Natural Need For Acid

A wonderful question to ask when talking about natural and alternative health is; "has nature proven it's self to be intelligent in taking care of business?" For instance let's talk about our digestive system and the natural hydrochloric acid that is produced by the body. You are not what you eat, more directly you are what you are able to absorb! Health care practitioners will tell you that even if you have the best dietary habits known to man you cannot sustain good health if hydrochloric acid or common stomach acid is missing. There is no way for your body to absorb vital nutrients from your foods if this essential part of your digestive system is destroyed by antacids, or if you were born with a genetic tendency to low stomach acid.

Nature did not put acid into our stomachs for the sole purpose of providing drug companies with the ability of earning billions of dollars every year by suppressing that stomach acid. Hydrochloric acid is absolutely necessary for good health. It is designed to reduce the toughest steak into broken down "meat soup" within about an hour. Now use your imagination to determine what would happen to that steak without the help of the acid to break it down? The meat must then begin to break down by rotting! Indigestion, bloating, "egg burps", burning, gas and belching must then begin in order to help move digestion along. The body is so busy trying to digest and break down the meat that it does not have the time or the ability to absorb many of the nutrients from it. If these scenarios happen often, warning symptoms of malnutrition and slow starvation begins to manifest. The resulting symptoms can be crumbling bones, degenerative diseases, anemia, acute and chronic infections which can be caused by germs that would easily be killed by normal stomach acid. When your stomach has normal acid levels it is able to kill invading micro organisms and can break down potentially dangerous food additives.l If, however, your stomach lacks this vital acid element, additives can turn into cancer causing nitrosamines.

Two prominent American doctors, Jonathan Wright, MD and Lane Lenard, PhD have written a superb book "Why Stomach Acid Is Good For You" which is highly recommended by alternative health care providers. If you think you may have acid indigestion and have been taking drugs to suppress it, the book outlines exactly what to do in order to heal your stomach from the damage anti-acids have done.

Many people are born with low stomach acid, or they develop it in childhood. Children should have an abundant supply of Hydrochloric Acid but children today are stuffed with an appalling amount of junk food, dangerous soy products and the worst kind of oils that their poor little bodies have to metabolize. Is it any wonder that increasing numbers of children have recurring infections of all kinds, miserable skin conditions and asthma? Doctors Wright and Lenard explain in their book how the children, who are brought to the Tacoma Clinic in Washington, get over some of these dreadful afflictions by improving their diets and supplementing their Hydrochloric Acid levels.

A simple supplementation to safely increase proper levels of Hydrochloric Acid is the use of apple cider vinegar. Using one tablespoon of the vinegar in a 6 ounce class of water before every meal can improve many of the symptoms that we have been talking about.

Did you know that low production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is associated with hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and even tendencies for obesity? Doctor Wright warns about this in his book "Repairing Your Heart and Arteries"

So to recap the situation, when you eat, if your Hydrochloric Acid is low, your stomach will hold food longer, and whatever acid is present will mix in with the food. your stomach will begin to churn, but because it doesn't have the acid, instead of emptying its contents into your small intestines, some of the food will then regurgitate into your esophagus. Then because your throat is not protected against acid with the same mucosa barrier as your stomach, your throat will begin to burn. If you treat this burning with anti-acids, the burning will stop but you will then perpetuate the problem into a never ending cycle.

Here is a warning to take seriously! Many anti-acids virtually eliminate acid in the stomach around the clock so that natural, necessary assimilation of food does not take place and you will then slowly starve to death.

" . . . . there is no doubt that acid suppression promotes bacterial overgrowth and that bacterial overgrowth promotes production of carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds. There is also no doubt that acid suppressing drugs increase the progression and severity of atrophic gastritis in people with such things as H. pylori Infections, and that atrophic gastritis is a major risk factor for gastric carcinoma." (Why Stomach Acid Is Good For You) Carcinoma means Cancer!

One last thing to consider before ingesting your anti-acid: "anti-acid drugs which so many people take frequently, are so dangerous that they would have been removed from the market if the drug cartels were not so strong. It has been known for decades that they deplete the bones of between 130 and 300 mg of calcium each time they are consumed. They contain aluminum which is also attributed to Alzheimer's Disease." This quote is according toe the professional journal, "Orthopedic Surgeon"

Real A-PEEL

The Slippery Banana Shows It's A-Peel!
A banana really is a natural remedy for many ills and deficiencies. You might want to ask, what about the apple a day theory however when you compare the slippery banana to an apple you will find that is has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five time the vitamin A and Iron, and twice the amount of many other vitamins and minerals. This perfectly packaged food is rich in potassium and for the price, it is one of the best food values around.

The incredible banana contains all three natural occurring sugars, namely sucrose, fructose and glucose which are combined with natural fiber. Bananas are the number one fruit amongst the world's leading athletes because a fresh banana will give you an instant, sustainable and substantial boost of energy in fact research has proven that just two medium sized bananas can provide enough energy for a strenuous ninety minute workout.

Take a moment and look through the ABC's of what a great banana is will to do for your over all health.

Anemia: Bananas are high in iron and can help to stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.
Blood Pressure: Because this fruit is extremely high in potassium and yet low in salt, it is perfect to help bet blood pressure problems. Because of this, the United States Food and Drug Administration has finally allowed the banana industry to make official claims about the bananas ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure related diseases, including strokes.
Brain Power: Research has shown that potasssium is a key mineral in maintaining alertness and ood memory retention. Therefore the banana is a great candidate for the job; in fact 200 students in England were given bananas at least once a day to boost their brain power and they scored higher in their testing and overall performances than those who had not eaten the bananas.
Constipation: Everyone knows that good dietary fiber is needed for health, normal bowel action and because every banana comes packed with natural fiber, this slippery fruit keeps thing moving along.
Depression: Bananas contain natural tryptophan which is a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin; helping you to relax, improve your mood and and generally make you feel happier about things. In a recent survey people suffering from depression felt much better shortly after eating a banana or two.
Hangovers: The banana will help calm the stomach and when it is combined with honey in a milkshake form it will build up the depleted blood sugar levels. Adding the milk soothes and rehydrates your system. It is a very quick way of curing a hangover is the smooth and creamy banana milkshake. Bananas are a good source of B6 as well as many other B vitamins which nurishes and helps the nerves.
Heartburn: Banans have a natural antiacid effect in the body, so if you are suffering from heartburn; try eating a banana for sothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Eating light and frequently is one of the key elements in fighting morning sickness. Giving the stomach "something to do" can be a great help. Snacking on a banana between meals will help to keep the blood sugar levels up, give the body a great shot of B vitamins as well as potassium and clacium. Bananas help the nervous system to remain calm while soothing the digestive system.
Nerves: Bananas habe been found to be high in all of the B vitamins. B vitamins help to calm the nercous system and encourage proper conductivity between the cells.
Ulcers: Bananas are the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distressing the digestive system. They also neutralize over acidity and will reduce irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. Because of its soft tedture and over all smoothness, the banana is used by many dietitians as a tool for controlling intestinal disorders including diarrhea.

Research has shown that potassium is a vital mineral, this mineral helps to normalize the heartbeat and it helps to send oxygen tot he brain. Potassium also helps to regulate your body's water balance. When we are streessed out metabolic rate rises which in turn reduces our potassium levels. By eating a banana we can re balance the body's system on many levels.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Fats

In the past few years, fat has acquired a bad name. But the truth is, while some types of fats are unhealthy, certain types of fat are actually vital for good health. One group of these healthy fats is the essential fatty acids or EFAs. They are found in certain unprocessed vegetable and plant oils, as well as fish oils. A mother's milk is also one of the richest sources known. EFAs or essential fatty acids are nutritional substances and like vitamins and minerals they have a far reaching effect on many of the bod's processes.

It is important to note, or remember that EFAs cannot be manufactured by the body and so they must be consumed in the diet. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that at least three percent of an adult's daily caloric intake be comprised of essential fatty acids, and the diets of children and pregnant women should be at least five percent.

EFAs are essential to the normal functioning of all body tissues! There are several types of essential fatty acids however the two EFAs that are in the spotlight today are linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid. Once reason these EFAs are important to your health is that they help balance the body's production of important chemical substances called prostaglandins. Scientists know of the existence of about 20 different prostaglandins and some recent findings indicate that prostaglandins influence hormones and affect the body processes at the cellular level, they relax smooth muscles of the female reproductive system, they can affect relaxation and contraction of the intestinal tract, bronchi and cardiovascular system. They influence gastric secretions and proper kidney functions and they affect the overall health of the skin. Some scientists believe that the therapeutic potential of prostaglandins is even greater than that of steroids.

Evening Primrose Oil is a good source of both of these EFAs. The essential fatty acids found in the oil of the primrose seeds are the secret to the oil's health building properties. EFAs are known to play a vital role in overall health. Evening primrose oil is a key source of EFAs and it can play an important part in the healing of various disease and disorders, because it helps the body to maintain a balance of the prostaglandins that are necessary for optimal health. Daily doses of Evening Primrose can only be beneficial to the human body.

Rosemary for Remembrance

Unlike the beautiful, flaccid jellyfish we as humans have the unique ability to access memory and recall. Our brains have an almost infinite capacity, far beyond what we actually use. How many times have you wished that you could tap into your potential?

Rosemary. traditionally is considered the herb of remembrance and is currently an important herbal subject of antioxidant research. Rosemary contains more than a dozen antioxidant compounds, some in high concentrations. This is extremely helpful in dealing with Alzheimer;s disease, a degenerative process associated with devastating memory loss, personality changes, and loss of motor functions. Researchers have linked oxidative stress to this heartbreaking disease.

Essential oils of Rosemary is obtained from fresh leaves, stalks and flowers of the plant and is typically harvested from Spain, France, Yugoslavia, and Japan. The fragrance is clear, strong and stimulating and is easily absorbed through the skin. It stimulates the mind, body, adrenal glands and memory recall. Rosemary can be used to treat general weakness, mental fatigue, and sore muscles. Rosemary oil is helpful for all diseases that result from a reduction of the functions of the nervous system. It is a strong stimulant that will help clear the mind of confusion and doubt.

Rosemary is a wonderful oil to add to your morning shower or bath because it is both stimulating to the mind as well as the body, helping you to start your day out on a high note. Long known as a wonderful addition to food, Rosemary enhances everything from meat to vegetables. Remember that essential oil of Rosemary can be used in the same way as fresh or dried plant products when cooking.

The jury is still out on just how beneficial Rosemary is in actually enhancing memory, but its confirmed antioxidant activity suggests that this wonderful herb is great for over all health and well being.