Salubrious Life

Eight Ways To Boost Your Immune System Naturally

It is that time of year when colds and flu can get the best of you.  Listed below are eight natural ways to boost your immune system so that you can stay well.

     1.  Vitamin C: Most studies show that vitamin C doesn't prevent colds, but if taken at the first sign of a cold it could shorten the duration by a day.  If you take a multivitamin and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily, you are probably already getting enough vitamin C.  If not, take a supplement at the first sign of a cold.  If you are not into supplements, then drink more fresh squeezed orange juice or eat half a grapefruit.  If you do take a supplement, don't take more than 400 milligrams.  If you take more, it will just wash out of your system.

     2.  Bitter Greens:  Bitter greens help relieve chest congestion, sniffles, and coughs.  Some research shows that they have antiviral effects as well.  So this winter have salads made with watercress and arugula. 

     3.  Whole Grain Cereals and Breads:  Whole grains are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E and zinc, which can help keep your immune system healthy.  The jury is still out on whether taking zinc lozenges or zinc nasal sprays ease cold symptoms.  Eating whole grain cereals and breads is always good.

     4.  Ginger Tea:  Ginger is loaded with virus fighting substances that can act directly against cold viruses.  Steep a tablespoon of fresh grated ginger in hot water for a few minutes.  If you don't have fresh ginger, use ginger tea.  If that is not available use a tea that has ginger in it.

     5.  Garlic:  Garlic is one of the most potent disease fighting foods.  If you can eat it raw, do so.  If that sends your taste buds running, cook the garlic with foods.  That will also do the job.  Have at least 2 servings of garlic per day.

     6.  Saline Nose Spray or Rinse:  Cold viruses gain entry by attaching themselves to a molecule on the nasal lining called ICAM-1.  An easy and simple way to reduce your ICAM-1 levels is to spray your nose with saline.  This could reduce the amount of time you suffer from a runny nose or congestion.  You can make your own saline nose spray by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm water or you can purchase a saline nose spray.  Spray or rinse your nose once or twice a day.

     7.  Avoid Exhaustive Workouts:  We all know that moderate exercise boosts your immune system.  But did you know that exhaustive workouts can suppress your immune system for 72 hours.  So if your are use to running marathons keep doing them, but if you aren't, stick with your usual workout routine during this time of year.

     8.  Be Quiet:  Stress can wreck havoc not just on your immune system but on everything including elevated blood pressure, headaches, backaches, and migraines, just to name a few.  When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, sit down, be quiet and just breathe.

For every Ying, we must have a Yang

In Chinese history, there is an important Daoist philosophy that asserts that in order to achieve harmony in the universe we must always have a composition of opposites.  Strong and weak, winter and summer, fast and slow, happy and sad are just a few examples of these opposing forces. 

Similarly, BALANCE in the Webster’s Dictionary is defined as “physical equilibrium” or “stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis.” 

We all aim for the “perfect” balance.  But what is a perfectly balance lifestyle?  If both Daoism and Webster are correct, and stability is produced by even distribution of weight on each side, wouldn’t an overall balanced lifestyle mean embracing even the times when we feel most off-kilter?  In other words, a more probable perfection is being absolutely complete with our imperfections, and to love our quirky random deviations that sometimes make us feel most temporarily off balance. 

We should be fortunate for the times when we feel most off kilter.  These are the times when we can greater appreciate the other side of the see-saw.  Both sides are equally important to living a harmonious lifestyle.

Consider this individual symphony:

Obsessively punctual, and flexible enough to wait

Conservative views, liberal career

Fast-talker, calm behavior

Lives presently, ponders potential

Peanut butter & jelly one day, sushi another

Sporty attire, loves the occasional high heel

Trusts everyone, but moves cautiously

A planner who loves spontaneity

There is no true “perfect” balance in life. Perhaps the perfect balance in life IS in fact the ability to embrace composure and content under our most seeming imperfect and imbalanced of times?

Too much self-confidence can be detrimental to your health

Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter

The world we live in says you are entitled to self-satisfaction, fulfillment and accomplishment. While there seems nothing wrong with having self-confidence or self-esteem how you build it could be detrimental to your physical and mental health if the boundaries of moderation are breached. Here's how, in lifestyle statements that cover the body, mind and spirit:

Body

"I'm lazy." Nobody ever said you have to remain active 24/7 of your time. But by claiming laziness, you justify not exercising, working, getting off your butt. Studies have shown that couch potatoes do end up as shapeless as potatoes themselves. More and more studies reveal that people who move less are more prone to illness than their more active counterparts.

"I'm starved." The stomach, if you study digestion, is hardly ever empty. Because the entire process takes anywhere from three to five hours, by the time snacks are served, your lunch is in still the final stages of digesting.

So when hunger pangs seize you, don't be dismayed. Eat something raw, like fruits and vegetables. This way, they get to occupy your tummy leaving less room for foods you normally crave for. Giving in to cravings may become a habit which could eventually become a lifestyle.

"I'm tired." When your body speaks to you, listen. Much like a traffic light, this message means a yellow warning. Slow down. Take it easy. Tiredness is only a signal to practice the three R's--relax, rest, recharge.

"I'm sick." Sickness is the stage you reach probably because you ignored the yellow signal. Definitely, you will need to stop all activity and have complete rest. At this time, detox yourself by rehydrating your system with liquids--water, coconut water as well as vegetable and fruit juices.

Mind

"I'm depressed." The rhythms and drives of your mind are connected to the brain, so closely linked that hormonal changes released by the brain directly affect your emotions. Before you declare yourself as depressed, study your pattern. Find out the stressors in your life that are causing it. Do some mind-body relaxation regimens like yoga, walking, swimming. Basically, exercise can stimulate your brain to release endorphins which can put you in a state of ease. Drink calming herbal teas. Have a massage. If all else fails, see a doctor.

Caution: There are some people who take pleasure in their pain and who enjoy misery. While this may only be an unconscious drive on their part, it pays to find a sympathetic ear who is aware of this pitfall.

"I'm a loser." The mind is a highly programmable computer. If constantly bombarded with negative thoughts such as this, it will eventually start believing it by triggering the self to fail in all aspects of living--relationships, career, health, finances and personal outlook.

Spirit

"I'm invincible." To adopt a stance of indestructibility places undue pressure and demands on the psyche. Since the fine line between spirit and mind is unclear and undefined, this statement could be interpreted as a state of mind. Telling yourself that nothing and no one can harm you may make you callous to realities like viruses, germs, bacteria, pollution, malnutrition, stress.

By thinking of invincibility, you may not take precaution nor gear yourself against illness. Just like in the case of a friend, a 50-year-old marathoner who took no supplements and would boast to friends that he never got sick. While he might have had a physically appealing physique, little did he know that one day he would collapse due to a heart attack. Apparently, his body was deprived of magnesium for so long. He has since recovered and is now living a more balanced lifestyle.

Daily invocation

The art of invoking positive thoughts and feelings is perfected by the heart but borne of the mind. Much like prayer, it seeks to receive blessings with gratitude. Invoke daily something good, whether big or small. And watch the days ahead unfold dramatically. Example: "Every day, blessings come my way."

Love and light!

Swim with Dolphins and Drop Your Prozac?

A new research study that offers a cure for depression depresses me.

Swimming with dolphins appears to be an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression, according to new U.K. research.

The randomized controlled study was conducted at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences in Honduras and involved outpatients recruited from the United States and Honduras from November 2002 thru December 2003.

A total of 30 people with mild or moderate depression were involved: Half of them were assigned to swim and snorkel with bottle-nose dolphins for an hour a day for two weeks. The rest also swam and snorkeled but not in the presence of dolphins.

All the study volunteers discontinued antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy at least four weeks before the start of the study and did not take any drugs during the study, the researchers said.

By the end of study, those people who swam with the dolphins had a greater average reduction in the severity of their depressive symptoms than those who did not. The findings appear in the Nov. 26 issue of the British Medical Journal.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized, single blind, controlled trial of animal facilitated therapy with dolphins. The natural setting itself is also an important factor that has to be considered in the treatment of emotional disorders. This is confirmed by other studies," the authors wrote in their study findings.

"The effects exerted by the animals were significantly greater than those of just the natural setting," they added. "The echolocation system, the aesthetic value, and the emotions raised by the interaction with dolphins may explain the mammal's healing properties."

This is not new thinking. In fact, there's a term for using Dolphins to assist humans and it's called DAT (Dolphin Assisted Therapy) One of the groups that is most dedicated to proving DAT as a medical treatment is the AquaThought Foundation.   Here people bring children with Autism, Adults with all kinds of issues - with the hopes that a swim with these wild creatures will cure them.

And what of the ethical question of disrupting the natural environment of these intelligent creatures in order to help humans?  Is there harm put to the animal?  Surely interaction between any species which is forced and un-natural can not be good for either.  Dolphins for their part are not the Flipper like characters we know from television. In the wild they can be aggressive and have been known to injure humans attempting to swim with them.  Why not?  I would.

Isn't this just another example of us exploiting nature to cure what we think ails us? 

Researchers conducting this survey make the point that "human health and well-being is dependent on the human connection with the natural world"   Valid. But would you not agree that we should not disrupt the natural world to gain that connection?

Oats – a natural next step in anti-ageing?

Beta glucan, an oat-derived fibre, can penetrate the skin and smooth out wrinkles. So says a new study that changes previous scientific thought and sets up the ingredient as a new natural tool to suppress the outward signs of ageing.

The break-through could have a big impact on skin care, since it sits comfortably at the point of convergence between two important trends: anti-ageing and natural products.

Beta-glucan, a soluble fibre derived from the cell walls of oat kernels, is most commonly used in food applications. Studies have indicated that, when ingested, it can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and glycemic response.

It does also have a history of use in topical applications, to provide relief from minor skin irritations, improve the appearance of skin and help wound healing.

Researchers from Symrise and Ceapro, a University of Alberta spin-off company set out to discover whether it really is the case that beta glucan cannot penetrate the skin, and to evaluate its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

The first part of the study, published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (vol. 27; issue 5; p 292), involved a single application of 5mg of 0.5 percent beta glucan per cm2 of abdominal skin. The beta-glucan contained a dye, so that its progress through the skin could be measured. The researchers found that it did, indeed penetrate the skin – a process described by author Dr Mark Redmond, president and CEO of Ceapro, as being similar to the way water penetrates a brick wall.

“It does not go through the brick, it goes through the concrete binding the bricks together," he said. "As a result of our study, we now know that glucan works through the inter-cellular lipid matrix, or the cells'

Next, a clinical study group of 27 subjects applied beta-glucan to fine lines and wrinkles on their faces over an eight-week period. Using digital image analysis of silicone replicas, they determined that there was a significant reduction of wrinkle depth and height, and that the skin was less rough.

There is evidence to support the use of oat beta-glucan in the “care and maintenance of healthy skin and the cosmetic treatment of the signs of aging”.

The findings mean that beta glucan could have a role as a non-invasive alternative to Botox, the popular treatment to smooth out wrinkles by injecting botchulism into the muscle. It is believed that some parties already have R&D underway in this area.

More than being useful solely in cosmetics settings, however, beta glucan gains practical, medical credence from the study, which supports its use to promote wound healing and reduce scaring after surgical procedures.

Cranberry added to Toothpaste Increases Protection From Tooth Decay

Cranberry compounds could be added to toothpaste or mouth rinse as a natural protective barrier against tooth decay, dental researchers have revealed today.

The researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center said that the same traits that make cranberry juice an effective weapon against bladder infections could also hold promise for protecting teeth against cavities.

Compounds found in cranberry juice make it difficult for bacteria to stick to tooth surfaces. “Stickiness is everything for the microbe Streptococcus mutans, which creates most cavities by eating sugars and then excreting acids that cause dental decay,” says the study.

The researchers found that cranberry juice disrupts the formation of glucans, the building blocks of plaque.

“Bacteria use enzymes known as glucosyltransferases to build dental plaque piece by piece, quickly forming a gunky fortress that covers the tooth and gives bacteria a safe haven to munch on sugar, thrive, and churn out acid. Cranberry juice prevents bacteria from forming plaque by inhibiting those enzymes and by stopping additional bacteria from glomming on to the ever-growing goo,” say the researchers.

The study, which is due to be published in the January 2006 issue of Caries Research, is funded by the Natioanl Institutes of Health through a special program designed to test the health-enhancing effects of cranberry.

Indeed, the ingredient is already widely used in food applications, and is currently one of the emerging plants in the cosmetic world, meeting consumers' demands for healthier and multi-functional ingredients in products. As an ingredient it has a distinctive pink hue and contains a number of naturally-derived active properties.

Cranberry in the Cosmetics World

For cosmetics applications the ingredient is likely to prove an excellent colorant for a variety of cosmetics products, including blushers, eye shadow and lipstick.

“The powder provides a rich red colour and importantly it is naturally derived, which is a key driving force behind marketing it for these kind of applications,” said Decas Botanical Synergies, which recently introduced NutriCran Organic, a 100 per cent organic cranberry powder.

Sourced in Canada and Lappland, Sweden, the berries have potent anti-oxidising properties due to high quantities of polyphenols toctrienols – a natural source of vitamin E. Likewise the cranberry seeds consist of a balance of omega 3 and Omega 6 unsaturated fatty acids, which is said to allow the restoration of the skin's protective barrier.

The ingredient is also likely to become a good option for formulators of anti-aging products. It falls in line with the drive to increase the percentage of natural or organically derived ingredients in cosmetics ingredients as well as the growing demand for ingredients with expectional antioxidants properties.

Antioxidants have been scientifically proven to help reduce physical signs of aging and as a consequence ingredients boasting strong antioxidant properties have become much sort after for anti-aging treatments.

A study conducted by the Clemson University in Southern California back in 2003 concluded that the antioxidant properties of berry fruits make them ideal for use in anti-aging treatments.

Peanut Butter & Jelly: A growing lunchtime concern

Growing up as an adolescent, I always looked forward to my peanut butter and jelly sandwich at lunchtime. I remember it so clearly: Mom packing my PP&J (or fluff) on Wonder bread (the kind that stuck to the roof of my mouth) along with an apple or banana, a granola bar or a cookie, a juice box or chocolate milk, and a napkin.  But the PP&J was definitely the staple in my lunchtime “carte du jour,” as it was for most of my cafeteria friends. 

Today, things have changed. Peanuts are a serious parental concern when deciding what foods to provide their children.  In fact, peanuts have been eliminated from many children’s diets because of allergies that have been associated with them.

The CEO of Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network stated that Peanut allergies alone doubled from 1997 to 2002.  Peanut products have been eliminated from many school cafeteria menus.  Further, more parents are taking the time to pack their children’s lunches due to the growing concern about what is being added to our food products today, grown with pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or genetic engineering.

Steve Taylor, a food scientist at the University of Nebraska's Food Allergy and Resource Program says, "No one knows why food allergies are becoming more severe and more common. Some, he said, attribute it to the "hygiene hypothesis" - the idea that Americans live too clean, and their immune systems are no longer developing tolerance to certain allergens."

SOMETHING in our food production has been altered in the last several years and is unclear which one, or all of them, have impacted the health of young children today.  Whether it is the added or altered ingredients to create a "low-carb" or "high protein" or "fat burning" or "sugar free substitute" food - something has created this sudden high number of children being affected by food allergies.

A recent CNN article states that more families are trying organic food or all natural foods to protect themselves from any unnatural or hazardous substances. It says that organic baby food has increased by 18% since last year.  When I was younger, I didn’t even have the education about organic food alternatives.  I also never had the modified/altered/genetically engineered/artificial options like potato chips, soda beverages, egg substitutes, etc to choose from either.  Hmmm…

Whole Foods wants "More Compassion" for its Lobsters

Does a Lobster feel?  This is always the argument at our house when we decide to do a good ole "East Coast Lobster cook-up". We've got folks with feet in both the "yes" and "no" camps.

Whole Foods Market must be in the "yes" camp.  The company announced that it is considering discontinuing the sale of live lobsters in its stores if its current procurement system cannot live up to "more compassionate standards." A task force will look at more humane handling and shipping methods, as well as tank conditions in-store, aiming to mimic conditions of a lobster's natural habitat. "We are viewing the lobster as a live creature rather than a commodity that deserves no concern," said CEO John Mackey. "Just because we sell lobsters and have customers who will buy them is not a compelling argument to maintain status quo."

Walmart Goes Soft on Shrimp

That Wal-Mart.  What a caring and giving organization. It isn't enough to ensure that men, women and children in China are employed, that our forests and green-space are thoughtfully replaced by gigantic faceless stores, that our men and women returning from Iraq get to keep their minimum wage jobs - now they want to support the shrimp industry of eight Gulf and South Atlantic States.  Where does the giving stop?

Wal-Mart announced it has begun to carry certified wild American shrimp in nearly 900 locations, in partnership with one of the largest suppliers, Penguin Frozen Foods. Wal-Mart also said it would be “devoting resources to raising public awareness about the nutritional and economic benefits of domestic, wild-caught shrimp…  that grows naturally, is caught fresh and that supports the shrimp industry of eight Gulf and South Atlantic states.”

I sure do hope that Shrimp don't feel..................................

Consumers Want to Combine Health and Wellness with Cosmetics

Beauty Starts From Within and consumers are increasingly opting for cosmetics products that combine beauty with health and wellness - according to a recent report by market researcher Euromonitor International.

As aging baby boomers seek to live long, healthy lives, they are looking for ‘balance and more holistic solutions, said the report.

Manufacturers have picked up on the trend, introducing new products that offer benefits beyond beauty, and even complete ‘wellness systems' that enhance health from the inside, such as vitamin supplements.

According to the report, dermatologists Dr NV Perricone and Dr Howard Murad started the trend by launching skin care and dietary supplement lines. The idea was then picked up by Avon and Procter & Gamble's Olay brand, which now offers vitamin supplements to “help consumers become beautiful from the inside out.”

Estée Lauder has merged skin care, aromatherapy and food, last year launching its Cocoa Therapy Collection. The line includes body care products with skin-beneficial components of cocoa, as well as edible chocolate bars with aromatherapeutic mood-enhancing properties. The company also signed an agreement with Dr Andrew Weil, a pioneer in integrative medicine, to co-develop a line of wellness products.

Another company offering ‘beauty chocolates' is cosmetics company Ecco Bella, which developed a Health by Chocolate organic bar infused with cranberry seed oil, blueberry extract, lutein, lycopene and fiber, all of which are supposed to be good for the skin.

Along with the increasing health trend, consumers are also opting for ‘natural' ingredients in cosmetics products, according to the report.

Demand for natural products has risen since 1999 as consumers seek “comfort and escape from a fast-paced, 24/7 high-tech world. Natural products hold an appeal of simplicity and a back-to-basics approach,” said Euromonitor.

“Natural product ingredients such as plant extracts, herbs, vitamins and food ingredients are more easily recognized by consumers than the abstract names of extracted essential elements, and are regarded as ‘safe,'” it added.

According to the report, Estée Lauder has been successful with the natural positioning of its Origins and Aveda brands.

Origins, which contains ‘natural' ingredients such as ginger, vitamins and aromatherapy oils, is targeted at consumers looking for a ‘wellness' solution by aiming for their mind and spirit.

Aveda, which also highlights its natural ingredients, pioneered much of the consumer interest in its natural products, and retains a loyal consumer following as a result, said the report.