Seven Easy Things You Need To Do For Your Health Right Now

Eat Salads

Medicine is entering the age of the microbe. We are just beginning to find out how incredibly important our tiny symbiotic friends are to the health of mammals. Your well-being is regulated in large part by the food you eat because your microbial chemical reactions define your health. There is no better way to foster a diverse and beneficial gut-ecosystem than to eat a salad every day consisting of many different vegetables and herbs. Think of your body as your family, and your gut microbes as your children. The health of those kids will completely dictate the health and success of the home. These aren’t just any salads though. We’re not talking a bag of bleached lettuce and some carrot shreds. These salads promote a diverse and beneficial ecosystem because the salads are made that way: here’s a recipe.

Must Read: How To Heal Your Gut

Drink Cranberry Lemonade

Water is wonderful, and chances are, you should be drinking more of it. Let’s take it one step further, though. Cranberries reduce inflammation and keep our kidneys running at peak performance. Lemon juice is said to help clean the liver, and lemons are known to help with digestion and PH balance. Try making cranberry lemonade with stevia, and drink a half gallon or more a day. This counts as your daily water intake too, so you don’t need to drink this and water. It’s super easy, all done to taste, and here’s a recipe. There is probably nothing else easier to do that can beneficially impact your health as much.

Eliminate Toxins

The toxins you breathe in are not inconsequential. Cleaning products may do as much damage as a pack-a-day habit. Perfumes, air fresheners, that new car smell, and fragrances in body care have been proven to be highly toxic to the body. Open your windows whenever possible, don’t trap yourself in areas that do not have fresh air circulating, and use non-toxic cleaners like this.

Squat

In many parts of the world, squatting is common while cooking, eating, birthing, and relieving oneself. We used to squat all the time. We are designed to squat. We would squat constantly in the wild. In nature, to navigate life and stay alive, we foraged all day. We would squat down, pick a leafy green, and eat it, likely while still in the squat position, staying low and looking around for trouble or more food. We would squat to track our prey, squat to defecate, and we would squat to relax because we didn’t have chairs. Our bodies have been squatting for a long time, and we are still evolved to squat. Squats even help detoxify the body and regulate our hormones! Click here for more on squats. If squats aren’t possible right now, try “get-ups.” What are “get-ups”? Anything you want them to be, just get up, get back down, and get up again! You may need to start in a chair, or maybe your starting position can be laying on the floor. Just get moving up and down and build up to squats.

Must Read: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Walk and Run

Us humans were meant to walk and jog and sprint on a daily basis. We should be walking, squatting, and running sporadically all day. Jogging can be particularly hard on a body with a heavy toxic load, but it has tremendous benefits too. If you suffer from knee pain, read this. If running or jogging isn’t something you can do yet, walk. If you can run, walk some anyways. Walking is a kind of meditation even when one is not trying to mediate. Take the stairs and park farther away. Walk and jog and sprint every chance you get.

Go Outside in Nature

Have you read the studies about this yet? Nature is really important to our health. We need it and we do not get enough of it! If you are near the woods, take a daily walk. Breathe in the nature around you. Do some grounding by walking barefoot or sit on a rock and meditate. Whatever you do, just get out there and get some negative ions.

Breathe

Speaking of breathing, this is not a small thing. One can radically improve their health and their mental well being immediately by eliminating shallow breathing and learning to naturally take deep, full breaths. If you lie down on the floor and breathe in, does your stomach rise or fall? If it’s sinking in as you take a breath than your breathing is all wrong! Here’s how to breathe properly.

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A look At the Flu Shot in 2018

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and pharmaceutical businesses mount an aggressive effort in the mainstream press to convince Americans to get their flu shots. Flu shots are huge business: industry analysts estimate that over the next five decades, the U.S. flu vaccine market will be worth nearly $3 billion yearly. Profit margins are increasing as producers increase cost premiums for the newer four-strain vaccines. The U.S. wants to disperse about 166 million doses for the 2017-18 flu season, which is up from 146 million doses in the past year.

Utilizing well-known vaccine spokespeople such as Paul Offit and Peter Hotez in addition to its extensive media partnerships and captive bureaucrats in CDC, the pharmaceutical sector has successfully eliminated the scientific discussion about influenza shot efficacy and protection for the public. But the science suggests significant dangers and reduced efficiency, both within the U.S. and globally. In 2010, Australia suspended its flu vaccination program for children because 5 in 110 kids were experiencing convulsions and other severe reactions only hours after receiving their flu shot. In 2014, Italian police suspended half a million doses of a flu vaccine containing a proprietary adjuvant after 13 questionable deaths occurred in individuals who received the shoot.  In the U.S., neighborhood news contains a continuous flow of reports about healthy people acknowledged to have suffered serious injury after getting their flu shot.

Recommended: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

From the worldmercuryproject.org:

  • A flu-vaccinated 12-year-old boy died at home after health workers failed to recognize that he was ill (January 2018, Sterling Heights, MI).
  • A popular 37-year-old street vendor received a flu shot and died suddenly of “flu complications” (January 2015, Spokane, WA).
  • A 5-year-old girl succumbed to influenza-related cardiac arrest after contracting “the same [influenza] strain for which she had been vaccinated” (January 2015, Las Vegas, NV).
  • Two female healthcare workers in their twenties and thirties were required to get flu shots for their jobs and developed apparent flu-related sepsis (January 2015, Pleasant Prairie, WI and December 2014, Lee’s Summit, MO).
  • Fourteen-year-old and 3-year-old girls who died after receiving flu shots were described as being “weakened…so severely that secondary complications made it impossible for them to survive” (January 2015, Des Moines, IA).
  • A 7-year-old girl died four days after receiving a flu shot at her annual well-child check-up (January 2012, Barton, VT).

Many other flu shot deaths may have been missed since the stubbornly incurious media rarely report the vaccination status of children who die of ‘flu’ or ‘flu-like’ symptoms.” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr

This Year’s Flu

The death toll for this year’s flu is rising, with an increasing number of cases reported regularly. This season is also notable due to how ineffective the flu shot is, rendering only 1 of 10 people who receive it “protected.” They state the average to be between 40 and 60% normally. Last year the flu vaccine was estimated to be approximately 42% effective at preventing the flu.

Hospitalizations and this Particular Strain

This year, the dominant flu strain is influenza A, otherwise known as H3N2. Most H3N2 virus isolates contain human, swine, and avian genes, and seasons where this strain is prevalent are characterized by a greater number of hospitalizations, deaths, and cases of the flu. The strain also mutates more quickly than other flu strains as it moves through populations, making it notoriously difficult for vaccines scientists to formulate an effective flu shot. That difficulty is reflected in the rates of flu effectiveness released from Australia (10% effective) and Canada (17% effective).

Even when the vaccine is closely matched to the type of influenza that’s prevalent, which doesn’t happen every year, randomized, controlled trials of healthy adults found that vaccinating between 33 and 100 people resulted in one less case of influenza. In addition, no evidence exists to show that this reduction in the risk of influenza for a specific population — here in the United States, among healthy adults, for example — extrapolates into any reduced risk of serious complications from influenza, such as hospitalizations or deaths, among seniors.” – Peter Doshi

What’s Wrong with This Flu Vaccine

Here is the initial data on how well the flu vaccine was working this season in the U.S. A study from the journal Eurosurveillance found the flu vaccine to be only 17 percent effective against H3N2 (the main flu subtype infecting the U.S. this season). In most adults, the study shows the shot would likely prevent only 10 percent of the H3N2 flu cases.  More than 80 percent of confirmed US flu cases have involved H3N2.

Recommended: How Viruses Work and How to Prevent and Eliminate Them Naturally

So why is the flu shot particularly ineffectual this year? According to Edward Belongia, a senior epidemiologist at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Wisconsin, the dominant strain this year and the flu shots egg-based origins may be combining to create a flu strain unaffected by the flu vaccine.

In the process of adapting virus to grow in eggs, that seems to introduce further changes to the [H3N2] virus, which may impair the effectiveness of the vaccine…”

What’s Wrong with the Flu Shot Every Year?

From 2014 to 2015, the NVICP flu shot settlements increased from $4.9 million to $61 million—an 1100% increase. As the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a voluntary surveillance system, is acknowledged by the government to capture as little as one percent of actual adverse events, the flu vaccine injuries and deaths are substantially underreported.” – Sharyl Attkisson

Sharyl’s article quoted from above goes on to state that an important and definitive “mainstream” government study from almost 10 years ago was ignored because it showed that the mass vaccination program did not save lives. The data actually shows that deaths increased, not decreased, among seniors after being vaccinated.

I worked [with] Lonza Biologics where they make the vaccines and chemicals that go in them. Went through 2 FDA inspections and [I] can tell you the Flu vaccine is a money making scam. The doctors that make it don’t even get the shots. I worked for a contract security company [company name redacted]. My job was to give access to labs to the FDA after badging them. We only showed them what was safe. Other 600 liter bags were hidden because they were not GMP compliant and would have been thrown away costing millions. The FDA sees what they are shown.” – Former Lonza Biologics contractor, Anonymous, work history verified, slightly edited for clarity with permission

We could not correlate increasing vaccination coverage after 1980 with declining mortality rates in any age group. Because fewer than 10% of all winter deaths were attributable to influenza in any season, we conclude that observational studies substantially overestimate vaccination benefit”. – Impact of Influenza Vaccination on Seasonal Mortality in the US Elderly Population

The study ‘got little attention,’ she says, ‘because the science came down on the wrong side.’ Whereas the researchers had set out to prove that the push for massive flu vaccination would save the world, the researchers were ‘astonished’ to find that the data did not support their presupposition at all. The data actually shows that deaths increased, not decreased, among seniors following vaccination.” – Inquisitr.com

Johns Hopkins scientist, Peter Doshi, Ph.D., issued a report in the prestigious British Medical Journal, according to NewsLI, asserting that the CDC policy of routinely recommending the flu vaccine is being based on “low-quality studies that do not substantiate claims.” He says there is no evidence that the vaccine reduces deaths among senior citizens. Interestingly, Doshi cites an Australian study which found significant risks for children as well, stating that “one in every 110 children under the age of five had convulsions following vaccinations in 2009 for H1N1 influenza.”

Recommended: Natural Remedies for Colds, Flus, and Other Common Viruses

This study on flu virus transmission discovered that people shed flu virus particles at a rate of 6.3 times more when they received a vaccination in the current and previous season compared with those with no vaccinations in both seasons.

This Jama study found that the flu vaccine may be killing a significant number of senior citizens. And another study, titled Influenza-related mortality in the Italian elderly: No decline associated with increasing vaccination coverage shows more of the same. There are plenty more. We cannot find a quality (real) study that shows flu shot success. Drop a comment if you know of one, please.

Green Med Info gathered 500 vaccine studies that show the adverse effects of many vaccines and how they outweigh their purported benefits.

Flu-Related Deaths And the States With the Highest Flu Shot Rates

North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Delaware

The plan was to find states that the vaccine program seemed to be working for, and then to figure out if there were other potential variables that could skew the results. For instance, I tried to find a state that significantly upped its vaccine rates and then had less cases of flu and/or flu deaths. I would then have looked into other potential variables, like other health initiatives the state launched or something. Much to my surprise, I did not find a single state that appeared to have reaped significant benefits from the flu vaccine. There were a few that had very slight increases with the flu vaccines along with very small decreases in the flu and flu deaths, but the numbers just weren’t statistically significant.

These seven states were amongst the most vaccinated for the flu shot for the 2017-2018 season. This year the flu vaccine is said to protect only a third of people who got it. When the flu strain is more accurately predicted the flu vaccine is said to protect at least half the people who are inoculated.

vaccine rates

In the latest update, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 10 new child deaths and the highest flu hospitalization rate since the agency started keeping comparable records in 2010. The CDC reported the highest rate of flu-like illnesses since the flu pandemic of 2009. Since this flu season started, Americans have been hospitalized for the illness at a rate of 59.9 per 100,000 people — the highest rate recorded by this point in a recent flu season and a level not reached until the end of the previous severe season, 2014-2015.

Recommended: Influenza Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness of the Flu Shot

Massachusetts Flu Vaccine Rates

Dr. Alfred DeMaria of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that central Massachusetts has had a consistently lower rate of flu-related illnesses this cycle.

The central part of the state has been relatively spared for most of the season – it’s not clear why. But good for them,’’ – Dr. DeMaria

It’s easy to see why. Take a look at what changed in 2017. In the graphic below, see in the “central part of the state” how this flu season saw a substantial decrease in people receiving the flu vaccine versus last season.

North Carolina Flu Vaccine Rates

As of February 15, 2018, the flu has killed 165 people in NC, according to The News & Observer. This season’s flu deaths amount to more than five times the 25 flu-related deaths from a similar period last season. There was a 3% drop in flu shot rates according to the hhs.gov site, putting NC in 8th place for the most heavily vaccinated state per capita.

Iowa Flu Vaccine Rates

Iowa is suffering through one of its most severe flu seasons in years. The number of confirmed flu deaths in Iowa, as reported by DesMoines Register, puts the toll at 97 as of February 9th. That’s up 28 from a year ago, same time. But, Idaho does show a slightly lower vaccination rate this year compared to last. On the other hand, thanks to an increase in population, while the percentage of vaccinated was a little lower, you have 19,911 more people getting vaccinated in Iowa this year so far, according to the hhs.gov site where we accumulated much of the information for this section.

Virginia Flu Vaccine Rates

The deaths of seven more children were reported this week, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the season, which began in October, to 37.” – CBS 6, WTBR

Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Wisconsin

Similar reports from these states indicate the same trend, the at the very least, flu vaccine rates do not at all correlate to less incidence of flu or flu-related deaths.

Recommended: Flu Shot Facts Everyone Should Know

States with Low Flu Immunization Rates

Puerto Rico, Alaska, Nevada, New Mexico, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Idaho, Louisiana, California, Montana, and Wyoming are the least vaccinated states in the country, listed in order from least to greatest, and Washington DC, while not a state, if counted as one comes in at #3. Cold weather radically increases one’s likelihood of “catching” the flu or any common virus. With this in mind, and for simplicities sake, let’s just consider Alaska, D.C., West Virginia, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. I may add the other states in later if the data proves relevant (feel free to drop a comment if I need to look at something). Alaska has the second lowest vaccination rate, just behind Alabama.

Despite outbreaks Outside, Alaska’s flu season has been normal” – Anchorage Daily News

Then there’s Montana,

While other parts of the U.S. see severe flu outbreaks, Montana sees widespread, yet normal, season.” – Billings Gazette

Washington D.C. reports that no flu-related childhood deaths have happened so far, and we can’t find any reports on any adult deaths. D.C. does not report statistical adult flu-related deaths, but they do say flu-related disease is on the rise like it is across the country. In January health officials in West Virginia reported their first pediatric flu death of the current season, and the first one to die of flu since the 2014-2015 season, according to U.S. News. Flu deaths in West Virginia are reported at 21, compared to 61 in Virginia (34% difference). West Virginia also received 263,987 flu vaccinations and Virginia took in 967,232 (27% difference). It looks as if the flu shot may have helped Virginia slightly, though not enough to be significant. Idaho’s flu vaccination rate went from nearly 42% down to 40.4%. Due to population increase, they had 179,132 flu immunizations this season, 16,709 less than last season. Idaho is having a very rough flu season, with 52 dead as of January 26th, according to Idaho Statesman. They also were said to have had a bad year last year. Their vaccination rate stayed around 40% for all of the years we could check.

But Wyoming is having it rough this year according to the Casper Star Tribune, “We continue to see widespread influenza across the state with indications of high activity levels,” said state health officer and state epidemiologist Alexia Harrist. Wyoming, with its sparse population, reports “at least” 11 flu-related deaths as of February 9th, which is significant. Wyoming tends to hover just above a 40% vaccination rate according to the aforementioned hhs.gov site.

Incidentally, Oregon has been decreasing its vaccine rate for years, and they are not suffering like other states from this flu season. And it should be stated that Puerto Rico has the lowest rate of vaccinations, they report widespread flu cases, but fortunately not any known deaths yet. But there are “…three suspected cases that we are investigating.”

So, what does this mean? Are flu vaccines dangerous?

The reality is that there isn’t anything here in state correlation research to prove that flu vaccines don’t work, or that they increase the rate of death. Even if the numbers were all reported accurately there are way too many variables and still not nearly enough information. And in searching for the numbers, it does seem as though some of the information is difficult or impossible to get because the numbers don’t look good for the vaccine companies, but that’s just more speculation. Though, one can’t help but wonder, if the numbers worked, wouldn’t they be prominently displayed, easy for customers to find?

One would like to be able to find an obvious benefit. Even if all the previous studies aren’t enough, looking at the state vaccine rates and their flu death rates, there is no proof that flu vaccines save lives, or even work well enough to compensate for the risks. And that’s on a season when they get it right. With a season like this one, there is no logical reason to get a flu shot, yet people continue to do so on the off chance that they will catch the right strain of flu and then that the vaccine will work as it should.

Flu Vaccine Ingredients

Influenza vaccines contain neurotoxic and carcinogenic ingredients such as thimerosal, aluminum, and formaldehyde as well as bacterial endotoxin. The recommendation is to not use the nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV) this season. Only injectable flu shots are recommended for use this season. Flu shots change regularly, so this ingredient list is only for 2018.

Recommended: 6 Ways to Prepare for a Rough Flu Season

The 2017-2018 Flu Shot Is Said To Protect Against:

  1. An A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus.
  2. An A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus.
  3. A B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (B/Victoria lineage) virus

Most flu vaccines guard against three strains of influenza. Some vaccines have four strains. These 2017-2018 flu vaccines will also include:

  1. An Influenza B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (B/Yamagata lineage) virus.

Vaccine companies do their vaccines a little differently from company to company, and their formulas may change without notice. Ingredients also change from year to year. Here is a current list of flu vaccine ingredients according to the CDC.

Many flu vaccines are made by growing the viruses inside fertilized chicken eggs. This means that they contain a small amount of egg protein. A newer version of the vaccine, called Flucelvax, is grown in animal cells instead. This year, as mentioned, the egg is what apparently messed up the vaccine, so we wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see this ingredient much more. Anyone with egg allergies are instructed to let their doctor know. Depending on the severity of the allergy, the patient may be recommended a different flu vaccine. There is considerable speculation that vaccines cause egg allergies (and other allergies like corn and peanut). It makes sense. When the body sees a substance that causes harm, and the body has no idea what that substance is or what should be done with it, the body can often begin to react to substances that accompanied the toxin.

Preservatives

Vaccine manufacturers add thimerosal to multi-dose vaccine vials to prevent pathogens from getting into the vial with each use. Thimerosal has been removed from many of the more common vaccines, but not for the multi-dose flu vaccine. Multi-dose vials contain more than just one dose of the flu vaccine. If you’re not getting a flu shot from a multi-dose vial, your 2017-2018 flu vaccine will not contain thimerosal.

Thimerosal contains mercury, which is known as one of the most toxic substances on earth. The toxicity of mercury from a vaccine is far more complicated.  There is organic, inorganic, and elemental mercury. These compounds have different effects on the human body. Organic mercury compounds are created when mercury combines with carbon. Microscopic organisms convert elemental and inorganic mercury to organic mercury called methylmercury. This is the kind of mercury that accumulates in the food chain, and it is the kind of mercury that is used in vaccines. When it is in its organic form and is pure mercury it’s not nearly as dangerous, as a dental worker found out when they injected liquid pure organic mercury into her veins in an attempt to commit suicide. Ten months later she was said to be symptom-free. We doubt she was by our standards, but this still illustrates the point that it depends on what kind of mercury it is as to how dangerous it is. But there’s a catch. As previously mentioned, less pure mercury is much more dangerous than pure, refined mercury. Contaminates interact with mercury to make the substance more dangerous to the body. There have been some studies and examples showing that organic mercury may be perfectly safe to use for injections, but they do not look at the effects of the ingredients combined.

Stabilizers

Sucrose, sorbitol, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) are “stabilizers” that are used to keep vaccines potent. Vaccines lose potency over time without stabilizers, especially when exposed to heat and light.

The sucrose comes from beet or cane sugar. sugar you spoon into coffee and sprinkle on berries. Sorbitol is an artificial sweetener that’s also found in chewing gum. MSG is a flavor enhancer. Commonly thought of as an additive in Chinese food, it’s used in many processed foods. Though certain people are sensitive to MSG, the amount found in the flu vaccine is very small.

Antibiotics

Neomycin, gentamicin, and other antibiotics are added to vaccines in very small amounts. They stop bacteria from contaminating the vaccine.

Polysorbate 80

This emulsifier prevents sauces and salad dressings from separating. In vaccines, polysorbate 80 keeps all the ingredients evenly distributed. Though large doses can cause some people to have reactions, the amount in the flu vaccine is very small.

Formaldehyde

This natural compound is found in household products from glues and other adhesives to pressed-wood furniture. Formaldehyde is a gas that is soluble in water. It’s used in the flu vaccine to inactivated influenza virus.

Recommended: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Routine exposure to large doses of formaldehyde is linked to eye and throat irritation, breathing trouble, and a higher risk for certain cancers. However, according to the CDC, most formaldehyde used in producing a vaccine undergoes removal from the vaccine solution before being packaged to be sent to doctors and pharmacies.

Per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the level of formaldehyde that remains in a vaccine (such as the flu vaccine) is much lower than the amount that occurs naturally in the human body.

CDC Flu Shot Warnings

Common Flu Shot Side Effects (CDC)

  • Soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Muscle aches

Signs of A Severe Allergic Reaction to Flu Shot

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Hoarseness or wheezing
  • Swelling around the eyes or lips
  • Hives
  • Paleness
  • Weakness
  • A fast heartbeat or dizziness

The CDC states that life-threatening allergic reactions to the flu shot are rare. These signs would most likely happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccine is given.

Individuals Who Should Not Get the Flu Shot

  • Children younger than 6 months, since they are too young to get a flu shot.
  • Individuals with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient(s) in the vaccine.

Individuals Who Should Talk With Doctor Before Getting the Flu Shot

  • Have had a severe allergy to eggs or any of the ingredients in the vaccine.
  • Have had Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Are not feeling well
Recommended: How to Detoxify From Antibiotics and Other Chemical Antimicrobials

Conclusion

Most of the vaccine injury cases are settled through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Nearly four in ten of the non-fatal injuries reported that period was for Guillain-Barre syndrome, a highly debilitating and potentially life-threatening disease. Studies have linked shown the connection between GBS and flu vaccines for years. Most of the other flu vaccine injuries from 2016-17 were very rare, life-threatening and life-changing diseases.

It’s not any single vaccine ingredient that scares me, it’s the combination. It’s the repetition. And it’s the mere fact that flu vaccines have to aggravate the body’s immune system to work. Some of the listed ingredients are known not to exit the body well, especially a toxic body, and that means that ingredients designed to rev up one’s immune system may be stuck in the body for an indefinite amount of time.

There is obviously risk involved when receiving a flu shot. How major those risks depend on your health, but it is absolutely ignorant to suggest that the risks are not real. If you are considering the flu shot or considering stopping your flu shot routine, I suggest you do what I recommend anyone do when they are trying to make healthy changes. Read and get to know every single ingredient of everything you consume! Don’t take my word for it, look at the ingredients and read up on them. Your doctor will not do this! And it is absolutely crazy to put something into your body that is known to have toxic ingredients and serious side effects without learning everything you can about it.

I don’t think a vaccine is likely to do much damage. But it is indisputable that the more immunizations received the higher the risk. So, don’t just consider what one vaccine can do to your body. Consider what multiple vaccines will do to the body, both from multi-dose vials and from previous shots taken. Then consider these vaccine ingredients that may or may not exit the body, and consider the buildup. Now consider this combined with the air pollution you breathe in, the alcohol you drink, the GMO foods you may consume, the lead in your lipstick, and the parabens you put on your skin.

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Sources:


Florida Bill 1558 Would Make HPV Vaccine Mandatory for School Children

Florida has introduced Senate Bill 1558, legislature that would make the HPV vaccine mandatory for public school children. The bill would mimic similar vaccine mandate laws in Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington D.C.

Florida’s HPV vaccine rates are lower than the rest of the country. Sen. José Javier Rodríguez (Dem) introduced this bill on January 4th. If it’s passed the bill is said to be titled “Women’s Cancer Prevention Act”. It would begin taking effect July 1st of 2018.

The good news is that only 1 in 5 parents believe the mandate to be a good idea, according to the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

From Dr. Mercola:

Review of HPV Vaccine Trials Conclude Effectiveness Is Still Unproven

Last year, a systematic review10 of pre- and post-licensure trials of the HPV vaccine by researchers at University of British Columbia showed that the vaccine’s effectiveness is not only overstated (through the use of selective reporting or “cherry picking” data) but also unproven. In the summary of the clinical trial review, the authors state it quite clearly:

“We carried out a systematic review of HPV vaccine pre- and post-licensure trials to assess the evidence of their effectiveness and safety. We found that HPV vaccine clinical trials design, and data interpretation of both efficacy and safety outcomes, were largely inadequate. Additionally, we note evidence of selective reporting of results from clinical trials(i.e., exclusion of vaccine efficacy figures related to study subgroups in which efficacy might be lower or even negative from peer-reviewed publications).

Given this, the widespread optimism regarding HPV vaccines long-term benefits appears to rest on a number of unproven assumptions (or such which are at odds with factual evidence) and significant misinterpretation of available data.

For example, the claim that HPV vaccination will result in approximately 70% reduction of cervical cancers is made despite the fact that the clinical trials data have not demonstrated to date that the vaccines have actually prevented a single case of cervical cancer (let alone cervical cancer death), nor that the current overly optimistic surrogate marker-based extrapolations are justified.

Likewise, the notion that HPV vaccines have an impressive safety profile is only supported by highly flawed design of safety trials and is contrary to accumulating evidence from vaccine safety surveillance databases and case reports which continue to link HPV vaccination to serious adverse outcomes (including death and permanent disabilities).

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Life-Changing Ways Black Seed Oil Can Positively Affect Your Health

Some of the best natural remedies take root thousands of years ago, and only today are making a huge comeback. No wonder, some of these can completely change if not save lives.

One of these remedies that is quickly growing in popularity is black seed oil, also known as black cumin oil, black caraway oil, Roman coriander oil, or black sesame oil.

The oil is derived from the Nigella sativa plant, a native to Asia. The plant’s small, black, crescent-looking seeds were used for centuries in India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. It was used to make the oil as early as 3,000 years ago in Egypt. The oil was even found in the famous Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. It is also been said that Hippocrates, a Greek physician, used it for digestive issues.

Related Product:  Annatto Tocotrienols with Black Cumin Seed Oil • 60sg – Designs For Health

What’s so special about this oil? Over 630 scientific peer-reviewed studies have suggested that there is virtually no health issue that black seed oil cannot help defeat.

This is not surprising, looking at its long list of properties. Black seed oil is:

  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-fungal
  • Antiviral
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Analgesic
  • Antispasmodic
  • Insulin-sensitizing
  • Anti-hypertensive
  • Hypotensive

Black seed oil contains over 100 compounds! Its powerful medicinal properties come from arachidonic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, protein, calcium, phosphorous, folate, zinc, iron, copper, and vitamins B1, B2, B3.

But its best active compounds are crystalline nigellone and thymoquinone.

Must Read: Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease

Black Seed Oil: Cures Everything Except Death!

It is said that the prophet Mohammad said that black cumin can cure everything but death itself. And it truly may be so! From heart disease and severe allergies to diabetes and cancer.

Reasons to Consume Black Seed Oil Regularly

Cancer prevention

Colon, lung, brain, prostate, pancreatic and multiple other cancers can be significantly reduced by using black cumin oil. A 2012 study found that thymoquinone has an anti-tumor effect and can be used to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy. Other studies also suggested that it can protect the body from radiation, for those who are using conventional cancer therapies.

Black seed oil also helps prevent and treat cancer because of its many mechanisms: anti-metastasis (prevents spreading of secondary cancer), anti-proliferation (prevents spreading of cells), and anti-angiogenesis (prevents developing of new blood vessels, which feed and grow tumors).

Heart health

Because black seed is full of unsaturated omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. In addition to providing phytosterols, they help you keep a healthy heart, healthy blood pressure, and healthy cholesterol — all of which are interconnected. Just consuming a teaspoon of black cumin oil every day will have these positive effects on the heart.

Weight Loss

Have you ever wished you lost cravings for junk food? Black cumin’s unique combination of compounds reduces appetite for unhealthy foods! Meanwhile, it also helps burn body fat. It may be one of the best natural anti-obesity remedies on the planet!

Hair and Skin

Back in ancient Egypt, Cleopatra is said to have used black seed oil for her long, beautiful hair to give it shine and luster. It also strengthens hair roots, giving it an incredible ability to restore hair loss, likely to its high antioxidant content. While promoting new hair growth, black seed oil clears out dandruff. Leaving it on the hair for 30-60 minutes is the best treatment for hair.

It successfully treats not only hair damage but also skin damage. From a simple hand cream for dryness to addressing hand eczema, this oil is popular to use on skin.

Immune System

Black cumin stimulates the increase of white blood cells in the body, which are responsible for fighting off disease. This boost of the immune system can be vital in treating a cold, flu, or even bronchitis and pneumonia.

Respiratory Problems

Having a hard time breathing? The respiratory tract is not doing well due to allergies or congestion? Black seed oil can reduce inflammation in the body and allow you to breathe freely again. For this health problem, it is better to take the oil as a preventative than as a medicine to treat an existing issue.

Coughing

Speaking of respiratory health, for a simple cough, just adding black cumin oil to ginger tea and a teaspoon of honey does wonders. It suppressed the need to cough and relaxes bronchial muscles, all while soothing a sore throat.

Rubbing black seed oil on the chest also helps open up and clear out the airways.

The third way to use it to relieve a cough is to add it to boiled water and breathe in the healing steam.

Recommended: Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

Digestion

Hippocrates knew what he was doing when he used this remedy for digestion. Black cumin can aid healthy digestion, decrease bloating, relieve gas, and alleviate muscle cramps. It also has a soothing effect on the whole intestines, which can provide real relief for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

Anxiety and depression

Black cumin seeds can stabilize the mood, and by doing so decrease anxiety and lift depression.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Other uses:

  • Acne
  • Allergies and sinus infections
  • Arthritis and joint pain
  • Asthma and cholesterol
  • Bacterial infections and the flu
  • Blood sugar
  • Boils and carbuncles
  • Breast pain
  • Bruising and scars
  • Colic
  • Diabetes
  • Diarrhea
  • Epilepsy
  • Fertility issues and low testosterone
  • Fever
  • Fungal infections
  • Gum disease
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Heartburn and constipation
  • Hemorrhoids and gallstones
  • Hypertension
  • Infections and nasal congestion
  • Insect Bites
  • Insomnia
  • Kidney stones and Liver Health
  • Lactation issues
  • Lead poisoning
  • Memory problems
  • Menstrual pain
  • Moles
  • Muscle spasms and cramps
  • Nausea and upset stomach
  • Nosebleeds
  • Opioid addiction
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pain
  • Parasites
  • Pink eye and earaches
  • Psoriasis
  • Toothaches
  • Vision problems
  • Ulcers

Most of these are thanks to thymoquinone — heals anything but death!

NOTE: black cumin oil should NOT be taken by pregnant women as it can trigger a miscarriage; or by those with diabetes as it can lower blood sugar. Taking too much of this oil can be problematic for people who have liver and kidney problems. For anyone, do not take more than one teaspoon of this oil twice a day.

Easiest Ways to Take Black Seed Oil

Many holistic doctors agree that one teaspoon of black seed oil a day is the perfect amount to take to receive all of its health benefits (1 tsp for a 150-pound person). Because it can be too bitter for some people prefer to mix it with honey for taste and to add extra medicinal properties.

Related Product: Organic Black Seed Oil

The best time to take the oil is first thing in the morning. By itself, with honey, or mixed with a small amount of water on an empty stomach, black seed oil will kick-start your metabolism.

The oil can also be used in cooking. It is not the kind to use for fried foods, but rather as a dressing.

Cooking with it can also be a great way to incorporate it into the diet. You can add it to bread or bagels, soups or stir-fries, and mix it into seasonings such as mustard.

Finally, black seed oil also has great cosmetic uses. It can be used on the skin as a moisturizer, an exfoliator, or a face mask; or added to shampoo for split hair prevention and a healthy scalp.

Sources:


14 Benefits of Squatting, Why We Should All Be Doing It, and How to Squat Right

In many parts of the world, squatting is common while cooking, eating, birthing, and relieving oneself. We used to squat all the time. We are designed to squat. We would squat constantly in the wild. In nature, to navigate life and stay alive, we foraged all day. We would squat down, pick a leafy green, and eat it, likely while still in the squat position, staying low and looking around for trouble or more food. We would squat to track our prey, squat to defecate, and we would squat to relax because we didn’t have chairs. Our bodies have been squatting for a long time, and we are still evolved to squat.

Squatting is a fundamental movement that every human being is designed to do. But due to a combination of weakness and immobility from a lifetime of wearing restrictive footwear and sitting in a chair, many of us in urban industrialized societies have lost the ability to squat properly.” – Rui Li, a certified personal trainer

The Main Benefits of Squatting

1. Flexibility

Squatting regularly and properly can help improve range of motion and strengthen muscles throughout the lower body including the glutes, hips, ankles.

2. Body Alignment

Squats can correct body alignment. When you first do a squat (if it’s been a while), not only will you feel stiff and tight, you will also notice that certain joints just aren’t moving right. Things are “out of place” as they say. You could go to a chiropractor, but most would benefit from just doing daily squats. As the body’s joints become used to stretching, get more limber, and as blood flows in areas it was not getting to well previously, the body will usually start to align itself back into place.

3. Testosterone

Squats work most of the largest muscles in your body, such as your hips, glutes, abductors, and quadriceps. Other muscles engaged include your hamstrings, calves, and all your core muscles as well as most other stabilizer muscles. Doing squats naturally produces testosterone and builds muscle, not just in the legs.

4. Detox

Squats move organs and bodily systems, which gently massages and stimulates organs, lymph, and glands. Squats increase blood flow. As the organs get massaged and stimulated, the body gets more flexible. and the joints ease up, you’ll notice an increase in blood flow all over the body.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

5. Improve Circulation

The circulatory system needs bodily movement to function properly. Doing squats will stimulate the glands, the organs, and help get the blood circulating better.

6. Energy Boost

When you open pathways, you stimulate glands and get the blood flowing you also increase your body’s electrical charge, meaning, you literally have more energy. When scientists talk about the nervous system sending ‘signals’ to the brain, or when they talk about “synapses firing,” they are referring to the flow of electricity in the body. Once squats become easy, nothing else will give you the same energy boost.

7. Eliminate Lower Back and Knee Pain

Doing squats the wrong way can lead to permanent lower back and knee pain, but doing squats with good form can reverse and heal such injuries. For those with knee pain, check your arches and then push your knees outward while you squat.

Related: Running Without Knee Pain

8. Reduce Cellulite

Cellulite is deposits of fat under the skin. Squats can help reduce the appearance of cellulite and help tighten and tone the skin. Some “spot-reduction” can be achieved with squats, but diet is going to play a bigger factor in cellulite reduction.

9. Decrease Risk of Injuries

Who do you think is more likely to be injured by bending over to pick up something? The person who can do 100 squats or the person who can do 5? The increased mobility and strength that comes from squats are realized within just a few days of starting them. Stairs become easier, bending over to pick things up feels like less of a strain. Life becomes less of a strain.

10. Build Core Strength

Squats use almost all of our muscles, and it hits the core hard. You use your abs, lower back, and obliques when doing squats, which also work the internal organs and glands as mentioned above. A weak core is a very weak link in the chain that makes up our musculature system. The strongest legs in the world will not squat much without an awesome core to carry and stabilize the weight.

11. Lift and Tighten the Butt

The bigger the gluteus maximus the higher, firmer, rounder, and sexier the butt is.

12. Fix Posture

If you find yourself slumping, slouching, or generally just looking like you’re fighting gravity just to stand, a few weeks of daily squats can fix that.

13. Improve Confidence, Mood

Improved posture generally improves one’s mood. It’s like forcing a smile when you’re unhappy. Standing tall, fully upright with ease, of a sign of confidence; people with better posture have a leg up in the confidence game.

14. Improve Libido

With the glandular activity, energy boost, more confidence, and an increase in testosterone, it’s pretty easy to see what squats can do for you in the bedroom.

How To Squat

The goal is to be able to feel relaxed and comfortable in this position:

The image is from an excellent article called Interesting Facts About the Natural Squatting Position.

There are bodyweight squats and there are weighted squats, and there are countless various methods for both. For this article, we’ll stick to bodyweight squats. There are many schools of thought on how best to do squats, but I highly recommend you mix them up. Here are a few to try:

Prison Squat

This is like a power squat without the weight if you are familiar with barbell lifting. Stand with your feet slightly beyond shoulder-width apart with your toes forward and your knees pushed outward. Keep your hands on your head or otherwise unable to assist. Squat down to parallel or a little below with a tight core, flex the core hard on the way up keeping the lower back stable and stiff.

Narrow, Close Stance, Legs Together Squats

When you put together the legs you work the leg muscles differently. Where before you will feel a lot of abductor work and core activation, with these squats you’ll find more quadricep use and a need for increased flexibility. I prefer to take these squats all the way down, and I will bend at the ankles at the very bottom, but attempt to do this less and less as the ankle joints loosen. You will want to flex the core hard on the initial phase of the come-up. I prefer to let my arms swing a bit on this exercise.

Chinese Wall Squats

For those who are graduating to more difficult squats, but still want to stick to bodyweight exercises, there are lunges, there are pistol squats, and then there’s my favorite, Chinese Wall Squats! These are much harder than they look, but if you can do them then you have very strong legs and a strong core and excellent mobility.

GetUps

I have certainly been so sick before that any squat recommendations would have been laughable. For people who can’t do squats yet, I recommend getups! They’re easy. Just lay down on the floor, and then get up. The trick is to notice how you stabilize yourself and to alternate each time. For instance, if you get down on your right knee, and push with your right hand on your leg, and get up with your left leg first, you need to alternate all of these leverage points with your body so you don’t get too strong on one side which can throw the body out of alignment and actually reduce mobility.

It’s important to note that on a severely toxic body, physically demanding squats can lead to more damage. Even with perfect form, if the body is in an extremely inflammatory state, doing squats with knee or back pain can cause more inflammation of an injury and the entire body. If you’re someone who is dealing with chronic pain, take it slow, watch the video below and work towards that, start with just a few, build up slowly, and read the first few articles below the video in the “Must Read” section!

If you’ve ever watched a toddler play, they squat easily and often,” Dr. Jasmine Marcus, a physical therapist with McCune and Murphy Physical Therapy in Ithaca, New York, told MNN. “As we age, we stop performing this motion and tend to lose hip, knee and ankle range of motion.” – MNN

Must Read:


Eliminate Acne For Good (No, It’s Not Another Skin Product)

Acne vulgaris is now the most common skin disease of western civilization. Over 85% of adolescents and around 50% of people who are over the age of 25 struggle with acne — and its prevalence keeps rising. Clearly, the “doctor recommended” antibiotics and skin creams aren’t helping much.

Fortunately, recent research suggests that we can eliminate whiteheads, blackheads, and red bumps with what we eat. But, is this really possible? Can we treat acne from the inside out with diet?

Why yes, yes we can. To understand how this is possible, we need to look beyond the surface of the skin.

The Acne Epidemic — A Side Effect of Western Culture

Genetics strongly influence your risk of developing acne, but acne-causing genes cannot explain the rapid increases in the incidence of acne. Population-based studies, on the other hand, suggest that diet may have the most profound impact on the severity and prevalence of acne — more so than skin hygiene, smoking, and stress (which all have been found to have little to no association with acne).

Related: Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease

More specifically, the western diet seems to be the main instigator of the current acne epidemic. Conversely, when we look at the data from other non-westernized cultures — such as the Inuit, Okinawan Islanders, Ache hunter-gatherers, and Kitavan Islanders — acne is a rarity.

But before we jump to any conclusions, we must keep in mind that this is epidemiological data. From this evidence, we cannot assume that the western diet causes acne. This data doesn’t even provide us with strong enough evidence to claim that any diet can increase or decrease the risk of acne (there are too many confounding variables). Only when we look at the physiological mechanisms behind the creation of pimples, blackheads, and red bumps will we be able to figure out if diet can play a role in the development of acne.

The Formation of Acne — An Inside Look at Our Poor Pores

 

Whiteheads, blackheads, and red bumps are formed when there is:

  1. Increased reproduction of skin cells within the ducts that carry oily lubrication to the skin and hair.
  2. Abnormal shedding of the skin cells around the hair follicle.
  3. Increased production of sebum — the oily, waxy substance that waterproofs and lubricates the skin and hair.
  4. Colonization of the uppermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum) by a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes, resulting in inflammation (red bumps).

As a result of these four factors, dead skin cells will stick together with the help of the excess oily sebum. This will block the pore of the hair follicle, forming a microcomedone (a clogged skin pore).

Related: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

If the microcomedone is closer to the skin, then the skin pigment called melanin will be oxidized by the air, creating what we know as a “blackhead”. On the other hand, a whitehead is formed when the microcomedone occurs deep within the hair follicle. Both whiteheads and blackheads (in their early and late stages) provide an ideal environment for Propionibacterium acnes to proliferate. As the bacteria continue to colonize the area, they trigger an inflammatory response that leads to redness, tenderness, and swelling.

What creates this chaos in the skin? The current research indicates that the main culprits are insulin and other hormones that are influenced by insulin, such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). For example, DHT and DHEA seem to increase oily sebum production, while GH and IGF-1 appear to trigger the overproduction of the specific skin cells. When these hormones are chronically high, they will disrupt the homeostasis of the skin and stimulate acne production.

The Bigger Picture of Hormones, Acne, And Health

A helpful example of how hormones affect skin health can be found when we look at specific medical conditions that result from hormonal imbalances. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for example, is typically caused by unhealthy increases in androgens (like DHT) in women. As a result, many women with PCOS also have acne.

Conversely, people who lack androgens or are insensitive to the effects of androgens rarely have acne. This is the main reason why people with androgen insensitivity syndrome never develop acne.

A more prevalent example of how closely linked acne and hormones are can be found in teenagers. When teenagers (and some preteens) hit puberty, they experience rapid increases in many of the hormones we mentioned above. This results in rapid growth and sexual maturation with the unfortunate side effect of acne (for most adolescents).

But don’t mistake genetics and puberty as the only contributing factors to acne formation. If we look back at the data from population-based studies comparing the incidence of acne in westernized and non-westernized societies and combine that with our knowledge of the physiological mechanisms of acne, an interesting pattern emerges.

Related: No Makeup & Blemish Free? Healthy Gut, Healthy Skin – Here’s How 

Since insulin and other hormones that are influenced by insulin instigate the chaos in the skin that leads to acne and high-carb, sugary foods stimulate insulin, doesn’t this mean that people who eat a diet filled with these processed foods will most likely develop acne?

When we look at the population-based studies, this seems to be true — especially since westernized societies eat more processed sugary foods than any other culture. Yet, this is purely a contention held by many researchers. To find out if this is what really occurs in humans, we need some high-quality scientific evidence from clinical trials.

High Glycemic Load Diet vs. Low Glycemic Load Diet — Can Diet Treat Acne?

To our knowledge, there is one study that explored the therapeutic effects of diet on acne. In this study, a total of 43 male patients with acne who were between the ages of 15 and 25 completed either a 12-week high glycemic load diet or a 12-week low glycemic load diet.

At 12 weeks, the average number of lesions in the low glycemic load diet group fell by 51% — nearly twice the reduction that was found in the high glycemic load diet.

Below are some photos of the results from the subjects in the low glycemic load diet group:

These are pretty astounding results, especially when you consider what the researchers define as a low glycemic load diet:

The LGL [low glycemic load] group was instructed to substitute high-GI foods with foods higher in protein (e.g., lean meat, poultry, or fish) or with foods with a lower GI (e.g., whole-grain bread, pasta, and fruit). Some staple foods were supplied, and the participants were urged to consume these or similar foods daily. The recommended LGL diet consisted of 25% of energy from protein, 45% from low-GI carbohydrates, and 30% energy from fats.”

This diet has a lower glycemic load than the standard American diet, but I wouldn’t consider this a “low glycemic load diet”. Some of the foods included in this diet like grains, pasta, and some fruits can provoke an unhealthy glycemic response, especially when they are eaten in high quantities.

Related: Top 10 Blood Sugar Lowering Foods

Just imagine what would’ve happened if they eliminated low fiber, high sugar foods completely. Even better results, perhaps?

Unfortunately, there are no other research studies that can provide us with a conclusive answer.

However, we can make a couple reasonable assumptions from this data:

  • Diet definitely plays a role in the incidence and severity of acne in western populations.
  • If you eat more whole foods and less processed foods, then the severity of acne will most likely be reduced.
  • Insulin levels and acne severity are related.

With that being said, many questions still remain unanswered. Here are some that come to mind for me:

  • Are insulin levels and acne severity so strongly linked that a decrease in insulin levels will improve skin health?
  • Will a low sugar, whole food diet have the same effect on women with acne?

What This Means For You And Your Acne

The researchers of the previous study suggest that losing weight and eating more low-GI foods like meat and low-carb vegetables will create favorable changes in the body that improve skin health. The researchers also explored the implications their findings have for women by relating acne to PCOS.

They went on to explain how both PCOS and acne can be caused by chronically high insulin levels. In fact, women with PCOS typically have acne and some degree of insulin resistance. The research on PCOS suggests that low carb diets (a variation of a low glycemic load diet) are the best diet to help reverse PCOS and its symptoms (like acne), so it is fair to assume that eating in this way will also improve acne in women without PCOS.

What does this mean for you and your loved ones who have acne? That you can all benefit from cutting out processed, sugar-laden foods your diet. However, this way of eating may not eliminate your acne completely. Some studies suggest that dairy can play a role in worsening acne as well.

Related: Healthy Sugar Alternatives & More

Dairy — Just As Bad As Sugar for the Skin?

Insulin and basal IGF-I plasma levels are major players when it comes to acne, and high sugar foods aren’t the only thing that increases IGF-1 and insulin to unreasonable levels. Dairy products can provoke unhealthy insulin and IGF-1 levels as well.

Although there are no clinical trials on the impact of milk consumption on acne, three large population-based studies reported a positive association between milk intake and acne. This association is probably due to the fact that the natural hormones in milk (designed to help the calves grow into massive animals) may survive milk processing and stimulate the many processes that lead to acne production. Furthermore, the whey protein that is found in most dairy products also creates a potent insulin response that may further exacerbate any acne issues.

If you suspect that your dairy consumption could be harming your skin health, then consider replacing it with dairy-alternatives. Here is a list of some suggestions to make it easier for you:

  • Use coconut milk instead of milk. In recipes, you can substitute coconut milk in for regular milk in a 1 to 1 ratio.
  • Replace heavy cream with coconut cream. Make sure the coconut cream doesn’t have any added sugars.
  • Replace dairy-based cheese with vegan cheese. My personal favorite dairy-free cheese-making companies are Treeline and Miyoko’s Kitchen. Their cheeses are some of the best I’ve ever tasted. In fact, many people think that they are better than traditional dairy-based cheese. If Treeline or Miyoko’s Kitchen doesn’t have the cheese you are looking for, then try Follow Your Heart’s vegan cheese. Follow Your Heart makes almost every type of dairy-free cheese you could ever want.
  • Instead of Cream Cheese, have Nut-Based Soft Cheese. Treeline makes a cashew-based soft cheese that is delicious and savory, and it has almost the same texture as cream cheese.
  • Replace Yogurt and Sour Cream with Nut-Based Yogurt. At your local health food market, you will probably be able to find plain almond, cashew, or coconut milk yogurt. Just make sure it has no added sugars or dubious ingredients.
  • Instead of Butter use Coconut Oil or Vegan Butter. Coconut oil has a slightly lower melting point than butter and the same smoke point as butter, which makes it a good butter replacement. If you are not a fan of the flavor of coconut oil, look for dairy-free butter in your local health food store. Make sure the vegan butter doesn’t contain any hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils, or soy oils. You can also make your own vegan butter by following recipes online — Just search for “Vegan Butter”.

Seven More Ways to Improve Skin Health And Reduce Acne

Altogether, limiting your sugar and dairy intake should have a massive impact on your skin health. If this approach isn’t working as well as you’d like after a couple of weeks, then try some of these suggestions:

  • Supplement with Omega 3s. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are anti-inflammatory and may improve skin health. The best sources include wild-caught salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, and anchovies. Or if you don’t want to eat fish, supplement with some vegan omega 3s that are derived from algal oil.
  • Eat non-starchy vegetables with every meal. Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables help promote hormonal regulation and improve skin health.
  • Take caffeine-free green tea extract. Green tea is the best source of the antioxidant EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate). A 2016 study found that green tea extract significantly reduced acne lesions in adult women with moderate to severe acne. We suggest taking the caffeine-free extract to mitigate the adrenal stress that is typically caused by caffeine.
  • Limit dark chocolate consumption. A 2016 study found that 99% dark chocolate might significantly worsen breakouts in acne-prone men. For this reason, you may want to limit dark chocolate intake.
  • Eat only whole foods. Stick to whole foods whenever possible. Avoid anything with added sugars, even if they are natural sweeteners like honey and coconut sugar.
  • Exercise daily. Consider adding a 15-30 min walk to your daily schedule. This will increase your insulin sensitivity, decrease your insulin levels, and reduce the severity of your acne as a result.
  • Experiment with intermittent fasting. By restricting your calorie intake to an 8-hour eating window every day, you can decrease your insulin and IGF-1 levels more than you would by eating normally throughout the day.
Related: Inexpensive, Easy Detox – The One Gallon Challenge

Putting it All Together — The Best Diet For Eliminating Acne

The current evidence suggests that processed foods — specifically foods that are high in sugar and low in fiber — are the likely cause of the current acne epidemic in westernized societies. The reason why I say “likely cause” is because the existing data is scarce.

However, with our current knowledge of the physiology of acne, the prevalence of acne in westernized vs. non-westernized societies, and the results from the clinical trial on how diet affects the severity of acne, we have enough evidence to suggest that cutting out processed foods from the diet and replacing them with whole foods is one of the best (and healthiest) treatments for acne.

To put it more simply, your skin will be much healthier if you use your money to buy more organic vegetables instead of expensive creams and ineffective antibiotics.

Once you’ve adopted a low sugar, whole food diet into your life, you can improve skin health even further by:

  • supplementing with omega 3s
  • eating low-carb vegetables with every meal
  • taking EGCG
  • limiting dark chocolate consumption
  • exercising daily
  • experimenting with intermittent fasting

When you combine these suggestions together with a low sugar, whole food diet, your skin will start clearing up and your health will improve tremendously. Keep in mind, however, that it may take a couple of weeks to months before you see noticeable results — just like it did for the participants in the study we looked at earlier.

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6 Ways to Prepare for a Rough Flu Season

Flu season is shaping up to be brutal this year, with many areas reporting influenza cases a month ahead of schedule. Australia, who experiences flu season before the United States and Europe, suffered from a particularly rough season with almost twice as many deaths and more than twice the number of infections in comparison to the previous season. In response the flu vaccine gospel is already being pushed harder than usual, but that’s not going to help much.

Back in September, Dr. Vicky Sheppeard, director of communicable diseases at New South Wales Health in Australia indicated that “the four flu strains in the vaccine are well-matched to circulating viruses…” It turns out that a good match doesn’t really guarantee anything, as the New England Journal of Medicine reports that early vaccine effectiveness estimates found that the vaccine was only ten percent effective in Australia. This is a far cry from the initial overall estimates of 42% effectiveness or the 34% predicted for H3N2, the dominant flu strain in Australia that’s notoriously difficult to match. Flu shots for the United States are essentially the same as the one used in Australia.

How to Win at the Flu Season

None of the debate about the flu shot changes the fact that the flu season is here (early), and if Australia is any indicator, it’s going to suck. It doesn’t have to. You’ve got a heads-up, so use this time to prep. Here are the most effective strategies for avoiding or mitigating the flu this season.

Related: Influenza Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness of the Flu Shot

Load Up On Vitamins

Winter is not the best season for vitamin D, but it is critical for flu prevention. A review of 25 studies that included more than 10,000 participants found that vitamin d reduces the likelihood of respiratory infections like the cold and flu. It can be difficult to get all of your vitamin d from diet alone, especially in winter. If you suspect vitamin d deficiency, supplementation has proven to be effective.

Related: Foods with Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 for those with Multiple Sclerosis

Vitamin C is also a critical part of preparing for flu season. One of the most powerful antioxidants available to us, it also boosts immune function. Vitamin C transporter molecules in the membranes of the immune cells actively pump the vitamin into the cells – especially in a stressful situation when the body is more likely to need vitamin C. While there are plenty of vitamin c supplements available, many of them are derived from corn and don’t absorb well in the body. To get the full benefit of vitamin c, whole food sources like berries, colored peppers, broccoli, and dark leafy greens.

Related: Homemade Vitamin C

Gargle

It’s not fun, but gargling apple cider vinegar, fire cider, or even salt water can inhibit harmful microbes trying to take up residency in the throat or sinuses. Some viruses are able to hang on, but that infection will likely be less severe. A fire cider has the added antioxidant benefits of hot peppers.

Related: Mother Earth Organic Root Cider

Hot and Cold

Get hot and sweaty! A fever happens when your body is fighting an infection, and treatments like hot baths, showers, and saunas can trick the body into behaving in that manner. Moving back and forth between hot and cold also provides flu relief, loosening congestion, improving circulation, and boosting the immune system. Always start with hot, and then switch to cold. Switching between very hot and very cold in the shower is the easiest method, but hydrotherapy can also be accomplished with a hot bath and a rubdown with a cold cloth. Also referred to as cold mitten friction, dip a washcloth in 50 to 60 degree water, and rub vigorously.

Related: Hot & Cold Hydrotherapy

Echinacea

In addition to the vitamins, there are plenty of natural remedies for flu prevention. One of the best known and verified of these is echinacea. Echinacea is most effective when it’s taken right before or at the very beginning of a developing case of the flu. Anti-inflammatory and antifungal, a good-quality echinacea tincture gives your mouth a fuzzy feeling, and the herb loses its effectiveness after ten days or so.

Related: Shillington’s Echinacea Plus

Hydrate

Dehydration makes the body more susceptible to harmful invaders, and many early flu symptoms like a runny nose and sweating can increase that. Water is the safe play here, but if you’re looking to improve your all-around health at the same time, reach for the cranberry lemonade. The vitamin c is a proven flu buster, and cranberry keeps the kidney processing things smoothly. Another comforting option is a loose leaf, herbal tea. The tea provides a variation on the hot treatment, though it is important to choose an organic tea from a company you trust.

Related: What’s the Best Water for Detoxifying and For Drinking?

Diet

If you do everything on this list, you’ll likely be able to take on the flu quickly and effectively, but to keep your immune system in tip-top condition, diet comes first. Emerging research has continued to confirm that our microbiome determines how healthy we are. Beneficial bacteria like beneficial food, and feeding them the vegetables and fruit creates a positive cycle the reverberates throughout the entire body. The opposite is true of potentially harmful microbes and viruses like the flu. Refined sugars, refined grains, and processed foods fuel harmful bacteria and can lead to a stressed and overworked immune system, perfect for flu viruses to take advantage of. Check out this salad recipe to get some ideas for loading up on the veggies.

Related: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Always Be Prepared

The boy scout motto seems to be quoted often, but no one is applying it to our health. Then again, that’s what the vaccine is supposed to do. According to experts, this year’s flu vaccine is about as effective as going camping with a sheet instead and hoping it doesn’t rain or get cold. Don’t you want to be the person who actually prepared? It starts with diet.

Recommended: My Supplements & Organic Cider Review & Bullet Proof Immune System
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