Herbal Medicines

Don't you love it how your cat(s) alert you to energies--or perhaps ghosts or other invisible beings--visiting your home? Recently Anela pointed out the visit of one of these to our home, and she made sure my partner and I noticed where her eyes were going!

She followed this 'energy' around our home with her gaze, and we watched her and said, "Oh yeh! Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you in Hawaiian) Ms. Anela."

I call Anela my Cat Guard, for she protects this property with her very essence. I've posed her here in this photo like someone would post a photo of Watch Dog! Heh heh!

If you are looking for a really nice online beauty store then check out the Best Bath Store. They have really great products and among my favorites are the all natural products like the organic and natural soap. I just went to their site actually and am going to request their [...]

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Did you know that chewing your food actually helps to relax you. Just by chewing 30 times per mouthful and chewing your food well will help you relax and not only help aid in your digestions. And if you eat while you are calm that also helps you digest better. eating standing [...]

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This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!

Laughing is the best medicine sometimes. It can help brighten up your mood but not only your mood but also help with the people that are around you mood. And the funny videos that bush league has to offer just might be what you are looking for. It is that sort of [...]

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Ketosis Killers

Dear Mark,

What are ketones? How does ketosis play into the Primal Blueprint? Did our bodies evolve to run on ketones? If not, why do they exist?

Ketones, to put it briefly, are compounds created by the body when it burns fat stores for energy. When you consume a diet very low in carbohydrates, the body responds to the significantly lowered levels of blood sugar by flipping the switch to another power source. The body converts fatty acids in the liver to ketones. Ketones, then, become the main energy source as long as blood sugar levels remain low.

Recently, researchers have discovered more about the unique mechanisms behind this energy “switch.” It turns out a specific liver hormone, FGF21, is essential for the oxidation of the liver’s fatty acids. Furthermore, animals who were fed a ketogenic diet over time showed “increased expression of genes in fatty acid oxidation pathways and reduction in lipid synthesis pathways.” In other words, their bodies adapted metabolically and genetically to the diet.

Ketosis was crucial to our evolution. Given the relatively minor role of carbohydrate-rich foods (even the consumption of many tubers is thought to have come later with the advent of cooking practices), our bodies were fairly frequently operating in the arena of ketosis. Add to this the fasts and famines of primal living, and it’s clear that ketones served as an essential energy source.

The Primal Blueprint recommends “generally” about 100-150 grams of carbohydrates a day, but many who follow it or the related paleo principles choose diets that fall in the realm of 50-80 grams a day, a practice (along with IF) that spurs the body to turn on ketosis as needed. These practices encourage “upregulation” of the body’s fat-burning metabolic functioning and “down regulation” of fat storing systems. For those looking to lose fat, this becomes an extremely effective tool. On the other hand, after spending a few days or weeks in a predominantly ketosis mode, it may behoove you to do an occasional higher carb day (maybe 250-300 grams) to simply readjust insulin sensitivity. This is particularly appropriate if you have achieved an ideal body composition (lean body mass and body fat) and don’t need to lose more fat. An essential part of the Primal Blueprint includes both the fat-burning upregulation and the periodic honing of the body’s systems and adaptive responses.

Finally, ketogenic diets, which are generally lumped together by critics, have gotten a lot of bad press. While experts have generally recognized their effectiveness for weight loss, very low carb diets that result in ketosis (like the Atkins) have been criticized on health grounds. The problem with these criticisms? They’re based on diets that allow for 20 grams or less of carbohydrates a day. While I believe we are not meant to run primarily on carbohydrate energy, I do believe we depend on the nutrients offered by low carb vegetables and even some low glycemic fruits. A diet of 20 carbohydrate grams simply can’t allow for the plentiful intake of nutrient-rich vegetables.

When your carb intake is low enough, say 50-80 grams a day, ketosis kicks in when it needs to. Over time, this process becomes efficient as the body “unfolds” in its genetic expression. Yet this carb intake is high enough that you can freely include copious amounts of nutrient- (including potassium) rich vegetables to offer the body sufficient nutrition, fiber, and alkalizing minerals. At 100-150 grams a day, again all from just veggies and fruits, you probably won’t hit ketosis, but you also won’t prompt a rise in insulin or fat storage.

Thanks, as always, for your questions. Look for more on low carb living this week. In the meantime, keep the questions and suggestions coming!

insearchofbalance Flickr Photo (CC)

Further Reading:

The Definitive Guide to Grains

What Happens to Your Body When… You CARB BINGE?

Act “As If” - A 30-Day Primal Health Challenge

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Each post in this series will focus on just one virtue. I’ll mix it up with some definitions, quotes, virtuous people, and why I think the particular virtue is important.

You can look through all the virtues, decide which one you already are and which one you would like to take up.

Do to high volumes of new readers, subscribers, and comments during previous ’series posts’ I have determined that you guys really enjoy this style of writing. Your wish is my command!

It is my belief that as we chisel away at ourselves we will reveal the perfect character. The most virtuous man, or virtuous woman, lives within all of us. Practical personal development provides you with the tools, motivation, and support to chisel away and discover the virtues, whether they’re close to the surface or hidden deep within you.

After awhile this series will contain a very serious list of virtues. It will give all of us, both you and I, an opportunity to look over the virtues list and reflect upon ourselves. What can we do to become a better version of us, a more virtuous human?

Virtue List

1. Will fill this out when I’m back from vacation. Subscribe for updates.

Virtue Quotes

Confucius

“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one”

Marcus Aurelius

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”

Buddha

“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.”

Aristotle

“The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons”

Socrates

“Virtue does not come from wealth, but. . . wealth, and every other good thing which men have. . . comes from virtue.”

Benjamin Franklin

“Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices”

Blaise Pascal

“The power of a man’s virtue should not be measured by his special efforts, but by his ordinary doing”

Lao Tzu

“By accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love he may rule the world forever”

Henry David Thoreau

“Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.”

Your Participation

The fate of this series lies in your hands. Feel free to comment on any of the articles within the series, vote them up on various social sites, e-mail them to friends, or blog about them.

If you want me to write about a specific virtue that I have no covered yet, disagree with me, or want to take on the specific virtue you can always let us know in a comment.

I will be updating this post each time I post a new virtue, so take this opportunity to bookmark the page and subscribe to the blog.

 

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©2008 by Alex Shalman.

 

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Studies show that the number one reason for obesity in children is not junk food, ice creams, pizzas and soda pops. It’s actually the goggle box - TV. Children tend to plop themselves on the sofa and munch away happily when they are in front of the TV sets. In other words, once the set is off, their natural buoyancy will lead the children to do stuff and to move their body.

Recreation and outdoor activities are a must if you feel that your child needs to lose undesirable fat. It is better to begin these activities as early as possible. As a parent, it is your responsibility to encourage your child to be actively involved in outdoor activities which will improve their developmental skills. If you are wondering how to promote creative outdoor play for your child, you may want to check out these manfred mantis playsets. Available in mini and mega versions, these playground systems will keep your child active and happy.

Bronchitis is an inflammation or obstruction in the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs. Acute bronchitis is characterized by coughing, mucus build-up, breathing problems, fever, back , chest pain and sore throat. ...

Alternative Medicine For Menopause - Do You Know These 7 Herbs?
By Lenox Smith

There are more alternative medicines for menopause than pharmaceutical forms of hormone therapy, according to a recent survey. It was expected since HRT have a reputation of presenting more dangers in women. Risks involved in hormone therapy made headlines times over, causing menopause sufferers to be more cautious with prescribed medication.




Pharmaceutical drugs cannot cope with the usual and unusual changes in a woman's body at this stage in life. Statistic shows that most if not all of the 70 percent of women suffering from menopause experience changes in mind and body that vary individually. These make alternative medicine menopause friendly.

Herbs are safer and appear to be reacting well to menopause. There are many samples that are quite useful for the symptoms of menopause. Here are a few:

* Available over the counter, Black Cohosh works well on hot flashes. Its effects are also good for cramping, and seem to affect the uterus positively.

* Another alternative medicine proven effective is Dong Quai. Also known as phytosterols, it's a natural hormone. More women believe in alternative medicine upon using this herb.

* Ginkgo Biloba is another useful herb. Since menopause brings forth fatigue, depression and memory loss, it can boost energy and promote blood circulation.

* Red Clover is especially useful for problems with the ovaries. The pain is much more bearable with its effect. It can be taken as Tea.

* Fresh sage is the best for hot flashes. It can be served as tea, or used in salads, vegetable dishes, soups and stews. Sage also helps to relieve night sweats that occur in women day and night.

* Saw Palmetto is widely accepted assisting fluid retention and also helps cure urinary tract infections.

* Maintaining a healthy sex life is essential during menopause. Sarsaparilla is enjoyed by more women as it increases energy and sex drive. It was once made popular in soft drinks long ago.

This is a tough time for all women. Menopause presents a variety of symptoms that needs a variety of solutions. With alternative medicine, women have more options as remedies for different symptoms.

To find out more about the many types of alternative medicine, go to my website at: http://onalternativemedicines.com/