Dr. Keith Nemec – Page 10 – Total Health Institute

Improving Your Prostate Health Naturally

Improving our Prostate Health Naturally The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland, which is located beneath the bladder. It is a vital component of the male reproductive system which secretes an alkaline fluid that forms 50% to 75% of an average man’s ejaculate. The purpose of this prostatic fluid is to neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract, thereby safeguarding the sperm’s motility, prolonging its lifespan, and protecting the embedded genetic material within. It is estimated that at least 12% of the male population will experience prostate problems at some stage of their lives, and that percentage rises exponentially as men pass through middle age. Unfortunately, many men ignore their prostate health until confronted with disease or dysfunction. But there are all natural techniques men can employ to ensure the health of their prostate, and in so doing avoid the risks of an enlarged prostate or even prostate cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Problems

Many men either fail to recognize the symptoms of prostate problems, or choose to ignore them. Unfortunately, even the simplest prostate health issues, left unchecked, can lead to serious health problems. The most common signs that there is some dysfunction with the prostate gland include trouble urinating, difficulty sustaining an erection, painful ejaculation, blood in the urine, and/or pain in the hips and lower back. These symptoms can indicate anything from an enlarged prostate to the early onset of prostate cancer.

Prostate Health and Lifestyle Changes

Recent studies have shown that dietary changes can have a profound effect on the health of the prostate gland. Transitioning to a vegan diet, with an emphasis on fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables can greatly reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other prostate disorders. Foods rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes and red grapefruit, can help to support the overall health of the prostate gland. Likewise, vegetables rich in antioxidants, like cabbage and cauliflower, can help reduce the risks of infections and cancerous growths within the prostate. Men should also drink plenty of water in order to flush any toxins or other contaminants from the bladder. This is particularly important if the man is already showing indications of an enlarged prostate. Alcohol, and caffeine rich drinks, should be avoided.

The Role of Supplements in Prostate Health

All natural vitamins and herbal supplements can be added to the diet to help support prostate health. This can be particularly useful for men who find transitioning to a wholly vegan diet difficult. Vitamin E, roughly 600 – 1600 IU daily, should be taken to promote prostate health. Studies have shown that men with high levels of vitamin E in their bloodstream lowered their risk of prostate infections and prostate cancer by half. Plant based omega-3 fatty acids, have also been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by more than 50%. Men should take between 2 and 6 grams of Omega-3 oil daily. Vitamin D is also proving to be a major deterrent where cancer is concerned, and it is currently estimated that 60% of adults are vitamin D deficient. Men seeking to keep their prostate gland healthy, and free from cancer, should also consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

Saw Palmetto Berry can also be taken to maintain prostate health. Saw Palmetto is all natural, and is proven to relieve inflammation and enlargement of the prostate without the harmful side effects of over the counter medication. Saw Palmetto also helps to control the hormones that lead to an enlarged prostate, so it can be taken as a preventative measure.

Exercise and Prostate Health

Excess weight has been linked to higher instances of a number of prostate problems, including cancer. In addition to transitioning to a healthier vegan diet, regular exercise should be taken to help reduce body weight, and to build lean muscle. Kegel exercises can be used to target the prostate specifically. Kegel exercises are performed by tightening and relaxing the muscles around the scrotum and anus. This increases blood circulation to the the surrounding tissues, keeping them healthier and less prone to infections or precancerous growths. The exercise should be repeated ten times, 4 to 5 times a day.

Men may find discussing their prostate health embarrassing. But by making some simple lifestyle changes, and adding some all natural supplements to their diet, men can protect their prostate from infection, enlargement and even cancer. It is important for men to step up and concern themselves with their personal health, if only to protect the ones they love from an unnecessary loss.

Eating Less Animal Protein May Save Your Life

Meat Linked to Cancer Remember as you eat up the food chain you are eating concentrated chemicals, toxins, pesticides, herbicides etc. These are the facts you have to keep in mind when eating animal products:

· Eating an animal product is 16 times more concentrated in chemicals and toxins than eating non-organic produce, and on average 100 times more concentrated in chemicals and toxins than organic produce.

· All scientific studies have shown that plant products decrease your incidence of disease where animal products in the cooked form increase your incidence of disease.

· The possibility of infectious prion diseases like Mad Cow being spread silently with a long incubation period in not only beef, but also in chicken, pork, lamb, and dairy products.

· The most recent studies on the low carb, high protein diets showing temporary weigh loss but after one year the weight loss usually ceases or is regained.

· The low-carbohydrate (high protein) group was more likely to experience toxic symptoms of constipation, headache, halitosis, muscle cramps, diarrhea, weakness, and rash.

If you haven’t begun, start transitioning your diet to a living/raw, plant-based diet. The purest, most health-promoting diet on the planet is living/raw food, which consists of sprouts, seeds, legumes, nuts, vegetables, sea vegetables and avocados. When this type of food is consumed in the uncooked state, it has bioelectrical charges to jumpstart sick or dysfunctional cells back on to health and life. This is the food all animals in the wild eat. No animal eats cooked food, except your dogs and cats and they contract the same diseases that the human race does: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disease, etc.

How do you begin? Eat more living/raw food and eat it first in the meal. If you eat a large salad of sprouts, greens, cut up vegetables and avocados, you are going to get full. And if you are full with the right foods you are less likely to eat the wrong foods because there is no more room in your stomach. This way, if you ate the large salad with all the above in it and you still want to eat some meat, pasta, or something else cooked, you will not have much room in your stomach for the cooked food and animal products.

Foods to avoid:

1.) Sugar

2.) Salt

3.) Dairy

4.) Processed or preserved

5.) Man-made/artificial–saccharin, NutraSweet, MSG

6.) Hydrogenated fats and oils

7.) Meat, chicken and fish

8.) Cooked animal products

9.) Flour

To learn more about how to decrease your risk for cancer through healthy foods, read: Six Cancer Fighting Foods That Should Be a Part of Everyone’s diet

Intermittent Fasting and the Prevention of Cancer

Fasting has a long tradition in the ancient world, and has been used in both religious ceremonies and as a way to maintain the body’s total health. It seems that what our ancient ancestors understood we are only just beginning to rediscover. Today, the value of periodic fasting as a way of detoxifying the body has been largely accepted by the natural health community, and is beginning to make inroads amongst the general public. But recent studies have shown that intermittent fasting may do more than rejuvenate the cells and tissues of the body. It would appear that fasting also plays a vital role in the prevention of cancer.

Caloric Restriction and Cancer

Caloric restriction is one of the most basic techniques used to improve the overall health of the body. Obesity is a major concern in the West, and it has been proven to be at the root of many chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. By restricting calories, or dieting, we can reduce excess weight and better maintain a healthy body-mass index. This is obviously nothing new, and people use caloric restriction for weight loss as a matter of course. But recent studies have shown that restricting our daily caloric intake by as little as 25% can have a profound effect on the body at a cellular level.

The cells of the body use the food we eat as energy for self-repair and reproduction. When we over-eat we are, in effect, supplying too much fuel to our body’s cells. What happens then is that our cells have a surplus of energy that cannot be stored, but must be used immediately. Too often, this forces the cell to reproduce before it has finished any necessary self-repair. This leads to abnormal cell growth, and the potential for precancerous and cancerous tumors. In a very real sense, our tendency towards obesity is making our bodies the ideal breeding ground for cancer.

Intermittent Fasting

Caloric restriction on a daily basis can be difficult for many people. Dieting demands that we not only reduce calories, but we must also deprive ourselves of certain favorite foods. It can also be difficult to maintain a diet in the work-a-day world where meals are not always prepared at home. Dieting can become a chore that we would just as soon shrug off as continue with. Intermittent fasting holds the answer, and without the daunting prospect of a never ending dieting regimen.

When we talk about intermittent fasting there are two basic techniques to consider:

Daily Intermittent Fasting – This is the most basic of techniques, and involves setting a strict daily eating schedule. Sixteen hours of fasting followed by an eight hour window for meals. For example, one might fast from midnight to noon, and allow for meals from noon to eight in the evening. People using this technique should closely monitor their weekly caloric intake. Because you are cutting a meal or two out of your day, it’s easy to get too few calories in a week.
Intermittent Weekly Fasting – This is one of the best ways to test the waters of intermittent fasting. This is an occasional fast that is used more for promoting the body’s total health than for weight management. This is a 24 hour fast that can be performed once a week, or once a month for beginners. The most common technique is to select a day, and to begin your fast at noon, continuing the fast until noon of the next day. This schedule has the added benefit of including the time you spend sleeping as part of your fasting hours.

Fasting on a regular basis can have a number of significant health benefits beyond the simple restriction of calories. Intermittent fasting has been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of allergies, arthritis and many digestive disorders. Research has also demonstrated that periodic fasting can play a vital role in the prevention of variety diseases, not the least of which is cancer. What our ancestors understood about periodic fasting is quickly becoming recognized as one of the most successful all natural techniques for maintaining the body’s total health.

Garlic: Nature’s Pharmacy

Garlic Helps Heart and Cancer Nature provides, and through its bounty gives us everything we need to maintain our total health. Case in point, the lowly garlic bulb. This common vegetable can be found in kitchens all over the world, and is easily one of the most popular spices in the marketplace. It is also one of the most remarkable items in nature’s larder, boasting a wide range of health benefits. Researches into the benefits of garlic have yielded amazing results, proving that it is the pharmaceutical industry’s worst nightmare – an all-natural plant with innate healing properties. But beyond making our meals more delicious, what can garlic really do?

Garlic Fights Infection

There is a natural compound found in garlic called Allicin, and it acts as both an antibiotic and an antimicrobial. Research has shown that the Allicin found in raw garlic is the equal of standard dosages of penicillin and tetracycline, and is effective against a number of infectious bacteria. Studies have proven that garlic is effective as a broad spectrum antibiotic against a number of bacterial agents, including those associated with dysentery, typhoid, tuberculosis, staph and candida infections. In fact, its antibiotic properties can defeat more than seventy common infectious agents. It is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and antiviral. To get the full antibiotic benefits of garlic, it should be eaten raw as cooking destroys the Allicin compound.

Garlic and Heart Health

All adults need to be concerned with the overall health of their heart, and once again garlic has been shown to offer huge health benefits. High cholesterol has been directly linked to heart disease, and it is vital to keep cholesterol levels within acceptable limits. When taken regularly, it has been shown to have a profound effect on the way the body handles cholesterol. Test subjects who took the equivalent of three raw garlic cloves a day saw their LDL cholesterol (or “bad” cholesterol) reduced by as much as 15%. More importantly, they saw their HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attacks) rise by nearly 23%.

Garlic also helps to control high blood pressure by relaxing the muscles in blood vessels, allowing them to dilate more freely. Furthermore, taken over time, it appears to remove the harmful plaque that can build up in the arteries of the heart. This allows the blood to flow more freely, reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack. Plus it is rich in the antioxidants necessary to protect the heart and arteries from damaging free radicals.

Garlic and Cancer

One of the more startling health benefits is its effect on cancer cells. A recent study of two Chinese counties revealed the power of garlic over cancer. In Gangshan County, where residents eat an average of 20 grams of garlic a day, incidents of gastric cancer were as low as 3.5 per 100,000 people. Conversely, in Quixia County, where residents ate little or no garlic, the average incidents of gastric cancer where roughly 40 per 100,000. Further studies suggest that as little as two cloves of raw garlic a day can help to prevent colon cancer. The antioxidants in the raw cloves protect the body from the toxic effect of cancer causing chemicals, and can even inhibit the growth of cancer cells once they develop.

Reaping the Benefits of Garlic

Not all garlic is created equal, and to reap the full benefits of this tasty vegetable you should only use the freshest, organically grown, garlic. Fresh garlic bulbs should be tightly closed, and all the cloves should be firm to the touch. If the bulb has started to swell or split, and if there are any sprouts to be seen, the garlic is past its prime. In most cases, garlic should be eaten raw to experience its full benefits. Cooking reduces the potency of the chemicals that fight bacteria, boost the immune system and combat cancer, so raw is generally best. If the bad breath often associated with garlic is a concern, peppermint oil can be taken to neutralize any unpleasant odors.

Garlic is a tasty addition to any meal, and has found its way into the hearts and kitchens of people all around the world. The significant health benefits associated with garlic is only further proof of nature’s bounty, and its ability to provide for so many of our needs.

Metabolic Syndrome Affects Mental Health

A study found that older people who have metabolic syndrome, a group of cardiovascular risk factors, had a 20 percent higher risk of cognitive impairment compared to people without the syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome doesn’t refer to any single type of metabolic disease, but instead to a specific group of symptoms, including abdominal fat, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. As many as one in four Americans has metabolic syndrome, according to the American Heart Association.Researchers from the National Institute on Aging, the University of California at San Francisco , the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the University of Tennessee at Memphis collaborated on this study of 2,632 people aged 70 to 79.Slightly more than 1,000 had metabolic syndrome, while 1,616 did not.

Overall, those with metabolic syndrome had a 20 percent higher risk of developing cognitive impairment during the study period. People who had high levels of inflammation and metabolic syndrome fared even worse, with a 66 percent increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to those without metabolic syndrome.Dr. Goldman added, “The treatment of choice for metabolic syndrome is exercise and weight loss. While we do have a number of medications that can improve biochemical defects, healthy living is probably the most efficient and safest treatment.” Doing this “You can possibly lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive declines by what you do decades before,” he said.

The bottom line, said Goldman, is that “if you want to continue life in an enjoyable way, exercise and healthy eating are indispensable.”
–Journal of the American Medical Association

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec’s comments on Physical Health Affects Mental Health:

It is more than just eating healthy and exercise, it is living the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health each and every day because you reap what you sow.

If you have been experiencing symptoms like:

Fatigue
Pain
Digestive problems (constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, heartburn, reflux)
Weakened immune system (reoccurring colds, flu and infections)
Sleep problems
Allergies/sensitivities
Weight problems
Emotional highs and lows
Depression and Anxiety

conditions like:

High Blood Pressure
High cholesterol
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Esophagitis/Gastritis
Pancreatitis
Colitis
Hepatitis
Nephritis
Thyroiditis
Adrenalitis
Candida
GERD
Asthma
Allergies/sensitivities
Rashes/hives/acne/dermatitis/eczema
Cysts/tumors

or disease like:

Heart disease
Stroke
Cancer
Diabetes
Autoimmune disease
Respiratory disease-COPD
Gastrointestinal disease
Neurological disease

it is because you are living a normal American life and breaking all or most all of the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health^(TM)

So, how can you change and overcome symptoms, conditions or disease? Start planting the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health – Audio Guide^(TM) everyday and you will see them start to grow and eventually reap the harvest of Total Health of Body, Mind and Spirit.

The 7 Basic Steps to Total Health:

Prayer–you are taking the time throughout your day to regularly still your mind so you can hear the voice of God spoken into your heart.
Fasting–you are not fasting from the normal Standard American Diet (SAD).
Exercise–you are not exercising 30 minutes every day.
Sleep–you are not sleeping 9.5 hours with 3.5 of them before midnight.
Food–you are not consuming a diet of living/raw plant food which has the highest energy, bioelectricity, enzymes and bioavailable nutrient content to either maintain or restore your health.
Water–you are not drinking 32 ounces of distilled water per 50/lbs per body weight per day.
Air–you are not deep diaphragm breathing to oxygenate your body.

Exercising the Body to Benefit the Brain

We all know that exercising is important in maintaining the overall health of our bodies. By engaging in a regular exercise routine we can effectively manage our weight, boost our immune system, increase our lung capacity, and protect our heart and cardiovascular system from disease. In fact, exercising has been proven to be one of the most powerful tools in disease prevention, helping to protect the body from everything from the common cold to cancer. But what effect does regular exercise have on the brain? For years we have understood that exercise releases endorphins, the mood elevating hormones that are responsible for the so-called “runners high” that can follow a rigorous workout. But recent studies have shown that physical exercise does much more for the brain than we previously believed.

Exercise and Mental Well-Being

Depression and anxiety are clinically recognized mood disorders that affect one out of every ten Americans. People suffering from chronic depression or anxiety know, to their cost, just how debilitating these mood disorders can be. Great strides have been made in the understanding and treatment of these disorders. Unfortunately, most conventional treatments rely heavily on antidepressant medications that carry a wide range of dangerous side-effects. But recent research into the mind body connection indicates that prolonged physical activity can have a powerful influence on a person’s mental state.This is not a matter of a brief release of endorphins, but an overall long lasting reduction in depression and anxiety.

A recent study looked at the fitness levels of 11,000 men and 3000 women. Results showed a direct correlation between an increase in fitness and a marked decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety. The research study showed that physically active individuals had up to a 33% reduction in depressive symptoms, regardless of gender or race. The researchers concluded that regular exercise could be as valuable in treating depression and anxiety as antidepressants and conventional therapy.

Exercise and Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have become a growing concern, particularly in the western world. As our life expectancy increases, our brains and bodies become prone to a host of degenerative disorders. The cognitive decline associated with these disorders appears to be connected to a decrease in both brain mass and healthy brain cells. While the causal connection remains unclear, recent surveys of older adults have shown that those individuals who remained physically active had fewer instances of non-trauma related dementia.

The studies suggest that exercising helps to preserve the overall health of the brain, ensuring the delivery of the much needed hormones that maintain the health and vitality of existing brain cells. When the health and integrity of the brain’s cell structure is maintained, neurotransmitters function more effectively. Consequently, memory, decision making, and the ability to solve complex problems remain unimpaired.

Exercise and the Structure of the Brain

As the body ages, cells die and are replaced by new cells. This happens at a different rate for every part of the body. It has long been believed that the brain was unique, in that as brain cells die they could not be replaced. However, recent research into the structure of the brain has shown that this is not the case. What is particularly interesting is that the rate of new brain cell growth seems to be directly linked to a history of exercise and physical activity.

Regular exercise appears to promote the growth of new brain cells, especially in those individuals who have a long personal history of aerobic and resistance training. This research would seem to indicate that individuals who have lived a predominantly sedentary life are at a significantly higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and that regular exercise is a key component to keeping the brain healthy and functioning at optimal levels.

While exercising has always been the key to weight loss and general good health, it now appears that it also plays a vital role in maintaining the overall health of the brain. It is recommended that individuals engage in regular exercise, at minimum a thirty minute walk five times a week, as a way of combating mood disorders and bolstering the brain’s cognitive abilities.

Calorie Restriction Can Prolong Life

Healthy Foods Obese people who drastically limit their calorie intake can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease and stay young longer, real-life research finds.

The study of obviously dedicated members of an organization called the Caloric Restriction Optimal Nutrition Society found they scored significantly better on such major risk factors as cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin levels. A group led by Dr. John O. Holloszy, a professor of medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine, report the finding in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“For the first time we’ve shown that calorie restriction is feasible and has a tremendous effect on the risk for atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and diabetes,” Holloszy said.

The readings of such factors as blood pressure and cholesterol for these middle-aged Americans were typical of much younger people, he said.

The people involved in the study had been taking in about 1,100 and 1,950 calories a day for about six years, with bigger people logically eating more. They were compared to a matched group of people whose daily intake was between 1,975 and 3,550 calories a day, more typical of Americans.

The calorie-restricted group had blood levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol in the lowest 10 percent of people in their age group. The readings for “good” HDL cholesterol, which carries fats out of the arteries, were in the highest 15 percent of their age group. And their levels of triglycerides, fats that contribute to atherosclerosis, were lower than in 95 percent of Americans half their age.

Those readings, and the ones for other factors such as body mass index and body fat, indicate that the low-calorie consumers “are aging less rapidly than normal,” Holloszy said.

The study also deals a blow to the current craze over low-carbohydrate diets. The calorie-restricted group got 46 percent of their calories in the form of carbohydrates, with 26 percent from protein and 28 percent from fat.

The low-calorie people consumed mostly complex carbohydrates, from such foods as fruits and vegetables.

-Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec Comments Calorie Restriction Can Prolong Life:

There is only one thing that has scientifically been proven to increase longevity. It is called calorie restriction. When obese animals of all types are put on a 50% decreased calorie intake, their lifespan increases 50%.

Not only does calorie restriction increase lifespan; it also increases your physical, mental and emotional health.

Heart disease, cancer and diabetes which account for nearly 90% of all deaths in the United States can be tremendously reduced if one just eats less.

How can a person cut their calories by 40-50% and still survive you might ask? The answer is found in nature. All animals in nature that live long lives and maintain excellent health eat only one type of diet: raw/living food. When you eat a diet of uncooked vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, fruits (avocados), you will be eating 40-50% of the calories you are presently eating. When you eat pure, living/raw plant base food, it fills you up and satisfies because it is concentrated nutritionally in the purest form. Take a lesson from the animal kingdom and start cutting your calories by eating a living/raw plant based diet.

Remember, the Daniel fast and the lessons learned from it. When we do not eat the king’s food (the cooked, processed food of this world system) not only will we be healthier physically but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

…Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. … In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. NIV

The more we feed the flesh (old mind/old nature) the more we block and suppress the flow of the Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, the Spirit of all knowing.

The Natural Treatment and Prevention of Chronic Migraines

More than 23 million people in the United States suffer from migraines. 2 to 3 million of those Americans are chronic sufferers, experiencing a minimum of one severe migraine per month. Only a migraine sufferer can truly understand just how debilitating an attack can be. Migraines can seriously disrupt a person’s professional and social life, causing them to miss days at work or at school and forcing them to seriously restrict their day to day activities.

The conventional treatment for migraines is typically a combination of over the counter and prescription pain relievers. While these medications can offer some relief, they do not address the underlying causes of chronic migraines. They also come with a wide range of unwanted, and often dangerous, side effects. Migraine sufferers are increasingly looking for all natural ways to treat and prevent their chronic attacks. Fortunately, there are some measures that migraine sufferers can take to reduce the frequency and severity of their attacks, while eliminating the need for prescription drugs.

Common Symptoms of Migraines

Migraines affect every individual differently, and the severity of attacks can range from mild to intense. The most common migraine symptoms include:

Throbbing pain, often localized to one side of the head
Heightened sensitivity to light and sound
Blurred or distorted vision
Nausea and vomiting

For many migraine sufferers, any combination of these symptoms can require them to retire to their beds in a darkened and silent room, waiting for the pain and discomfort to subside. The intense pain can last for hours, or even days. In extreme circumstances, some migraine sufferers may require hospitalization.

Diet, Nutrition and Migraine Attacks

Certain foods are recognized as triggers for migraine attacks. Chocolate, citrus fruits, red wine and aged cheeses are a few of the most common culprits, but food triggers can vary widely among migraine sufferers. Keeping a food journal can help people with chronic migraines to identify those foods that act as triggers for their own attacks, so they can be restricted or eliminated from their diets. Over the course of keeping the journal, it will be easy to spot the correlation between certain foods and any subsequent migraines.

Some general dietary changes can help reduce the occurrence of migraines. Transitioning to a vegan diet has been shown to effectively reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks in chronic sufferers. Recent studies have also shown that increasing the intake of vegetables that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax seeds, hemp seeds, spinach, kale, and broccoli can also have a profound effect on the occurrence of chronic migraines. For those people who find that they cannot get the required daily allowance of Omega-3 from their diet alone, nutritional supplements can be taken to offset any deficiency.

Stress Management and Migraine Headaches

Stress and anxiety are key triggers for migraines. Conventional medicine tends to treat these with anti-depressants or other mood altering drugs. Understandably, most migraine sufferers would prefer to avoid taking these often dangerous medications. Fortunately, there are some stress management techniques which can be adopted to help reduce stress and anxiety naturally. Deep breathing exercises can help promote an overall sense of wellbeing, and can reduce the effects of daily stress. Progressive muscle relaxation, in which the patient systematically tenses and relaxes specific muscle groups within the body, has also been shown to help relieve anxiety and stress. A routine of regular exercise is also a powerful tool in managing stress and anxiety. Regular exercise also helps to maintain a healthy body weight, which has been shown to have a direct impact on the frequency and severity of migraine headaches.

Meditation and Prayer

Prayer and meditation can have a profound effect on every aspect of the mind body connection, reducing stress and helping to manage pain. Setting aside an hour a day to meditate on God’s Word and practicing listening to the Spirit of God speak truth to the heart, will help migraine sufferers to reduce the anxiety and stress that can trigger a headache, as well as help them better manage their pain during an attack. The Lord has designed the body with an innate body/mind connection, and spirituality plays a key role in maintaining total health. Keeping the spirit, mind and physical body balanced and operating at peak efficiency is vital for total health.

For those that suffer with migraine headaches the thought of an endless regimen sometimes harmful, prescription medicines is unacceptable. But by making some simple dietary changes, and employing certain stress management techniques, migraine sufferers can significantly reduce both the frequency and the severity of their attacks.

Tips for Preventing Cervical Cancer Naturally

Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer affecting women in the United States today. Nearly 15,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, with nearly 4,000 women ultimately succumbing to the disease. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop along the cervix, and begin to grow out of control. Conventional treatments for cervical cancer rely on surgery (full or partial hysterectomy), chemotherapy and radiation treatment. These treatments are fundamentally assaults on the body, and carry unwanted and dangerous side effects. As with all forms of cancer, the best therapy is prevention. By making certain lifestyle changes, and by educating themselves on the effects of diet and environment on their overall health, women can significantly lower their risks for cervical cancer.

The Causes and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

The most common cause of cervical cancer is HPV, or human papillomavirus. HPV is a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. It is a common virus, and it affects nearly 20 million Americans. That being said, there are a number of different types of HPV, and not all types of the human papillomavirus cause cancer. Some may cause genital warts, while other types may stay in the body producing no symptoms of disease. The major danger of the cancer causing type of HPV is that it can lay dormant in a woman’s body for years before causing any cancer to develop.

Aside from HPV, cervical cancer is predominantly linked to lifestyle, diet and environmental factors. Genetics appear to play a part as well, and women with a family history of cervical cancer may be at a 15% greater risk for developing the disease later in life.

The most common symptoms of cervical cancer are pelvic pain, unusual vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods, unusual vaginal discharges, bladder pain and pain during urination. Loss of appetite, sudden weight loss, and a pervasive feeling of fatigue can indicate advanced cervical cancer.

Prevention of Cervical Cancer

Since it is clear that one of the major causes of cervical cancer is HPV, which can be transmitted through sexual contact, one of the most effective forms of prevention is practicing safe sex or abstinence. This not only significantly lowers the risk for cervical cancer; it limits the chances of contracting any sexually transmitted diseases.

Women who smoke are at a higher risk for cervical cancer, because the toxins found in tobacco can be absorbed by the cervix. Smokers should quit immediately. It not only reduces the risk for cervical cancer, quitting smoking lowers the risk for the majority of cancers.

A healthy diet greatly reduces the risk of cancer in general and cervical cancer in particular. Women should make the transition to a vegan diet, rich in raw and organic fruits and vegetables. Organically grown garlic, and onions are rich in antioxidants that help to protect the body from free radicals that can cause cancer and other diseases. Foods that are rich in selenium, such as tomatoes, Brazil nuts, mushrooms, broccoli, bananas and asparagus, should also be added to the diet. Selenium also inhibits the creation of free radicals in the body, thereby reducing the risk for cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer and the Importance of Exercise

Regular exercise has many health benefits, including protecting the body from cancer. Regular exercise helps to regulate blood pressure and insulin levels, while reducing body fat that can cause hormone levels to spike creating a welcome environment for cancer to develop. A regular routine of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, three to four times a week, can greatly reduce a woman’s risk for cervical cancer. Regular exercise also helps to support a strong immune system, healthy blood oxygen levels, and has been shown to combat anxiety and depression.

Cervical cancer can be a life threatening disease, and while survival rates are excellent for those that catch it early, prevention is still the best medicine. By taking these preventative measures, women can greatly reduce their chances of developing cervical cancer, and can ensure that they enjoy total health for years to come.

Prayer Gives Hope to Cardiac Patients

Heart surgery patients can gain hope, confidence, optimism and a sense of control through religious faith and prayer, according to new University of Michigan research.

The researchers studied 224 cardiac patients over 19 months for their prayer coping and religiosity, general health and mental health, cardiac status, social support, depression, and socio-demographic factors.

They concluded there was a strong link between religiosity and a patient’s ability to feel in control of their health situation, and that believers depended on the spiritual support of a higher power in their regular life.

“The day before a major cardiac procedure, an uncontrollable event, is a life-altering moment,” Amy Ai, a researcher of integrative medicine, said.

“The fact that the surgical and medical team would determine the immediate outcomes provides an intriguing window into the positive attitudes such as hope, optimism and perceived control and faith of cardiac patients,” Ai said.

“A core value shared by many religious traditions is surrendering to God which discourages over-assertion of personal control in a bond to the divine,” Ai said.

–Journal of Health Psychology.

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec Comments:
What is prayer? It is simply communicating with God. Communicating is defined as talking and listening. The problem arises in our prayer life when we talk from world-filled, ego-filled, flesh-filled old minds. God give me this, God give me that, God make my life easy, God take away all my problems, etc….

The power in true prayer is not talking to God. He knows what you need before you ask Him. The power of prayer is in stilling the mind so you can listen to Him speak to your heart.

Most people’s prayer life is 90/10. This is 90% talking to God giving Him your grocery list of needs and 10% of listening to His response. If you want to grow and mature spiritually, you need to reverse the ratio to 10/90. That is, spend 10% of your prayer time talking and 90% in stillness listening to the drops of the Spirit voice falling on the still pond of your heart once you have stilled the raging ocean of thoughts going on in your mind.

This is done by focusing on only Him in quiet meditation and focusing on your breathing instead of letting your mind wonder. Start with five minutes a day and work your way up. The sky is the limit. Most all great saints of the past have started their day with 2-4 hours of silent prayer and meditation in quiet solitude. They maintained this prayerful state throughout the day by keeping their focus on Him, not on the things of the world. You can go deeper in your prayer life by learning how to still yourself before God and listen to His voice. This is taught in our Seven Basic Steps to Total Health audio series

Are You Suffering from Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

It is estimated that as much as 40% of the general population suffers from vitamin B12 deficiency. That number may be even higher, as the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are often mistaken for other illnesses. Vitamin B12 is essential to maintaining a healthy body. It helps to regulate metabolism, and is vital to the production of red blood cells which carry oxygen through the bloodstream to the body’s tissues and organs. Vitamin B12 is also required for the proper functioning of the brain and central nervous system. B12 deficiency often goes undiagnosed, and many people suffer chronic symptoms without ever realizing the true cause. Fortunately, these symptoms can be alleviated with a few changes in diet, and the use of vitamin supplements.

What Causes B12 Deficiency?

Decreased levels of vitamin B12 can have a number of different causes, chief among them poor nutrition. But there are also a variety of health conditions which inhibit the body’s absorption of B12. Autoimmune disorders such as Grave’s disease and Lupus can restrict the body’s ability to absorb B12, as can certain intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease and celiac disease. People who consume large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis are also highly prone to developing a B12 deficiency.

Common Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

One of the reasons that vitamin B12 deficiency is so often misdiagnosed, is that the symptoms are common to a wide range of other disorders. A mild deficiency may not manifest any symptoms, but as the problem worsens the following symptoms may begin to appear:

fatigue and muscle weakness
light headedness
rapid or irregular heartbeat
bleeding gums, slow healing wounds and an over susceptibility to bruising
irregular bowel movements and unexpected weight loss

In extreme cases, where the B12 deficiency has gone unchecked, nerve cells within the body can be damaged resulting in more severe symptoms including:

tingling or numbness in the extremities
depression and sudden mood swings
memory loss and mental disorientation

As you can see, all of these symptoms are easily attributable to other common illnesses. It is not unusual for a patient to be under treatment for one disease, when in fact they have been suffering from a simple deficiency of B12.

Treating Vitamin B12 deficiency

Fortunately, correcting a vitamin B12 deficiency isn’t difficult. Depending on the underlying cause of the deficiency, it can generally be treated through diet and supplements. For those who don’t get the recommended daily allowance of B12 from their diet, B12 can be taken in the form of tablets, slow release patches, or sub-lingual drops.

In extreme cases, where the deficiency is caused by disease, regular intramuscular B12 injections may be necessary. These are available by prescription only, and like insulin can be administered at home by the patient.

The Health Benefits of B12

We have seen that the symptoms of B12 deficiency can be far reaching, and in some cases particularly intense. Left unchecked, a B12 deficiency can lead to a host of more serious conditions. Maintaining healthy levels of B12 can reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering the homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is an amino acid that has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease in otherwise healthy individuals. A healthy B12 level also reduces the risk for certain cancers. B12 deficiency has been linked to abnormal cell growth in women diagnosed with cervical cancer and cancer of the uterus. More recent studies have also drawn a direct correlation between extended vitamin B12 deficiency and the early onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Vitamin B12 is essential for maintaining the total health of the body, and a prolonged deficiency can lead to a wide range of disorders. Fortunately, as common as this deficiency has become, it can be easily treated. If you think you may be suffering from a B12 deficiency, speak to your holistic healthcare provider for help devising a treatment plan to put your health back on track.

Getting the Right Balance of Sun Exposure

Sun exposure has a protective effect against the development Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a blood cancer, Australian researchers report.

Dr. Anne Kricker, of the University of Sydney, and colleagues investigated the possibility that high sun exposure is associated with an increased risk of NHL – but they found the opposite — according the results of a study published in the International Journal of Cancer.

The study involved adults between the ages of 20 and 74 years. In total, 704 cases of NHL and 694 randomly selected matched controls were enrolled.

The risk of NHL decreased with increasing hours of sun exposure. With the highest exposure, the odds of having NHL decreased by 35 percent compared with the lowest exposure level.

One effect of sunlight is to stimulate the body’s production of vitamin D. The researchers say that “increasing evidence that vitamin D may protect against cancer makes ultraviolet-mediated synthesis of vitamin D a plausible mechanism whereby sun exposure might protect against NHL.”
-International Journal of Cancer

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec comments on Getting the Right Balance of Sun Exposure:

Light is critical for health and healing. Your immune system is intimately connected to the Light-Dark cycle. This means when the sun is up, you need to be in it a minimum of 30 minutes a day. When the sun is down, you need to sleep in total darkness with 8- 9.5 hours of deep, dark sleep. This 8-9.5 needs to be divided into 3.5 or more hours before midnight. These two factors combined can triple your Balance Light and Dark for Health immune system defense to fight off bacteria, viruses, parasites, candida and cancer cell proliferation.
Lack of sunlight can also produce mental, emotional imbalances leading to more depression, anxiety and more emotional food cravings. For those who cannot get outside everyday of the year, some options are:

Get 15 minutes of exposure through a (portable full-spectrum light therapy).
Get one hour of sun exposure per day in direct sun.

Vitamin D Deficiency Can Lead to Increased Health Risks

Vitamin D Deficiency Can Lead to Increased Health Risks We were all taught in school that vitamin D builds strong bones and teeth. While it definitely plays a role in building strong bones, researchers are finding that it also plays an integral role in the total health of the human body. People with a vitamin D deficiency are at an increased risk for a variety of conditions, including type-1 and type-2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. A prolonged lack of vitamin D has also been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in older adults.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

Diagnosing vitamin D deficiency can be difficult without a blood test. The symptoms can be subtle, and tend to be easily dismissed. The most common outward symptoms are bone pain, generally along the spine and rib cage, and muscle fatigue or muscle spasms. Vitamin D deficiency can also manifest itself in a disruption of sleep patterns, leading to bouts of insomnia, and loss of visual acuity. Understandably, these symptoms are commonly dismissed as typical aches and pains, or general irregularity. However, it is estimated that nearly 60% of Americans are suffering from some degree of deficiency, so it is important to follow up on these symptoms if they become more frequent.

The Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency

There are number of major causes of vitamin D deficiency. Diet obviously plays a part, but personal habits are also a factor. The body needs sunlight to make vitamin D. Our modern lifestyles tend to prevent us from getting out into the sun, which deprives the body of the energy it needs to create and activate its store of vitamin D. The increased use of sunscreen also inhibits the body’s ability to make and utilize vitamin D. While many people are concerned with preventing skin cancer, the body does need a certain amount of pure exposure to sunlight to keep it healthy.

Some physical conditions can result in a vitamin D deficiency. The kidneys are required to convert vitamin D to its active form. As people age, or their kidney function becomes impaired, they are more likely to develop a vitamin D deficiency. Certain disorders affecting the digestive tract, such as Crohn’s Disease or Celiac Disease, can inhibit the intestine’s ability to absorb vitamin D from the diet. Even body weight plays a part in the absorption of vitamin D, and people who are clinically obese are more prone to a deficiency.

Treatments for Vitamin D Deficiency

There are a few simple treatments for people suffering from vitamin D deficiency. Obviously, the first and best source is through a healthy diet. But as we have seen, with nearly 60% of Americans suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, diet is not the only answer. Regular exposure to natural sunlight is necessary to create active vitamin D in the bloodstream. Fifteen to thirty minutes a day, preferably in the morning before the sunlight becomes too intense, is recommended. For people who are housebound, or who live in the extreme northern latitudes, artificial sunlight can be substituted. It is also recommended that people suffering from a vitamin D deficiency take an oral supplement. Vitamin D can easily be found in health food stores around the country.

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining the total health of the body, and a deficiency can lead to many serious conditions and diseases. Fortunately, as common as this deficiency has become, it can be easily treated. If you think you may be suffering from deficiency, speak to your holistic physician an ask to be tested.

Vitamin D plays a large role in the total health of the body, and a deficiency can lead to a variety of disorders. Fortunately, correcting a vitamin D deficiency can be done naturally and with a few simple lifestyle change such as adding a few supplements to the diet and spending some time in God’s own sunshine.

Back Pain Causes Brain Loss

Chronic back pain can shrink the gray matter in your brain by as much as 11 percent in one year, the same amount of brain density that’s lost in 10 to 20 years of normal aging, says a Northwestern University study.

The research, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, found that every year of chronic pain results in a loss of 1.3 cubic centimeters of gray matter, the part of your brain that processes memory and information.
Researchers used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other analytic methods to compare brain images of 26 people with chronic back pain and 26 healthy people. All of the people with back pain had suffered unrelenting pain for more than a year.

At least 25 percent of Americans experience back pain, and a quarter of those people suffer chronic and unrelenting back pain.
– Northwestern University, news release

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec comments on Back Pain Causes Brain Loss:

The study shows the negative affects that chronic pain can have; it can decrease your brain size and function as much as 11% which is usually seen in 20 years of normal aging. What is pain? It is the body talking. It is a beautiful mechanism created by God to warn you something is not working properly.
Pain is wonderful if you learn to listen to its language, but if you do not communicate with your body and pop pain pills just to cover it up, you are treading into dangerous territory. If the body talks with symptoms and you do not listen, the body will talk louder with conditions like Metabolic Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia. If you still do not listen by covering up the pain or symptoms with pills, the next step in the body communicating to you is DISEASE. This is the cancer, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, autoimmune disease, neurological disease, etc…
Learn to listen to your body and make the changes it is asking for. Remember, 90% of all neck and back pain is visceral in origin. That means it is a referral pain from organs and glands being out of balance and overworked.
When you live the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health everyday, you will see your pain decrease and even your mind and emotions improve.

Natural Techniques for the Prevention of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men and women around the world. It is also one of the most life-threatening. More than 200,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States alone, and that figure does not appear to show any signs of diminishing. In a way, lung cancer patients are seen as somehow deserving of their disease. Because lung cancer is so closely associated with the use of tobacco it is often viewed as the inevitable result of the individual’s own poor lifestyle choices. But not everyone diagnosed with lung cancer is a smoker, and even the ones who are don’t deserve this life-threatening disease. Survival rates for lung cancer aren’t promising, and the best medicine is still prevention.

Smokers Take Notice

While smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, it is one of the most common, and it accounts for a large percentage of lung cancer diagnoses. Quitting smoking now can greatly reduce your risk for developing lung cancer. Whether you are a young smoker or have been smoking for years now is the time to quit. Recent studies have indicated that Inositol, a nutrient found in various foods, may help to reverse the damaging effects of tobacco smoking.

Inositol occurs naturally in wide variety of foods, including chickpeas, rice, nuts, beans, wheat germ and most citrus fruits. It is also available as a supplement in both capsule and powdered form. Now, having said all this, Inositol is not an excuse to continue with a bad habit. If you are a smoker, quit now. Another possible source of damage to the lungs comes from the radioactive gas that is emitted from the ground called radon. Everyone should have their house tested for radon levels because radon has been implicated and the second leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Lung Cancer and Diet and Nutrition

Diet and nutrition are vital to maintaining the body’s total health under all circumstances. A healthy, all natural, diet can help the body ward off any number of diseases, including cancers. Transitioning to a broadly vegetarian diet, with an emphasis on organically grown fruits, vegetables seeds and nuts, can help reduce the risks of developing lung cancer.

It is also important to restrict, or eliminate, the intake of red meats, sugar, salt, and highly processed food stuffs. Adopting a sensible vegetarian based diet also helps to maintain a healthy weight, and recent research has shown a direct connection between instances of cancer and excess body weight. A healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, will help to you to reach and maintain your optimal body weight.

Lung Cancer and Nutritional Supplements

Vitamins and other nutritional supplements can be taken to help support a healthy diet. Recent research has shown that vitamin D helps to prevent cancer by keeping cell growth under control. The studies also indicate that vitamin D is instrumental in promoting cell regeneration, thereby reducing the chances for malignant cells to survive and reproduce. B vitamins have also been shown to help reduce the risk of lung cancer by up to 50%.

A recent European study showed that people with elevated levels of B vitamins in their blood were less likely to develop lung cancer. The study was quick to point out, however, that those vitamins are best obtained through a healthy diet and simple supplements are not enough to ward of the disease.

Coenzyme Q10, a nutritional supplement, has been shown to reduce the risks of cancer because of its high antioxidant level, which ward off the free radicals that can damage cells at the DNA level.

Exercise

In addition to adopting a healthy diet, exercise plays a key role in the prevention of all diseases including lung cancer. Regular exercise, 30 to 60 minutes four times a week, not only helps the body’s immune system ward off disease, it helps to oxygenate the blood stream keeping internal organs and tissues healthy and operating at their peak. Regular exercise also helps to maintain optimal weight and body mass, which have been proven to help reduce the risks of developing cancer as well as many other diseases.

Mental Stress

Stress can trigger cancer by weakening the immune system response. There are two major categories of stress: acute or traumatic and chronic. A possible traumatic stimulant of lung cancer is a sudden emotional shock within two years of the cancer onset. The answer to the stress is found in the words “be still and know that I AM God.” When you still your racing mind and learn to listen to the Truth God is speaking to your heart you will realize that when you seek Him you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart.

Quitting smoking and adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle are only part of the cancer prevention equation. It is also important to avoid environmental toxins and pollutants as much as possible. Alcohol consumption should also be curbed, if not totally eliminated. While there can be no guarantees when it comes to preventing any type of cancer, making certain lifestyle changes can greatly reduce an individual’s overall risk for developing the disease. As with any disease, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These lifestyle changes are easy to adopt, and the results can be a longer and healthier life.

Sugar and the Glycemic Index

A diet favoring complex versus refined/processed carbohydrates is better for the heart and less likely to slow down metabolism than a conventional low-fat diet, a preliminary study confirms.

The “glycemic index’’ diet recommends carbohydrates that do not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar levels after meals, instead of highly processed, starchy, or refined carbohydrates. It is not as anti-carb as Atkins-style regimens, nor as fat-restrictive as standard low-fat diets.

The study involved 39 overweight people ages 18 to 40 who ate hospital-prepared diets for about 10 weeks. Low-glycemic foods were given to 22 participants, while 17 received the low-fat option.

Participants in both groups lost an average of about 20 pounds. But glycemic index dieters did better on two risk factors for heart disease: They had a decrease in triglycerides/fats in the blood, versus an increase in the low-fat group, and they had a much greater reduction in levels of an inflammation-related substance called C-reactive protein.

-Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr Keith & Laurie Nemec Comments on “Glycemic Index Diet” Study

This study shows a powerful reality: Sugar causes inflammation. Remember inflammation is at the root of most all diseases from heart disease to cancer to autoimmune diseases, to gastrointestinal disease to respiratory disease. The study also shows that the low glycemic diet actually lowered the triglycerides/fats in the blood more than eating a low fat diet.

This is because sugar turns into fat and does more to raise the fat because typical low fat diets have higher starches that turn into fats. The answer to diet is quite simple: eat food in the most natural state which is living/raw plant food. The single most detrimental factor to causing sugar levels to rise in the blood is cooking the food. Heat destroys enzymes which are important to break food down so it does not cause sugar levels to rise. So the ideal low glycemic diet is one of sprouts, raw/uncooked vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, sprouted uncooked grains, sea vegetables and avocados.

Tips on Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease Naturally

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a frightening and debilitating brain disorder that causes loss of memory and mental acuity, and ultimately leads to dementia. Alzheimer’s currently affects more than four million people in the United States, and that number is likely to rise as the average American lifespan continues to increase. The disorder typically begins to manifest when patients are in their early to mid 60’s, though early onset Alzheimer’s can occur in much younger individuals.

Typical symptoms include loss of memory, mental confusion, difficulty speaking, and an inability to recognize friends and family members. Ultimately, Alzheimer’s patients will require full time care as their condition worsens and they become unable to care for themselves. While there is no known cure, there are some preventative measures that everyone can take to protect themselves from the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Common Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

While the precise cause of Alzheimer’s remains unknown, recent research indicates that there are a number of common risk factors associated with the disorder. Age is accepted as a prime factor in the onset of Alzheimer’s, with an individual’s risk increasing exponentially as they enter their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. This may be misleading, however, as all chronic debilitating diseases are likely to worsen as the patient ages. What can be agreed upon however, is that patients with a family history of Alzheimer’s tend to be at a higher risk for developing the disorder themselves, as do individuals with a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. A history of alcohol and tobacco abuse also seems to be tied to the onset of Alzheimer’s.

The Impact of Diet and Nutrition on Alzheimer’s Disease

Good nutrition is vital to maintaining mental and physical health, and making certain dietary changes can help to ward off the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Adopting a vegetarian based diet rich in organic fruits, vegetables seeds and nuts can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 40%. Eliminating red meat from the diet, and replacing it with vegetable protein or flax seeds rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids will help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels while promoting healthy brain function. It is also advisable to remove as much processed sugar from the diet as possible, as diets high in sugar have been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Recent studies indicate that people whose diets included high amounts of nuts, tomatoes, dark green leafy vegetables and fruit were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s in later life. These simple dietary changes not only help to prevent obesity, diabetes and heart disease, they can also help the body stave off the onset of dementia.

Certain nutritional supplements can also be added to the diet to help the body maintain its optimal physical and mental health. Omega-3 Fatty Acids, typically found flax seeds, hemp seeds and walnuts can be taken in supplemental form for those individuals who find it difficult to get the desired amounts from their daily diet. Curcumin, found in turmeric, has been shown to fight the vascular inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and when taken in combination with vitamin D helps to clear the plaque forming substance amyloid beta from the brain. Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, has also been shown to be effective in reducing the levels of amyloid beta in the brain.

The Impact of Exercise and Weight Control on Alzheimer’s

Recent research has shown that people who are overweight in their 30’s and 40’s are at greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s later in life. These same studies indicate that weight gain in middle age impairs the brain’s natural functions, and can hasten the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition to diet, regular exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight, as well as reducing the risks of heart disease, COPD and diabetes. Moreover, regular exercise helps to oxygenate the blood. Oxygenated blood is vital to the healthy functioning of the brain, and helps brain cells to repair themselves. Regular daily exercise also helps with anxiety and stress which, while not strictly linked to Alzheimer’s, puts undue strain on a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing.

Mental exercise is also important to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Crossword puzzles are very good as in any activity that stimulates memory. Remember “if you don’t use it you will lose it.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a frightening disorder that can rob people of their very identity. By making some important lifestyle changes it is possible to postpone, or even prevent, the onset of this debilitating disorder. With good nutrition, regular exercise, and a dedication to keeping the mind active and engaged you can maintain your total health well into your twilight years.

How to Set Goals and Create a Mission Statement (Part 2)

For Part 1 of this series, please click on How to Set Goals and Create a Mission Statement (Part 1).

3. You did not think at all to make a plan for the year.

Remember the saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. This life is not about setting goals and achieving them. It is about setting a course, a mission statement, a plan that is in your heart, living every moment fully, enjoying the journey and walking in that direction being sensitive and open enough to make course corrections along the way as God directs. To do what God has put into your heart requires action steps but with those steps you must persevere, not quitting, stopping or giving up on what God put into your heart no matter what it costs you or how long it takes.

How should you begin the New Year? First, with prayer and fasting. Prayer meaning stilling the mind so you can hear what God is speaking to your heart. You must still the raging ocean of the mind to hear the drops of the voice of the Spirit on the pond of your heart. Fasting, meaning separation from anything or anyone that feeds the ego filled world filled flesh filled old mind. This means whatever you are addicted to or cannot do without for at least a year should be examined and steps taken to break the bondage.

This might be television, certain food, entertainment, social groups or certain relationships. In this life, there should only be one addiction, one need that we cannot ever be without. This is our need for the God who created us and sustains us every moment of our lives. Second, out of the prayer and fasting (time of quiet) let God speak to your heart a mission statement, a plan for your life and start to take action steps led by Him in faith that brings you along your journey or path of life.

How to Create a Mission Statement

How do you know He has put this mission statement/purpose in your heart? Here are some indicators that it is God and not your old mind:

You have a passion to do the thing, it is not work and you will do it no matter what it costs you.
You have everything to lose and nothing to gain from it in the world’s eyes but remember God’s ways are not man’s ways.

Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for God, and follows what God puts into his heart will find eternal life, which is to live every moment fully in His presence.

When you follow your mission, the desire of your heart, you will soon see how awesome each moment can be. He has placed it into your heart so that you may have life, health, healing and wholeness, and have it to the full.

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec

Mothers and the Lasting Benefits of Breastfeeding

Natural breast milk provides a number of significant health benefits for children, including fewer incidences of asthma, an overall decrease in the rates of childhood obesity and improved brain development. Breastfeeding helps children to develop stronger immune systems, while nurturing the natural bond between mother and child. The childhood benefits of breastfeeding are well documented, and more new mothers are taking this all natural approach to child rearing every year. What many may not realize, however, is that breastfeeding also offers distinct benefits for the mother. By breastfeeding, women are allowing their bodies to pursue the natural path to optimal health, both immediately following childbirth and for years to come.

Short Term Benefits of Breastfeeding

Immediately following childbirth women have an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhaging, but mothers who breastfeed can reduce that risk significantly. The natural suckling process causes the mother’s pituitary gland to release oxytocin, a hormone which signals the breasts to release milk for the baby. Oxytocin also initiates contractions in the uterus, which prevent postpartum hemorrhaging and begin the process of returning the woman’s uterus to a non-pregnant state. Bottle feeding mothers may receive synthetic oxytocin while in the hospital, but following their release they may be prone to an otherwise avoidable postpartum hemorrhage.

Breastfeeding also has a natural effect on a woman’s fertility, acting as a contraceptive to reduce the risk of pregnancy in the first six months or more following childbirth. This is the body’s way of ensuring the healthy recovery of the mother following childbirth, and of spacing out potential pregnancies. By breastfeeding, women also delay the return of the menstrual cycle, thereby reducing the risks of iron deficient anemia that can be common to new mothers.

The Long Term Benefits of Breastfeeding

Recent studies have shown that breastfeeding provides women with a number of long lasting health benefits. Remember, breastfeeding is a natural process and in many ways a mother’s body depends upon it to maintain optimal health. One of the biggest advantages of breastfeeding is that it helps women to lose the weight they’ve gained during pregnancy. The production of milk burns up to 500 calories per day. To put it in perspective, a new mother would require a full hour of active exercise to achieve the same result. By losing their ‘baby-weight’ quickly and naturally, new mothers can help to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This natural weight loss, coupled with low cholesterol and improved blood sugar levels, can also help women to avoid the early onset of heart disease.

One of the other major benefits of breastfeeding seems to be a reduced risk for certain reproductive cancers. Studies of non-breastfeeding women have indicated a greater potential for the development of ovarian and uterine cancers. Researchers believe this is due in part to the increased levels of estrogen found in mothers who did not breastfeed, as well as the greater repetition of ovulatory cycles. The most recent research into the correlation between breastfeeding and cancer has indicated that women who breastfed 6 to 24 months throughout their reproductive lifetime reduced their risk of cancer by up to 25%.

Breastfeeding and Osteoporosis

One of the major health risks for all women is osteoporosis. Women lose calcium while lactating, and it has long been thought that breastfeeding might increase a woman’s risk for osteoporosis. However, recent research has indicated quite the opposite. It appears that as children are weaned off of breast milk, the mother’s bone density returns to pre-pregnancy levels. Studies suggest that mothers who breastfeed their children actually reduce their risk for developing osteoporosis later in life.

Breastfeeding offers more than just physical benefits to the mother and child. It helps to build a natural bond between parent and infant, and promotes an overriding sense of calm in both. Breastfeeding is as natural as the reproductive process itself, and new mothers who choose to breastfeed are making the healthy choice for their children, and for themselves.

How to Set Goals and Create a Mission Statement (Part 1)

How many times have you written the same goals, the same plans, the same desires over and over on your “things to accomplish this year” list?

Why Setting Goals Has Not Worked in the Past

The reason you do not accomplish them is because of the following:

The goal was unrealistic. You tried to bite off a bigger piece than you could chew. You spit it out and quit.
The goal was not from your heart, but from your mind.
You did not think at all to make a plan for the year.

How to Successfully Set Goals

Let’s talk about each one:

1. The goal was unrealistic.

The reason you failed when you set an unrealistic goal is because there is too much time that has to go by before there is any reward or satisfaction in accomplishing the goal. This is because you are looking at the end result instead of the journey. Remember the journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step, then the second.

Life is a journey and a major key in living life to the full is to enjoy the journey more than the destination. Learn how to live life to the full in the wilderness receiving manna from heaven each day rather than waiting until you get to the Promised Land, before you start living life to the full. How many live their lives in non-fulfilling jobs/careers and just exist for weekends, vacations and the hope of retirement? What a sad way of a life for God’s most precious creation, the one that He designed to live every moment to the full with passion and purpose.

Remember THIS is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. One way to start living everyday and every moment to the full is live them as if they were your last. How many cancer survivors have said they now appreciate the beauty of the sunrise and sunset and the simple pleasures of just being instead of always doing? Take time to live every moment to the full.

2. The goal was not from your heart

If you make goals from your mind instead of planning a course of action to achieve the desire of your heart, you will usually fail; and if you do succeed, it will be with much struggle and suffering. Make sure your goals or plans are aligned with what God has put in your heart rather than what the world system has programmed into your head.

Does your head or your heart want to make a million dollars? If it’s your head, it usually feeds your ego causing the thoughts of either “look at me, I am someone” or thoughts of “I have made it now, I can relax in life”. God did not create us to relax in our own work but to rest in being one with Him and out of that being comes a constant flow of doing His will in this world. God did not create you to sit back and retire, but to be His physical representation on earth.

If it is your heart desire to make the money, then it is for a specific reason, and when you are filled up with the Spirit of God, He will show you that reason. To be fulfilled in this life, we must follow the desires of our heart, not our head or mind. God gives you the desires of your heart because He put them in your heart in the first place.

For Part 2 of this series, please click on How to Set Goals and Create a Mission Statement (Part 2).