Xenoestrogens interfere with the natural estrogen in our body, as well as the natural balance of estrogen and progesterone. Phytoestrogens can do the same thing, but most of us don’t eat so many mushrooms (a primary source of phytoestrogens) that there would be a big problem.

Xenoestrogens, however, come from over 70,000 different chemicals that have a known affect on our hormonal systems. DDT is a big culprit as are numerous fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides used by the non-organic farmers of the world. GMO crops are a huge problem, because they require larger and more pervasive use of these pesticides. Corn, soy, sugar beets, cottonseed oil, zucchini, alfalfa, and Hawaiian papaya are all predominantly grown using genetically modified seed.

The liver is one of the biggest routes for threats like xenoestrogens to leave the body, primarily through the blood and bile. You can support the liver by eating only organic foods and increasing your intake of liver-cleansing foods like parsley, lemon, turmeric, green tea extract, and avocado. Additionally, avoid BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) in food, which causes an elevation in xenoesteogens. Stop using plastics that leak xenoestrogens. It’s best to avoid plastic, but if that just isn’t an option, look for the plastic recycling symbols/numbers 2, 4, and 5.

Further, stop consuming meat full of hormones, which also causes a disruption in the endocrine system, and yes, makes more xenoestrogens. Don’t use everyday products like cosmetics, oils and lotions that contain chemicals like parabens. Finally, avoid PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) that are in paints and oils whenever possible.

While many of these toxins are unavoidable, we can support the eliminative and detoxifying organs to help our bodies get rid of foreign hormones we really don’t need.

—

Author Bio: Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga.

Additional Sources:

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MayoClinic

History of Dandelions

Dandelion use goes back centuries, when it was used in ancient Egypt and Arabia. They’ve been used in traditional Chinese medicine as well as Indian Ayurvedic healing. It’s believed the plant was brought over on the Mayflower intentionally specifically for its healing powers. Some sources say it was brought to provide food for honeybees. Once here, however, the plant spread like a “weed”.

The plant received its name from the shape of its leaves. Derived from the French dent de lion, dandelion literally means “teeth of the lion.” Cool, huh?

Nutritional Value

Dandelion leaves, or “greens” are perhaps more nutritionally potent than the lettuce you have in your crisper. They contain just as much iron as spinach, and four times as much vitamin A (beta carotene) as the popular salad green. One cup of dandelion also contains 535% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin K and is a good source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, fiber, and potassium.

Medicinal Uses

There are many uses for dandelions, most of which involve the leaves. Historically and to this day, the leaves are most widely recognized as a promoter of liver health, as they stimulate the production of bile and work to detoxify the blood. One study, from the University of Annunzio Chieti-Pasaca in Italy found dandelion extract to significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in rats with liver damage.

The plant is also a known diuretic, working to increase the amount of urine the body produces, and can be valuable in reducing water weight or blood pressure. It also has digestive benefits, working as a mild appetite stimulant and an upset stomach soother.

Another promising study, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, indicated dandelion root tea was able to kill leukemia cells. Researchers said the active compounds worked to eliminate cancer cells while keeping healthy cells alive. They called it a “novel” non-toxic anti-cancer agent.

The University of Maryland indicates that some studies have shown dandelion to be an effective blood sugar regulator as well. They say it may also work to reduce “bad” cholesterol while increasing “good” cholesterol.

Harvest and Preparation

When harvesting any edibles, be certain they have not been treated with pesticides or “weed killers.”

How you prepare dandelion depends on what parts you are using. Always harvest when the plant is healthy and alive. If you are digging up roots, waiting until after a rain could make the effort easier. When you cut the leaves from the stem or root system, you will see a milky sap. This is where the medicinal properties of the dandelion leaves and roots lie.

• Flowers - A good source of antioxidants; choose the full and bright yellow blossoms.

• Leaves - Used in teas, tinctures, and meals; choose a mixture of young and older leaves.

• Roots - Used in liver tonics, teas, and tinctures; choose the fullest and largest root systems on the most developed plants.

As with most herbals, the easiest way to experience the healing properties of dandelions is with a tea or a tincture. But, because these plants are edible and often included in salads and recipes, you don’t have to stop there.

Both leaves and flowers can be thrown in nearly any salad. The leaves are slightly bitter, so keep this in mind when you are thinking of what to include in your dandelion salad. You can also make a pesto out of dandelion leaves, and freeze what you don’t use. You can add it to soups, sauté it with some garlic, or eat it right out of the ground (we suggest washing it first).

Dandelions are the plants that homeowners despise and children love. But when you consider their healing and nutritional properties (and the cost of prepared dandelion greens), it makes far more sense to harvest the plants than to pull them or treat them with chemicals.

Quick and Brief FAQ

• Common name?: Dandelion

• Scientific name?: Taraxacum officinale

• Growing regions?: Throughout U.S.

• Appearance?: Multi-toothed, hairless leaves, bright yellow flowers

• Edible parts?: Roots, leaves and flowers

• Safe for pets? Yes

B Vitamins Benefits: A Brief Overview

B vitamins include more than 12 different types of nutrients, ranging from B1, which is also called thiamin to the all-important B3, also called niacin (used with vitamin C to successfully treat symptoms of mental psychosis). B3 vitamins help to convert food into usable fuel by our bodies while also promoting healthy skin, hair, nails, and liver function.

Also known as riboflavin, vitamin B2 helps to activate an important anti-oxidant, called glutathione. This antioxidant is an incredible powerhouse that helps to prevent everything from high blood pressure to heart disease, while also supporting the creation of healthy DNA. Now onto vitamin B6.

B6 is the vitamin that helps prevent morning sickness. Just 25 milligrams taken before bed each night can help stop nausea for expecting moms. Melineplus confirms this benefit, as well as numerous moms who couldn’t spend days in bed feeling sick and uneasy. B6 is also one of the most common nutrient deficiencies for many Americans because of the lack of leafy greens in many people’s diet.

Vitamin B12, also called Cobalamin, helps to support the nervous system and brain.  It is stored in the liver when we don’t eat enough of it in the foods we choose. You can consume oysters, fish eggs, fish, lobster, eggs and cheese for more B12.

In order to ensure your body properly absorbs B vitamins, consider reducing alcohol consumption, antacids, the use of aspirin, and caffeine. Many birth control pills also interfere with the availability of vitamins B1, 6, and 12 as well as vitamin C; so inquire with your healthcare provider about more natural options. You can add brewer’s yeast, greens, nuts, and whole grains to your diet as well. And if you are not vegetarian, eggs are full of B vitamins too.

Your liver works to cleanse the blood and remove toxic substances that we’ve eaten, inhaled, or rubbed on our bodies. When it is overworked—as it is in many modern adults—or when you are under a significant amount of physical or even mental stress, your liver can struggle to keep up.

“The thousands of enzyme systems that are responsible for virtually every body activity are constructed in the liver,” explains Dr. Karl Maret, M.D. “The proper functioning of the eyes, the heart, the brain, the gonads, the joints, and the kidneys are all dependent on good liver activity. If the liver is impaired from constructing even one of the thousands of enzyme systems the body requires, there is an impairment in overall body function and a resultant greater metabolic stress on the individual.”

How to Clean Your Liver – No Products Required

So, what can you do about it? Well, you could try a quality liver detox supplement, or you could use some items found at your local health food store, your grocery store, or even some that are already in your kitchen. Here is how to clean your liver with 5 common food items.

• 1. Warm Lemon Water - Warm lemon water is a great way to detox your liver every single morning. This isn’t lemonade, so don’t add sugar or anything else. Just purified water and a healthy dose of fresh lemon juice. Some experts, like author A.F. Beddoe who wrote the book Biological Ionization as Applied to Human Nutrition, also believe that the liver produces more enzymes in response to water with lemon than to any other food.

• 2. Garlic - Add some garlic to your cooking or thinly slice a clove into your next salad. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that can help activate enzymes in the liver. It contains allicin and selenium, which are both good for liver protection.

• 3. Avocados - As if you need another reason to add avocados to your diet, a Japanese study found that avocados contain compounds that can protect the liver from damage. When compared with 21 other fruits, avocados had the most promise in protecting the liver from galactosamine, a “powerful” toxin that has been shown to produce a liver damage much like human viral hepatitis.

• 4. Cilantro - This versatile herb can be added to just about any dish, including salads or smoothies. This herb can help remove heavy metals from the body, something your liver could be struggling with right now.

• 5. Turmeric - Another powerful spice with a long list of benefits, turmeric is said to not only protect the liver from damage, but also encourage regeneration of liver cells. In addition, it increases natural bile production and aids in keeping the body toxin-free.

Cleansing your liver is crucial, so don’t hesitate to incorporate these liver-cleansing solutions right now. For more on how to clean your liver, check out these 4 natural liver cleansing foods outlined by Anthony Gucciardi.

Candida Albicans

When Candida Albicans moves from the gastrointestinal tract to the bloodstream, you may start noticing symptoms like a white coating on the back of your throat, more frequent yeast infections, fatigue, irritability, weight gain, and eventually more serious diseases. To bypass all of these issues, it’s important to know what can causes candida, and how to prevent it.

Foods That Cause Candida Overgrowth

There are numerous foods that can exacerbate the Candida Albicans overgrowth problem. Namely, exposure to excessive pesticides and herbicides (as in GMO foods produced by Monsanto, Bayer and other corporations), refined sugar, antibiotics (because they disrupt balanced gut flora), fast foods, and many ‘convenience foods’ stocked at your grocery store. Processed carbohydrates or refined carbs also turn into sugar quickly in the body, so they can cause Candida overgrowth as well.

A quick, simplified overall of foods that can cause a candida overgrowth:

• Foods riddled with pesticides

• GMO foods (largely due to increased pesticide exposure)

• Refined sugar and processed carbohydrates

• Antibiotics

• Fast food

• Convencience foods containing ingredients like high fructse-corn syrup and other health-hazards

The Candida to Cancer Route

Once the Candida yeast is growing strong, it begins to create mycotoxins within the body – essentially the body gets moldy! The mycotoxins permeate the blood, and the lymph system, especially the white blood cells and killer cells which are responsible for finding foreign viruses and bacteria and eradicating them. At this point, the immune system becomes depleted and eventually cannot fight the overgrowth of Candida. The kidneys, liver and other organs of detoxification start to run poorly, and you have a perfect environment for cancerous cells to grow.

How to Rid the Body of Candida Albicans Overgrowth

In order to prevent health inconveniences like colds, flu, and rashes, and later, larger problems like cancer, you can eat the following foods which alkalize the body and reduce the overgrowth of Candida:

• Leafy greens

• 25 to 40 drops of Pau d’arco extract up to 3 times a day

• Eat less refined sugar.

• Garlic

• Replace simple carbs with complex carbs like brown rice, whole grains, and beans.

• Pure water

• Garlic and lemon

• Herbs like calendula officianlis

• Unsweetened yogurt with active cultures to add good bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract

Additional Sources:

NaturalNews/030552

DailyMail

So, what are some signs of PMS? PMS may cause women  to became agitated more easily or feel lethargic and quick-tempered. Other agitations for women can include stomach or lower back cramps and general feelings of frustration. It seems like a small irritation in a world of much larger concerns, but during PMS, even slight inconveniences can seem like a mountain instead of an anthill. Not to mention the strange food cravings, and sometimes chronic depression that can accompany the monthly release.

Some Natural Solutions for PMS

All of these things happen primarily because of changes in the hormonal balance of the body and the neurochemicals that are released when a women is menstruating. The ovaries release two major hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone, which must be kept in balance in order to not feel cranky, tired, and swollen. Fortunately there are natural cures for all these symptoms and ways to support hormonal balance to avoid PMS.

• 1. Increase your calcium intake in order to reduce swelling (called edema by the medical community) reduce anxiety and minimize food cravings.

• 2. Eat more vegetables that are bright orange or red in color. The old axiom that a food’s color or shape may mimic the organs it helps to sustain is true, and eating blood-colored foods that are high in vitamins A, E, D, and B can also help to keep mood swings in check, reduce weight gain associated with PMS, and reduce fatigue.

• 3. Drink wild yam tea - Wild yam tea balances progesterone and estrogen so that not only are PMS symptoms are minimized, but infertility problems are mitigated.

• 4. Talk a walk or workout – A simple workout can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs and also rid the body of edema (swelling). One small study found that aerobic exercise improved PMS symptoms, especially feelings of depression.

• 5. Practice yoga poses like Balasana (Child’s Pose), Supta Baddha Konasana (Supine Bound Angle), and Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold) to alleviate cramping and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Over the counter medications for PMS like Midol have high amounts of caffeine in them which can cause the jitters, interfere with sleeping patterns (we all know sleep is crucial during that time of the month), and cause headaches. While caffeine is fine in small doses, overdosing on this stimulant can cause more side effects to add to the ones women already experience with PMS symptoms. These natural treatments can reduce the physical and emotional stability of the body without any negative side effects.

Additional Sources:

YogaForums

Virtual Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

—

Author Bio: Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer who teaches how to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga.

Marijuana Replaces 22 Different Anti-Seizures Pills, Helps Prevent Seizures

Jayden suffers from something called Dravet syndrome—a form of epilepsy that results in frequent and painful seizures. In his short life, he has been rushed to the hospital a total of 44 times. In an effort to control the seizures, doctors had the boy on 22 different anti-seizure pills each day. Sure, they helped to control the violent seizures, but Jayden was left immobilized by their strength.

At his wits end, and nearly suicidal, Jayden’s father turned to medical marijuana. For the first time since he was an infant, Jayden went an entire day without a seizure.

“He’s in pain and suffering and crying,” explained his father of Jayden’s normal daily seizures. “You can’t help him no matter what. What are you supposed to do? You have to do whatever it takes to save their life.”

Jayden’s father, Jason David, uses a non-psychoactive form of marijuana. This means his son doesn’t experience any sort of high, aside of course from the high of being pain free.

While he still doesn’t talk, Jayden is now more active than ever, running, playing with friends, and swimming at the local pool. There was a time when he couldn’t eat solid foods or function because of the steady stream of pharmaceuticals. His father has taken to calling the medicine “miracle marijuana” as opposed to “medical marijuana”. This is similar to the experience another 3-year old boy had, where marijuana oil actually helped him beat cancer.

The form of liquid cannabidiols that Jayden takes is a tincture developed by Harborside Health Care in Oakland, California. This clinic is the same type that the federal government is gunning for in the War on Cannabis.

But as Harborside’s executive director Steven DeAngelo says, parents don’t come to a decision like this lightly.

“Parents don’t want to bring their children to something controversial like cannabis,” said DeAngelo. “They do it reluctantly, and they do it because they’re at their wit’s end.”

The David family is fortunate that they live in California. Though 18 states have some form of medical marijuana legislation in place, not all are open to the idea of medicating children. And for those that are, families must live in fear knowing the federal government has yet to respect state laws in regards to this healing herb.

Additional Sources:

Alternet

LA Times

Protecting the Skin with Fish Oil

Other similar studies have been done on rats or in other environments, but this particular human study is the first of its kind, says Professor Lesley Rhodes, Professor of Experimental Dermatology from the Photobiology Unit Dermatology Centre at the University’s School of Medicine and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

“There has been research in this area carried out on mice in the past but this is the first time that there has been a clinical trial directly in people. It has taken a number of years to get to this stage and the findings are very exciting. This study adds to the evidence that omega-3 is a potential nutrient to protect against skin cancer. Although the changes we found when someone took the oil were small, they suggest that a continuous low level of chemoprevention from taking omega-3 could reduce the risk of skin cancer over an individual’s lifetime.”

Published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research said that consuming fish oils regularly could reduce your risk of skin cancer. The researchers say the Omega-3 fats so prominently found in fatty fish actually decrease “sunlight-induced immunity suppression” or immunosuppression. This immunity naturally helps protect the body against skin cancer and infection, so staying up on your Omega 3 intake could, in turn, assist this mechanism.

Study subjects consumed about one and a half servings of fatty fish each day and were exposed to summer midday sun levels through a sunlight machine. Those participants who received the fish oil had immunosuppression about 50% lower than those who didn’t take the supplement.

“Skin cancer has been one of the fastest growing types of cancer, and numbers will likely continue to increase,” said Dr. Helen Rippon, Head of Science with the Association of International Cancer Research. “It is always exciting to see research that AIRC has funded generating such promising results, and we look forward to seeing future developments in this area.”

The research is promising, but far from the first we’ve learned about the many benefits of Omega-3 fats. I just recently reported how a diet rich in omega 3′s was actually found to inhibit breast cancer tumor growth by a whopping 30%! Not produced by the human body, we must consume these fats through dietary sources like salmon, walnuts, and flax seeds, to name a few. Alternatively, pick up a high quality krill oil supplement.

Additional Sources:

Medical News Today

What Happens When the Blood Can’t Flow?

If you accompany this realization with the work of DNA biologist, Bruce Lipton, who believes our DNA is affected and even permanently changed by our emotions, then a hardened heart would certainly leave us open to disease, since our blood cannot flow through it. When the emotion of love doesn’t stream through our veins, neither do the important T-lymphocyte cells of the immune system, regulated by the thymus, an important endocrine gland situated behind the heart.

Emotions Hormones and Blood

A ‘flood’ of emotion can either rush through the blood in a concoction of hormones, like serotonin, melatonin, GABA, and oxytocin when we are happy or pleased, that bring life to our bodies. Or emotions like anger, fear, and distrust can cause our blood to literally start to become sticky. According to a Harvard study, anger can break our hearts. We become hardened against life, or reticent to our lot, but these expressions only highlight the importance of flowing, healthy blood again.

Since many endocrine glands, including the pituitary gland, pancreas, testes, thyroid, and ovaries release hormones right into the blood stream, they have a direct impact on our physical health immediately. Even the stomach releases ghrelin into the bloodstream to turn food into entrainable circadian clocks so that we know when to sleep and when to wake.

Our ‘blood, sweat and tears’, are an important indicator of the toxicity levels in the body. Those exposed to heavy metals and other environmental toxins can have their blood tested to address the problem, and even a saliva test can measure the amount of stress we have been exposed to, and therefore the adrenal hormones that have been pumping into our blood.

Our blood is constantly extracting nutrients from food and helping to stave off disease. We only have about 10 pints of blood circulating through the body, but it does an amazing job at keeping our bodily systems afloat. We can increase blood flow through exercise, but just keeping the blood healthy is a great way to keep the heart, immune system and hormonal system in balance. You can consume cayenne pepper, garlic, and ginkgo biloba to support blood flow. You can lower blood sugar with cinnamon, cloves, and oregano. And you can lower blood pressure with olives, cardamom spice, and the Ayurvedic herb, ashwagandha.

If you have healthy blood already, consider donating some to someone else at one of the many blood banks throughout the country.

Additional Sources:

LiveStrong

Are you familiar with rice bran and rice bran oil? Utilizing rice brain oil is a great way to get rid of anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and anti-hypertension drugs along with a whole list of other pharmaceuticals that can cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Rice bran oil also supports cancer prevention, lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health, just to name a few of its innumerable benefits. For more wonderful rice bran oil benefits, read on:

Rice Bran Oil Benefits

• Rice bran oil is full of gamma-oryzanol, a plant cell offering numerous health benefits that have been clinically supported, including boosting testosterone levels (for athletes) and helping individuals to build lean muscle. Gamma-oryzanol also helps with menopausal-induced hot-flashes, lowers cholesterol, and can help those with anxiety and depression since it increases the brain chemical, norepinephrine.

• There are NO trans-fats in rice bran oil. Trans fats, also known as ‘bad fats’ have been linked to all sorts of diseases, including obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack and clogged arteries.

• Rice bran oil is full of linoleic acid (as is sunflower oil) as well as oleic acid (the stuff also found in olive oil). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to offer a host of wonderful benefits for the body. The substance can: stabilize blood sugar levels, help people lose weight, prevent cardiovascular disease, lower high blood pressure, preserve muscle tissue, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system and help to prevent some forms of cancer, including breast cancer, lung and stomach cancers.

• Further adding to rice bran oil benefits, rice brain oil is full of tocotrienols, a member of the Vitamin E family. Vitamin E is known for preventing many forms of cancer and supporting the cardiovascular system and great skin, hair and nails.

• Rice bran oil has a high cooking threshold so that it doesn’t turn brown, smoke, or breakdown causing carcinogens in your food and therefore your body. It’s smoke point is 490 degrees F, higher than even grapeseed oil. You can fry your foods in this oil to make them taste better, keep the food from sticking to the pan, and enjoy rice brain oil’s benefits simultaneously.

If you’re a fan of rice bran oil, then be happy to know that it has much to offer. In addition to knowing rice bran oil benefits, why not discover the health benefits of other foods? Check out our health benefits page, which reveals health benefits for over 60 different foods and herbs!