Posts Tagged Cholesterol
Alternative Health Methods – The Hunt For Better Health
Alternative Health Methods vs. Traditional Western Medicine, this is the great debate that seems to be rising in our society. The lines are being drawn between the two; those who won’t take anything natural without their doctors seal of approval or those who are choosing to explore alternative health methods.
In the United States, we have the best Emergency and Trauma treatment in the world. From that stand point, our hospital care can not be beaten, especially if, heaven forbid, you are in a serious accident or in need of a transplant. However, what about the every day health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, the epidemic of diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression or acid reflux? Is a little purple pill really what your body needs? Are these really diseases or symptoms of your body is trying to tell you something?
Many people have been caught up in what is being described as the medical madness of traditional western medicine. They have to deal with doctors who work from tests that sometimes don’t indicate that anything is wrong, which means more testing or finding a different doctor and having to start the testing process all over again. Occasionally in some cases even a visit to a psychologist is suggested. Traditional medicine relies heavily on doctor’s tests, and when they don’t show anything, many times they are at a loss as to what to do next. As a patient, this can be very frustrating; therefore, many people have chosen to take matters into their own hands and look outside the medical box.
At this point the question that many are asking themselves is, is there a better solution to better health? And so this is where the journey to the other side of the line begins.
Some believe it is God that made mankind in his image, so it stands to reason that God would have also supplied the world with the natural means to take care of, and heal, our bodies with things that He put on the earth. In other words, supplying your body with the natural nutrients that it needs before disease sets in; and if perhaps it is too late, and disease has all ready set in, to give your body the nutrients it needs to help heal it’s self.
Many people are opening their minds to a larger way of thinking about their own health and prevention of disease. Many in the world believe that it is an unrealistic view that the only way to treat disease is through western medicine. After all, when you look at statistics on the health of nations, the USA doesn’t rank very high. Shouldn’t that tell us something? Many feel that they have been a part of what has been described as the circus of modern western medicine and survived, but have come out with no medical solutions. Many have felt that they had nothing to loose with trying alternative medicine. With so many people around the country coming to the same conclusion, it is hard not to at least consider that alternative health methods do have a place in our society. So many people say they are tired of taking drugs that their doctors continually prescribe, so the tide may be turning as more and more people choose to take their health situations into their own hands and seek out alternative health methods. It has been predicted that the nutritional health industry alone will grow to be a trillion dollar industry in the next 5 to 10 years.
Certainly everyone needs to be aware that not all alternative health methods are safe. There are some crazy or unsubstantiated alternative health methods out there. Just like anything else, you need to use common sense, and use a buyer beware approach. Read and study about the product and or treatment you are considering. See if you can speak with people who have already used the product or treatment. Does the information that they are giving you make sense on how it is working for them? What is the risk and cost involved in trying the product or treatment? Do they offer any money back guarantees if you are not satisfied? Realize that if a product or treatment does not work for your particular health issue, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not of any value, it may just not be what your body needs at that particular time to help heal itself. You also need to be prepared for some trial and error, but isn’t that what you have with the traditional medicine too?
One of the easiest, and most beneficial things that anyone can do when they are looking to improve their health naturally is to start with nutrients. Nutrients consist of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and many sub categories. Start with a good product that supplies you with the basics in an easily assimilated form. Remember to give whatever the product is time to work. You didn’t get sick overnight and you shouldn’t expect to get well overnight. If you research the poor quality of most of our food, and the life styles we lead, it’s easy to see why we aren’t staying healthy. Many think that if you are of the belief that what we eat doesn’t affect the state of our bodies, you are fooling only yourself. You should also know that all vitamins aren’t made equal, so you should look for quality, not price only, when looking for good nutrients. Don’t overlook the fact that there are some excellent functional health beverages available that provide great benefits for the body. And of course, exercising and learning to eat better foods is very important for having a long term healthy body.
If you have a particular health issue that you are dealing with, don’t limit yourself. Do plenty of research on what is on the market that might help you; see what the traditional western medicine and alternative health options are. If by chance you don’t have a diagnosis, research your symptoms and go from there. Also, seek the help of other types of health professionals such as homeopathic doctors, chiropractors, nutritionists, etc.
Take the first step in finding the best solution by taking control of your own health. Who would have any greater interest in your health than you? Make up your own mind about what is best for your body. The great thing about living in America is that we have the choice between alternative health methods or traditional western medicine.
The great debate between alternative health methods and traditional western methods will continue for many years to come. It’s good to see that there are some medical doctors who are opening their minds to both sides of the line and are recommending good nutritional products for their patients. Imagine what could happen if both sides of the line embraced each other?
Looking to improve your health isn’t always easy, but take it from many who have been on the journey and came out victorious on the other side……it’s worth it!
Tags: Blood, Blood Pressure, Chiropractor, Cholesterol, Diabete, Diabetes, Health, Healthy, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Make Up, Nutrition, Patients, Skin, Vitamin, VitaminsRelated posts
Buy Natural Health Supplements – Natural Tonics for Health and Wellness
Buy natural health supplements? When looking to buy natural health supplements and natural tonics for health and wellness, chances are you’ll find your options are limited in local stores. Online, there are many possibilities. However, an important question is — how to know which natural tonics for health and wellness are legitimate ones that provide specific health benefits?
Ideally, vitamin and nutrient requirements would come totally from your diet. The problem is — many people make poor food choices every day. And even with a well-balanced diet, studies find that nutrient values of foods have been declining for decades because of soil depletion.
When looking to buy natural health supplements, leading the list should be the daily vitamin/mineral/nutrient supplement that is the basis of your supplement program. And all daily supplements are not created equal. Two important natural tonics for health and wellness should be considered these:
• High-Quality Daily Vitamin/Mineral/Nutrient Supplements – a daily high-quality, broad-spectrum anti-aging natural supplement helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have. Few persons obtain the minimum recommended servings of 5-9 cups of vegetables and fruits per day, for example, and thus do not obtain the health benefits associated with these vital foods. And taking one of the cheap one-a-day vitamins is probably a waste of time and money. When considering to buy natural health supplements, vitamins and minerals are just the beginning. The body needs and will use a wide array of anti-aging natural tonics for health and wellness substances — amino acids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, herbal extracts, enzymes and other nutrients such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-Carnitine and so on. And these nutrients must be in the correct proportions to each other based on the latest research.
• Omega 3 Supplements – from heart and brain health to depression treatment to pregnancy health, Omega 3 benefits are too good to ignore if you are interested in health. Three of the top Omega 3 food sources are cold-water fish, grass-fed (not grain-fed) meat and eggs. Omega 3 oils provide DHA and EPA in a natural form that your body can easily assimilate. No conversion is required by the body as is required for flax oil, for example. Most of the clinical studies on Omega 3 benefits are based on fish oils from consuming fish and fish oil supplements. In addition, other natural tonics for health and wellness to consider when you buy natural health supplements with specific health benefits proven by clinical studies are:
- Natural Cholesterol Lowering Supplements – the most effective is policosanol which comes from sugar cane. Its cholesterol-lowering abilities are published in over 80 clinical studies, which are more studies than for most prescription drugs. Policosanol significantly lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol without the side affects associated with the statin drugs.
- Arthritis Supplements – there are nutrients that have been shown to reduce inflammation, swelling and stiffness. Aiming to achieve long term pain relief by targeting the cause, not just the arthritis symptoms, should be the goal of arthritis natural tonics for health and wellness.
- Sexual Enhancement Supplements – many sexual problems (and health problems) are related to nutrient deficiencies. In men, for example, men with impotency problems also suffer from cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes or are taking prescription drugs which commonly cause sexual dysfunction problems. Restore your general health and your sexual health will automatically follow.
Is it possible when you buy natural health supplements that you can slow the aging process? Yes! Numerous clinical studies have shown and are still finding the health benefits of many of these nutrients. You can try to come up with your own supplement plan and take many different supplements individually. However, to buy natural health supplements and design your own supplement program is not the best way. It’s easy to end up with a dozen or more individual substances to take daily, which is both a hassle and expensive. And if certain substances are out of balance, they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful.
There are manufacturers that provide advanced nutritional products in one broad high-quality daily supplement. Nutrient quantities are combined according to the latest research, and individual ingredients are linked to relevant clinical studies and benefits. Learn as much as you can before you buy natural health supplements about the natural tonics for health and wellness you’ll be taking every day.
Tags: Balanced Diet, Brain, Cholesterol, Diabete, Diabetes, Diet, Health, Health And Wellness, Health Supplements, Nutrition, Pain Relief, Protein, Supplements, Vascular, Vitamin, VitaminsRelated posts
Prescription Drugs Versus Herbal Medicine
People in all cultures have used herbs as natural remedies for centuries. Herbs have passed the test of time and have proved to be safe and effective. Millions of people have recovered from various ailments. Unlike prescription drugs, with herbal medicine, each diagnosis and treatment is tailored to fit the individual. Today, increasing number of people are seeking herbal treatment as an alternative to synthetic drugs that could be hazardous to health in the long run.
It may be weird that modern drugs are being replaced with grandma’s powders and teas, but with the knowledge that most modern drugs are synthetic versions of plant substances, people are opting for the original.
There was a time when herbs have been dismissed and herbal treatments not valued, but things are changing as herbs contain properties that are far superior to synthetic drugs and are more in tune with the human body. They create far fewer and harmless side effects if any, and bestow ’side’ benefits instead of side effects. There are several side effects of prescription drugs, some long lasting and some which cause permanent damage or impairment to the body parts. To cure one part, another part of the body has to be compromised, and this can be totally avoided with herbal medicine.
Let us take the example of ‘ginkgo biloba’, which improves memory and also boosts blood circulation in the legs and arms. ‘Garlic’ is used to enhance the immune system and also lower cholesterol.
Herbal medicine has proven to fulfill roles that synthetic drugs cannot. The whole range of adaptogens found in herbal medicine have no equivalent in modern medicine.
Europe has a stronger history of herb use when compared to the United States. European doctors always retained an interest and skill in prescribing herbal medicine in conjunction with modern drugs.
The difference between treatment with modern medicine and herbal medicine is enormous. When treating, herbal medicine practitioners pay attention to all aspects of the individual’s health, looking at building their health and not just covering up a specific ailment. Another difference is that, herbal medicine doctors look not only at the chemical and molecular components of herbs but also their energetic aspects. Herbal medicine believes that all living things, including plants contain energy. The Chinese call this vital energy force ‘qi’. Where the modern medicine is concerned about treating the illness itself, Chinese medicine looks at this illness as a blockage to the vital life force. It aims at removing that blockage.
This concept is better understood with the example of acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on unblocking flow and the ‘unseen’ energy pathways of the human body. The huge success of acupuncture speaks for itself. The right herb to open the blockage is all it takes to allow the body’s energy to flow, thus healing.
All this certainly may seem strange to the mindset of modern medicine. But herbs have been proven to work for the human body without any serious side effects.
Herbs are the original source for at least 25% of all pharmaceutical drugs. For example, morphine which is used as a pain killer, comes from opium poppy; digitalis, a cardiac stimulant, comes from foxglove; resperine, a sedative and antihypertensive, comes from rauwolfia (Indian snakeroot).
While modern medicine looks for active ingredients in a plant and extract it and discard the rest of the plant, herbal medicine depends on the synergistic action of the complete plant, to take the benefit from the thousands of compounds present in the plant. While prescription drugs have a rapid and targeted action, which is also the reason why side effects are caused; herbs tend to work slowly but gradually, in the process strengthening the body’s defenses over a period of time.
Of course, herbs too have to be taken with caution and used responsibly, and preferably under guidance. For example, ephedra should never be used by people with weak hearts, especially in combination with synthetic ephedrine. In any case, if one herb causes a problem, there are others that can be taken.
Tags: Blood, Cholesterol, HealthRelated posts