Archive for the ‘Natural Health News’ Category

What's one of the easiest ways to improve your appearance and self esteem at the same time? If you answered "teeth whitening", you're correct. That being said, it's important to find the right product for you without spending too much. The problem with this is that I've noticed a number of rather questionable sites out there promoting professional teeth whitening kits for little or no cost, which also pull you into continuity programs you probably didn't know existed. I took the time to read the fine print on one such site and found that while you may get your "free trial" for under $2.00, the resulting charge if kept beyond the trial period was over $70.00

For example, if you search for anything about teeth whitening you're likely to see a number of sponsored links about some teeth whitening trick discovered by a local mom. The only trick involved is how they get people to fork over their credit card details for a relatively small shipping cost, only to eventually slam you with charges for products that you might very well not even receive. These sites all look the same, and feature the same reused images, testimonials, reviews, and point to the same products. While I can't vouch for any of the products themselves or their effectiveness, you can CLICK HERE for a truly legitimate site that features reviews of these products.

Some things to watch for are the counters that seem to indicate that you only have a set amount of time to get their offers. They count all the way down to zero, and then absolutely nothing happens. Big surprise. I'll also tell you that these pages are ridiculously hard to navigate away from, as when you try to close the window a live chat window opens where they pitch you on paying sometimes less than $2.00 for shipping on the product. Another one lets you choose what shade of teeth you want, how quickly you want to achieve those results, and how long you want them to last. You then enter your ZIP code and it will tell you that there are only 11 free trials left in your city. Here in Lexington, KY that might make sense, but when I used the ever popular 90210 ZIP code I got the same result. Oh my, only 11 trials for Beverly Hills, CA? Many of them use celebrity images as well to give you the impression that the stars are getting their pearly whites from these products.

Another sketchy aspect is that of fake reviews. One even had a post by a man asking the question "does this work for men too?". Really? What makes this stand out as dishonest is the fact that there is absolutely nowhere on the page to post a comment, and no "contact us" form either. In a lot of cases they'll either only review their products, or if they include other ones then they will obviously give them poor reviews.

If you're interested in a teeth whitening product that really works, and is guaranteed 100% for an entire year, check out Maximum Teeth Whitening. We've been in business for over 8 years, and we're also a BBB accredited business.

It seems that the growing trend in growing has been using genetically modified seeds that have specific traits bred into them rather than the natural selection methods of the past. Now while some may say this is great because of potentially increased crops of such things as corn, cotton, and soybean, it's quickly been used in many fruits and vegetables we consume. Some studies show even as many as 7 out of 10 foods we eat have actually been genetically modified in some way. There have even been discussions of modifying animals in the same way. This hasn't been done yet, or so they tell us. Personally, I think it's rather obvious that the growth hormones that food providing animals have been fed over the years shows rather evidently in our society and culture, but I digress.

What I'm really here to talk about today is these genetically modified seeds that are circulating, and how large agricultural corporations are luring farmers into using their products, but not disclosing all the negative connotations that may come along with them. India has been a large testing ground for this, and the results from the failed crops have been staggering. Actually, downright appalling.

Some blame can of course be put on weather and droughts, but those are problems that arise every year. Nothing new. However, when you filter in pests, and weeds that are becoming pesticide resistant you have even more problems on your hands. None of these facts can be helped, but just you wait. Genetically modified seeds usually contain what is called, for lack of a better term, "suicide genes". What this means is that whatever seeds would come from the crops that DO actually thrive are completely, and utterly useless as they will absolutely not grow the following season.

Are you still with me? Because we're about to get to this long, drawn out point that I'm trying to make, and why it angers me so. These farmers are forced to buy other fertilizers and pesticides from the same people who sold them the seeds, and still facing crops that just can't do anything besides EPIC FAIL. These farmers, who were poor to begin with and looking for a way to increase their production are left with nothing but increasing debt. So much so, that many of them are turning to suicide.

It's been no mystery over time that things like rising debts, and failing careers have driven people to suicide. Sad as it may be, it's true. However, in a 2006 interview Vandana Shiva, a renowned anti-globalization activist talked about how these farmers were being bullied and many resorted to suicide. At that time, she recounted nearly 3,000 families that had been affected by suicides related to debts in farming with genetically modified seeds.

My question is that if this was in 2006, WHY HAS IT TAKEN 3 YEARS TO BECOME NEWSWORTHY?

Anywhere in the US, if 3,000 people had committed suicide for the same reason in any set amount of time it would be on every front page for weeks, if not months. Rightfully so. The entire industry has become so concerned with profits that they're not even considering the long term effects of this. Imagine a day where we've modified our foods so much, that nothing will grow anymore. It's a scary thought, and one that should see more coverage than it currently does.

As more and more cases of the swine flu are confirmed in the US, the World Health Organization raised their 6 tier threat level to 5 on Wednesday.  This signifies the technical term "pandemic" being used.  The general consensus thus far has been, you guessed it, EVERYBODY PANIC!  This has both good and bad repercussions.  While it's always good to be proactive in preventing the spread of disease, the mass hysteria that follows in our "herd mentality" can be detrimental in its own right.  What this pandemic REALLY means is that it is now recognized as transferable from human to human.  It doesn't mean the zombie apocalypse is nigh, but what it does mean is that all the same precautions that people take during the normal flu season should be observed.  This includes all the standard fare of covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, keeping your hands away from your face when possible, washing your hands frequently, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest to keep your immune system functioning properly.  Here are a few other natural ways to help ward off sickness until this little piggy goes "wee-wee-wee" all the way into obscurity:

• Fresh Air

The reason people get sick more frequently in the Winter is from being inside, where viruses can incubate and the dry air from heating systems will dry out your mucous membranes.  This makes you more succeptable to illness.  Since this particular strain is active in the Spring months, try getting outside more often.  Before the weather kicks into "Dante's Inferno" mode, open windows for fresh air.  You might also try a humidifier just as an added precaution to help keep your protective mucous membranes from drying out.

• Boost Your Immune System

There are plenty of foods that I'm sure you already love which are greatly beneficial to your immune system.  Fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins A and C are always a solid bet.  There have also been many benefits linked to green tea, so mixing that in with the 8 glasses of pure water you should already be drinking each day will also help.  If you want to make sure all bases are covered though, you may also look into supplements to add to your germ fighting armory.  Even the store bought ones like Airborne and Alka Seltzer Immunity Complex will have an abundance of vitamin C and zinc, which can help keep from catching the bug.

• Exercise

Regular exercise keeps your body functioning at its optimum levels, and thus will help keep your immune sytem in good working order to help fight sickness.  Lab studies have  shown that mice who had even mild exercise after being exposed to the flu virus had a much lower rate of death.

Something important to remember about the few deaths that have been confirmed so far is that most were in remote areas, and medical care wasn't readily available.  Also, dehydration has played a large part because of vomiting or diarrhea.  This wouldn't be an issue for most of us, but most of the deaths occurred in Mexico where the quality of the water supply would do little to help, if not just exacerbate the issue.

Best of health to everyone…

4 Ways To Fight Allergies With Your Diet

• Omega can be the Alpha to preventing seasonal allergies.

Studies have shown that people who regularly eat foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids suffer less frequently from allergies than those who don’t.  Omega-3’s can act as an anti-inflammatory, and naturally help keep airways from constricting and causing breathing problems related to seasonal allergies.  Cold water fish are high in omega-3 but it’s important to remember that unlike man, not all fish are created equal.  The most commonly available fish are usually farm raised, which means that they miss out on things that would be in their normal diet like algae.  Try specialty groceries where fresh fish is brought in frequently to get the most benefit.  This may carry a higher price tag, so you can also try fish oil supplements to get a healthy dose of omega-3.

• As the weather begins to heat up, encourage your menu to follow suit.

Spicy foods can help to unclog nasal passages by thinning the blood and increasing its flow.  This brings more oxygen to areas that are affected like the lungs and sinuses, and helps thin mucus.  Whether it’s spicy mustard on your hot dog, or some extra wasabi the next time you go for sushi, cranking up the heat can help clear your head.  You just might want to make sure you have a box of tissues handy if you’re cooking at home, or maybe ask your server for some extra napkins.

• Are you lactose intolerant?  You might wish you were.

Dairy products like milk and yogurt may be high in calcium, but their high protein can cause inflammation and excess mucus production.  Try limiting these types of foods, or stopping consumption altogether when your allergies are at their worst.  You can get a much more effective result by starting to remove dairy based foods from your diet by as much as six weeks, but if your allergies are particularly troublesome it’s always better late than never.  Remember, you can always supplement this lack of calcium from dairy with green vegetables, beans, and even almonds.  Also - be wary of extra wheat, and sugar as they, too, can cause excess mucus to form.

• Everybody else seems to be going green, so why not hop on?

Green tea has become a popular beverage trend over the last few years, but do you know why?  Not only is green tea loaded with antioxidants which help keep the body and immune system from breaking down, but it also contains a natural antihistamine.  There has even been some evidence that people who regularly drink green tea may have lower chances of heart disease and certain types of cancer.  Even if green tea in particular isn’t up your alley, most hot teas will still have calming effects and help reduce stress.  The more stressed you are, the more likely your immune system will be to falter, so drink up.