Natural Health Alternative Blog

If you are like me and my family and friends, you’ve all just enjoyed at least one day of merriment and fellowship with those you love this holiday season.

Additionally, you’ve also likely been tempted and even given into over indulging in eating. How often do we cook such a “spread?” Worse, if we aren’t cooking we are obliged to eat whatever “Aunt Sally” has labored over.

It’s also a fact that food isn’t the only problem we face in maintaining health. It’s such a busy and stressful time of year when trying to budget for presents, getting our kids to their extracurricular events and finishing up priorities at work.

Often times, these things take a toll on our health. Are you finding time to exercise each day? Are you remembering to visit your doctor and if he/she has prescribed medicine, have you remembered to take it?

“I can’t afford to be sick.” I hear this so often, but so many people these days really mean it. Whether people can’t afford the time to rest or the money they will miss by staying home to rest, the result is the same – it’s your personal health that suffers.

This is why I truly believe in creating a New Year’s resolution. I also encourage each and every one of you to make a resolution this year!

What I also encourage is a plan. Whether it’s quitting smoking, losing weight or exercising daily, the number one reason people fail at their resolution is that they DON’T MAKE A PLAN.

You don’t decide to take a cross-country trip and then just get in your car and go do you? For the logical person, the answer is “no.” We take our car in to the repair shop and get a health check, repairing any mechanical issues before we start our trip.

Additionally, we request time off from work and ensure our absence isn’t going to create issues for others. We pack accordingly to the weather, which we’ve been watching to ensure we have nice weather for our trip.

This is exactly what we need to do when we are attempting to improve our health. Yes, agreeing that a change is needed is a hugely important step but it’s not the only one. Practicality, while not as much fun, is just as important.

Also important is realizing that change is a process. If you slip and miss a day of exercise or over eat, you don’t have to quit your plan. It’s not ruined – go back over your plan and point out “lessons learned” to help ensure success down the road.

For many, losing weight, stopping snoring, and lowering blood pressure are great examples of New Year’s resolutions. They are important because each of these are considered “silent killers.” Most people don’t see or feel the adverse effects until permanent damage has been done.

Many others though, are currently living in pain. Whether its neck pain, headache and migraine, fibromyalgia, TMJ, acid reflux or vertigo, people with these conditions can’t help but be reminded (every day in some cases) that they have a health issue.

Many of you with these conditions have been told by professionals that it’s in your head (fibromyalgia usually gets this response) or that there is nothing to be done for the condition.

If there is something to be done it usually involves prescription medicines, which can have dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. Often times, these medicines don’t treat the condition or the cure is worse than the treatment due to the harsh side effects of the medicine.

This is why I am so proud of my programs. They are all natural – no pills to remember to take. They are easy to do breathing and relaxation exercises which provide, in most cases, near immediate relief. Client feedback from those who have been helped has been overwhelming!

I encourage you to explore my blog site today. There, you can find more detailed information on each of my programs (located on right side of page).

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“Eat your spinach so you can be strong like Popeye!” While still a child, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but now as an adult, I understand – my mother and the cartoon creator were part of a propaganda conspiracy towards children.

What I also didn’t realize then is just how amazing the health benefits of spinach are. Spinach is at the top of the super foods list for a reason.

Just take a look at all of the nutrients provided in spinach: vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, magnesium, manganese, Vitamin C, iron, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), potassium, calcium, vitamin E, dietary fiber, folic acid, carotenoids, lutein, omega 3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B3 (niacin), phosphorus, zinc and the list goes on!

Why are these important for health? Let’s start with vitamins A, C, folic acid, dietary fiber and magnesium. These nutrients have been long known for their abilities to ward off cancer, especially lung, breast and colon cancers.

Additionally, folic acid is also important in that it helps prevent a certain birth defect that happens during the first two weeks of pregnancy - before most women even realize they are pregnant. If one keeps in mind that half of all pregnancies are unplanned, this is especially important.

Vitamin A and C are also excellent antioxidants. They actually help prevent the ability of cholesterol to stick to artery walls, which allows for better blood and oxygen flow to the major organs including the heart and brain, thus preventing heart attacks and stroke.

Lutein in spinach has been found to help prevent cataracts. The riboflavin in spinach has shown promise in preventing migraine attacks. The calcium content in spinach is excellent for bone strength and has shown to help prevent against osteoporosis.

A recent study has shown that ingesting 3 servings of dark leafy greens like spinach (kale, collards, Swiss chard, turnip greens and bok choy are also nutrient rich like spinach) per day helped ward of age related memory loss and mental decline by up to 40%!

The iron in spinach is an excellent source for energy which can in turn lead to more physical activity, which can then lead to weight loss and improved muscle tone. At only 40 calories per cup (uncooked), and with more than twice the fiber than regular lettuce, this is a salad which will fill you up.

Unlike the Popeye cartoon, the best way to retrieve the nutrients in spinach is to consume it uncooked as with a spinach salad. Cooked spinach, however, is full of flavor and is quite versatile – it can easily be added to foods for extra taste and nutritional content.

It can be added to lasagna and other pasta dishes, soups and many other meals in order to easily help fulfill your daily dietary needs.

Spinach is great for heart and health but if you have specific concerns, I highly recommend both my High Blood Pressure program and my Weight Loss Breeze program. These programs are all natural, and easy to get started. Best of all, they work!

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As the favorite Christmas song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but is it? Don’t get me wrong, Most people love the holidays. It’s a chance to get together with families, exchange presents and eat like there’s no tomorrow.

The problem is that for many of these same people, the very things listed above can contribute to stress.

In fact, one recent study by a leading mental health group determined that the most commonly reported stressors during the holidays are concern over finances, memories and emotions concerning relatives who have died and having too many activities going on at once.

Also making the list were concerns over spending time with family, over indulging and concerns about being alone.

Of those who reported additional stress, people of color (specifically Latinos and Native Americans) and women reported the most stress. Parents, as compared to people with no children also reported more stress.

Many of my clients write to me asking me how to help reduce their stress level during the holidays. Many are helped just by recognizing what their stressors are but I was amazed by the number of people who know the stressor, e.g., spending time with family and still don’t know what to do.

For many, avoiding the stress simply isn’t an option. By avoiding family, for example, my clients felt that would create even more stress and tension and the damaging effects would be more long term.

All we have to do is get through the holidays, right? Wrong. Starting January 2, many people report feelings of depression, anxiety, feeling “down and even illness.

Why would this happen after the stressful event(s)? This is because stress, unmanaged, can take a huge toll on one’s mental AND physical health.

What can one do about managing stress? Number one is budget. This is a timely subject, given our current economic crisis. If saving extra for the holidays simply isn’t an option, consider cutting back and getting creative in gift ideas.

Don’t feel you have to purchase for everyone. Perhaps agree with your extended family and friends that you will do a gift swap or only purchase for the children. Many who are likely in a similar situation will be actually be relieved to hear you suggest this.

Don’t feel like you need to be responsible for everything. If you are hosting a meal, don’t be shy about requesting specific food items that others need to bring. Also, why not split up get-togethers so as not to burden one person or family with the responsibility.

Also important is to take time for you, even if only an hour a day. Go for a jog, do yoga, read a book or even take a bath. As long as you are focusing on only you - this is the key.

Attending a holiday gathering specifically for adults is also recommended. The holidays are already so focused on your children, don’t feel guilty about getting away from them for an evening and enjoying yourself as a couple or single.

I also highly recommend my all natural programs to treat a number of common but previously considered incurable conditions (located to the right of my blog page) to help in managing stress. The programs are easy to do but best of all, they work!

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Many of you have written to me telling me that you’ve been diagnosed with a certain circulatory disorder and you are wondering if my programs can help. Oftentimes, your diagnosis is ambiguous and treatment options are vague. Many of you don’t know why circulation is so important to the body.

The short answer is oxygen. The organs and tissues of the body need oxygen not only to survive but to perform optimally. Blood is the delivery system for oxygen. If that delivery system is blocked or slowed, the effects can be potentially life threatening - both initially and over time.

When referring to circulatory disorders, there are actually two different groups in which they fall: heart disorders (disorders consisting of the heart and/or its valves and arteries) and blood disorders (disorders affecting red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, enzymes and/or plasma).

The list of heart disorders is vast. Some of the more common types of heart disorders are: Heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, heart failure, congenital (from birth) defects, and heart muscle disease.

Symptoms of heart disorders can include: chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, poor circulation, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), tachycardia (pulse over 100 beats per minute) and bradycardia (pulse under 60 beats per minute), nausea, dizziness, numbness in limbs, fainting and perspiration.

Risk factors include: high blood pressure (although mentioned as a symptom above, chronic high blood pressure can, over time damage the heart and other major organs), high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, smoking, lack of physical activity, heredity, stress and excessive alcohol and/or drug use.

Just as there are many types of heart disorders, the same can be said for blood disorders. Some of the more common blood disorders include: reduced numbers of white blood cells (leucopenia and its associated diseases), a reduced number of red blood cells (various anemias), reduced platelets (thrombocytopenia and its associated diseases), too many red blood cells (polycythemia) or too many white blood cells.

Additionally, some blood disorders are due to insufficient or abnormal blood clotting.

Symptoms of blood disorders include: fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, fever, bruising, chest pain, irritability, numbness and/or coldness in hands and feet, headache, pale skin and excessive bleeding .

Causes of blood disorders include: vitamin deficiency, blood loss, certain chronic illnesses, genetic disorders, side effects of certain drugs, and cancers of the cells.

Because the list of symptoms for each type of circulatory disorder is so vast and they oftentimes overlap, it is important to see your doctor to verify your condition. For some of the circulatory disorders (especially the blood disorders), medication may have to be an option. This can be scary to many (including me) because all medications have side effects, many of them dangerous.

For other conditions, medication may be only one method of treatment and there are oftentimes, more natural methods of treatment, such as exercise, diet and/or getting your required amount of vitamins and minerals. The key is to insist that your doctor explain the benefits and potential complications of all therapies.

If weight loss is your issue and is contributing to other illnesses or disorders, I highly encourage you to try my all natural Weight Loss Breeze program. It’s also very effective to increase the oxygen level in the body. Additionally, if high or low blood pressure is your problem, please try my High Blood pressure program. The breathing and relaxation exercises are simple to do and best of all, effective!

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Would it surprise any of you to know that the number one fear among adults is public speaking? It’s true! To know just how great a fear this is, consider that people rank this fear above fear of maiming or even death.

The above is one example of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder is actually a blanket term to describe many types of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (example above), obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety and panic disorder.

With anxiety disorder, the sufferer experiences anxiety – the negative emotional state related to a perceived threat or uncontrollable situation and fear – the physiological and/or emotional response said threat.

One in ten people suffer from anxiety disorder with phobias – irrational fears or real or perceived threats being the most common.

For many, this condition is present in childhood, however for some, it is triggered in adulthood. The cause can be congenital (from birth) or environmental (emotional or physical trauma). This disorder is often worse during times of stress.

Symptoms include heart palpitations, sweating, difficulty breathing, nausea, diarrhea, trembling, persistent worry, headache, muscle tension, nervousness, restlessness, fatigue, exhaustion and over time, hypertension (high blood pressure). Many of these symptoms incorporate panic attacks which many think are heart attacks because of the similarity to heart attack symptoms.

Additionally, over sixty percent of anxiety disorder sufferers also suffer from depression. This is generally a combo effect. Persistent fear and anxiety can lead to a depressed state.

Many find their sleep patterns interrupted by anxiety – trouble sleeping due to constant worry or fear or more often, waking in the wee hours and being unable to return to sleep due to anxiety.

For many, the fear can be debilitating, interrupting day to day living. Many become shut-ins, trying desperately to control some aspect of his/her life.

Many often make it worse by not seeking help because they fear being labeled “crazy,” when in fact, these symptoms – no matter how unhealthy – are a way for the body/mind to attempt to deal with the anxiety and fear.

Many fear medications which are overwhelmingly prescribed by doctors as a quick fix. While these medications do work for some, they have side effects – many of them dangerous.

Over time, anxiety disorder is more than just troublesome to one’s mental state – it can also lead to health issues like high blood pressure, which can in turn, lead to heart disease, stroke and other health disorder.

Additionally, erectile dysfunction or ED is highly reported by men as a side effect of anxiety disorder for a couple of reasons. Some fear having a panic attack during sex. For others, the fear of achieving and/or maintaining an erection can cause panic.

These are only a couple of examples of conditions caused by anxiety. I would go so far as to say pretty much all diseases I’ve dealt with are partly caused by anxiety and part of the solution is to relax and gain inner peace.

If anxiety is affecting your blood pressure or causing ED, I highly recommend both my High Blood Pressure program and my Erectile Dysfunction program, respectively. They consist of easy to do breathing and relaxation exercises which have shown amazing results!

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I’ve been planning on writing this article for some time but I just keep losing interest. OK, just kidding. But how many of you want to achieve something big or small and just don’t seem to be able to get started?

I am a naturally high-energy person who, once an idea hits me, has trouble letting go of the idea until some sort of creation comes to fruition. Whether that be researching and writing an article, creating a new health program or taking a vacation.

I realize that I am on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to motivation. Many of my friends, family and clients, however, often experience a lack of motivation when it comes to achieving a dream no matter how big or small.

How many of you have wanted to complete that novel that’s been popping into your head for years? How many of you want to train for and complete a marathon? How many of you simply want to clean your house?

Have you ever sat down and tried to list the reasons why your motivation is so lacking? Let’s face it. Procrastination is easy and doesn’t need help in the excuse department.

Often times, we won’t do something positive just because it’s the right thing to do. We wait until we fear a negative impact of not doing the right thing. Let’s take something seemingly as easy as cleaning the house.

Isn’t it interesting how one’s house “suddenly” becomes dirty when we find out we’re having company? Or, even if we realize the house is in need of cleaning, motivation doesn’t strike until we learn of impending guests. Then, motivation comes on in a fury!

This can be applied to a healthy lifestyle. There are some of us who eat well, exercise regularly, get the proper amount of sleep and don’t drink to excess or do drugs, simply because we want to be healthy.

For many though, just like finishing that novel or taking out the trash, motivation to improve our health only comes when it becomes a necessity.

For example, it’s often not until one is diagnosed with high blood pressure and prescribed medication with awful side effects that one takes the initiative to exercise and eat better.

This can also be said of lifestyle induced health issues like type II diabetes, obesity, smoking related health issues and alcohol and drug related issues.

No matter how much we hear over the years that we are affecting our health by our negative choices, it’s not until we have been diagnosed with an actual problem that we seek to better our lives.

The best course of action is to make a plan for change, set a date and TELL someone. Having someone take an interest and ask you about your progress is highly motivating to stay on the path to good health.

I also encourage you to try one of my all natural programs such as my High Blood Pressure program or my Weight Loss Breeze program. The results are amazing! Make a plan and order today!

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