What Causes Allergy in Spring and How to Avoid Feeling Muddled

When spring springs forth, do you enjoy the beautiful flowers or do you wonder, "What causes allergy?" because you are so tired of all the sneezing, runny eyes, runny nose ...?

If those symptoms match what happens to you every spring, then you suffer from seasonal allergies, what is commonly called "hay fever." If you have hay fever, you are not alone. Did you know that 35 million Americans get hay fever every spring? That's a lot of runny noses and muddled brains. Luckily, you don't have to spend this spring in misery. In this article we offer three simple natural solutions that address the causes of allergy.

What Causes Allergy in Your Body During the Spring?
What causes allergy during the spring is pollen--those tiny grains that plants like trees and grasses release by the trillions. For many people, pollen isn't a big deal, but for people with hay fever, pollen causes a major immune overreaction. If you have hay fever, when pollen enters your nasal passages or lungs, your body mistakenly believes that the pollen is a foreign invader (normally bacteria and viruses) and goes on the attack. Your body releases antibodies to attack the pollen, and in the process, chemicals called histamines are released into the bloodstream. Histamines are responsible for hay fever symptoms, such as runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and other symptoms of allergies.

Digestively, something else happens to your body when you suffer from allergies. Specifically, when you have an allergic reaction, your body releases an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Research indicates that the levels of the good bacteria that live in your gut, called probiotics, can affect how much IgE your body produces, and how severe your allergy symptoms.

3 Natural Solutions That Address the Causes of Allergy
Now that you know what happens inside your body that causes all those miserable allergy symptoms, let's take a look at some natural solutions that actually address the causes of allergy.

Natural Solution #1: Eat Well
Research indicates that what you eat can really affect how badly hay fever will affect you. For instance, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can support your body's immune response so that it doesn't go overboard in response to pollen. Fresh fruits and vitamins provide plenty of vitamins (such as C and D) and antioxidants to help your body distinguish the real foreign invaders (bacteria and viruses) from pollen. In addition, drinking clear soups can help thin mucous and clear nasal passages. While we can't detail a full menu plan in an article of this length, just know that if you skip the "gut bombs" and eat fresh and healthy meals, your body will thank you. In turn, you will feel less muddled by hay fever symptoms!

Natural Solution #2: Take Acidophilus and Enzymes
Studies show that having a healthy population of acidophilus in your small intestine can reduce the amount of IgE that your body produces in response to pollen. Participants who took extra acidophilus during spring allergy season showed lower levels of IgE in blood tests. In addition, taking supplemental enzymes between meals can support your body's immune response. It turns out that your body uses the extra enzymes to englobe and remove pollen grains from your system, reducing the amount of overreaction from your body's native immune system.

Natural Solution #3: Add Antioxidants and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Medical and dietary experts indicate that foods high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may help ease inflammation that are the result of hay fever. Both of these nutrients can be found in colored fruits, leafy greens, AFA blue-green algae, deep water fish, and nuts and seeds. Again, all of these foods are found in a healthy diet plan. If you are "on the run" and don't have time to cook and eat healthy, try taking AFA blue-green algae or fruits and veggies in a capsule. Both can support your body's immune system and general health.

The good news about these natural solutions is that they not only support your body so that you don't get so muddled during allergy season, but these solutions are also good for heart health and overall immune health. That's a pretty good return for a few natural solutions that are simple to integrate into your life, right?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/liveto110/
 

Being Mad as a Hatter is No Joke When it Comes to Mercury Poisoning

Do you know where the phrase "mad as a hatter" came from? It is not just a phrase, it has an actual meaning. Back in Britain, between 1600 and 1800, makers of felt hats used quicksilver, which is mercury nitrate, to make hats. It was a carefully guarded trade secret.

The only problem, of course, is that people who wore these hats became, well, mad as hatters. They developed poor memories, inappropriate behaviors, and even tremors that became know as "the hatter's shakes."

Wow! Talk about being mad as a hatter! Can you say heavy metal poisoning? So much for the "trade secret."

Before We Knew About Mercury Poisoning and Its Effects
Unfortunately, many people were negatively affected by mercury poisoning before scientists discovered that this heavy metal caused many health issues. Back in the day, mercury was used in many medications, especially those used to treat syphilis. Doctors even directly injected people with mercury and applied direct mercury ointments.

Worse, many dentists continue to use mercury amalgam fillings today, even though negative effects of mercury are well documented. What does mercury do to the body? Here's a short list:

• generates free radical cell damage and cell death
• inhibits many antioxidants, including super oxide dismutase (SOD)
• retards brain development
• speeds the development of diabetes, hypertension, strokes, and cardiovascular disease
• causes muscle weakness, include chronic fatigue syndrome

... and that's only the short list! Mercury poisoning can also lead to arthritis, depression, dermatitis, dizziness, gum disease, hair loss, and insomnia.

What to Do if You Suspect You Have Mercury Poisoning
If you are concerned about mercury poisoning, whether because of dental fillings, eating a lot of seafood, or external sources of contamination, luckily there are steps you can take to help your body get rid of mercury.

To help your body rid itself of mercury, you need to ingest foods and supplements high in:

• chlorophyll
• enzymes
• antioxidants

All of these will support the cleansing process, especially at the cellular level as well as from the liver and kidneys. Research shows that the food richest in all of these substances is AFA blue-green algae. According to Dr. Jeffrey Bruno,

"The use of algae has stimulated the excretion of some contaminants ... lead and mercury are also excreted without detrimental effects associated with conventional chelation therapy."

Other herbs that support detoxification of mercury include cilantro, yellow dock, milk thistle, dandelion, red clover, burdock, cleavers, marshmallow, and licorice.

I have successfully helped myself and other people I advise on nutrition to successfully detoxify their bodies of mercury. Of course, the first step is to remove any possible sources of mercury poisoning, including excess seafood and dental fillings made of mercury amalgam.

Then I usually suggest people take these daily packs of supplements that include AFA blue-green algae, enzymes, acidophilus, and bifidus. For an extra boost, I also suggest this wheat sprout and algae supplement from the same company, as the concentrated wheat sprouts have a very strong antioxidant effect in the body. Alternatively, Dragon River Herbals also has a powerful herbal detoxification program, including detailed instructions on how to use it. Both of these approaches have worked well for many people.

So ... consider trying either of these approaches if you are feeling the negative effects of mercury poisoning, or just feeling a tad mad as a hatter!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/briangupton/digital-art-i-dig/

Are You Ready for Better Energy? 7 Natural Solutions for Better Daily Energy

Did you know that Americans are among the most sleep-deprived people in the world, which means that almost every adult in this country could use better energy! The bad news is that most Americans turn to coffee and energy drinks to get going in the morning, and then need sleep medications to slow down at night. This continuous cycle of uppers and downers confuses the body, not to mention stressing internal organs such as the liver and kidneys.

The good news is that there are many natural solutions for improving your daily energy, and all of them are simple--even for the busiest of people! If you want better energy and you want to avoid drinking an entire pot of coffee to keep you going all day, read on. We offer 7 natural solutions that are daily energy boosters. Follow these tips and learn how to improve energy naturally, in tune with your body's natural rhythms.

7 Natural Solutions for Better Daily Energy
You may be surprised at the simplicity of these tips for how to improve energy. They include the foods you eat, the amount of sunshine you get, various ways to get your body moving, plus simple supplements that go a long way toward supporting your body's natural energy production. Ready for simple natural solutions for better energy that really work? Then read on, McDuff!

#1 Better Energy Through Diet
You are most likely familiar with the energy boost that you get from sugar or caffeine ... grabbing a candy bar is so simple when you hit that energy lull around 3 pm. More than likely, you are also familiar with the "crash and burn" that comes an hour or two later, when the sugar has worked its way through your system, and fatigue returns with a vengeance. Not good. Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee or a sweet roll, look for foods that keep your blood sugar steady and signal your brain to produce good-mood chemicals. For instance, whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat bread will feed your body over a long period of time. Plus, studies show that whole grains increase the production of "feel good" brain chemical serotonin. Cashews, almonds, and hazelnuts--all high in magnesium--play an active role in converting sugars into energy ... without a sugar crash later!

#2 Suck It Up -- On Cinnamon, That Is
Few people know about the many health benefits of cinnamon. Studies have actually shown that taking a whiff of cinnamon can make you feel more alert and increase your daily energy levels. Sucking on a cinnamon stick produces similar results. As a bonus, cinnamon has natural health-protective properties. If you don't have any cinnamon handy, suck on a peppermint candy instead. Peppermint has similar fatigue-fighting properties.

#3 Get Enough Sunshine
Want to know how to improve your energy in 10 minutes or less? Simple. Take a walk on a sunny day. Research shows that exposure to sunshine does everything from enhancing mood, memory, and even self-esteem. This is because exposure to sunlight increases the production of endorphins and serotonin in the brain. Getting enough sunshine is a simple natural solution for those who live in sunny states. If, on the other hand, you live in a state with fewer sunny days, you can still get enough sunshine into your system ... and just as easily. Just add foods rich in chlorophyll to your diet. Chlorophyll is that substance that captures sunlight and converts it to usable sugars and foods. Dark leafy greens are great sources of chlorophyll. AFA blue-green algae is also excellent, since this form of algae also increases the production of mood-elevating substances in the brain, including typtophan, endorphins, serotonin, and PEA. AFA blue-green algae is literally like sunshine in a capsule ... how neat is that?

#4 Sniff Some Good Stuff -- Aromatherapy as a Way to Better Energy
Just as sucking on a cinnamon stick can boost your daily energy, sniffing certain aromas can give you an energy boost. For better energy any time of the day, consider sniffing essential oils such as grapefruit, peppermint, or lime. These have been shown to have the effect of making you more alert for a certain period of time.

#5 Eat Light to Be Bright
One of the biggest "sins" when it comes to how to have better energy is to gorge yourself at lunch! Digestion takes a lot of energy, and if you eat a huge lunch you can expect to feel sleepy an hour or two afterwards. One natural solution for better energy is to eat a good breakfast, a lighter lunch, and an even lighter dinner. Research shows that people who eat less and follow this schedule of eating are healthier and live longer. To give your body additional support in the digestive process, take one to two capsules of enzymes with each meal. Enzymes help your body break down foods more quickly and efficiently, so your body doesn't have to work quite as hard to process your lunch!

#6 Have Some Chocolate -- In Moderation, Of Course!
Yup, that's right ... we said chocolate. Studies show that chocolate can give you better energy because it is a mild stimulant. Chocolate also has other health benefits, such as lowering cardiovascular risks and boosting your memory. But don't go crazy with the hot chocolate with the little marshmallows ... that will only result in a sugar crash later in the day. Instead, try mixing up a cup of unsweetened cocoa with stevia (as a sweetener) and skim milk (for protein). This healthy recipe will satisfy your sweet tooth, give you better energy, and help you avoid a sugar crash later.

#7 Stretch Yourself
Whether you sit behind a desk all day or do heavy manual labor, chances are that your muscles don't get enough stretching. Even those who have a very active physical lifestyle often neglect stretching their muscles. If you have been sitting in one position for long periods of time, a gentle 10-minute stretching routine will re-invigorate fatigued muscles, increase circulation, and bring oxygen to those muscles. For those who engage in heavy manual labor, stretching elongates muscles shortened by heavy labor. Either way, the increased circulation and oxygenation from stretching is one of the best ways to have better energy. Stretch multiple times per day to increase the benefits of this natural solution to daily energy.

Pick One Solution or Pick 'Em All
As you can tell, none of these natural solutions to better daily energy is difficult. In fact, they are downright simple, not to mention sheer common sense. So if you are one of those sleep-deprived Americans (and chances are you are!) then choose one of the solutions above for better energy ... or pick 'em all. Making simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference in the amount of daily energy you have. When you consider the above tips, how to improve energy is literally a "no-brainer"!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.  

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/sherifjohan/

Graceful Aging: How to Get Clear Skin as You Age

Putting a "good face" on the act of graceful aging doesn't have to be difficult. You simply need to pay attention (or, should we say, more careful attention than you used to) to your skin! Age spots, sun damage, scars, and other marks that appear on skin can age us, making us look older than we would like. To counteract this effect, focus on a skin routine and lifestyle that gives you the best chance of having clear youthful-looking skin. In this article we provide a number of easy tips on how to get clear skin as you age!

Five Tips and Techniques on How to Get Clear Skin as You Age
The truth about aging is that we are all getting older, one day at a time, no matter our current chronological age. So while these tips are especially useful for people who want to ensure clear healthy skin as a part of graceful aging, the suggestions below are useful for anyone who wants clear skin at any age. The body responds well to good care and a healthy lifestyle from birth onward!

Clear Skin Tip #1: Avoid the Sun
Yes, we know! This is the tip that all beauty experts repeat and repeat and repeat. And here we are, repeating this tip yet again ... and we have good reason. Even though the incidence of skin cancer is on the rise, only one in seven Americans wears sunscreen daily (http://on.self.com/WsRLrZ). In addition, many sunscreens do not protect from both UVA and UVB rays from the sun, both of which can damage the skin ... not to mention age the skin!  A truly quality sunscreen must have a strong UVB filter plus as many as three UVA filters (http://bit.ly/XCJuAZ). Most sunscreens have only one UVA filter, if any. The best advice, of course, is simply to stay out of the sun. If you are going to be in the sun, avoid the hours between 10 am and 3 pm, when the rays are the most harmful. Cover up (hats and long sleeve shirts), and remember that you get sun exposure even on cloudy days!

Clear Skin Tip #2: Apply Antioxidants to Your Skin
The sad fact is that many of us were raised in an era when no one talked about skin protection or skin damage. So many of us baked ourselves in the sun with abandon (and apparently many Americans continue to do so today!). So what do you do if your skin has already been damaged by the sun? Here's the one word you need to know: antioxidants! Antioxidants are those molecular warriors that roam the body (or work on the surface of your skin) to repair, remove, or replace damaged cells. Antioxidants support your body's natural healing response. Our favorite antioxidant lotion is this one and we love it because it not only protects and renews your skin, it allows antioxidants to be absorbed through the skin and into your body. Now that is an antioxidant lotion that does double duty!

Clear Skin Tip #3: Take Antioxidants and Probiotics
This tip is a no-brainer. What is good for your biggest protective bodily organ (your skin) is also good for all the other organs inside your body. Nutritional experts say that "we have food on our faces," meaning that our diets are reflected by our facial skin. This is true because if your internal organs, such as your kidneys and liver, are not functioning well, they cannot purify your bodies. Some of those impurities will show up on your skin in the form of inflammation, eruptions, dark marks, poor or uneven tone, or marks and bumps. Not good. There are many good antioxidants on the market. Two that have proven effective for us include sprouted wheat in capsule form and Co-enzyme Q10. Adding probiotics and/or enzymes to your daily regimen of supplements can also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your digestive system, which means you will have fewer of those diet-related impurities on your face!

Clear Skin Tip #4: Rest and Exercise
Most people talk about "beauty rest," but few people actually get enough rest to keep their skin looking youthful and clear. Americans are among the most sleep-deprived people in the world. Is it any wonder that we look older than we actually are? Medical experts say that most people need seven to eight hours of continuous rest to allow their bodies to recuperate and rejuvenate from the stresses of daily life. Most people get between four and six hours of rest, even if they spend longer in bed. So getting enough beauty sleep is a big deal when it comes to graceful aging!

While sleeping and remaining at rest are important, movement is just as important to keeping skin clear and healthy. Exercise, even gentle exercise, increases circulation throughout the body. This helps your skin, which is the largest organ in your body, by flushing toxins from your skin cells. Improved circulation also helps your skin cells receive more oxygen and nutrients, which experts believe can stave off wrinkles and other signs of aging skin. Finally, remember that sweating is good since it can actually help unclog pores. Just be sure to wash your face right after your exercise routine as part of your regular skin care routine. After all, you wouldn't want all those toxins you just sweated out just sitting on your skin, right?

Clear Skin Tip #5: Stop Poisoning Your Skin
Just as most Americans don't put on sunscreen even though they know they "should," most smokers and drinkers don't stop themselves, even when they know that these two substances are among the most harmful to skin. If you want to age gracefully, stop smoking and drink only in moderation. Smoke not only dries out the skin, but it adds toxins to your body both inside and out. If you think wearing your diet on your face is bad, wearing the effects of smoking is even worse!

Alcohol also deters the body's natural healing processes because it causes dehydration and blood vessel dilation. Both of these can affect the tone and texture of skin, and certain forms of alcohol can cause an inflammatory effect in the skin cells. This is why long-term heavy drinkers often have red flushed faces. Drinking excessively is definitely not a way to have clear skin! Start drinking in moderation early because the damage caused by alcohol becomes permanent over time!

How to Get Clear Skin as You Age ... Not as Difficult as You Think!
At least, we hope that these tips appear simple. They do to us. Aging gracefully and keeping a clear youthful complexion is all about making small changes in your diet and your lifestyle a bit at a time. Start making these changes as early as possible in your life, and your skin will reward you many times over!


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/goodhealth/look-younger-now/

How to Slim Down: Why You Should Focus on Your Abs and Waist

New Year's has passed and, as usual, weight loss tops the list of resolutions that people have made for 2013. That's not surprising. What IS surprising is how little people know about how to slim down in healthy and easy ways. Of course, most people know the usual formula for slimming down: eat less, exercise more, drink more water, and eat healthier. But these days the art of how to slim down has become more of a science. That's why this article is dedicated to the fact that you should focus on your abs and your waist if you want to lose weight this year.

How to Slim Down: Why Focus on Abs and Waist?
If you want to slim down, take a look at your profile in the mirror. Chances are that your mid-section, meaning your abdominal area and your waist, are areas where you would love to lose weight. There might also be other areas in your body where you would like to drop a few pounds, but health-wise, slimming down your waist is much more beneficial than, say, losing that double chin.

When it comes to slimming down, why should you focus on your waistline? Here's what medical experts (WebMD) want you to know:

• waist-size is a good measure of overall health (women should not exceed 35 inches, men 40 inches)
• an excessively large waist increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure
• abdominal fat is worse than other kinds of fat because it wraps around internal organs, increasing your health risks
• your waist is one area you can focus on and specifically lose weight, called spot-toning (as opposed to other areas, like saggy underarms)

That should give you plenty of medical reasons for focusing on your waist when you think about how to slim down this year. There are also some pretty nice benefits when it comes to the "looks" department. Slimming down your waist might get you back into those skinny jeans or allow you to wear that body-hugging wrap that you have hidden in the back of the closet!

How to Slim Down Your Waist: 3 Tips You Can Use
Knowing you need to trim your waist size and actually getting it done are two different things. In this section we offer you 3 simple tips that should make it simple to slim down your waist. These tips are based on a simple principle: a bulky waistline is composed mostly of fat and undigested food.

Tip #1: How to Fight Fat to Lose Belly Weight
As we talked about above, belly fat is more detrimental to your overall health than any other kind of fat in your body. For instance, fat on your hips and thighs rests just under the skin, and doesn't interfere with the function of your vital organs. Belly fat, on the other hand, can wrap around vital organs like your liver, kidneys, and intestines, decreasing their function and increasing all kinds of health risks. So knowing how to fight fat, especially in your belly, is important. Here's what you might not know about fat:

 ** Each pound of fat contains 3,500 calories! **

Yup, that's right. We said three thousand five hundred calories. That is a lot of calories. So to fight fat, you have definitely got to watch what you eat and get more active. That's a general rule when it comes to how to slim down. In addition, when it comes to how to fight fat, you can also:

• eat more fiber and protein
• decrease your intake of carbohydrates and simple sugars
• add cinnamon and hot chili spices to your food
• eat fat-fighting foods like grapefruit (your body uses more calories digesting grapefruit than the fruit has)
• drink coffee and green tea in limited amounts to increase metabolism

If these sound like good methods for how to fight fat, read this post for more details.

Tip #2: How to Slim Down by Getting Rid of Undigested Food
We don't mean to gross you out, but a large portion of what people call a "beer belly" is really not at all related to beer. Instead, it's undigested food that is basically rotting in the intestines, creating a lot of bulk around your waistline. What's the reason for this? The foods we eat don't have enough digestive enzymes that our bodies can fully digest our meals. In addition, our bodies don't produce enough digestive enzymes to process our foods--that's just a factor of aging and the modern environment. That's the bad, icky news.

The good news is that there is a really simple natural solution to take care of the problem. This natural solution is to add probiotics to your daily regimen. Probiotics, such as acidophilus and bifidus, are the friendly bacteria that naturally live in your small and large intestines. These bacteria help your body process and digest the foods you eat, moving them through the digestive system so that they don't become stuck there, adding bulk to your waistline. While these bacteria are natural to our intestines, many factors in life can kill off these friendly bacteria. These factors include drinking chlorinated water, stress, antibiotics, environmental pollutants, taking any of a variety of medications ... and those are only a few of the examples.

To remedy this problem, we suggest taking 2-4 capsules of potent acidophilus in the morning, and 2-4 capsules of bifidus at night. Separating these probiotics between morning and night gives each type of bacteria to reach its natural place in the gut (acidophilus lives in the small intestine while bifidus lives in the large intestine). To get the most bang for your buck, it is important to choose a probiotic that is guaranteed live, is stored in the refrigerator for preservation, and can survive the acidity of the stomach. Our favorites are this form of acidophilus and this form of bifidus.

Tip #3: Add Enzymes to Prevent Undigested Food
The tip above helps you get rid of the undigested food (also called intestinal plaque) that is rotting in your gut. This tip helps you prevent the problem altogether by helping your body fully digest your food the first time around. With enough digestive enzymes, your body can easily digest whatever food you eat so that there's nothing left to sit around in your intestines. Choose a  full-spectrum enzyme that digests carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, plus can withstand the stomach's acidic environment. Taking 1-2 enzymes with each meal (and chlorine-free water, of course!) will not only help your body fully digest your food, but will also prevent you from getting the "after lunch sleepies." That sleepy feeling that you get after lunch is a sign that your body is working really hard to digest the meal you just ate ... and that your body isn't doing a very good job since it is lacking the necessary digestive enzymes. So take enzymes with meals.

If you really want to focus on how to slim down your profile, another way to use enzymes is to take enzymes between meals. When there is no food to digest in your stomach, your body will use digestive enzymes as scavengers, sending them around to clean up any trashy cells, unwanted and undigested food, and clearing up the blood. This general cleaning process applies to your body in general, as well as to your abdominal area.

Our favorite full-spectrum enzyme that has been fully-tested to survive the acidic stomach environment and to digest food is here. If you're not sure about the power of the enzymes you take, just try the oatmeal test. Cook up a small bowl of oatmeal. Open and sprinkle a capsule of enzymes on the oatmeal. Within 15 minutes or so, if your enzyme is up to snuff your oatmeal will turn into a soupy-substance that you could drink. That tells you that your enzymes are actually live, active, and working. We've tried the oatmeal test over and over with our favorite enzyme, and it works every time. Plus, it's fun!

How to Slim Down Your Waist: Not Too Hard, Right?
Adding a few supplements to your daily regimen and really focusing on fighting fat doesn't seem too hard, right? These tips on how to slim down are really pretty simple to incorporate into your daily life, and the results are very beneficial. If you are not convinced, go back to the top and read the list of negative impacts that belly fat has on your life. Then weigh it against the simple steps given here to trim your profile and fight belly fat. Sounds like you don't give up too much (except fat) and you get a lot, right?


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/ayushveda/

Fat Fighters: 7 Ways to Fight Fat

Fat fighters ... that's what this blog is all about today, and it's a topic that is hot on everyone's mind. The holidays are over, New Year's Resolutions have been made ... and guess what? The most common resolution is to LOSE WEIGHT!

No big surprise there. Here is a big surprise: only 8% of people will be able to keep that resolution. But don't worry. The tips in this article will help you keep your resolution to slim down and fight fat all year long. It's simple if you break it down into itty-bitty little chunks. In fact, we give you 7 little knowledge nuggets about fighting fat that are, well, easy to digest!


Fight Fat Tip #1: Eat Fat Fighting Foods
Fat fighting foods? Yup, there are actually foods that you can eat that will help you fight fat. It doesn't get much better than that! Most fat fighting foods are high in protein and fiber, low in carbohydrates. For instance, Greek yogurt is one of the best fat fighting foods because it is so high in protein. Protein stays in your stomach longer, so you feel full longer when you eat high-protein foods. Plus, your body burns more energy digesting protein than carbohydrates, making Greek yogurt (especially non-fat and sugar free varieties) a definite fat fighting food. For high-fiber foods, look at whole grains and fruits like grapefruit, which is low in calories and high in fiber. Eat these foods, feel full, and fight fat.

Fight Fat Tip #2: Take Enzymes with Meals
Do you know what happens when you eat fat but your body can't digest it? It goes rancid and literally clogs up your intestines, leading to that unattractive muffin top or beer belly. While our bodies should produce enough digestive enzymes to process and fight fat (you need the specific enzyme called lipase to process fats), most of us are short on the necessary enzymes. As we age, our bodies decrease their production of digestive enzymes, which is why we tend to gain weight as we age. For instance, the average 70 year old produces only half the digestive enzymes as the average 20 year old! To fight fat and counteract this problem, take digestive enzymes with each meal. Be sure to take enzymes that contain a full variety to digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. My favorite fat fighting power enzyme is THIS ONE, which comes with extra cayenne for an extra digestive kick! I take 1-2 capsules per meal and have stayed slim throughout my life (plus I don't suffer from any of those embarrassing signs of indigestion, like bad breath, heartburn, or gas).

Fight Fat Tip #3: Add Cinnamon
While cinnamon isn't a specific fat fighting food, this additive does stabilize the body's blood sugar, which can reduce cravings for food, especially sweet, salty, and oily foods. When you talk about fighting fat, these are definitely the types of food that you want to stay away from!

Fight Fat Tip #4: Spice Up Your Food
Are you a fan of hot chilis and other spicy foods? Then you are already on your way to fighting fat. Adding spicy foods like hot peppers gives your body an extra digestive kick (which I why I choose an enzyme supplement that has cayenne). The main ingredient in hot peppers that helps digestion is called capsaicin. Studies show that capsaicin tends to speed up your body's metabolism for a short period of time and improve digestion. As an added bonus, people tend to eat less when the food is spicy. So go for the hot stuff and fight fat while you're at it!

Fight Fat Tip #5: Take the Probiotic Acidophilus
Another simple way to fight fat and aid digestion is to add the probiotic (or beneficial bacteria) Acidophilus into your daily regimen. This beneficial bacteria lives in your small intestine, and aids your body in digestion. Since fats are digested in the small intestine, having enough beneficial bacteria can really help with fat breakdown. Specifically, fats are broken down in the small intestine by bile from the liver and the digestive enzyme lipase. The Acidophilus helps your small intestine keep everything moving smoothly, and helps the body distribute the resulting glycerol and fatty acids. Since the word "probiotic" literally means "for life," this is definitely one of the simpler and better ways to fight fat and improve your overall health. When choosing a strain of Acidophilus, be sure and pick one that can survive the acidity of the stomach and is certified live at the time of purchase.

Fight Fat Tip #6: The Caffeine Fix
Take this tip with a bit of caution. In the battle to fight fat, caffeine does actually have a very beneficial effect. The caffeine found in green tea or black coffee does boost your metabolism for a short period of time, and can help you lose weight. However, most people cancel out the effects of this benefit by ordering coffee with too many fatty additives, like cream and sugar. If you can't stop ordering the mocha lattes, a better choice may be green tea. Studies show that green tea can often help the body burn abdominal fat and can stimulate the metabolism for a brief period of time. To get the most benefit out of green tea, drink several cups per day, hot.

Fight Fat Tip #7: Add Vinegar
Studies show that vinegar, a no-calorie substance, can aid the body in breaking down fats. While some old-time home remedies call for drinking apple cider vinegar straight on a daily basis, this can have adverse effects for people with certain health conditions. Instead, focus on using vinegar in salad dressings and other types of food flavorings. The good news is that vinegar is tasty by itself, so you don't need to dress it up much. Use vinegar as a seasoning to fight fat, add taste to your food, and enjoy a no-calorie goodie!

Hopefully these 7 fat fighting tips will give you some ideas on how you can slim down and stay slim in the New Year. All of these tips are simple and easy to implement, even if you are the busiest person in the world. As an added bonus, most of these tips make your food taste better while helping you fight fat. Whoo-hoo!


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Photo Credit: http://ow.ly/gE16r

What Supplements Should I Take?

"What supplements should I take?" is one of the most common questions we get on our website. Most people know that the foods we eat no longer provide all the nutrition we need to stay healthy, but have no idea what supplements they should take to boost their diet.

In actuality, the question that people should be asking is, "What supplements should I take FIRST?" Obviously, the supplements that you choose should be tailored to your unique health and lifestyle requirements. For instance, if you have a particular health goal, such as to develop your stamina or flexibility, you would choose one group of supplements. If, on the other hand, your goal is to boost your immune system so that you don't catch every cold and flu this winter, then your supplement choices would look different.

But, and this is a big but, no matter which supplements you choose to take, you need to look at choosing some foundational supplements first. These foundational supplements will help you maximize the benefits from the other supplements you choose specifically for your health goals.

What Supplements Should I Take First?
This is the real question to ask yourself before hunting for goal-specific supplements at your health food store. So, what supplements should you take first? The answer is simple. You should take supplements that improve your digestion and assimilation of nutrients. These supplements are mostly probiotics and enzymes.

Probiotics
Let's take a look at probiotics first. You may have heard this term on recent commercials for yogurt or digestive supplements. Simply stated, probiotics is the term used to describe organisms such as "friendly bacteria" that inhabit a healthy intestinal tract. Literally the term means "for life"!

There are two forms of probiotics that are important for helping your body get the most out of the food you eat and the supplements you take: acidophilus and bifidus.

Acidophilus plays a key role in supporting the health of the small intestine. Specifically, the strain of acidophilus we recommend the most (the Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 strain) is uniquely designed to help the body process food efficiently and eliminate waste from the small intestine. So acidophilus helps enhance the body's ability to absorb nutrients. In addition, this strain of acidophilus produces B-vitamins and acidophilin for immune system support--what you could call Nature's form of antibiotics (only they are PRObiotics!) That's a lot of bang for your buck!

Then there is bifidus, which supports the health and balance of the large intestine. The large intestine performs a number of important digestive functions, including the absorption of water from food that is consumed and the passage from the body of remaining waste products. Bifidus promotes the growth of good intestinal flora in the large intestine, which not only promotes efficient digestion and assimilation of nutrients, but also helps inhibit gas and bloating. Now that will really help a lot of people rest easier after a big meal! Finally, bifidus lowers the pH of the intestine, manufactures specific B-vitamins, and promotes immune function and overall health.

Enzymes
In addition to probiotics, the third foundational supplement that helps you get the most out of your food and other supplements is enzymes. We recommend Simplexity's SBG Zymes, which contain natural food enzymes to help the body break down fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, and to help enhance the digestive process. When you take enzymes, your body is able to get more nourishment from foods and supplements.

In addition, this formulation of enzymes contains MycoPepsin, the first enzyme on the market that works in a low pH environment. As food digests, the stomach becomes more acidic. The addition of MycoPepsin makes this product even more effective because, unlike other enzymes, MycoPepsin remains active in a highly acidic environment.

 Got It?
So when it comes to answering the question, "What supplements should I take first?" you should be good to go. Just follow this simple three-ingredient recipe--acidophilus, bifidus, and enzymes--and you'll be good to go. Then you can go about building a supplement regimen that will specifically support any health goals you may have.

Confused? Still not sure what to take? Don't worry. If you need a little nutritional guidance, just request a product consult. One of our nutritional coaches will be happy to provide some suggestions. Check out the product consult.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo Credit: http://ow.ly/gvMzS
 

Belly Fat: What You May Not Know plus Natural Solutions

There is more to be concerned about with belly fat than just how it looks on you. While it is true that your body needs some fat, it is also true that having too much of the fat we can see often means there is more of the fat we can't see. That is not good news for your health. The fat we can see, subcutaneous fat, accumulates just under the skin usually in the buttocks, hips, thighs, and abdominal areas. There is another kind of fat, visceral fat, that is around your vital organs such as liver, heart, lungs and digestive tract. This fat cushions the organs, but too much of it can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer and other health conditions.

Body Shape
Since the amount of belly fat can be an indication of how much visceral fat you have, take a look at your body shape. Having what is called a "pear" shaped body is better than having what is called an "apple" shape. The apple shape means that you have a bigger waistline with a round belly and the fat has settled there. If you have a pear shape then the fat has settled more in your thigh and buttocks areas. Having more fat in the abdomen area can be an indication of more visceral fat. Genetics can play a role in the propensity to store visceral fat, but physical activity also plays a role. So for those of us that are apple shapes it means it's time to get serious about getting a physical exercise plan going and making changes in the types of foods we eat.

How to Control Belly Fat
Belly fat breaks down into fatty acids, which goes into the liver and muscles. When this happens, more 'bad' cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides result. This causes insulin to be less effective in controlling blood sugar, and results in insulin resistance. Blood sugar then can be out of balance and fat and clots appear in the bloodstream. Watching your intake of sugar and processed carbohydrates is therefore important in your diet. Eliminating processed foods from the diet and moving to eating whole foods, mostly plant based, rich in enzymes and antioxidants, and not overeating can go a long way to controlling belly fat. The main ways to get a grip on your belly fat are through diet, exercise, enough quality sleep and managing stress.

Belly fat is also caused by undigested food sitting there because your body doesn't have enough enzymes to digest it. This can be due to the type of calories we are ingesting, like carbs and fat, or to the way we eat meals. If we allow ourselves to get hungry, our bodies go into starvation mode and hoard the calories. This causes a feeling of being deprived and craving comfort foods which are not usually the healthiest foods. Eating more, smaller meals throughout the day allows us to avoid this state and avoid the cravings for unhealthy foods. A healthy snack alternative for a small meal is a bar fortified with sprouted grains, greens, and blue green algae that provides a complete protein and all essential amino acids source.

Nutritional Support to Control Belly Fat

• Fiber in the diet helps keep the visceral fat from building up. Proteins and fiber are less likely to be converted to fat storage as the body is able to eliminate any of those it can't digest.
   
• Avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates or calories that come from fat. Your body can only easily digest a certain amount of carbohydrates before it then converts those carbs to fat to store away.
   
• Adding a soy based smoothie drink to your diet gives you a protein alternative as a snack to help you stay away from fatty foods and satisfies hunger to combat overeating.
   
• Eat more protein and fewer carbs. The kind of protein that you eat can make a difference too. Studies have shown that eating dairy protein can result in loss of belly fat while at the same time gaining muscle. Another source of high quality protein that is just as good or even better than dairy protein is AFA blue green algae. This form of microalgae has 75% usable high quality protein compared to just 18% in red meat!
   
• Enzymes are required to properly digest food, and when we don't have enough enzymes, the food we eat literally rots in our guts, adding to weight gain and the appearance of a beer belly. 

Enzymes to Control Belly Fat
Cooked foods don't have enzymes because high temperatures literally kill the enzymes naturally found in foods. Canned foods also lack enzymes and often over-stimulate the endocrine system. One study found that laboratory rats fed a diet of processed and enzyme-less protein, fats, and carbohydrates increased their percentage of body fat (V. Korenchevsky, "Pathology and Bacteriology").

Proper diet that has plenty of enzymes plus the raw materials the body needs to stay healthy (vitamins, minerals, trace-minerals, and antioxidants) does more to help weight loss than any diet plan. To practice enzyme therapy for weight loss, you need to start with a high-quality enzyme source that preferably contains mycopepsin, an enzyme that works well even in the very acidic environment of the stomach.

Water to Control Belly Fat
Another way to fight belly fat is to build lean muscle because muscle burns more calories than fat does and increases your metabolism which in turn burns fat away. One way to increase your metabolism to burn fat is by drinking enough water. Increasing metabolism to burn fat is the job of your liver. The liver however also takes over some of the jobs your kidneys should be doing and can't if the kidneys don't have enough water. That in turns slows the liver down from converting stored fat into energy. The average person needs to drink about 2 quarts of water a day. This of course should not be all at one time, but rather spread out throughout the day so as to not overtax the kidneys.

Belly Fat: The Bottom Line
The amount of belly fat you have can be an indication of the amount of visceral fat you have which can lead to numerous serious health conditions. Losing weight and ridding yourself of the belly fat through diet, sleep, stress management and exercise can lead to not only a better looking and feeling you, but also a healthier you.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/nbcnews/health-and-food/

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

5 Ways to Avoid Heartburn This Holiday Season

Yes the holiday season is here with all the joys of spending extra time with family, holiday traditions, festive parties, special meals and heartburn. That's right, heartburn. One out of ten people in the United States have heartburn symptoms at least once a week during normal times. The holidays bring with some of the situations that can bring on heartburn such as certain foods and stress.

Each person is different as to what types of food and drink bring on the symptoms of heartburn and occasionally having heartburn is common. Most people learn what foods trigger this response in their body and know to avoid those particular foods. Having heartburn more frequently can be an indication of a more serious problem that you will need to see a healthcare practitioner about.

What exactly is heartburn?
When you swallow, the bottom part of your esophagus relaxes which allows foods and liquids to continue on into the stomach. It then closes off preventing anything from coming back through. If this process is impaired in any way then stomach acid can come back through to the esophagus. Foods can mix with the stomach acid and form a liquid that backs up into the esophagus. This back up causes a burning pain in the stomach that can spread up into the chest area. Heartburn can also be a sign that your body doesn't have enough digestive enzymes to fully break down all the food you eat, and that your intestines lack enough healthy flora or beneficial bacteria to process your food all the way through. Your body's last line of defense is to use stomach acid to break down food, which can often cause heartburn. Heartburn usually occurs after eating or at night and can become worse when lying down or bending over.

What can you do about heartburn?
Many people simply take antacids when they get heartburn. This is not the best solution however as antacids not only block stomach acid, but also block the absorption of nutrients by interfering with the necessary amount of acid in the stomach to break down proteins into amino acids the body can use. They can interfere with the digestion process and possibly make indigestion worse. Many antacids also contain ingredients that can lead to constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating. Calcium bicarbonate in some antacids can cause more acid than is normal to be created in the stomach after it wears off.

What is the best heartburn treatment?
The best treatment is prevention. Learn which foods and drinks can trigger heartburn for you and avoid them as much as possible. Fried foods, foods high in fat and acidic foods and drinks are the worse culprits. Alcohol, sodas, vinegary foods and some spicy foods are at the top of the list too. Besides what you eat, look at how and when you eat. Eating too quickly, too much or too close to bedtime can trigger heartburn. When you eat too fast, you are usually not chewing sufficiently to break food down enough at the beginning of the digestive cycle. This causes the stomach to have to produce more acid to break it down once it gets to the stomach. Stress is also a factor in heartburn.

Natural Solutions for Heartburn
Here are some ways to plan ahead this holiday season to decrease your chances of spending time suffering with heartburn pain.

• Avoid foods you know have caused you heartburn in the past
• Stop eating at least 2 hours before you are going to lie down whether for a nap or for the night
• Plan some time out from all the busy holiday activities to have a break or meditation time to cut down on stress
• Add probiotics such as acidophilus and bifidus to your diet
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day 
• Take extra digestive enzymes.

SBG Zymes, Simplexity's digestive enzyme supplement, contains MycoPepsin, which is able to break down proteins under acid conditions in a manner similar to pepsin. MycoPepsin is obtained by the controlled fermentation of a non-genetically modified strain of Aspergillus niger. The broad specificity of this acid-stable, food-grade protease enzyme enables it to easily and efficiently break down most soluble proteins.

Simplexity's Acidophilus is formulated as a probiotic product that provides a natural way to keep the digestive system on track. For the body to get the most out of food, the intestines must be healthy. Acidophilus plays a key role in supporting the health of the small intestine.

Simplexity's probiotic Bifidus creates a favorable environment for the growth of "good bacteria" in the large intestine which absorbs water from food that is consumed and passes remaining waste products from the body.

Have a great, heartburn-free holiday this year by paying just a bit of attention to what, when and how you eat, and adding probiotics and enzymes to your diet.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/marissamurray77/

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Got Gas? Natural Solutions to Avoid It!

We all have gas and a certain amount after eating is completely normal. It is also normal for the body to release the gas. This is done either through belching or farting. On average, adults fart about 16 times a day. Each fart equals about � liter of gas or more than 2 cups of �shared air�. A fart is a mix of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane and hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide is what causes the unpleasant odor sometimes associated with �passing gas�.

Gas created by swallowed air, such as when drinking soda, usually is released through belching. One of the most common causes of farting is poor digestion. Bacteria in our intestinal tract turns undigested sugars into gas that is released by farting. Excess gas that is not released causes bloating.

Certain foods tend to produce more gas than others. This can vary for each individual and sometimes it is a combination of certain foods that produces excess gas.

Foods to Avoid to Reduce Gas

• Vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, and onions and beans contain a sugar that is not absorbed or digested and our intestinal bacteria turns it into gas.
• Dairy products can cause excess gas, especially for people that are sensitive to lactose.
• Foods with sugar and simple carbohydrates can cause excess gas and bloating. That includes fructose, the natural sugar found in fruits, and the ever popular high fructose corn syrup found in the majority of processed foods. Foods that have fiber, sugars, and starches create gas when they are not digested and absorbed and result in being broken down in the large intestine.
• Carbonated drinks
• Artificial sweeteners or other foods with sugar alcohol

Natural Solutions to Avoid Excess Gas

• Eat slowly to avoid swallowing air.
• Avoid using straws for drinking as they lead to swallowing more air.
• Steam foods instead of boiling them.
• Avoid drinking during a meal, drink before eating instead to avoid losing stomach acid that helps break down foods.
• Supplement your diet with digestive enzymes and probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus

Supplements
Simplexity's SBG Zymes contain natural food enzymes that can help break down fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. It is also microblended with 25 mg of Super Blue Green Alpha Sun, adding specific vitamins and minerals that many enzymes need for optimum ability to function. For the body to get the most out of food, the intestines must be healthy. Acidophilus plays a key role in supporting the health of the small intestine. Simplexity's probiotic Bifidus creates a favorable environment for the growth of "good bacteria" in the large intestine.

For some people, chronic or painful excess gas can be a symptom of more serious conditions including Irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, peptic ulcer, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. If changes in diet and improving digestion don�t relieve painful or chronic gas, consult your health care professional to see if you have another condition and what treatment options are available. Everyone has gas, and for most of us improving the digestive system and making some dietary changes can help keep down the amount of gas in the body which means less need to belch and fart. It's that simple.

Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/nickrgreen/


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Leaky Gut Syndrome and Food Allergies

Leaky gut syndrome and food allergies are two of the challenges our intestinal systems face today. Both theses issues can cause a variety of symptoms from mild swelling and gas to extreme cramping, aches and pains.

A small percentage of the population has actual food allergies that include symptoms of hives, itchy eyes, difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis. A higher percentage have food intolerances or are hypersensitive to certain foods. These symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, muscle pain, gas bloating, diarrhea and headaches. This occurs mostly when food is improperly digested. It also quite often happens in conjunction with leaky gut syndrome.

Leaky Gut Syndrome
Not a lot is known about leaky gut syndrome by doctors except for its symptoms which include bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities and aches and pains. It is more of a category of symptoms than a diagnosis and doctors are often at a loss when it comes to finding causes and how to treat it.

Doctors believe it is possibly caused by tight junctions in the gut, that control what can pass the lining of the small intestine, not working properly and allowing substances to leak into the bloodstream. It can also be caused by some types of disease, certain drugs, radiation therapy, chronic stress, diet or food allergies.

Poor Digestion
For good digestion to occur, the stomach must have enough enzymes to process food. "Leaky gut syndrome" can let undigested proteins, carbohydrates and fats through to the blood system and cause the immune system to react to these as foreign invaders. Food allergies are also known to be linked to poor digestion. When the digestive system is not functioning properly it can lead to all the symptoms associated with leaky gut syndrome.

Natural Solutions
Lifestyle changes of eating a healthier diet and stress reduction are currently the best forms of treatment for leaky gut syndrome. Other forms of treatment may be available from your doctor if he or she can arrive at a diagnosis of the cause. At the current time however the medical profession has limited knowledge for causes.

Scientific studies have shown that algae can reduce allergic sensitivity to milk and soybean and may enhance antibodies that can protect against or reduce allergic reactions to foods such as shellfish.

AFA blue green algae, with its cartoenes and chlorophyll, is able to help cells around the intestinal wall secrete lubricating material that can help prevent the immune system from over-reacting.

Acidophilus and Bifidus along with SBG Zymes can help keep your digestive system in good working order. Acidophilus supports intestinal health by creating a favorable environment for the growth of beneficial flora and promotes the normal movement of food through the intestine. Bifidus lowers the pH of the intestine, manufactures specific B vitamins, promotes immune function, and supports the health of the large intestine. SBG Zymes contain a combination of enzymes to help break down all types of foods (including fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber) for improved digestion and optimal nutrition. Super Blue Green� Alpha Sun provides an easily digestible natural complex that is critical for the health and vitality of tissues and cells. To get all of these in one easy, convenient packet, Simplexity Health has Essentials which contain all of these products plus an Omega Sun capsule.

So the natural way to help with your leaky gut syndrome symptoms and food intolerances is to reduce stress, eat a healthy diet and supplement that diet with Super Blue-Green Algae, acidophilus, bifidus and digestive enzymes. Your gut will be glad you did.



Photo Credit: http://pinterest.com/pvgomeza/

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

How to Take Supplements and Have Fun with Them!

How to take supplements is a tricky question because everyone has an opinion. Should you follow the latest fad in the health magazine, listen to Dr. Oz, or go with what your doctor recommends? Or should you listen to your own body?

More importantly, how to take supplements so it's not a chore. Taking supplements can actually be both fun and healthy if you are open to a few innovative techniques.

How to Take Supplements and Have Fun!
If the idea of swallowing a ton of pills each day isn't your idea how to take supplements in a fun way, then you feel the same way as the majority of people. Luckily, there are ways to take supplements in a way that is wise and honors your body ... and can be kind of fun! Here are three suggestions on how to take supplements that might perk you up:

1. Take What Falls Out of the Bottle: Sometimes taking supplements in a highly regimented way is boring, not to mention unwise. Sometimes your body needs more of one supplement and less of another. One way to "figure out" what you need and when is to simply open the bottle and tip some supplements into your hand. If the number seems reasonable, then take it. Obviously, you would only want to use this approach with nutritional supplements that can't hurt you. For instance, you can do this with probiotics like acidophilius or bifidus. The same goes for enzymes. You would NOT want to do this with over the counter pain pills or any substance for which intake needs to be carefully contained. However, if you are feeling sore, don't be surprised if a large number of antioxidant supplements tip out of the bottle. That's your body telling you that you need some extra antioxidant support.

2. Take a Day Off: Taking a day off from your supplement regimen can be one way to give your body a little break. When you consider how to take supplements, consider the fact that your body may need a day to "process" all the supplements you take on a regular basis. Some people even take a whole weekend off, every weekend. Play around with this and see what feels best to you.

3. Change Your Routine Seasonally: Tribally, people have always changed their diet and actions according to the seasons. In more modern times, when it comes to how to take supplements, a lot of us just pick a regimen and follow it. But that's not always wise. You may need more cooling foods and supplements during the summer months, and more invigorating foods and supplements during the colder months. Take a look at your supplement program and maybe choose a different program for each season.

Most of all, listen to your body. It will tell you how to take supplements. Your body has a lot of native wisdom and all you have to do is hear what it is telling you!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Nutritional Supplements: Getting More Bang for Your Buck

In a world where the cost of nutritional supplements comes
directly out of your pocket, you definitely want to get the most
bang for your buck. We applaud you for the fact that you are
taking active measures for caring for your health by choosing to take nutritional supplements. Yes!

And, we want to help you get the maximum out of what you take. One of the best ways to maximize every molecule of the health supplements you take is to improve your digestion. After all, what's the point of pouring hundreds of dollars worth of nutritional supplements down your throat if your body can't absorb it? If your body absorbs only half of the supplements you ingest, you might as well be throwing the other half in the trash!


So how do you improve your digestion to improve absorption? In 3 easy steps!

3 Easy Steps to Maximize Nutritional Supplements
Improving your body's digestive function can be quite simple. You
just need to break your day into three different time periods:

1. When you eat
2. When you digest
3. When you rest

Let's take a closer look at each step.

1. When You Eat
When you eat (including when you take nutritional supplements
like healthy smoothies), you can increase your body's digestive
ability to taking enzymes at the same time. Just because you eat
healthy food and take nutritional supplements doesn't mean your
body can use them directly. Many times, enzymes and other
co-factors need to be present before your body can break down and
use the nutrients in food and supplements.

Taking enzymes when you eat a meal ensures that your body can
break down and absorb the maximum nutrition from what you eat.
Enzymes also ensure that you are less likely to suffer from
stomach upset or indigestion, which is really nothing more than
your body telling you that it can't fully process what you have
just eaten.

Taking enzymes between meals can also help. When enzymes are not
needed in the digestive system, they are released into the rest
of the body to scavenge for toxins and for cellular health and
replenishment.

Simplexity's SBG Zymes and SBG Zymes Plus are enzyme formulas
that help your body digest what you eat, and are proven to
survive longer in the digestive system than many other types of
enzymes on the market.

2. When You Digest
Long after you have eaten or taken nutritional supplements, your
body continues the digestive process. To maximize nutritional
absorption during the digestive process, you need to have healthy
bacteria in your small and large intestines. These bacteria,
known as probiotics (literally meaning "for life") live in your
gut and help your body further break down anything you swallow.

The bad news is that these "good bacteria" can be killed off by
stress, chlorinated water, toxins, and poor nutrition. The good
news is that you can repopulate your gut with these bacteria by
taking probiotic supplements. For instance, you can take
Acidophilus to repopulate the bacteria in your small intestine,
and you can take Bifidus to repopulate the bacteria in your large
intestine. It's as simple as that.

We recommend taking Acidophilus in the morning (before breakfast)
and Bifidus at night before bed) with pure spring or well water.

3. When You Rest
Whenever you rest, your body has a chance to rejuvenate and
reinvigorate. You can help your body's digestive function when
you rest simply by living a healthy lifestyle. A healthy
lifestyle might include actions like drinking plenty of water,
meditating, participating in daily exercise, and enjoying life.
Will these directly help your body maximize the nutritional
supplements you take? Absolutely! Your body is incredibly
responsive to your lifestyle, and the more appreciatively you
treat your body, the more it will repay you in kind!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Melt Off That Winter Weight Gain

I look out the window fearing that I am looking in a mirror as I see the plump rounded snowman the kids have made staring back at me. Of course he is grinning, probably knowing that his pounds will soon be melting away effortlessly as the sun has come out.

There are some things us humans can do though to help with the extra weight we add on over the winter that are almost as effortless as our grinning snowy friend.


�Drinking water moves toxins and fat out of your system.
�Taking Enzymes with meals or between them boosts your metabolism.
�Using Probiotics has been shown to reduce abdominal and subcutaneous fat and there has been evidence reported of the probiotic acidophilus causing an increased level of leptin (protein that can decrease appetite and increase metabolism).
�Eating 5-6 smaller meals or healthy snacks throughout the day rather than 3 bigger meals a day increases metabolism and reduces body fat.


Of course all these tips need to be accompanied by a healthy diet and exercise. Maybe a rousing snowball fight with the kids will get me started!!


Probiotics and Enzymes Available Online At Wholesale Prices

You can order innovative products that provide Simple Solutions for Today's Complex Lifestyles� from Simplexity Health at Prosperity Abounds.

Enzymes from Simplexity:
SBG Zymes - a combination of enzymes to help break down all types of foods (including fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber) for improved digestion and optimal nutrition.
SBG Zymes Plus - a superior blend of 12 plant-based enzymes, plus Alpha Sun, fennel, ginger, and cayenne, SBG Zymes Plus allow your body to digest and utilize a broader spectrum of nutrients.

Probiotics from Simplexity:
Acidophilus - supports intestinal health, creating a favorable environment for the growth of beneficial flora, and promotes the normal movement of food through the intestine.
Bifidus - lowers the pH of the intestine, manufactures specific B vitamins, promotes immune function, and supports the health of the large intestine.
Spectrabiotic - includes eight key "good bacteria" and is microblended with Omega Sun, Jerusalem artichoke, and a blend of acerola and rose hips, providing the entire digestive tract with superb probiotic support.

How to Get Whole Sale Prices on Simplexity Products
You can become a Preferred Customer and receive wholesale pricing on products by either:
�Setting up an autoshipment every month, every other month or every 3rd month of at least $40 in value
�Or paying an annual PC signup fee of $20 which is rebated for your first year on your first PC order and is waived for the next year if your orders for the year are $500 or more.

Get started on your journey to good health today at Prosperity Abounds

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob-young/4250446761/

Simple, Inexpensive, and Natural Ways to Heal

In today's tight economy, one of the key ways to save money is to choose natural ways to heal. Rather than paying for a doctor's visit or buying off-the-shelf remedies, try some of these natural and healthy ways to heal from minor aches, pains, and ailments with Simplexity's all natural, organic products:

Poison Ivy, Sunburn or Bug Bites: Empty one capsule each of Alpha Sun Algae and Acidophilus into a small dish. Mix with non-chlorinated water until it forms a paste. Apply over the affected area to stop itching and swelling.

Sprains and Bruises: Chew 10-20 Super Sprouts and Algae tablets, then take 2-4 enzymes each hour. Both will reduce the swelling and speed healing. Add 2 capsules of Super Q10 morning and night to reduce soreness and pain.

Open Cuts and Scrapes: Sprinkle Alpha Sun Algae into the cut to stop the bleeding, speed healing and prevent scar tissue.

Indigestion: Too much picnic food? For other kinds stomach upset, take 2-4 enzymes and a teaspoon of olive oil. For diarrhea, take 4 Bifidus before bed. To prevent stomach upset, always take enzymes with your meals -- don't dine without enzymes!

Colds, Flus and Allergies: Feel a summertime bug coming on? Stop viruses and germs in their tracks by taking 8-10 Acidophilus at once, plus 2 ImmuSuns. This volume of Acidophilus plus the ImmuSun will kick your immune system into high gear and is much healthier than antibiotics.

Drowsy Afternoons: Do you hit that mid-afternoon slump where you're drowsy from lunch but haven't got your second wind yet? Need a little kick start to keep your mind clear, sharp and focused? Try the Omega Sun Algae. Omega Sun Algae is Super Blue Green Algae without the cell wall. These small particles of Algae easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier and nourishes your brain cells.The result? Clearer thinking, quicker response time and sharper focus. Take Omega Sun anytime you feel mentally sluggish

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