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“Although irresponsible sunbathing is unquestionably harmful and precautions need to be taken, regular, moderate, unprotected sun exposure is essential for good health. It is free, easy to get and good for you when used intelligently. It is the only reliable way to generate Vitamin D in your own body, which we now know to be an essential ingredient for optimizing health and preventing disease.?”

This quote comes from an article on Vitamin D Deficiency by Frank Lipman, MD, guest columnist on Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog, GOOP.com.

The GOOP scoop is this: our favorite extremely health conscious, fair-skinned actress has been diagnosed with osteopenia, a precursor to osteoperosis, because of very low levels of Vitamin D. She’s avoided the sun for ages, following the general wisdom like many of us, but it turns out this was not very good advice.

Vitamin D is incredibly important. New studies show that some 15-20 minutes every few days should be spent in bright sun without sunscreen or cover. Huh? We were as confused as Gwyneth when these studies came out. But science marches on, and we don’t want to be left behind, developing bone disease, heart disease and low fertility rates. Now that we know, we’re ready to start making some Vitamin D, and you should be, too.

Check out the GOOP article for more information here.

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Laughing makes you healthier and happier. You might think the happier part should come first, and sure, that helps, but laughter actually prepares the body for happiness.

“When you start laughing, your chemistry changes, your physiology changes, your chances to experience happiness are much greater,” says Madan Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, India, and the founder of and chief proselytizer for Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga is a movement that started in 1995 and has fostered some 5,000 Laughter Clubs worldwide. There are some 200 Laughter Clubs in the U.S. today. At Laughter Clubs, people get together, to…yep… laugh.

Studies have found that laughter increases circulation, stimulates the immune system, exercises the muscles, invigorates the brain, reduces stress hormones, and may even help prevent heart disease. Sounds fun, right? So what are you waiting for, go join a club!
Or at least watch this:

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A new study has revealed a connection between diet and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, WebMD reports.

The data tracked more than 2,000 respondents over four years, and people who regularly ate butter, red meat, organic meat, and fatty diary products were less likely to develop the disease. Specific foods that these people consumed include:

• Salad dressing
• Poultry
• Fish
• Fruit
• Tomatoes
• Nuts
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, etc.)
• Dark/green vegetables

Researchers are interested in studying this diet pattern further, as it is unclear whether the nutrients involved work individually or collectively to help prevent Alzheimer’s.

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Running is great way to boost your health — and it doesn’t even require any special equipment! The exercise is especially beneficial to the heart and lungs, as it promotes healthy oxygen and blood flow.

Studies have linked running to reducing the risk of contracting a cold and even developing cancer. It also provides excellent stress relief and can soothe mild forms of depression as well.

(And it’s good for dogs, too!)

Photo via richard.heeks on Flickr.

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We were happy to see an article on glutathione in The Huffington Post, as this powerful antioxidant is instrumental in removing toxins from the body.

Humans actually produce glutathione naturally. It serves as a sort of internal fly paper for toxins and free radicals — absorbing them so they can’t do harm elsewhere in the body. Ideally, everything goes smoothly, and the body recycles glutathione so it can keep on fly-papering, however an excess of pollutants can actually halt this process, thus leaving dangerous toxins inside our bodies.

Part of the problem, HuffPost reports, is that humans evolved in a much less toxin-filled environment, leaving our species rather unprepared for the pollutants of the 20th and 21st centuries. About one half of all people lack something called a GSTM1 function, leaving their bodies unable to fully remove toxins.

To bulk up on glutathione, HuffPost recommends ingesting sulfur-loaded foods such as onions, garlic, broccoli, and cabbage, in addition to exercising regularly. For more tips, check out the full article here.

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We’re temporarily renaming our Eat This feature to Eat These, because you can never have just one grape. And with all the health benefits these tiny fruits have to offer, you never should!

So, what can grapes do for you?

Grapes are full of good stuff, including potassium, iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and selenium – all very important minerals – and vitamins A, B6, C, and folate. Plus, the flavonoids in grapes are loaded with valuable antioxidants.

Plus, grapes have been shown to improve a number of conditions, including:

• Asthma
• Migraine
• Indigestion
• Kidney problems
• Alzheimer’s
• Cataracts and macular degeneration
• Infection
• Certain cancers
• Heart disease
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Bad cholesterol

What’s not to love?

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Representing over 5,000 years old of posing in seemingly impossible positions, yoga isn’t just fun to look at — it’s good for you, too.

Yoga can improve your flexibility, strength, and posture, and the breathing methods can actually increase lung capacity. The activity is also associated with better heart health (it reduces blood pressure and slows your heart rate), in addition to combating a number of different conditions, including asthma, back pain, and multiple sclerosis. Plus, yoga has been shown to boost concentration and instill a sense of calm.

And isn’t that worth standing on your head?

Photo via 75mondays on Flickr.

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With less daylight and colder, gloomier days, winter can be pretty hard on people. But it’s fairly common for many to feel depressed during these frigid months.

Often labeled, SAD or seasonal affective disorder, the condition can make it difficult for many to live life as they normally would. If you are finding yourself in this boat and aren’t comfortable with taking prescription medications, you may want to consider herbal treatments to boost your mood and get you feeling better.

St. John’s Wort: Long used in folk medicine for sadness, anxiety, loss of sleep, this powerful herb has been known to be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, with fewer side effects.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Studies have shown that a diet with low Omega-3 intake is a high-contributor to depression. Cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, and anchovies have the highest Omega-3 concentration. Japan, China, and Taiwan, countries with high fish intake, have a depression rate 10 times lower than America’s. If you’re interested, but don’t like fish, Fish Oil Capsules can be found at many health food stores.

Health, Natural Remedies, Nutrition, Uncategorized Health, herbs, Natural Remedies, SAD

Some people simply do not have the same energy levels that other people do. This can be because of all kinds of things from your diet, your age, your weight, stress in your life, etc. Being tired is horrible. All you want to do is curl up in bed and take a nice long catnap. There is a way around this though and it does not involve taking OTC drugs, or any drugs for that matter and chances are if you are already reading this blog you may know what I’m going to recommend to you – a more natural and healthy remedy! Some people swear by prescribed drugs.

Other people, usually the ones that are healthier and have seen the effects of natural remedies will swear up and down by natural remedies. They work, they don’t clog your body with a bunch of unneeded chemicals and ingredients, and best of all they usually end up working three times quicker than any drug your doctor can prescribe! The first thing you need to consider is that you get most ALL of your energy from the food that you eat, hence if you aren’t digesting those foods correctly or efficiently, you simply won’t gain any benefits.

So it’s a good idea to follow along with a few digestive measures such as using ginger or turmeric in your meals. This is going to stimulate blood flow to your digestive system therefore helping to aid in the digestive process! Secondly, you will want to consider actually taking something to give you a boost or a “pick me up”. Some of the ways to increase your stamina is by taking ginseng, Gotu Kola or ginkgo to stimulate your immune system these also end up giving you a lot of energy because they are kick starting your metabolism!

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