Sage For Help To Relieve Sore Throat & Others Health Problems

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is an herb known for both its culinary and medicinal uses. A good source of vitamin K, sage has known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and has been used to help relieve:

1.    Sore throats (try drinking sage tea).

2.    Respiratory problems, including bronchitis, congestion and sinusitis, when used in a steam inhaler.

3.    Excessive perspiration - herbalists commonly recommend sage for menopausal women troubled with night sweats.

4.    Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and atherosclerosis.

5.    Cognitive issues such as Alzheimer's disease and depression.

So why not add sage to your next meal? It provides a subtle, savory flavor that works as a seasoning in sauces, stuffings and marinades. It is available fresh or dried, but fresh is the better choice when it comes to cooking for the most appealing flavor - it is also a fairly hearty herb and can be grown indoors during colder months.

Foods To Take For Help In Handling Stress & Anxiety

One of the keys is avoiding things that will give your body and mind real highs and lows like caffeine and alcohol. You don’t want to intake a lot of stimulants or a lot of depressants when you’re stressed.

Research has shown that these five foods are perfect for feeding your nervous system:

1. Almonds – Try crunching on almonds to get some aggression out. A good source of Vitamin B2 and E, as well as magnesium and zinc, almonds are high in fat, but most of the fat is unsaturated. Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been shown to fight the free radicals associated with stress, and in particular, those free radicals that cause heart disease.

2. Green Tea – Drinking Japanese green tea containing theanine has been shown to stimulate production of brain waves known as alpha waves, these are seen when a person is in a relaxed state.

3. Maca Root – The use of maca for relief of stress and for maintaining a sense of balance in a hectic world is documented both by a growing number of studies as well as a traditional use which dates back almost 2000 years. While not a cure-all, maca root is a remarkable adaptogen with many health benefits, and should be considered for inclusion in your personal arsenal against stress.

4. Salmon- A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps keep cortisol and adrenaline from spiking when you’re feeling tense. Salmon is one of the very best sources of omega-3s. Consuming 4 ounces at least three times a week goes a long way towards protecting your heart when those stress hormones are surging.

5. Oranges- Oranges are high in vitamin B-1, with 1 cup containing nearly 15 percent of your RDA. Also known as thiamine, this vitamin helps your body deal with stress. This amino acid also triggers the release of serotonin, which is a feel-good brain chemical.

Start adding these five foods to your diet, and you should hopefully notice a difference in the way your body handles stress. If you still suffer from stress and anxiety, you may want to consider seeing a dietitian for a more personalized diet plan.

Kava For Anxiety Or Anxious

Feeling anxious is stressful for our bodies and minds. Instead of taking a pharmaceutical to help quell anxiety, consider kava. Extracted from a tropical plant (Piper methysticum), kava is related to black pepper and native to islands of the South Pacific, where it has a long history of use as a social and recreational drug. Kava is an excellent anti-anxiety remedy - it works quickly to relieve anxiety, often with one or two doses, and has been shown in controlled human trials to be as effective as benzodiazepine drugs (ie. Valium and Xanax). It provides a sedative effect as well.

Because of rare reports of liver toxicity associated with certain types of kava products, no one with a history of liver disease should use kava.  It may have additive effect with alcohol and other depressant drugs, and may interfere with the metabolism of a large number of medications - ask your doctor. Otherwise it is generally safe. You can buy powdered whole kava root to make into tea or other drinks, but it is usually recommended extracts standardized to 30 percent kavalactones. Dosage is 100 to 200 mg, two or three times a day as needed.  Don't use it continually over long periods of time (more than a few months).

Black Beans, A Weapon Against High Blood Pressure

Beans have long been praised for various health benefits. But a new study from Mexico shows exactly how one particular type of bean beats hypertension with a knock out.

Not only does it load your body with antioxidants that lower blood pressure, it also removes dangerous chemicals that cause high blood pressure and other diseases.

Many of the most heart-healthy recipes flying around social media sites involve the use of black beans.

From hot dishes to cold salads, these beans seem to be almost magical in not only the variety of ways they can be used but also in the incredible health benefits they provide.

Researchers from the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico recently isolated two very powerful proteins in black beans, fasolina and pectin. They were found to have extremely powerful antioxidant properties.

Blood pressure increases when the body falls under some kind of stress. In environmental stress, for example, free radicals from say, smoke inhalation, attack heart and blood vessel tissue. This is oxidative stress. Antioxidants combat the free radicals, stopping the cycle of destruction.

This, in turn, drops blood pressure back down because the threat has passed.

Researchers also found in computer models looking at the proteins that they also have a chelating effect, meaning that they can remove heavy metals from the body.

These are two explanations supporting why black beans have always been so effective at reducing blood pressure. Experts could clearly see their benefits, but hadn’t seen, until now, the molecular processes behind the reaction.

Many health-conscious people already include black beans in abundance in their diets because they are an incredible source of delicious protein, without adding a lot of the calories that would come with meat, eggs, or nuts.

You should be able to find black beans in your local supermarket or health food store. If not, most other types of beans also hold tremendous health benefits.

Apple, Your Natural Secret For Healthier Hormones

Menopause is no joke.

As estradiol levels drop (the main form of estrogen), it can cause irritating health problems… Things like joint pain and vaginal infections. It can also lead to more urgent threats—like bone loss.

But synthetic hormones aren’t your only solution—despite what your doctor may tell you. In fact, don’t even think of them as a solution at all. Estrogen therapy can increase your odds of breast cancer, stroke, and heart attacks.. And your doctor’s alternatives aren’t any better…

Take venlafaxine for example. This isn’t a hormone pill… It’s antidepressant that can reduce menopause symptoms by 48%. But it comes with deadly side effects… We’re talking hallucinations, loss of appetite, and even suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

There is, however, an alternative your doctor doesn’t know…

French researchers found that a natural compound in fruit increased bone density in mice… Even after they were injected with a substance that promoted inflammation. That’s because this substance is similar to estradiol.

And it’s not just mice… Scientists in another study had women take this compound orally. It helped raise natural levels of estradiol. Researchers suggest this chemical forced its way to their ovaries. That’s where it took on the role of estrogen. This means it may be able to help normalize hormone levels during menopause.

This compound isn’t hard to find. You can get it from one of the most popular items in the produce aisle…

So what’s the natural solution that holds this hormone-boosting power?

Phloridzin…which is found in apples. And it may do more than help prevent bone loss… It might also help prevent one of the most frustrating symptoms of menopause: low sex drive.

In an Italian study, one group of women ate at least one apple a day. The other ate less than one. Then they filled out a questionnaire about their sex life.

The women who ate more apples had higher phloridzin levels. Not only that, they were having more sex… And getting more pleasure when they did.

As an added bonus, this natural compound helps regulate blood sugar and protect your heart. It may even help extend your lifespan.

Don’t let your doctor push dangerous hormone therapy on you at the first sign of low hormones. Getting more phloridzin may be a safer way to experience the same benefits. You can also get it from eating cherries, apricots, and plums. Try adding these natural estrogen-boosters to your diet first.