Health for life

Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomata, are noncancerous tumors of the uterus. Fibroids often result in pain and bleeding in premenopausal women, and are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States.

The study of 1,036 women, aged 35-49, living in the Washington, D.C., area from 1996 to 1999, was led by Donna Baird, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH. Baird and her collaborators at The George Washington University and the Medical University of South Carolina screened participants for fibroids using ultrasound. They used blood samples to measure the primary circulating form of vitamin D, known as 25-hydroxy D. Those with more than 20 nanograms per milliliter of 25-hydroxy D were categorized as sufficient, though some experts think even higher levels may be required for good health. The body can make vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun, or vitamin D can come from food and supplements.

Study participants also completed a questionnaire on sun exposure. Those who reported spending more than one hour outside per day also had a decreased risk of fibroids. The estimated reduction was 40 percent. Although fewer black than white participants had sufficient 25-hydroxy D levels, the estimated reduction in prevalence of fibroids was about the same for both ethnic groups.

"It would be wonderful if something as simple and inexpensive as getting some natural sunshine on their skin each day could help women reduce their chance of getting fibroids," said Baird.

Baird also noted that, though the findings are consistent with laboratory studies, more studies in women are needed. Baird is currently conducting a study in Detroit to see if the findings from the Washington, D.C., study can be replicated. Other NIEHS in-house researchers, led by Darlene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D., are learning more about fibroid development, by examining tissue samples from study participants who had surgery for fibroids.

"This study adds to a growing body of literature showing the benefits of vitamin D," said Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program.

As i told earlier, August is a month of celebration for me.. I just finished my birthday two days back and one of my friend, a food blogger,a humble human and a down to earth person is celebrating her birthday today. She is well known for her photography skills, many beautiful creative dishes and very much for her droolworthy non vegetarian dishes. She is none other than PT aka Preeti who blogs at Indian Kitchen, i crossed Preeti last year through this immense blogging world and immediately i started fallen in love with her space. I never thought that a day we both will get closer, thank god it happened and now Preeti is one of my best and close buddy aka sister.She call me Akka with loads of love, i always stunned by her humble attitude and the way she blogs constantly, do you know she blogged almost 600+ posts within a year. Am thanking everyday this virtual world for giving me this much sweet,lovable sisters.We chosed sweets and savouries for Preetis virtual birthday party and i chosed immediately one of her recent post Aloo Jamun aka potato jamun eventhough i have a bunch of bookmarked dishes to do from her space.

Happy birthday Preeti sis,may your birthday bring a smile to your face,happiness to your heart and many blessings to your life, may your big day be as special as your are special to me. Have a magical birthday and be happy everyday sis..

Trust me these aloo jamuns are seriously mindblowing, succulent, juicy and dangerously addictive. They are quite easy to prepare with less ingredients,am sure if you make this potato jamun at home you wont ever run behind the store bought jamun mix. Never thought that mashed potatoes makes a wonderful spongy juicy jamuns.



Enjoy your virtual birthday party Preeti, we enjoyed thoroughly this succulent jamuns, now its my most favourite sweets, a pect sweet for my sweet tooth and loved it to the core.

Coming to the post, this post also suits pectly for this weeks blogging marathon, we can make jamuns in huge quantity but they are served obviously as mini servings/single servings.Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#31.



Recipe source: Preeti

Research funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and appearing in this months online issue of Nature Medicine, has shed light on why women in one study who took Avandia (rosiglitazone) had decreased bone density. (See our post from earlier this year: Questions Surrounding Avandia and its Effect on Bone.)

Bone is not the static organ many people think. Its constantly being ormed. Cells called osteoclasts break down bone while cells called osteoblasts lay down new bone.

These researchers found that mice given the PPAR-gamma agonist Avandia (Avandia is a thiazolidinedione, a class of insulin-sensitizing drugs under which Actos also falls) had increased activity of their osteoclasts, leading researchers to speculate:

"These findings have potential clinical implications, as they suggest that long-term rosiglitazone usage in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance may cause osteoporosis, owing to a combination of decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption."

If more studies support this link, it may necessitate screening patients for osteoporosis before starting or continuing them on these drugs.
________
Nature Medicine abstract:
PPAR-gamma Regulates osteoclastogenesis in Mice

News summaries:
Diabetes Drug Link To Weak Bones
Diabetes Drug May Increase Bone Thinning

Ever since I was a teenager, Ive always struggled with that damn acne on my face.  Sometimes itll be really bad, other times itll clear up and Ill finally think Im growing out of it.  But it never fails to return.  Over the years, Ive experimented with just about everything under the sun to treat it (including the sun itself actually).  Just off the top of my head, and remember that this goes all the way back to the late 90s...

Stridex pads, Oxy pads, Swiss apricot scrub, probably 5 different types of Clearasil, all varieties of that white spot-treatment cream you put on at night...

More recently Ive tried the hippy route and experimented with different combinations of castor oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, the cod liver oil / butter oil blend...

Ive tried washing it once a day, twice a day, after each meal, every other day, two days a week, once a week on Mondays at 8:00 am sharp... 

Ive also tried for as long as I can remember to find a dietary connection to acne.  First I thought it was dairy, then gluten, then alcohol, then carbs, then vegetable oils.  There were several occasions when I would eat super healthy for weeks and struggle with acne, then go out and party one night, stay up late and drink alcohol, and wake up the next morning with a face clearer than Id seen in weeks.  What gives??

Never mind the hair... focus on the acne.  It wasnt excessive, but it was just enough to be a problem.  I can remember this night specifically... it definitely ruined my confidence.  No one wants to deal with that.

In the end, after all those years of experimentation and wasted money, I ended up right back where I began... frustrated, confused, and clueless...

...until recently.  Ive been experimenting with something for several months now, since early November, that has worked extremely well for me.  It hasnt cleared up my skin completely, but its made a big difference.  I rarely break out anymore, but even when I do get the rare pimple here and there, itll be gone in just a day or two.  Its pretty incredible.

And youre not going to believe what it is.  Its so simple, so obvious in hindsight, that I cant believe I didnt figure it out sooner.  It might seem counter-intuitive at first, but it will all make sense when Im through with you.  Are you ready??  Heres the secret...

Do nothing.

You heard me.  Dont do anything.



I call it the Kunu Protocol.  Ive completely given up cleaning my face.  I dont use face wash, soap, cream, oil... I even avoid putting water on my face!  And yes, that means I shower less.  Those of you who know me in real life, have you noticed?  Didnt think so. 

The most recent picture of me from New Years Eve, with far less acne.  Cherish this selfie, you may never see another.

If you think about this for a minute, it actually makes sense.  Look at it from a historical perspective, as I like to do.
First... look at modern hunter-gatherers or even small-scale agriculturalists... people isolated from modern society.  They dont suffer from acne. According to the research of Weston A. Price, acne happens concurrently with the introduction of modern, processed food.  Its a disease of civilization.
Hence... humans likely never suffered from acne in hunter-gatherer times, accounting for nearly all of our 2.5 million years on this earth.
Did our ancestors use Clearasil?  Did they wipe their faces with Stridex pads?  Apricot scrub?  No.
Did they rinse their faces with water twice a day to keep them clean?  Doubtful.
Did they think about cleaning their faces at all??  I dont think so!

Look, Im no expert on the skin and acne, but this is what worked for me.  It just makes sense:  Stop dousing your face with chemicals and water, and let your skin do its thing with its natural oils.  Our faces werent designed for this beating! 

I know the Kunu Protocol isnt sexy.  Its not glamorous, nor exciting.  Youve probably never heard of it before, because it doesnt make anybody any money.  But the bottom line is it works.  Why not try it, you have nothing to lose!


What about you guys?  What are your thoughts on this minimalist approach?  And what skin care strategies have worked for you?

Resveratrol, a compound found commonly in grape skins and red wine, has been shown to have several beneficial effects on human health, including cardiovascular health and stroke prevention. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has discovered that the compound can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors.


"Other studies have noted that resveratrol made tumor cells more susceptible to chemotherapy, and we wanted to see if it had the same effect for radiation therapy," said Michael Nicholl, an assistant professor of surgical oncology in the MU School of Medicine. "We found that when exposed to the compound, the tumor cells were more susceptible to radiation treatment, but that the effect was greater than just treating with both compounds separately."

Prostate tumor cells contain very low levels of two proteins, perforin and granzyme B, which can function together to kill cells. However, both proteins need to be highly "expressed" to kill tumor cells. In his study, when Nicholl introduced resveratrol into the prostate tumor cells, the activity of the two proteins increased greatly. Following radiation treatment, Nicholl found that up to 97 percent of the tumor cells died, which is a much higher percentage than treatment with radiation alone.

"It is critical that both proteins, perforin and granzyme B, are present in order to kill the tumor cells, and we found that the resveratrol helped to increase their activity in prostate tumor cells," Nicholl said. "Following the resveratrol-radiation treatment, we realized that we were able to kill many more tumor cells when compared with treating the tumor with radiation alone. Its important to note that this killed all types of prostate tumor cells, including aggressive tumor cells."

Resveratrol is present in grape skins and red wine and available over-the-counter in many health food sections at grocery stores. However, the dosage needed to have an effect on tumor cells is so great that many people would experience uncomfortable side effects.

"We dont need a large dose at the site of the tumor, but the body processes this compound so efficiently that a person needs to ingest a lot of resveratrol to make sure enough of it ends up at the tumor site. Because of that challenge, we have to look at different delivery methods for this compound to be effective," Nicholl said. "Its very attractive as a therapeutic agent since it is a natural compound and something that most of us have consumed in our lifetimes."

Nicholl said that the next step would be to test the procedure in an animal model before any clinical trials can be initiated. Nicholls studies were published in the Journal of Andrology and Cancer Science. The early-stage results of this research are promising. If additional studies, including animal studies, are successful within the next few years, MU officials will request authority from the federal government to begin human drug development (this is commonly erred to as the "investigative new drug" status). After this status has been granted, researchers may conduct human clinical trials with the hope of developing new treatments for cancer.

Lets choose the health insurance channel!

A running joke among many managed care medical directors is that the typical enrollee spends hours comparing features and prices for their flat screen TVs and minutes selecting their health insurance.  Far too often, its after enrollees get sick that they discover that many of their assumptions arent meeting the reality of the provider network, coverage exclusions and out-of-pocket expenses that they chose. 

Whats more, juicy anecdotes of failed enrollee expectations (such as unproven cancer treatments in cute bald children) have fueled advocates demands for a generous version of orm (such as a single payer with a rich one-size-fits-all benefit design).

Thats why the Disease Management Care Blog found this Kaiser Health News report interesting.  It raises two issues.

1. The Merits of Consumer Shopping.

According to the KHN report, what were reading elsewhere isnt quite true because users of Massachesetts health insurance exchange (HIE) are being flummoxed by a thicket of multiple insurance options with premiums that vary according to provider tiers (some hospitals will cost you more), out of pocket expenses (a.k.a "skin in the game" stuff like co-pays and co-insurance) and exclusions (some things are not covered).  As a result, a shopper can expect to spend "six to eight hours" selecting a plan!

The DMCB is shocked, shocked by the specter of consumers having to spend as much time comparison-shopping for health insurance as the typical amount of time used checking out Consumer Reports, scanning the newspapers for sales, seeing if Amazon has a better deal and driving to several electronics stores for that best flat screen, Blu-Ray player or speaker system.  Dammit, says the DMCB, buying health insurance is important and it deserves that much time.  If an HIE forces consumers to finally pay attention, the DMCB says that is a good thing.

As an aside, the DMCB also points out that the art and science of HIEs are still evolving.  With better informatics and user-friendly on-screen interfaces, it should get better.  Given governments heavy hand, however, the DMCB predicts HIEs will never match the astonishing slickness of parallel on-line consumer purchasing aids, such as smart iPhone apps.  Taxpayer consumer expectations will continue to not be exceeded.  They will be eventually met, however.

That being said, however, the Massachusetts experience also speaks to the naive assumptions underlying the Affordable Care Acts HIE provisions.  If that remains problematic, consumers will always have the option of letting D.C.s Pete Stark, Max Baucus and Kathleen Sebelius save them time by arranging the details of their insurance for them.

2. Anecdotes and Framing

The underlying tone of the KHN piece vaguely suggests that consumerism and health insurance is a bad thing.  From the typical use of a selected negative anecdote, the skeptical visage of the person featured in the article, a "I could not figure it out" sub-headline, the sub-text portrayal of insurers as being intentionally opaque and the prominence given to saving money all paint a picture of a system that is failing. 

Good grief, HIEs have just gotten out of the crib and KHNs reporting suggests that the liberal and progressives still want to strangle this toddler.  Once again, the DMCB is shocked... shocked.

This week’s Ask the Internet question comes from right here at home, and addresses an issue many of us might be facing in our post-Christmas hazes.

Q: Two years ago, I received several bread mixes and a jar of chocolate sauce for Christmas. The breads were baked and eaten within a month, but the sauce still lingers in the bottom of my pantry. What should I do with it? What do YOU do with food-based Christmas gifts you don’t use and/or never intend to?

A: While the generosity and thoughtfulness of a food present is wonderful, there are zillions of pepperoni sticks and Jordan almonds that will go uneaten this year. What makes it tougher: many of them (see: chocolate sauce) would be of little use to a food bank.

So, readers – what’s your plan for this stuff? Will you re-gift? Will you bring the edibles to a party, or try to pawn them off at the office? Will they simply go in the garbage? Any and all suggestions are welcome in the comment section.

P.S. Good Christmas food stories are highly encouraged.

Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to Cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide Net.

While the population health management service industry has a successful track record when it comes to chronic heart failure, diabetes and asthma, the Disease Management Care Blog thinks, after a quick scan of the literature, that there are fewer studies of its impact on hypertension.

 A recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reminds us that thats a problem.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES) performs interviews and physical examinations of a representative sample of U.S. households.  This particular report on the prevalence and treatment of high blood pressure was based on a sample of 20,811 individuals from four 2-year survey cycles that were performed from 2003 to 2010.

Extrapolating from the sample, 66.9 million persons or 30.4% of the U.S. populationn have high blood pressure. Of this population, just over half (54% or 35.8 million) have uncontrolled hypertension.  Of these persons, 31 million (or 88%) had been seen by a health care provider in the preceding year. The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension among those hypertensives with Medicare was 52%. Not having health insurance or having seen a health care provider in the past year increased the risk of untreated and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Whats more, the DMCB discovered control of hypertension doesnt appear to be getting better over time.

The good news is that the treatment of high blood pressure is not all that complicated and that team-based non-physicians can play an important role.  Patients should be engaged on weight control, a DASH diet, restricting salt, exercise and moderating alcohol intake. Medication therapy can be individualized and tailored to meet mutually agreed-upon goals and to minimize any barriers.  Check out this MMWR table and youll see erences to "lifestyle counseling," "self monitoring," "self-management education."

Given the looming shortage of primary care care settings and the coming influx of newly insured persons, the DMCB believes population health management will need to be part of the solution.  In addition to the established science, the industry 1) understands the importance of risk stratification, 2) can be bolted onto accountable care arrangements and 3) understands that optimal outcomes are somewhere between 46% and 100% control.

Hopefully, given the relative dearth of high quality studies, this opportunity will be accompanied by ongoing studies of outcomes.

A gender-bending chemical found in food packaging is linked to breathing problems in young babies, researchers have found.
A study showed pregnant mothers with the highest levels of bisphenol A in  their bodies were twice as likely to have babies who suffer from wheezing in their first six months.
Wheezing in babies can be a symptom of lung damage, asthma, bronchitis, allergies or an infection.
Bisphenol A, or BPA, which is used to harden plastics, is one of the world’s most widely manufactured chemicals and can be found in dozens of everyday items including baby bottles, CD cases and food and drink packaging.


If you use water bottles or plastic of any kind (#3, #7, etc), conventionally packed products of any kind or cans and insulated cartons of any kind, chances are you have been exposed to BPA.

Human studies have found BPA in many tissues and fluids, including urine, blood, breast milk, the amniotic fluid of pregnant women and the antral fluid of mature follicles. A national survey conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2003-2004 found BPA in 93 percent of the 2,517 people (age 6 and up) who were tested.
Because the chemical mimics oestrogen, many scientists believe it interferes with the way hormones are processed by the body.

Previous research from North Carolina State University and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) showed significant reproductive health effects in rats that have been exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA) at levels equivalent to or below the dose that has been thought not to produce any adverse effects.
Although several animal  studies have shown it to be safe, others have linked Bisphenol A to breast cancer, liver damage, obesity, diabetes and fertility problems.
The latest U.S. study looked  at the BPA levels of 367 pregnant women, with researchers at  Penn State College of Medicine measuring levels of the chemical in expectant mothers in the 16th and 26th week of pregnancy. 
They found 99 per cent of women had measurable levels of the chemical in their bodies – and those with the highest levels in their 16th week were twice as likely to have babies who wheezed at six months old than women with the lowest levels.
However, the study also found that high concentrations of BPA at 26 weeks and at birth were not connected to the condition.
Some experts suggest exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals causes the most harm during a crucial window of development early on in pregnancy, and believe women of child-bearing age should avoid products containing BPA.
Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the Chemicals, Health and Environment Monitoring Trust, said: ‘This new research adds further weight to the  need to reduce our exposure to this chemical, particularly  pregnant women.
It is the foetus developing in utero that is most vulnerable to BPA exposures.’
Last year Denmark became the first country in the EU to ban BPA in packaging for food and drink aimed at under-threes, while the EU itself voted to ban it from baby bottles  last year. Canada and three  U.S. states have also introduced restrictions.
Adam J. Spanier, lead author of the study, which was presented at a conference in the U.S. yesterday, called for more research into BPA

Weve all been there with our parents – the same ol restaurant, with the same ol menu– because theyre reluctant to try something new, strange, or simply unappealing. And theres nothing intrinsically wrong with that, per se. People like what they like, and odds are, your parents eating habits have been pretty set for decades.

But wouldnt it be nice to try something else for a change?

Convincing your folks to move on to new cuisines and cultures can be a wonderful experience for all involved, and not just because kimchee is awesome. "Ethnic" foods, or foods found outside your traditional cuisine, are frequently:

• Less expensive: When HOTUS and I order Chinese takeout, we can turn $15 into dinner that night and lunch for the office the next day. While not as cheap as home cooking, its darn comparable.
• Healthier: Okay, so the ghee (clarified butter) in Chicken Korma wont put it on the happy side of the Eat This, Not That list, but non-traditional dishes can often pack in vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and healthy oils. Compared especially to most American-style restaurant meals, ethnic food is frequently a lighter choice.
• Educational: By eating foods outside of your customary cultural cuisine, youre exposing yourself to a new world of ingredients, flavor combinations, and styles of preparation, which you can then implement at home.
• Delicious: Mmm. Take two bites of baba ghanoush and call me in the morning.

But then again, were not talking about you here, are we? Were talking about your parents – wonderful people, to be sure, but not necessarily the most daring of eaters. So, how can you get your beloved Ma and Pa to dig into falafel, injera bread, and even sushi (or "bait," as a certain family member calls it)? Try five these strategies:

1) Pay for it. Sometimes, older folks (actually, any folks) simply dont want to blow money on something theyre not sure theyll like. So, pick an inexpensive restaurant and treat em. Think of it as an adventure you dont need hiking boots for.

2) Start at home. Prepping a meal for mom? Throw in a teriyaki side dish or a plate of pierogies. By surrounding a new food with ones she likes, it may seem more approachable.

3) Order a gateway food. Introducing your parents to a mild dish – one with a less-assertive flavor, similar to a recipe they might already love. Pad Thai is way Americanized, but its an effective tool for getting reluctant eaters into more daring Thai Food. For me, lassis and samosas were the gateway dishes to a lot of delicious Indian cuisine.

• SPECIAL NOTE: This can be a way effective strategy for people with an aversion to spice, which was probably the most-cited fear in yesterdays Ask the Internet comments. Feeding your parents a super-mild quesadilla proves to them that all Mexican food isnt a five-alarm chili, which could encourage them to attempt other dishes.

4) Embrace media. This might sound lame (I hope not), but for many folks, seeing a dish in a magazine, on a TV show, or at the movies – when its been styled and served in the best possible light by super-attractive people – can make it seem tremendously appealing. I wonder how many parents wanted an Italian meal after watching Julia Roberts slurp spaghetti in Eat Pray Love? Or how many folks decided Indian food could be super-awesome after 30 minutes of Aartis Party? Or how many moms and dads tried matzoh ball soup for the first time after seeing a glossy photo in Saveur? Probably a lot.

5) Know when to accept defeat. My dad will never, ever, ever develop a love of curry, no matter how many "mmm … slurp … ahhh" sounds I make while eating a big ol bowl of it. And that is totally, 100% fine. Not everyone has similar tastes, and pushing a loved one too hard can (seriously) get pretty annoying. Food should be a joy, not a struggle. Move on.

Opening parents - and anyone, really - up to new cuisines, and as a result, new cultures, is something from which we can all benefit. Happy eating.

Readers? Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Fire away.

~~~

If you enjoyed this read, you might also dig:

• Healthy Takeout on a Budget
• Learning to Love Foods You Hate: A How-To Guide for Frugal Eaters
• Serving Sizes and Portion Control: A Primer

Three naturopathic physicians share insight on why and when to detox, what type of detox program is right for you, and 10 ways to start.

"The body has its own natural healing system "Detoxification enhances this system,"

How Does Detoxification Work?
Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities arent properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected.
A detox program can help the bodys natural cleaning process by:


1) Resting the organs through fasting;

2) Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body;

3) Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin;

4) Improving circulation of the blood; and

5) Refueling the body with healthy nutrients.
"Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells, the smallest units of human life," says Bennett.

How Do You Know if You Need to Detoxify?

Bennett suggests that everyone should detox at least once a year. A short detoxifying program is generally safe; in fact, scientific studies show that a detox is beneficial for health. However, Bennett cautions against detoxifying for nursing mothers, children, and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis. Consult your health care practitioner if you have questions about whether detoxing is right for you.
Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, "its critical to detox," says Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., the author of Detoxification (Healthy Healing Publications). Page recommends detoxing for symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, sluggish elimination, irritated skin, allergies or low-grade infections; bags under the eyes; a distended stomach even if the rest of your body is thin; menstrual difficulties; or mental confusion.

Where Do You Begin?

First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, ined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.

Another deterrent to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress hormones into your system. While these hormones can provide the "adrenaline rush" to win a race or meet a deadline, in large amounts they create toxins and slow down detoxification enzymes in the liver. So its a good idea to detox stressful life situations along with detoxifying your body. Yoga and meditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions to the inevitable stress life will bring.

Which Detox Program is Best for You?

There are many detoxification programs, depending on your individual needs. Many programs follow a 7-day schedule because, as Bennett explains, "it takes the body some time to clean the blood." His program involves fasting on liquids for two days, followed by a caully-planned five-day diet to allow the digestive system to rest. He also advises supplements, herbs, exercise, and practices such as dry-skin brushing and hydrotherapy to enhance circulation.

Page recommends a 3-7 day juice fast (drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable juices and water) as an effective way to release toxins.
Other popular detoxing programs include:
•Cleansing supplement packages, which generally contain fiber, vitamins, herbs and minerals. There are several safe products on the market, with easy-to-follow instructions.

•A routine of drinking only water one day each week — an ancient practice of many cultures.

10 Ways to Help Your Body Detoxify

After a detoxification program, you can cleanse your body daily through diet, supplements and lifestyle practices.

1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods.

2. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.

3. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.
4. Drink at least 2 quarts of water daily.
5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.
6. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.
7. Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.
8. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.
9. Dry-brush your skin or try detoxifying patches or detox foot spas / foot baths to remove toxins through your pores. Special brushes are available at natural products stores.
10. What is the most important way to detoxify? "Exercise," says Bennett. "Yoga or jump-roping are good. One hour every day." Also try qigong, a martial-arts based exercise system that includes exercises specifically for detoxifying or cleansing, as well as many other exercises with specific health benefits.