Better Health Naturally

We have promoted taking omega 3 oils, fish oil or flax oil, for better health for years.  The benefits of both foods are amazing!  Now scientific research is proving us right.  Two different news releases last week were very exciting.

            One research study proved that fish oil taken daily will reduce your chance of heart attack by 50%!  What else do you know of that will do that?  Did you know that if you lay your blood vessels end to end they would extend for 60,000 miles, enough to circle the earth more than two times.  Some blood vessels are no thicker than a hair.  When they become inflamed or congested your heart has to work much harder.

            Omega three oils will reduce inflammation, decrease heart arrhythmias, lower triglycerides, decrease growth of plaque, and slightly lowers blood pressure, NATURALLY.  You should eat fish at least three times a week, but now we have the scare of mercury in our larger fish.  An alternative is to take fish oil or fish oil capsules from a reliable source.  For heart disease you should be taking 2,000-3,000 mg/day, depending on what your practitioner recommends.

            The second study that is being conducted right now at OU is proving that DHA, which is one of the natural healers in fish oil, is killing cancer cells.  Their study is not yet complete, but they are very excited about this totally non-toxic remedy for cancer patients.

            DHA is also highly recommended for the developing fetus and the newborn to one year old.  DHA from either plant or fish source is so vital to the developing brain and eyes they believe it increases the I.Q. of the baby, as well as improve eyesight.

            What amazing foods fish and flax seeds are to help you achieve Better Health, Naturally.

Do you know what your largest organ is?  It is your skin.  This is the time of year that we become more aware of our skin, because we tend to show more skin in the summer.  How should you properly care for your skin?  Does it even matter what you put on your skin or how much time you spend in the sun?

            Did you know that you drink through your skin?  Anything you put on your skin will end up inside your body!  I am a big proponent of reading labels before you eat or drink anything.  It does matter what we put into our bodies.  But, most people do not realize that that includes ALL cosmetics.

            Unfortunately, drug companies do not have to do safety studies for all of the chemicals they put in “products” for the skin and hair.  They somehow get a pass on this entire category of chemicals.  There are chemicals that are banned by the EPA in water and air and if a manufacturing plant is polluting the water or air with them they are fined and possibly shut down, but horrifyingly, these same chemicals are found in cosmetic products.

            As with everything you consume, the more natural the better.  Shop for products that use plant products vs. chemical products.  Take vitamin A and vitamin C supplements to build up the skin so that you do not burn easily in the sun.  Gradually expose your skin to the sun in the spring, staying out a little longer each time, to build up the pigment in the skin for a protection.  NEVER allow yourself to burn.  A burn is always harmful.  If you must be out all day only expose your skin for a limited, but increasing time each day and then put on more clothes and wear a hat.  In other words use some common sense.

            Remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and consider using olive oil for a suntan lotion instead of petroleum products.  And. Of course, HAVE A BLAST THIS SUMMER! 

What is “natural healing” and “alternative health”?  Isn’t all healing natural?  What is a Naturopath?  A naturopath believes in following nature’s path to healing.  In other words cooperating with the way that God created us and following the laws of nature that he put in place from the beginning of time.

            Just like the law of gravity that was put in place at creation to keep us from flying off of the earth into space.  It has the same pull on every living creature.  The laws of diet and health are also for everyone.  If we break these laws and do not cooperate with the way God made us, we begin to develop health mal-functions.  Then if we do not change our ways, we develop disease and pass that down to our children by writing it on their DNA.  The Bible calls this passing our sin down to the third and fourth generations.

            The amazing answer to this problem, however, is that God has created us to be energized, spiritual, bio-mechanical, self-healing machines created IN HIS IMAGE!  What a legacy!  So, how does that affect my individual life?

            Better health begins with a decision.  You must choose to begin your journey to better health, naturally.  No one else can do it for you.  Once you have made that decision to stop smoking, taking drugs, eating frankenfood, thinking toxic thoughts or whatever challenge you face, much help is available for you.  But there is no therapy or pill that makes you choose a better life. 

One of my favorite herbs is cilantro.  I almost never make a vegetable salad without fresh cilantro, and I always grow it in my garden so that I will have fresh all summer.  Cilantro is actually the small leaves of the young Coriander plant and is sometimes called Chinese cilantro.  Did you know that it is mentioned in the Bible, and it was used as early as 1550 BC for culinary and medicinal purposes.

            Ethiopians chew the leaves to relieve colic and stomachaches.  The Lebanese use coriander as a spice and for gas and as a stimulant.  The Unani consider coriander seed as an aphrodisiac and a tonic to the brain, heart, and liver.  Ayurvedics recommend coriander for dysentery.  Iranians smoke coriander fruits for toothaches and chew the leaf for headaches.  Be careful with coriander seeds though, because, eaten in excess they may have a narcotic affect.

            I think the most valuable health use is one that modern research has discovered for us.  Cilantro has proven effective in chelating (removing) minerals and heavy metals from the body, especially mercury and iodine. Also, like many carrot-related spices, coriander contains coumarins that have blood-thinning properties.  I use cilantro capsules for this purpose frequently.  But, most of all, I like to just stroll through my garden in the evening and pick a few leaves and chew them.