I’ll be the first to admit that my diet used to be really unhealthy. I was young, my metabolism was good, and I was active. I never struggled with weight and certainly didn’t have any health problems. It wasn’t until recently that at my husband discovered he had high cholesterol at a routine screening. That bit of knowledge changed my family’s whole outlook on food and health.

At first, we were skeptical. I’ve always liked vegetables and ate them regularly, but some of the “healthy” foods that I watched my in-laws eat didn’t look very appealing. But I had recently had my second child and was retaining a few extra post-baby pounds I was determined to lose and I was also willing to make any changes necessary to preserve my husband’s health.

So we took the challenge and switched to a heart-healthy diet. To our surprise, it tasted good! So many of the foods we loved could be modified and incorporated into a heart-healthy diet. We switched to whole-wheat pasta, which I was sure would be a sacrifice of taste, but we can’t tell the difference. Vegetarian spaghetti is delicious – so good, you won’t even miss that red sauce we’ve all come to know and love.

So far, the downside to our new healthy lifestyle is time. We’re working on finding great recipes that are quick and easy to make. Those that are really involved we reserve for weekends, and sometimes will make an extra batch to freeze. We’ve found several that have frozen really well and tasted just as fresh and delicious as the day they were made!

Join me in my journey as my family makes the switch to a heart-healthy diet. I’ll share our experiences, successes, frustrations and of course great recipes.

The Emotional Freedom Technique is a revolutionary new practice, hailed by Dr. Joseph Mercola, that thousands of people are using around the world to effectively overcome obstacles in their lives. Watch the video or read the article below.

If you’re interested in positive, holistic health and nutrition, you’re probably familiar with using positive affirmations to improve your chances of success in your endeavors and overcome obstacles in your life. A revolutionary practice, hailed by the famous Dr. Joseph Mercola, takes positive affirmations one step further using the Emotional Freedom Technique.

The Emotional Freedom Technique is endorsed by the likes of Joe Vitale, Jack Canfield and Dr. Norm Shealy. Thousands of people throughout the world have healed themselves using this remarkable yet undeniably simple technique.

How does the Emotional Freedom Technique work?

To use the Emotional Freedom Technique, you’ll combine positive affirmations with a unique tapping system. Using the index and middle finger of one of your hands, you’ll tap known acupuncture pressure points around your body as you repeat the positive affirmations you’ve created for yourself. It sounds quirky, but thousands of highly successful people swear by this technique to overcome personal and professional challenges.

Affirmations are formed using the special Emotional Freedom Technique format. For example, identify the problem, negative emotion, or illness you’re experiencing, and put it into the following sentence:

“Even though I have this _______________, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

You then state the affirmation aloud, quietly or even silently as you tap the various pressure points, starting from the head and working your way down. The pressure points include the top of your head, your eyebrows, your temples (the side of your eyes), below your eyes, your upper lip below your nose, your chin, your collar bone, under your arms near the middle of your ribcage and the insides of your wrists.

Dr. Joseph Mercola employs a slight modification on the technique, using all the fingers in a slight curve shape to do the tapping instead of the index and middle fingers. Often, the worrisome or persistent thought or problem is resolved after only one round of tapping. If subsequent rounds are necessary, you can use a reminder phrase (or the “fill in the blank” portion of the affirmation) instead of repeating the entire affirmation.

To realize the full impact the Emotional Freedom Technique could have on your success and your life, you should check out the Try It On Everything book or DVD which features interviews with leading experts in EFT, psychologists, and Joe Vitale and Jack Canfield, who use EFT themselves. What’s more, for every copy of the book or DVD sold, one is donated to a halfway house, school or other worthy organization.

Discover the Try It On Everything DVD

In October 2007 a trio set out to film a four day event where they picked ten people to see what was possible in four days of EFT. The results astounded them and are shown in the film.

They achieved their goal in creating a movie that teaches people about the power to heal all aspects of their lives. They encourage others to “try it on everything” so that we can continue to discover the power we have within us. They all continue to use their talents in spreading this powerful message.

Rene lost his wife in a car crash in 2007. The trauma of the car accident and losing his wife has left him depressed and uncertain about his future. Can he learn to move forward and rebuild his life?

Jodi was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which led to insomnia. Her constant pain has led her to give up her favorite pastime, hiking, and she feels blocked in pursuing her dreams of being an author. Can Jodi release the pain and follow her dreams?

Bernadette has been living a sedentary lifestyle, gaining weight because of her cravings for sugar and her inability to find the motivation to exercise.. Can Bernadette use EFT to overcome her dependency on sugar and begin to take care of her body?

Click here to discover more about EFT and the Try It On Everything DVD now.

The internal and external symptoms of PCOS can be extremely distressing for women. Laura Yates presents a video about PCOS and Angela Stringfellow writes about the role of our diet in managing this condition.

Diet is extremely important in managing PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) for a number of reasons. For one, losing up to ten pounds may improve the symptoms of PCOS, such as irregular menstruation. Insulin resistance has been linked to PCOS, and maintaining a healthy weight - and a healthy diet - can help control insulin levels. Finally, women with PCOS are at a higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, both conditions that can often be controlled or even avoided through proper diet, exercise, and healthy weight maintenance.

PCOS affects between 5 and 8 percent of women worldwide. Among them, more than half are considered obese. A natural diet solution for PCOS improves not only the symptoms of the disorder, but a patient’s overall health and well-being, especially in cases where the woman is classified as obese. Losing just a few pounds - approximately 5% of your body weight - can show drastic improvements in skin, menstrual irregularity and insulin levels.

A natural diet solution for PCOS surprisingly doesn’t involve the typical low-fat, high carbohydrate solution we’re used to seeing in the promotion of weight loss. Carbohydrates are actually detrimental to a woman suffering from PCOS due to the high sugar content of carbs, which will rapidly elevate insulin levels. Instead, a woman seeking a natural diet solution for PCOS should focus on choosing healthy foods with a low glycemic index, which is a measure of the effects of a carbohydrate on blood sugar levels.

Foods with a glycemic index of less than 55 are considered to have a low glycemic index. These foods are the ideal foods for a natural diet solution for PCOS. Avoid starchy foods - breads should be whole grain or multi-grain, as white breads have a very high glycemic index.  Yogurt and other dairy products are excellent choices, but avoid ice cream.  All vegetables can be used as a staple in the natural diet solution for PCOS, as all have a very low glycemic index, with the exception of potatoes.

Many fruits have an index less than 55, but they’re often close, so they should be used sparingly. Watermelon has a high index and should be avoided. You should also steer clear of apricots and mangoes.

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We hope this blog post has been informative, please share this with anyone you know who is looking for an all natural diet solution for PCOS.

Most of us have known for a long time that fresh fruits and vegetables play an important role in our health and well-being. But did you know that fresh fruits and vegetables contain so many antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals that a colourful diet rich in fruits and vegetables can actually be considered the key to optimal immune functioning?

Fruits and vegetables encompass a great variety of colours and flavours - surely enough to choose from to satisfy anyone’s taste. Fruits and vegetables can be combined, cooked, steamed, baked, or eaten raw. The key to getting the right combination of nutrients from fruits and vegetables is to eat a variety of colors. All fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which are useful for warding off common colds and illnesses.

Antioxidants - the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients contained by fruits and vegetables - can both protect and repair the body’s cells. So even if your current health is less than ideal, you can begin following a diet packed with fruits and vegetables and begin to repair some of the damage caused by your old lifestyle. The most important antioxidants are beta-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin E.

For high amounts of Vitamin C, try foods like oranges, berries, strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes and peppers of all shades. Vitamin E can be found in carrots, broccoli, spinach, peppers, pumpkin and papaya, among others.

Fruits and Vegetable Benefits by Colour

Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, oranges, carrots, peaches and yellow squash, are high in Vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene and lycopene. Dark blue or purple fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries and eggplant are rich in lutein and fibre. These fruits and vegetables are particularly known for boosting immunity and lowering cholesterol.

Green fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, limes and kiwi, are great sources of calcium, folate, and Beta-carotene. Reds - like tomatoes, red apples, cherries, cranberries and red peppers - are great sources of lycopene and have been linked to reducing the risk of prostate cancer and even reducing the rate of tumour growth in other cancers.

White fruits and vegetables, like cauliflower, bananas, potatoes, mushrooms and onions, are said to reduce the risk of developing cancer and have been specifically attributed to immune health. These fruits and vegetables can help the body activate its own natural fighter cells - the T cells and B cells.

You can clearly see how the rainbow diet can be highly beneficial to your health. You owe it to yourself to give these foods a try. Every category has multiple options; as long as you eat a variety of colours, you can be certain you’re obtaining adequate amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients. Eat at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily for optimal health.

Do you want to boost your immune system for better health and a more fulfilling life. If the answer is yes, download our free report now.

There’s no question that as a person ages, it’s harder than ever to lose belly fat. But there is a solution - it’s not a secret - it’s just a matter of having the right information. With a holistic approach to belly fat reduction, a person is able to understand what causes weight gain: stress, toxins in food, water and the environment, not enough exercise and the body’s acid/alkaline balance. Once the causes are understood, it’s possible not only to lose abdominal fat deposits, but also increase one’s energy, mood, and appearance.

The tendency to gain weight as a person ages, especially around the belly, is well documented. Contributing factors include increased stress, less time and energy for exercise and a poor diet. Having excess belly fat can cause diabetes, heart disease and other health risks. That’s why it’s vital to work towards belly fat reduction and decrease those health risks. Women with a waistline of 35 inches or more, and men with waistlines of 40 inches or more are statistically at higher risk for illness and diseases associated with obesity, and are strongly encouraged to take seriously the need to lose belly fat.

When a person is younger, they can simply take in fewer calories or do a little more exercise, but as a person ages, their body changes - metabolism slows and hormonal changes make it difficult to lose belly fat and stay healthy. The right information - what to eat, and how to speed belly fat reduction - make a tremendous difference to efforts to lose belly fat and the associated feelings of bloat, indigestion, and exhaustion.

When a person thinks about themselves, their bodies, and their workouts in a different light, they can maintain the needed motivation to lose belly fat and tone their abs. Belly fat reduction relies on eating food that target that area, avoiding the foods that create abdominal fat, and learning about which exercises are most effective. Of course, it’s vastly more difficult to lose belly fat than to prevent its accumulation, so finding and sticking with a program for mental and physical fitness will help any person manage their weight and stay within healthy limits.

When you understand the best way to lose abdominal fat and increase overall good health, you will never struggle to lose belly fat again!  Find the secret to belly fat reduction.

With so much buzz in the media about the historic health care reform legislation in the United States, we felt it necessary to address the issue. Whose side are we on? Well, we’re on the fence. U.S. political parties are almost uniformly divided on where they stand on the issue, with many Republicans in strong opposition and most Democrats on board with the changes. We think both sides have brought up legitimate points, so we’ve decided to watch how it plays out before forming an opinion.

Many people are understandably confused about how these sweeping changes will affect them. Will they be paying more taxes? Will they be forced to use a government-run insurance policy? Will they still be able to use their own doctor? The reform bill is still undergoing much fine-tuning and it’s too early to tell exactly how the costs will add up and how each individual might be affected, but we can decode some of the major points of the bill.

Currently, consumers face several problems:

• Many smaller employers don’t offer group healthcare insurance.
• Insurance companies frequently deny coverage to individuals based on pre-existing conditions.
• Buying insurance privately is costly.
• Some individuals elect not to have insurance coverage simply due to the costs.

Healthcare reform addresses each one of these issues. First, employers with 50 or more employees will now be required to offer a group health insurance plan or they will have to pay a penalty. Insurance companies will be banned from denying coverage based on any pre-existing conditions. Individuals won’t be forced to purchase a government insurance plan, but a public plan will be made available alongside the private insurance plans that Americans are accustomed to. This is in an effort to compete with private companies in order to drive skyrocketing costs down. However, consumers will be required to have some type of insurance coverage or they will be assessed a penalty fee.

In order to help some families with costs, subsidies will be provided to help cover the costs of insurance premiums. Individuals making less than $43,000 per year and families of four making less than $88,000 per year are eligible for subsidies (on a sliding scale). Estimates indicate that 97% of U.S. citizens would be covered under insurance after these changes are enacted.

So, if this all sounds great, you might be wondering what theconcerns are.

The first concern - and the focus of many Republican opponents to the plan - is financial. Concerns over new taxes to cover the costs of providing these subsidies and public insurance plans and the impact on small business owners who will now be forced to offer a group insurance option or pay a penalty are at the forefront. Opponents are concerned that the U.S., which is already trillions of dollars in debt, can’t afford to carry the burden of the cost of providing insurance and healthcare to so many additional people. Most are concerned that this financial burden will be passed on to taxpayers - primarily the rich.

Additionally, many citizens are concerned that physicians will choose not to participate in the public health plan, forcing them to find a new doctor. Concerns about declining quality of health care have also been mentioned. Finally, a major sticking point during the voting process was the concern that this government-funded health plan would end up funding abortions. In order to address this concern, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an amendment which excluded the funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in danger. This amendment was enough to garner the additional Democratic votes needed to pass this reform bill into law.

We honestly don’t know how drastically these changes could affect the system that Americans have known throughout the history of the United States. What we do know is that prevention is still the best medicine - as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

We stand firmly by our philosophy that leading a healthy lifestyle is a strong foundation for optimal health and we encourage our readers to take control of their own health. Our goal at Megavista is to provide you with the best information on positive, holistic health and nutrition to enable you to live a vibrant, healthy and stress-free life. Our website is packed with information on natural methods, techniques and nutritional information that will help you take the first steps to leading a healthy lifestyle. Visit us today to begin your journey to optimal health!

We want to know what you think about health care reform, so we’ve created a special discussion area on our forum. Join the health care reform debate today!

http://www.megavista-health.com/forums/general-forums/us-health-care-reform

If you’ve ever experienced ringing ear and conducted research looking for information, you’re probably familiar with the term tinnitus. Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing ear, a condition characterized by a ringing, hissing, whooshing or pulsating sound in one or both ears. Millions of people have experienced ringing ear at some point during their lives.

In many cases, ringing ear is an acute problem caused by exposure to an unusually loud noise, such as an explosion, heavy machinery or a music concert. These cases of ringing ear often subside on their own over the course of a few days, without further treatment. In other situations, ringing ear lasts for weeks or months, sometimes even becoming so severe that it interferes with a person’s ability to sleep at night or concentrate during the day.

Short-term ringing ear caused by exposure to noise might go away on its own, but the damage caused to the hearing nerve is permanent. Hearing loss associated with aging can result in chronic ringing ear and each exposure to damaging noise contributes to a cumulative loss of hearing over time.

Ringing ear can be solved by treating the underlying cause, if one can be identified. Underlying causes include hearing loss, easily fixed with a hearing aid or other assistive device, high blood pressure, stress, a buildup of fluid, mucus or earwax in the ear, an infection or even some medications, such as large doses of aspirin.

Not all cases of tinnitus have an easily diagnosable cause and some cases can’t be linked to an underlying cause at all. These cases of ringing ear are extremely difficult to treat, because there is no known cure for unexplained ringing ear.

Ringing ear can cause depression and anxiety in its chronic form, as sufferers lose sleep, lack the ability to focus and have difficulty concentrating on their jobs. When the daily routine begins to be disrupted, ringing ear has become quite a serious, although not life-threatening problem. At this point,  most individuals seek effective treatments that will provide at least some relief from this constant ringing in the ear. Even if you’re not aware of an underlying cause, it may be worth trying some holistic treatments that claim to be effective in treating tinnitus in order to get some relief from this persistent problem.

If you or a loved one has tinnitus then please read on to discover how to get rid of tinnitus naturally in three easy steps.

Over the weekend we received an email from Dr. Robert O Young who was recently a guest on the Dr. Molley Barrow Show discussing the health benefits of increasing alkalinity of the blood. During the interview, Robert Young explains why reducing acidic foods, water and thoughts can bring you vibrant health and freedom from sickness.

Here is a link to the interview. (Click the play button below the heading - The Dr. Molly Barrow Show - 02/16/10).

Over the past two and a half decades, Robert O Young has been widely recognized as one of the top research scientists in the world.  You can visit his website here.

Wheatgrass is an amazingly nutrient dense food. Dr. Earp-Thomas once said that, “15 pounds of wheatgrass is the equivalent of 350 pounds of carrots, lettuce, celery and so forth.” Wheatgrass contains no less than thirteen vitamins and all 20 essential amino acids. It also contains chlorophyll which has some proven health and anti-cancer properties.

A prominent researcher on wheatgrass, Dr. Thelma Arthur has done research showing that the consumption of wheatgrass juice can help in detoxifying the blood and strengthening the immune system. Chlorophyll plays a key role in detoxifying the liver which is where the blood is purified.

Wheatgrass is mostly chlorophyll - about 70%. Chlorophyll has a very similar molecular structure to hemoglobin, the molecule which carries the oxygen in the human blood stream. Chlorophyll has been shown to help boost hemoglobin production and thus help the body carry more oxygen in the blood. Chlorophyll also has been shown to provide some protection from carcinogens by strengthening the cells. “In a study reported in the Journal Mutation Research comparing the anticancer effect of chlorophyll to beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C and E, chlorophyll was proven to be a more effective antimutagen than any of them.” Chlorophyll also has anti-bacterial properties and can help decrease the growth and development of unhealthy bacteria in the body.

Benjamin Gruskin, M.D., in 1940 was published in The American Journal of Surgery recommending that chlorophyll be used for its antiseptic benefits. Dr. Gruskin`s article suggested numerous clinical uses for chlorophyll including: “to clear up foul-smelling odors, neutralize strep infections, heal wounds, hasten skin grafting, cure chronic sinusitis, overcome chronic inner ear inflammation and infections, reduce varicose veins and heal leg ulcers, eliminate impetigo and other scabby eruptions, heal rectal sores, successfully treat inflammation of the uterine cervix, get rid of parasitic vaginal infections, reduce typhoid fever and cure advanced pyorrhea in many cases.”

A recent study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that supplementing with the natural antioxidants found in wheatgrass “holds great promise in overcoming the ill effects of oxygen toxicity,” and that it decreases oxidative stress. In addition both wheatgrass and chlorophyll ointment have successfully been used to treat skin disorders such as skin ulcers, impetigo, and eczema.

Wheatgrass is considered a “super food” by some and has a large number of beneficial aspects. The health benefits of wheatgrass and chlorophyll appear to be tremendous with scientific study and research continually finding more benefits.

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