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Probiotic Yogurt

January 23rd, 2010

Probiotic yogurt has become one of the latest and greatest things in Western health culture, even though probiotics have been used and promoted vigorously in Eastern medicine for a number of years already. Most people are introduced to probiotic yogurts through its marketing and advertising – but what does it really do, and what are probiotics good for? Probiotics are essentially living and active cultures of bacteria that have a beneficial impact on the environment of the digestive track. All yogurt naturally contains probiotics, however, the yogurts marketed as being probiotic usually contain an additional strain of beneficial bacteria, known as acidophilus. Much research has gone into studying the various types of probiotics and most manufacturers and scientists who deal with them claim great things and many people have found relief from not only digestive disorders, but an increase in their overall energy and mood.

The Benefits of Probiotic Yogurt

While our bodies do have their own natural storage depot of beneficial bacteria, it can become wasted and depleted over a period of time due to such factors as a bad diet, stress, building up of toxins in the intestines, antibiotics and certain diseases such as Irritable-Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The probiotics in yogurt help to replenish the body’s storage supplies of these good bacteria. The body also depends on these bacteria to aid with digestion and the regulation of the digestive process and the immune system. Having inadequate amounts of probiotic bacteria in the digestive track can lead to common digestive disorders and problems as well as some immune system problems and even the aggravation of allergies within the body.

These good bacteria also help the body by promoting a favorable environment for nutrient absorption, meaning you can potentially get more nutritional value per meal. Another distinct advantage is that these bacteria will help the regulate the speed at which the food passes through the digestive track – if it is too slow, a number of toxins will build up, causing constipation and depressing, whereas if the food is passing too quickly through the digestive track the body will be unable to absorb enough nutrients before the food is lost. If food passes too quickly through the process, it can also trigger the immune system to become activated and begin mistaking food in the digestive track for a foreign body, or invader. An over active immune system in the digestive system causes more problems then most people realize. IBS, immune system disorders and allergies can all have origins from this problem – it is also not uncommon for many gastrointestinal disorders to arise from issues such as these.

What Is The Best Probiotic Yogurt?

Ideally you want to find a probiotic yogurt that has the three most major strain of beneficial bacteria, and these would be: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and usually Streptococcus thermophilus. A good number of probiotic yogurt brands advertise their product as being able to give you extra energy, able to regulate your bowel movements and even help promote weight loss. These effects, as you now know, are all due to the fact that the beneficial bacteria in your intestines are able to help regulate how your body and your immune system interact to regulate you and the digestive process entirely.

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The Body Scrub Resource

January 22nd, 2010

Body scrubs are one of the best ways we can keep our skin healthy, refreshed and looking rejuvenated by cleansing it and letting it “breathe” through a process known as exfoliation. These scrubs are easy to come by and can be done at home by yourself or at a spa and even some massage places. When it comes to the different types of body scrubs, the best one can vary depending on the price and where it was manufactured. Cheaper scrubs tend to use more synthetic and unnatural products while the ones a little bit steeper in price make use of more natural things such as essential oils and better fragrances. Most high end spas and other manufacturers have no problem selling you these higher end scrubs at a premium fee, however, you can get your own body scrub recipes and begin to make quality preparations and use them in the comfort of your own home without a problem in most cases.

What Makes The Best Body Scrub?

The three things that constitute any scrub are a fragrance, oil and an exfoliant.

Fragrance – the fragrances used in the different types of scrubs all depend upon the cost and the quality of the product itself. Cheaper products use more synthetic (think man-made and unnatural) scents that are often the culprits behind people having allergic reactions to these types of products. A higher quality natural body scrub uses more natural and organic essential oils that stick closer and truer to natural, thus providing an inherently better benefit when using it.

Oil – The main function of oil is to bind all of the ingredients together so that they may be used on you. Again, the type of oils used in the various products depend by and large on the price range of the initial scrub itself with the same rule of thumb applying – the higher ticketed items will boast more natural and pure oils and less of the synthetic stuff.

Exfoliant – This is the real bread and butter and what makes for the best body scrub. The exfoliant gives each and every scrub the trademark all around abrasive and “rough” feeling to it; the purpose behind this is to help remove the dead cells on the surface of the skin, allowing the younger, newer and more refreshed cells to take their presence.

If you are considering buying any type of body scrub, always take into consideration that you are getting what you pay for. You should do a lot of research before you buy any product so that you really have an opportunity to get into and dissect the ingredients of each scrub before you try them. Some people are sensitive to these products, especially to the more synthetic ones and will cause terrible irritation upon application.

Using homemade body scrubs is not a bad idea, especially if you are someone who is prone to be allergic to more of the commercial ingredients into a body scrub. For the best all around experience going to a spa for a body scrub is the best all around idea as the therapist working with you will be able to dedicate more time, better resources and even equipment in the form of tools to focus and concentrate on you; there is nothing better then a professional hand of experience and the relaxation you will experience can sometimes be hard to come by and unsurpassed even when doing this treatment on yourself.

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Stool Softener FAQ

December 29th, 2009

When considering adding a stool softener to your daily routine, it is important to understand exactly how it will work in your body and which product you should use for the best results. There are many different types of stool softeners, ranging from ones only intended for use for about a week to ones that are safe for much more long term use. In your body’s digestive system, a healthy colon is able to extract water from our feces to reabsorb back into the body and then eliminate the remaining waste, however, sometimes the colon extracts too much water and the remaining waste that is to be eliminated becomes too hard and causes tremendous pain. A stool softener is able to help water stay inside the feces (or stool) which in turn prevents it from become dry, hard and painful. These types of products will also help to gently stimulate the lining of the colon to help the stool pass as painlessly as possible.

Stool Softener Uses

These products are generally used to help people find relief from constipation for any number of reasons. Stress, heart problems, digestive disorders and hemorrhoids are the most frequent reasons why people turn to an over the counter stool softener. These products usually take about 1 to 3 days to see the best results and depending on the brand of product you are using, can and should only be taken for the specified period of time present on the directions of the box it can in. If you have any questions about how long you should be taking this product for, it is always best to double check with your doctor.

Some products are designed to help prevent constipation while others work to relieve it. You know you are suffering from constipation when you have irregular bowel movements combined with hard stools that are difficult to eliminate.

How To Use A Stool Softener

These products come in many different forms such as: pill, liquid, syrup, powder and capsule. It is always recommended that you stay well hydrated during the period of time you are taking a product of this nature. It is also usually required that a specific amount of water be taken with the product in order to give the body the amount of water it needs to soften the stool properly – the medication utilizes the water to add it back to the stool and soften it.

These products are usually taken as needed but do require a period of time in the range of 1 to 3 days to see the best results, you should always check with your doctor and what he recommends is the best way to use the product specific to your individual needs. The best stool softener is going to be the one that works to eliminate your problems in the safest way possible.

Many people are in search of the best natural stool softener; outside of any over the counter products there are many home remedies you may consider and consult a health care professional about. Adding fiber to your diet is one great way to help naturally supply your colon with what it needs to function better.

Stool Softener Side Effects

There have been a few reported side effects of stomach and bowel cramps, nausea, vomiting and even throat irritation from some forms of the liquid version of the product. If at any point you believe yourself to be experiencing side effects, you should discontinue use and contact your doctor immediately. You also should avoid taking any kind of ibuprofen (such as Advil, Tylenol or Aspirin) while using this product.

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Tea Tree Shampoo Benefits

October 30th, 2009

Tea tree shampoo is a popular product derived from tea tree oil and is used by many to help treat dandruff, dry scalp, itchiness and even to enrich the overall quality, sheen and shine of the hair with all of the essential oils found in tea tree. Tea tree shampoo has a slightly minty smell, similar to that of menthol, and is described as being pleasant and is often used by some individuals just based on fragrance alone. It is a common misconception to only assume tea tree oil shampoo is used for major hair issues such as lice or dandruff for which it has become a regularly adopted and recommended for.

The main tea tree shampoo benefits, however, are owed to the fact that the anti-fungal and antibacterial properties of tea tree is effective against removing many of the mites and yeast that lead to dandruff, lice and dry scalp. A good quality organic tea tree shampoo should contain no sulfates (as many do) because they can wreak havoc on your scalp causing irritation, aggravation and excessively dry scalp. If you have ever had a bad experience with tea tree shampoo in the past, these sulfates are realistically the culprit behind the negative experience and you should reconsider using this product by finding a better quality brand. Some tea tree shampoos on the market do not even contain ANY of this essential oil and are a gigantic waste of money, especially when considering that the sulfate products they stuff the shampoos with can kill you in low to moderate dosages if ingested.

One benefit of using this shampoo is as a preventative, if you are not willing to go out and buy a bottle to try for yourself, adding some drops of the oil in liquid or extract form will do the trick also. The shampoo is a better alternative to using harmful pesticide shampoos, especially in kids and small children when health is an ever bigger concern.

I often get asked by people if a tea tree dog shampoo exists and I would not recommend it with any degree of confidence. Tea tree shampoo contains (or it should) pure and essential tea tree oil and has a very low toxicity level, meaning even ingesting the smallest amount can poison your body. I would recommend keeping tea tree oil and shampoos away from your pets as their livers and kidneys are going to have one hell of a difficult time removing this substance from the body and is just plain not worth the trouble in my opinion. This is somewhat upsetting considering the fact that this sounds like the perfect solutions for fleas, ticks, mites and even mange, yeast or skin infections in dogs and the ones that have a tendency to have these conditions made worse by allergies.

Keep in mind that tea tree shampoo contains other essential oils and vitamins that should promote and rejuvenate the hair making this product not something exclusive to those suffering already from hair and skin conditions.

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Tea Tree Oil Uses

October 30th, 2009

After looking at tea tree oil uses, you would be hard-pressed to find any other essential oil with as many uses as this one, in fact, I dare you to try and find one! This multipurpose oil practically knows no limits; it is used as a household cleaner, anti-fungal, anti-viral, cough suppressant, skin moisturizer, disinfectant, bug repellent, anti-itch and even as the active ingredient found in vapor rubs – and that is not all, but more on that later. I am adamantly convinced that tea tree oil is harboring the mother load when it comes to potential and effective uses, and I am hereby embarking on a mission, no, a crusade, to educate people and get them to start taking advantage of the uses of tea tree oil in their lives immediately.

This article is going to cover the ins and outs of the all of the tea tree oil uses known and applied, and trust me, we have all benefited from tea tree oil and many of us have not even realized to what extent it has helped made our lives so much easier, and can continue to make them easier in the future once we understand all of its uses.

Tea Tree Oil Uses

Let’s begin by examining all of the uses for tea tree oil independently:

Skin – You would best recognize tea tree oil by its strong and distinct odor. It is the active ingredient in many vapor rubs and aromatherapy products. This essential oil is readily absorbed into the skin and has a dramatic cooling effect similar to menthol and “Icy – Hot” patches.

Acne – One of the most sought after tea tree oil uses is to treat acne. Because of its strong antimicrobial properties combined with the fact that your skin lives to absorb it, you are in for one beautiful complexion after using it.

Athlete’s Foot – Is another one of the most sought after tea tree oil benefits as its anti-fungal properties love to destroy all of the fungus causing your athlete’s foot.

In Toothpaste and Mouthwash – Actually, it is already in here in small amounts. The anti bacterial agents of tea tree oil help to reduce plaque and the gum disease known as gingivitis aggressively while being one of the best ways to cure bad breathe. Be careful not to swallow too much if you decide to use this of your own accord.

Dandruff – a tea tree oil shampoo consisting of about 5% of the oil itself is an excellent home remedy to eliminate dandruff.

Bug and Insect Repellent – Tea tree oil is used in bug and incest repellents already such as mothballs and is used by bug collectors to keep their existing collections safe from other predatory or unwanted bugs. It is also effective against removing lice, mites and other types of small or even microscopic critters you do not want crawling around and infesting your belongings.

Staph and MRSA Infections – These infections have become especially immune to antibiotic treatment and make the condition hard to treat as the options are limited. Research shows that submerging the affected areas in tea tree oil will work to correct the problem by destroying the pesky bacteria causing the underlying problem.

Yeast and Thrush – Thanks to those anti-fungal properties again, you can start to say goodbye to your Candida problems as well as thrush.

Disinfectant – Who says you need to use harmful bleach and vinegar anymore? Replace it as this is another great outside the box fit for tea tree oil household uses. One of my favorite things to do since I use a steam mop to clean my floors is add a bit of the oil to the water before putting it into the mop. The result is that I am able to passively disinfect my floors without the harsh smells, damages and other nasty things bleach tends to do all while being left with a smell that I can say that I enjoy.

Deodorizer – Add some tea tree oil to your wash and watch what it can do for even those toughest to remove odors. If anything, the disinfectant aspects of the oil will kick in and work extra hard with your detergent to get your clothes even cleaner.

Vapor – More tea tree oil uses find their presence as natural vapors, such as those found in popular products as Vicks Vapor rub. You can also add a few drops into your humidifier to project the effects of the entire product into different rooms throughout the house.

Nail or Toe Fungus – My girlfriend once dealt with trying to get rid of a nail infection for a few years of her life. She had to endure monthly blood work to be sure the medications she was taking was not having any adverse side effects on her liver or kidneys. I would be safe in assuming on her part that she would have much rather went down this route then the one she previously had and all of the scientific studies done on this subject would seem to agree with me also.

It is really up to you on how to use tea tree oil. You can start with any one of the suggested uses on this last and try them all one by one as I know I have.

The one and only limitation on tea tree oil is that ingesting even a small amount can cause toxicity and be potentially fatal. I would avoid ingesting the oil at all and keep its uses to topical applications only. The suggested toxicity reports seem to say that 2 to 4 grams is enough to cause some or even life-threatening issues so do try and avoid ingestion at all costs.

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How Flaxseed Oil Benefits You

October 28th, 2009

Flaxseed Oil Benefits

By now the benefits of flaxseed oil are no longer a secret. Flaxseed was first harvested and cultivated thousands of years ago and used as a fabric before it was discovered that using the oils of the seeds worked wonders for paints, textiles and even as a health remedy for many common ailments of the time. Flaxseed has stood the text of time and has since increased in popularity since its more primitive use as balms, elixirs and other home-based forms and evolved into the more common forms we use today such as flaxseed oil pills and flaxseed oil capsules that can be taken orally even as a liquid form for maximum benefit.

The magic behind flax oil is its relatively high amount of omega 3, with one dose of flaxseed oil in oral form enough to satisfy your dietary needs and then some. Aside from the omega 3 benefits of this wonderful healing oil, it is also complemented by rich proteins, vitamins and minerals that supply your body with what it needs to keep you feeling at your best and nothing less.

What is Flaxseed Used to Treat?

The following are known list of flaxseed oil benefits:

Acne – The main reason that flaxseed oils work so well on acne is because of the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3. Taken orally or by breaking open a capsule or by applying liquid flaxseed oil onto the skin directly, the oil will work to reduce the swelling caused by acne on the skin and rapidly reduce it.

Skin and Hair – Just like with acne, the oil of flaxseed works by reducing any inflammation on your skin and by supplying it with the omega-3 essential fatty acids it needs to shine and glow signaling a healthy looking complexion. Here’s the tip of the day: you can give your dog or cat omega-3 supplements such as flaxseed oil to make his coat SHINE (and boy, do I mean SHINE!) while reducing shedding, improving allergy symptoms and itchiness all in one, but I do recommend talking to your vet before starting your pet on. While there is no specific type of flaxseed oil for dogs, I always give mine a capsule of mine every day so they too can enjoy the benefits of flaxseed. What occurs here is that low levels of these oils, in both humans and animals, causes dry, brittle and dull hair, skin and coats; adding additional amounts of flax into the diet acts to restore the sheen and brilliance that is suppose to inherently be present.

Heart – Flax helps improve the heart by lowering cholesterol and thereby decreasing the chance of other heart related problems. It also helps with blood circulation and helps to reduce blood pressure.

Constipation, Irritable-Bowel Syndrome and Hemorrhoids – Since flax is loaded with fiber, anti-oxidants and other vitamins and nutrients, it helps to promote intestinal tract health by removing toxins, helping to regulate us by softening our stools and promoting a favorable environment for the absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Additional flaxseed oil benefits come in the form, again, of the seemingly miraculous ability of the anti-inflammatory properties of the plant-based oil to reduce intestinal inflammation and even prevent and help preexisting conditions of gallbladder stones. Since the inflammation in the intestinal tract is reduced, repair to any damages caused over a long period of time are made possible under these ideal circumstances.

Arthritis, Joint Pain, Lupus and Gout – Again, because of the superior anti-inflammatory powers of flax, it helps to eliminate the debilitating chronic pain that builds up in these diseases. It also helps to eliminate the more acute symptoms of these diseases and strides to help alleviate the pain across the board. The anti-inflammatory properties are not limited to one location (e.g the skin, bowels or any other location) but work effectively in any part of the body where inflammation may occur either acutely or with chronic persistence.

Cancer – The lecithins and lignans are anti-cancer and act as broad spectrum cancer preventatives. In regards to the lecithins, the anti-oxidant capacity helps reduce the signs of aging by removing free radicals from the body. Free radicals damage cells and are believed to be a leading cause of cell weakening and damage that leads to cancer and is also believed to be one of the leading causes of an all around sense of tiredness and lethargy.

Menopause and PMS

The benefits of flaxseed oil even apply to those women who suffer from painful cycles and flashes. Since flaxseed contains phytoestrogens (the plant version of estrogen) it is able to help bring women’s estrogen levels in order and keep them proportioned.

Prostrate health and male fertility

Even the men can benefit from flaxseed oil too as it can help treat conditions of inflamed and over-active prostrates. Sperm need their essential fatty acids to properly develop and stay strong and mobile. There is good evidence to suggest that the cardiovascular flaxseed oil benefits can help keep a healthy flow and blood circulation to the penis, assisting those with such conditions as erectile dysfunction.

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