From the category archives:

Guides


How To Fight Pain And Inflammation Naturally

by Good Health Guide on May 26, 2009


If you have ever suffered from any type of ache or pain, you know that it can be life changing in many ways.
Many people are forced to abandon the sports and activities they love. For some, even simple everyday activities like getting out of bed and walking become near impossible. Go to Podlink Orthotics for more information.

Unfortunately, most doctors simply write prescription after prescription for drugs that have been proven to have side effects often worse than the pain they are supposed to be helping.
The good news is, nature has it’s own solution and pain is no different. In fact, the list of natural remedies that have been proven to provide safe and effective pain relief is long, but before I share with you these little-known natural healers, it’s important that you understand pain and what causes it.

What is Pain?

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong, much like a fever. And just like with a fever, most people simply mask the pain instead of dealing with the underlying cause of the problem.

In addition to dealing with the underlying cause, it’s important that you also deal with the inflammation. In fact, millions of people who suffer from various aches and pains like arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia and others do so because of chronic internal inflammation.

What is Inflammation and How Does It Cause Pain?

Inflammation is a response from your immune system in response to an irritant. For example, if you sprain your ankle, your immune system creates a protein called a Circulating Immune Complex (CIC for short). The CIC travels down to the injured ankle and causes pain and swelling.

The pain you feel is to inform you of the injury or damage. And the swelling is protective as it prevents you from moving it and causing more irritation. This is also your body’s way of running to the problem with fresh blood, antibodies and vital cells in order to begin healing and repairing the damage.

Then what normally happens is our bodies produce proteolytic enzymes which counteract the inflammation, and things return to normal. That’s why a sprained ankle as a young child heals within a few weeks at most, but can take six weeks or more for an adult of say 45. Refer to pain orthotics for more information.

The problem is, after around age 25, our production of these enzymes drops off almost completely so there is nothing to tell the body to stop the inflammation. These enzymes are also responsible for cleaning the blood, fighting off viral and bacterial infections and breaking down excess fibrin (scar tissue).

In addition to the decrease in production of proteolytic enzymes, there are also numerous other things that contribute to the build up of inflammation in our bodies.

Here is just a short list of factors that contribute to inflammation:

Unaddressed pain and injuries
Toxins and chemicals in our air, water and food
Poor nutritional habits
Bacterial or viral infections
Allergies
Prescription medications
Auto-immune diseases
Negative mental and emotional stress

Over time, inflammation continues to increase in our bodies causing damage to all of the tissues and organs, often without us even knowing it’s happening.

If inflammation is not controlled and the body continually fights this battle, symptoms of chronic inflammation can show itself as arthritis, colitis, chronic fatigue, sinusitis, cataracts, chronic pain, hair loss heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and dozens of other ailments and conditions.

Inflammation is what slowly kills us.
More and more research is coming out now that proves this. For example, here’s a quote from a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine: “there is convincing evidence that inflammation is strongly linked to heart attacks and stroke.”

And in another study published in The Annals of Neurology, the researchers concluded, “inflammation is linked to Alzheimer’s and other dementing diseases.” And a recent Harvard study found that “half of all heart attacks are caused by inflammation”.

We know that reducing inflammation is critical to eliminating pain and preventing disease and illness, but how do you do it safely and naturally? Visit Prefabricated orthotics for ball of foot pain for further information.

A guide to Fish Oil health supplements

by admin on September 21, 2008


fish oil supplements omega3

fish oil supplements omega3

Because the body is unable to produce omega-3 fatty acids, we have to get them from the foods we eat or from fish oil supplements. They’re important nutrients which help in many areas of health such as eye function, Men’s health, weight loss, cognition, mood, and behaviour, and they help to prevent heart disease, cancer, inflammation, Parkinson’s disease, and ADHD.

Ultra Refined Fish Oil

When looking for a good ultra refine fish oil capsule, you have to remember that it should contain at least a 60% EPA/DHA concentration. (EPA and DHA are good fatty acids.) However, you don’t have to bring a calculator to the store and figure it all out yourself. Just check the IFOS symbol.

Introducing IFOS

IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) was established because of the growing pollution concerns and the negative effects of mercury and PCBs on the marine food sources. The IFOS program, located in Guelph, Canada, is an independent, university-supported testing program which is a valuable aid in determining the health and safety of many fish oil supplements.

The IFOS Consumer Report makes it a relatively simple task to determine the true quality of any fish oil product. Below is an explanation of their 5 star ratings and the criteria needed for each level.

The 5-Star System Description

The 5-Star System Description is a means of rating the various fish oils available on the market. Each star is cumulative, meaning that a fish oil that scores four stars passes all the requirements for the first three stars as well. A Star is awarded for each of these five areas:

1 Star: All fish oils automatically get one star simply for being on the list, meaning that they’re not great but they have been tested and meet all CRN/WHO regulations.

2 Stars: These fish oils have passed the test of having the recommended 60% EPA/DHA concentration. Keep in mind that the higher the concentration, the less you need to take to get good results.

3 Stars: These oils have an oxidation level that is less than 75% of CRN standard. This means that the fish oil is fresh and unspoiled. It doesn’t take long for fish oils to go bad, and by making capsules and liquids, the manufacturing process increases this risk.

4 Stars: Fish oils that receive four stars have levels of PCBs that are less than 50% of CRN standard. PCBs are harmful, man-made pollutants that cause cancer and are very difficult to flush from your body.

5 Stars: Finally, fish oils with five stars have levels of Dioxin and Furan that are less than 50% of WHO standard. Dioxins and Furans are toxic chemicals that can cause a range of health problems from skin disorders to cancer.

{ 0 comments }

Natural Health Supplements and Vitamins – A buyers Guide

by admin on September 18, 2008


natural health supplements

Because health supplements are so commonly known about these days, more and more information is presented about them, and unfortunately, not all of it has been good. As with all commonly used, high demand products, many products are being improperly used, resulting in bad information about those products.

In order to meet your personal health goals, the bottom line is that you should include a natural vitamin supplement. To keep you from falling victim to the any of the misinformation presented about these, we have a few basic steps to help you make the right choices. This way you can enjoy the benefits of vitamin supplements without risking your health in the process.

These steps are as follows:

The first thing is research. Head to your local natural foods store, pharmacy, or grocery store and check out the different companies offering natural vitamins and supplements. It may help to take a pencil and pad to write down the names so that when you go home you can look them up and see for yourself if the companies are reputable or not. The key here is to buy supplements from the best company to ensure that you get the best quality supplements.

After that, it’s best to start simple and get a natural multivitamin, which will give you all the right doses of the vitamins and minerals you need each day all in one product. While individual vitamins are important later on, the best thing is that you start using the basic multivitamins so that you get their benefits right from the beginning.

Next, it’s time to do some more research to find out which natural vitamins fit your specific needs, bearing in mind your age, gender, activity level, and of course, your individual health needs. Depending on those needs, you might want to add calcium for stronger bones or St. John’s wort for mental health. Now you need to learn about healthy vitamin additions and how much of them you should take.

The best way to go about doing this is to talk to your family doctor. Since the medical field has begun to recognize how important natural vitamin supplements are, your doctor should have information on the latest supplements.

After you’ve done all of this, you will know which brands of natural supplements are best, which vitamins suit your specific needs, and how much of them you should take. The last thing you need to do is to figure out which vitamins you can afford on a monthly basis, but do bear in mind that the multivitamin supplement is the most important, so work up from there.

{ 0 comments }

A guide to Men’s health supplements - Part 2

by admin on September 17, 2008


Pantothenic acid works to keep the adrenal gland working properly. Zinc helps the prostrate function normally, aiding in testosterone production as well as sperm development. And niacin helps to keep the levels of cholesterol in the blood at a healthy minimum. In addition to these three nutrients, ginseng is yet another popular and useful nutrient in men’s health supplements, contributing to maintain good overall masculine functions.

As well as providing essential nutrients for the body, many health supplements claim to relieve stress and strengthen the body’s immune system. Combined with the nutrients listed above, some more common components of men’s health supplements include vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, copper, beta-carotene, and calcium. By combining men’s health supplements with a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise, men will be able to maintain their good health.

{ 0 comments }

A guide to Men’s health supplements - Part 1

by admin on September 16, 2008


heath supplements men

Because men are built differently from women, they have different health requirements. Generally speaking, the best way to stay in great shape is to regularly eat a healthy, balanced diet, exercise regularly, and to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle. Even so, men who do eat healthy, balanced meals are frequently lacking in many essential vitamins and minerals. This is where supplements come in. Health supplements are an excellent way for men to get all the nutrients their bodies need. The good news is that there are many varieties of health supplements designed specially for men to help with any health issues.

The huge variety of men’s health supplements may seem a bit daunting without doing the proper research, but a good tip to bear in mind is that a basic health supplement for men should contain vitamin A, zinc, and vitamin B6, as well as essential fatty acids and an amino acid complex for good overall health. Vitamin A contains many antioxidants that help fight free radicals (organic molecules responsible for aging and tissue damage) as well as helping to prevent cancer. In addition, it keeps the immune system strong and prevents blemishes by keeping the skin clean and clear. Older men need nutrients like pantothenic acid, niacin and zinc to stay healthy and alert.

{ 0 comments }

Welcome to My Health Supplements

by admin on September 15, 2008


healthy family lifestyle

A surprising number of people really don’t know what they’re putting into their bodies. They’re pressed for time so they don’t do the necessary research to find out what the body really needs to perform efficiently, and instead rely on the media and advertising to direct them when it comes to finding the right health supplements.

Many companies will try to sell vitamins and supplements, claiming that they’re healthy and sure to make you feel energized, but when it comes right down to it, it’s your responsibility to find out if you’re investing in something that’s going to improve your health or if you’re just throwing your money down the drain.

Follow our guidelines so you can be sure your body gets the nutrients it deserves for a fuller, healthier life.

{ 0 comments }