Yerba Santa

Yerba santa

Yerba santa (Eriodictyon glutinosum and Eriodictyon californicum) is a short evergreen shrub that grows in dry, hilly areas of California and Northern Mexico. The plant, part of the Hydrophyllaceae family, grows in clusters and is approximately 3 ft (1 m) in height.

The smooth stem and thick yellow leaves are covered with a resin, and the plant has blue flowers that cluster together in groups of six to 10. The leaves are 2–5 in (5–12 cm) long.

The plant contains chrysocriol, eridonel, eriodictyol, formic acid, glucose, glycerides of fatty acids, homoeriodictyol, resin, tannic acids, tannins, volatile oil, and zanthoeridol. The leaves should be gathered in the spring and early summer.

Yoga

Yoga

Definition

The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word that means yoke or union. Traditionally, yoga is a method joining the individual self with the Divine, Universal Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called self-transcendence or enlightenment.

On the physical level, yoga postures, called asanas, are designed to tone, strengthen, and align the body. These postures are performed to make the spine supple and healthy and to promote blood flow to all the organs, glands, and tissues, keeping all the bodily systems healthy.

On the mental level, yoga uses breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation (dyana) to quiet, clarify, and discipline the mind. However, experts are quick to point out that yoga is not a religion, but a way of living with health and peace of mind as its aims.

Yucca

Lonely yucca grows in the dessert

Description

The yucca plant is native to the high deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is also found less commonly in parts of the eastern United States and West Indies. Extracts from the plant’s root are used in alternative medicine as a soap and as an herbal dietary supplement.

The yucca has at least 40 species, including Yucca filamentosa, the most common type, Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree), Yucca aloifolia (Spanish bayonet), and Yucca gloriosa (Spanish dagger). Two other species, Yucca baccata and Yucca glauca, are called soap plant because their roots are especially good for making soap.

Yucca plants are tree-like succulents of the lily family (Liliaceae) with stemless stiff, pointed leaves that end in a sharp needle. The Joshua tree, the namesake of Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs, California, is believed to have been named by Mormon settlers because the plant’s angular branches resembled the outstretched arms of Joshua leading them out of the desert. The yucca flower is a series of white or purple blossoms on a long stalk.

The Zone diet

Lunch in zone diet

Definition

The Zone Diet program is a food management system that claims to promote optimal metabolic efficiency in the body by balancing the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin is responsible for converting, in the blood, incoming nutrients into cells. Glucagon regulates glucose in the liver. The Zone’s food plan consists of a dietary intake of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat.

Origins

In 1995, Dr. Barry Sears, Ph.D., a former biotechnology researcher for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, authored The Zone. Since that time, the book has sold over one million copies. One of the more popular carbohydrate-restrictive diets, the Zone’s success has recently spawned several Zone “knock-off” diets.

The Zone Diet is based on a program Dr. Sears developed almost twenty years earlier to treat heart disease in Type 2 diabetics. One of his key inspirations for developing this program was his own genetic history, which demonstrated an inclination for premature heart attack.

Bad Effects of Coffee

Morning coffe

Many people throughout the so-called developed world rely upon their morning coffee to get going for the day.

They crave this liquid brewed from beans to give them morning and afternoon pick-ups and often follow meals with a cup of coffee. But the very coffee they use to give them a pick-up may be killing them.

Bodies need to maintain a constant alkaline blood pH of about 7.4 on the pH scale. Ideally this applies to body fluids as well.

Milk

Lovely kid drinks a glass of milk

Milk has a wide variety of uses and thus is one of the most basic items found in kitchens worldwide. It is consumed as a beverage, poured on cereals, and used in many different ways in cooking. In response to consumers with different nutritional demands, modern food science has made many different types of fluid milk available.

Although milk can be less inviting to people who are concerned with their weight because of its high fat content, some types of milk contain no fat at all.

Whole milk — Containing 3 1/2 percent milk fat, this type of milk is often simply labeled “milk” or “vitamin D milk” if that particular vitamin has been added. Of all types of milk, whole milk is among the highest in fat and calories. One cup has 150 calories and approximately 8 grams of fat.

Allergies

Allergies

Allergies are disorders of the immune system. Most allergies symptoms are a result of an immune system that responds to a "false alarm."

When a harmless substance such as dust, mold, or pollen is encountered by a person who is allergic to that substance, the immune system may react dramatically, by producing antibodies that "attack" the allergen (substances that produce allergic reactions).

The result of an allergen entering a susceptible person's body may include wheezing, itching, runny nose, and watery or itchy eyes, and other symptoms.

Understand Asthma

Kid with asthma

The definition of Asthma is a "chronic respiratory disorder" and to be brutally blunt can be described as an equal opportunity disease. By this I mean that anybody can suffer from asthma regardless of wealth or socio-economic standing. You can suffer from Asthma anywhere and is very prevalent in almost all parts of the world.

There are basically two types of asthma and the danger with asthma is that sometimes there are symptoms resemble asthmatic symptoms but are not. The upshot of all of this is that it really is essential to understand what asthma actually is

The first major type of asthma is called Extrinsic Asthma. This is classified as that form of asthma which develops when the people prone to it are exposed to surroundings containing various allergens.

Learning to Choose Healthy Foods

Learning to Choose Healthy Foods

Today's hectic and demanding lifestyle as well as the emergence of convenient stores is among the major reasons why people skip their healthy meals. After learning how to depend on fast food stores and convenience stores, it is easier for people to just grab a food that contains less nutrition compared to those foods that matter.

With all these drastic changes in the habit of eating, food preparation and food options, people have become more prone to various diseases because their bodies fail to absorb the nutrients it needs. Contrary to common conception, healthy foods need not to be expensive, rare or hard to prepare.

Treating Diabetes Naturally

Everyone either knows someone with diabetes, or they have it themselves. It is not something that is pleasant. The effects to the body are horrible.

The thoughts of blindness, weight gain, high blood pressure, amputation of body parts and even diabetic coma are some of the things that could happen once you are diagnosed.

Generally it is not something that happens overnight but a gradual weakening of the body. The medical costs to live with the diabetes are staggering with or without insurance.

Nutrition Facts Worth Knowing

Floating market for my nutrition goodies...

Interested in optimizing your health? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Perhaps you are suffering from debilitating ailments. Did you know that having the right nutrition facts can increase your overall health physically, mentally and emotionally? Think about it.

When you’re fatigued, have a headache or any kind of muscle or joint pain you are absolutely miserable. Everything you do somehow seems more difficult. Your concentration is weakened and your mood becomes sour. You become less tolerant and easily annoyed.

The poor health domino effect can be tough for you to intercept. Once you do however, relief is a welcomed change. What if you knew which fruits and vegetables prevented certain ailments? You could then include them in your daily or weekly diet to avoid the domino effect all together.

Relation Between your Headaches and Caffeine

Headaches

What if your morning dose of caffeine is responsible for you headaches!

Did you know that caffeine is one of the most usual drugs in our society? You can find this drug (yes it is a drug) in a lot of the food we eat everyday. You can find it in coffee, chocolate and more. This is probably one of the very few drugs that are legal and unrestricted.

It is used everyday by millions of individuals if not more. You see the funny thing about caffeine and headache is that it’s a bit controversial. Some people experience headaches as a result of withdrawals symptoms from the drug, on the other hand Caffeine can help you get rid of a headache. I hope the following information will help you understand the relation between caffeine and headaches.

Bad Effects of Smoking

girl smoking

The effects of smoking cigarettes seem fairly harmless at first. A lot of people see no reason not to try it for a little while, maybe just for a year, when you're young or at work to fit in.

The problem with smoking is that it slowly creeps its way into, not only your life, but the lives of your family and friends. Its effects are dangerous and extremely painful, not only for those going through them, but those who have to sit and watch. And the worst part is, all the effects of cigarette smoke are avoidable; after all, it's a personal choice to smoke.

If you smoke and haven't already noticed, it takes a huge toll on your physical abilities by cutting into lung capacity. This is awful as you'll begin missing out on sport or recreational exercises and playing with your children or grandchildren.

Acne Foods For Prevention

Acne Foods For Prevention

Most of the people know about some of the things that have a propensity to cause acne such as greasy pizza, burgers or chocolate, but there are basically foods that may forestall acne, too.

Acne foods can help an issue the majority have handled since they were youths. We all hope it will go away once we get past the last of the teenage years, but when we hit 20 it feels like it still plagues plenty of us.

While there are a number of different reasons why it has effects on folk the way it does, there also are a range of ways to prevent acne thru food and / or diet. There are acne foods that you can make a habit of eating to stop or reduce the flare-up of acne.

7 Main Causes of Back Pain

Back pain

Back pain refers to the pain felt in any part of the back like lower, upper or neck. It is a common problem among adults and may have different causes. Sometimes, it is quite difficult to diagnose the real cause of back pain. Strained muscles and ligaments caused by the awkward movement of body can cause back pain. There are several causes for generating and aggravating back pain.

The 7 main causes of back pain are:

1. Arthritis: Arthritis in spine is a common cause of back pain, especially in adults. The pain may be felt anywhere in the back and gets worse while walking and at night. As the condition degenerates the affected area cannot be cured. Exercises like yoga, tai chi and gentle movement can reduce the pain. Different types of arthritis that may cause back pain include:

The Causes of Panic Attacks

Panic Attacks

We all know the feeling of being stressed and anxious. Our heart beats fast whenever a big presentation or a tough exam is approaching. Some get butterflies in their tummy whenever they see their crushes or when they're in love. We are so much concerned about family and school problems or we feel nervous at the idea of asking our boss for an increase in salary.

However, if worries and doubts are preventing and prohibiting you from possessing a life free of stress, you may be suffering from anxiety disorder and might experience panic attacks symptoms.

The good news is that, there are lots of self-help methods that you could work out with to overcome anxiety disorders as well as cut down symptoms of panic attacks and settle your life the way you want it to be.