Visit almost any website that is selling or promoting Hoodia supplements and you’ll likely see the words prominently displayed, “As featured on” or “Endorsed by,” followed by the CBS 60 Minutes logo and the BBC logo. What you are led to believe is that the Hoodia diet pill being promoted was featured or endorsed by these two media programs. Not only was a specific Hoodia supplement not featured or endorsed by 60 minutes or the BBC, but no Hoodia diet pill was tested or endorsed at all!

Leslie Stahl, a 60 Minutes reporter, featured a story on Hoodia on November 21, 2004. Ms. Stahl traveled to the Kalahari Desert, where the Hoodia Gordonii plant is grown in the wild, and actually ate a small piece of the plant. She said after eating the plant she noticed a marked appetite suppressant quality. She said she wasn’t hungry all day. Ms. Stahl concluded that natural Hoodia probably worked as an appetite suppressant.

This was all that Stahl reported about Hoodia. Stahl, nor 60 minutes, endorsed a specific brand of Hoodia diet pill. In fact, 60 minutes didn’t even feature a specific Hoodia supplement in their show. But, you wouldn’t know this unless you had seen the program yourself or read the show’s transcript. Hoodia sellers are simply taking this report and twisting it around to their advantage in an attempt to sell their specific Hoodia supplements.

The BBC report is another example where Hoodia sellers have taken a story and have spun it to their advantage. The BBC did a documentary on Hoodia in 2003. Tom Mangold, a well-known BBC correspondent, also traveled to the Kalahari Desert to try the Hoodia Gordonii plant himself. Mr. Mangold and his camera man each ate a small piece of the plant. The pair reported that they, “did not even think about food” for the rest of the day. Even more amazing, they reported that they didn’t want breakfast the next morning and their appetite during lunchtime was nearly nonexistent.

Again, you’ll notice the BBC story did not even test a specific Hoodia supplement, let alone endorse one. Just as Leslie Stahl had done in her 60 Minutes story, Tom Mangold of the BBC actually ate the plant itself. Neither reporter tried a specific Hoodia product. And they certainly didn’t endorse a specific brand.

The next time you visit a website promoting or selling a Hoodia supplement that claims their product was featured or endorsed by 60 Minutes and the BBC, immediately click to another website. Any company that is willing to misrepresent a media story so that it works to their advantage so they can sell more of their products obviously isn’t honest. If they aren’t willing to be honest about something as simple as the media coverage of Hoodia on 60 Minutes and the BBC, how honest do you really think they are about the quality and authenticity of the product they are selling?

Have you ever heard the saying that little faults can be magnified? Well that saying is very true when it comes to stress and anxiety. If left untreated, you can be much worse off, then if you were to seek therapy.

Music therapy has been proven to rid a patient of any health or stress related issues they may be experiencing. Music is used to heal many emotional, physical, and mental problems that people have.

Therapy has shown that it can increase the rate at which you function mentally. Not only will this accelerate your healing, but it will cause you to be calm in nature and in being.

The best way to allow your fears to slide away, is through the use of music. Music has a soothing effect, which will help you reach your goals in time. Just relax during your sessions and watch yourself progress steadily.

Listening to positive lyrics during your therapy sessions will help your mental outlook. A positive outlook on life is what you need to get yourself relaxed and back on track. Not only that, but this kind of attitude will help you decrease your anxiety level.

The system that is responsible for our activeness and energetic level is strongly influenced by the music tone. A physical connection is established with sounds and frequencies.

Let your emotions rule your therapy sessions. If you feel relaxed with a particular style of music, continue on with that style of music. If you feel agitated, then it would be best to seek another style of music.

Listening to any kind of music which has a fast tempo, will increase your heart rate. This is why it is suggested that you listen to a soft, mellow, kind of music. Be sure and take note of your nerves during your sessions and report those feelings to your therapist at day’s end.

Instead of going to a therapist you can also listen to the music to relax yourself. You may want to listen to music when you wake up in the morning or the last thing before going to bed after a tiring day. Talking a walk while listening to music can also help you relax.

Ask about musical therapy as a second treatment option. If you have a treatment plan in place now, try and substitute your own music plan behind the scenes.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

The Hoodia Gordoni diet pill is the newest crazed in the Weight Loss industry today. Everyone seems to know about this weight-loss secret, but few really know anything about the miraculous plant. How does it help you to Lose Weight? Does it really work? Why have we not heard of it before?

At least some of it appears to be true, but why is it that it has not been heard of before? First, you must first appreciate the fact that in some cases, everything needs time to establish truth. The Hoodia Gordonii product has taken its own time to impress on the Weight Loss process as well.

Hoodia Gordonii diet pills have been in South Africa on the market for quite a long time. It was only recently however, that it was introduced as a natural appetite suppressant. There are many reports available that have revealed that Hoodia can make you feel full faster and feel full for longer periods of time because of a natural ability to suspend hunger.

One of the Kalahari deserts oldest tribes, The “Bushmen”, has been eating Hoodia stems since the days of their ancestors, and has long been familiar with the thirst and hunger quenching capabilities.

Despite the fact that Hoodia Gordoni is a natural product and has the ability to work on its own to suppress hunger, it is very important that you use it only in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, with a proper diet.

Your doctor should know what you are taking and how to plan to incorporate it into your diet like you would with any other weight-loss product. Though the Hoodia Gordoni supplement is depicted as the latest weight-loss wonder, do not believe all of the hype surrounding the product. You must thourhgouhly investigate and make sure the product that you buy is the real thing.

Hoodia Gordonii is good for those who have trouble staying on a diet, or that the sweet tooth hits often and hard. The Hoodia can help suppress the appetite, causing you to eat less of these items, and in the end help out with your weight-loss endeavor. Most doctors recommend losing no more than 4 pounds a month under normal circumstances.

This is a goal that you should be easily able to obtain. Consult your doctor to devise a healthy plan that is right for you, whatever supplement you choose.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

According to a 2007 study by the University of Cardiff in the UK, drinking a pint of milk a day may protect men against diabetes and heart disease. But upon closer examination of the research, the study has turned out to be flawed and without merit.

Jon Barron of The Baseline of Health Foundation looked at this study in detail and he makes the following five comments:

1. The 20-year study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analyzed how insulin resistance was affected by dairy milk consumption. According to the study, which tracked 2,375 men between the ages of 45 and 59 over a 20 year period, eating dairy products reduces the risk of insulin resistance. The more they consumed, the lower the risk.
2. In fact, although the study tracked a decreased risk of insulin resistance with increased dairy consumption, it found little actual correlation between dairy consumption and the incidence of diabetes itself. There were only 7 more cases of diabetes among the lowest consumers of dairy versus the highest. The incidence of heart disease was not tracked.
3. An important omission in the research was the exclusion of people who had diabetes at the start of the study. As a consequence, we don’t know if their condition improved or got worse as a result of consuming milk. Such data would have helped determine the effect milk consumption on insulin resistance in the human body.
4. Another failing in the study is that it only references the amount of milk and dairy products people were consuming, nothing else. Clearly, the more milk you drink the less you drink of something else, and vice-versa. If instead of drinking more milk, you drink more soda pop, more fruit juice, or more sweetened coffee, this can have a major effect on insulin and be a major factor in the risk of diabetes.The shortcomings of the study mean that the so-called health benefits attributed to milk may have nothing to do with milk at all. They may instead be a reflection of lowered consumption of more harmful highly-sugared beverages or other food. It seems that the men drinking milk were likely to be eating a better overall diet, but unfortunately we don’t know this. Without such information, the study is meaningless and without merit.

A look at the research into diabetes shows many studies (too numerous to mention here) linking milk consumption with a higher incidence of diabetes. There are virtually no studies suggesting that milk is in any way beneficial in the prevention of diabetes.

In the book ‘Nurturing Traditions’ (1999), the author Sally Fallon makes the following comment:

‘There is some evidence that pasteurization alters milk lactase (a form of sugar), making it more readily absorbable. This and the fact that pasteurized milk puts an unnecessary strain on the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes, may explain why milk consumption has been linked to diabetes’.

This is confirmed by other research. It is known that lactose undergoes condensation and molecular changes as a result of heat treatment. Lactose in milk feeds glucose into the bloodstream, and this in turn can over time create insulin resistance.

With organic milk the risk of diabetes is significantly greater. Most organic milk in the world (over 80 percent) is supplied as UHT milk. In the United States just about all organic milk sold commercially is UHT. The pasteurization temperature of UHT is about double that of regular pasteurized milk. So UHT milk (whether or not organic) is more likely to flood the bloodstream with milk sugar, increasing the risk of diabetes.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Several recent studies have continued to support the link between Vitamin D and positive health issues ranging from lung health and new asthma treatments to the prevention of breast and colon cancer. For example, the research shows that daily intake of 1,000 units of Vitamin D cuts the odds of getting colon cancer by about half, and the chances of breast and ovarian cancer by about one third.

It is well known that sensible, regular exposure to ultraviolet sunlight helps the body produce Vitamin D. You cannot “overdose” on Vitamin D that is produced through UV exposure (but of course you might get badly sunburn so never over-expose your body to sunlight!). What is less well known is that vitamin D supplements can be very harmful in certain circumstances.

Among the many important functions of vitamin D is absorption of calcium. Vitamin D greatly increases absorption of calcium into the blood stream (from the food you eat), and hence into the body generally.

The danger here is that if vitamin D supplements are taken on the same day that dairy milk is consumed, the bloodstream becomes overwhelmed with calcium. This can cause harmful calcification in many parts of the body. Harmful calcification is at the root of a whole variety of diseases such as stroke, cancer and heart disease.

Milk is full of casein protein. This quickly makes the bloodstream go too acidic when milk is consumed. The body responds by pulling calcium from the bones into the bloodstream (calcium is very alkaline and this helps to lower the acidity in the blood).

As the milk is gradually digested, calcium from the milk enters the bloodstream. As this happens, calcium levels in the blood become too high. In a kind of “knee-jerk” reaction hormones in the body get rid of the excess calcium in the bloodstream by ’storing it’ it in different parts of the body, leading to harmful calcification and illness.

Problems are made worse if vitamin D supplements are taken on days that dairy milk is consumed. This will increase further the amount of excess calcium that accumulates in the bloodstream. Doctors call this ‘hypercalcemia’, a known medical condition that can result in a variety of health problems. It is important, therefore, to avoid consuming dairy milk and vitamin D on the same day.

The solution is simple: never take vitamin D supplements on days that dairy milk is consumed. Better still, switch to non-dairy milk which is far more nutritious and delicious than cow’s milk. If non-dairy milk is not available from your local store, you can easily make your own milk at home from ingredients that can be stored almost indefinitely.

Dioxins are caused by incineration, traffic pollution, industrial waste emissions, fires, and many other chemical and industrial processes. Dioxins are known to be the most potent carcinogen ever tested.

Studies show that dioxins cause many serious diseases in humans, such as a range of cancers, kidney disease, birth defects, illness and premature death.

Unfortunately, dioxins are just about everywhere in nature because they get carried by weather patterns, rain, ocean currents, and wind to all parts of the globe. Dioxins settle on pastures, and on plants and grains that form part of the food chain for animals and humans.

Although there is little we can do to escape dioxins altogether, we can minimize the amount that goes into our body by avoiding certain foods. Dioxins are found in equal measure in both organic and non-organic food. Dioxins do not come from pesticides or fertilizers - they come from the environment at large and even from the water supply.

Normally, our bodies cope with a low level of dioxins. Some dioxins get excreted instead of being absorbed into the body to cause illness. We can, to some extent reduce the amount of dioxins we get by avoiding foods high in dioxins.

The question is: which food is highest in dioxins? Weight for weight, dairy milk has by far the highest amount of dioxins than any other food or drink. All mammals produce milk for feeding to their babies (including humans). The dioxins in the mother’s body get concentrated in her breast milk. This occurs, because all nutrients (including dioxins) get concentrated in breast milk as a way of providing good rich nourishment to the new born.

This means babies get concentrated dioxins from their mother’s milk. Fortunately, a baby stops breastfeeding after a few months or a year so the level of dioxins received by the baby goes down. Also, human milk is known to have a lower concentration of dioxins compared to dairy milk.

For a milk consumer it’s a different story. The daily consumption of dairy milk will result in a dangerous build up of dioxins in the body, causing below-par health, serious disease, and premature death.

There is plenty of research (too much to list here) showing that dairy milk has the highest concentration of dioxins compared to just about any other food product.

‘Dioxins penetrate the environment via air, water and soil and are then incorporated in food chains. The major source of human exposure to dioxins (90%) is consumption of .dairy products.’ (Professor Rocz Panstw, Zakl Hig, 1999, 50:3).

‘The primary source of dioxins is food, especially .dairy products.’ (Chemosphere, 1998 Oct, 37:9).

‘The lipophilic nature of dioxins.may result in relatively high concentrations of dioxin contamination in dairy products.’ (Journal of Animal Science, 1998 Jan, 76:1).

‘Cows’ milk is ideal for assessing levels because these compounds adhere to fat and are transferred to and eliminated in the milk of the lactating animal.’ (Linda Fitzpatrick, Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment, 2005).

All types of dairy milk contain dioxins in varying amounts, including organic milk. But over eighty percent of organic milk sold in the world is UHT milk (Long Life milk). In the Americas and most of Europe just about all organic milk is UHT milk.

With UHT milk you get far more dioxins than regular pasteurized milk because more dioxins gets digested instead of being excreted. This happens because the micronized fat globules in UHT milk are much smaller than in non-UHT milk. As a consequence, more dioxins from the milk get into the bloodstream. See below to find out more.

Coconut milk is made from a combination of the coconut juice (water) and the white coconut flesh. Coconut milk is truly delicious and is full of super-healthy nutrition. Furthermore, coconut milk is non-fattening compared to dairy milk.

Past research into coconut oil was usually based on hydrogenated coconut oil, rather than on the pure coconut oil squeezed from the white flesh. This gave the mistaken impression that coconut oil is saturated and is therefore bad for your health - but in fact this is not so. Also, in the past it was not realized that some saturated fats cause surplus body fat while others are used up as energy or broken down to unsaturated fats, depending on the atomic structure of the fat.

All the modern research shows coconuts to be a great source of healthy nutrition. Although about a third of the white coconut flesh is technically classed as saturated fat, most of this fat is made up of MCFA’s (fatty chains that are burnt up as energy rather than ending up as body fat). Because of this, coconuts are increasingly used in weight-loss regimes.

The MCFA’s in coconuts are rich in lauric acid, the most important essential fatty acid in maintaining and building the body’s immune system. Apart from coconut oil, the only other source of lauric acid found in such high concentrations is human breast milk.

For the weight conscious, coconut milk provides a good source of nutrition in any Weight Loss regime. This is because the saturated fat molecules are made up of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids that are quickly assimilated by the body - they are not stored as surplus fat in the body like the long chain fatty acids in dairy milk.

‘One of the remarkable things about coconut oil is that it can help you Lose Weight.’ Dr. Mary G. Enig, (Ph.D. in nutritional sciences), USA.

‘In tests, animals which ate just a little pure unsaturated oil were fat, and animals which ate a lot of coconut oil were lean. The anti-obesity effect of coconut oil is clear.’ Dr. Raymond Peat (scientist and biochemist), USA.

So although high in saturated fat, coconut milk is a good source of nutrition in any Weight Loss regime because the fat mostly gets burnt as energy instead of being stored as fat. It is highly nutritious, good for your bones, and it helps build up a strong immune system to fight off disease and illness.

All the recent research is showing that coconuts are rich in many vitamins, minerals, and health promoting oils.

Anybody can make coconut milk at home quickly and easily once you know how. No special equipment is required. When you experience the cool, luxurious, absolutely delicious flavor of coconut milk you will always want it again and again.

What in the world can sufferers of unrelenting panic attacks, generalized anxiety attacks, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder do to restore sanity to their lives! If you are one of the 40 million or so Americans who fit any one of those categories, stay with us to find some answers. Even in this very first paragraph we are offering you hope, information, and direction.

Let me warn you, these tongue-twisting names may floor you, but just remember, it’s what they do for you, not their difficulty in pronouncing that counts. Our purpose is not to impress you with our medical knowledge, but to help you make important decisions about your health aided by information from the ADAA. We begin with these cautionary reminders: anxiety medications do not cure, they reduce symptoms basically so that other therapies may be administered; they should be used only with your doctor’s permission and care; and it is not for you to abruptly decide to stop any of the medications for anxiety, you do that at the direction of your doctor.

We’ll begin our descriptions of the medications for anxiety by reminding you of beta blockers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs. Then we’ll zoom in on the newest line of antidepressants which you already know: these three SSRIs are Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. They are prescribed to treat generalized anxiety and social anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. How do they do it? They act by altering the serotonin level in the brain, which lowers the level of anxiety.

Tricyclics (TCA) are also antidepressants and these medications for anxiety are Sinequan (Doxeprin), Anafranil, and Vivactil, which, like the SSRIs, alter serotonin but also norepinepherine. Social anxiety is missing from the list of disorders treated by TCAs. Of all these classifications, SSRIs are the only ones federally approved; but generic equivalents are available for each of them.

Finally, the MAOI which are the first or the oldest of the antidepressants are Marplan, Nardil and Parnate, and are classified as inhibitors, because they work by blocking or inhibiting the influence of an important brain enzyme. The MAOI are generally prescribed by doctors in the treatment of panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Medications may be part of the therapy process either at the beginning or introduced later if other therapy is not doing the job. And it may be a good option for you, but it’s important to understand that medications are effective only if taken according to your doctor’s instructions. Please don’t neglect to make a list of questions for your doctor, including both long term and short term side effects.

As with all of us under medication of any sort, a common fear is one of being over-medicated to the extent of becoming addicted. Although this fear could certainly be realized due to careless oversight of what is happening with your anxiety medications, it doesn’t have to be. Both you and your doctor are responsible for seeing that side effects of the medications used are properly monitored and that the correct medications have been prescribed.

Hopefully this insight into medications for anxiety has been helpful and perhaps has given you a brighter perspective by knowing that anxiety disorders are definitely treatable by all the newest anxiety interventions now available to all who need them. May you be renewed in your quest for good health, physically and spiritually, and may you find it.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Natural appetite suppressants can help you overcome one of the biggest challenges when trying to Lose Weight: controlling your appetite. If you can control your appetite, you can prevent overeating and you can Lose Weight easier.

When it comes to natural appetite suppressants, you have two primary options to choose from. You can take supplements or eat whole foods. Supplements can be more convenient but they can also be very expensive. Whole foods are excellent because they’re inexpensive and provide additional nutritional benefits you can’t get from a supplement. You need to decide which works best for you. Following is a list of some of the most effective natural appetite suppressants you’ll find today.

Supplements as Natural Appetite Suppressants

Hoodia Gordonii

Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like plant that is found in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. It has been used by the Bushmen of South Africa for centuries as a powerful appetite suppressant. They eat a small piece of the Hoodia plant before long hunting trips and their appetites are suppressed for hours.

While you will not be able to find Hoodia Gordonii in plant form and be able to eat it like the Bushmen, you can purchase Hoodia diet pills. Just beware that many Hoodia supplements only contain a small amount of Hoodia Gordonii. Don’t be fooled by imitations. These natural appetite suppressants will be cheaper than the ones that are packed full of authentic Hoodia Gordonii. The authentic supplements that truly work will cost about $50 for a one month supply.

Whey Protein

Whey protein is a great natural appetite suppressant and it has been used by people for years. The powder is great for building muscle, which is important because muscle burns fat. Whey protein powder is convenient and cheap. It comes in different flavors that can be used in shakes and smoothies. It can also be added to a wide range of food recipes.

Whole Foods as Natural Appetite Suppressants

Water

Water is by far the cheapest natural appetite suppressant available to you. Keeping your body full of water goes far in keeping your appetite controlled. Many times people confuse hunger with thirst, so drinking a lot of water when you first feel hungry can go far in keeping your appetite under control. Drinking a glass of water before meals can also help you from consuming too much food because your stomach feels full.

Green Leafy Vegetables

Spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and bok choy are some of the top natural appetite suppressants. These leafy vegetables are very, very low in calories and they are a wonderful source of fiber. Another added bonus to eating these veggies is they are “negative calorie” vegetables. This means that it takes more calories to burn these vegetables after you eat them than they actually contain! They are virtually free foods!

Pickles

I know what you’re thinking, pickles? Yes, pickles - but not the popular commercial brands you’re used to. They often contain artificial colors and sugar. You want to look for the natural organic pickles found in health food stores or in the health food section of your favorite grocer. Natural pickles, which are essentially small cucumbers, only have a few calories each. An entire jar will have less than 100 calories! You can snack on these powerful appetite suppressants all day long without any guilt.

Apples

Apples are a great natural appetite suppressant. This low calorie fruit is a good source of fiber and they work as the perfect snack. Apples generally contain about 100 calories each which makes them the perfect snack anytime. They are easy to toss into a backpack, purse or pocket. Indulging on a couple of apples a day will help control your hunger and keep your Weight Loss on track.

Now that you have your list of the best natural appetite suppressants available, you will be able to control your appetite, prevent overeating and jump-start your Weight Loss journey. The added bonus is you will be able to eat some foods to your heart’s content and losing weight won’t be such a challenge!

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative hoodia

The first thing that needs a change is unreachable goals, they need to be replaced with real ones. Weight Loss becomes extremely difficult when you feel like you are depriving yourself. This becomes a struggling experience instead of being an exciting and positive experience. This mental aspect becomes more important because, healthy Weight Loss is more an integral approach of body and mind than being merely physical.

Weight Loss is recommended for individuals who weigh more than the recommended guidelines. Weight Loss is yet another example of ’slow and steady’ winning the race. Rather than trying to drop a size by tomorrow, set a goal of 1 to 2 pounds (no more than 1 kg) per week. Weight Loss is often treated as a “quick fix” or short-term goal. Yet Weight Loss is a health and fitness issue, which is a lifestyle issue, one that is quite manageable if handled right.

The difficult part is it adds to person’s stress level and with sleep deprivation it becomes even harder. One should be really motivated, disciplined, patient with a proper Weight Loss plan in and. One must follow set daily or weekly goals while being honest to oneself.

Choose Weight Loss diet cautiously

Weight Loss dieting is a multibillion dollar industry in the United States, but it doesn’t work for most people. The story remains the same — lose 20 pounds, gain back 30. Diets that make the promise of rapid Weight Loss do not provide the skills to maintain your Weight Loss. Lifestyle changes provide the opportunity to Lose Weight in a healthy manner and to keep ii off forever. Dieting has hazards that are rarely pointed out. Yo-yo dieting is particularly dangerous and ineffective, because it decreases the metabolism , leading to an immediate weight gain once the caloric restrictions are eased.

It is true; dieting alone can make you Lose Weight. A 250 calorie cut down from daily diet will make you lose half a pound a week; 3500 calories equaling 1 pound of fat. Weight Loss diets promising fast Weight Loss don’t give you the skills to maintain slimness. Sometimes these quick fix plans may be seriously detrimental to your health. So it is not all about dieting which presents a frustration and self denial with little long term reward.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia