The Health Benefits of Pomegranates

• Pomegranates contain three types of antioxidant polyphenols, including tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid, in significant amounts
• Their antioxidant activity is known to inhibit cell proliferation and invasion, and promote apoptosis (cell death) in various cancer cells
• Pomegranates or pomegranate extract may help reduce joint pain and decrease inflammation in arthritis sufferers
• They may slow the growth of plaque formation in arteries, boosting heart health, and may even act as a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction
• Pomegranates are filled with juicy seed sacs called arils; you can eat the arils whole (fiber-rich seed and all) for optimum nutrition
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High Endurance Exercise Causes Heart Damage

• Mitochondria make up, on average, about 1-2 percent of your skeletal muscle by volume, but this is generally enough to provide the needed energy for your daily movements
• Whereas your skeletal muscle contains only 1-2 percent mitochondria, your cardiac muscle may contain up to 35 percent
• This large volume of mitochondria supplies a steady source of energy right to your heart, and explains why your heart rarely needs to “rest” like your skeletal muscles do
• Extreme endurance exercise significantly increases cardiac output, which may put excessive strain on your heart depending on the duration and intensity of your activity
• Over-exercising, such as marathon running, may not make your heart feel tired like your other muscles, but it can cause scarring, inflammation, and other heart damage
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• Read more: http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2014/05/09/muscle-types-heart-health.aspx?e_cid=20140509Z1_DNL_art_2&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art2&utm_campaign=20140509Z1&et_cid=DM45778&et_rid=515366959 

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Antibiotic-Resistant Genes in Cow Manure May Add to the Threat of Untreatable Disease

• Maintaining optimal intestinal health is paramount in the fight against both acute and chronic disease. One of the fastest ways to destroy your gut microbiome is through the use of antibiotics
• While antibiotics are certainly overused in medicine, one of the most pervasive sources of antibiotics is actually through the foods you eat—in particular factory farmed meats
• Recent research has found antibiotic-resistant genes in the bacteria of dairy cows' guts. Cow manure, commonly used as crop fertilizer, may transfer these bacteria to soil where food is grown for human consumption
• 80 different antibiotic-resistant genes were found in five manure samples. When these genes were added to E.coli bacteria, the E.coli became resistant to antibiotics
• Traditionally fermented (unpasteurized) foods are the best route to optimal digestive health
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• Read more: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/07/antibiotic-resistance-genes.aspx?e_cid=20140507Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140507Z1&et_cid=DM44275&et_rid=513021422 

10 natural remedies to eliminate varicose veins

(NaturalNews) Varicose veins are swollen, raised veins which could be tender and painful and cause the legs to feel tired, achy, tight and heavy. In general, they do not pose any significant health risks, although they could be uncomfortable and unsightly. Some supplements can help provide relief.

How they happen

About half of middle-aged Americans have some form of varicose veins. Poor diets (low-fiber and high-fat), lack of physical activity and obesity can burden the veins, while women who are pregnant or who have hormonal imbalances are also more susceptible to the condition.

Other risk factors include genetic weakness in the veins or their valves, liver disease, nutritional deficiencies and prolonged sitting or standing.

Arteries bring blood from the heart to various parts of the body, while veins bring the blood back to the heart. Unlike arteries, veins cannot depend on the pumping action of the heart to transport blood. Instead, blood movement in veins is brought about by the contraction and relaxation of the muscles around them. Veins have valves which ensure that blood only flows in one direction.

When these valves malfunction, vein walls are weakened or there is poor circulation, blood flow could be hampered. This causes blood accumulation in the veins, weakening them and causing them to stretch and bulge. Varicose veins usually appear on the legs -- where the veins are constantly working against gravity -- and the anus, where they are called hemorrhoids.

Helpful supplements

James Balch, MD, and Mark Stengler, ND, recommended these supplements:

• Bilberry -- boosts blood circulation and helps strengthen capillary walls. Take a standardized extract with 25% anthocyanosides, at a dose of 160 mg twice per day.

• Horse chestnut -- strengthens vein walls and valves, boosts circulation and alleviates swelling. Take a standardized extract with 100 mg of aescin daily.

• Butcher's broom -- reduces inflammation in veins. Take a standardized extract with 200-300 mg of ruscogenins daily.

• Grape seed extract -- contains compounds which boost circulation and improve vein wall integrity. Take 200-300 mg daily.

• Vitamin E -- thins the blood, promoting blood flow and alleviating inflammation in veins. Take 400 IU twice daily.

• Ginkgo biloba -- frequently used for circulatory issues. Take an extract standardized to 24% flavone glycosides, at a dose of 60-120mg twice per day.

• Vitamin C -- improves health of vein walls. Take 500 mg twice or thrice daily.

• Bromelain -- alleviates inflammation in the veins and could help prevent blood clots. Take 500 mg thrice daily, in-between meals.

• Bioflavonoid complex -- some flavonoids, for example hesperidin and rutin, have been found to be helpful with treating varicose veins. They improve the integrity of the support structures of the veins as well as the whole vascular system. Take 1,000 mg twice or thrice daily. You could also consume bluish-red berries, such as cherries, blackberries, hawthorn berries and blueberries, as they contain flavonoids which improve the strength and elasticity of vein walls. Extracts of some of these berries are widely used in Europe to treat different types of circulatory disorders, including varicose veins.

Bilberry, butcher's broom, bioflavonoids and horse chestnut were also recommended by Michael Murray, ND.

Topical application

Calendula ointments, in the form of creams and salves, could be applied topically onto varicose veins on the lower legs to reduce their swollen appearance.

Dietary tips

A high-fiber diet comprised of good amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts would be helpful. Buckwheat contains rutin, which boosts capillary strength.

Herbs and spices such as cayenne, ginger, garlic and onions help boost circulation and could be added to one's diet too.

Sources for this article include:

Balch, James F., MD, and Stengler, Mark, ND. Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide for Treating Health Problems with Natural Remedies Including Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Bodywork, and More. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2004. Print.

Stengler, Mark, ND. The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies: Proven Remedies Medical Doctors Don't Know. New York, NY: Prentice Hall Press, 2010. Print.

Murray, Michael, ND. The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines: Vitamins, Minerals, Nutritional Supplements, Herbs, And Other Natural Products. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 2002. Print.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/045004_natural_remedies_varicose_veins_circulation.html#ixzz30zk6k6hv

Foods That Can Help Protect and Improve Your Eyesight

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness among the elderly, followed by cataracts
• The pathology of both of these conditions has been attributed to free radical damage, and the condition is in many cases largely preventable through an antioxidant-rich diet
• Whole foods that support eye health and have been shown to protect against AMD include black currant, bilberry, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables, and pastured egg yolks
• The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is concentrated in your eye’s retina. It provides structural support to cell membranes that protect retinal function. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fats, such as salmon, may slow AMD
• Wild-caught salmon also contains astaxanthin, which may be among the most important nutrients for the prevention of blindness
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• Rwad more: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/05/foods-eyesight-improvement.aspx?e_cid=20140505Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140505Z1&et_cid=DM45462&et_rid=511144696 

Three Simple Steps to Help Rid Your Body of Toxins

• The average person is likely to have more than 500 – 1,000 times higher levels of toxic chemical in the fat compartment of their bodies, which includes all fatty adipose tissues, brain and lipids in blood, than what is revealed in their blood serum
• A simple way to “detoxify” more correctly to mobilize and eliminate is to optimize your lean body mass, because most of the toxins are fat soluble and are released when the fat is burned for fuel or energy to maintain the body functions
• Certain toxic chemicals, such as dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), which is a metabolite of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), is consistently about 1,000 times higher in fat than the blood serum levels in the average person whether you have been directly exposed in or not
• The commonly used term “detoxification” is the mobilization and elimination of toxic chemicals, either through your skin and/or GI tract, which are the two organs that have the largest surface areas compared to other organs
• Other organs also assist in the elimination process, but they are slower. A safe and effective way to detox is to use a combination of niacin (vitamin B3), exercise, sauna therapy, and any instrument to generate heat and promote sweating
• Substances such as activated charcoal and zeolite clay (and even oils) will also help bind toxic chemical that are then eliminated through your GI tract
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• Read more: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/04/detoxification-program.aspx?e_cid=20140504Z1_SNL_Art_1&utm_source=snl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140504Z1&et_cid=DM45458&et_rid=509603057