 5 times less likely to develop cervical dysplasia (a condition where abnormal cells develop in the cervix, which has been shown to lead to cancer in some women).

Extra Folic Acid Requirements

Women who are pregnant or even thinking about getting pregnant need to make sure that they get enough folic acid so as not to cause birth defects in their babies.

Deficiency Symptoms of Folic Acid

Food Sources of Folic Acid

The best food sources of Folic Acid are legumes like pinto and navy beans, liver, poultry, eggs, nutritional yeast, citrus fruits like oranges, leafy green vegetables like spinach, asparagus, broccoli, peas and Brussel sprouts. Note that up to 50 percent of folate can be destroyed while storing, processing or preparing the food, especially when exposed to heat and light.

Folate is usually considered non-toxic, although large intakes, such as above 1,000 mg per day over a period of time have been shown to cause intestinal dysfunction, general malaise, nausea, bloating, irritability and problems sleeping. You do want to be very careful, however, that you don’t take too much folate, because it can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. Once again, consuming these vitamins in their natural state is much safer and more effective than using synthetic versions.

Vitamin B – Biotin
B Complex Vitamin

Biotin is another piece of the B complex of vitamins that is necessary in the formation of anti-bodies for a strong immune system, and also for the body’s utilization of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) and amino acids (these come from fats and proteins). This means that even if you eat enough EFA’s and protein, your body might not be breaking them down into a usable form if you don’t get enough biotin.

As stated before, all the B vitamins really work in combination with each other, and biotin is no exception. You need biotin in order for your body to properly use B5 and B12, for example.

Since biotin is necessary for using EFA’s and proteins, it is also important in order for you to have strong, healthy nails. Biotin vitamin supplementation has also helped dandruff and other scalp problems, as well as dermatitis and eczema.

Furthermore, when scientists studied blood sugar and biotin levels of Type II diabetics, they found that the higher their blood sugar, the lower their level of biotin. They also found that people who don’t have diabetes had higher levels of biotin. This is a significant finding! Further, when they gave 9 mg of biotin every day to their sample group of Type II diabetics (18 people), the participants’ blood sugar levels dropped almost in half in 1 month! That’s amazing! If this was a drug it would be making front page headlines!

Research also shows an enhanced immune system occurs when biotin is given to those with candida albicans overgrowth problems and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Extra Biotin Requirements
Those taking antibiotics long term seem to need higher amounts of the vitamin biotin. Those with Type II diabetes need to increase their biotin levels to help reduce their blood sugar levels.

Deficiency Symptoms of Biotin – One of the B Vitamins

Muscle pains and skin disorders.
Food Sources of Biotin

Nutritional yeast, poultry, organ meats, salmon, raspberries, tomatoes, eggs, corn, cauliflower, walnuts, molasses, peanuts, and milk, especially raw milk.

Like all the B vitamins, folate is reduced in cooking and processing.

Vitamin B Complex
PABA

PABA – Para-Amino-benzoic Acid is also a member of the B Complex family, and a component of folic acid. It is effective against sun and other burns, and has sun-screening properties. It is often used in natural sunscreens. Along with pantothenic and folic acid, it has been reported successful in some cases in restoring lost hair color. It is found in nutritional yeast, eggs, liver, kidney, mushroom, spinach, wheat germ and molasses.

Vitamin B Complex
Choline
Choline is another one of the not so well known B Vitamin Complex members. It helps to emulsify fats, and is a strong brain nutrient that aids learning ability and memory. It also seems to be effective against Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders. It has been used in cancer management and also as part of a program to beat liver and kidney diseases as well as alcoholism. It supports cell membrane structure and integrity. It also helps lower cholesterol, perhaps by its ability to support proper liver function. It’s found in organ meats like beef liver, egg yolks, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, soy and beans.

Vitamin B Complex
Inositol

Although inositol is not really a vitamin, it is classified as a member of the B Complex, and it works very closely with the B vitamins biotin and choline to breakdown fats and to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, thereby helping control hypertension and arteriosclerosis. It also seems to lower cholesterol and control fatty deposits on the liver by metabilzing serum blood fats. It helps modulate serotonin activity in the brain and hence has something to do with your mood. It also helps reduce breast and ovarian cancer risk. It also seems to help control many side-effects with diabetes. Found in almonds, onions, oranges, peanuts, oats, peas, tomatoes, zucchini, Dandelion root and almonds.

Vitamin C: Nutrient Extraordinaire
Vitamin C is truly an extraordinary nutrient. Research abounds to show that this vitamin is a vital substance required for many fundamental processes in the body, including some of the well-known ones like strengthening the immune system and maintaining healthy gums, eyes and skin. C is a water soluble vitamin that is also a powerful antioxidant. Since it is water-soluble, like the B Complex, it is not stored as much in the body like the fat soluble vitamins are; however, both the B and C complexes are stored to some extent in the liver. The C complex vitamin travels through your bloodstream, and any excess your body doesn’t need comes out in your urine. So, because the human body cannot manufacture this vitamin, and not too much of it is stored in the body, we do need to consume vitamin C-containing foods on a regular basis.

Functions of Vitamin C in the Body
Vitamin C has many functions in the body, including:

Aids in tissue growth and repair, and is hence helpful in healing, for example, after surgery

Protects against heart disease and arthritis

Acts as a natural antihistimine and can hence protect against the development of allergies

Aids in the manufacture of the hormones adrenaline and cortisone

Promotes healthy gums

Helps regulate cholesterol levels

Detoxifies free radicals

Boosts immune system function

Helps the adrenal glands function properly

Increases the absorption of iron

Studies have shown that vitamin C can help to reduce asthma symptoms

Vitamin C has shown promise protecting against infection, pollution, radiation and cancer

It can also combine with toxins in the body like heavy metals and turn them into harmless substances so they can be eliminated from the body

It is essential in the production of collagen, which are fibers, especially found in the skin and mucous membranes, that provide a firm yet flexible structure

Aids in the formation of bile

Huge amounts of vitamin C are found in the adrenal, pituitary and thymus glands, as well as in the retina in your eyes

Many other organs, like the brain, lungs, liver, spleen, thyroid and the pancreas also contain much higher amounts of C than your blood does

Needed to make carnitine, which is used to help transfer energy to the cells.

Lack of Vitamin C:

While an acute vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy and is not common in America today, many health care professionals feel that most people are not consuming optimal amounts. Early signs of possible vitamin C deficiency include:

easy bruising & bleeding

receding & bleeding gums

fatigue and greater than normal susceptibility to colds & other infections

poor digestion

tooth loss

slow wound healing time

rough skin

Substances That Can Deplete Vitamin C Levels in Your Body

Smoking can cause a serious depletion of vitamin C, so if you haven’t stopped smoking yet, you might want to make sure you eat lots of foods high in C, and/or take a supplement.

Other substances that can cause reduced levels of vitamin C include alcohol and many medications, like oral contraceptives, steroids, antidepressants, analgesics (like aspirin and acetaminophen), anticoagulants and tetracycline. Injury or trauma has also been shown to use up very large quantities of the C complex, including the injury to cells that occurs with surgery.

Vitamin C has been shown to work synergistically with beta carotene and E.

Vitamins C & E tend to extend the others’ antioxidant effect in the body. Using whole food sources and eating a good, natural diet will help to ensure that your C does work synergistically with a host of other.

Amounts of Vitamin C in Plants Depends on a lot of things.

The amount of vitamin C in plants that you consume depends on a lot of things, including the soil fertility and climate in which it grew, as well as harvesting and storage conditions. Studies have shown that foods grown organically typically have higher nutrient content as well as lower pesticide residues, so try to find organic sources of fresh, local fruits and vegetables, such as from farmer’s markets.

Many people have stopped using large dosages of synthetic vitamin C because they find that much smaller amounts of truly natural, potent, food sources of C gives them more effective strengthening of their immune system.

Health care practitioners report the extraordinary nutritional benefits of supporting the body’s natural defense against internal invaders using 100-150 mg of potent natural-source vitamin C which they had previously only achieved with mega doses of ester C.

For supplements, look for 100% whole food sources grown organically in nutrient-rich soils that are preserved & stored carefully so as to retain high nutrient levels.

Vitamin D-The Sunshine Vitamin

According to research in the 1930’s, primitive peoples who were in excellent health and free of today’s degenerative diseases like cancer, heart disease, arthritis and more, consumed around 10 times the amount of fat soluble vitamins than Westernized peoples did back then. For vitamin D this would mean around 4,000 IUs, instead of the 200-400 which is our current RDA.

However, there have been reports of toxicity of D, and you do want to make sure that you don’t take too much if you decide to supplement. Further, some research has shown that even vitamin D that your body manufactures during and after exposure to the sun can be detrimental to your body if you are not getting enough calcium. Vitamin D can also increase the uptake of heavy metals like cadmium, aluminum and lead if you do not have enough calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, so it is very important that you are getting enough minerals in your diet along with the vitamin D.

In spite of reports of the dangers of too much vitamin D, in certain older age groups, the strongest indication of health and longevity was having high levels of vitamin D in the blood, along with normal thyroid function. It certainly appears that at any age, vitamin D is a very important nutrient associated with high levels of health and vitality and a long life!

Vitamin D and the Heart

German scientists found in comparing patients with chronic heart failure to healthy patients that one factor in heart failure is having low levels of vitamin D in the blood.

Low levels of D are associated with “syndrome X” or the group of symptoms & diseases that seem to run together with heart disease: obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Researchers have long noted that more heart disease occurs in winter months and in northern countries where people get less vitamin D from the sun. Also, studies have shown that increased D levels can restore insulin sensitivity, lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Benefits of Vitamin D

Every cell in the body has receptors for vitamin D, so obviously this nutrient is much needed in the body. Vitamin D plays a role in the regulation of the immune system, and also helps us to build strong bone structure and healthy teeth. Vitamin D also seems to function as an antioxidant than may be even more effective than Vitamin E. Low Vitamin D consumption is linked to higher levels of lead in the bones.

Osteoporosis, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia have all been associated with low levels of Vitamin D. So has glucose intolerance, which means that vitamin D may have a role to play in preventing diabetes as well as obesity and overweight, since those with abnormal blood sugar levels often have a hard time staying at their ideal weight.

vitamin D is a “potent force in regulating cell growth, immunity and energy metabolism.”

Inadequate vitamin D levels also seem to contribute to depression, perhaps because of D’s involvement in producing some of the neurotransmitters, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine and dopamine. Infertility, PMS and menstrual migraines are also associated with low levels of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium. On the other hand, getting enough D can benefit eye problems including spots and glaucoma, and help protect against colon cancer.

Recently, vitamin D has been shown to help fights cancers and diabetes, help create a hormone that protects muscle, and inhibit autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, many of these newly recognized benefits of vitamin D seem to need blood concentrations much higher than those needed simply to protect and strengthen our bones.

Getting Vitamin D From Your Diet
Some of the highest food sources of D include various foods from the sea, like: high vitamin as well as standard cod liver oil, marlin and chum salmon, canned pink salmon, herring, fatty blue-fin tuna, rainbow trout, mackerel, salmon and canned sardines.

You can also get a considerable amount of dietary vitamin D from pork lard, duck and chicken eggs and from some mushrooms. Duck eggs have much more D in them than chicken eggs (about 6 times more). However, the seafood sources are much more concentrated sources of D than the others, so if you are not taking cod liver oil and not eating fish, your diet probably doesn’t have that much D in it.

In addition, even if you are eating fish, the fish make D from nutrients found in algae, so if your fish comes from a farmed source, it probably doesn’t contain much D. Also, lard will only contain adequate amounts of vitamin D if it comes from pigs that are outside in the sunshine, and eggs need to come from chickens that have access to either insects or fishmeal. So try to find pastured sources of lard and eggs if at all possible.

Vitamin D Rich Lard Used By Long Lived Peoples

Two groups of people who are well known for their longevity, the Vilcabamba in Ecuador and those living in Soviet Georgia traditionally consumed large amounts of lard (pig fat) in their diets.

Perhaps we need to stop being so afraid of lard!

It also seems from the research that adequate levels of vitamin A & vitamin K, and also the minerals calcium and magnesium, found in coral calcium and other sources, seem to protect against vitamin D toxicity. You can also increase your mineral intake by using dairy products and bone broths on a regular basis. You can increase your A intake with liver or cod liver oil, and you can increase your vitamin K intake by eating leafy greens and/or cultured vegetables.

WARNING: If you have any of the following problems, please do not consume vitamin D-rich foods or supplement with vitamin D at any level without consulting your physician:

Kidney or liver problems

Tuberculosis

Hyperparathyroidism

Lymphoma

Sarcoidosis

Those on Blood Thinners Need to Be More Careful with Vitamin D Supplementation

Warfarin is an anti-clotting drug that was, no lie, originally introduced to the marketplace as a rat poison, way back in 1948. It works by inhibiting the recycling of vitamin K, and hence those taking Warfarin and other coumadin derivatives need to be more careful of Vitamin D toxicity than others. Problems with vitamin D supplementation are seen at much lower levels if the person is also taking Warfarin than if they were only supplementing with D.

Vitamin E- A great anti oxidant vitamin

Vitamin E, like the other vitamins, is not just one synthetic nutrient, but is made up of a complex of four tocopherols: alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-, and four tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-). Alpha-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E that is usually studied and/or given as a synthetic supplement. It is important, however, that if you take a vitamin E supplement, you find a completely natural one with all four of the tocopherols and all four of the tocotrienols as they do work together as a complex and do different things in the body.

E seems to also be a protective factor in cancer and reduces inflammation in the body.

Some other roles of E in the body include protecting against negative effects of environmental pollutants and chemicals, lowering blood pressure and protecting from frostbite, reducing PMS symptoms, helping treat lupus and avoiding miscarriages.

Many studies have shown that increased vitamin E consumption is related to a decreased risk of heart attack or death from heart disease. Several studies have found that plasma and red blood cell levels of alpha-tocopherol are inversely related with the presence or severity of carotid arthererosclerosis (this is when you have blockages in your carotid artery leading to your brain, which can cause a stroke). This is significant because it means that the more vitamin E you have in your blood, the lower the risk of carotid artheriosclerosis, and hence subsequent risk for heart disease and heart attacks. It is interesting, though, that studies giving supplemental E to patients who already had heart disease did not show any preventative effect for either heart attacks or death. Perhaps this is because of using synthetic vitamin E.

Vitamin E Deficiency

Although severe vitamin E deficiency is rare, it does seem that a lot of us have a sub-optimal intake, and may very well need vitamin E supplements.

A deficiency can cause nerve and muscle degeneration and muscle weakness, impaired vision, changes in skin pigmentation & anemia. It can also cause reproductive problems like multiple miscarriages and premature deliveries. It can cause neurological problems and eventually compromise kidney and liver function.

Food Sources of Vitamin E

E is found in wheat germ & wheat germ oil, palm oil, almonds, salmon, leafy green vegetables, organ meats like liver, eggs, butterfat, whole grains, avocados, nuts and vegetable oils. We don’t recommend the use of many of these vegetable oils, however, especially soy oil, because of their implication in immune system dysfunction and cancer.

Sunflower oil that is cold pressed is OK, but it does tend to go rancid rather quickly. Sunflower butter on the other hand, can be canned and/or frozen until ready to use. Walnut, hazelnut, peanut & extra-virgin olive oils are also good sources, but with these too you want to make sure and purchase and consume them fresh.

Higher Need for Vitamin E May Mean Supplements Can Be Beneficial

Since fat is necessary for your body to use vitamin E, it seems that anyone who has problems absorbing fat may need vitamin E supplements. This may include those with pancreatic insufficiency or liver disease, or those with Crohn’s disease. Also those with cystic fibrosis or who have had all or part of their stomach removed, as in stomach stapling surgeries for obesity, may need additional E and may well benefit from Vitamin E supplements.

Nuts: A Good Source of Vitamin E

A review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition talks about how regular consumption of nuts, a good source of gamma tocopherol, is related to a lower risk of heart disease mortality. This form of E is found in large quantities in pecans, walnuts and peanuts. A moderate, regular consumption of nuts has also been shown to help people keep their weight down, so this is something you might want to consider adding to your diet if you are not allergic to nuts.
Vitamin E from Soybean Oil

Although many health care practitioners feel that there is nothing wrong with consuming E that comes from soy bean oil, we have heard so many bad things about soy, that we think it’s probably prudent to search out another source of vitamin E that does NOT come from soy. Also, the E is contained in the oil, but so are pesticides and other chemicals, which are heavily used on soybean crops or in the processing of soybean oil today. You want to make sure that any supplement you choose to take does not contain pesticides or other chemical residues. In addition, most soy on the American marketplace today is a GMO type of soy, and those of you who have done much research on the problems with genetically modified foods will want to stay away from soy-based E for that reason as well.

Vitamin K – The Blood Clotting Vitamin

The “K” in vitamin K comes from the German word “koagulation,” since K is a fat soluble vitamin that needed to help your clot blood when you are injured. It also helps to heal broken blood vessels in the eyes, and helps in cirrhosis and jaundice of the liver. It can reduce excessive menstruation and helps stop post-menopausal brittle bones and bone loss and help maintain strong bones in general. A couple of long-term studies have shown higher risk of hip fractures in the elderly when they had lower vitamin K intakes.

There are two different forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2. Even though there is a lot more K1 in the diet, its absorption rate is usually less than 15%. K2 is not as abundant, but its absorption rate is very close to 100%. These different forms of K are used differently in the body. K1 is mostly used by the liver to activate the clotting factors. K2, on the other hand, enhances the effectiveness of vitamin D and helps in preventing osteoporosis and preventing heart disease.

K1 is found in green vegetables like broccoli, kale, parsley, spinach and swiss chard and plant-based oils, especially in olive oil. K2 can be produced by your own intestinal bacteria if you are healthy. It is also found in abundance in fermented vegetables, like sauerkraut, and also in egg yolks, goose meat, including goose liver and butterfat. Chicken, duck, beef and pork also have some vitamin K.

Amount of Vitamin K Found in 1/2 Cup of Broccoli Per Day Decreases Hip Fracture Risk

Don’t forget, however, that vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin, so you want to make sure and put butter on your vegetables and oil-based dressing on your salads in order to best absorb it.

Vitamin K deficiency results in problems with blood clotting, and symptoms are easy bruising and bleeding that may be manifested as bleeding gums or nosebleeds, blood in the stool or urine, or heavy menstrual bleeding. Vitamin K deficiency is, however, uncommon in healthy adults.

It appears that Vitamin D can deplete the body of vitamin K, which can cause problems. Because of this, if you are taking extra D, you might want to make sure and emphasize high vitamin K foods as well.

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Topics: Taking Care of Your Kidneys w/ help from Mother Nature; Combating High Blood Pressure Naturally pt.1

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Taking Care of Your Kidneys

Kidneys

Function of the kidneys

The kidneys get rid of the byproducts of the breakdown of protein. These include ammonia and urea, which are toxic. They also excrete some bacterial toxins, hydrogen, electrolytes, heat, and carbon dioxide.

The kidneys have several other important functions. These include regulating the amounts of solutes and ions are in the blood, which helps control blood pH, and blood volume. They also remove wastes from the blood, and secrete the enzyme, renin. Renin activates the renin-angiotensin pathway and hence controls blood pressure.

The kidneys are also involved in producing glucose when the body is fasting or starving. They secrete a substance which stimulates the production of red blood cells. They are also involved in the creation of the active form of vitamin D, calcitriol.

Water is reabsorbed by parts of the kidneys to make sure we don’t lose too much fluid. Hormones are the main deciders in how much water is reabsorbed. When we are over-hydrated (or drink alcohol), the main hormones involved are suppressed to make sure we get rid of some of the excess water. And when we are dehydrated, more are produced so we reabsorb more water.

Our kidney filters blood to retain valuable molecules and excretes the waste products.

Kidney is the filter that retains the valuable molecules in blood and excretes the waste products.

As man eats plants and animals, they leave some traces in his body in the form of insoluble stones. These stones (urate, oxalate, phosphate) may be accompanied by inflammation, and is the cause of burning sensation upon urination.

These herbs act by inducing some changes in the internal environment of the urinary system, beginning with the kidney itself.

They act by improving the kidney blood flow, thus stimulating kidney productivity with a resultant urine excretion, increasing the protective colloids in the urine and this prevents further stone formation and inflammation, changing the pH of the urine to an unfavorable environment for bacterial growth, and/or by dilating ureters so that moderately sized stones can pass through them and excreted with urine to bring the whole problem to an end.

The list involves so many herbs. Kidney herbal remedies are taken orally (household decoctions or juices), or they are formulated into pharmaceutical forms. Nothing is taken through other routes.

Kidney herbs as juices:
*Cranberry: has good effect. it is formulated into capsules to acidify urine thus reducing bacterial growth and inflammation.
*Orange juice: It is excellent diuretic. The best high fluid intake recommended by physicians in these cases. I personally consume a lot.
*Lemon and apple juices are also good source of fluid intake.

Kidney herbs as decoctions:

*Corn silk  and Watermelon have diuretic properties.
*Barley: one of the best known traditional therapies.
*Buchu, Juniper berries, Uva Ursi, Burdock, yellow Dock are all known old herb remedies for kidney.

What are Kidney Stones?

Many people are curious to the fact that there can be kidney stones. Symptoms that you are likely to experience on their existence is the intense pain that you feel when you pass urine, urine in your blood or the constant urge to urinate.

Large kidney stones can block your ureter. This creates difficulty in passing urine. The most common symptom is intense pain. The pain is felt in your back or just under the ribs. When the stone moves, the pain shifts to your lower abdomen and then to genital organs. If you get urine in your blood, that is also a warning signal that something is wrong. The need to go to the toilet all the time to pass urine, even though you have just gone in the last few minutes, is a sure sign that you need to do kidney cleansing.

Kidney Infection Symptoms

Kidney infection symptoms are serious. If you suspect a kidney infection please visit your healthcare professional. If you don’t treat a kidney infection your kidney could fail. I know most people have 2 of them and you can live a normal life with just one. But why risk losing one of them. Just think of the doctor bills, the pain, the agony, and the needless risk.

A kidney infection is also known in the medical field as pye-lone-phritis. The cause is normally a bacterial infection that has spread from the bladder. So the moral of this story is if you have a bladder or urinary tract infection treat it right away. Otherwise it could end up in your kidneys.

• -sudden onset of chills and fever-
• -dull pain over either or both of the kidneys-this is in your lower back.
• -tenderness when the area over the kidneys is touched-
• -frequent urination-
• -burning sensation when urinating-

The doctors will treat you with antibiotics. If this is the case taking a good quality probiotic is a must. The antibiotics kill the bad bacteria, but they also kill the good bacteria. Without the good bugs you can’t digest food, and a yeast overgrowth is a given.

More women than men get urinary tract infection and kidney infections. This is because of the difference in our anatomy, the way we are built.

The best way to heal kidney infection symptoms is to deal with the urinary tract infection too. Of course the good old standby is cranberry juice. Make sure it is not sweetened. Sugar only adds to the problem.

Cranberry also comes in supplement form, which can be stronger and better. But again, read labels to make sure the manufacturer didn’t sneak some sort of sweetener in that too. Research tells us that cranberry prevents bacteria from attaching to the linings of the urinary tract. If you are a diabetic, don’t drink cranberry juice, take the supplements.

Another herb you can use is grape seed extract. This is highly anti-bacterial. Make sure you supplement with probiotics when you use this.

Dietary Changes for Kidney Disease

Eat More:

Raw foods, garlic, potatoes, asparagus, parsley, watercress, celery, cucumbers, papaya, bananas, watermelon, pumpkin, sprouts, legumes, seeds, soybeans, spirulina, acidophilus, Lecithin

Eat Less:

Potassium, phosphates, beet greens, meat, spinach, rhubarb, swiss chard

Do Not Eat:

Chocolate, cocoa, eggs, dairy

Drink clean water (6-8 glass’s per day), eat smaller portions of meat, do small mild cleanses.

Vitamins for kidney infection symptoms

• -B vitamins-
• -vitamin c-
• -vitamin E-

Extra minerals needed for the kidneys

• -potassium-
• -copper-
• -magnesium-

Nutrients for Kidney Disease

• Calcium – helps body use all minerals in synergy
• Magnesium – see calcium
• L – Arginine – aids kidneys
• L-Methionine – helps circulation within kidneys
• Multi-enzyme complex – aids digestion
• Potassium – stimulates kidney function

Vitamins for Kidney Disease

• Vitamin A – helps healing process of urinary tract lining
• Vitamin B complex – helps fluid metabolism
• Vitamin C – boosts immunity and elevates urine acidity
• Vitamin E – elevates immune system
• Zinc – immuno-stimulant

To properly heal you must use your best judgment. The doctors only know what they have been taught, and most know nothing about natural healing. Your body can heal itself if you just give it what it needs. And in my opinion, that is not necessarily the current medical systems idea of just masking the symptoms.

I believe that once you know the kidney infection symptoms and causes, you can help your body heal itself with your help. Mother Nature has given us some of the best medicine in the world. In fact most of the modern prescription drugs are synthetic versions of plants. But plants cannot be patented, and unless drugs are patented, there is not enough money involved. So please take control of your own health and let nature help you heal the way it was intended.

Here are some herbal remedies for kidney infections:

1. Garlic. Not just a recipe ingredient, garlic is a medicinal herb that can be safely taken. Its only drawback is its pungent smell, so you may want to wash your mouth after eating raw or cooked garlic.

Garlic contains a substance called Allicin, which has anti-bacterial properties that are equivalent to a weak penicillin. Its anti- bacterial and anti- viral benefits make it a suitable herbal remedy for kidney and bladder infections, as well as for de-worming and in the treatment of high blood pressure, cancer of the stomach and wounds.
To make a home remedy garlic tincture, simply soak 1/4 pound of peeled and separated garlic cloves in 1/2 quart of brandy. Seal tightly in a bottle and shake it every day. Strain and bottle after two weeks of this, and take in drops – 25-30 a day, if desired.

2. Goldenrod. Goldenrod has been used as a medicinal herbal remedy to treat a variety of ailments, including kidney stones, urinary tract infections, bladder inflammation, digestive problems, colds and flu, laryngitis, fatigue, and also hay fever.

You can make tea out of the leaves of Goldenrod (called Blue Mountain Tea) for treatment. Although contraindications are few for Goldenrod, those who are pregnant or have serious heart problems should steer clear. Do check with your doctor about having this herbal remedy for kidney infection before use.

3. Hydrangea. Hydrangea is better known as a treatment for enlarged or inflamed prostate glands, and is often combined with Horsetail for this purpose. However, it is also effective as a herbal remedy for kidny infections. Naturopathic doctors recommend this herb as it is known to be able to reduce the size of kidney stones.

The root is the part of the Hydrangea plant that is used for medicinal purposes. It is best dug in the fall and then combine it with honey to be used as a syrup. You can of course seep the root in hot water and then drink later as a tea.

4. Parsley. Parsley teas have traditionally been used as a herbal remedy for kidney infection. It keeps the body from re-absorbing salt, which makes it a diuretic. The leaves of the parsley plant are chlorophyll-rich and a natural breath sweetener. You can eat the leaves right off the plant to combat breath odors. Pregnant women should avoid eating large quantities of parsley because it can be irritating to the kidneys.

5. Uva Ursi. Consumed internally as a tea or infusion, Uva Ursi is helpful for relieving ailments such as kidney infections, prostate inflammation and enlargement, bladder infections, kidney stones, nephritis, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, pancreas, and small intestine disorders.

For females, you can use this herbal remedy for dysmenorrhea, cystitis, and bloating associated with menstruation. Additionally, uva ursi is also sometimes used as a tonic, detoxifying the urinary system and improving your overall health.

Uva Ursi should not be taken for longer than a week as an overdose can cause nausea, vomitting and stomach ache. Also, do not use if pregnant, as this herb is a uterine stimulant. Avoid usage in cases of high blood pressure or for children under 12.

Cleavers - mild antibiotic affect. Help with inflammation and irritation and are also good for high blood pressure.

Herbs for Kidney Cleanse – Diuretics

Traditionally, herbal diuretics have been used in many conditions, including high blood pressure, fluid retention, inflammatory conditions like arthritis, urinary stones, and infections of the urinary tract like cystitis.

Herbal diuretics have a very gentle effect, and generally work by an osmotic effect. When things are excreted from the urine, they take water with them, and this osmotic process is how herbal diuretics work. Medical diuretics usually effect the actual pumps that reabsorb water, so it’s quite a different process.

Herbal diuretics tend to have a stronger effect on people with the types of conditions mentioned above, and overall, their effect on the individual varies.

Traditional herbalism believes that some herbs are more effective at increasing the removal of wastes. This may be true, but there is just not enough scientific evidence to validate it comprehensively. But diuretics will increase urine – whether that means more wastes excreted, or urine with more water.

Herbs for Kidney Cleanse – the Urinary Tract

Herbal diuretics can benefit urinary problems by producing a more dilute urine, that reduces irritation.

But herbal diuretics are not the only type of kidney herbs used here. Urinary antiseptics, and herbs that can heal the mucous lining of the urinary tract, are also useful depending on the problem. These herbs help by repairing and keeping smooth the urinary tract so that solutes and insoluble salts don’t form stones by being deposited on the urinary tract wall.

Herbs for Kidney Disease

• cleavers-mild antibiotic affect. Helps with inflammation and irritation. Also good for high blood pressure.
• Buchu Tea-buchu leaf-increases the fluids and solids of the urine. Will cause an odor in the urine.
• Uva Ursi – natural diuretic – cleanses urinary tract – germicidal- diuretic and disinfectant. Used to treat nephritis, kidney stones, and chronic cystitis also.

• juniper berry-helps purify the blood and filter out the waste. Helps normalize blood pressure. Do not use more than the suggested dose. The result could be kidney irritation
• Dandelion Root – aids kidney excretion function of waste
• Cranberry – acidifies urine and kills bacteria
• Celery and Parsley – diuretic (decreases uric acid)
• Hydrangea – natural diuretic – cleanses urinary tract

• Marshmallow Tea – cleanses kidneys-
• kelp-helps replace nutrients and electrolytes.
• cayenne-same as kelp.

Goldenrod tea, juniper berries, stinging nettle, parsley, red clover, watermelon seed tea are all good for kidney disease.

6 Herbs for Kidney Cleanse

These herbs for kidney cleanse can help heal the urinary tract, increase the flow of urine which in turn helps remove waste products, and some provide an antiseptic and antibiotic effect local to the kidneys.

Some have been proven to rid the body faster of waste products like urea.

The following herbs have different, but all beneficial, effects on the kidney and urinary system. Some are very nutritious, some help reduce inflammation and promote healing of the urinary tract, whilst others are antibacterial, antiseptic, and increase the removal of waste products specifically. Most have a diuretic effect.

Couch grass

Couch grass is a diuretic and the mucilage helps soothe an inflamed and irritated urinary tract. It also helps heal the urinary tract.

Couch grass increases the amount of urine by the osmotic process. It has some active constituents with an antibiotic effect, and can be used in gout and rheumatism. It is also used in cystitis, prostatitis, nephritis, calculus (stones), urethritis, and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Uva Ursi (Bearberry)

Uva ursi is a urinary antiseptic, and an astringent herb. It has an antibacterial effect on the kidney, that is effective against e. coli, proteus, klebsiella, staphyloccocus, and pseudomonas. The antibacterial effect is at its strongest 3 to 4 hours after taking the herb, as some of the active constituents are converted in the kidneys to activate the antiseptic effect.

Uva ursi is used in cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis and dysuria. But it is not to be used in kidney diseases, or if the infection has progressed up the urinary tract.

Horsetail

Horsetail is high in silica, and is used as an astringent in the genito-urinary tract. It is also a diuretic. It has been found to reduce the levels of lead in the body, and there is “evidence of an anti-rheumatic effect and a positive effect on lipid [fat] metabolism”. (Fisher and Painter)

The increased volume of urine helps flush out irritants and infectious agents. The astringent action may help with bladder tone and the reduction of prostate enlargement. The high levels of silica help with tissue repair.

Horsetail is used in cystitis, prostatitis, prostatic enlargement, incontinence, edema with menopause or arthritis, and urethritis. It helps prevent damage to the ureters, bladder, and urethra, and the prostate.

Parsley

Parsley is an excellent diuretic and as such it is used for edema and urinary stones. It is believed to increase the elimination of waste products like urea, and other acidic metabolites, and thus used for gout and arthritis. Parsley should not be used in pregnancy, nor is it recommended in painful menstrual periods. It is fine for nursing mothers, however, and is believed to encourage milk production. Fresh parsley is very nutritious.

Nettle

Nettle is highly nutritious, with vitamins and minerals including chlorophyll and beta carotene, vitamins A, B2, C and E, calcium, potassium, and iron.

Nettle has been proven to increase the elimination of the waste product, uric acid. It is a diuretic, and has been found successful in managing the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, particularly in combination with saw palmetto.

Nettle has an antibacterial effect, and has been found to be effective against staphylococci and other bacteria. It is useful in arthritis and rheumatic problems because it helps get rid of metabolic wastes. It is also used in chronic cystitis.

Corn Silk

Corn silk has a lot of vitamin K and potassium and antiseptic properties.

Uses:

Arteriosclerosis, Bedwetting, Bladder Problems, Blood Pressure (high), Cholesterol, Cystic Irritation, Cystitis, Dropsy, Edema, Gonorrhea, Heart Trouble, Jaundice, Kidney Problems, Kidney Stones, Malaria, Obesity, Prostate Problems, Renal Cystitis, Urinary Tract (inflammation), Urination (painful)

Corn silk is a soothing, relaxing diuretic and a wonderful remedy for acute inflammation and irritation of the genito-urinary system, such as cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis. Corn silk is particularly useful for calming bladder irritation and infection in children. Corn silk clears toxins, catarrh, deposits and irritants out of the kidneys and bladder, and has a gentle antiseptic and healing action.

Corn silk makes a good remedy for frequency of urination and bedwetting due to irritation or weakness of the urinary system, and has been used for urinary stones and gravel.

By reducing fluid retention in the body, corn silk may help reduce blood pressure, and by aiding elimination of toxins and wastes from the body corn silk may relieve gout and arthritis, and act as a gentle detoxifying remedy.

Corn silk’s healing and soothing properties are helpful for relieving skin irritation and inflammation and for healing wounds and ulcers.

Chronic cystitis can be relieved with corn silk and it is a useful adjunct to other treatments for acute cystitis.

Gonorrhea – Naturopaths have used corn silk tea in the treatment of Gonorrhea and all catarrhal conditions of the urinary passage.

Chinese remedy – In China, corn silk is used to treat fluid retention and jaundice.

Other medical uses – it is also used to treat TMJ (TMD).

Topical problems and skin irritations as well as inflammation can also be treated effectively and benefit from the corn silk’s healing and soothing abilities – as an external or topical treatment, the corn silk is also excellent for rapidly healing wounds and all types of ulcers affecting the skin.

The corn silk also helps in the quick detoxification and rapid elimination of all accumulated toxins and metabolic wastes in the body – due to this, the remedy aids in relieving the symptoms of gout and disorders associated with arthritis. As a remedy, it is considered to have a thorough but gentle detoxifying effect on the body.

High Blood Pressure

According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. But nearly one-third of those people don’t know they have high blood pressure, because it’s a silent disease. People can have high blood pressure for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it.

Here’s the most telling fact about high blood pressure, a quintessentially modern disease—in remote regions of the world, there is almost no incidence of high blood pressure. It is not until people emigrate to more “civilized” areas that their blood pressure tends to increase. It may be that the change in their diet or the increased stress of a technological society is to blame, or it may be a combination of both.

Exactly why certain people get high blood pressure is not clear, except for the relatively few cases that obviously result from another disease. What we do know is that this condition, if it is not controlled, increases your chances of dying from a stroke or heart attack.

You are more prone to high blood pressure if you have problems with your kidneys, adrenal glands or blood vessels, eat lots of salt, are overweight or do not exercise regularly. The jury is still out on the long-term effects of caffeine on high blood pressure, but it is well documented that nicotine contributes to it. Stress also plays a big role—have you ever heard that just being nervous about a visit to the doctor can make your blood pressure jump? Actually, stress and nicotine work in a similar fashion. They both increase the release of adrenaline, which in turn raises blood pressure.

Hypertension is often called the silent killer because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and no regard to race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. Changing your lifestyle now and adding herbs to your diet, may help you prevent this condition.

The upper or first number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure and the lower or second number is called the diastolic pressure.

• Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
• Prehypertension is systolic pressure that’s between 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89.
• Stage 1 hypertension is systolic pressure between 140 to 159 or diastolic pressure between 90 and 99.
• Stage 2 hypertension is systolic pressure higher than 160 or diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.

Types of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

• Essential Hypertension is the most common type. There is no specific and underlying cause for essential hypertension. Lifestyle factors and other risk factors all increase a person’s chance of getting essential hypertension.
• Secondary Hypertension is caused by another health condition such as diabetes, kidney problems or tumors. Once the other condition is controlled, blood pressure usually returns to normal.
• White Coat Hypertension is caused by a person’s anxiety or stress levels being very high. Some people get anxious each time they see the doctor and have blood pressure readings higher than normal.
• Isolated Systolic Hypertension is hypertension in which only the systolic (upper) reading is high. This occurs in people over age 65 and is caused by a hardening of the arteries.
• Labile Hypertension is when a person’s blood pressure changes often. These changes can be caused by emotions or stress.
• Malignant hypertension is a rare form of hypertension that is an emergency situation. Symptoms set in very quickly and there is a risk of seizures, stroke of even death.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

High blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include:

• Dizziness or dizzy spells
• Headache
• Nosebleeds

Causes of High Blood Pressure

It is usually a combination of factors, such as:

• Weight. The greater your body mass, the more pressure there is on your artery walls. That’s because more blood is produced to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues in your body.
• Activity level. Lack of physical activity tends to increase heart rate, which forces your heart to work harder with each contraction.
• Tobacco use. Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can damage artery walls.
• Sodium intake. Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, especially in people sensitive to sodium.
• Potassium intake. Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another.
• Stress. Stress can raise blood pressure.
• Alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol intake can, over time, increase the risk of heart disease.
• Age. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
• Family history. High blood pressure often runs in families.

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Topics: Taking care of your Colon; Taking care of your Liver

About Your Colon and Cleansing

Colon

What Happens When Your Colon Gets Clogged?

Your colon gets clogged because of the processed foods that you eat and the alcohol that you drink. You clogged your colon until it is half the size it should be. The sides of the colon can become hard and the peristaltic muscle (which pushes out the fecal matter), cannot function well. It explains why several people have to strain when they are trying to push the stool out. Straining is in fact bad for the body. The sphincter muscle (end of the colon) can even become weak and have difficulty opening, leading to the formation of hemorrhoids.

If you find yourself getting hungry in just 1/2 hr after you finished a meal, chances are your colon is clogged. It occurs because body can only extract 5 to 10% of the nutrients from the foods that you eat. Your body then sends out a signal that you need more food because it is not getting enough nutrients. You eventually put on weight and yet at the same time, your body still does not get the nutrients that it needs. Overweight people often find that when they clean out the colon to find that they lose anywhere from 5, 10 even 15 pounds. Their digestion improves, so they lose weight.

If your colon is working properly, your body squeezes the liquid from the mushy food found in the large intestine. The blood absorbs the nutrients from the food, circulates it and feeds the entire body. The colon then eliminates the excess matter in a bowel movement. On the other hand, if you are not having a bowel movement after each meal, the fecal matter stays in the colon, getting squished by the next meal you eat and the next until it gets compacted against the colon wall. This cycle repeats until you have layer upon layer, upon layer of decaying matter.

Is Colon Cleansing Really Necessary?

Simply put, colon cleansing is the act of cleaning out the colon (or large intestine). It may be through the use of water. This process is sometimes referred to as colon irrigation or colonic. In some instances, herbal decoctions are added to the water to help enhance the process. Laxatives may also be taken as well as the introduction of good bacteria into the system such as Lactobacilli. Suppositories are also used to this end.

At first it was mainly used in alternative medicine, but now has been accepted as a great way to improve your health! Colon cleansing helps to get rid of waste that has accumulated in the colon, enabling it to once again function properly. Colon cleansing is reputed to help prevent cancer of the colon and blood poisoning, precisely by making sure that the colon functions as it should.

Colon cleansing, in the form of colonics, should be performed only by a licensed professional, and not too often. Colonics performed within short periods of time may cause rectal inflammation, irritation, and perforation. The body may also become dependent on this procedure as a means of getting rid of waste. Natural bowel movement or the impulse to defecate may cease completely. It would be wise to start using enemas after having an initial colonic.

Though considered by some traditional western medicine practitioners as a lot of flim flam, it cannot be denied that colon cleansing helps patients maintain good bowel movements, which is considered key to good health, even in conservative circles.

Colon cleansing ensures that the colon does what it is supposed to do, that is to get rid of waste materials that will eventually become toxic to the system if not purged. Think of it as a trash can full of trash (biodegradable trash) inside your body that you never throw out. Just imagine how awful it would be not to get rid of all that trash! This will happen if the colon can no longer efficiently get rid of the waste through normal bowel movements.

Colon cleansing truly plays an invaluable part in the scheme of things. Colon cleansing is a cheap and very effective way of ensuring good health. A clean colon will guarantee that all the vitamins in your food will be properly absorbed and used for the benefit of your body! A clean colon will also keep your body free of a lot of waste and toxins that play a big part in creating diseases!

Colon cleanse recipe

A body is said to be healthy and fit if it is clean internally and externally. The way you keep your home neat and clean, the same way the body should be kept it neat and clean internally as well as externally.

There are so many pollutants and toxic elements present in the environment present these days and they greatly harm your body even without your knowledge. The body gets prone to this and these elements then make the body their home. This realization comes when the body suffers from some unusual pain or ache.

This pain can be stomach ache, headache, bad breath and many other problems. The presence of parasites and other toxins in your body is found out through these illnesses. Colon cleanse is one way of ensuring the healthy functioning of your body.

Colon is termed as the drainage system of our body. If this system blocks them you can imagine the problems that occur. To clean the colon it is not necessary to go for expensive medication. In fact this can be done while sitting at home. But to undergo this homemade therapy it is really necessary to follow a strict schedule. Also you must know what you are doing and be able to follow this diet strictly.

A few colon cleansing recipes and tips:

The first step is that your diet should have lots and lots of roughage to maintain the cycle of bowel movement and to reduce the fats accumulated in the body.

Another step is to drink lots and lots of water in order to increase the consumption in the body and to keep the body hydrated. This will also keep your skin hydrated and glowing.

Herbs are also present in the market for colon cleansing. These are a few colon cleansing recipes that have been tested for centuries. The herbs that are proved to be really beneficial for this process are:

• Aloe leaf
• senna
• cascara sagrada
• ginger
• cayenne pepper

Colon cleansing contains some part of bitter part to promote the bile flow properly from the liver. This is also one part of the detoxification. Fennel and garlic kill bacteria and prevent gas formation. These plants also kill parasites thus improving the function of colon muscles.

While taking up this course of colon cleansing don’t forget to take the fiber in the form of wheat, oat, barley, cereals in the breakfast. They will give you energy and the system will also improve. The colon cleaning changes your lifestyle and this lifestyle will have more and more healthy and nutritious food in your diet.

A great recipe for colon cleansing:

• Take apple juice, add spring water along with 1 tablespoon Bentonite clay liquid, psyllium husk seeds, pinch of cayenne.
  Mix this thoroughly till a thick mixture is formed.
• Drink this and follow it with another drink which can be made by mixing 1 table spoon honey, 10 oz spring water and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.

This is not the tastiest drink, but it helps you to keep your colon in shape.

Taking Care of Your Liver

Liver

The liver is one of the most important organs in the body.

The liver is located in the front of the body, under the diaphragm. Its main job is to cleanse the blood that is passing through the body. When poisonous substances or alcohol enter the liver, the liver works to clear these substances from the bloodstream.

To aid this job, the liver produces bile, which interacts with the blood and cleanses it. The liver also regulates the blood and its components, including vitamins, iron, cholesterol and certain hormones. It creates proteins and releases enzymes that move elements in the blood to aid the healing process and strengthen the body against all sorts of diseases. This is not even all of the functions of the liver! The liver performs day-to-day maintenance activities that leave the body ready for action. In short, the liver is crucial to bodily health.

The liver, however, is subject to some diseases. There are about 200 diseases that are known to affect the liver specifically. Among these are cancer, gallstones, hepatitis, alcohol problems and cirrhosis.

These are some of the more common diseases:

Cancer of the liver area: This forms when the liver develops a malign tumor. Toxins in the blood and environment are the greatest cause of the disease.

Gallstones: Gallstones are caused by pieces of bile that harden and grow. They can be removed easily, and sometimes they are not even noticed. When they interfere with the liver’s natural functions, they must be removed.

Alcohol-related liver problems: Certain conditions can develop when the liver is exposed to a large amount of alcohol. Among these are fatty liver and cirrhosis. When alcohol is combined with certain pills, the danger to the liver is increased. If too many toxins are presented to the liver at once, it cannot rid the body and blood of them effectively.

Cirrhosis: This disease can exist on the liver itself, and also on the face. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver tissue or the face and skin. It is caused by improper care of the liver, or by age.

Hepatitis: This disease directly affects the liver, and is most often caused by blood or sexual contact with someone who has the disease. This disease can be fatal, but more often than not just causes minor discomfort.

How does hepatitis affect the liver?

The liver breaks down waste products in your blood. When the liver is inflamed, it doesn’t do a good job of getting rid of waste products. One waste product in the blood, called bilirubin, begins to build up in the blood and tissues when the liver isn’t working properly. The bilirubin makes the skin of a person who has hepatitis turn a yellow-orange color. This is called jaundice. Bilirubin and other waste products may also cause itching, nausea, fever and body aches.

Lack of blood supply to the liver, poison, autoimmune disorders, excessive alcohol use, an injury to the liver and taking certain medicines can also cause hepatitis. Less commonly, viral infections such as mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus can cause hepatitis.

Hepatitis can be caused by many things. Hepatitis is most commonly caused by one of the six hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E or G). All types of hepatitis cause inflammation of the liver, which interferes with its ability to function.

There are 2 main kinds of hepatitis, acute hepatitis (short-lived) and chronic hepatitis (lasting at least 6 months).

If you have acute hepatitis, the liver might become inflamed very suddenly and you might have nausea, vomiting, fever and body aches. Or you may not experience any symptoms. Most people get over the acute inflammation in a few days or a few weeks. Sometimes, however, the inflammation doesn’t go away. When the inflammation doesn’t go away in 6 months, the person has chronic hepatitis.

What is hepatitis A?

There are 6 viruses that cause hepatitis. Each hepatitis virus is named with a letter of the alphabet: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, hepatitis E and hepatitis G. Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus.

Hepatitis A causes inflammation of the liver, which leads to soreness and swelling. Hepatitis A is different from other types of hepatitis because it isn’t typically as serious and doesn’t develop into chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis like hepatitis B and C can.

How is hepatitis A spread?

Hepatitis A is typically spread through contact with infected feces. You can get infected through close contact with an infected person (for example, changing a diaper or having sexual contact), even if that person does not have any symptoms. In fact, hepatitis A is most contagious before symptoms appear. You can also get infected by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The virus can live on hands, in water and in soil. Hepatitis A is common in developing countries.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

The hepatitis A virus is usually in your system for one month before symptoms appear.

When symptoms do appear, they can appear suddenly and include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Jaundice (the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
• Low-grade fever (fever up to 102 degrees)
• Fatigue
• Pain in your abdomen, especially on your right side
• Dark-colored urine
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain

It is important to remember that some people who have the hepatitis A never develop any symptoms.

Young children are likely to have very mild cases of hepatitis A, while symptoms in older children and adults are more likely to be severe.

See your doctor is you have any of these symptoms. He or she can do a blood test to see if you have hepatitis A.

How long will I be contagious?

You are most contagious soon after you are infected and before symptoms appear. Adults who are otherwise healthy are no longer contagious 2 weeks after the illness begins. Children and people who have weak immune systems may be contagious for up to 6 months.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection that is usually spread through contact with blood and/or body fluids of someone who has the infection.

You can get hepatitis B if you have unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner. People who use intravenous (IV) drugs can get hepatitis B when they share needles with someone who has the virus. Health care workers (such as nurses, lab technicians and doctors) can get these infections if they are accidentally stuck with a needle that was used on an infected patient. The infection can also be passed from a mother to her baby during childbirth. You are also more likely to get hepatitis B if you travel to areas of the world where hepatitis B is common.

Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted through casual contact. For example, you cannot get hepatitis B by hugging or shaking hands with someone who is infected.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B?

Symptoms of hepatitis B can include:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain, especially in the area around your liver
• Dark-colored urine
• Jaundice (the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes)
• Joint pain

Symptoms of hepatitis B can range from mild to severe. If you have a mild case of hepatitis, you may not even realize that you have it. It may not cause symptoms or may only cause symptoms similar to the stomach flu.

How is hepatitis B diagnosed?

Blood tests are used to diagnose hepatitis B. Blood tests can tell your doctor whether your liver is working properly, and they can also be used to monitor your condition during treatment.

Your doctor may want to look at your liver with an ultrasound exam or X-rays. A liver biopsy may also be needed. With a liver biopsy, a small piece of the liver is removed and looked at under a microscope. A liver biopsy can help your doctor diagnose your illness and see the condition of your liver directly.

What are the complications of chronic hepatitis B?

In some people, chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue and fat. The damaged areas of the liver stop working and can’t cleanse the body of wastes. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and even liver cancer.

If you have hepatitis B, you are also susceptible to hepatitis D (also called delta virus). Hepatitis D can only develop in people who already have hepatitis B. It can make your symptoms of hepatitis B or liver disease worse. It is spread through contact with infected blood or other body fluids of people who have hepatitis D.

Can hepatitis B be prevented?

The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to have protected sex (use a condom) and to avoid sharing needles.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is usually spread through contact with blood products. People who use intravenous (IV) drugs can get hepatitis C when they share needles with someone who has the virus. Health care workers (such as nurses, lab technicians and doctors) can get these infections if they are accidentally stuck with a needle that was used on an infected patient. You are also at a higher risk if you got a blood transfusion or an organ transplant before 1992 (improvements in blood-screening technology were made in 1992).
Most people don’t feel sick when they are first infected with hepatitis C. Instead, the virus stays in their liver and causes chronic liver inflammation.
Most people who are infected with hepatitis C don’t experience any symptoms for years. However, hepatitis C is a chronic illness (which means it doesn’t go away). If you have hepatitis C, you need to be watched carefully by a doctor because it can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?

At first, hepatitis C does not usually produce any symptoms. When it does, symptoms are typically flu-like and can include:

• Mild fatigue
• Achiness in your joints and muscles
• Nausea
• Lack of appetite
• Tenderness in the areas of your liver

As the disease progresses, symptoms may still not appear. When they do, they can include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Low-grade fever (fever up to 102 degrees)

I’ve never used IV drugs or been stuck with a dirty needle. How did I get hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is usually spread through direct contact with the blood of a person who has the disease. It can also be transmitted by needles used for tattooing or body piercing. In rare cases, hepatitis C can be passed from a mother to her unborn baby. This virus can be transmitted through sex, sharing razors or toothbrushes, although these occurrences are also rare. Many times, the cause of hepatitis C is never found.

Hepatitis C can’t be spread unless a person has direct contact with infected blood. This means a person who has hepatitis C can’t pass the virus to others through casual contact such as sneezing, coughing, shaking hands, hugging, kissing, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, swimming in a pool, using public toilets or touching doorknobs.

Could I give hepatitis C to someone else?

Yes, as far as we know, once you have hepatitis C, you can always give it to someone else. If you have hepatitis C, you cannot donate blood. You should avoid sharing personal items like razors and toothbrushes, although it is very rare to pass hepatitis C in these ways. Always use a condom when you have sex. If you have hepatitis C, your sexual partners should be tested to see if they also have it.

Talk to your doctor first if you want to have children. The virus isn’t spread easily from a mother to her unborn baby, but it is possible so you need to take precautions. However, if you’re trying to have a baby, do not have sex during your menstrual cycle, because the hepatitis C virus spreads more easily in menstrual blood.

Protect your Liver

To protect your liver, it is necessary to exercise and keep a healthy diet. While it may not seem that this would help, regular diet and exercise are the key to maintaining all of the body’s functions. Avoid areas that may contain environmental or blood toxins.

Do not drink much alcohol, and never mix alcohol with certain pills. (One glass of alcohol a day is a good amount.) Avoid sexual contact with a partner who has not been tested for this disease. In the long run, the strength of your liver will dictate how your body will feel. Treat it well.

Liver Cleanse

The liver works to keep our body free of toxins, but just like anything else, it must also be cleansed from time to time to keep it working efficiently!

Here are 2 wonderful liver cleanse recipes that will help to keep your liver cleansed of any leftover residue and help it to stay in optimal working order. 

10 Day Continuous Liver Cleanse
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of warm water
2 tbsp of pure lemon juice
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of black-strap molasses
pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a blender and drink first thing in the morning for 10 consecutive days. This is a good breakfast drink and probably the best liver cleansing tonic that I have ever used.

Liver Cleanse #2

Ingredients:
1 carrot
1/2 beetroot
1 stick celery
1 cucumber

1. Thoroughly wash all vegetables. 2. Peel and dice the carrots and beetroot. 3. Dice the celery and cucumber.  4. Pass all vegetables through a juicer. 5. Drink the juice within a half hour.  Do this for 7 – 10 days.

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Topics: Kicking Cancer to the Curb Naturally pt. 2

Essiac- Why You Shouldn’t Take It

Essiac tea is a popular folk cancer cure made up of 4 different herbs, in a very specific formula. There is a lot of information available on the internet about the benefits of this herbal blend, but I don’t see much about who shouldn’t take it. This is important because these are medicinal herbs that have certain effects on the body which may be beneficial in some circumstances but not desirable in others.

The original herbal mixture has helped hundreds of thousands of people over the world. Herbologists and lay people alike have been making this recipe since Rene Caisse developed the recipe. Keep in mind that nothing works for everyone, and some people should not take certain things at all.

For the most part, this tea is a very safe mixture of herbs that has much benefit to the body, from tumor reduction, to detoxification, to a clear radiant complexion. However there are still some cautions regarding side effects that could be harmful.

Reasons to NOT take essiac tea.

1. If you are pregnant or trying to be – Rhubarb is actually sometimes used to treat amenorrhea. In other words, it stimulates women to have their monthly periods if they haven’t been. The tea can also cause contractions of the uterus.
2. If you are predisposed to kidney stones – again the culprit is rhubarb. It contains oxalic acid which could encourage the formation of stones.
3. If you have diarrhea – Sheep Sorrel can act as a laxative. The formula can also stimulate the bowels to contract, worsening diarrhea if it is present, and causing cramping.
4. If you have an estrogen dependent tumor – Turkey rhubarb and burdock are both known to contain phytosterols. Phytosterols can mimic act like estrogen in the body, and feed estrogen dependent tumors

Reasons to take essiac cautiously

1. If you are diabetic – You should monitor your blood sugars carefully when taking essiac. The herbal blend can make the cells less resistant to insulin, and metabolize glucose more efficiently. This can result in hypoglycemia. (low blood sugar).
2. If you have high levels of iron in your blood – these herbs may have high levels of iron.
3. If you are sensitive to heavy metals – In this case you MUST assure that the herbs are USDA certified organic and/or harvested in the wild. Herbs sourced from China are often laced with heavy metals including high levels of mercury.
4. If you take digoxin – essiac can cause your body to use the heart medicine called digoxin (digitalis) more efficiently, which could cause toxicity.

Over all, there are very many more reasons to take essiac than not to take it, but still one must be able to make an informed decision regarding any medication or herb. People selling essiac will often leave it to you to research whether you should use it or not.

Flowers That Cure Cancer

By Bryan Cohen

Blessed Thistle

• Blessed thistle has been used for many purposes in herbal medicine, such as alleviating female menstruation symptoms and indigestion, and boosting the immune system. The flowering plant is antimicrobial and antineoplastic. This second term means that blessed thistle is able to hinder the formation of abnormally growing cells, such as cancer cells. To take blessed thistle, you can purchase a dried herb made from the flowers and leaves and use two grams in a cup of boiling water to take it as a tea. Do not take blessed thistle if you have allergies to the daisy family.

Red Clover

• This flowering plant has been used for respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and to help heal wounds. Red Clover contains the cancer preventive powers of isoflavones, which are compounds used to prevent infection and the spread of cancer. These compounds affect the enzymes that are used by cells to reproduce and can help ensure that cells grow normally. These flowers can also be taken as a tea by adding two to three teaspoons of dried flowers to a cup of boiling water and letting it steep.

St. John’s Wort

• This popular flowering plant for depression may also have healing powers for insomnia, high blood pressure, and a variety of bacteria, viruses and cancers. The compounds found in St. John’s wort enhance the immune system and are currently being studied for their benefits for sufferers of AIDS and cancer. Take the herb as a tincture, taking five to ten drops orally each day or use the flowering tops as a cream on skin cancer. While these anticancer properties are exciting, keep in mind that studies are still being conducted.

Sweet Violet

• Sweet violet has long been thought to have anticancer abilities. History tells us that a poultice made from the leaves of this flowering plant has been used to treat skin cancer since around 500 B.C. While this effect has not been proven, the flowers and leaves are still used in British herbal medicine to treat stomach and breast cancer. This can be taken as a tea with one teaspoon of the dried herb added to a cup of boiling water.

Rosy Periwinkle

• Rosy periwinkle contains two major known cancer fighters in the vincristine and vinblastine alkaloids. Vincristine has been tied to fighting childhood leukemia, while vinblastine may be effective against testicular cancer and Hodgkin’s disease. These herbal compounds may have similar side effects to chemotherapy, and taking the plant should be done under a doctor’s supervision.

Warnings

• Herbal remedies have the ability to cause allergic reactions and interactions with medications that you may already be taking. This is especially true when you are fighting off the symptoms of cancer. Consult a doctor or an integrated medical practitioner before starting a course of herbal flower remedies.

Color Therapy: A Spectrum of Cancer-Fighting Foods
Jill E. Stansbury, N.D.

Many people’s lives have been touched in some way by cancer. Maybe you’ve lost a relative, a friend or an acquaintance; maybe you had a scare as a result of an annual physical. But fortunately there are steps you can take to arm yourself in the fight against cancer. It is now common knowledge that proper diet and supplements can reduce the risk of this deadly disease.

Cancer is a prominent killer of Americans—second only to heart disease—and responsible for more than a half million deaths yearly. The good news is that scientific validation for the protective power of food is accumulating. And empowering people to preserve their health through daily choices puts responsibility in patients’ hands.

So where do you start? A dizzying amount of information exists on cancer-preventing foods and supplements. The easiest step you can take is to modify your diet. By eating a rainbow of food colors or by emphasizing certain food groups, you will incorporate a variety of protective phytochemicals into your diet.

We are exposed to oxidizing- and cancer-producing substances daily, but compounds found in vegetables help limit free radicals and DNA damage caused by these carcinogens and therefore appear to lower the incidence of various types of cancer.

A Rainbow of Protection
Deeply pigmented plants appear to have important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and people who eat more of them have a decreased risk of cancer. Plant pigments also contain beneficial chlorophyll, carotenoids and bioflavonoids.

Green plants contain particularly large amounts of chlorophyll, which is a detoxifier and possibly an anticancer agent. Foods rich in chlorophyll include chlorella and other blue-green algae, beet greens, bok choy, collards, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens and nettles. These greens—among the most nutritious of all plants or plant parts—also contain other diverse nutrients and healthy constituents. The blue-green algae family has a high chlorophyll content and has been credited with immune-enhancing effects including enhanced response to tumors and microbes. Chlorella powder, specifically, may reduce side effects of chemotherapy for some patients and may possess direct anticancer activities.

Orange, yellow and red-orange foods are rich in carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. These constituents are antioxidants and anticancer agents due to several different mechanisms.

More than 600 carotenoids occur naturally, but carotenes are the most widely known. Carotenes seem to offer protection against lung, colorectal, breast, uterine and prostate cancers. Carotenes, which destroy free radicals in lipids, enhance immune response and protect cells against UV radiation. Foods rich in these flavonoids include apricots, carrots, citrus fruits, squash and tomatoes in addition to many green foods.

The anthocyanidins are a type of complex flavonoid that produce blue, purple or red colors. Foods rich in these phytochemicals include beets, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, purple and red grapes, and purple cabbage. Anthocyanidins are beneficial in many ways. They contain anti-inflammatory properties, improve circulation, promote collagen formation, reduce cholesterol, work as antioxidants and appear to stabilize and protect capillaries. Thus, by eating these antioxidant pigments, some believe cancer risk can be reduced because the antioxidants protect against damage and help repair connective and vascular tissues.

Procyanidins are the precursors to anthocyanidins and are comprised of smaller units including catechins. These are simple flavonoids abundant in green tea. Several Japanese studies show that green tea consumption is protective against breast and other types of cancer.

Plant Power
Detoxifying, stimulating and spicy sulfur compounds are present in a variety of colorful foods including broccoli, garlic and pineapple. Sulfur-containing compounds in plants are believed active, or at least protective, against cancer because many pathogens are deterred by sulfur.

The crucifer family—which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard greens, radishes and turnips—has many sulfur-containing compounds as well as indoles, a subclass of phytonutrients that binds chemical carcinogens and activates detoxification enzymes, mostly in the GI tract. Indoles also improve estrogen balance, which may reduce the risk of estrogen-related cancers such as breast cancer.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and onions (A. cepa), both from the lily family, also contain sulfur compounds. Studies have shown the sulfur compounds in garlic oil and crushed garlic inhibit tumor metabolism and enhance immune response. The active compounds also enhance biochemical pathways involved in the liver’s detoxification of carcinogenic substances. Furthermore, garlic also has immune-enhancing actions.

Pineapples contain bromelain, a sulfur-rich enzyme that has been investigated for antitumor effects. U.S. and French research shows oral bromelain can reduce cancer in animals. Some documented cases show cancerous tumors regressing as a result of bromelain therapy. Bromelain may also reduce the risk of cancer spreading. In vitro studies have shown bromelain therapy fights leukemia by normalizing blood cells and reduces lung cancer by impeding its spread.

Other protective phytochemicals include the caffeic, ferulic and ellagic acids, which have been shown to break down carcinogens. Caffeic and ferulic acids are found in green tea; ellagic acid is particularly plentiful in pomegranates and is also found in blueberries, grapes, raspberries and strawberries.

Limonene is a bioflavonoid substance found in citrus rinds that stimulates enzymatic liver reactions, which break down carcinogenic substances and prevent them from damaging cellular DNA. Another bioflavonoid, quercetin, is ubiquitous in onions, apples and black tea, and has been widely studied for its antioxidant, anticancer actions.

Unexpected Allies
Whole-grain foods, rather than those derived from processed grains, are also worth emphasizing. Whole grains contain essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are important components of cell membranes.

Lignans, prominent in the woody parts of plants, are found primarily in rye and flax. They are believed to be converted into weak estrogens, which are absorbed across the intestinal walls from whence they travel to tissues and blood, binding with hormonal receptors. Like soy isoflavones, these estrogens may reduce excessive hormonal stimulation in tissues and reduce estrogen-related cancers.

Fiber is also thought to reduce cancer risk by binding carcinogens in the intestines and making a favorable environment for beneficial bacterial flora.

Legumes—especially soybeans—are another source of anticancer fiber, phytoestrogens, lignans and saponins. Soy also contains the isoflavones genistein and daidzein, which have been found to protect against estrogen-related cancers in numerous animal and epidemiological studies. Soy contains protease inhibitors that may inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Genistein in soy and in red clover diminishes the growth of new blood vessels in cancerous tissues.

Antitumor and anticancer properties also have been studied in shiitake and reishi mushrooms have been found to promote general anticancer and immune-stimulating activity. Maitake also contains immune-stimulating properties. In a Japanese study, mice were fed either a control diet, a diet that included 20 percent maitake powder or a control diet plus injections of maitake D-fraction extract. Results showed that maitake inhibited the spread of cancer by 81.3 percent in the maitake-fed group and by 91.3 percent in the D-fraction injection group.

Kelp and seaweed are also anticancer agents, which work like fiber by swelling in the intestines and absorbing liquid as well as toxins and heavy metals. Kelp and seaweed also may stimulate T cell production and function. Japanese studies show regular consumption of kelp reduces breast cancer risk. Furthermore, kelp extracts have been highly successful in inhibiting laboratory cancer strains.

Another place you may not expect to find cancer protection is on your spice rack. Cayenne pepper, ginger, rosemary, sage, thyme, turmeric and many others have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immune-stimulating and antioxidant properties. Research suggests that curcumin the bright yellow flavonoid present in turmeric (Curcuma longa) roots, contains properties that selectively inhibit excessive inflammation.

Anticancer agents can be found in the supplements section as well as at the local produce stand. By emphasizing colorful fruits and vegetables, you can reduce your risk of cancer along with many other diseases.

Jill E. Stansbury, N.D., maintains a private practice in Battleground, Wash., where she specializes in botanical and natural therapies.

Many cancer survivors claim that the following supplement blend has helped to prevent them from having a cancer relapse and has also helped them to heal the damage that was done to their bodies by the cancer and for some, the chemo.

Anti-Cancer Supplement Mix

Vitamin B complex
Vitamin C 600 mg
Vitamin D3 3000 iu
Vitamin e  400 iu
Carlson Fish Oil 1000
Kelp 500 mg .78 mg (of iodine)
Modified Citrus Pectin 5 grams a day
Curcumin (turmeric) 500 mg
Garlic 500 mg
Boitin1000 mcg
Selenium 200mcg
Chromium 200 mcg
Calcium and magnesium 100/100 mgby
Zinc 30 mg
Quercetin 400 mcg
Coenzyme Q10 60 mg
NAC 600 mg
Green Tea EGCG max 700mg

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Topic: Prayer for 911; Combating Cancer Naturally

Today, We the People of this great country, regardless of religion, race color or creed, have come together in unity and friendship to honor the victims and the survivors of September 11, 2001. 

That fateful day shall forever be seared in our hearts and in our minds. We remember those who died in the attacks and venerate the heroism of the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives while saving the lives of others. We stand in solidarity with their mourning and bereaved families.

God of compassion, we beseech you: shelter the souls of the dead under the graceful shadow of Your wings. Give strength and comfort to the survivors so that they may find fulfillment in their lives. Give courage to those who fight terror and protect the innocent from danger.

Sovereign of the Universe who created all humankind in His image, we ask of you to provide wisdom to the leaders of the world so that they may guide us in the ways of righteousness and peace. Teach us to revere the sanctity of life and to  reject the evil of terror.

We implore you, God of mercy: lend us your strength and the determination necessary to stay true to our moral bearings. Be with us and direct us as we strive to make this nation free once again. Fulfill our hopes and listen to our prayers for a country of justice, compassion, liberty and peace.

In the words of Mother Theresa: “May we pray for the Dead and fight like Hell for the living.

So Mote it Be. Amen.

Combating Cancer Naturally pt. 1

Essiac Tea

Burdock Root: 60.5% Sheep Sorrel: 19.5% Rhubarb Root: 4.8% Slippery Elm Bark: 4.8% Kelp: 4.8% Blessed Thistle: 2.4% Red Clover: 2.4% Watercress: 0.333%

Now let’s break down each of these herbs to find out what they’re healing properties are and why they are such fierce cancer killers.

 Burdock Root

Burdock is a plant that can be found growing wild . It is actually one of the most common “weeds” we have.

This plant has been widely used in both eastern and western natural medicine as a powerful  remedy for many ailments. The burdock root is crisp in texture and has a  sweet and mildly pungent taste reminiscent of artichoke. In Japan the leaves are also eaten in the spring when the plants are young and the greens are tender.

In western medicine, we find plants with diverse uses questionable at best. That is because we are used to the western medical system which treats illnesses with drugs. Drugs are typically single isolated extract from plant, or a chemically derived single active ingredient which is designed to treat only one symptom. Plants however are not isolated singles ingredients, but are made up instead of many active ingredients. When a plant has many different active ingredients, it follows that it will yield an array of health benefits.

The active ingredients in this edible and medicinal root are flavonoids, tannins, inulin, mucilage, polyphenols, sterols, as well as calcium, potassium and iron. The seeds contain essential fatty acids, and essential oils can be extracted. In Japan and other countries in the east, it is even eaten as a vegetable, added to soups or stir fried with other vegetables, although western cultures view burdock as a weed to be expelled, and not as a culinary delicacy. These active ingredients give the edible root the properties of a diuretic, mild laxative, immune system enhancement, anti-inflammatory, liver cleanser, digestive aid, and anti-neoplastic (anti-tumor).

12 Medicinal Uses for Burdock

1. Fluid retention – symptoms of which could be swelling in ankles, feet, face or fingers or high blood pressure.
2. Control blood sugar – diabetics on insulin should be under a doctor’s care as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is possible.
3. Measles – due to anti-viral properties
4. Common cold virus – due to anti-viral properties
5. Sore throat  - due to anti-inflammatory properties
6. Arthritis  - due to anti-inflammatory properties
7. Skin disorders – acne, eczema, psoriasis etc – attributed to blood purification and liver detoxification properties.
8. Constipation – inulin and plant sterols are helpful in increasing fiber and bulk in the intestine
9. Ulcers   - due to anti-inflammatory properties
10. Gout  - due to anti-inflammatory properties
11. Blood purification
12. Cancer – likely because of the polyphenols and tannins which are known to be anti-neoplastic.

Aside from being an essential ingredient in the recipe essiac tea, you can see that it is also a powerful and welcome ingredient in many a health tonic. In asian medicine it is a common ingredient in many different concoctions, tinctures, teas and other remedies.

Sheep Sorrel

Sheep Sorrel

Sheep sorrel (sour grass, sour weed) gained fame as the most active ingredient in the natural cancer remedy called Essiac tea. It has, however, been in use in Native North American medicine for centuries as both food and medicine.

Sheep Sorrel Flowers

This herb has been traditionally used as a diuretic, ridding the body of excess fluids, and toxins. It has also been found to have potent anti-tumor properties, making it a popular choice in cancer curing herbal blends in apothecaries the world over. Rene Caisse, formulator of the famed Essiac Tea, claimed that this herb was an easy choice for cleansing and detox, and cell regeneration. It is considered the most active and potent cancer killing compound in the world.

As is true with many medicinal herbs, sheep sorrel is considered a particularly difficult weed. This is good news for herbalist, as it means that the herb is easy to come by. it is found in most fields, allowed to grow wild, and is often the first plant to regrow after a fire.

This medicinal plant has significant levels of phytoestrogens. It also is made up of potent antioxidants and free radical scavengers called anthrax-quinones. The herb contains rumicin which an extremely effective antibacterial. It is used to treat salmonella and staphylococcus bacterium. It has a high tannin content when brewed as a tea, giving it astringent properties.

When brewing tea from this herb, use a teaspoon of dried ground leaves per every cup of boiling water. Allowable dosage is two to three cups per day.

8 Medicinal Uses for Sheep Sorrel

• powerful anti-tumor and cellular regenerator
• treatment for excessive bleeding during menstruation
• anti-diarrhea properties at low doses
• laxative at higher dosages
• treatment for anemia
• powerful cleanse/detoxification agent for the kidneys
• helpful in treating skin eruptions such as excema, leprosy, rash or itch
• treatment for intestinal parasites

Contra-indications of Sheep Sorrel

Sheep sorrel, because of phytoestrogen properties, should be avoided in the treatment of estrogen feeding cancer tumors. These are tumors of the reproductive organs, including breast cancers, that are known to be estrogen dependent. Note, not ALL breast cancers are estrogen feeding cancers. In fact, the majority are not. Your doctor should be able to tell you, in which case you will want to avoid the use of sheep sorrel.

It is difficult, in North America, to understand how one plant can be used for so many different purposes. That is because western medicine focuses on isolating single compounds from plants and then using that single compound to treat a specific symptom or disease entity. Plants, however, have many active ingredients. This makes herbs like sheep sorrel a valuable addition to many natural remedies.

Turkey Rhubarb

Turkey Rhubarb

Turkey Rhubarb herb was made famous by its inclusion in the recipe for Essiac Tea, a folk cancer cure developed by Rene Caisse in the early 1900s. This herb, however, has been used for at least 2000 years as a purgative (laxative and bowel cleanser), and has many other valuable medicinal properties.

Turkey Rhubarb, as we know it,  originated in North East Asia, and like many medicinal Chinese herbs, has migrated to North America and been integrated into our culture. It rapidly grows into a  plant with leaves of a tremendous size. These leaves are roundish and rough and have reddish stems. Speaking of the stems, they can grow up to 6 to 10 feet high. Turkey Rhubarb has flowers with a green-white hue and the buds are yellow in color. The stems are edible but the leaves are considered poisonous due to the high presence of oxalic acid. The stems have a very tart and tangy sour flavor that will pucker your taste buds.

Rhubarb roots should be harvested in September or October, after the plant has withered from the frost, and the plants ought to be at least three years old. The health properties of turkey rhubarb are most potent in the roots of plants.

The turkey rhubarb has long been thought of as one of the most powerful herbs in Chinese traditional medicine. It is known to have anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and diuretic (increased urine output) properties. It is combined with various herbs to relieve chronic constipation, relieve kidney pain, ease hemorrhoids, and reduce fever.

It is most often used medicinally as a tea or tincture.  Turkey rhubarb stimulates the smooth muscle of the bowel to push stool through the intestines. It is dependent on the bacteria in the bowel to be effective.

Today, Chinese herbalists and physicians with knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine will use this herb to treat resistant skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is mixed with other herbs and made into a plaster.

Turkey rhubarb root is so strong that it is not recommended for long term use.  Pregnant and nursing women should not use it at all, and those with ulcers and colitis should use it only while under the care of a medical professional.

You can make turkey rhubarb tea at home. Just take 1 teaspoon of dried turkey rhubarb root, and put it in 8 ounces of boiling water. Let it boil for about 10 minutes, and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Turkey Rhubarb has several medicinal uses

•  help relieve constipation and clean the intestines.
• detox spleen and liver.
• has anti-tumor properties.
• stimulate appetite.
• applied externally, can help treat infections of the skin (Staphylococcus aureus infections) .

Contraindications

Turkey rhubarb has high amounts of oxalic acid. People with gout or kidney stones should use cautiously. Turkey rhubarb should be avoided in pregnancy.

As you can see, this herb has many beneficial properties.

Slippery Elm Bark

Slippery Elm Leaves

The Slippery Elm is a tree native to the northern United States and Canada. It has rough branches and long toothed leaves that are rough with fine hairs on both sides.

The inner bark is the part of the tree that has medicinal value. From 1820 to 1936 it was recognized as an official drug which could be found in the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Bark is collected in spring, from the trunk and larger  branches and then dried.  The wood has no commercial value, so the tree is often completely stripped and  dies soon thereafter. It is recommended that the bark be at least 10 years old before stripping it off of the trees.

The bark is sturdy and quite flexible. It has an odor similar to that of the herb Fenugreek and a thick slimy feel in the mouth. If you moisten the inside of a strip of bark, and then leave it for a few moments, you will see large mucilage cells.

You can purchase the dried bark as a coarse powder for use externally as a compress or poultice, or finely ground for use as a drink, or thin gruel.  The powder should be greyish or tan in color.

It is considered to be one of the most used and valuable ingredients available in a herbalists cupboard.  It contains an abundance of mucilage which gives it nutritive, strengthening and healing properties. The most prominent use for slippery elm bark powder is that of a demulcent, but it also has expectorant, emollient, and diuretic properties. As well it is a valuable source of polysaccharides and nutrition which can be tolerated well even when light foods are not.

Internally it is especially soothing and healing to the mucous membranes. This makes it a perfect choice for ailments of the digestive tract from sore throats to inflammation of the intestine. It also is as nutritious as oatmeal, and can be used as a wholesome food for infants when none other is available, or not tolerated.

It is comprised of polysaccharides, sterols, tannins, mucilage, and fatty acids. These are the main constituents which seem to give rise to the therapeutic effects.

7 Uses for Slippery Elm Bark

1. For nutrition – As a gruel it can be made by mixing teaspoons of the fine powder with boiling water to form a paste. Spices and sugar can be added to flavor.
2. For irritation of the stomach and intestines – because of the mucilage it acts as a demulcent, stimulating the release of mucous which coats the lining of the stomach and bowel and helps soothe and heal. This makes it useful for ulcers and indigestion, and bowel disorders such as colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
3. For sleep disorders – taken at night it can induce sleep.
4. For dry cough – It has use as an expectorant, and is also of value for bronchitis and asthma.
5. For sore throat – slippery elm provides a soothing to the throat during cold virus. Singers often use it before a performance. In fact lozenges and cough medicines made with slippery elm bark can be found at your local pharmacy or health food store.
6. Urinary tract irritation – externally it has been used to soothe the urinary tract of inflammation.
7. As a compress, poultice or salve – to aid in healing and soothing of scrapes, burns, boils and other afflictions of the skin.

Red Clover

Red Clover

What Red Clover Does:

Among the healthful compounds found in red clover are calcium, magnesium, chromium, vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, potassium and phosphorus.  Each of those minerals and vitamins are essential to the body’s functioning, from building new bone cells to helping increase the bioavailability of other essential nutrients.

In addition, red clover is one of the richest sources of a particular class of isoflavones known as phytoestrogens.  Because phytoestrogens seem to behave in the same way as estrogen in the body, red clover may be helpful to menopausal and post-menopausal women.

There are also more recent reports that red clover and red clover extract with enhanced isoflavones may be important in treating and controlling prostate problems in men.

Health Benefits of Red Clover:

• May fight heart disease in menopausal women

In several studies, red clover has been reported to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and improve ‘arterial compliance’ a measure of heart strength. While there is more research required, the preliminary results are promising for menopausal women.

• May reduce the symptoms of menopause

In one small study, 30 female participants reported significant decreases in hot flashes while their diets were supplemented with red clover isoflavones.

• May slow bone loss due to osteoporosis

Some studies suggest that isoflavones found in red clover helps maintain bone mineral density, and may even improve it.  Bone loss is the leading cause of broken bones and other skeletal problems in menopausal and post menopausal women.

• May help prevent cancer

Red clover has a long tradition as a cancer fighter in herbal and traditional medicine. Scientists are studying the connection closely, and believe that the isoflavones in red clover may have some anti-tumor properties.  Studies in laboratory and animals have suggested that red clover isoflavones may slow or stop the growth of breast cancer cells.

Possible Side Effects of Red Clover:

Red clover has a safety rating of 1 – very safe at normally recommended levels. There are no reported harmful side effects of fresh or dried red clover.  However, fermented red clover is to be avoided as it may be toxic.

Summary

There’s a growing body of evidence that the isoflavones in red clover may help prevent cancer, reduce the risk of heart disease and increase bone density in menopausal women.  The latest reports that red clover seems to help protect against benign prostatistic hyperplasia are encouraging for men whose other choices are surgery or medication with harsh side effects.

Based on its traditional use for cancer, researchers have begun to study isoflavones from red clover, and there is preliminary evidence that they may prevent the growth of cancer cells or kill cancer cells in test tubes. It’s been proposed that red clover may help prevent some forms of cancer, such as prostate and endometrial cancer.

Blessed Thistle

Blessed Thistle

• Blessed thistle has been used for many purposes in herbal medicine, such as alleviating female menstruation symptoms and indigestion, and boosting the immune system. The flowering plant is antimicrobial and antineoplastic. This second term means that blessed thistle is able to hinder the formation of abnormally growing cells, such as cancer cells. To take blessed thistle, you can purchase a dried herb made from the flowers and leaves and use two grams in a cup of boiling water to take it as a tea. Do not take blessed thistle if you have allergies to the daisy family.

The herb holy thistle has also been called “blessed thistle” because of its wonderful healing properties. It’s been used for hundreds of years as one of nature’s great cures for chronic headaches.

The Health Benefits of Holy Thistle – Chronic Headaches

Holy thistle is the most excellent blood purifying herb. Because of this property, it will completely cure chronic headaches if a cup of tea is consumed twice a day. To make a tea of holy thistle, combine two ounces of the dried herb in about a quart of water. Allow to steep for thirty minutes and then drain.

The Health Benefits of Holy Thistle – Digestive Problems

Holy thistle may be used to successfully treat all types of stomach and digestive problems such as upset stomach, gas and constipation. Make a strong tea according to the instructions above and consume before bed to alleviate digestive problems.

The Health Benefits of Holy Thistle – Menstrual Problems

Holy thistle is given to young women beginning their menstrual cycles for the first time. It will alleviate pain associated with menstruation and purify the blood. A tea made from the herb should be taken before bedtime to soothe the body during menstruation.

The Health Benefits of Holy Thistle – Breastfeeding

Women who are breastfeeding can benefit from the healing properties of holy thistle. This herb will help the body produce a good supply of breast milk and is a good overall tonic for nursing mothers. Make a tea of holy thistle according to the instructions above and consume one cup before bed.

The Health Benefits of Holy Thistle – Disease Prevention

Holy thistle is an excellent herb to use in the prevention of disease. If heart or kidney problems run in your family, this herb should be taken daily before bedtime to prevent the onset of disease. Holy thistle purifies the blood and keeps the organs healthy.

The Health Benefits of Holy Thistle – Safety Tips

Holy thistle is a completely safe herb to use as long as you stick to these guidelines. First, do not make the tea any stronger than two ounces of dried herb to one quart of water. Making it stronger than this could cause nausea and vomiting. If it is made to these specifications, these affects will not be felt in the least.

Holy thistle is also known for causing excess perspiration. It is recommended that you consume the herb before bed or when you have to time to stay home.

Before taking any herb or herbal supplement, speak to your health care provider to make sure it is safe for you.

Kelp

Kelp is known to contain at least 60 different minerals and elements, as well as 12 vitamins and 21 amino acids. This wealth of nutrition is aided by the fact that it comes in plant form that is quite easily digested through the human system.

Kelp uniquely tops the list for the following nutrients: calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, iodine, and is also very high in sulfur. It contains chlorophyll, naturally chelated minerals, the only natural source of vegetable vitamin D, 25 vitamins including folic acid, vitamins A, B12 and D, which are often lacking in daily diets, including vegetarian ones.

Kelp contains sodium alginate which actively helps remove radioactive elements and heavy metals from the body. It contains sterols which are reported to exhibit anti-hyper-cholesterol activity in humans.

Kelp helps to regulate the body’s weight by stimulating your metabolism. Iodine deficiency can slow your metabolism down by as much as 50% which can and often does, result in obesity and other associated health problems. It’s easily absorbed organic minerals and trace minerals provide energy and stamina, while organic vitamins boost the immune system and act as viral protectors.

Because of the bio-availability of organic iodine found in kelp, it can help with normalizing thyroid disorders, thereby promoting a high metabolism to control weight. The Iodine in kelp also assists in combating obesity by aiding in eliminating excess stores of fat and fluids; aids in clearing up lymph system congestion; detoxifies and eliminates heavy metals and toxins from the body and is also very effective in blood purification.

You only need a small amount of kelp to provide you with 100% of the recommended dose of iodine. Simply substituting it for salt is enough.

In addition to the digestive benefits, kelp benefits can also help to relieve arthritis pain, help fight heart disease, gives the body energy, and helps the liver to work much more efficiently.

Research has shown that adding kelp to your diet may help to suppress the progression of AIDS and can help to fight certain cancers.

Seaweed’s natural digestive enzymes help the body’s metabolic and digestive systems with assimilation. Kelp is soothing to a sensitive or troubled digestive system, aiding greatly in treating recurrent constipation and gastric bloating.

From a nutritional point of view, edible seaweeds are low-calorie foods, having a high concentration of minerals, vitamins and proteins, and a low content in lipids.

Dietary fiber content range from 33% to 75% of dry weight, and mainly consist of soluble polysaccharides (range from 17% to 59%), which fiber differs chemically and physio-chemically from those of land plants and thus may induce different physiological effects.

Referenced data indicate that marine algal dietary fiber may show important functional activities, such as antioxidant, anti-mutagenic and anticoagulant effect, antitumor activity, and an important role in the modification of lipid metabolism in the human body. Kelp is also best known for its ability to protect the body from the absorption of radiation.

Seawater itself has antibiotic and healing properties. Algae in the sea have properties related to the seawater’s medicinal powers, which may explain why marine products have fungicidal, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-biotic, hemolytic, analgesic, cardio-inhibitory and other properties. It is also interesting to note that seawater contains dissolved bromine, a compound used in many sedatives. Seaweed also contains antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties.

Kelp Benefits:

• High in Essential Minerals such as algin, carrageenan, potassium, and bromine
• Supports the Prostate
• Rebuilds and Maintains All Glands in the Body
• Detoxifies the Body of Heavy Metals and Radiation
• Increases Metabolism — Which helps with weight loss
• Helps Cure Anemia
• Very High in Iodine for Thyroid and Pituitary Gland Function and Healing
• Heals the Liver
• Kelp stimulates your immune system
• Kelp helps fights cancer
• Kelp helps prevent heart disease
• Kelp encourages healthy liver function
• Kelp aids in brain development
• Kelp helps to prevent osteoporosis
• Kelp helps to lower cholesterol levels
• Kelp is good for joints which reduces arthritic pain
• Kelp kills the Herpes virus which causes cold sores.
• Kelp is a natural energy booster
• Kelp helps with digestion, flatulence and constipation
• Kelp is good for fertility in both men and women

Watercress

Watercress

Watercress might not be a popular veggie in our every day diet, but a recent study has shown that this vegetable is a power food when it comes to fighting cancer!

Watercress is an aquatic or semi-aquatic plant and is one of the oldest leaf vegetables consumes by humans. This leafy vegetable is native to central Asia and Europe and belongs to the cabbage family.

In a Southampton University study, researchers found that watercress helps to elevate the level of cancer fighting molecules in the blood. Consumption of a single portion or just 80 grams of watercress could significantly enhance the cancer fighting molecules in the blood within just a few hours.

Researchers believe that this green leafy vegetable could play a very important role in preventing as well as arresting the growth of cancer cells. Watercress derives its anticancer properties from compounds known as isothiocyanates, which inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Researchers have also observed that watercress extracts could slow down growth of breast cancer cells. They have found that 6 hours after eating watercress, the activities of proteins that enable survival of cancer cells decrease considerably in women with breast cancer; Watercress is also widely believed to help DEFEND against Lung Cancer.

Nutrients in Watercress

Watercress is a rich source of Vitamins A, folate, B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin C. It contains iodine, sulfur, potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper and manganese.

People suffering from asthma, cough and other respiratory illnesses might consider including watercress in their regular diet. It is also recommended for people suffering from iron deficiency anemia.

Anemia can be treated by taking a cup of watercress juice mixed with a teaspoon of lime juice, daily.  The high calcium and low phosphorous content in watercress makes it a beneficial vegetable for people suffering from osteoarthritis.

Watercress has very strong antibiotic properties. Folk Healers and Herbalists in Brazil recommend watercress for treating tuberculosis.