Natural Healing Recipes

Many people are willing to deprive themselves of foods they love in order to lose weight or have been told by their doctor to eliminate such foods from their diets for health reasons.

If you’re used to eating certain foods all your life, your body craves it. And, home cooked meals like your mother may have made with lots of butter, cream or sugar loaded ingredients can make your taste buds dance with delight for the moment.

Such foods are also considered comfort foods. They can work as a strategy to lift your mood and boost your energy at least for a while. Similarly, pastries and sweets have the same effect.

However, after the initial positive emotions, these foods take a toll on your body over time. You gain weight, lose energy, and may suffer serious health consequences.

So, how do you overcome cravings for foods you strongly desire?

There are 5 key ways I want to share with you:

1. Toss processed or pre-packed foods, loaded with sugar, artificial additives, flavor enhancers and unhealthy fats out the door. Find healthy whole food alternatives rich in nutrients and lower in calories to replace them with.  

These foods are just waiting to suck the life out of you with empty calories that fail to give your body the fuel it needs! Most snack foods loaded with trans-fatty acids, like crackers and chips, got to go also.  

After you’ve gotten rid of these temptations of your past, go shopping to find healthier alternatives and foods you like or see yourself enjoying. You may have to find a different grocery store, local farmers market or health food store with more wholesome and healthful varieties.

2. Drink lots of pure water and eliminate sugar-loaded drinks. Drinking lots of water helps diminish your feelings of hunger and cravings in two important ways.  

It helps with digestion of food and flushes unhealthy substances out of your body that create the cravings (such as certain flavor enhancers and additives manufacturers purposely put in food to get you unknowingly hooked).  

Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day for your cells to function at full speed. If you experience any cravings, or the slightest feeling of thirst, reach for your water bottle. Best of all, water has no calories.

3. Eat more vegetables and fruits between meals as snacks, until you get hooked. Also find ways to include more raw and cooked vegetables with every meal.  

Raw fruits and vegetables are nutrient and enzyme-rich, high-fiber, lower calorie foods that fill your body with energy. It releases fuel your body needs slowly (Fiber acts like a “Time-release capsule”), digests it more completely (natural enzymes) and keeps your hunger satisfied much longer.  

   As a result you avoid cravings that lead to consuming more calories than your body needs or can process efficiently. Keep in mind your body turns any calories it doesn’t need from a meal into fatty deposits.

When eating these foods as snacks, gradually you begin to develop a taste for them. If you’re like most people old cravings vanish in less than 30 days. What’s more, without cravings you no longer deprive yourself of foods you no longer care for anyway.

To help you get used to new vegetables, raw or cooked, experiment with delicious healthy dips (like hummus) or natural herbs and spices.

Fruits high in sugar don’t combine well with other foods of your main meals. (Tomatoes and avocados are exceptions because of low sugar content – eat anytime). But almost any kind of fruit provides excellent nutrition when eaten alone as a snack. It’ll satisfy any craving much better and longer than a calorie-rich fruit juice or soft drink.

4. Give a long-term solution for weight management a chance instead of choosing a fad diet promising a short-term gain.  

Before going on a diet where you deprive yourself of food for short-term weight changes consider this carefully: As soon as you reach your goal, you likely gain the weight back or even more than before if your old cravings are still going strong. Besides, Yo-yo diets often leave you feeling tired and run-down.  

   Commit to a permanent solution with more plant-based whole foods your body craved naturally when you were born. Moreover, a permanent solution encourages you to continually making positive changes in your appearance and enriching your life.

5. Learn to prepare and enjoy at least 10 new healthy meals that help you let go of cravings for foods with nutrient-empty calories.  

You don’t need to become an expert cook to change to a healthy diet. Simply find 5-10 new quick and easy recipes you and your family like. Then, repeat. Be sure to add in raw fruits and vegetables, including big and tasty salads.  

The bottom line is applying a long-term solution to giving your body the best quality fuel with great taste and flavor, without excessive calories. This is one of the best decisions you can make not only for yourself, but your family as well. When you make a positive change in your lifestyle and well being others often soon want to follow your example!

A new, and vibrant you awaits!

For helping you make this transformation, you can pick-up a copy of Natural Healing Recipes at: http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com . Inside you’re shown step-by-step how you can make changes in diet, lifestyle and cook delicious meals you’re whole family loves!

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health, food labels

For most, eating a healthy breakfast before we rush off to work in the morning is the last thing on our mind.

As a result, many people just grab a strong cup of coffee to get going. While, others pick up some pre-packed muffins, sweets and backed goods, or O.J. for a quick energy boost like jump-starting a dead car battery.

Yet, what we often don’t realize is that these types of breakfasts only offer a short-term boost. After an hour or two, you’re left craving more sugar, caffeine or calorie-rich foods to keep you going.

And the cycle continues.

Of course, you may also worry about your weight or health condition and have a desire to change your eating habits.

For most people, such feelings remain in the background as long as their hunger and ability to work productively can be satisfied. Can you imagine your boss catching you asleep at your desk? That would be a real disaster!

But, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can easily create healthy breakfasts that taste great and give you the energy you need to breeze through the day!

The result is a slimmer waistline and more energy so you can live life to the fullest.

Let me give you 3 good reasons for starting your day with a healthy breakfast:

1. If you’re like most people when they wake up, your body hasn’t had any nourishment for more than 10 hours. To be able to function productively its essential your body gets the nutrients it needs.

2. Cells in your body need quality fuel to produce and recharge your energy resources, and maintain a flourishing inner environment. Being filled with energy makes it easier to stay focused, connected with customers or co-workers and productive at work all day long.

Can you imagine how feeling fully energized affects not only your own mood, but also the people around you? A radiant appearance will help you attract what you want a lot easier with less stress. Lack of energy tends to make you more irritable, annoyed and frustrated.

3. It’s even more important for your kids going to school. They’re able to concentrate and recall more easily what they’re learning in school. Every parent has this heartfelt desire to help them succeed in life.

And here is your opportunity: Show your loved ones the value of making eating a healthy breakfast a habit and enjoyable experience. It’s a way to earn their respect and love for you.

So, how can you create a simple and healthy nutrient breakfast fast? Below is a sample recipe. It’s filled with beneficial Omega 3 fats (helps your brain function) and other essential nutrients your body needs!

1. Remove a yeast-free sprouted bagel from your freezer and toast both halves.
2. In the meantime, prepare a few slices of fresh and ripe avocado and a couple handful broccoli sprouts or any other protein-rich sprouts.
3. Grind a tablespoon of flaxseeds in your coffee grinder for a few seconds.
4. Place avocado slices on each toasted bagel half and sprinkle with ground flaxseed (for a great nutty flavor and healthy fat calories).
5. Top toast halves with protein and nutrient-rich sprouts.
6. If you’re a lover of flavorful tomatoes stack a few slices on top.

That’s it. This breakfast takes less than 10 minutes (probably about 5).

Enjoy it with a cup of caffeine-free herbal tea and lemon slice. If you desire a sweetener add a touch of honey or the natural sweetner “SweetLeaf Stevia Plus”. (More at: http://www.sweetleaf.com/).

It can help lower your blood pressure, keep your blood sugar level steady, avoid releasing stress hormones, permanently achieve a slimmer you, simply feel more energized, look more youthful and radiant.

For more simple and easy to make healthful recipes to start everyday off right, visit: http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com!

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health, food labels, breakfast recipes

 I often hear people say: “Drinking real fruit juice is a lot better than any kind of soft drink!”  This maybe true and many healthcare professionals agree.

But wait a minute, you may say as a savvy health conscious observer, “What about all of the sugar inside juice (even the ones with no sugar added)?  It may have some vitamins and minerals but still tons of calories from sugar!”

Truly, this seems a very valid point, when you consider:

Some people wanting to lose weight count their calories religiously based on the solid foods they consume and forget to add calories from liquid foods.

They may drink lots of alcohol, soft drinks or even juice without realizing the amount of calories they are putting into their body unknowingly.

They become in a sense “hidden calories,” which can contribute to why the weight scale surprisingly doesn’t want to budge. On top of that, they feel sluggish, seemingly always hungry and craving something sweet.

Of course, not all drinks and juices are created equal by a long shot. Take for example a highly nutrient-rich vegetable juice you make freshly at home (with a juicer). 

This juice can easily be made with low sugar content and full with the wholesome goodness of life force energy your body naturally craves (remember, raw foods are full of enzymes that helps you body digest and absorb nutrients).

Recently, a friend proudly showed to me the “healthy” drink he was consuming. Noticing the practically nutrient-empty calories on the food label, I was curious about his perception of being a “healthy” drink.

He pointed to a prominently placed sticker on the bottle indicating the presence of “healthy” antioxidants. I then explained how antioxidants help neutralize cell damage in his body. That’s the good part.

But, I added how these sugar calories trigger spikes in his blood sugar level and release insulin to mop up the excess glucose. To be exact, his drink contained 264 calories from 16 teaspoons of sugar (unfortunately invisible) in his small bottle.

Over time, from daily consumption of one or more sugary drinks (including real fruit juices), you expose yourself and even young children to an increased risk of diabetes or at least aging more quickly unknowingly from chronic stress.

What’s more, if your body doesn’t need all this fuel at the time, it stores it as fatty deposits. This makes many people unhappy about how they look and feel. Especially, when told it increases their risk for obesity related diseases.

A key point you should consider is that permanently losing only 20 extra pounds often can make the difference between normal and high blood pressure. For many, that’s enough weight loss to allow your doctor to take you off blood pressure medication.

And this is important because drugs are helpful when needed, but they also can create toxic buildup you may experience as unpleasant side effects or unwanted wrinkles from accelerated aging.

So, how can you stop worrying about “hidden calories” for yourself and loved ones?

You can start telling yourself: I choose to make it a habit to drink 8 – 10 glasses of clean water every day and commit to acting on it!
 
See, water has zero calories… Yes, zero calories. What’s more, drinking water cleanses your body from the inside out. This strengthens your immune system naturally to effectively fight of nasty colds or a whole host of other diseases.

Adding a slice of fresh lemon or lime to water is an excellent idea! They add flavor, powerful nutrients and are commonly available. Their alkalizing properties awaken your body’s natural healing abilities.

As a parent, you also have an awesome opportunity to raise healthy children eager to learn. Give them a gift for a healthy life…. simply model to them how to make drinking plenty of clean water a life-long habit.

For many people eliminating “hidden calories” maybe the easiest way to lose these unwanted pounds. It typically takes 30 days or less for your taste buds to adapt to your new life-serving habit.

You too can keep your blood sugar level steady, avoid releasing stress hormones, permanently achieve a slimmer you, simply feel more energized, look more youthful and radiant.

Want to know what else you can do to get there?

Go to http://www.naturalhealingrecipes.com/ and take the next step toward restoring your health and vitality with simple lifestyle changes and natural healing foods.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health, food labels

Most of us pay little attention to food labels.  And, when people do, they normally only look at the calories, fat, or carbs.

Few people realize how they can use all of the information because it can be difficult to determine how it relates to your specific needs.

For example, food label percents assume you consume 2000 calories per day. But, what if your calorie intake is higher or lower?  Now, the percent daily values become less helpful.

A way around this is to focus on “gram” values shown on the label. For example, your minimum needs for protein grams depend on your body weight and activities. And, using grams of fats and sugars on the label help you choose more nutrient-rich foods with fewer calories.

Another consideration is that calories come from carbohydrates, protein and fats. Your body needs all three energy forms to function properly. But, each form does not carry the same amount of calories by volume of food.

For example, the calorie-density of any fat (9 calories/gram) is 225 % higher than carbohydrates or protein (4 calories/gram). With too many fat calories, overeating and weight gain can easily sneak up on you.

On the other hand, vital nutrients like clean drinking water, important fibers, vitamins and minerals have no calories at all. Including more of it is highly desirable.

Relating to this, you should watch-out for many processed foods and soft drinks loaded with tons of calories from fats and sugar. Processed foods often contain “bad” fats (saturated, partially hydrogenated and trans fatty acids) and “bad” carbohydrates (added sugar and corn syrup) with little or no nutritional value.

Moreover, you often find many “Fat free” products that have the fat replaced with sugar calories.  You may not gain a lot health-wise after all.

So, what exactly happens if your body gets more calories than it needs for your metabolic processes and activities?

Well, it simply stores them as fat deposits. It doesn’t care what kind of calories they are.  

With that said, there is a lot more information to consider on the food label, including details about other essential nutrients, cholesterol, vitamins and minerals.

Staying away from food products with a long list of preservatives, flavor enhancers and other additives is a good idea. It may just save you from being hit by a horrific headache or other unpleasant symptom.

For any health promoting diet, health experts recommend minimizing your daily sodium intake (600 - 2400mg) and maximizing fiber intake (25-35 grams). Look for pasta with 4 grams fiber content or more per 2 oz. dry serving. A minimum fiber content of 3 grams or more per slice of bread is a good choice.

There is however another option to reading food labels. If you eat mostly wholesome plant-based foods, your concern for reading food labels goes away.

Why you may ask?

Plant-based foods (especially organically grown) like colorful vegetables, grains, beans and fruits are naturally low in fat calories, high in quality protein and good carbohydrates. Additionally plants are practically the only source of fiber and protective antioxidants.

This means you can eat a lot more volume of plant foods with less worry about gaining weight or counting calories and fat grams.

What’s more, whole and unprocessed plant-based foods naturally contain by far the greatest majority of essential nutrients your body needs to feel more energized and alive.

For more specific ideas and tips to bring your body in a healthy state of balance go to http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health, food labels 

You may have noticed how processed foods contain preservatives and artificial flavor enhancers. But, what you may not be aware of is how these and other additives can damage your heart and body’s ability to function.

You see, although you may not be consciously aware of it, your body knows when it encounters dangerous substances.  These substances trigger your body’s stress response that releases an abundance of stress hormones.

The result of constantly eating these substances creates an imbalance in your body.

You may experience it as restlessness, irritability, headaches or fatigue. Even if you try to ignore these symptoms, your inner environment and body’s natural ability to heal itself gets compromised (so you are more likely to get sick).

In addition, over-exposure to these common food additives and other sources of emotional stress can easily tip the scale toward chronic stress. And, you may not even be aware of it.

This means losing weight and maintaining proper cholesterol and/or blood pressure levels becomes a real challenge.

Let me give you some examples of such foods that make your heart work overtime:

• Fatty and fried foods loaded with saturated, trans-fatty and partially hydrogenated fats found in processed foods. For example, just one plain doughnut or serving of French fries have 5 grams of trans-fatty acids. These foods have been shown to lead to fatty deposits in your arteries and increased cholesterol.
• Excess salt often increases blood pressure and lead to coronary heart disease.
• Excess use of refined sugar and white flour can lead to diabetes, obesity and blood pressure increase.
• Finally, excessive use of alcohol, smoking and caffeine can damage your heart and other vital organs.

In contrast, here are some ways that can protect your heart from unnecessary stress:

•    Improve your fatty acids profile for preventing blood clotting. “Good” fats also contribute to reducing cholesterol, lower blood pressure, enhance brain functions and heart health.
• Consume more extra virgin olive oil, walnuts and almonds, seeds, omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, sardines, herrings and wheat germ have shown to improve fatty acid profiles naturally.
• Eat more celery, oats, nuts, whole grains, beans and lentils to provide fiber known to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.
• If possible include lots of onions and garlic in your diet. They have antiviral and antibacterial properties to reduce the risk for heart disease.
• Eat a lot more plant-based foods like green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, and teas because they contain antioxidants. They prevent destructive free radicals from damaging every cell in your body.
• Make regular use of ginger and turmeric. These are powerful anti-inflammatory agents to protect your arteries and blood vessels.
• Include cinnamon, watermelon, red grapes skins, cumin, garlic and onion are natural healing ingredients preventing red blood cells from sticking together. These foods can decrease the risk of strokes and heart disease.

Always be sure to consult with your health care practitioner to see if these ideas are right for you.  Consider working with a Naturopathic (a doctor who goes to medical school with a stronger focus in preventative health) or doctors using an integrative more Holistic approach.

For more ideas and tips to minimize stress for protecting your heart and bringing your body into a healthy state of balance, go to http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health

What does stress and diet have in common, you may ask?

You probably already know that any fearful, anxious, or hopeless thoughts triggers your stress mechanism.

But, few people realize that their stress mechanism also gets triggered from certain harmful substances in the food we eat, the air we breathe and the environment we live in.

Over time, a nutrient poor diet and abusive lifestyle choices causes oxidants to damage your cells, tissues and organs. As a result, your body’s stress mechanism gets triggered.

Your body then goes into a survival mode and releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.  These bio-chemical substances move in the blood stream through our bodies to affect behavior and reactions.

For example, they raise heart rate and blood pressure to increase the blood flow in your muscles, sharpen your sense organs and retrieve stored energy to strengthen your physical capacities for fight or flight.

Simply put, it takes a lot of energy to cope with a stress response… energy you could be using for more joyful life-serving purposes. 

Additionally, your sympathetic nervous system kicks in to mobilize a survival response.

This slows down your digestive process and puts your immune system on the back burner. Naturally, this diminishes your body’s ability to heal itself, fight off viruses, and colds.

It means your body gets out of balance for hours after any stress response. What’s worse, the food you’ve eaten doesn’t get properly digested and absorbed. You risk starving your body of essential nutrients and energy it needs to live a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.

What’s more, incomplete digestion of food rots and putrefies into your digestive tract and literally pollutes your inner environment. As a result, toxic substances are likely to get into the blood stream. You’re basically asking your immune system to clean up the mess.

And when this happens, it’s possible your immune system gets overwhelmed in playing the janitor role and you become chronically stressed in a variety of ways from over-consumption of:
 
• Meat and dairy-based foods raised with antibiotics, growth and stress hormones,
• Contaminated, but deemed “safe” unfiltered tap drinking water,
• Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables with pesticides in nutrient-depleted soil,
• Calorie-rich but nutrient-poor processed foods,
• Fast and junk foods loaded with trans fatty acids and saturated fats,
• Soft drinks loaded with sugar, corn-syrup or artificial sweeteners,
• Prepackaged foods loaded with chemical additives and flavor enhancers.

Instead, learn to enjoy eating more wholesome unprocessed plant-based foods. They’re naturally loaded with fiber and cancer fighting substances to awaken your body’s natural ability to heal.

When you combine nutrient rich foods with plenty of clean water, then you’re able to create a healthy environment for your body’s health to more easily thrive – with more energy, youthful appearance, and vigor to fully enjoy your life!

Go to http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com to get more ideas and tips to bring your body into a healthy state of balance and eliminate undesirable stress responses.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health

Most people know they’ll quickly die if they go without water for just a short time.  But, few people realize just how important getting enough clean water is to thriving on a daily basis – with more energy and improved health for a more enjoyable day.

You see, you’re constantly losing water every time you use the restroom and when your body sweats (most of the time you aren’t even aware of it).

This means your body needs a lot of it to keep on functioning at top speed.  Most people get far less than they should.  This then causes your body to slow down (so you have less energy, a weaker immune system, and your metabolism dramatically declines).

Let’s talk about all that water does for your body:

• It cleanses your inner body of waste produced from your natural metabolic processes. You really don’t want toxic substances get stuck in cells, organs and tissues to threatening your organism’s ability to function fully. Drinking plenty of water is a key to getting your body into balance more quickly and feeling better within days.

• Water carries vital nutrients and blood cells around our body to rebuild and repair damaged cells. Equally important, it supports the free movement of biochemical messengers like hormones and protein to coordinate your body’s actions and reactions more perfectly. It allows you to think more clearly, feel and look better with proper hydration.  

• Water flushes your lymphatic system to strengthen your immune system to eliminate unhealthy substances from your body. Too much toxic buildup in your organs and tissues is a surefire way to waste tons of life-serving energy and make your body feel sluggish and tired. Speed up your healing with a strong immune system and feel better much quicker and full of energy when you need it.

• Drinking plenty of water also promotes and helps with lubrication of a regular and daily waste removal process from your colon.  This is important because the water is absorbed by fiber (from fiber-rich fruits and vegetables) to make the waste substances in your colon bulky.

This then results in scrubbing type movement to remove harmful toxins from your digestive tract. It provides a first line of defense to protect your bloodstream from getting polluted. This is one of the best ways to avoid allergic reactions and other unpleasant symptoms.

Another key point about water is that most people find it natural to take one or more bath every day to clean the outside of their body. But, they don’t pay much attention to keeping the inside of the body.
By drinking enough clean water you help keep your inner environment clean (which keeps your heart health and reduce your risk of cancer.  And, you’ll also find drinking plenty of clean water every day (6-10 8 oz. glasses) kicks your metabolism into high gear to burn calories efficiently and lose more unwanted fat deposits.

But, what about drinking other liquids such as, soft drinks, coffee, or sugary drinks?

It’s true you can use any liquid to replenish lost volume of water in your body.

But, imagine your body’s inner environment as a fish bowl. Pretend just one of your body cells is a  precious fish. Let me ask you: “Would you ever consider putting large amounts of these other liquids in the fish bowl?”

Of course not.  Overtime adding these liquids would kill the fish off.

Now, let’s just take one example what most people, and especially kids, put into their body. On average, Americans consume at least two cans of soft drinks every day.

But, are you aware you’re consuming the equivalent of 21 teaspoons of sugar (82 grams or 246 calories) or loads of artificial sweeteners (countless studies question their safety for human consumption) when you do this?

If your body doesn’t need this energy (246 extra calories) right then, it will turn these calories into fat deposits. What’s more, it can lead to insulin resistance and set the stage for obesity, diabetes and other diseases.

How does that compare to drinking water? Clean water has zero calories and helps clean your inner environment rather than pollute it over time. Additionally, you pay 300% more for soft drinks compared to the best tasting distilled and oxygen-enriched water.

Another great way you can get water is from eating fruits and leafy green vegetables. Also, teas, without added sugars, and healthful soups with limited amounts of salts are other great sources.

The bottom line is… drinking plenty of clean water is one of the most important secrets to bringing your body into balance. It’s a key ingredient to awaken your body’s natural ability to heal.

To discover more secrets to fill your body with increased energy, a more youthful appearance, and overall better health, go to http://www.NaturalHealingRecipes.com and take the next step toward restoring your health and vitality.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health, water, clean water, bottled water, purified water

In this short article, you’re going to discover a key component to living a more productive life  – so you have more time for those special to you… and have the energy to accomplish your goals!

Even more, the component comes from an unlikely source.

You see, a key reason we feel down and tired is because of the food we eat. You may be getting tons of calories from simple carbohydrates like sugar, fats and plenty of protein. But, you may be missing healthful micro-nutrients like vitamins and minerals to be able to breakdown the food you eat. 

Take, for example, most any fast food meal with fries, doughnuts, or any pastry with refined grains and top it with soft drinks loaded with almost 11 teaspoons of sugar. (Yes, one can of Coke or similar drink has 41 grams of sugar). You can easily consume a recommenced daily allowance of fats and sugars in just one meal!

Even more, what you’re likely unaware of is the fact that this kind of nutrient poor food filled with additives, artificial flavor enhancers, loads of trans-fatty fats and refined sugars creates a huge cleanup job for the immune system to take care of.   

You see, your immune system can best be described as your body’s janitor.

Its function is to remove natural metabolic waste and even cancer cells. Like Pac Man characters, it moves around in your body fluids to destroy and protect you from any foreign invaders it doesn’t recognize as a healthy substance.

Keeping toxic buildup in your colon and your digestive system unattended puts a lot of extra load on your immune system. For example, chronic constipation, irregular bowel movements and poor diets lacking nutrients and fiber are commonly responsible.

Additionally, when ever you get stressed out, this slows down your digestion and puts your immune system on the back burner. As a result, it gets overloaded more easily. This depletes your body of energy and leaves you more vulnerable to illness and disease.

Catching colds easily and other similar nagging symptoms maybe a good indication your immune system has been compromised, overwhelmed or weakened.

Let me give you 5 ways to strengthen your immune system and return your productivity in life:

1. Reduce stress triggers

Pay attention to your self-talk and related feelings. Do you find telling your-self saying: “I can’t do this, I am not good enough or I am a failure…” or similar thoughts?

Find new ways to let go of such negative thought patterns. Eating nutrient-rich plant-based diet alone is not enough to strengthen your immune system in the long run. Truthfully, it’s a necessity for making every aspect of your life richer and more productive.  

2. Keep your inner environment of your digestive tract clean of toxins.

Just like your car needs a regular preventive service, your colon needs cleaning. Fueling your body with more organically grown, nutrient and fiber-rich plant-based whole foods leaves less harmful residue.

Equally important is drinking plenty of water and eating more fruits. This builds bulk with fiber-rich foods for regular and at least daily bowel movements and removal of toxic substances. You’ll feel lighter and more energized because your immune system can easily handle its natural cleaning tasks.

3. Exercise to strengthen your immune system

Have you ever considered exercising to strengthen your immune system?

See, one of the most important parts of your immune system include your lymph nodes to neutralize health threats.

But removal happens by keeping fluids of your lymph system in motion. This is only possible through the pumping action created by physical exercise like simply walking. Again, drink plenty of water to help flush your lymphatic system, especially if you feel a cold coming on.

4. Avoid overwhelming your immune system

Eat smaller but regular nutrient-rich whole foods meals to stabilize blood sugar levels. Choose healthy plant-based foods as a snack. Try raw living plant foods full with enzymes for more complete digestion and less work for your immune system. 

5. Get hooked on antioxidants to awaken your body’s own ability to heal.

Your immune response can more effectively fight off flu, colds, infections and even cancer with a variety of vegetables from leafy green to colorful antioxidant-rich foods only found in plants.

For example, find powerful antioxidants, such as vitamin C in citrus fruit and berries, vitamin E in wheat germ and Beta-carotene in sweet potatoes. Or, find them in grains loaded with zinc, or selenium. 

Also include plenty of vitamin B complex and iron-rich foods if you feel run down. You find it in natural unprocessed foods like whole grains, beans, lentils, dried apricots and any leafy green vegetables.

Simply put, having a perfect immune system allows you to more easily fight of sickness, fill you with energy, and allow you feel more alive for the rest of your life!

Go for it!
 
To learn more about ways to prepare foods with delicious natural whole foods. Go to http://www.naturalhealingrecipes.com to get more information and the whole story.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health

A common problem with changing to a healthier lifestyle is that other people in your family may not be ready to do the same.  This is especially true with children. 

You then have a huge problem because the meals you want to cook may not jive with what the rest of your family desires.

This is why in this article we discuss ways in which you can eat healthier, despite what kind of outside pressure you get from friends and family.

Plus, get quick tips for getting your kids to eat healthier as well.  Let’s dig-in:

1. Involve your kids in the shopping process as much as possible by having them pick-out or at least approve the meals you select.  By getting your children to approve of new ingredients and dishes ahead of time, then you may have a much easier time getting them to try it. Find a creative approach to communicate healthy ways of eating.

2. Involve your kids in the cooking process.  Don’t make it a chore, but encourage them to do anything they like to help with the meal preparation.  By showing them how everything works and having them be apart of the creation process means that they are much more likely to want to eat their hard work.

3. Add ground flax seed or other healthy ingredients into their food.  For instance, you can mix the flax seed (for healthy Omega 3 fats) into their oatmeal, pizza, veggie burgers, or almost any meal… and they won’t notice. 

4. If others give you a hard time, then focus on setting a good example and don’t worry about what others choose to do.  When you have success, then others will want to feel and look the same as you!

5. Find a support group.  There maybe a potluck group that gets together in your area or you can join a discussion group online.  By surrounding yourself with likeminded people regarding healthy eating, then you’ll be encouraged to stick with it because you see others have the same problems and successes as you!

Simply put, by not pressuring others to change their ways, then over time people are more likely to be supportive of your decisions – especially, when they notice a more energetic and happier you!

Moreover, when you begin to focus on a healthy diet that feels right inside, it doesn’t matter what others say.  You know from inside that you’re moving in the right direction and nothing can stop you.

To make eating healthier easier, be sure to grab your copy of Natural Healing Recipes.  Inside, the recipes are designed to not only be healthy, but easily adjustable so your whole family will enjoy them.  Click here to get the details and invest in a new healthier you for years into the future!

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health

When it comes to health, there are countless ways to look at it.  Some traditional medical practitioners say nutrition combined with a mind and body approach is largely irrelevant when it comes to disease, while most alternative health experts strongly believe the contrary.

Stuck in the middle of this conflicting wave of information is the average consumer.  There is just so much conflicting information and it’s hard to know why people have such strong contrary beliefs.

For this reason, we’re going to cover 3 different levels of health consciousness:

1. Traditional western medical consciousness – Most traditional medical doctors focus on solely on a “Cure” or disease management approach to health and largely ignore the prevention side. 

They look at health as a problem to be solved with only pharmaceutical drugs and the latest technological breakthroughs.

This is all and well.  However, when it comes to ideas about the healing power of nutrition combined with a mind and body approach, they often fail to give it a serious consideration.

Instead, they often tend to just lump everything that is contrary to the ideas they’re familiar with as “Snake oil” and that’s the end of that. 

2. Somewhat health conscious, but still not clear about their health because of all of the conflicting information.

This is where most health aware people are.  They realize nutrition’s healing power is much more than just counting carbs or fat.  Instead, they understand eating enough of the right plant-based foods can awaken your body’s natural ability to heal.

Additionally, they may realize that there is a connection between the mind and body regarding health.  Health is not just a problem that can be completely solved with only drugs and surgery.

3. Advanced health conscious.

These are the truly healthiest people around.  They bubble with energy, look youthful, and live full of life to the very end.  They consume natural and largely plant-based foods so their body has the nutrients and other ingredients it needs to thrive.

The problem is that it’s very difficult for most to reach this level.  There is just so much contrary information and it’s hard to change our habits.

To reach this level, consumers often must move to it slowly.  Try experimenting with new ways of cooking, eating, and living in a more stress free lifestyle.

A powerful resource to help you achieve this level is with a copy of Natural Healing Recipes.  Inside all of the basics of alternative health are demystified and you’re given over 150 recipes filled with natural healing ingredients.  Click here to make an investment in your health that pays off for years to come.

Technorati Tags: alternative health, gratitude, healthy, healthy foods, health conciousness, optimum health, holistic health, natural healing, healing, health food, cooking, healthy cooking, organic foods, organic, food, nutrition, natural cures, heart health