Saturday, February 28, 2009

Choose the Best Colon Cleanse Method for You

By Ann Triune

Choosing the best colon cleanse method depends on the person who is going to undergo it. Colon cleansing is important for a healthier body. The colon functions during digestion by absorbing nutrients and water from what we eat and drink, and then eliminating the unnecessary waste.

A colon cleanse is needed to not only to maintain a healthy colon but also a healthier body. This process is also a detoxification method that will tackle the problem of harmful toxins in the body. In detoxification, the toxins are eliminated, neutralized or transformed. It is important to deal with toxins because too much of the in the body can cause health issues. Toxins are easily acquired from our day-to-day activities.

Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

An unhealthy colon may affect not only the digestive system but also the other parts of the body as well as the bodily functions. Below is a list of symptoms that may mean that you need to get your colon cleansed.

Allergies Anemia Arthritis - Rheumatism Bad Breath- Body Odor Bloating Brain fog (hard time concentrating) Colds and flu Colitis/Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Colon and other cancers Constipation, diarrhea, gas Crohn's disease Depression, irritability Digestive problems Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis Fatigue Fibroids - Endometriosis Flatulence/gas Frequent Infections Headaches Hemorrhoids Infertility Insomnia Leaky Gut Syndrome Low Sex Drive Lower back pain Menstrual Irregularities Neck and shoulder pain Pain in lower stomach (especially left side) PMS Skin problems (blemishes, eczema, etc.) Sluggishness Ulcerative colitis

Choosing the Best Colon Cleanse Method

There are many different kinds of colon cleansing methods available to us today. These methods have benefits and disadvantage alike. Some may be safer than others but not that effective. Others may be cheaper but may cause allrgic reactions to you. It is important to choose a method that you are comfortable with. It would also be a good idea to talk to yur doctor before starting any kind of detoxification regimen to fully understand what you are getting yourself into. Below are the 5 most common methods of cleansing the colon.

1. Colon Hydrotherapy (Colonic Irrigation or Colenema)

This method should only be performed by a liscenced colonic hydro therapist. In colon hydrotherapy, a tube made of plastic is inserted in your anus and filtered warm water is slowly allowed to flow in through the tube. This process may be uncomfortable as it is very invasive. This method can succesfully clean the large intestine.

2. Enemas

This method is a kind of colon hydrotherapy. Enemas are usually done to treat constipation because it effectively loosens the build-up of fecal matter in the lower intestine. A tube is inserted in the anus to let in an enema solution. Although enema solution is usually just water, there are other solutions (for different purposes) available today. There are solutions like a Yoghurt Enema, Coffee Enema and Herbal Enema.

3. Laxatives

Laxatives are usually recommended for people who are suffering from temporary constipation. They (laxatives) are orally ingested and work by softening the stool and causing contractions to enable a bowel movement. It just basically clears the bowel but does not eliminate any build-up in the colon.

4. Herbal Colon Cleansers

Herbal colon cleansers are able to clean the colon but are less effective than other colon cleansing products. They are safe to use because only natural ingredients are used. This method is also inexpensive as compared to the other methods.

5. Oxygen-based Colon Cleansers

These types of cleansers are more effective than the other kinds of colon cleansers. An oxygen-based cleanser is able to melt the build-up in the colon and the intestines and turn them into liquid or gas for easy elimination. Some of these kinds of products come in pill form for easier use.

The best colon cleanse method need not only be comprised of one, but may be a combination of two kinds of colon cleansing methods. You can also help make whatever method you choose more effective by making healthy lifestyle changes.

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Signs of Depression. Understanding What Is And What Is Not

By Dr. Arturo Ovies

These are the typical symptoms of depression are:

Constant feelings of pessimism and hopelessness

Sad or Anxious Moods which persist for days

Constant feelings of being incapable and of worthlessness

Major difficulty in concentrating and remembering

Complete loss of interest in hobbies and activities previously enjoyed

Low levels of energy; sense of fatigue

Extreme scenarios of sleep - either very little sleep or oversleeping

Decrease in appetite leading to weight loss

Increase in eating leading to weight gain

Entertaining thoughts of suicide

It is not easy for people with depression to shake off their feelings of sadness and misery. They have to be treated with medication and therapy to help them overcome these overwhelming feelings. I know what it feels like since I have been dealing with depression for most of my adult life. This is generally the first of the many signs of depression.

Depression is a very complex emotional problem and it has not been easy finding the exact causes of it. However, with the help of years of research, it is being argued that the following factors could have a role to play in a person succumbing to depression.

Genetic Factors

It has been found that depression is often inherited. This has led to more research into genetics and what role that has to play in the transmitting of any depression from generation to generation. This however is not uniformly true, adding to the complexity of the problem. Researchers therefore conclude that it is more likely that a person may suffer from depression if any other family member is already suffering from it. However, even if there have been no instances of depression in the family, it does not mean that you will not suffer from it.

Psychological Predisposition

Some persons may be more vulnerable to depression than others. Scientists think that if people already have a certain predisposition for negativity, for instance, like persons who have very low self-esteem, a constantly pessimistic outlook or a persistently negative attitude, those people may be more likely than others to suffer from depression. Also, some are more likely to feel overwhelmed by situations of stress and anxiety, which may also lead to depression.

Physical Factors

Many doctors have noticed a correlation between physical illness and depression. Those that suffer from a heart attack or stroke, Parkinson's disease, and other hormonal disorders seem to be more likely to exhibit signs of depression. The recovery from a physical illness is often hindered by depression, and often the depression remains even after the physical ailment is resolved.

Environmental Stresses

There is not believed to be any direct link between negative events occurring in one's life and the occurrence of depression in a person. However, there is general agreement that certain environmental factors and circumstances will play a role in how the person responds emotionally to the negative events. Death, divorce, loss of a job, financial insecurity all can potentially cause depression in a person.

It is very important to stress how deeply depression can impact a person's life.

Every positive feeling is dampened, being replaced by negative thoughts. The person can no longer feel happy or content or enthusiastic even about the most positive developments in his life. Continuing to do normal routine work becomes difficult and the person finds it extremely tough to get through even one day's work. Most of the times, the person does not even realize that he is going through these extreme phases and it is up to the family and friends to try and recognize depression in their loved one.

In my case were friends who had noticed some of the noticeable signs of depression and they brought it to my attention.

With effort and help you can overcome many of the signs of depression, it is not a "walk on the park" but doable.

You deserve a better life, so please seek help for your depression.

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

How Do Ceramic Water Filters Work? Are They Good Water Filters?

By Peter Abertoning

Why would anyone consider filtering water? Isn't our tap water good enough to drink? Sadly no, and so many people are turning to water purification using such water filtration systems as ceramic water filters and other water filtration methods.

Believe it or not there are up to 2100 toxic chemicals in our tap and drinking water according to the Ralph Nader Institure with stuff like heavy metals, lead, PCBs, pesticides, drugs like antibiotics and much more than that.

How does a ceramic drinking water filter work? It works by forcing water through tiny holes so that contaminants with molecule sizes bigger than the molecule size of water are filtered out. The tiny hole is created by using a filtering substance made of what is called Diatomaceous Earth. This is a substance made up of huge numbers of tiny fossilised shells from millions of years ago. It is manufactured into the filter mechanism of what is known as a ceramic filter.

It works because it produces tiny tiny holes that the water is forced through.

But this doesn't remove all contaminants. One that isn't removed is bacteria, so colloidal silver is also added to the filter to remove the bacteria.

Ceramic water filters have been around for over 100 years.

Are ceramic water filters the best water purification method? Just because they're old doesn't mean they're the best. And if you're worried about drinking tap water that is contaminated with hundreds of different you want the best.

The good news is that modern water filtration systems are extremely effective, and produce extremely clean water, cleaner than water that you would find in any naturally occurring water source in the world, and much cleaner than bottled water, (which isn't very clean at all).

Unfortunately there are some problems with ceramic water filtration. They are good drinking water filters, but not the best. Here's the problems.

The big issue is that you won't filter out chlorine with a ceramic filter. And although we need chlorine in our water you really don't need to be drinking chlorine, so you need to filter it out. The best water filters will remove 99.9% of chlorine and that's what you want. A ceramic filter won't filter chlorine.

Hairline cracks can also develop in ceramic filters and is this happens you can find that contaminants can get through without you knowing it. So you think your drinking water is clean and it isn't.

And there is one more problem. The FTC isn't happy with using colloidal silver to filter bacteria, it doesn't believe that this works sufficiently well.

So ceramic filters can be good, but modern water filtering technology can be better than a ceramic filter. And you need to clean them regularly or else they block up and don't work.

And there are some excellent water filtering options out there now, which will remove just about everything you need removed from your water.

But if you've got a ceramic filter it's way better than drinking tap water.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

How To Make Money Working From Home

By John Mann

Working from home is one of the most amazing experiences a person can have. You get to work when you want, be in charge of yourself, set your fate, and become independently wealthy.

It's important that you really enjoy the work that you do and with so many different businesses that you can run from home, why not select one that gets you excited every day?

If you keep reading you will learn how to select the best work from home opportunities to get you off your feet and allow you to tell your boss 'goodbye'!

What are you interested in? Its important to look inside yourself and think about what motivates you. What kind of opportunities get you excited? What do you do in your spare time? What could you do all day and not consider it to be work? These are the kinds of opportunities that you want to seek out for your work from home business.

What are you skills? Do you have a certain set of skills that nobody else has? If you can use your skills in your business then you will have a much greater chance of rising to the top. You can still start from scratch in a different industry but why not make it easier for yourself to launch?

How much time can you commit to it? Even though youre going to be your own boss and set your own hours, you will need to actually do some work! How many hours can you commit to in order to start the business? Some work from home opportunities require more time than others to get started so be sure to pick one that fits the schedule you have.

What are your income expectations? Not every business will make the same amount of money so you need to start researching to find out which businesses will return a profit to you and how much you can expect to earn. Talk to people who are running the same business idea right now and make sure they are happy and successful.

Can I step away from the business? A business that requires your constant attention is not going to be a great business for you. Can you create systems that can put the business on autopilot and you can use that extra time to generate more growth for your company as well as spend more time with friends, family, and enjoying the fruits of life?

It's time to get going! You'll never achieve anything by staying home and doing nothing so the best thing you can do is get moving right now! You'll have many different opportunities to run a home based business and there is no one perfect fit for all entrepreneurs. You'll never know until you get out there and start trying! Is it worth a few hours of research to help build the life you've always wanted?

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Variety and your Vegetarian Diet

By George B. Siba

A vegetarian diet includes grains, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, herbs, nuts, and seeds. It is important to keep your vegetarian diet filled with a mixture of diverse, and nutrient rich foods. With some creativity, and planning, you will be amazed how much variety you can enjoy.

Nuts and seeds are a good place to get high quality protein. I only like to eat them whole, halved, sliced, pured, ground into flour, chopped, toasted, roasted or raw. Cashews, Brazil nuts peanuts, walnuts, almonds are some of my favorites. Sunflower and sesame seeds are outstanding for sprinkling over salads and other vegetable dishes.

A good substitute for meat in dishes like casseroles is beans. Beans have many health benefits, and they should be eaten often. Some of my favorite beans are kidney beans, split peas, haricot, red, green or brown lentils, black beans, and chickpeas.

Some of my favorite ways of eating beans are refried beans and guacamole, baked beans with cranberry sauce, beans with collard greens, just about any beans with butternut squash, and beans with green chilies. My crock pot just about always has something cooking with beans.

Beans, peas, lentils and other dried legumes need to be eaten with grains such as rice, barley or wheat, which also contain protein, because only together do they contain all the essential amino acids that are found in meat and other animal products.

Soy beans are special among beans in containing all the essential amino acids without the addition of grains. Soy beans products are important for that reason. There are many ways to eat soy. There is soy milk, yoghurt, cheeses, tofu and soy meat substitutes.

One way to add variety is to explore ethnic vegetarian dishes. Mexican, Italian, Caribbean, Greek, Cajun and especially Indian all have many vegetarian recipes. Many of the meat dishes can still be cooked with only slight variations. Pasta with tomato sauce, bean burritos, tacos, tostadas, pizza, beans and rice, bagels, baked potatoes, vegetable soups, whole grain bread and muffins, sandwiches, macaroni, stir-fry, salads, veggie burgers with French fries, breakfast cereals, pancakes, and waffles are a few of my favorite dishes that are great without meat.

Many grocery store freezer sections carry a collection of meat substitutes such as veggie bacon, hot dogs, burgers, and breakfast sausages.

Dairy products can be replaced with soy milk, soy margarine, and soy yogurts, which you can find in health food or Oriental food stores. Nut and rice milks can be made by blending nuts or cooked rice with water, blinding and straining.

Vegetarian diets are low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and full of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants and lots of goodness. There have been many studies that show that vegetarian diets have significant benefits and can help prevent certain horrible diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Be Warned- There is Bad advice on how to Cure a Yeast Infection

By Jenny Moore

With over 75% of women suffering from a vaginal yeast infection at some time in their life, you would think that there would be a general consensus about the best way to treat a yeast infection. However, the fact of the matter is, many of us struggle to find a suitable long-term cure for yeast infections.

We spend too much time visiting the doctors office and the drug store to try to find natural cures for yeast infections. We realize that the conventional treatments used to fight yeast infections only give temporary relief from symptoms without getting to the root of the problem. Natural cures for yeast infections promise relief where we can live a yeast free existence on a permanent basis.

Thankfully we know from years of trial and error that many of these natural cures for yeast infection turn out to be quite successful and in some cases live up to their aim of a cure. The idea is to use a holistic approach when using natural treatments in order to attack the infection from several angles. Some people may change their diet or implement herbal remedies in hopes that this is all that is needed.

If you would like to take a more natural route with your treatment, then it is helpful if you can find someone experienced in tackling yeast infections with natural cures. Someone with the required credentials will help you gain a deeper understanding of what is required and you will find that you will have a greater chance of success.

Are you feeling bad? Do you have every day aches and pains that you believe most of us have to deal with as we get older? You could possibly be suffering from the symptoms of yeast infections! If you think that yeast infections are nothing more then those nasty rashes and smelly odors you have heard about, think again. The reality is that over 75% of us will have to deal with some form of a yeast infection in our lifetimes, and many of those will show up in ways that have nothing to do with the usual signs.

If you ignore these signs, you can run the risk of more serious problems if the bacteria have the opportunity to mutate. When this happens, the disease becomes much more difficult to treat. You need to avoid this at all costs!

The actual medical term for this is a serious yeast infection. If you were expecting a fancier sounding, medical term, I was too. Don't let the simple name fool you. This really is a serious problem if it gets to this stage. It's a good thing medical science isn't perfect, because there are ways to get rid of a serious yeast infection for good, in spite of what they might say.

You can most definately wipe out your yeast infection problems permanently! If your symptoms are still minor or if they are more serious, I can recommend the right plan of action. I've discovered a number of long lost methods for getting rid of the problem for good.

Be Warned- there is some Good advice and some Very Bad advice on the Internet. Some internet remedies recommend using Boric acid. This toxic substance is a POISON and has caused deaths. It has no place in anyone's home much less inside you!

I can explain what works, what is safe and what is effective in treating yeast infection. I will point out the dangers of other recommended treatments. GOOD Advice is hard to find, but look for some one who has done their research, can prove it, and will stand behind their recommendations. The good news is you have found it!

I can tell you honestly that there is a Safe and Effective, All-Natural way to treat yeast infection. I will show you how to SAFELY rid yourself of yeast infection without the use of drugs. Permanately!

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Natural Remedies For Constipation

By Julieanne van Zyl

Constipation natural remedies are good because one of the most common. widespread digestive complaints in the United States is constipation. This may be attributed to the conventional Western diet. Common to most individuals in the U.S., it is often high in fats and processed foods and low in natural fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

The natural rate of recurrence of bowel motions will vary from individual to individual and also from day to day. One person will have bowel movements once or more per day while others may not have them anymore than 3 times a week. Constipation is defined, not by the number of times a person has a bowel movement, but rather by the consistency of the stool when it is passed.

Although it will affect anyone, constipation is more common in women and in older folks. Pregnant women, those who have just given birth, or anyone who has just had surgery will also be proclivity to develop constipation. Medications such as pain relievers or some physical conditions such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries will also place folks in a higher risk group.

Medications that can be used to increase the number of stools as well as improve the consistency of the stool, are readily available, but natural remedies are most recommended for improving this particular condition. Constipation is explained as a condition in which stools are hard and spherical and difficult to pass. The sufferer often feels distended or of not having completely emptied their bowels. It can be a very horrible feeling and really ruin your day.

If you propose using anything other than a natural remedy to improve your condition you should ensure that you really are constipated. TV ads inundate us daily, pushing us to use their products and laxative laboratories push their products vigorously. Sometimes this publicity can persuade individuals to believe they are constipated when in fact they are not. Always remember, using natural remedies for constipation will not negatively impact on your health. In fact, using these natural methods will only improve your overall health.

One of the first things to do, if you think you may be constipated, is to increase your fluid intake. The stools stay soft according to the amount of water left in the stool. A dehydrated body will pull as much water as possible from the stool in order to help maintain hydration in the body. A minimum of 6 to 8 glasses of liquid a day should be a part of every adult's diet. While almost any fluid will do the trick the most recommended one is water. Fluids that contain caffeine however will do more to dehydrate than to improve your condition.

The conventional Western diet invariably does not provide enough fiber. The American Dietetic association recommend 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day per each adult. It's not difficult to consume those 30 grams per day if you look carefully at your diet. One small apple is 3 grams and half a cup of green peas is 5 grams, or a bowl of bran cereal can give you as much as 13 grams. However the fiber heavyweights are cooked dried beans, nuts, oatmeal , prunes, figs, raisins.. Another good source of fiber is the mangosteen fruit or if you cannot buy the fruit, mangosteen juice.

Regular exercise is of huge benefit in the maintenance of a healthy bowel. Regular exercise will help to alleviate constipation because the continued movement helps the peristalsis in the lower intestines. Peristalsis is the motion, or movement, of the intestines that pushes the stool through to the rectum. While any form of exercise is of benefit, walking appears to be the best and is especially useful for pregnant women who face constipation as their babies develop.

We can also train ourselves to go to the toilet. We tend to choose to go when it's convenient for us to go. However, habitually prolonging the urge to go, can lead ultimately to constipation. It is never, never too late to improve your bowel habits. A gastric reflex which is activated approximately 20 minutes after each meal, especially heavy meals, will subtly send a signal. So choose a meal, any meal, and every day after that meal go to the bathroom and sit on the toilet for at least 10 minutes. Wait for 20 to 30 minutes following that meal before going. It won't be long before you will begin to create the habit of evacuating at the same time every day.

Should these dietary and lifestyle changes be unsuccessful, individuals may choose to add a little help. Eating a half a cup of sunflower seeds every day will help to increase the fiber. They are tasty and will help move the stool along. Bran and even oatmeal, horseradish, dried figs and plums will help the problem.

A condition in which the pelvic floor muscles don't work properly is known as pelvic floor dysfunction and this does not allow the bowels to empty properly. It is sometimes the cause of constipation in individuals. Biofeedback therapy helps teach those individuals how to coordinate the muscles and it improves the ability to go to the toilet.. Although biofeedback has only recently been explored as a treatment, the results appear to be promising. For example, after six months of biofeedback sessions, 43 of 54 biofeedback patients found them more effective than laxatives. Benefits appeared to last for at least two years.

Prolonged constipation will ultimately lead to the development of hemorrhoids and anal fissures, which are not only painful but can also exacerbate the constipation. They do this by narrowing the opening and not allowing as much stool through with each evacuation. Straining can also raise blood pressure and lower the heart rate which can result in elderly patients blacking out and falling off the toilet.

If these methods are not successful in alleviating your constipation and its related problems you should seek the care and advice of your primary care physician or health care practitioner.

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