5 Myths Of Detoxifying Your Body

Detoxification has been practiced for centuries in cultures throughout the world. A vital part of Chinese and Auyervedic medicine the concept of detoxifying your body is becoming more mainstream and I am hearing others talk about it more and more. But there are some misconceptions floating around about detoxification so I wanted to write an article on this subject to help clear up a few things.

1. You need to fast in order to detox. 
This could not be further from the truth. Detoxifying is about resting, cleaning and nourishing your body from the inside out. There are detox programs out there that require fasting like "Master Cleanse" a 10-day fasting program where you consume only lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. But these are totally ineffective and one of the worst things you can do for proper detoxification. Fasting causes your body to do the exact opposite of flushing toxins out of your body and instead it holds on to fat tissue in particular, which is where you store most of your toxins. Another factor to consider is when you are properly detoxifying and flushing the toxins out and are not replacing that newly created space in your cells with nutrients your body will likely grab onto another toxin. Your body needs a specific set of nutrients found in whole organic natural foods in order to perform a proper detox.

2. If you eat healthy you do not need to detox. 
We are exposed to more and more chemicals every year. There are over 3,000 chemicals added to our food supply while over 10,000 chemical solvents like emulsifiers and preservatives used to process our food. Even if you eat healthy you are still exposed to toxins in your environment that are impossible to control. Eating healthy is great but if your cells are full of toxins your body cannot absorb the nutrients of all the healthy food you are eating. A cell is a singular space, so if its holding onto a toxin by definition it cannot hold a nutrient, you can't get two things into a single space. To get the most of your healthy food you should aim to detox every 3 months to keep your body absorbing all the good vitamins and minerals so that your body can be healthy and strong.

3. There is no real benefit to detoxing. 
Toxins accumulate in your body over time. If you think about it for even a second the concept of flushing toxins out of your body makes complete sense. We as a society take in an enormous amount of toxins every day then eat food that does nothing to help nourish and cleanse the body and instead puts more toxins in the body. Toxins stay trapped in our bodies contributing to the obesity epidemic, cancer, heart disease, auto immune disorders; I could really go on and on for pages about the damage toxins have on your body. When you are putting so many toxins in your body it would only make sense that a regular detox is necessary and essential to your health. Detoxing allows your body to unlock and eliminate these harmful toxins before they build up in your body.

If you experience; fatigue or are constantly tired, bloating, cravings for are continually snacking, get headaches or migraines, have allergies or skin disorders, are anxious or depressed, or have digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, and indigestion then you absolutely would benefit from detoxing. These are all signals your body gives you that it's on toxicity overload and needs attention.

4. Detox is expensive and should be done in a clinic.
Detoxing is very affordable and you do not need to be supervised by a medical professional while cleansing. If you have a health concern as always you should discuss it with your health care professional. You should not detox if you are pregnant or nursing and is not recommended for children.

5. Detox is just for the liver and colon. 
Your liver is the second largest organ in your body performing over 500 tasks! Obviously when you detox you are cleansing your liver and colon but that's not all. You are also cleansing your digestive system, your body tissues, and cells. Cleansing removes toxins and impurities from your whole body restoring and rejuvenating your mind, body, and spirit.

Detoxifying your body is essential to the overall maintenance of your body on the inside for optimal long-term health. After detoxing you'll notice you feel lighter, more energetic, and clear minded. You may notice your eyes are brighter and your complexion is radiant. These are all amazing signs that your body is healing itself from the inside out.

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Diet And 'Acne Food' Explained

Why is diet so important for you to have clear and beautiful skin? Eating right will always help the health of your body. In fact, many diseases today are related to bad eating habits. So what is "acne food"? Essentially, foods that help your immune system, which then helps skin health too. When eaten, this acne food will help ensure that you have clear skin. It can be thought of as one of the pimple remedies that you do not apply onto the skin, but works internally instead.

A change in diet may clean you from the inside. It is commonly known that foods low in nutrition do not do your body any favours. The fact is that a pimple is, essentially, an infection. It appears red and inflamed due to inflammation triggered by acne bacteria. We can help our bodies fight off (and even prevent) these infections by ensuring our immune system is as strong as possible.

Acne food combines natural sugars and fats. If you eat something like a garden salad, then an avocado (for example) is a must for the fat component. In the same way, sugars with cold pressed olive oil and olive oil with orange juice will stabilize blood sugar level and discourage the break out of pimples and acne.

Also, an acne food diet consists of plenty of water and fresh juices that will help you to get rid of toxins. A balanced diet cuts out all excessively fatty and oily food like french fries, pizzas, potato chips, and processed foods, since they do not help the body. It should be noted that, despite the myths about these foods causing acne, the reason to avoid them is actually because they do not add to the body's nutrient intake. Fresh fruits, whole grained foods and plant based foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins are "acne food" that will help to benefit the overall health of acne sufferers, and your skin will show it.

Since an "acne food" diet consists of foods rich in nutrients a good example of an acne food snack would be a salad comprised of things such as well-ripened fresh fruit, tomatoes, cucumber and avocados, prepared with extra virgin olive oil, and even sushi (raw fish). It is said to be ideal if you consume 2 egg yolks and 50gms of raw fish a day (it is 5 egg yolks and 100gms of raw fish for a man). This type of acne food has redundant protein and can increase blood protein level in your body.

Often people in search of "pimple remedies" find only disappointment instead of true help. The fact is that information is the BEST of the pimple remedies. The reason's because it is in understanding skin that one can get rid of zits long-term and truly get clear skin.

By shifting the focus away from merely discovering how to get rid of zits to the bigger picture of understanding skin, it becomes much easier to not only get clear skin, but also keep it healthy.

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How To Stay Motivated With Weight Loss

When it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, the most important thing isn't diet or exercise. It's motivation. If you can keep motivated, you can meet your goals, become more physically fit, and live a healthier lifestyle.

Unfortunately, most of us have problems staying motivated. Sure, it's easy to decide to diet and exercise and stick to it for a couple of weeks; but eventually, nearly all of us get to a point where we lose our focus and give up.

When this happens we not only gain back whatever weight we may have lost, but we often put on even more pounds than we had before we started. This can be a real blow to our self-esteem and make it even harder for us to try to lose weight in the future.

The good news is that it is possible to find ways to stay motivated and keep focused on your weight loss goals - once you know how. When you achieve this level of focus, you will not only lose weight now; you'll find that it's much easier to keep the weight off in the long term.

They provided us with a bunch of tips that have worked in the real world to help the people they've worked with to stay motivated, and we are happy to pass them on to you.

• Realize that your subconscious is the biggest thing holding you back from staying motivated. On a conscious level, you know you want to lose weight - but your subconscious may not be on board. It is filled with negative thoughts that expect failure. So, you need to change your subconscious expectations for yourself. Most of us have a negative inner dialogue going on, but that dialogue can be changed. When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, stop them in their tracks and replace them with positive thoughts. Over time, this will become automatic and it will stop your subconscious from sabotaging your weight loss and healthy living efforts. Breaking the subconscious chains that are holding you back from real weight loss is the most important thing you can do.

• Find a diet buddy, and set them up on speed dial on your phone. The two of you can work to support each other. When you feel tempted to break your diet or skip out on the gym, give them a call and let them talk you into doing the right thing. Be there for them in the same situations. Between the two of you, you both have a much better chance of sticking to your weight loss and exercise plans.

• Stop focusing on how hard it is to lose weight. If you are constantly thinking about how much work it is to lose weight and stay healthy, this will fill your brain with negative thoughts. That's not good. Don't let yourself focus on the negative. Instead, keep in mind all of the benefits of losing weight. Make a list if you have to! By focusing on the positive, you'll be much less tempted to go off your weight loss plan.

• Every week, take a picture of yourself in the mirror. Then post this picture someplace where you will see it every day. Keep adding new pictures every week. By actually seeing how much progress you are making, it will be much easier for you to stick to your goals - because you'll be able to visualize the results.

• Start a blog about your weight loss goals. By writing once or twice a week about what you are doing, you'll be able to keep track of your progress and work out your inner demons. You'll also get people to comment on your blog and encourage you to stick to it.

• Reward yourself every so often. Set a simple goal - say, losing five pounds. When you make that goal, go out and buy yourself something really nice. Get your favorite author in hardcover instead of waiting for the paperback to come out. Buy your favorite movie on Blu-Ray. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's something you like that you wouldn't normally buy for yourself.

• Don't give up if you have a slip. Look, nobody is perfect. We aren't machines. Sometimes we are going to screw up and have a slice of chocolate cake. It happens. But don't treat it like the end of the world. Many people figure that once they've gone off their diet once, they might as well give up. Don't! Instead, try to figure out why you were tempted and spend a little extra time in the gym that week.

• Try to find ways to make working out fun. Just sitting alone in the gym on a stationary bike is not very inspiring for most people. It's boring and easy to give up. Why not pick up a new sport? You'll end up making new friends and by playing a game, you'll be having fun while burning off calories. And you'll keep doing it because you won't want to let your team down.

• If you have a partner, have lots of sex! Sex not only feels good, but it burns off calories. More importantly, it releases the same endorphins into your body as eating chocolate. And here's something you may not know - when you start to lose weight, your libido will improve and you'll experience much more sexual satisfaction. Women in particular have reported becoming more orgasmic the more weight they lose.

• Keep temptation out of your home. When you are alone watching television is when you are most likely to break down and cheat on your diet. Go through your cupboards and get rid of temptation food. Then go to the grocery story and buy a lot of healthy food. Throw out all your takeout menus. Without temptations surrounding you, you will be much less likely to break your diet. Your moment of temptation will pass and you'll stay motivated and on track.

• Create an upbeat playlist for your iPod. It's been shown that people who listen to fast, upbeat music while they work out have more positive associations with exercise and are less likely to stop doing it.

• Subscribe to blogs of other people who are trying to lose weight and get in shape. Reading about other people's weight loss struggles will help you realize you are not alone. Plus, you may gain some surprising weight loss tips and be able to share your experiences with other people as well.

These tips are not particularly hard to incorporate into your life, and they have worked to help thousands of people stay motivated so that they not only lose weight but also keep it off.

You can start slow and add one tip a week into your life, and over time you'll finally start seeing the body you've always wanted staring back at you in the mirror.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Meditation And Weight Loss For A Healthier New You

Meditation and weight loss for a healthier new you, is not really to hard. Here is some information to help you get started.

Most of us have heard or read that meditation is good for us. Some have even tried meditation once or twice, but not getting the hang of it they have given up. Meditation offers us many benefits, one of which is that it can help us stay true and focused on our weight loss program. The way it does that is that it helps reduce stress, calming our inner selves. A little stress is o.k. But for those of us that are weigh challenged, extra stress can lead to extra eating. 

Comfort foods are called comfort foods for a reason. When under uncontrolled stress, it is very easy to turn to your favorite comfort foods to hide the uncontrolled feelings of stress you are having. The problem is, for most of us with a weight problem, those foods tend to be the fattening ones. That ice cream cone or that tripe cheeseburger with fries may take our minds away from the stresses of the moment, but it only lasts for a short time, if at all. Most of the time we are fighting with our mind while we eat the comfort food. We know we will be unhappy later in the day for allowing ourselves to eat all the junk food, but at the moment it seems we have no control over it.

Meditation can help us avoid or control the original stress and this in turn will help us avoid the eating binge. There is a simple breathing meditation that you can do that will help stop your mind from all the noise that is causing you to stress. Most books tell you that you want to think of the breathing as you do it. You think of breathing in, while breathing in and you think of breathing out as you breath out. It is a very simple meditation and it does work. The object is to bet your mind to slow down and think of only one thing, stopping all that clutter that is continually going on in our minds.

Our minds are constantly being bombarded with thoughts and all that noise is stressful. We have upwards of 10,000 thoughts a day. So many that we are numb to them and don't even realize that we are always thinking. You want to reduce those thoughts to only a single thought. Quite the chatter. Once we do this, we should be much better able to handle the stress and the urge to eat without thinking.

Breathing deeply helps us release tensions.

How to meditate to help control your weight program starts with setting aside time to meditate. It need not be long when you are first starting. 5 to 10 minutes, a couple of times a day is OK. After you have been at it for a while, you will want to do a short breathing meditation whenever you feel the urge to eat the wrong foods or to eat at the wrong times.

When you first meditate, elevate your posture to make yourself aware. I like to focus on smells when I do a breathing meditation. Of course it won't work if you are setting right outside of your favorite fast food establishment. So, find a quit spot to meditate. As you breath in focus on the smells, and picture what your breath is telling you about your surroundings. Breathing in gives your mind and body good energy, while breathing out is letting go of bad energy.

You will find other thoughts drift into your mind while doing this. When this happens, gently bring your mind back to your breathing. Once you start feeling the benefits of meditation it will become a lifetime habit. You will find yourself more in control of your eating and stop eating because of stress.

You will find that you no longer care for junk food. You will want to feed you mind and body healthy foods. As this happens, you should start to see the extra pounds disappearing. You will discover a whole new you.

Meditation isn't the only answer to losing weight but it can do a lot to make the journey easier.

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High Fiber Foods: A Rich Source For A Healthy Life

Fiber rich foods are the way to go in today’s hectic and inappropriate lifestyle. When the consumption of junk and unhealthy foods is on all-time high, fiber rich foods help you greatly to maintain a balance in your diet and lead a healthy life.

It’s no surprise that fiber forms to be a vital part of a healthy diet. However, consuming foods high in dietary fiber can be more beneficial than just keeping you healthy. Eating fiber rich foods can lower the risks for stroke; heart disease and diabetes besides enhancing the health of your skin and helping you lose weight. 

Unfortunately, in today’s time when one needs to eat healthy foods as a result of stressful and unhealthy lifestyle, majority of the people don’t include fiber rich foods in their diet. Given are some tips wherein you can count on the several benefits of fiber that help you feel good and prevent you from serious diseases.

What’s Fiber?

Fiber, the other name for which is ‘roughage’, is the part of plant based foods (nuts, beans, fruits, vegetables and grains) that the body is unable to break down. It passes through the body without getting digested, thus keeping the digestive system clean and healthy, facilitating bowel movements and throwing cholesterol and harmful chemicals out of the body. There are primarily two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Insoluble one doesn’t dissolve in water. It’s bulky fiber that helps prevent constipation and is found in wheat cereals, whole grains and vegetables such as celery, carrots and tomatoes.

On the other hand, soluble fiber gets easily dissolved in water and helps control levels of blood sugar and lessen cholesterol. Oatmeal, barley, nuts, beans and fruits such as berries, apple, pears and citrus fruits are some good sources of soluble fiber.

Fiber with several health benefits

Many expert nutritionists have highlighted how consuming a fiber rich diet can boost the immune system and how it forms to be a good source of nutrition for children as well. Some benefits are highlighted below:

Digestive Health

Eating dietary fiber helps normalize bowel movements by bulking up stools and letting them easier to pass. This helps relieve and prevent both diarrhoea and constipation. Getting fiber in abundance also tends to lessen the risk for gallstones, diverticulitis (inflammation of intestine), kidney stones and also offer relief from irritable bowel syndrome.

Diabetes

The risk of type 2 diabetes can be considerably lowered by consuming a fiber rich diet, especially insoluble fiber from cereals. If you already have diabetes then consuming soluble fiber may help control blood sugar levels by delaying gastric emptying

Skin Health

Consuming fiber rich diet can flush toxins out of the body which affect the health of the skin. Skin tends to be healthy when the flow of blood is good as a result of lesser toxins in the body.

Fiber helps Weight Loss

Besides helping in digestion and preventing constipation, fiber adds bulk to your diet, an important factor in both losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Adding bulk lets you feel full earlier. Also, since fiber stays in the stomach for a longer period than other foods, the feeling of fullness stays with you for quite some time, letting you eat less. Foods such as vegetables and fruits that are rich in fiber tend to be low in calories, thus by adding them to your diet; it’s quite simple to cut calories.

Eating fiber rich foods has been the first preference of many nutritionists when it comes to weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Due to its numerous health benefits it should be your first choice as well during your daily meal.

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4 Tasty Metabolism & Energy Boosting Foods

When it comes to boosting your metabolism and energy levels, there are a handful of foods that you should be eating on a daily basis that help you look and perform better along with giving you more energy and a speedier metabolism for faster weight loss.

The following foods are rich in energy boosting nutrients and contain antioxidants that help speed up workout recovery and fight off and prevent illness and disease.

If you are suffering from low energy levels and have a slow metabolism, start eating these foods on a daily basis to get the most benefit from them. You do not have to eat all of these foods every day, but eating most of them daily is the best way to go.

So without further ado, here are four outstanding and tasty foods to eat often for more energy and a higher metabolism.

1. Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are all awesome fruits that boost your metabolism and energy levels. You see, most fruits are high in natural sugars which can slow down and prevent fat loss.

However, unlike most fruits, berries are very low in natural sugar which makes them perfect to eat anytime. Berries are loaded with antioxidants, fiber and plant nutrients called phytonutrients, which help increase energy levels by improving your cellular health.

To get the most health benefits from berries, eat a fruit bowl consisting of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries several times a week. This combo packs a powerful antioxidant punch which strengthens your immune system and helps speed up your metabolism and increases your energy levels.

Mixing berries into low-fat or no-fat Greek yogurt makes for a tasty snack or breakfast. Always put fresh berries into your yogurt instead of buying yogurt that already has fruit in it.

Flavored yogurt or yogurt with fruit contains far too much adder sugar and too little fruit, which means you will not get the energy and health benefits that you get from eating fresh berries.

As berries absorb a lot of pesticides, I highly recommend that you spend an extra dollar or two and go with organic berries as they do not contain any harmful pesticides.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are my go to food for boosting energy levels anytime of day. Walnuts are an excellent source of Vitamin E, fiber and ALA, an omega-3 fat essential for healthy hair, skin and nails. They are also very low in carbohydrates which means you can snack on them at any time of day.

Although Walnuts are high in fat, the fat is mostly from monounsaturated fat, which is a good fat that does not damage your arteries or cause inflammation, which is the leading cause of heart disease.

For best results, snack on a small handful of Walnuts in between meals, 60-90 minutes before bed, or anytime you need an energy boost. Walnuts make a good pair with fresh fruit and dried fruit, just be sure to limit your fruit intake as most foods are high in natural sugar which can interfere with weight loss.

3. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes far superior to white potatoes when it comes to nutrients and fiber. Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse as they are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C and dietary fiber and several other important nutrients.

Most people tend to prefer the taste of sweet potatoes to regular potatoes as they are sweet and can be eaten with many different foods for both lunch and dinner.

Eat sweet potatoes with lean meats and fibrous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes, spinach and other raw veggies several times a week.

The complex carbohydrates in sweet potatoes give you sustained energy without the crash you would get from other foods high in carbohydrates, especially sugar.

4. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a true Superfood and has countless health benefits along with boosting your metabolism and energy levels so you can power through your workouts.

Coconut oil contains a high amount of unique fats called medium chain triglycerides. These fats are considered fat burning fats and can speed up the burning of body fat quite considerably.

Coconut oil can be used for cooking, as a sauce or dressing, and in smoothies and shakes. For a tasty and quick energy-boosting snack, I like to spread one tablespoon of coconut oil on a whole grain rice cake, then spread almond butter over it and top it with the raspberries or blueberries and sprinkle it with cinnamon.

This absolutely delicious snack contains healthy fats and antioxidants along with fiber and plant nutrients which increase energy during workouts and protect the immune system from exercise induced stress.

Coconut oil can be eaten and consumed in many different ways and with many different foods, don't be afraid to experiment and find the best way for you to eat coconut oil.

There you have it, incorporate the above four foods into your diet on a weekly basis and you will notice a nice increase in energy along with a higher metabolism, leading to better workouts and better results.

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Healthy Eating - Snacks For The Whole Family

Anytime you change the way you eat it will take some encouragement and some preparation but you will find success by having a partner to got through the process with you. When you involve your entire household in the new healthy eating plan you are twice as likely to stick with it and have great progress. For healthy eating snacks for the whole family you can all enjoy the new diet and be getting healthier by the day together.

Snacks that the whole family will enjoy could be in many variations. You must think creatively and plan to prepare snacks for the entire day and not just limit them to one portion of the day or for one special event. 

Create fun snacks that are easy for little ones to eat such as finger snacks like vegetables cut up like celery or carrots with a fun dipping sauce for the kids to enjoy. The whole family will enjoy apples cut up with all natural, organic peanut butter to dip the slices into. 

Baked potatoes are also good snacks that you can slice up and place cheese on top of that is low fat or non fat cheese and even vegetables on top as well. 

Organic yogurts are always nutritious and kids and adults alike enjoy eating them when they are combined with chopped up fruits inside. This creates a healthy snack that is tasty and it fills you up for quite some time.

Soups that are made fresh at home are also enjoyed throughout the winter or just on a rainy day when the kids may really be seeking an activity to engage in such as helping create the soups. 

Just about every child enjoys Popsicles, and they should not be left out of the healthy snack plan for the entire family. You can create your own fruit pops in the freezer with a few Popsicle sticks and blending up your family's favorite fruits. You simply pour the mixture into the freezing trays and allow them to mold and in a few hours you have created an all natural healthy snack for everyone to enjoy on a hot summer day. 

Get your family involved in deciding which snacks they may be willing to try and with all of the input you can receive from everyone you can create a fun family menu for the entire week together! Allow the kids to help with creating all the snacks they would like to take with them for school lunches and for any sporting events and practices as well.

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The 7 Health Benefits Of Castor Oil

Many know castor oil's health properties and is widely used for medicinal purposes. Yet, this vegetable oil's use for health is often underrated, for a number of reasons. This vegetable oil is found from the seeds of the castor plant, which is found in Africa and India. So, what are the health properties of this vegetable oil that makes it so special? Here is a look at the seven different benefits of this oil and how it is different.

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1. For pain

Castor oils' anti-inflammatory properties make it be used as a natural anti-inflammatory agent useful in treatment of swollen joints and tissues. You can take this oil orally in a glass of water to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis as well. This oil can also work wonders to offer relief to back pain and abdominal pain and is also useful in menstrual cramps.

2. For hair

This vegetable oil has fatty acids and Vitamin E, both of which help you in your hair growth. All you need to do is to apply this oil on your hair and scalp to increase blood circulation and free the scalp from fungal as well as bacterial infections. Applying castor oil also ensures that you check hair loss.

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3. As laxative

The laxative benefits of this vegetable oil are well known. The ricinoleic acid in castor oil starts functioning and helps in digesting the food as well as cleanses the system and improves the bowel movement. No wonder, it helps during constipation too.

4. For skin

The skin properties of castor oil are well known to all. Using this vegetable oil on your skin helps it be hydrated and also be free fro infections. No wonder, it helps treat skin diseases like acne too. If you use the oil regularly you will be able to keep wrinkles in control too. In fact, if you apply this oil to babies, it can help prevent cases of diaper rashes too.

5. For immunity

It's been researched and found out that castor oil, when applied to the body, helps increase the count of T-11 cells in the body thus strengthening the immune system. The total number of lymphocytes increases within 24 hours too.

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6. For allergies

Are you suffering from allergies? Well, this oils' anti-allergic properties can help. If you have allergies related to skin and naso-pharyngeal area, just take five drops of castor oil in water in an empty stomach.

7. For warts, moles and cysts

Applying this oil also helps treat warts, moles and cysts. Apply the oil with a pinch of baking soda will help solve the problem of cysts. In fact, using castor oil packs also helps dissolve cysts in the ovary.

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Minerals And Hormone Balance: What Women Need

It's no secret that minerals are required for every bodily process, but did you know that hormone imbalances can be blamed on mineral imbalances too? That's right - essential nutrients affect how our hormones work and that can have a huge impact on life in general. Hormonal imbalances can cause weight gain, decreased sex drive, weight gain, fatigue and PMS, to name a few.

Prescription medicines contain mind-altering pharmaceuticals that can disturb your natural hormonal balance and cause unwanted side-effects. Some people who use anti-depressants may experience increased suicidal tendencies, while lacking sexual desire and weight gain. Evidence has shown time and again that many conditions that are treated with pharmaceuticals could be avoided with proper nutrition.

Let's take a look at some of the hormones, and how you can address them using mineral supplements. A hair mineralysis is a great way to assess any imbalances and deficiencies that will help address symptoms.

Serotonin boosts excitement and enthusiasm. People who lack serotonin often experience sadness, poor sleep, lethargy, irritable bowel syndrome, PMS and sugar or carbohydrate cravings. Magnesium is essential for hormone development and nerve communication.

Dopamine functions in improving energy, self-confidence and self-discipline. Dopamine deficiency is evident when symptoms such as addiction, depression, hyperactivity and obesity are present. Selenium helps improve dopamine and research has shown that a low selenium intake is linked to depression.

Women in particular need essential minerals for optimum health. During her reproductive years, a woman is more likely to lack iron, while a menopausal woman will have to avoid iron supplementation. Here are some more reasons why women should consider mineral supplements:

Iodine assists hormone regulation, detoxification an nerve activation.

Selenium has powerful antioxidant properties for immune health and it helps to regulate thyroid hormone activity. There is a strong relationship between selenium and hormone regulation, particularly of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, luteotropic hormone, thyroid hormone and progesterone.

Zinc is often depleted by birth control, poor dietary habits, HRT, medications and alcohol consumption. Low levels of zinc have been linked to PMS, infertility and increased estrogen activity, as well as increased effects of ageing and an inability to handle stress.

Magnesium has been found to fight the effects of ageing in women, as it helps with muscle cramps and spasms, migraines and blood pressure, as well as PMS.

If you think that your hormones are out of balance, or that you might be mineral deficient, it's a good idea to consider a hair mineral analysis. This quick, accurate and painless procedure will show you exactly what your body needs to become healthy, energetic and performing at optimum level.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com