Medicinal Mushrooms - A Simple Way to Boost Health [Infographic]

Medicinal Mushrooms - The Simple Way to Boost
Your Health
Infographic from the Underground Health Reporter

Infographic

This infographic from Underground Health Reporter illustrates and summarizes some of the key health benefits of eight "medicinal mushrooms" -- mushrooms that are exceptionally nutrient-dense and thought to promote health and longevity as well as prevent and assist in the healing of numerous chronic diseases and medical conditions, including:

📌  Certain cancers
📌  Certain auto-immune diseases
📌  Alzheimer's and Dementia
📌  Asthma
📌  Bacterial, Parasitic and Viral Infections
📌  Candidiasis
📌  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS-ME)
📌  Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke
📌  Depression
📌  Diabetes
📌  Hypertension
📌  Immune System 
📌  Influenza
📌  Insomnia and Anxiety
📌  Psoriasis
📌  Weight loss and healthy weight management


Traditional Medicinal Use

Many cultures around the globe have used a variety of edible mushrooms to generally promote good health, well-being and longevity.  Certain mushroom species have a long history of medicinal use in natural healing remedies.  A good example is the use of mushrooms in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other Asian cultures.


Scientific Studies

A large number of scientific studies have been done on the pharmacologically active compounds in mushrooms.   Many of these studies have shown that certain substances in mushrooms may have antimicrobial, antiviral, antiallergic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and immuno-modulating properties.


Meet the Mushrooms

The eight medicinal mushrooms -- including their key health benefits -- summarized in this Infographic are:

🍄 Reishi
🍄 Lion's Mane
🍄 Turkey Tail
🍄 Shiitake
🍄 Enoki
🍄 Yun Zhi
🍄 Maitake
🍄 Cordyceps

For more general information, as well as detailed information on each of these mushrooms, please visit Medicinal Mushrooms:  The New Frontier in Preventing and Reversing Disease - The Underground Health Reporter (pdf)


To view a large version of the Infographic, please visit:  Why Medicinal Mushrooms Are the Simplest Way to Boost Your Health


Related

The Mushroom Advantage:  Health Benefits and Other Uses

The Mushroom Advantage - Health Benefits and Other Uses

The Mushroom Advantage - Fungi Nutrition, Health Benefits
and Other Uses
Infographic from Mercola.com

The Often Overlooked Mushrooms

Edible mushrooms have a long history of culinary and medicinal use in many cultures throughout the world.  Yet, in the United States, they have been and often continue to be overlooked as an excellent source of nutrition and as potential agents of health and natural healing.

Health Benefits

Various mushrooms have been extensively studied for their nutritive and health promoting benefits.  The scientific studies continue but, so far, regular consumption of certain mushrooms has been associated with:

⇾  Boosting the immune system
⇾  Modulating the human gut microbiome
⇾ Reducing the risk for certain cancers
⇾  Lowering cholesterol levels
⇾  Reducing high blood pressure
⇾  Reducing the risk of osteoporosis and joint pain
⇾  Helping to regulate blood sugar levels
⇾ Eradicating certain viruses, pathogenic bacteria and yeasts
⇾ Aiding in weight loss

Medicinal Mushrooms

This infographic from Mercola.com illustrates four mushrooms that are often referred to as medicinal mushrooms due to to their high concentrations of antioxidants, minerals and phytochemicals:

🍄 Shiitake
🍄 Reishi
🍄 Turkey Tail
🍄 Himematsutake

Safety

Some mushrooms are poisonous and foraging for wild mushrooms should be left to the experts.  Before consuming mushrooms in any form, educate yourself regarding the species, source, storage and other safety concerns.

Infographic

For a larger version and to read the accompanying article, please go to Mushroom Nutrition: Discover Outstanding Fungal Nutritional Benefits


Related

Medicinal Mushrooms - A Simple Way to Boost Health

Diets - Good, Fad and Ugly [Infographic]

Diets and Dieting:  The Good, Fad and Ugly
Infographic from Kaiser Permanente Total Health Radio

This infographic from Kaiser Permanente briefly describes certain key points about diets and dieting and includes the pros and cons of:

📌  Juicing
📌  Paleo (Primal or Caveman Diet)
📌  Gluten Free Diet

Sensible and doable tip and recommendations for healthy dieting and weight loss include:

🔹 Eating breakfast
🔹 Eating every 4-5 hours
🔹 Including 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
🔹 Filing half of the place with fruits and vegetables and striving for balance in regard to protein and whole grains
🔹 Watching portion size
Avoiding extreme diets that are too restrictive and unsustainable
🔹 Realizing that no "magic bullets" exist for melting away fat
🔹 Adhering to a safe weight loss pace of 1-2 pounds a week, which is considered safe for most people
🔹 Walking 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week

To see a full size version of this infographic and for more information Kaiser Permanente's Total Health Radio.

Related:

• Sitting Disease by the Numbers

17 Reasons to Avoid Stress [Infographic]

Stress and Health | 17 Reasons to Avoid Stress
Infographic from The Adrenal Fatigue Solution

Stress and Health

Chronic stress has been linked to many chronic diseases and medical conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, eating disorders, systemic and local infections, colds and viruses.  It is also implicated in accidents, mental and emotional disorders and disturbances such as depression and anxiety.


Infographic

This infographic from The Adrenal Fatigue Solution, lists 17 health problems that researchers have linked to stress and provides the citations to the relevant studies:

📌 Headaches
📌 Hair Loss
📌 Memory
📌 Acne / Psoriasis
📌 Insomnia
📌 Heart Attacks
📌 (Worsens) Asthma
📌 Sugar and Fat Cravings
📌 Digestion
📌 Belly Fat
📌 Back Pain
📌 Sex Drive
📌 Blood Pressure
📌 Adrenal Fatigue
📌 Blood Glucose (Sugar)
📌 (Premature) Aging
📌 Immune System

For more information and to see the full sized version of this infographic, please visit 17 Reasons to Avoid Stress: An Infographic.


Managing Stress

In our fast-paced society with so many demands on our time, it is not possible to completely avoid stress.

However, there are a number of things we can do to manage and minimize stress:

🔹 Exercise / Physical Activity
🔹 Meditation
🔹 Mindfulness - 15 Techniques for Stress Reduction
🔹Yoga - Poses for Stress Relief
🔹 Deep Breathing Exercise
🔹 Laughter
🔹 Massage
🔹 Aromatherapy

Health Benefits of 10 Nuts [Infographic]

Health Benefits of 10 Nuts - Infographic from Herbs Info

Health Protective Benefits of Nuts

Nuts are an amazing, nutrient-dense food.  They are rich in plant proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and other powerful antioxidants and micronutrients.  Nuts also contain plant sterols that have been shown to naturally lower cholesterol.

Numerous studies have shown that regular consumption of nuts is cancer protective, increases lifespan and decreases the risk for many chronic diseases and conditions including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance.


Nuts Help with Weight Loss

Because nuts are high in calories, they are often excluded from many weight loss diets and programs.

The reality is that moderate amounts of nuts eaten as part of a healthy diet actually aid in weight loss and normal weight maintenance.


Infographic

This infographic from Herbs Info briefly explains some of the health benefits reported by scientific studies of ten commonly consumed nuts:

❤  Pistachios
❤  Macadamia Nuts
❤  Brazil Nuts
❤  Chestnuts
❤  Hazelnuts
❤  Almonds
❤  Walnuts
❤  Coconut
❤  Pecans
❤  Cashew Nuts

For more information, including the full-size version of the infographic and accompanying article giving a more in-depth look at each of these nuts and the scientific research, please visit Amazing Health Benefits of Nuts - Herbs Info.

Related

Nuts - Health and Weight Loss Benefits
Health and Weight Loss Benefits of Almonds
Walnuts - 9 Incredible Health Benefits

Health and Weight Loss Benefits of Almonds [Infographic]

Health Benefits of Almonds
Infographic from Nuts for Life

Eat More Almonds

The almond is a delicious, versatile tree nut.  The ways to eat almonds are endless - in trail mixes, salads, soups, leafy green and grain salads, vegetable and rice dishes and with fresh fruit.

Almonds are also easily processed into other healthful foods such as almond milk, almond butter, almond cheese and creamy almond dressing, just to name a few.


Almonds are Packed with Nutrients

Almonds are nutrient dense.  They are an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber and many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other micronutrients that are essential to good health.

Almonds are particularly rich in vitamin E, the B vitamins -- B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, calcium, iron, potassium and zinc.

Like other tree nuts, raw almonds also contain powerful antioxidant phytochemicals and phytosterols.


Health Benefits

Nuts, including almonds, have been extensively studied for their effects on human health.  So far, the research indicates that regular, moderate consumption of raw nuts may help reduce the risk for certain cancers and various chronic diseases.  Additionally, studies have found that moderate consumption of almonds and other nuts as part of a healthy whole-food diet does not lead to weight gain.


Infographic

This infographic from Nuts for Life illustrates some key facts about almonds such their nutritional profile and key health benefits:

• 20 Almonds make up a healthy handful (30g)
• A daily handful:

1. Manages Weight
2. Lowers Cholesterol
3. Reduces Cell Damage
4. Lowers the Risk of Heart Disease
5. Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
6. Improves Digestive Health

• A handful of nuts + following a Mediterranean Diet can reduce Metabolic Syndrome by 26%

For more information about almonds and other nuts, including the latest scientific research, recipes, downloadable fact sheets and other resources, please visit Nuts for Life.


Related

Nuts - Health and Weight Loss Benefits
The Health Benefits of Nuts
Walnuts - 9 Incredible Health Benefits

75 Healthiest Foods on the Planet [Infographic]

75 Healthiest Foods on the Planet
Infographic from Nutrition Realm

Infographic

This infographic from Nutrition Realm lists 75 of the healthiest foods on the planet.  To read the accompanying article and for more information on nutrition, food, diets, health and fitness, please visit
The Awesome Benefits of Eating Healthy Foods Updated - Nutrition Realm.

Notably, the dairy and meat categories have been omitted from the list.

Nuts and seeds are also missing from the list.

Some of the other foods listed are also controversial, depending on which health expert you listen to and believe and/or which diet dogma you ascribe to:

🔹 Starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, peas, squash, yams and carrots
🔹 Soybeans, tofu, miso, soy milk and other soy products
🔹 Fruits, especially sweet fruits
🔹 Fruit smoothies, orange juice and other fruit juices


Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods

There is a lot of disagreement and confusion about which foods are healthy and which foods are not healthy.

Here is the thing.  Certain foods, like junk, processed and prepared foods are unhealthy.  That's something that anyone with a little knowledge of human health and nutrition can agree on.

As to the different groups of unprocessed, whole foods, or certain foods within each food group - well that just depends.  Many factors come into play.  For example, your genetics, your healthy history and your current health status, how the food was grown or raised, and how the food is prepared.


Scientific Research

There is strong scientific evidence that certain foods may promote health and reduce the risk for premature aging, some cancers and various medical conditions and chronic diseases.  There is also a decent amount of available research relating to foods that may promote overweight, obesity and increase the risk for certain diseases.  Unfortunately, many health "gurus" cherry pick the research and tell you only about the studies that support their agenda.


What You Can Do

How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD

First, its important to get informed.  Keep an open mind while you are learning.  Think about how what you are learning relates to your own particular health situation and circumstances.  Work with a qualified health and wellness professional.

One of the better books recently written on the subject of how various foods affect our health is How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger MD.  Dr. Greger is an internationally-renowned physician, nutrition expert and the founder of NutritionFacts.org.

In How Not to Die, Dr. Greger explains the latest scientific evidence relating to diet and causes of disease-related death in simple, easy-to-understand language.

The book includes 134 pages of citations and references to scientific studies.


Related:

Diets - Good, Fad and Ugly
Heart Healthy Foods
15 Foods to Include in an Everyday Diet

6 Things You Can Add to Water for Better Digestion [Infographic]

6 Things You Can Add to Water for Better Digestion
Infographic from Vitaful 

Water and Health

We all know that need plenty of clean, pure water to help us stay adequately hydrated and to dilute and remove metabolic wastes and toxins from our bodies.

Water plays a critical role in just about every aspect of our physiology, including in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and digestive system.

Read:  Why You Need Water in Your Life


Digestive System

We are now learning what traditional medicine like Ayurveda already knew thousands of years ago:  that a well functioning digestive system is the key to health.

Today, if you go to a holistic health practitioner with a set of symptoms that seem unrelated to the digestion, the practitioner will likely ask you questions about your digestive function.

Many practitioners trained in holistic and functional medicine look to treat any digestive imbalance or disturbance as a first step.


Improving Your Digestion

There are many things you can do to improve your digestive system. and one of the easiest and simplest ways is to use water as a "healing" agent.  Pure, clean water is known for its many health benefits and curative effects.

Certain herbs, spices and foods are also known for their beneficial effects on the digestive system.

Combining water with these herbs, spices and foods can act as a natural remedy and promote good gut health.


Infographic

This infographic from Vitaful lists six things that can be added to water to aid and improve digestion, flush out toxins, boost metabolism, help to create digestive enzymes, promote healthy bowel movements, balance pH levels, relieve cramps, boating, gas, indigestion and help to alleviate symptoms of certain GI infections or disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):

🌿  Lemon or Lime Juice
🌿  Apple Cider Vinegar
🌿  Fresh Mint Leaves
🌿  Cucumber
🌿  Cinnamon
🌿  Ginger Root

For more information please visit Vitaful on Facebook or its new website.


Related

Amazing Water Remedies
Green Tea Detox Water
Is Your Diet Toxic?
The Importance of Whole Body Detoxification and Cleansing
How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body
Whole Body Cleansing and Detoxification
Detoxification and Dieting

Coffee : Recent Updated and Proven Health Benefits [Infographic]

Coffee:  Recent Updated and Proven Health Benefits
of Coffee
Infographic from EnjoyCoffees.com

Infographic Highlights

☕️ Coffee is rich in vitamin B2, B3, B5, manganese and potassium (as well as other vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals)

☕️ Coffee can help increase fat burning by up to 10% in obese individuals and up to 29% in lean individuals [1]

☕️ The caffeine in coffee can boost the metabolic rate by 3-11% [2]

☕️ Long-term coffee drinkers may have a significant reduced risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes, with each daily cup lowering the risk by about 7% [3]

☕️ Coffee consumption may lower risks for Alzheimer's [4] and Parkinson's [5] as well as for certain types of cancers, including colorectal and liver cancer [6]

☕️ Coffee drinkers may have a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke [7]

☕️ Women who drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day may have a lower risk of becoming depressed [8]

Infographic Source

This infographic is from EnjoyCoffees.com.  For more information please visit [Infographic] 12 Proven Health Benefits of Coffee.  

Related

The Pros and Cons of Coffee Consumption
15 Fat Burning Foods
How Can You Burn Your Stored Fat?

Studies/References

[1]  Effects of caffeine on energy metabolism, heart rate, and methylxanthine metabolism in lean and obese women

[2]  Normal caffeine consumption: influence on thermogenesis and daily energy expenditure in lean and postobese human volunteers.

[3]  Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

[4] Caffeine as a protective factor in dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

[5]  Dose-response meta-analysis on coffee, tea and caffeine consumption with risk of Parkinson's disease.

[6]  Influence of coffee drinking on subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study in Japan.

[7]  Coffee consumption and risk of coronary heart diseases: a meta-analysis of 21 prospective cohort studies.

[8]  Coffee, Caffeine, and Risk of Depression Among Women

The Pros and Cons of Coffee Consumption [Infographic]

These days, just about every popular health and wellness guru will tell you that you must stop drinking coffee.  Like gluten, coffee is now widely considered a bad boy in holistic health circles.

The Pros

Numerous scientific studies suggest that the antioxdants, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in coffee may provide a wide range of health benefits.  A growing body of scientific literature shows that moderate consumption of coffee may be neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and chemopreventive.

The research also suggests that coffee consumption may reduce the risk for developing certain medical conditions and chronic diseases including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, obesity, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, strokes, and certain cancers.

A partial list of studies relating to coffee consumption and obesity, weight loss, and metabolic syndrome is at the end of this post.

The Pros and Cons of Coffee Consumption - Infographic from Jason Tham

The Cons

Naturally, coffee consumption is not recommended for everyone.  Coffee can be addictive, interfere with sleep, hamper absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, raise blood pressure, lead to dehydration, aggravate heartburn, and worsen symptoms of certain gastrointestinal conditions or disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in some people.

Pregnant and lactating women, individuals with high blood pressure and/or other medical conditions are generally advised to limit coffee consumption or eliminate coffee and other caffeinated beverages altogether from their diet.

It is always highly recommended that you seek the advise of a qualified healthcare professional who is familiar with your medical history and current health status in order to help you determine whether drinking coffee (and how much) is appropriate for you.


Infographic

This infographic from Jason Tham was published on TheBizNavigator.com   The infographic enumerates the some of the pros and cons of coffee consumption.


Some studies of interest

• Dark roast coffee is more effective than light roast coffee in reducing body weight, and in restoring red blood cell vitamin E and glutathione concentrations in healthy volunteers.
• Consumption of caffeinated beverages might support weight loss maintenance.
• In overweight and obese participants, lower coffee consumption was correlated with a significantly higher risk of abdominal obesity, hypertension
• Coffee consumption and risk of the metabolic syndrome: A meta-analysis.
• Inverse Correlation Between Coffee Consumption and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome

How Taking Turmeric (Curcumin) Blocks Fat, Removes Liver Toxins [Infographic]

How Taking Turmeric Helps Your Body Block Fat and Your Liver
Remove Toxins as Fast as Possible
Infographic from Healthy Cures Magazine

Turmeric (Curcumin)

Curcumin is a biologically active polyphenolic compound present in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa).

Extensive research over the past 30 years has shown that curcumin plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of various pro-inflammatory chronic diseases including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and malignant diseases.  Numerous lines of evidence indicate that curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, and wound healing effects. [1]


Ayurvedic Killer and Dissolver of Fat

Turmeric has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to help prevent and treat a variety of illnesses and chronic health conditions, including obesity.

In Sanskrit, turmeric has least 53 different names including "mehagni" (killer of fat) and "rabhangavasa" (which dissolve fat). [2]


Curcumin May Assist the Body in Metabolizing Fat

More recent research suggests that curcumin may assist the body in metabolizing fat, and thereby help prevent weight gain as well as promote weight loss.

In one study, researchers found that curcumin reduces the formation of fat tissue by suppressing the blood vessels needed to form it. [3]

In other studies, curcumin's potent anti-inflammatory properties were found to have favorable effects against obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other pro-inflammatory obesity-related conditions and diseases.[4]


Infographic

This infographic from Healthy Cures Magazine illustrates some of beneficial effects of turmeric and includes top five ways to get turmeric into your diet.

For more information on how turmeric may help block fat, remove liver toxins, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels, and prevent cancer, please visit How Taking Turmeric Helps Your Body Block Fat and Your Liver Remove Toxins as Fast as Possible - Healthy Cures Magazine.


Related

Insulin Resistance - 10 Tips to Improve Your Metabolism
How Inflammation Affects Your Body
Your Amazing Liver

Indian Spices - Health Benefits

Spices for Weight Loss

References

• [1] Recent Developments in Delivery, Bioavailability, Absorption and Metabolism of Curcumin: the Golden Pigment from Golden Spice (PMC3918523)
• [2] Chapter 13 Turmeric, the Golden Spice From Traditional Medicine to Modern Science (NCBI Bookhelf  NBK92752)
• Curcumin Inhibits Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Angiogenesis and Obesity in C57/BL Mice (PMID: 19297423) 
• [4] Targeting Inflammation-Induced Obesity and Metabolic Diseases by Curcumin and Other Nutraceuticals  (PMC3144156)

Understanding Added Sugar Guidelines [Infographic]

Understanding Added Sugars Guidelines
Infographic from Diabetic-Connect

WHO "Free Sugars" Intake Recommendation

To reduce the risk of overweight, obesity and dental cavities, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children and adults reduce their intake of "free sugars" to less than 10% of their total energy (calorie) intake.


Infographic

This infographic from Diabetic-Connect explains the WHO guidelines including:

🍬  Which types of sugars (i.e., "free" or "added" vs. naturally occurring) the guidelines refer to;

🍬  How to calculate the 10% of total calories sugar intake (i.e.,  200 calories = 50 grams = 10 teaspoons of sugar)

🍬  Easy ways to cut out sugar at breakfast, lunch and dinner

For more information, please visit Understanding Added Sugar Guidelines - Diabetic-Connect.


More About Added Sugars

To learn more about added sugars, please see Your Body on Sugar.


Related

25 Reasons Why Sugar is Bad for You
Your Body on Sugar

Your Body on Sugar [Infographic]

Learn How Added Sugar Affects the Body
Your Body on Sugar - Infographic from Guard Your Health

Added Sugars Daily Intake Limit

The American Heart Association recommends limiting your daily intake of  "added sugars" to no more than:

🍬  6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) if you are a woman

🍬  9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) if you are a man.


What are "Added Sugars"?

According to ChooseMyPlate.gov, "added sugars" are sugars and syrups that are added to foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared.

The major sources of added sugar in the U.S. are regular soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, candy, cakes, cookies, pies, cobblers, sweet rolls, pastries, donuts, fruit drinks and dairy desserts (e.g., ice cream).

Added sugars include:

⚠️️ Brown sugar
⚠️️ Powdered sugar
⚠️️ Corn syrup and solids
⚠️️ Dextrose
⚠️️ Fructose
⚠️️ High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
⚠️️ Honey
⚠️️ Lactose
⚠️️ Maltose
⚠️️ Maple syrup
⚠️️ Molasses
⚠️️ Nectars
⚠️️ Raw sugar
⚠️️ Sucrose

Added sugars do not include sugar that is naturally occurring in certain foods, like fruit, dairy and some whole grains.


Infographic

This infographic from Guard Your Health explains how added sugar affects your body, particularly your brain, liver and pancreas.  It also provides examples of the amount of added sugar and naturally occurring sugar contained in certain foods, like a can of soda and an apple.


To learn more, please visit Learn How Added Sugar Affects the Body and How to Curb Cravings with Healthier Choices - Guard Your Health.


Related

25 Reasons Why Sugar is Bad for You
Understanding Added Sugar Guidelines

Green Tea Detox Water [Infographic]

Green Tea Detox Water Recipes for Cleansing, Detox and
Weight Loss
Infographic from The Indian Spot

Water and Health

Adequate hydration at all times is thought to be critical to good health. Drinking plenty of clean water throughout the day also helps your body's own internal detoxification system eliminate metabolic waste, toxins and other harmful compounds from the body.


Detox Water

Health and wellness experts often recommend drinking "detox water" during a body detoxification or cleansing program.  Detox water is also commonly recommended as an important weight loss tool as well as a natural remedy in many traditional and holistic healing protocols.

Read: Amazing Water Remedies

Detox water is usually nothing more than pure water infused with various fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and other beneficial ingredients that contain vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.

Read:  6 Things You Can Add to Water to Improve Digestion


Green Tea

Green tea has a long history of being used in detoxification, cleansing and as a natural remedy to prevent and treat many different kinds of illnesses and chronic conditions.

Green tea is rich in vitamins, minerals, and certain phytochemicals including catechins, a type of flavonoid that is thought to be a potent antioxidant.

Growing scientific research suggests that green tea consumption may have many health benefits including helping to release fat, lose weight, prevent weight gain, protect the brain, and lower the risk for certain cancers and chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.


Green Tea Detox Water - Infographic

Given the beneficial properties of green tea, it only makes sense that detox water made with green tea would give extra health benefits.

This infographic from The Indian Spot illustrates four delicious, simple green tea detox water recipes.  To learn more, please visit Green Tea Detox Water Recipes for Cleansing and Weight Loss - The Indian Spot.


Other Simple Detox Strategies

Simple and inexpensive at-home strategies include increasing movement and exercise, consuming more fruits and vegetables, incorporating certain spices, dried as well as fresh culinary herbs into dishes, avoiding processed and prepared foods, ensuring adequate hydration by drinking plenty of clean water, deep breathing exercises and getting adequate sleep.  Meditation and yoga are also often recommended to manage stress levels.


Related

1. Is Your Diet Toxic?
2. The Importance of Whole Body Detoxification and Cleansing
3. Why Should You Detoxify and Cleanse Your Body?
4. How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body
5. Whole Body Cleansing and Detoxification
6. Detoxification and Dieting

Detoxification and Dieting [Infographic]

Detoxification and Dieting  - Infographic from U Weight Loss Clinics

Obesogens and Weight Gain

Many weight loss experts maintain that environmental toxins cause hormone, digestive and other imbalances in the body which, in turn, contribute to fat storage and weight gain, especially abdominal obesity aka belly fat.

In fact, a growing number of studies suggest a link between certain chemical "obesogens" and weight gain, obesity and an increased risk for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. It is thought that chemical obesogens may have different mechanisms of action. For example, they may alter energy metabolism, influence appetite and satiety regulating hormones, or disrupt the gut microbiome - any of which can predispose an individual to weight gain.

Detoxification and Weight Loss

Many weight loss experts also ascribe to the concept that active detoxification and cleansing is an integral and important step in any successful weight loss strategy.

By helping the body eliminate accumulated toxins, balance in metabolic and other functions can be restored, making it easier to release fat.


Detoxification and Diet

There are scores of whole body and targeted (i.e., liver, colon, etc.) cleanses and detoxification programs, protocols and products, ranging from simple, inexpensive at-home strategies to more complex and expensive dietary supplement formulas and procedures, including supervised medical cleanses, that are done at spas and clinics.

One of the simplest ways to detox is to improve your diet by consuming a wide range of fruits and vegetables, incorporating spices and both dried and fresh herbs into your dishes and avoiding processed and packaged foods.

It is well established that different foods can either hurt or help our health as well as hurt or help our weight loss efforts.

Refined, packaged, processed, fast, and junk foods are high in calories, oftentimes high in sugar and unhealthy fats, while being low in nutrient density and dietary fiber - all of which contribute to weight gain and an increased risk for metabolic disorders and various chronic conditions and diseases.

On the other hand, nutrient-dense foods like raw fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds provide important vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and dietary fiber - all of which not only promote general good health but also support the body's own internal detoxification system.

A well-planned, plant-based or mostly plant-based whole-food diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables is often recommended not only during cleansing and detoxification but also as a permanent strategy to maintain a healthy weight and increase general health, vitality and wellness.

Choosing How to Detox

Ultimately, which detox and cleanse you choose depends on many factors including your state of health, age, financial means, your reasons or goals (i.e., weight loss, hormone balance, blood sugar balancing, digestive issues, substance abuse recovery, etc.) and how much support you need.

Detoxification and cleanses, particularly the more extreme ones, are not indicated or recommended for everyone.  It is highly recommended that you consult with a qualified medical or healthcare professional before beginning a detox or cleanse program.  This is especially important if you are pregnant, nursing, or have any type of medical condition.


Infographic

This infographic from U Weight Loss Clinics illustrates and include information about sources of toxins, toxic symptoms, proper detoxification, diseases associated with toxicity, detoxification influences, why and how to detoxify.   For more information, please visit Detoxification & Dieting - U Weight Loss Clinics.


Related

1. Is Your Diet Toxic?
2. Why Should You Detoxify and Cleanse Your Body?
3. How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body
4. Whole Body Cleansing and Detoxification
5. Naturally Detoxify Your Liver - 30 Best Foods

The Importance of Whole Body Cleanse and Detoxification [Infographic]

The Importance of Whole Body Cleanse and Detoxification
Infographic from DimMak Herbs

Your Body's Own Internal Detoxification System

Every minute of every day, your body - through its own internal detoxification system - is continuously eliminating metabolic waste products, chemicals, toxins and various other debris and substances.

The primary organs involved are the liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, skin and the lymphatic system.  The blood also plays a key role in the process.


Detox:  Myth or Necessity?

While some health experts maintain that detoxification is a natural process and trying to actively detoxify the body to achieve a health benefit is a myth, medical nonsense and can even be dangerous, many holistic health professionals disagree.

The argument for health benefits derived from actively helping your body to detox is largely centered around the the concept that the body's innate detoxification system is unable to keep up with the toxic burden of our modern world.

For example, it is estimated that there are more than 70,000 chemicals in existence today - many of which have not been tested for human safety.  It is also estimated that each of us comes into contact with hundreds, if not thousands, of these chemicals every single day.  They are present in our food, water, air, personal care products, cosmetics, cleaning products and many different household and personal use products.


Detoxification is Not New

If we look back through the annals of human history, we find that actively detoxifying and cleansing the body is not a new concept.

There is evidence that enemas were used in ancient Egypt, that Hippocrates used herbs and fasting, that native Americans used herbs and sweat lodges, and that both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda used various detoxification methods to restore digestive balance and to prevent and treat numerous illnesses and chronic conditions.


How to Detox

When it comes to detoxing and cleansing, there are many options.  Detox can be whole body or targeted to a particular organ, such as the liver or colon.  It can be done in stages.  It can be gentle and simple or extreme and complex.

Many holistic health practitioners use and recommend certain herbs that have a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  The health benefits and healing properties of many of these herbs have already been and continue to be studied and researched by today's scientists.  Some of these herbs include Cascara Sagrada, Da Huang (Rhubarb Root), Huang Lian (Coptis), Huang Qi (Astragalus), Red Shen (Ginseng) Gan Cao (Licorice), Ginger Root, and Green Tea.

Read:  Detoxification and Dieting


Infographic

This infographic from DimMak Herbs illustrates key points regarding the importance of detoxification including common sources of toxins and other harmful substances, the connection toxins and certain diseases, the body's detox system, and how to effectively detoxify the body.  To read more and learn about particular herbs used in herbal detox and cleanses, please visit The Importance of Whole Body Cleanse and Detoxification - DimMak Herbs.


Related

1. Herb Body Map
2. Healing Herbs and Spices
3. Is Your Diet Toxic?
4. The Importance of Whole Body Cleanse and Detoxification