• Don’t shop for food when you’re hungry. If possible, do your weekly food shop when you’ve just had a large meal. This makes you much more likely to buy less food, and therefore less junk food for you to snack on during the week.
• Don’t buy junk food from the shop. If you buy junk food, then you will eat it. If you get a very bad craving which you absolutely cannot overcome, it is much better to walk to the shop (therefore getting exercise) than it is to reach into your jam packed full junk food cupboard.
• Don’t see eating as socialising. We all do this, so don’t worry. If you look upon eating as a social occasion, for example going out for meals with friends, then you will see food as luxurious and will be more likely to crave it. If you see food merely as a fuel for your body, then this won’t be as much of a problem.
• Buy a book of sudoku. Seriously, this might work. It doesn’t have to be sudoku, but could be crosswords, wordsearches, anything which might distract you away from a craving. If you’re keeping yourself busy, you will prevent yourself from eating through sheer boredom, which is what a lot of people do.
• Keep a food diary. If you do this, you will soon be able to see just how much junk food you are eating per day. This can sometimes shock people into making the change that they need to improve their lives, so don’t underestimate the power of your pen.

Swallowing Pills the Easy Way

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The doctor always says “Take your medicine”. However he never tells you how to swallow some of those gigantic pills he prescribes. There is an easy way if you know the secret.

Your mom probably says “Put the pill in your mouth, tilt your head backward and open wide to a gushing river of water”. Of course you dread the stream of water molecules overflowing your open orifice as it attempts to plow the oversized pill into your esophagus and down towards your stomach.

As the river of water almost drowns your gullet, you think “How will I survive the quantity of pills that I need to take over the next few days and weeks.

You think to yourself “There must be a better way”.

Practice Makes Perfect

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Well there is an easier method and now you can try it. Here’s how:

1.  Place the pill in your mouth on your tongue.

2.  Take a medium to large amount of water into your mouth.

3.  Tilt your head forward a little (with your chin closer to your chest).

4.  Swallow by using your tongue to propel the pill upward toward the roof of your mouth with the water and the pill along with the water will go up and over the back of your tongue down toward your stomach.

Although this method may not work for everyone, it is an easier alternative to your mom’s offering. Try this the next time you need to swallow a pill. You may be pleasantly surprised and you’ll have less anxiety next time you need to take your pills.  

An exotic fruit called mangosteen is attracting attention in the world of health and nutrition. Because of its high antioxidant content, juices containing mangosteen are growing in popularity. Now, a new study published in Nutrition Journal shows that Xango juice, made from the mangosteen fruit, may help with weight loss – while reducing inflammation at the same time.

To look at the effects of a mangosteen juice drink on inflammation and weight loss, researchers gave participants either Xango juice or a placebo twice a day for eight weeks. At the end of the eight week period, the group who drank the Xango juice had a lower BMI (body mass index) compared to those who drank the placebo. The participants who drank the mangosteen juice drink also had lower blood levels of CRP or C-reactive protein. C-reactive protein is a marker for generalized inflammation in the body, and high levels of CRP are associated with a greater risk for heart disease.

Can drinking mangosteen juice reduce the risk of obesity and heart disease? The mangosteen fruit, which tastes similar to a peach, is a rich source of plant pigments called xanthones which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Preliminary studies show the xanthones in mangosteen block the growth of leukemia cancer cells – at least in the laboratory. Obviously, more studies are needed to see if these effects are also seen in humans.

Xango juice, which was used in this study, is really a mangosteen juice drink since mangosteen is pureed and mixed with other high antioxidant fruits. It’s also possible to buy pure mangosteen juice made from pureed mangosteen – although it can be quite expensive. Some companies are charging upwards of $30.00 for a bottle.

Is mangosteen juice or a mangosteen juice drink such as Xango juice worth the price? These small studies suggest it could reduce the type of inflammation which leads to heart disease and diabetes – while lowering body weight. These are certainly compelling reasons to enjoy this beverage – if you don’t mind paying the price. On the other hand, it’s better to drink it for its taste until larger studies confirm its weight loss benefits. It’s certainly a better choice than soft drinks – any way you look at it.

References:

Medical News Today website. “XanGo® Juice May Help Lower Marker Of Inflammation And Improve Weight And Body Fat”.

Can eating soybeans help you slim down? University of Illinois researchers hope so. They think they’ve found a way to enhance the fat burning potential of the modest soybean.

Eating Soy for Weight Loss?: It’s All in the Proteins

Soybeans contain a variety of proteins including two called glycinins and beta-conglycinins. Researchers at University of Illinois discovered that eating soybeans that have a high ratio of beta-conglycinins to glycinins causes greater fat loss. They made this discovery after feeding rats soy protein that contained different ratios of these two proteins – noting that rats that ate soy products higher in beta-conglycinins lost more body fat.

The researchers have even identified how beta-conglycinins cause fat loss. The block the action of an enzyme called fatty acid synthase which plays a role in the synthesis and storage of fat. When this enzyme is inhibited fat cells synthesize and store less fat. Other studies in mice show that inhibitors of fatty acid synthase dramatically reduce appetite and cause significant weight loss. Using soy products that are high in beta-conglycinins could be a natural way to treat obesity.

Soybean Products for Weight Loss: What the Future Could Hold

Researchers are hoping that soy product manufacturers will be able to produce soy products that are high in beta-conglycinin proteins to help in the fight against obesity. They’re currently doing studies using beta-conglycinin-rich soy milk on humans – to say how much body fat they lose.

Soy for Weight Loss: Do Soy Products Have Other Weight Loss Benefits?

The best weight loss benefits may come from soy products that contain large amounts of beta-conglycinin, but eating soy foods for weight loss has other advantages. They’re high in protein which makes them feeling and satisfying, yet still low in calories. Soy also has a low glycemic index which keeps blood sugars stable – to prevent hunger. Substituting soy for higher fat protein may be an effective strategy for losing weight.

Soybeans for Weight Control: A Word of Caution

Eating soy products is still controversial. Because soy contains phytoestrogens which have a weak estrogenic effect, soy foods may not be suitable for people who have breast cancer. Soy isoflavones are also believed to affect an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase which synthesizes thyroid hormone – so it’s also not a good idea to eat soy if you have thyroid disease.

Soy for Weight Loss: The Bottom Line?

Soy products with higher levels of beta-conglycinin could reach store shelves at some point in the future. Until then, eating soy products such as miso, tempeh, and tofu may still have benefits when it comes to weight loss.

References:

Medical News Today website. “Slimming Soybeans Are On The Horizon U Of I Scientist Says”

Pub Med Website. “Reduced Food Intake and Body Weight in Mice Treated with Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitors”.

Diagnosis Sarcoma – What are your treatment options?

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Your western trained doctor has done some tests on you and he says you have a Sarcoma. He tells you that it may be benign, or you may need radiation and chemotherapy. All that’s left is to do a biopsy and determine the prognosis.

My doctor stated that I had a sarcoma. When I questioned him about performing a biopsy, he stated that there is a chance that the biopsy can cause the sarcoma to spread. I felt that was a risk I was not willing to take. Consequently, I decided to look for other alternatives.

My search led me to look at chinese herbs. I consulted the internet and found an herbal specialist who was trained in China. An appointment was made with him. This is my story.

Choosing Your Destiny

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Doctors are not gods. Some may like to think of themselves that way however no person ultimately has dominion over life. Sooner or later something will happen to everyone.

I ventured to the clinic of the chinese doctor a few months ago. I was limping all the way to the edifice. My foot has a sarcoma on my upper leg close to the pelvis and sitting on any seat is uncomfortable to the point of needing to sit on the edge so that no part of my leg is on the seat itself. Placing any pressure on the area of skin where it bulges causes much discomfort and it is firm to the touch.

The eastern trained specialist asked to look at the bulging skin, my tongue and felt my pulse. He stated that he could definitely help me however he also suggested that I get a biopsy. I declined the biopsy offer due to the reasons previously mentioned and waited for his prescription.

He wrote a myriad of information in chinese and had me take a paper to the herbal pharmacist. I was sent home with over 2 dozen bags of herbs to boil in water, one bag per day, and was told to strain the remaining liquid and drink the concoction.

Now, it’s not something you would normally do. The smell of the boiling herbs is certainly different. Looking at the dark liquid that remains knowing you must drink it is difficult to stomach however I found that if you close your nose and drink the liquid when it’s warm along with a bit of orange juice, it’s like drinking a glass of water as you do not taste anything.

Over 3 months have elapsed since I started this regimen. Today, I can sit fully on a chair with minimal discomfort. The sarcoma bulge is soft to the touch, I can press the bulge with no discomfort and my limp is minimal. The size of the bulge has not changed however I’m just starting on taking a different combination of herbs to hopefully shrink the bulge. The only side effects are running to the bathroom and lots of stomach gas.

Compare that with normal western medical treatments. Radiation and chemical therapy are poison to your body. Side effects include losing your hair, feeling horribly ill, a stay in the hospital, a myriad of other complications and permutations requiring costly medications which can cause even more adverse side effects or new illnesses.

Unlocking Life’s Secrets

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My story is still unfolding. While my treatment is ongoing, I have always lived with the knowledge that every day is precious. Enjoy life to the fullest and do not look back. Decisions that you make create the contours of your lifelong manuscript.  I do not regret any of my decisions having researched the treatments available and their side effects. Herbs can be an effective alternative with no side effects. 

If you receive this type of diagnosis from your doctor, consider the alternatives. Research gained from eastern physicians centuries ago can make a difference in your life. Open your mind to the possibilities.