Food By Franz

Learn about how to help common conditions & ailments using natural methods at our Health A-Z Index!

How To Relieve Stress the Organic Way
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 | Author: Organic Blogger

Between our jobs, our family and the daily news, we all tend to experience some amounts of stress during our day. Here are some natural ways to relieve stress, sleep better and feel more refreshed.

1. Swap the coffee for some organic Green Tea. Coffee is full of caffeine which raises your heart rate and is a diuretic. It also can be over stimulating. If you still need a caffeine fix in the morning, try drinking Green Tea – it’s full of anti oxidants, rich in flavor, and contains half the caffeine that coffee does.

2. Get rid of the anger. Whether through Yoga, exercises, gardening or whatever activity you choose, find a physical activity to relieve tension and anger. Exercise, in any form, is one of the greatest natural drugs known to humankind. No over the counter relaxant can beat a good dose of endorphins.

3. Practice proper eating. Besides an obvious organic diet, make sure you’re getting the right amount of carbohydrates, protein and fat for your level of activity. If you’re sedentary, cut back on empty calories. If you work out or do a lot of physical activity, make sure that you are getting the right amount of protein to feed your growing muscles.

4. Drink a cup of chamomile. Before bed, try to have a cup of chamomile tea. The best option is brewing it yourself with actual tea leaves, as opposed to tea bags. Chamomile is a natural relaxant – it helps settle your stomach as well, and will lead you to a great nights sleep. Just below is a great deal on chamomile tea.

Chamomile Cert. Organic Tea 16 tea bags: C

Stress has become a natural part of our lives, unfortunately. With a little bit of planning and a little bit of effort, you should be able to relieve at least parts of your stress via simple, healthy and effective methods.

This post was written by Maya Richard, who is currently writing about cell Phones . She can be emailed by combining her name gmail.com.

Our Health – Archive Post#1
Posted on 02/17/2009 04:12 pm by manx

Go for Garlic – Some Amazing Statistics

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herbal mainstay for heart health. In a classic study, researchers at New York Medical College in Valhalla analyzed five previous studies and found that one clove a day reduces cholesterol by 9 percent. Other studies show similar reductions. For every 1 percent decrease in total cholesterol, the risk of heart attack drops 2 percent.
The issue isn’t cut and dried, however. Some studies show no cholesterol-lowering effect of garlic, notably a recent Stanford report published in Archives of Internal Medicine that used raw cloves and a garlic supplement. But right now the weight of evidence still favors using garlic as a cholesterol reducer.

Garlic reduces the volume of the atherosclerotic plaques that narrow the arteries. German researchers measured plaque volume in 152 people with heart disease, then gave them garlic (900 mg a day). After four years, their plaque volume was reduced by up to 18 percent, resulting in a substantial increase in blood flow and significantly less risk for heart attack and stroke.
Garlic also helps prevent the formation of internal blood clots that trigger heart attacks and most strokes.

To get the most of garlic’s cholesterol-lowering benefits, chop, mince or smash it to release its heart-protective compounds. Cook lightly or eat raw. (Remember, this is a clove, not an entire garlic bulb, which might make you healthy, but might also limit your social life – LOL!)

Posted on 02/04/2009 12:20 pm by manx | Edit

Helpful herbs for our Pet Friends

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and anti-catarrhal, is an excellent remedy (used for centuries as an eyewash) to ease discomfort and help prevent excessive tearing. It can also be taken internally as a tonic for the eyes, and it is rich in vitamins C and A, excellent antioxidants to help prevent damage to the eyes. If the eye is infected, eyebright should be combined with antimicrobial herbs such as echinacea (Echinacea spp.), taken internally, and Oregon grape root (Mahonia aquifolium) and/or goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), which can be taken internally and/or used externally as eye drops.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) provides important nutrients that nourish the eye and enhance general visual function. Bilberry contains bioactive chemicals (anthocyanidins) that help prevent damage to the structure of the eyes. It has been used to protect against age- and diabetes-related changes including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) contains bioflavonoids that are helpful for organs—such as the eyes—that are rich in connective tissue. Ginkgo’s antioxidant properties protect cells and their membranes, and it enhances cellular metabolism and blood circulation. Ginkgo and bilberry are taken internally—all herbs are best offered as a fresh or dried herb, sprinkled atop your pet’s food. If capsules or tablets are used, adjust the dosage given on the product label for the weight of the animal. (Assume that, for the sake of the product label, a “normal” human weighs 150 pounds.)

This was copied from the Herb Companion website at: http://www.herbcompanion.com/pets/Pet-corner-Herbs-for-pets-eyes-35.aspx?page=2