Your adrenal glands produce powerful chemicals (cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) that help you respond to stress. These chemicals are excitatory hormones, neurotransmitters that get our bodies ready for dangerous situations (which is what the anxiety response was originally designed to do).

However, with your foot to the gas pedal like this all the time, you burn out and feel stressed, you get anxious and exhausted, you can’t sleep, and you are either tired or wired constantly.

Thankfully our brains have an antidote to these stress hormones.

It is called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and it calms the brain from an overload of the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine. It is like a brake on overstimulation in the brain. When you have low levels of GABA, it is harder for your body and mind to relax after these excitatory neurotransmitters have been released in your body.

Valium works by imitating GABA, our natural brain relaxant. Many use alcohol or marijuana to self-medicate for anxiety. These, too, act like GABA in the brain. People with anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, seizures, and schizophrenia all have low levels of GABA.

Who likes the feeling of tense muscles, a pounding heart, dry mouth, sleeplessness, fatigue, and sweaty palms? No one. That’s why so many self-medicate with the medications mentioned above.

But using alcohol, marijuana, or tranquilizers backfires because they are all addictive and produce diminishing returns over time, so you need more and more to “relax.”

Why not just take GABA? Well, thankfully, you can, and you can use other natural substances to boost GABA levels to overcome the anxiety that millions of you experience every day.

One study showed that within just 60 minutes of taking GABA, alpha brain waves (a sign of relaxation) were increased on EEGs. Taking GABA also boosted the immune system, which functions best when you are relaxed.

You can take GABA supplements directly or supplement your diet with the raw materials from which GABA is produced. For example, another key amino acid helper called taurine boosts the production of GABA and helps relax the nervous system. It can even reduce seizures.

Other helpful brain relaxants that boost GABA in the brain include theanine from green tea and a few others, including inositol (a B vitamin); other B vitamins such as B3, B6, and B12; and magnesium. Calming herbs such as kava, valerian, hops, and passionflower can also be helpful.

To find out more about how to relax and overcome the effects of stress, consider joining my 3- or 7-Day Juicing Detox program.

Feel Alive From the Inside Out!

The post Dealing with Stress and Anxiety? – Learn which Natural Substances will Relax and Calm You Instantly appeared first on Chef Doc Dee's.

Green — Green leafy vegetables are rich in chlorophyll as well as isothiacyanates. These reduce carcinogenic agents from the liver. Green vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Bok  Choy, kale, collards, etc. also contain several other anticancer compounds. Apart from these phytonutrient antioxidants, the green cruciferous vegetables are rich in vitamin K, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, and more. Other examples are apples, asparagus, celery, leeks, lettuce, grapes, cucumbers, avocadoes, limes, snap peas, and all the green leafy vegetables.

Green / Yellow — These vegetables and fruits are rich in lutein, which is very important for eye health. Lutein is especially necessary for elderly people to prevent age related macular degeneration. Most of these green/yellow fruits and vegetables are also rich in vitamin C. Examples are Kiwi, spinach, avocados, honeydew melon, yellow bell peppers, swede, persimmons.

Yellow / Orange — Carotenoids or beta-carotene is responsible for imparting the yellow/orange pigment color to certain vegetables and fruits. These are extremely rich in vitamin A and retinol, which is needed for acne and wrinkle prevention. Vitamin A is needed for strong immune system function and healthy vision. Research is also showing that certain beta-carotenes are also useful in preventing cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and more. Examples are mangoes, apricots, carrots, cantaloupe melon, nectarines, sweet potatoes, oranges, pumpkins, squashes.

Blue / Purple — This color is due to the content of anthocyanin, which are antioxidants that provide numerous heart-healthy benefits. The darker the blue color, the higher the concentration of phytochemicals in it. To get more anthocyanin antioxidants in your diet, go for blueberries as these are especially high in them. Other examples include blackberries, plums, prunes, pomegranates, red cabbage, eggplant, and purple grapes.

Red — The main pigment that gives the red color to vegetables and fruits is lycopene. It is a powerful antioxidant that is being researched for preventing cancer as well as cardiovascular disease. Lycopene is also useful for protecting prostate health and maintaining the breast tissue. Red vegetables and fruits are also rich in flavinoids, resveratrol, and vitamin C, as well as folates. Resveratrol is abundant in the skin of red grapes and is an antioxidant which is being investigated for its cancer preventive properties. Examples include grapes, radishes, red bell peppers, cherries, tomatoes, cranberries, watermelons, guava, and pink grapefruit.

Beige / White / or No Color — Some vegetables have no color on their inside (eggplant). That does not mean they are deficient in nutrients or phytochemicals. In fact, many types of flavinoids are actually colorless and they still help the body counter the free radical formation. Other examples include celeriac, garlic, daikon, artichokes, onions, turnips, white potatoes.

The take away message here is that our diet should consist of rainbow-colored vegetables and fruits to get all their health benefits. There are literally thousands of phytochemicals available in nature (many are still yet to be studied in depth to reveal their amazing nutritional benefits), and in order to obtain their wonderful health benefits, we need to eat more colored vegetables and fruits daily. Fortunately for us, juicing makes that mission a whole lot easier and more achievable! The combinations and options are endless and limited only by produce available in the markets.

To learn more about my monthly 3-day juice detox and cleansing program, plus the many ways that juicing vegetables and fruits can boost your energy and metabolism, eliminate toxins, kick-start weight loss success, and nourish your body with all the vital nutrients it needs for optimum health,

Your body is amazingly intelligent and when you give it the right nutrients,  co-factors, and a huge dose of self-love,  it will naturally respond with healing and rejuvenation! In fact, that is your body’s only agenda — called homeostasis in medical terms — to maintain optimum health and balance, and this program is a powerful vehicle to help you achieve it.

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Sleep deprivation is a large proportion of the problem is due to the high paced lifestyle causing the lack of time to get the sleep we need. When we do not get the amount of sleep we need we accumulate a sleep debt. This sleep debt has to be paid back or sleepiness will continue to worsen. Many people try to pay back the debt on the weekends resulting in the disruption of their circadian rhythm. 

15 Tips that can help you get healthy sleep

1. Sleep is as important as food and air. Quantity and quality are very important. Most adults need between 7.5 to 8.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you press the snooze button on the alarm in the morning you are not getting enough sleep. This could be due to not enough time in bed, external disturbances, or a sleep disorder.  
2. Keep regular hours. Try to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day. Getting up at the same time is most important. Getting bright light, like the sun, when you get up will also help. Try to go to bed only when you are sleepy. Bright light in the morning at a regular time should help you feel sleepy at the same time every night. 
3. Stay away from stimulants like caffeine. This will help you get deep sleep which is most refreshing. If you take any caffeine, take it in the morning. Avoid all stimulants in the evening, including chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeinated teas. They will delay sleep and increase arousals during the night.  
4. Use the bed for sleeping. Avoid watching TV or using laptop computers. Know that reading in bed can be a problem if the material is very stimulation and you read with a bright light. If it helps to read before sleep make sure you use a very small wattage bulb to read. A 15 watt bulb should be enough. Bright light from these activities may inhibit sleep.  
5. Avoid bright light around the house before bed. Using dimmer switches in living rooms and bathrooms before bed can be helpful. (Dimmer switches can be set to maximum brightness for morning routines.)  
6. Don’t stress if you feel you are not getting enough sleep. It will just make matters worse. Know you will sleep eventually.  
7. Avoid exercise near bedtime. No exercise at least 3 hours before bed. 
8. Don’t go to bed hungry. Have a light snack; avoid a heavy meal before bed. 
9. Bedtime routines are helpful for good sleep. Keep routines on your normal schedule. A cup of herbal tea an hour before bed can begin a routine. 
10. Avoid looking at the clock if you wake up in the middle of the night. It can cause anxiety. This is very difficult for most of us, so turn the clock away from your eyes so you would have to turn it to see the time. You may decide not to make the effort and go right back to sleep. 
11. If you can’t get to sleep for over 30 minutes get out of bed and do something boring in dim light till you are sleepy.  
12. Keep your bedroom at comfortable temperature. Not too warm and not too cold. Cooler is better than warmer. 
13. If you have problems with noise in your environment you can use a white noise generator. An old fan will work or you can buy noise machines from many sources.  
14. Know that the “night cap” has a price. Alcohol may help you to get to sleep but it will cause you to wake up throughout the night. You may not notice it. (It is worse if you have sleep apnea because the alcohol makes the apnea worse.) Sometimes people snore only if they have had some alcohol or may snore worse if they already snore.) 
15. If you have a sleeping partner, ask them if they notice any snoring, leg movements and/or pauses in breathing. Take this information and try the sleep test. You may have a sleep disorder or you may just need to increase your awareness about your own sleep need. If you have any concerns see your doctor. 

Enjoy sound sleep every night and watch your health and energy levels soar! 

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The following are some simple food choices that can help your body combat radiation exposure on a regular basis. Some of them aid your body in sweeping out toxins, while others are nutrient-dense in vital minerals. If you’d rather not memorize or print the list, then strive to add more raw, living  foods and dark leafy vegetables to your routine, but there are even more useful choices below. You can also go to a website like All Recipes and type some of the ingredients. The site will create a recipe that contains those ingredients. 

~Health Freedoms 

With radioactive isotopes detected in rainwater in Minnesota and other states, some people are looking into iodine supplements and other ways to protect the long-term health of their families. 

While there are a lot of drawbacks to using iodine, there are plenty of foods that naturally protect our bodies from radiation. 

Here are 20 of the best foods to detox radiation:

1. Brown rice 
2. Seaweed 
3. Kelp 
4. Miso 
5. Pumpkin 
6. Spirulina 
7. Bee pollen 
8. Wheat grass 
9. Rosemary 
10. Blue-green algae 
11. Beets 
12. Garlic
13. Ginger 
14. Alfalfa sprouts 
15. Broccoli 
16. Onions 
17. Olive oil 
18. Leafy greens 
19. Apples and other sources of pectin 
20. Berries (are loaded with antioxidants and detoxifying agents) 

These foods protect the body from radiation in different ways. For instance, brown rice is high in fiber and phosphorous, which help remove harmful toxins from the body.  Sea vegetables contain a polysaccharide that binds to radioactive strontium to help eliminate it from the body, as well as being high in natural iodine.  Pectin has also been shown to bind to radioactive residues, and Cysteine (in onions) binds with and deactivates radioactive isotopes.  Alfalfa sprouts and greens are high in chlorophyll, which has been shown to help protect against radiation damage, as well. Keep in mind that you should aim for organic and be aware of the sources. For example, fresh sprouted alfalfa sprouts from your windowsill are preferable to those shipped from thousands of miles away (and possibly doused with those isotopes). 

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The study was led by physician and nutrition specialist Bess Dawson-Hughes at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Mass. ARS is a scientific research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Fruits and vegetables are metabolized to bicarbonate and thus are alkali-producing. But the typical American diet is rich in protein (meat and dairy) and cereal grains that are metabolized to acid, and thus are acid-producing. With aging, such diets lead to a mild but slowly increasing metabolic “acidosis.”

The researchers conducted a placebo-controlled study involving healthy male and female volunteers aged 50 or older. Key measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the intervention, which lasted three months.

A group of 78 volunteers had been provided either of two bicarbonates—potassium or sodium—along with their usual diet and exercise regimes. Key bone mineral nutrients were controlled to reduce variation in study outcomes. The bicarbonate groups consumed an amount of bicarbonate equivalent to about 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This allowed the researchers to look at possible acid-neutralizing effects from an adequate alkali load.

The results showed that the 78 volunteers in the bicarbonate groups had significant reductions in biomarkers that are associated with bone loss and fracture than the 84 in the no-bicarbonate, or control, group.

The authors concluded that increasing the alkali content of the diet, for example by consuming more fruits and vegetables, merits further study as a safe and low-cost approach to improving skeletal health in older men and women.

Source – www.sciencedaily.com  

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Modern conventional medicine battles diseases directly by means of drugs, surgery, radiation and other therapies, but true health can be attained only by maintaining a healthy, properly functioning immune system. It is the immune system that fights off disease-causing microorganisms and it engineers the healing process. The immune system is the key to fighting every kind of insult to the body, from that little shaving scratch to the gigantic amount of viruses the constantly try to invade our bodies. Even the aging process may be related to a deteriorated immune system.  

Weakening of the immune system makes us vulnerable to every type of illness that affects humans. Some common signs of impaired immune functions include fatigue, lassitude, repeated infections, inflammation, allergic reactions, slow wound healing, chronic diarrhea and infections related to overgrowth of benign organisms already present in the body, such as oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections and other fungal infections. It has been calculated that a normal adult gets an average of two colds per year. People suffering from colds more than the average are likely to have some sort of immune deficiency.  

Immune system malfunction can also cause dark circles around the eyes.  Explaining what the immune system is, is the hard part. The immune system is not an organ but an interaction between many organs, structures, and substances with the task of recognizing or differencing from things that belong and those that don’t belong to the body, and then neutralizing or destroying the ones that are foreign. 

The immune system is like no other bodily system, the patrolling and protecting tasks of the immune system are shared by white cells, bone marrow, the lymphatic vessels and organs, specialized cells found and various body tissues, and specialized substances, called serum factors, that are present in the blood, ideally all of these components work together to protect the body against diseases. 

To boost and protect your immune system, I recommend a list of herbs, vitamins, supplements and special recipes that have shown remarkable results throughout the years. Astragalus boosts the immune system and generates anticancer cells in the body. It is also a powerful antioxidant and protects the liver from toxins. This makes this plant ideal for people suffering from dark circles due to liver problems and depressed immune system. IMPORTANT: Do not take this herb if fever is present.  

• Bayberry has antibiotic effects for sore throat, coughs, colds and flu. 
• Garlic is effective against at least 30 types of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. It has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. 
• Echinacea boosts the immune system and enhances lymphatic function. 
• Goldenseal strengthens the immune system, cleanses and detoxifies the body. It has anti bacterial properties. 

In a small town called Chirchik, Russia, a flu epidemic swept the town. When many adults and children did not get sick scientists wanted to know why they were immune to the disease. It turns out that all of them used the berries from an herb called Shizandra. 

Immune System Booster

2 cups of water. 

1 tsp. echinacea root. 

½ tsp. chamomile leaves. 

½ tsp. shizandra berries. 

½ tsp. peppermint leaves. 

Mix all the herbs and add boiling water, step and strain drink one cup a day for two weeks. 

Immune Tincture. 

½ tsp. Echinacea root tincture. 

½ tsp. pau d´arco bark tincture. 

½ tsp. Siberian ginseng root tincture. 

½ tsp. licorice root tincture. 

½ tsp. astragalus root tincture. 

½ tsp. bupleurum root tincture. 

Combine all these ingredients. If you have evidence of a depressed immune system, take 3 tsp. of the formula daily for up to 5 days. Double the dose during an infection. 

Include in the diet chlorella, garlic and pearl barley. These foods contain germanium, a trace element beneficial to the immune system. Also giant red kelp contains iodine, calcium, iron, carotene, protein, riboflavin and vitamin C, which are necessary for the immune system’s functional integrity. 

Vitamin C may be the single most important nutrient for the immune system. It is essential for the formation of adrenal hormones and the production of lymphocytes. It also has a direct effect on bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C should be taken with bioflavonoid, natural plant substances that enhance absorption and reinforce the action of this vitamin. 

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1. Avoids pesticides The best way of reducing your exposure to potentially harmful pesticides is to eat organically grown food, where their use is avoided. Over 311 pesticides can be routinely used in non-organic farming and residues are often present in non-organic food. Over 40% of all non-organic fruit, vegetables, and bread tested in 2005 contained pesticides according to the Government’s Pesticide Residues Committee. The results for particular fruit and vegetables were much worse, e.g. chemicals were found in all oranges tested, 90% of bread, 72% of grapes, 95% pears.
2. GMO-free Genetically modified organism (GMO) crops and ingredients are not allowed under organic standards. Over a million tons of GM crops are imported to feed nonorganic livestock that produces much, if not most, of the nonorganic pork, bacon, milk, cheese and other dairy products in our supermarkets.
3. It’s healthy On average, organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. Organic milk is naturally higher in Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) and certain other antioxidants than non-organic milk.
4. Tastes better and has more flavorMany people buy organic food because they believe it tastes better than non-organic. This could be because organic fruit and vegetables tend to grow more slowly and have a lower water content, which may contribute to the fuller flavor some people experience. A poll in 2005 showed that quality and taste of food are important to more people than low prices.
5. Organic products meet stringent standards, meaning higher quality
   Organic certification is the public’s assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemical inputs.  When you see that a product has been Certified Organic you can rest assured that the product, its ingredients, and the manufacturer have gone through a thorough investigation.
6. Good for wildlife and the environment Overall organic farming supports more farmland wildlife than non-organic farming. Studies have shown that it is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide – the main global warming gas – and less dangerous wastes.
7. Organic farmers work in harmony with nature
   Organic agriculture respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is an essential part of a total farm and is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands, and other natural areas.
8. Organic production reduces health risks
   Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases.  Now, the EPA considers 60% of all herbicides (weed killers), 90% of all fungicides (mold killers), and 30% of all insecticides (insect killers) as potentially cancer-causing.  Organic farming keeps harmful chemicals and pesticides out of the food we eat and beverages we drink.  It also prohibits the use of antibiotics in animal feed, which are routinely used in conventional farming and is known to create dangerous antibiotic-resistant pathogens.  Organic farms also benefit the farm workers who have high exposure to chemicals and synthetic pesticides.
9. Organic farms respect our water sources
   The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources.  Organic farming reduces toxic farming runoff and pollutants that contaminate our water, soil, and air.
10. Organic producers are leaders in innovative research
    Organic farmers have led the way, largely at their own expense, with innovative on-farm research aimed at reducing pesticide use and minimizing agriculture’s impact on the environment.Organic farming is better for the environment, better for business, more energy efficient and makes better tasting fruit than conventional methods and most integrated production systems, according to research and studies conducted at several universities.

Organic Priorities  — take a copy with you when you go shopping

(Adapted from Dr. Mercola by Philip Domenico, PhD.)

1.  Non-organic meats and dairy have far higher concentrations of pesticides than fruits and veggies.  The highest concentration of pesticides is actually in non-organic butter. When choosing organic, focus on animal foods first, then fruits and veggies.
2. Locally-grown organics are often the best bet, even if it’s grown conventionally. The environmental impact of shipping organic produce across the globe cancels out many of its benefits. Organic farming standards are also questionable in many parts of the world and in certain corporations.
3. Beware of GMO Varieties! You can find out whether or not your produce is genetically engineered, by looking at its PLU code. For example
   * A conventionally grown product carries a 4-digit PLU code (Ex: 4011)
   * An organic product carries a 5-digit code, starting with the number 9: (Ex: 94011)
   *A GMO product has a 5-digit code, starting with the number 8: (Ex: 84011)
4. Of the 43 different fruit and veggie categories tested, these 12 had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy organic:
   * Strawberries  * Peaches   * Apples     * Sweet bell peppers   * Celery    * Nectarines * Cherries    * Lettuce   * Grapes (imported)    * Pears    * Spinach    * Potatoes
5. The following twelve foods had the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest conventionally grown crops to consume:
   * Broccoli    * Eggplant    * Cabbage  * Banana    * Kiwi   * Asparagus  * Onion
   * Sweet peas (frozen)  * Mango   * Pineapple  * Sweet corn (frozen)   * Avocado
6. The Quality Low Input Food Project found that organic food is more nutritious than ordinary produce, and can help improve health and longevity:
   * Organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40 percent more antioxidants
   * Organic produce had higher levels of beneficial minerals like iron and zinc
   * Milk from organic herds contained up to 90 percent more antioxidants
7. A 2003 study in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry found that organic foods are better for fighting cancer.
8. A study in 2005 showed that rats fed organic foods experienced various health benefits, including:
   * Improved immune system status         * Higher vitamin E content in their blood
   * Lighter and slimmer than rats fed other diets   * Better sleeping habits

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Plus: 15 Tips To Keep Your Liver Healthy

People who have struggled for years with excessive weight and/or chronic health problems may be interested to learn that the liver may well be the missing part in the jigsaw puzzle to achieve good health.

Chances are, you do not give much thought to your liver and may not be aware of the myriad of functions it performs every second of every day.  Admittedly, it is an easy organ to ignore—its work is mostly silent and it usually does not give off very many early warning signs that something is amiss, unless you know what signs or symptoms to be alert to or what to look for.  Knowing that your liver goes about its business quietly does not mean you should take it for granted.  This amazingly complex organ affects virtually every physiological process, either directly or indirectly, and if your liver is not working up to par, it will likely affect all other areas of your health.

Among the common causes of premature death in the United States—cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes (to name a few)—comes liver failure.  It accounts for over 4,500 deaths a year—that is more than road traffic accidents—and costs the government and the taxpayers more than 2 billion dollars a year.  However, liver dysfunction plays a part in most of these other diseases as well.  In the U.S.A. obesity has become the first most preventable cause of premature death – and a major driver of what is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Functions of your liver

The liver is the cleanser and filter of the bloodstream and is the greatest multi-tasker.  It is the largest organ in the body and has an enormous amount of blood flowing through it every minute of our lives. It is between 8 – 9 inches in its greatest diameter, 5 – 6 inches in its greatest height and 3 – 4 inches in its depth, weighing around 42 to 56 ounces.  As a result, its function—or dysfunction—has an incredibly important impact on our health.

Breaking down and eliminating toxins.  When this function is compromised, toxins remain in the system, causing an immune reaction and associated problems such as inflammation, increased likelihood of infections and food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances.

Breaking down and eliminating excess hormones.  When this function is not working optimally, all kinds of hormonal imbalances can occur, from pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) to an increase in perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, to acne and skin problems.

Balancing blood sugar.  When our blood sugar levels are high (for example, just after consuming sugary foods and drinks), the hormone insulin triggers the liver to store the excess as glycogen.  When blood sugar levels fall, the liver releases glycogen to be broken back down into glucose.  If the liver fails in this task, the result is chronic fatigue, sugar cravings, weight gain, and ultimately, diabetes.

Producing bile.  This vital substance helps digestion, by breaking down fat and removing excess cholesterol.  Without it, cholesterol levels rise and many digestive disorders can result, including bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, food allergies and intolerances and the malabsorption of nutrients, especially fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Storing nutrients.  The liver is a storehouse of many essential vitamins and minerals, including the vitamins A, D, E, K and B12, and the minerals iron and copper.

What Causes Liver Problems?

Alcohol – As you may have guessed, the number one cause is excess alcohol.  More than 400,000 people in the USA are admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions each year.  Half of all the alcohol consumed in American is consumed by only ten percent of the population.  One in three adult Americans is a heavy drinker, with a sufficient liquor habit to be indistinguishable from an alcoholic.  This behavior wreaks havoc on livers.  Prevention is the way to go: stop drinking and add vitality and energy back into your life.

Viral hepatitis – This infection damages the liver directly.  Worldwide, hepatitis and other infections such as malaria are major causes of liver failure.

Diabetes & Obesity – Being overweight and/or diabetic, conditions affecting one in four people over 40, are major causes of fatty liver.  These promote, and are in part caused by insulin resistance, which means you cannot keep your blood sugar levels even.  That is since sugar cannot get into the cells, as it should, blood sugar levels remain dangerously high.  The excess sugar is converted to fat, mainly in the liver where some of it stays.

Drugs — As little as 10 paracetamols can kill you – and 8 can harm you.  A common cause of acute liver failure is paracetamol overdose; 4 grams (8 x 500mg tablets) pushes up those liver enzymes AST and ALT. While paracetamol is the most common drug-induced cause of liver failure, there are many other drugs, which are also liver toxic. If you are taking medication, do check the side effects of liver toxicity. These could even include some herbal remedies, so it is worth checking the liver toxicity of any herbal medications you may be taking. Excess vitamin A can also contribute to liver problems, especially if you already have liver damage. Vitamin A is stored in ‘stellate’ cells in the liver and if these are overloaded, it can lead to liver damage. My advice, therefore, is not to eat organ meats, which are particularly rich in vitamin A, especially if you take a daily supplement containing retinol.

Gut & Digestive Problems – There is a direct link between gut health and liver health. Keeping your digestive tract healthy, therefore, perhaps by supplementing with occasional probiotics and avoiding any food allergens, helps the liver. When the gut wall becomes more permeable, more material that is undesirable enters the blood, which the liver has to clean up. Alcohol, NSAID painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen, antibiotics and food allergies can all irritate the gut. Glutamine powder (a teaspoon) last thing at night can help heal the gut, but too much of an amino acid or dietary protein is bad news if you have a damaged liver, since it will be unable to detoxify protein properly.

We still have a lot to learn about this often-abused organ, however. In fact, the cause of a quarter of all cases of liver failure is unknown. If your liver is somewhat damaged, combinations of all the above may just tip it over the edge.

Symptoms of an unhealthy liver

Symptoms partly depend on the type and the extent of liver disease. In many cases, there may be no symptoms. Signs and symptoms that are common to a number of different types of liver disease include:

• Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, liver spots on the skin, poor hair texture and slow hair growth
• Darkened urine
• Mental confusion, spaciness
• Sluggish elimination, general constipation alternating to diarrhea
• Food and chemical sensitivities, usually accompanied by poor digestion, and sometimes unexplained nausea
• PMS, headaches and other menstrual difficulties
• Bags under the eyes
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Unusual weight loss or weight gain and the appearance of cellulite, even if you are thin
• Anemia and large bruise patches indicate severe liver exhaustion
• Vomiting
• Light-colored stools
• Abdominal pain in the upper right part of the stomach
• Malaise, or a vague feeling of illness
• Skin itching and irritation
• Varicose veins (enlarged blood vessels)
• Unexplained fatigue, listlessness, depression or lethargy, lack of energy
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Low-grade fever
• Muscle aches and pains
• Loss of sex drive
• Depression

There are four stages to the declining health of your liver:

• The first stage is an overload of toxins and a lack of supporting nutrients, which causes certain liver enzyme pathways to start to become overloaded and consequently to under-function.
• Then you start to accumulate fat in the liver, officially called steatosis or fatty liver
• Too much of this and you start to get an inflamed liver
• This inflammation damages liver tissue causing fibrosis and cirrhosis, in other words, cell death.

Since the liver is the central clearinghouse of your body, detoxifying toxins, making fat from sugar, sugar from fat, and breaking down proteins, plus thousands of other critical functions, this final stage has many repercussions. Your immune system starts to break down, you lose blood sugar control and start experiencing insulin resistance – a precursor to diabetes type 2 – excess fats accumulate elsewhere in the body, leading to cardiovascular disease among other degenerative conditions.

Fatty Liver precedes liver disease

More than ever before in the history of humankind, human beings need to have healthy livers to break down the chemicals that have crept into our environment. If you talk to radiologists and gastroenterologists who are looking at people’s livers, today they will tell you that the condition “Fatty Liver” affects more than 50% of people over the age of 50!

Fatty liver is also known as NASH, which stands for Non-Alcoholic Steatorrhoeic Hepatosis or Non-Alcoholic-Fatty-Liver-Disease (NLFLS), which are terms that just mean that your liver is being invaded with fat!  A fatty liver is one that contains an excessive amount of fat and the normal healthy liver tissue is partly replaced with areas of unhealthy fats.  In such a liver, the liver cells and the spaces in the liver are filled with fat so the liver becomes slightly enlarged and heavier.  The liver has a greasy yellow appearance and may show an elevation of the liver enzymes.

Signs and symptoms of a fatty liver

• Extreme tiredness and fatigue
• Overweight, especially in the abdominal area
• Cannot seem to lose weight
• Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood
• May have diabetes Type 2
• May have Syndrome X
• May have problems with your immune system and “catch” whatever bug is going around.

The good news is that a fatty liver can be reversed but this can take some time – years in some cases.  If you are overweight and find it difficult to lose the excess weight, it is important to look at all the factors relevant to your present weight and state of health.  Apart from diet and nutritional deficiencies, the most important factors are –

• Insulin resistance or Syndrome X
• Fatty Liver disease.  The liver contains an excessive amount of fat and the normal healthy liver tissue is partly replaced with areas of unhealthy fats.
• Toxicity

You may have a build-up of fat-soluble toxins (such as insecticides & pesticides), drug metabolites or waste products of metabolism in your fatty tissues and liver.  This slows down the metabolism of the fatty parts of your body and also over-burdens your liver.  This means that the liver burns fat less efficiently.  Gentle and regular detoxification is very helpful when trying to lose weight.  Drinking plenty of water, raw vegetable juices and liver toning herbs and formulas will help the detoxification process.

Here are 15 tips to keep your liver healthy:

1. Cut back on alcohol or avoid it altogether.  Do not have more than one drink of alcohol a day (e.g. 4 ounces of wine), and preferably not every day.
2. Have a dark green leafy vegetable salad every day.
3. Drink at least eight to ten glasses of purified water every single day and drink it throughout the day.
4. Eat foods high in sulphur such as garlic, onions, and eggs.  Sulphur is vital for healthy liver function.
5. Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar.  The liver prefers bitter to sweet tasting foods.
6.  Eat lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables which help to detoxify the liver and boost your immune system.
7. Take a B-complex vitamin every day, especially vitamin B12 which significantly reduces jaundice, anorexia, and serum bilirubin and helps to strengthen the function of the liver as well as fight stressors
8. Keep your digestive tract healthy.  If you have digestive problems explore the possibilities of food allergies and eliminating sensitive foods from your diet for several months to give your liver and body a rest.  Consider supplementing with probiotics.
9. Supplement with at least 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C daily.  Studies show that vitamin C helps protect the liver.  Even doses as low as 500 milligrams daily helps prevent fatty buildup and cirrhosis.  5,000 mg of vitamin C per day appears to flush fats from the liver.
10. Eliminate red meats, partially hydrogenated fats
11. Lose weight if you are overweight.  Excess weight puts added stress on your liver and causes imbalances and hormonal irregularities.
12. Give yourself a liver detox twice a year in the spring and fall, using extra vitamin D from the sun to help.  Your liver is probably the most stressed in the spring and early summer (one of the reasons that people with skin problems get more flare-ups in the spring).
13. Increase your intake of liver friendly nutrients, such as dandelion and milk thistle extracts, and remove all toxins from your body.
14. Get plenty of exercise and fresh air daily.
15. Avoid eating sugar and all artificial sweeteners as these are toxic to the liver and cause fatigue and hypoglycemia.  Choose fresh raw fruits as a natural source of sweetener and eat in a balanced way as much as possible.

BONUS TIP #16:  Do a 3-day juicing detox and cleanse program!  Juice detoxing is the fastest, and safest (biochemical) method of removing unwanted weight and toxins, while increasing physical well-being, helps you to stay slim, feel energized, healthy, and vital, and is a huge help in breaking of dependencies and addictions.

Over time, with reduction and removal of toxins, everything simply starts to work better — from your joints and muscles to your immune system. Your skin will glow, and people will remark that you look younger and healthier. And there’s a good chance your doctor will notice a difference too at your next check-up.  Even if you feel relatively healthy, a juicing detox is a wonderful preventative measure against aging and possible future ill-health.

A liver that is loved and healthy will make you look much younger!

A healthy liver will support your heart in the full experience of JOY!

A healthy liver will give you amazing VITALITY AND ENERGY!

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The most powerful relaxation mineral and natural tranquilizer

Magnesium is the most versatile mineral in your body and is known to be required for several hundred different functions.  One of the principle functions of magnesium in the body is that it enables muscles to relax.  Without sufficient magnesium in the body, the muscles cramp and we can feel tense, nervous and jittery.  In fact, anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff – whether it is a body part or even a mood – is a sign of magnesium deficiency.  When this happens to the heart muscles, for example, the heart does not go through a complete relaxation phase.  This results in rapid heart beat and irregular heart rate known as arrhythmia and can eventually lead to other more serious problems such as chronic degenerative heart disease.

According to the Nutrition Almanac, “Magnesium deficiency is thought to be closely related to coronary heart disease, including myocardial necrosis.  An inadequate supply of this mineral may result in the formation of clots in the heart and brain and may contribute to calcium deposits in the kidneys blood vessels, and heart.  Heart failure resulting from fibrillation and lesions in the small arteries is linked to a deficiency of magnesium, as is vasodilation, which is followed by hyperkinetic behavior and fatal convulsions.”

Deficiency Effects and Symptoms:

Studies have revealed that up to half of Americans are deficient in magnesium and don’t know it.  According to one study published in the journal of “Critical Care”, a deficiency in this critical nutrient can make you twice as likely to die as other people and may be a major factor in many common health problems in industrialized countries.   Several common conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma and allergies have all been linked to a magnesium deficiency.  Perhaps not coincidentally, these conditions also tend to occur in clusters together within the same individual which thereby may provide a logical explanation of why some people suffer from a constellation of these types of problems.

One of the ways we become deficient in magnesium is because of the competing nature of calcium and magnesium; excessive calcium intake from foods or supplements can lead to a magnesium deficiency.  Another way we become magnesium deficient is because many of us eat a diet that contains practically no magnesium – a high processed, refined diet that is based mostly on white flour, meat, and dairy (all of which have no magnesium).

According to the Nutrition Almanac, “Magnesium deficiency can easily occur because magnesium is refined out of many foods during processing. Cooking food removes the minerals; the oxalic acid in foods like spinach and phytic acid found in cereals bind magnesium in the body, as do unbalanced amounts of salts….A deficiency can occur in people with diabetes, those who use diuretics or digitalis preparations, the elderly, those with pancreatitis, chronic alcoholism, kwashiorkor, pregnancy, cirrhosis of the liver, arteriosclerosis or kidney malfunction, those on low-calorie or high-carbohydrate diets, and those who have severe malabsorption such as that caused  by chronic diarrhea or vomiting….Fluoride, high zinc levels, high levels of vitamin D, diuretics, and diarrhea will cause a deficiency of magnesium.”

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

Because magnesium is active in so many different processes in your body (over 300), magnesium deficiency symptoms are varied and can include:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety, hyperactivity, restlessness
• Constipation
• Muscle spasms, twitches, soreness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Back aches
• Headaches
• Chest tightness and difficulty breathing
• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Extreme fatigue
• Osteoporosis
• Irritability

• Sensitivity to loud noises
• Autism
• ADD
• Angina
• Anal spasms
• Migraines
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue
• Asthma
• Kidney stones
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• PMS
• Menstrual cramps
• Acid reflux
• Irritable bladder
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Difficulty swallowing

Any of these common symptoms may indicate that you need more magnesium in your diet, but this simple mineral can help eliminate these symptoms and enhance your health.

Magnesium deficiency has even has been linked to inflammation in the body and higher C-reactive protein levels (CRP).  C-reactive protein is a plasma protein that rises in the blood with the inflammation from certain conditions.  It can rise as high as 1000-fold with inflammation and is therefore a test of value in medicine, reflecting the presence and intensity of inflammation.  Since inflammation is believed to play a major role in the development of coronary artery disease (and many other chronic diseases), markers of inflammation have been tested in respect to heart health.  CRP was found to be the only marker of inflammation that independently predicts the risk of a heart attack.

The Calcium to Magnesium Ratio

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for calcium is 800 mg/day, whereas for magnesium it is 400 to 450 mg/day.  Only about one-third of magnesium is absorbed from dietary sources.  Therefore, a daily magnesium intake of 1200 mg/day has been recommended by some researchers (22).  The traditional ratio of approximately 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium needs to be upgraded to increase magnesium intake in view of the overwhelming beneficial role of magnesium.  The ideal ratio for most people’s needs is an equal ratio of calcium and magnesium.

The absorption and metabolism of calcium and magnesium is one of mutual dependence, and therefore, the balance between these two minerals is especially important.  If calcium consumption is high, magnesium intake needs to be high also.

How to Reverse Your Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

If you suffer from any of the symptoms I mentioned above or have any of the diseases noted, don’t worry – it’s an easy fix!!

Here’s how:

To absorb magnesium we need a lot of it in our diet, plus enough vitamins B6 and D and selenium to get the job done. Moreover, much of modern life conspires to help us lose whatever magnesium we get in our diet.

Magnesium levels are decreased by excess alcohol, salt, coffee, phosphoric acid in colas, profuse sweating, prolonged or intense stress, chronic diarrhea, excessive menstruation, diuretics (water pills), antibiotics and other drugs, and some intestinal parasites.

Diet and lifestyle play a key role in your magnesium intake. Here are some simple and easy ways to boost your magnesium intake:

• Eat green vegetables. Green vegetables have lots of chlorophyll, a molecule that contains magnesium.
• Eat foods high in magnesium.  These include kelp, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashews, buckwheat, brazil nuts, Dulse, filberts, millet, pecans, walnuts, rye, tofu, soy beans, brown rice, figs, dates, collard greens, avocado, parsley, beans, dandelion greens, and garlic
• Avoid refined and processed foods. Most refined products like white sugar and processed foods made with white flour have had their magnesium removed.
• Try fermented foods and drinks. Fermented foods and drink populate your gut with probiotics (beneficial bacteria and yeast) that help your body absorb more magnesium from your food.
• Try a magnesium supplement. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate, although magnesium bound to Krebs cycle chelate (malate, succinate, fumarate) are also good.
• Avoid magnesium carbonate, sulfate, gluconate, and oxide.  They are poorly absorbed (and the cheapest and most common forms found in supplements) Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to magnesium glycinate.
• Taking a hot bath with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) is a good way to absorb and get much needed magnesium, not to mention relaxes your entire body.
• Most people benefit from taking 400-1600 mg per day of magnesium to help relax you and to help your bowels move on a regular basis.

And remember, most minerals are best taken as a team with other minerals in a multi-mineral formula.

Be Relaxed with Magnesium

If you want to feel your best, then don’t overlook magnesium. This low profile mineral is actually a key to your health and vitality! With the right calcium magnesium ratio, you’ll always be feeling calm and relaxed.

Sources:

Dean, Carolyn, MD., the Miracle of Magnesium (2005)

Fast Facts, National Osteoporosis Foundation.
http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm

Hyman, Mark, MD, Ultra-metabolism, November 2007

De Angellis, Tony, “Tony’s Tidbits: Magnificent Magnesium,” Tony’s Tidbits, Jan 2002.

Schachter, Michael, “The Importance of Magnesium to Human Nutrition,” http://www.mbschachter.com/importance_of_magnesium_to_human.htm

Simmons, Sandy, “Common Conditions Linked to a Magnesium Deficiency,” CTDS.info.
http://www.ctds.info/magnesium.html

Magnesium Online Library, http://www.mgwater.com/

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As we age our bodies become more challenged by various forms of stress, whether its environmental pollution, chemicals, and preservatives we ingest from foods and drugs, work related, or via our emotional issues.  All of these deplete our body’s natural ability to make enough enzymes to meet the demands of daily life.  When this happens our system may become polluted, digestion poor, all of which can cause toxins to build up within the body and our metabolism to become compromised and eventually lead to further health issues and complications down the line.     

Our body needs enzymes to function properly.  Not only do we need them for healthy digestion and metabolism, but we also need them to live because without them we would not be able to breathe, swallow, drink, eat, and digest our food.  Enzymes are incredible molecules that are found in all living things and without them, life would not be possible. 

What are Enzymes and How Necessary are they?

By definition, enzymes are catalysts, substances that cause a chemical reaction to move faster.  Enzymes are the catalysts of biochemical reactions in living organisms.  They have energized protein molecules that are found in all living things.  If it’s a plant or an animal, it has enzymes.   

Enzymes are critical for life.   At present, researchers have identified more than 3,000 different enzymes in the human body.  Every second of our lives these enzymes are constantly changing and renewing, sometimes at an unbelievable rate. 

They act as catalysts to help regulate all biochemical reactions that occur within the human body.  Enzymes are also instrumental in digestion.  They are very important because they help to break up large food molecules into smaller units that are absorbed into the cells making it possible to benefit from the nutrients found in those foods while also removing toxins.  They are present in every phase of digestion and without them; you can’t adequately digest what you eat.  Enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock this energy for use in the body.   

Enzymes not only help the body digest food and assimilate nutrients from that food, but they also assist in all chemical reactions taking place in our body; including the regeneration of cells and tissues, and the elimination of waste products and toxins as well as supporting our immune system.  Our body’s ability to function, to repair when injured, and to ward off disease is directly related to the strength and numbers of our enzymes.   In short, enzymes make things happen and an enzyme deficiency can be nothing short of devastating since no person, plant or animal can exist without them! 

Specific Jobs Enzymes perform:

1. Digest food
2. Break down toxins
3. Cleanse the blood
4. Strengthen the immune system
5. Build protein into muscle
6. Contract muscles
7. Reduce stress on the pancreas and other vital organs

Enzymes were first discovered in the 1930’s by the late Dr. Edward Howell who was the pioneer of Enzyme Therapy.  Dr. Howell realized the following:  

1.Food is composed not only of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fibers, vitamins, and minerals but also enzymes.   

2.All living things contain enzymes; in fact, life cannot exist without them.  Enzymatic activity is responsible for every biochemical reaction that occurs in living matter. 

3.Enzymes are not just inorganic catalysts; they are biochemically active and therefore can be exhausted and become deficient in the human body.  They are essential nutrients.   

Do we have an infinite supply of enzymes?

Unfortunately not.  Enzymes can and do wear out.  The scientific team Macarthur and Baille of the University of Toronto, at the conclusion of a piece of research stated:  

The organism appears to receive a specific sum total of “vitality” rather than a definite allotment of days.  Life runs out its course to its natural term with a velocity directly proportional to the catabolic rate, or, as commonly expressed, according to rapidity of “wear and tear”. 

Catabolic rate translates into enzyme activity, and wear and tear into enzyme loss.  Dr. Howell states that: boiled down, these definitions of life mean that each child is born with a definite amount of enzyme potential.  It can be saved or wasted; used up rapidly by living at a fast tempo, or used sparingly at a slower pace.   

It was once thought by scientists and researchers that illness and aging depleted the amount of enzymes found in our body.  We now know that illness and aging are caused by a depletion of enzymes in our body rather than the other way around.   

What causes depletion of enzymes?

Some of the ways in which we deplete and destroy enzymes are: 

• Through sweat and body waste 
• Cooking at high temperatures such as deep frying and microwaving our foods. 
• Overly processed and fast foods 
• Genetically modified foods 
• Environmental pollution 
• Smoking 
• Alcohol  
• Stress factors 
• Aging causes organs usually responsible for producing digestive enzymes to not produce insufficiently or fewer amounts. 

These factors deplete our enzyme levels, stress our digestive system and our immune system, leave us feeling tired, depressed and without energy, and, quite possibly can contribute to a shorter lifespan.   

Given these factors of aging, processed foods, and cooking, our bodies are soon to become overburdened and are not able to produce the much needed enzymes that we need.  Fortunately though, there are ways we can turn this around and help reverse the problem.   

3 Types of Enzymes 

There are three major classes of Enzymes: 

1. Digestive Enzymes
2. Food or Plant Enzymes
3. Metabolic Enzymes

Digestive Enzymes are secreted by the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and the small intestine to help break down food into simple components.  Human digestive enzymes include ptyalin, pepsin, trypsin, lipase, protease, and amylase.  The body does not make cellulose, an enzyme necessary for proper digestion of fiber, so it must be introduced through the raw foods we eat. 

Food Enzymes exist naturally in raw food. If the food is cooked above 115 degrees Fahrenheit the high temperature involved in the cooking process destroys the enzymes.  For this reason it is recommended that we supplement our diet with enzymes. 

Digestive enzymes and food enzymes serve the same function; they digest the food so it can be absorbed into the blood stream. The difference between the two is that food enzymes are derived from fresh raw uncooked foods such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, raw unpasteurised dairy, meat and fish (sashimi), whilst digestive enzymes are made inside our body. 

Metabolic Enzymes are produced in the cells and are found throughout the body in the organs, in the bones, the blood, and inside the cells themselves. Metabolic enzymes help run the heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys. Hundreds of metabolic enzymes are necessary for the working of our body. 

Our bodies naturally produce two types of enzymes as they are needed, digestive and metabolic, while food enzymes can only be consumed orally. 

Nature has placed enzymes in food to digest everything you eat: starches, fats, protein, fiber, sugars, and dairy foods – instead of forcing the enzymes secreted in our bodies to do all of the work.  

There are seven categories of food enzymes:

(1) Lipase, which serves to break down fat;
(2) Protease, which works to break down protein;
(3) Cellulase, which assists to break down fibers;
(4) Amylase to break down starch;
(5) Lactase to break down dairy foods;
(6) Sucrase to break down sugars; and
(7) Maltase to break down grains. 

Ways to Restore Enzymes 

There are two ways to preserve and replenish our enzyme level: by eating raw food and by taking enzyme supplements. 

We can supplement our diets with enzymes from outside sources such as plants. If we add an enzyme supplement from external sources to our diet when we eat a meal we will greatly increase the quality and longevity of our lives. Enzyme supplements increase the amount of nutrients we absorb from our diet and improve our overall nutrition, thereby improving health and vitality.  Enzyme supplements also help to decrease or eliminate indigestion and acid reflux, reduce fatigue and increase our energy, strengthen our immune system and enhance the regeneration of our cells and tissues.

Who Should Take Supplemental Enzymes?

If you are sick or trying to recover from an acute or a chronic disease, taking enzyme supplements would be beneficial.  Some examples of conditions that may be helped by taking enzymes include: 

• People with hypoglycemia 
• Endocrine gland deficiencies 
• Obesity 
• Anorexia nervosa 
• Stress-related problems 
• Skin ailments (psoriasis, acne, eruptions, stretch marks, etc.) 
• Chronic inflammation 
• Cardiovascular disease 
• Circulatory problems 
• High blood pressure 
• Arteriosclerosis 
• High cholesterol 
• Fatigue 
• Epstein-Barr syndrome 
• Fibromyalgia 
• Asthma 
• Allergies 
• Arthritis 
• Joint problems 
• Diabetes 
• Depression 
• Anxiety 
• ADD/ADHD 
• Insomnia 
• Multiple sclerosis 
• Candida albicans 
• Parasites 
• Respiratory ailments 
• All types of infections (including colds, flu, sore throat, yeast) 

Realizing the vital importance of digestive enzymes and the role they have in maintaining our very lives as well as preventing some of the serious, sometimes life-threatening health issues we face will greatly improve the quality and longevity of our lives.   

Enzyme supplementation in our diet 

Some of the many benefits to health and energy from increasing your enzymes supplies include the following:  

• Improves overall digestion so we have more energy for life
• Reduces the effects of aging, wrinkles, sun spots.
• Aids in disease prevention
• Aids in the prevention of cancer and debilitating diseases
• Minimizes the negative effects of cancer therapies
• Boosts the immune system
• Reduces inflammation /soreness of muscle and joint pain
• Retards periodontal disease
• Prevention of heart disease
• Speeds healing after surgery
• Reduces the negative effects of anesthetics
• Aids in reproduction problems, regulating cycles, infertility and sterility
• Cleanses our system from allergic reactions

Some suggestions to help you improve digestion and absorption of nutrients in foods 

In essence, when we improve our digestion we are improving our health.  

• Eating our food as close to its raw state as possible is a good place to start.  
• If eating well cooked/cured/smoked meats, adding digestive enzymes would be necessary to ensure they are digested.  
• When cooking eggs, soft boiled or poached is best, instead of frying. Eggs have some of the best enzymes and nutrients particularly for our thyroid gland and our liver, so it pays to preserve these delicate enzymes in eggs as well as other proteins. 
• Avoid drinking water while eating as it can dilute your body’s natural supply of digestive enzymes. 
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice to water and even to meals.  Lemons add enzymes and flavor. 
• Eat a raw salad once a day.  Salads are packed with enzymes that help you digest other foods eaten at the same meal. 
• Eat a piece of fruit or two a day.  Papaya and pineapple are particularly loaded with enzymes. 

How Will You Know Enzymes Are Working? 

One of the ways is in what you DON’T experience: no indigestion, no bloating, no stomach gas, no heartburn, or flatulence caused by incomplete digestion.  

What you WILL experience is an increase in formed bowel movements – at least 1 to 2 times a day, usually after every meal – “one meal in, one meal out.” Also, these movements will not have a foul odor. When this happens, it means your food is being digested properly and used by your body instead of sitting in your intestines where it can rot and putrefy, and attract harmful bacteria.  

You may experience mild symptoms of cleansing such as acne, bloating, gas, dull headaches or queasiness. These are only temporary. If you experience discomfort, make sure you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to reduce the cleansing symptoms and get at least 10 to 15 minutes of exercise daily.  

It’s been clinically proven that the more enzymes you take, the quicker your body can repair, restore, and strengthen itself, sometimes taking a few days to a few weeks. (Allergy symptoms usually disappear 1 hr. after taking Amylase!) However, for minimal usage, you must wait at least 3 to 4 months before evaluating your results. It takes time to re-educate the body’s natural ability to repair, restore, and strengthen itself, so be patient.  

You’ll also notice changes in your body. Your body can do magnificent healing on its own, given the proper nutrients.  

Enzymes are the spark of life – they run your entire body and without them we die.  They are the key to good digestion and immune system function, and it is vital that we ensure that we have enough supply in our system in order to have optimal digestion, energy and overall wellbeing.

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