Raymond Francis, MIT graduate and expert in vitamin science explains sugar’s addictive qualities: “Animal studies show that regular consumption of sugar causes long-lasting changes in brain chemistry, similar to those caused by street drugs such as cocaine or heroin. These changes mean that even a single expo-sure to sweet, salty or fatty foods will change gene expression, stimulating opioids in the brain. These pleasure chemicals are addictive.” READ MORE

When winter comes, our skin needs some extra TLC. With its dry air, cold winds and lack of humidity, you may feel that you’re developing wrinkles quicker than the snow can fall. But I have a great recipe for what I call Kitchen Table Beauty that will not only exfoliate your skin but it will enrich it and keep it soft and hydrated.

These natural ingredients will help to slough off dry and dead skin cells while the oils of the seeds will lubricate parched winter-kissed skin. Regularly exfoliating your skin keeps your skin looking and feeling healthy and young. Exfoliating skin weekly offers many benefits such as improving your skin’s texture, unclogging pores, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, fighting off acne and getting rid of dead skin cells.
Winter Skin Exfoliator: READ MORE

Here are ten important behaviors you can apply now so that you’re prepared and ready to face the stress and challenges that may come your way this holiday season.

1. Take some time to reflect on what you learned, how you grew, what you accomplished. Begin to think about where you would like to be at the end of 2010.
2. Apply what you learned in exercise 1 and write your goals for New Year’s now. Don’t wait until December 30. Something magical happens when you physically write down your goals and dreams. It breathes life into your hopes and paves the way to make them a reality.
3. Speak powerful words: Don Miguel Ruiz mentions in his book, The Four Agreements, “Be impeccable with your words and use the power of your words in the direction of truth and love.” Even if you’re surrounded by ungrateful houseguests or overwhelming relatives, use the power of your words with positive intention.
READ MORE

Do you feel as though nobody has a clue as to what’s happening to your health and your body?

Chances are that you’re dealing with the effects of a fungus called Candida Albicans. Candida Albicans is the most frequent opportunistic and costly fungal infection in man. Research shows a link between diabetes, hypertension, and immune system suppression and the mechanisms that Candida uses to spread throughout the body. Some of the other conditions commonly associated with Candida include allergies, skin conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, sugar cravings, gas and bloating, acid reflux, headaches, arthritis, depression, irritability, exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, and sinus infections. READ MORE

Seaweeds are also one of Nature's most ancient beauty secrets. The Greeks said that Aphrodite, the goddess of love, rising out of the foaming sea, owed her supple skin, shiny hair, and sparkling eyes to the plants of the sea. Mineral salts in seaweed help the skin to hold moisture, so it becomes more supple and elastic.

Here’s the reason you need to start eating seaweeds today: READ MORE

“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.”
-Arabian Proverb

by Ellen Cutler DC

I believe that the most critical area that is overlooked when facing imbalances in the body, such as obesity, allergies, depression, etc., is that most people do not digest their food properly. Chronic health problems are the result of food allergies due to poor digestion.

Read the rest or post a comment >>

Here’s an insert of the interview I did with Raymond Francis in February, when we talked about toxins.

The most important thing of all is to eat a good diet and minimize the toxins in your life. If you do this, the cells will self repair, and that’s the most important thing of all. People don’t understand how it
all works, and that’s why I explain it very simply in Never Be Sick Again.

Each cell in your body is really a vast industrial park with thousands of factories, hundreds of power houses, warehouses, distribution centers, raw material delivery systems, waste disposal systems, computers, security systems, communication systems.

Every cell is a vast industrial park, and we’re all made of these little units of life called cells. We think of ourselves as a thing.

We’re not a thing. We all started life as one cell Read more

Soy may be heralded as a Super Food by some health experts but others in the wellness field believe that the Western version of soy is harmful to your health. My soy-bible is by Dianne Gregg, the author of The Dangers of Soy. She offers a comprehensive analysis over the controversy of soy – a must-read for anyone who is interested in their health.

In the past decade, health experts have praised soy for its potential ability to prevent heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers as well as minimizing some of the side effects of menopause. As a result of this news, our obsession with soy grew almost overnight as food manufactures were quick to jump on the soy bandwagon.

Today, soy can be found in almost any food from veggie burgers to snack crackers to baby formula. But according to Diane Gregg and author of The Hidden Dangers of Soy, soy may be doing us more harm than good. Gregg blames soy for almost taking her life after a very serious negative reaction to this purported Super Food.

Her book details her experience with soy as well as why too much soy can cause harm such as thyroid damage which may have been just what happened to her. Gregg was overweight as she entered into menopause. She started playing with her diet to see how nutrition was exacerbating or lessening her symptoms. After eliminating soy from her diet, she lost 30 pounds and her symptoms abated.

After spending years researching soy, Gregg now wants to share her story with you. In doing so, she provides you with solutions for how you can avoid soy in your diet including scrutinizing labels for soy names and cooking soy-free recipes.
In her book, Gregg will reveal:

• Why you should never feed your infant soy formula
• Why soy can be deadly to anyone with an unknown soy allergyThat soy is not a cure for heart disease; it is actually linked to cancer, infertility, osteoporosis, hair loss, menstrual problems, and heart disease
• That over-consumption of soy can lead to thyroid damage, which can lead to weight gain
• That soy is used as a cheap filler in food; it is not a health miracle or a wonder food.

The West’s fascination with soy as a Super Food came much in part to the low incidences of heart disease, cancers and diabetes in Asian countries. Researchers were able to find proof that the components in soy may offer a protective benefit to illness. But Gregg discusses how the Eastern version of soy is very different from the Western form which she considers toxic. It is the Western version of soy that according to Gregg, may be so harmful to your health.
If soy is a staple protein source in your diet, The Hidden Dangers of Soy is a must-read for you.