Your Best Health

November 27, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Macronutrient Diets

Macronutrient Based Diets: What The Science Shows

With the abundance of macronutrient-based diets over the past several decades – from low carbohydrate diets to low fat diets – fats, proteins, and carbohydrates have become principal when talking about optimal diets.

Scientists have begun comparing these types of diets to determine which is the most effective.

A study that was published in the Journal JAMA in 2007, reported results of a comparison of four weight loss programs, ranging from high carbohydrate diets to low carbohydrate diets. The study took twelve months and included obese and overweight premenopausal woman, who were randomly assigned either a very low carb diet, the Zone diet, the Learn diet, or the Ornish diet.

After one year, the weight loss achieved in the Atkins (low carb) diet group was greater when compared to the other diet groups. The study also looked at secondary outcomes, looking at the metabolic effects, such as blood pressure, glucose levels, body fat, and cholesterol. They determined that those that took part in the Atkins diet had more weight loss when compared to the other diet groups. This study raises questions about the long-term effects of a low carbohydrate, high fat, and high protein diets.

Another research study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2009, disagreed with the above study’s findings. They tested four different types of diets and found that the weight loss was the same regardless of the type of diet the patient was on. The study followed eight hundred individuals over two years and assigned each participant to a high fat/high protein diet, an average protein diet, a low fat/high protein diet, and a low fat/average protein diet. They concluded that every diet resulted in weight loss, even though there were differences in the composition of macronutrients.

The study also found that the more group counseling sessions the individuals attended, the more weight they were able to lose and the less weight they gained back. This supports the idea that not only what the person ate was important, but social factors, psychological factors, and behavioral factors were essential in losing weight as well.

An additional study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2010, looked at the role of glycemic index and protein on weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Scientists first started the participants on a low calorie diet to allow for some weight loss and then examined whether glycemic index and protein had an impact on weight loss maintenance. The participants were made up from almost 800 obese individuals from European countries that had lost at least eight percent of their body weight using a low calorie diet.

Participants were placed on one of five diets for six-and-a-half months with a focus on weight loss or maintenance: high protein-low glycemic index, low protein-high glycemic index or a low protein-low glycemic index. The results showed that the low protein-high glycemic index program resulted in significant weight gain, and that weight gain was less in those people who followed a high protein diet. These results showed that modest increases in protein content and small reductions in the glycemic index lead to better weight loss maintenance.

Bottom Line

The results of these studies suggest that there may be a benefit to a dietary approach that is based on a high macronutrient diet. Research also tells us that a particular diet may cause weight loss in one person but may not be beneficial for someone else, due to differences in lifestyle and genetics.

There isn’t a perfect diet for everyone. The good news is that everyone can choose flavorful and healthy foods to find a diet that works best for them. Energy techniques – such as muscle testing food choices – can help determine the food plan that will provide the best value for your health goals.

If you just can’t seem to eat fresh fruits and vegetables to get your daily requirement, consider concentrated nutrient sources such as Juice Plus. You can get the nutrients you need even when you’re away from your fridge.

November 21, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Your Immune System

Natural Ways to Increase the Body’s Immunity

Imagine a nation that lacks an army capable of defending itself against interlopers and invaders. Or think of what could happen to your important documents and files if you left your computer without any competent shield against malwares and viruses. In almost any imaginable scenario, we know all too well that being defenseless is like walking on a tightrope of doom.

The same holds true with the human body, a system that is so fundamental yet so complex in its workings. Without our body’s built-in system of protection against germs, viruses, bacteria and other foreign bodies, our organs and essential bodily functions could very well be just time bombs waiting to explode. But thanks to our immune system – our body’s crucial line of defense against infections, diseases, and other ailments – we are protected against invaders that threaten the daily functioning of our body’s system.

Our immune system is key to maintaining health and vigor. Intermittent bouts of colds and flu throughout our lifetime reminds us how our daily functioning is affected when we let our body’s defenses down. Worse, a weak immune system makes us susceptible to attacks of potentially damaging cell issues, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.

When our immune system is compromised, whether through genetic predisposition or due to the environmental risks that we encounter on a daily basis, our body’s natural ability to ward off the bad guys wanes and we are left defenseless against a host of infections and other ailments. Because not all immune systems are created equal, maintaining an immune system-boosting approach to health will help us through and beyond the challenges we face.

Eat Lots of Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts

Adopting a diet that is rich in beta carotene, zinc, and vitamins C and E found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts aids in replenishing white blood cells, and strengthens the immune system.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, chard and kale enhances the liver’s immune function by boosting its ability to clean out toxins.
Brightly colored fruits and vegetables like carrots, citrus fruits, apples, berries, and onions are rich in antioxidants that eliminate free radicals and improve the immune system.
It is also helpful to make a dietary habit of incorporating certain foods that are known to boost the immune system. Examples of such foods are: raw garlic (a great antibacterial and antiviral compound), ginger (cleanses the lymphatic system, lungs and sinuses), avocado (rich in amino acids and a good source of antioxidants) and mushrooms (contain beta glucan, a complex carbohydrate that increases immunity against infections, allergies and cancers).
Whenever you can, avoid refined sugars and complex carbohydrates found in sodas and sweets. They can suppress the ability of white blood cells to ward off bacterial attacks.
Drink water, teas, and fruit juices to help boost your immune system.

Catch a Good Dose of Zzzs

When you sleep, your body repairs itself and restores its ability to function properly. When we are sleep deprived, our body is unable to function optimally. Physical and mental alertness can be compromised. Insufficient restorative sleep also compromises the ability of cells to regenerate, decreases the body’s immune function, and raises the level of inflammatory chemicals in the body, which in turn can cause us to become ill.

This is why we may feel like we are likely to catch an infection or a cold when we are not getting enough sleep. The results of an experimental study done by the University of Chicago found that subjects who were restricted to only four hours of sleep during a weeklong trial produced only half of the normal level of antibodies when given a flu vaccine.

To maintain a healthy immune level, try to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Optimally, shoot for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Avoid chronic sleep deprivation as it can impede the body’s natural ability to heal from daily stresses and fight off infections.

Keep a Daily Exercise Routine

We might have heard it all too often: The human body was not created to endure long hours of inactivity. Being stuck behind a desk for hours, lounging on a couch in front of the TV, or avoiding the need to exercise reduces the efficiency of the systems of our body, including the immune system. Moving or exercising not only increases oxygenation at the cellular level, it also stimulates the body’s lymphatic system (which flushes out toxins) and promotes the reproduction of leukocytes (cells that fight infection).

Maintaining an exercise regimen to keep your immune system going does not require you to be a hard-core exercise buff. A daily dose of 30 minutes of moderate movement – walking around the block, running after your child or taking the stairs instead of the elevator – can do wonders to help keep your immune system healthy.

Overcome Stress

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that stress has become a normal part of our daily lives. We are exposed to stress at work, at home, even in our social and online interactions. Stress has become so prevalent that some people live in a state of high stress for extended periods. This state of ‘fight or flight’ takes a toll on the person’s health, and eventually they succumb to chronic stress and burnout or fall ill.

Stress is a part of life and we need to manage it properly, just like any other challenge we encounter. Keep in mind that stress is a condition that could be overcome by learning a few tricks to keep it at bay.

Learn to meditate, slow down once in a while, strike connections and develop deeper relationships with people, find a way to work out to blow off some steam, laugh every once in a while—whichever route you decide to use, remember that you are making not just your immune system but your whole being better by learning to overcome stress.

Take Immediate Action

Schedule your next session to determine the functioning state of your immune system. How high is your stress level? Is there something energetically we can do to bring down your cortisol levels?

November 6, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Heart Disease

Alternative Therapy for Heart Disease

It seems amazing that an organ as strong and as resilient as the heart can be slowed down and diseased, but this is a very real possibility that affects more people than you may imagine. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States each year. This equates to 1 in 4 deaths. Each year 720,000 Americans have a heart attack. 205,000 of these heart attacks are in people who have experienced one previously.

Heart disease costs the United States $108.9 billion each year, including expenditures for medications, health care services, and lost productivity.

Heart disease is often tackled by modern medicine by prescribing drugs and surgery. Unfortunately, the treatment plans for this condition can be just as frightening as the condition itself, which causes many people to ignore their symptoms and avoid medical help.

Luckily there are alternative therapy options for those suffering with heart disease that are both natural and effective. When used in concert with conventional medicine these options can increase the probability of healing success, and can go a long way toward prevention of heart disease.

What Happens When You Have Heart Problems

Heart disease is defined as any condition that prevents your heart from working correctly. Over time, heart disease can cause a deterioration of the heart’s arteries and vessels, dramatically increasing your chances of heart attack.

Coronary heart disease is the most common type. It is defined as the hardening of the arteries on your heart’s surface. The hardening of these arteries is caused by plaque accumulating on the artery walls and this plaque is typically caused by too much bad cholesterol in your system.

When left unchecked, the plaque can continue to build up and narrow the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through the heart and the rest of the body. This makes the likelihood of a blood clot, heart attack, or acute chest pain very high.

When these conditions are not treated or improved, they can lead to sudden death. It is important to maintain heart health in order to maintain a healthy body. There are many everyday practices and habits that can lead to heart disease and these often start when you are young and build up gradually.

The Road to Heart Disease: Risk Factors and Prevention

One of the most prevalent risk factors is family history. If heart disease is part of your genetics, you might be at higher risk for developing this disease yourself. However, there are still preventive steps that you can take to protect yourself against future problems.

If your family history is clear, there are still measures you can take to minimize the risk of heart disease later in life. Here is a list of the factors you can control, and how you might manage them:

Avoid high levels of low-density lipo-protein cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol and low levels of high-density lipo-protein, also known as good cholesterol
Avoid high levels of triglycerides, which can increase when you consume too many fatty foods and take in excess calories.
Avoid or quit smoking
Exercise more regularly
Avoid a high fat diet
Monitor high blood pressure
Monitor ongoing stress, anxiety, and depression
Monitor weight gain to avoid being overweight and obese
Monitor diabetes

Alternative Care

The best alternative medicine for heart disease is prevention. Stop it before it starts, and stay on top of symptoms and risk factors.

Most modern medicine becomes necessary once heart disease exists, but by simply trying alternative preventative practices and treatments you might be able to avoid the damaging effects of this condition.

Alternative Methods for Heart Disease Prevention

Consult with a holistic nutritionist that will teach how to eat smart and fill your diet with healthy foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. These include fish, vegetables, fruits, and lean meats.
Consult with a holistic practitioner that can help assess your individual needs and provide a customized treatment plan to get you on the road to general health and wellness.
Practice regular exercise a few times a week and get regular check-ups to stay on top of your heart health.
Dietary Treatments: Learn to avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol
Chelation Therapy: This treatment rids the body of heavy metals and is often used for mercury poisoning. It adds the amino acid EDTA to your body, which can help remove dangerous blockages from the arteries
Stress Reducing Exercises: Engage in Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and other similar exercise routines.

Schedule your next session to evaluate your body’s toxicity level and nutrition needs.

October 28, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Depression

8 Natural Healing Methods for Depression

Dealing with the blues does not necessarily mean that you have to start popping those orange pills. Studies show that one of the major deterrents to treating mild depression is the fear of patients to be addicted to anti-depressants.

While conventional anti-depression drugs provide an effective way of treating diagnosed depression, it is by no means the only way to elevate your mood. There are a host of natural healing methods that are considered safe and effective in improving mood and altering brain chemistry to take your blues away.

Exercise to Boost Your Mood

Exercising literally pumps you up because it releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins that interacts with your brain receptors and diminish the perception of pain. Much like morphine, endorphins suppress pain by triggering a feeling of happiness and a positive outlook. Unlike morphine though, endorphins are naturally occurring chemicals that do not lead to dependence or addiction.

Scientific evidence points that doing a 30-minute routine of moderate aerobic exercise at least three times a week is effective in alleviating symptoms of depression. Those who maintain their exercise routine even after being treated of their depression are also less likely to return to a depressed state.

Eat Healthy

Depression tends to disrupt normal eating habits, pushing those who suffer the symptoms of depression to either overeat or starve themselves. Taking control of your eating habits does not only keep your body nourished, it also restores a certain sense of control over your life, which also in part relieves your state of depression.

Some studies show that eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in tuna and salmon, as well as those that are rich in folic acid such as avocado and spinach, helps relieve depression by restoring chemical balance in the brain and nervous system.

Meditate To Relax

Much of the anxiety, stress and symptoms of depression that we experience can be relieved by giving ourselves some time to relax and clear our mind. Meditation enables deep relaxation by clearing the mind of distracting thoughts and focusing on proper and deep breathing. It provides us a means to have an altered state of consciousness.

Meditating on a daily basis is a good anti-depression practice because it trains us to let go of our thoughts, focus our attention on the here and now and cultivate an attitude of acceptance and openness, which could also help relieve depression and the negative feelings associated with it.

Do Yoga

Although most yoga techniques also involve meditation, yoga promotes an added incentive of exercising the body to improve balance, strength, and flexibility while also practicing proper breathing techniques to help clear the mind and focus.

As a whole, yoga works to align the spine, invigorate the nervous system, improve blood circulation, promote mental clarity, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote relaxation and emotional wellbeing. It provides a potent way of alleviating symptoms of depression.

Get Enough Sleep

Being in a state of depression can lead to altered sleeping patterns and make getting enough sleep feel like a tiring battle. Unfortunately, being sleep deprived can heighten your depression and make matters worse.

While it might prove difficult to sleep well, make a concerted effort to make necessary changes in your sleep routine to ensure that you get enough shut-eye when you need it most.

Try going to bed and getting up at a specific time every day to encourage your biological clock to cooperate.

Remove all distractions from sleeping such as TV, computer, or even your mobile phone (the male energy of the devices is not conducive to a good night’s sleep). You can also try a short power nap during the day to relax and feel rejuvenated.

Take Anti-Depression Herbal Supplements

Supplement your diet and boost your mood by turning to natural supplements. Try a relaxing drink of chamomile tea or some St. John’s Wort. Both herbs are said to relieve depression and anxiety.

Have a Massage

We know that touch therapy promotes relaxation and uplifts our mind and spirit. Specific massage modalities such as Swedish, Shiatsu and Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi promote relaxation and healing. The use of aromatic oils and music that promotes relaxation during massage provides a holistic experience to deal with the blues.

These natural healing remedies for depression work well to complement whatever medication or psychotherapy session you may be using to help you improve your mood and promote emotional healing.

Create an Environment for Healing

And, of course, we are here to help you discover the emotional and physical imbalances that are creating the environment that might be blocking your natural state of being.

October 10, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Fibromyalgia and Arthritis

Complementary Alternative Treatments for Pain from Fibromyalgia and Arthritis

Fibromyalgia and arthritis are medical conditions that are both associated with pain that can be chronic and debilitating. While fibromyalgia involves flu-like, muscle pain throughout the body, arthritis involves joint pain and inflammation.

Both diseases have no exact causes, and medical treatments range from palliative to preventive approaches.

Both conditions typically lead to debilitating pain and can truly affect the quality of one’s life.

Conventional Medicine versus Complementary Alternative Treatment Methods

The problem with using conventional medicine is that the effects are usually limited. Because both of these conditions are ‘incurable’, the aim of medications and treatments are often symptomatic and temporary only.

On the other hand, using alternative methods can provide long-term and reliable results – by not just addressing the symptoms but by targeting the cause – which can prevent the symptoms from reoccurring.

Addressing underlying imbalances that show up as chronic pain is possible using intuition and the Body Code to find out what is not functioning properly. Balancing that part of the body creates a safe place for the body to begin to heal as it was designed to do. In many cases the pain ‘miraculously’ disappears.

Typically we find that there are multiple layers of issues that have built up over time creating a weakness in a specific area. As more issues run to the point of weakness, pain becomes more evident and eventually seems to be a constant. As we peel back the layers of the onion – the layers of pain – we get closer to the origin of the imbalance. And we create that safe healing environment.

As we work through the layers, clients typically report that their medication needs to be changed. We never go against medication orders, and always work with the client when physical changes might indicate that the dosage should be adjusted to provide the best benefit. We also direct clients to check with their medical provider before beginning any energy healing modality. It is important for each client to take personal responsibility for their own body and their health choices.

In addition to using the Body Code to explore the underlying reasons for the body’s imbalance, there are other popular alternative treatments used to relieve pain associated with fibromyalgia and arthritis that complement conventional medicine protocols.

Acupuncture

Traditionally practiced by the Chinese, this ancient method of treatment has been adapted by Western practitioners and is now a popular and widely accepted form of alternative medicine. Acupuncture is based on the concept of “chi”, which is believed to be the body’s life force.

The chi travels along the body’s natural pathways known as meridians, found throughout the body. Any pain, discomfort or illness a person manifests is believed to be caused by blockages in the chi’s natural flow throughout the body.

The goal of acupuncture is to remove these blockages and let the chi flow freely, thereby allowing the body to heal itself from any illness or pain.

Acupuncture is done by inserting very thin needles through the skin, targeting specific “acupoints” where blockages are suspected. Acupoints to be penetrated depend on the nature of the disease and the area where pain is felt.

Chiropractic Treatments

Chiropractic medicine is based on the concept that all body parts are aligned from one specific point- the spine. When the spine is in its natural and correct position, the body is able to heal on its own and free itself from diseases and pain. On the other hand, any misalignment within a specific body part can cause an imbalance with the spine and the rest of the body, causing various types of pain and maladies.

Chiropractic care typically involves spinal manipulation, in order to align the vertebrae back to their original position. What most people do not know is that after an injury or illness, any misalignments with the bodily structures are still present, despite the symptoms disappearing. The truth is that the symptoms may be gone temporarily but the actual problem is left unresolved. While conventional treatment may mask the symptoms of arthritis and fibromyalgia, chiropractic can promote long-term relief for pain by restoring the spine’s natural alignment.

Massage

Therapeutic massage can provide warmth to the muscles and increase blood flow, promoting relaxation and pain relief. It is very important, though, that an experienced therapist is utilized – one who knows which areas are affected – to avoid aggravating the condition.

Nutritional Counselling

Many symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and arthritis can be triggered by the food you eat. The goal of nutritional counselling is to help the sufferer work out a new dietary regimen that aids in the relief of pain and progression of the disease.

For example, if you have arthritis you might be advised to avoid food that triggers inflammation, such as:

Dairy products
Alcoholic drinks
Fried food
Grilled, processed, and pasteurized food
Food high in sugar, salt, and preservatives

Alternative medicine focuses on treatment that is non-medical and non-pharmacological. It involves a natural approach that is meant to aid the person suffering from fibromyalgia and arthritis during a usually lifelong battle with these diseases.

Herbalism

Another natural healing method for the pain experienced from arthritis and fibromyalgia is herbalism. There are numerous herbs that are known to be effective in helping to alleviate pain. Make sure to take care when using herbs and consult a professional expert herbalist or a Chinese medicine doctor.