What Will the Future Hold for Our Health

There is a wave of awareness growing at the grassroots level these days, questioning what used to be the standard way of living a healthier life. We saw people rejecting flu vaccines during last year’s swine flu pandemic. Then, there are those who are going the traditional route to find their own healing. One can only wonder about the future trend of our health. Here are some predictions that are already visible on the world wide web:

1. An Exodus to Natural Healing

People are becoming aware that they have a choice: To choose those that are naturally healthy. We can see more people appreciating and purchasing alternative medicine in the hope of getting away from chemicals, synthetics, and preservatives. The fear of what these substances do to the body is a driving force in this journey and we will surely see a rise in demand for organic and natural products.

2. Preventive Medicine

Bio-nutrition is proving that there is virtue to be had in ancient wisdom. As people are becoming more aware of what they eat and its effect on their health, the rise on dietary supplements is growing. Because of stress and poor lifestyle diets, foods are not enough to supply essential vitamins and nutrients to the body. The future focuses more on preventing disease than curing it. We can see more people living until their 100th birthday as Science discovers new ways of prolonging your health and your life.

3. Emergence of New Products

Centuries ago, no one even knew what superfoods are. Because there will be a huge demand for food as the population grows, we will see more of those GMO or genetically modified foods in the market. Superfoods, synthetic or not, will also rise in the market. Energy drinks will become the new soft drinks and nutrient bars will soon replace processed snacks. It may not be totally better to your health, but they may present a better alternative for the hungry populace.

4. A Surplus of Weight Loss Products

Today’s unhealthy lifestyle choices will be tomorrow’s health nightmare. In the US alone, almost half of the population are at risk for obesity and more adults are obese in more than 2/3 of the states. With the rise of people having problems with weight comes a surplus of miracle weight loss products we haven’t heard of before.

5. A Wellness-Centric Age

With life becoming more stressful each day, people will be forced to seek out relaxation like a Holy Grail. Businesses in the health and wellness industry will truly profit from this as people want to get away to relaxing place to pamper themselves. Today, wellness tourism is creating a buzz in developing nations that offer health retreat for less – from Ayurvedic treatments, spa, to a soothing massage.

Whether the future of our health goes well or awry in the years to come, always put yourself as No. 1 on your list. Without good health, you won’t be able to do anything else. As early as now, try to make a change and live a greener, healthier life that’s lived in gratitude, joy and peace. Live Well!

I am Grateful

Reality Check: We All Age and Die

Grim as it is, our biology dictates that we grow older with time’s passing, making us vulnerable to the signs of aging. Unhealthy lifestyle and choices today, on top of free radicals damage, have contributed to premature aging these days. One can only ask: Has the fountain of youth come of age?

16th Century: The Start of an Obsession

Did you know that there was an actual quest on the fountain of youth which started all these buzz? It started in the 16th century with a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León, first Governor of Puerto Rico. He went on his quest to a place we now call Florida, which the fountain has been frequently linked with.

Fountain of Youth: A Big Joke?

This may be the oldest joke in the books of those who have lived more than a century. What are their secrets? Is it something with the food they eat? Or, did they really find the holy grail of youth?

If you visit your local drugstore or cosmetics counter, you’ll be bombarded with plenty of anti-aging products promising to erase all those wrinkles and fine lines. We spend millions each year on these tonics, lotions, and creams. Sadly, it is our genetic makeup that dictates how we age and how long we will live. Lucky are those with good genes, making them look younger than what their actual age dictates.

Elixir of Youth: A Possibility in the Year 2012

Scientists claim that by the year 2012, their research on the anti-aging process will be complete, which means doubling the lifespan we have right now. Currently, medicines help people extend their lives, especially those with chronic diseases. Then, there were news of a super drink created by North Korea. This miracle potion can multiply a person’s brain cells and stop the skin aging process. The secret is a mix of micro-elements from 30 plant species.

The Art of Aging Gracefully

The first thing you need to do to feel younger is simply to think that you are. Positive thoughts help keep you happy, which makes your face look brighter and younger. Unless you’re turned into a vampire, there’s no such thing as physical immortality and the only way you can age gracefully is by choosing healthy. Eat the right foods, exercise daily, avoid bad habits, sleep well, and hydrate. Water is Your Body’s Elixir of Health!

Part 1 Staying Young – BBC Explorations

With a lawsuit filed by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund on people’s access to raw, healthy milk – many may feel like raising an eyebrow with these facts:

1. You have absolutely no right to any raw unprocessed food unless the FDA approves of it.

2. You have no right to good health, unless approved by the FDA.

3. You have no right, as an individual, to contract privately for your food.

Whatever happened to freedom of choice? Imagine yourself trying to buy raw milk in many major US states and ending up with handcuffs instead. Why is buying raw milk a crime these days? One can only guess or read between the lines. Is this a slow implementation of codex alimentarius? If this is, I’d rather store on my good old garlic as it can be under threat of being labeled as something illegal.

So, any food can be considered illegal if the FDA said so. Now it’s raw milk, what’s next? Maybe, your sweet, ripe tomatoes? If this is true, then freedom of choice is a myth for those who live in the United States. Since when did the FDA have the authority to tell us what we can and cannot eat? Or, feed our children?

The codex alimentarius is a masked propaganda and many are wary of its true intentions. Some have thought that this is backed up by selfish interests of many big pharmaceuticals out there who want to make money out of people’s misery. It’s all about control. Control the food source and you have the ultimate power in the world. The codex is also behind the increasing efforts in limiting people’s access to nutritional or alternative health products. Soon, vitamins and health supplements will be a thing of the past. Like this raucous on raw milk, we can only have access to medicines that are approved for us to take. Any new supplements will need to pass testing and have a seal of approval.

Having access to healthy foods is one of our fundamental basic human rights and for this right to be suppressed is an outrage. Worst, this fundamental right may not be protected under any current Constitutions ever written. Today it’s raw milk, and I can only wonder about those containing good bacteria like lactobacillus and acidophilus. What’s next..?

As early as now, make those healthy food choices… there might come a time when you’ll regret that you didn’t. Live Your Right!

( This post is solely the author’s opinion and not of this website )

Codex Alimentarius: Food Lies “They” Don’t Want You To Know

What Kinds of Perennial Vegetable You Can Grow:

1. Asparagus
2. Tree Collards
3. Rhubarb
4. French Sorrel
5. Artichoke
6. Bamboo Shoots
7. Bunching Onions
8. Garlic
9. Horseradish
10. Kale
11. Radicchio

Top 8 Reasons to Grow Organic Vegetables

1. Savings

You save money by growing your own vegetables, instead of buying them from a local grocery. Try to compute how much you spend on vegetables in a year so you know how much you’re saving.

2. Healthier

Growing your own means staying away from pesticides. This means you get more minerals and nutrients, not to mention tastier veggies. This is why chefs prefer organic vegetables.

3. Protection

By growing organic vegetables, you reduce your risk to pesticide-related sickness like cancer.

4. Prevents Soil Erosion

You have better protection from floods when you plant your own. As soil is the very foundation that holds all plant in place, planting vegetables can prevent topsoil from erosion.

5. Quality Water

By choosing to plant organic produce, you help reduce pesticide contamination from conventional farms using these chemicals. Majority of cancer-causing contaminants are found in drinking water.

6. Energy Conservation

More energy is needed in producing pesticides and fertilizers. When you plant your own, you are contributing to helping cut down the consumption of energy needed by these large-scale farm factories.

7. Biodiversity

Since many farm lands have been converted to cities, there’s little chance of harnessing nature’s biodiversity. By planting your own, you help sustain the richness of soil where these vegetables are planted.

8. Beauty

Planting vegetables in your own lawn helps beautify your community, serving as an inspiration for others to follow your lead.

Overall, having healthy choices will truly set the stage in the total transformation of how we are living in this synthetic age. It’s only right to bring back balance in our lives through natural means and what better way to start it than to grow our own greens. Grow Your Own!

Organic Gardening: How to Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden

Over 4,500 years ago, marijuana has been used for therapeutic purposes. In some countries, the use of this substance is legal. Still, there are major concerns against its abuse and the impact it can make on one’s respiratory system. Though there are no links between lung cancer and marijuana, smoking it can induce coughing and wheezing – which can be solved by using a vaporizer that boils these active substances into a fine mist.

What are the Possible Uses of Medical Marijuana?

This substance can be used for treating those who suffer:

1. Cancer – slowing down tumor growth
2. Seizures – due to marijuana being a strong muscle relaxant
3. Migraines – since more than 300,000 cases of it has been treated in California
4. Glaucoma – which made medicinal marijuana popular in documented cases
5. Multiple Sclerosis – stopping muscle spasms and other neurological problems
6. Tourette’s – helping slow down the ‘tics’
7. ADD or ADHD – making marijuana a perfect alternative for Ritalin, minus the negative side effects
8. Crohn’s Disease – helping relieve symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, or abdominal pain
9. Alzheimer’s Disease – prevents the cause of this disease from working its way into the brain
10. PMS – helps relieve cramps or discomfort experienced by women

What are the Health Risks of Using Marijuana?

According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, marijuana is:

1. An addictive drug that can have short-term and long-term negative effects
2. A drug that can induce memory loss, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor skills, decrease in muscle strength, increased heart rate, and anxiety
3. Involved in the rising number of emergency room cases ( from 1993 – 2000 )
4. A substance that can increase your risk to cancer-causing chemicals like someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes daily
5. A harmful drug containing more than 400 chemicals that you can also find in tobacco smoke
6. A drug that increases your risk to heart attack 5x higher than normal in just an hour of smoking it ( according to Harvard University Researchers )
7. A culprit behind a weakened immune system and higher risk to lung infections

Still, there are many who believe that using medicinal marijuana is a careful plan to legalize the use of this drug in the future. The issue is still a sensitive one and it will all depend upon an individual’s wise discretion whether to use one or not. There is also the issue of public safety when one is confronted with an intoxicated user. Overall, you need to stay away from anything illegal and if you are considering this treatment option, you really have to talk to your doctor and consider state laws. Make the Right Decision!

Medical Cannabis and it´s impact on Human Health – Medical Marijuana

Allergy Myths

When it comes to allergy, there is simply no guess-work. You must get your facts straight by checking out if you believe any of these myths:

1. Clean Space Means Zero Allergies

Like bacteria, small amounts of germs can help make your immune system grow stronger. You don’t have to vacuum everyday. Once or twice a week is fine so long as you have it come with a HEPA filter that traps pollen particles.

2. Moving to a New Location Will Cure Your Allergies

You may move to the state of Arizona to get rid of all those ragweed and maple trees that cause you allergy, but you may be exposed to new allergens in your new environment which can trigger another attack.

3. Hay Fever Comes from Hay

Just because the word may sound so, hay fever is neither a fever or something caused by hay. The term ‘hay fever’ is used for a combo of congested sinuses, difficulty breathing, runny nose, coughing and others that are caused by pollens, molds, or spores. This occurs during Spring, Summer, and Fall.

4. Getting Short-Haired Pets Reduce Your Allergy Risk

Hair or animal fur is not the real cause of the allergy, but the proteins that your pet’s skin or saliva produces. These animals lick their fur, which in turn carries those substances with it. If you really love having pets at your home without the allergy risk, try caring for reptiles, fishes, or amphibians instead.

5. Flowers are the No.1 Culprit

Don’t just blame your allergies to these lovely blooms. Unless you are a gardener or a florist, there’s nothing to fear from these colorful, fragrant variety.

6. It’s All in Your Head!

Correction: Allergy is a real medical condition. Just because you are sneezing like crazy with the sight of a rose doesn’t mean it’s all made up in your head. Your body’s immune system can be hyper-sensitive to foreign substances. Stress can even worsen your condition, so get plenty of rest and sleep each day.

7. My Kids Run the Chances of Getting My Allergy

Another myth. Allergy is not hereditary and it doesn’t run in the family. Remember that allergies are ‘triggered’ by external factors and that can be anything.

8. You Can Outgrow Your Allergy

Allergies are not like your dirty socks. You can avoid the symptoms, but you can’t outgrow it. The best way for you to make sure you don’t get an allergy attack is to ask your doctor for an allergy test and how you can prepare for another attack.

There are many more myths that people believe when it comes to allergy. Some believe that repeated exposure may make them immune. This may hold true for some. If you are using a nasal spray, you should not take it longer than three days so you won’t suffer a rebound, where your nasal congestion can get worse. Still, the best way to build up your immune system is by making healthy choices, doing regular exercises, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle habit – for LIFE!

Do you believe in any of these allergy myths mentioned? Please feel free to share your comments below.

Allergy Survival Guide

Going green is one action that can make a huge difference in millions of lives. By choosing to be eco-friendly, one also choose a better way of life – which means a better health. Many of the sicknesses today come from synthetic substances and pollution that poison the very air we breathe. If we only make smart choices, we can live our life to the max in a healthier way that will benefit every living and non-living things in this planet. The question now is: How Will You Do Your Share?

Ways to Go Green and Be Healthy

1. When shopping for items, carry your own bags. The ocean is now a huge plastic soup where fishes mistake those tiny plastic particles for food. In the end, we eat these fishes.

2. Use glass containers instead of plastics. Not only will you help save the environment, but you also save yourself from the harmful effects of Bisphenol-A, or BPA, a known hormone disruptor found in plastic products.

3. Walk or bike your way to work. The human body is designed for activity. Not only will you get a good exercise, but you also help reduce carbon emissions from driving a car.

4. Make your own meals, instead of buying processed foods. These are not only bad for your health, but the manufacture of processed foods require fossil fuels or energy to make.

5. Do you own a business? Instead of having your staff commute all the way to work, let them work-at-home and schedule meetings every now and then. Not only do you help them lead a more manageable and stress-free lives, but you also help reduce energy consumption.

6. Switch online – from eBooks, newsletters, to invoices. By going paperless, you don’t only save trees, but you also help reduce your risk to indoor pollutants like dusts and molds.

Living a healthy and eco-friendly living is a huge challenge for many of us who have been used to the ‘plastic’ way of things. We need to re-channel our perceptions and think of natural means of living a meaningful life while we can. By making that conscious change, you don’t only boost your health, but you also help save the planet. One Small Action Can Make a Big Difference…

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day: Give Earth a Hand

How to Save on Healthy Foods

1. Plan Ahead

Getting that bang for your bucks is easy if you plan your shopping list ahead of time. You need to organize and make that list. You have to stick to what you plan to buy too. This will help you avoid impulse shopping for foods you don’t need, and which are unhealthy for you.

2. Shop Quick

If you have a shopping list, there’s no reason for you to linger for 30 minutes in an aisle as you wonder what stuff you need to buy. Make sure to shop on a full stomach so you won’t be tempted to pick up foods that are high in calories and devoid of any nutritional value. If you can, use a basket instead of a cart so you won’t be tempted to pick up everything you see.

3. Know the Season

Produce that are in season costs cheaper than those that are not. You can also shop for organic produce in season from your local farmers, which can costs less than the ones in the supermarket.

4. Love Your Coupons

You may hate clipping discount coupons on your Sunday newspaper, but you may just enjoy those ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ deals. You can actually stock up on sale items that can give you plenty of savings.

5. Go Frozen, Dried, or Canned

If you are looking for a way to save on fresh vegetables and fruits, you can go for frozen, dried, or canned ones – which are great alternatives. They are less costly but are equally nutritious. These fruits or veggies are packed in their ripeness where most nutrients are abundant. You can just reseal the package and return it to your fridge. You can give your canned foods a fresh rinse every time you need it.

6. Save on Protein

There are plenty of alternative protein sources that are not as pricey as your chicken or beef. You can opt for vegetarian sources that are cheaper like beans, eggs, tofu, or legumes.

7. Recycle

You don’t have to throw away leftover foods all the time. Even those apple pulps from your juicer can be turned into a tasty dip. It’s all about imagination. Not only will you save on the cost of buying food, but you will also help reduce millions of food waste every year. You can search the web on easy-to-do recipes that can make a yummy deli out of last night’s dinner.

8. Choose Wisely

You don’t need to spend more on organic produce. All you have to do is choose which ones you have to buy organic. You can buy organic on those fruits and vegetables with thin skins like peppers and apples. These are more likely to be contaminated than those with thicker skins like oranges.

9. Buy in Bulk

You get more discounts if you buy foods in bulk regularly. You can check your local area for any cooperatives selling foods in bulk. You may store them at home or cut them into family size portions.

10. Go Green

If you have the luxury of having your own garden at home, it will save you a lot to plant your own produce. Not only will it be healthier for you and your family, but the joy of eating something you have worked hard on is a reward by itself.

Keep in mind that everything starts with having a healthy choice. By cutting out on high-calorie foods without any nutrition, you help yourself get closer to a better health. You don’t need all those extras that sends your grocery bills soaring high into the sky. All you need is be mindful of your servings and choose only those that are healthy. Be a Savvy Shopper!

How To Feed Your Family Healthy Meals on a Tight Budget:

Carelessness and being ignorant of what HIV is all about are the two main factors why one gets HIV. This can be transmitted through unprotected sex where one is exposed to a person’s blood, vaginal secretion, or semen; through transfusion of infected blood; through needle sharing; through organ transplant; or even during pregnancy. You can’t be infected with a simple kiss, hug, dance, or even a hand shake.

During the early stages of HIV, one can feel flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes. Even if you don’t have these symptoms, you may transmit the virus if you are infected. You may even be free of these symptoms even for nine years. Therefore, you need to get yourself an HIV test, just to make sure that you are AIDS-free and that you have protected sex at all times. At its latter stages, one can experience night sweats, fever of more than 38 C for several weeks, dry cough, shortness of breath, chronic diarrhea, white spots or lesions on your tongue and mouth, headaches, blurred vision, and weight loss… until you reach your demise.

Are There Natural Cures to HIV or AIDS?

Sadly, there is still no way to help scientists develop that ultimate vaccine and HIV remains a resilient enemy. The very problem with this disease is that at its early stage, the body doesn’t reproduce enough antibodies to combat the infection. Still, there are infected folks who relied on herbal remedies just for them to feel well when the symptoms occur. These are low-cost traditional cures that are easily accessible, namely:

1. Basil – which is used to treat mouth sores, nausea, and other digestive problems.
2. Calendula – which when prepared as a tea, helps heal infections of the upper digestive tract.
3. Cardamom – when added to food or made as a tea, helps relieve diarrhea.
4. Cayenne – stimulates the appetite and helps fight infection. This can be a natural energizer when added to juice or water.
5. Chamomile – as a tea, it helps eases digestion and provides relief for nausea.
6. Cinnamon – is great for stimulating the appetite, as well as fighting off colds or flu.
7. Garlic - is a great antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral herb. You can use it in food, take supplements, or make a tea out of garlic.
8. Turmeric – is great for digestion, as well as an antiseptic and antioxidant. You may use it in powdered form and mix it with your food.

These are not permanent cures, but they help you feel relieved when the symptoms occur. In the end, it is still important to get tested. Many hospitals and clinics offer privacy in the results of the tests. Your name may be given to health departments for tracking, but not to anyone else ( family, government, employer, insurance ) – unless you allow this data to be divulged. You may also choose many anonymous testing centers. But if your results turned out to be positive, you are likely to give your name to your doctor when you seek treatment. In the end, it is all about making smart decisions and healthy choices that will save you from acquiring this disease in the first place. Practice Safe Sex!

Possible HIV Cure?

1. Anticipate

If you are going to have a holiday meal, you need to anticipate a week before the very day. You can train your body with good exercise and a healthy diet. This will help you avoid binge eating on the very day of the feast.

2. Make It Small

Don’t we all love those fancy chocolate eggs? When a 100g Easter egg milk chocolate means eating over 500 calories, you may want to make it smaller. If you can go for pure, organic dark chocolates – it would be much healthier. Think of all those antioxidants that come with every bite. Wrap these eggs nicely since unwrapping them will help you eat less.

3. Serve Healthy

There are plenty of healthier and lighter Easter recipes on the web that pack a few calories without sacrificing taste. Serve lean meats like fish, roast chicken, or beef. Instead of deep frying, do some grilling, poaching, or baking. You can also try plenty of vegetarian and exotic recipes that are good for the body. You can wow your guests when they learn you are serving them healthy dishes.

4. Mix and Match

Learn how to balance the foods that you will eat. You can indulge as long as you remember to cut back on your meal portions. Try nibbling on unsalted buts, fresh fruits, or low fat yogurt for a change. It’s all about the art of food presentation!

5. Take a Walk

What can be better than enjoying the Easter with a walk outside the beautiful Spring weather. You can run in the mornings or take brisk walks at night. Instead of having a lavish festivity, why not try giving your home a nice polish? Cleaning your home can definitely help you sweat out all those unwanted calories. It’s a nice way to start the Easter holiday.

At the end of the day, it is all about healthy choices that count. It is definitely tough to have that discipline to live a healthier life, but when you do, it is a reward greater than what your money can buy. Happy Easter!!!

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~S.D. Gordon

Easter Potluck Dinner on The Food Channel