Amaze Magazine» Health

5 Healthy Ways to Prevent Valentine’s Day Blues-Dr. Anthony Youn, CNN.com

Amaze Magazine — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:02:05 +0000

5 Healthy Ways to Prevent Valentine’s Day Blues-Dr. Anthony Youn, CNN.com…

According to Dr. Youn, “Valentine’s Day is great if you’re in a relationship, but can be depressing if you aren’t. For twenty-six years I hated Valentine’s Day. Every Feb 14^th was a reminder that no one wanted to date me. I couldn’t stand going to restaurants on Valentine’s Day and seeing all the lovey-dovey couples and their romantic bliss. Some people escape from the Valentine’s Day blues by binge drinking, overeating, and self-medicating. These unhealthy behaviors usually result in feeling even worse the next day.So what are some healthy ways a single person can prevent the Valentine’s Day blues?

Here are five suggestions:

Exercise. Studies show the endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine released during working out can improve your mood. Not only will you feel better, you’ll look better and be healthier. Feeling and looking better may also help you in your quest to find a valentine.
Volunteer for the needy – Several studies have shown that volunteering for the less fortunate has beneficial effects on mood, health, and even life span. These effects can also be immediate, as a study published in Psychology Todaydescribed the “Helper’s High,” a euphoric sensation experienced by over half of volunteers surveyed.
Go to a funny movie. Psychiatrists have proven that emotions are contagious, via a phenomenon called “Emotional Contagion.” Watching a humorous movie, television show, or even standup comedy act is a great way to stay happy on Valentine’s Day and forget that you’re alone.
Travel somewhere sunny. Heading to the sunny Southwest is a great idea for single people on Valentine’s Day. Nearly 10% of Americans suffer from Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or the winter blues. For many people February is the worst month for SAD, just in time for Valentine’s Day to make it even worse. Sunlight can boost levels of serotonin in the blood, counteracting seasonal affective disorder and improving mood. Just having the sunshine on your face may be enough to make you forget you don’t have a valentine.
Adopt a pet from a shelter. Several studies show that people with pets live longer, happier, and healthier lives. If you’re looking for unconditional love, this is a definite way to get it, and save an animal’s life in the process.

Dr. Anthony Youn is a frequent guest on The Rachael Ray Show and The CBS Early Show and has appeared on The Doctors, The O’Reilly Factor, Fox and Friends, Manswers, and in specials on VH1 and E! He’s written articles for CNN.com, RADAR magazine, and CBS. The paperback release of his memoir IN STITCHES will be February 14 by Gallery Books and has be praised as “laugh out loud,” (USA Today) and “brilliant and bouncy,” (Dr. Drew Ordon, host of The Doctors).

IN STITCHES by Dr. Anthony Youn is available at Amazon.com

Herbal Balm for the Body and Soul: Ten Healthy Teas by Valerie B. Lull

Amaze Magazine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:15:57 +0000

Herbal Balm for the Body and Soul: Ten Healthy Teas by Valerie B. Lull… Valerie B. Lull’s introduction to the adventure of tea is a primer to the pleasures of tea and an informative overview of the benefits to the body and he soul of a perfect cup of tea, quietly sipped, by oneself or with family and friends.

Author and herbalist Valerie B. Lull announces the release of Ten Healthy Teas. Lull’s simple introduction to ten tantalizing teas and simple recipes from them is a perfect guide to people on the go who want to reap the benefits to their health and to gain the instant, calming peace of mind that these teas can provide.

“If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.” So says an anonymous Japanese proverb, and it seems true, too, that the man with no tea in him will also have more colds, a weaker heart and a little more nervousness than is comfortable while getting through his day.

Lull’s introduction to these ten easy-to-find and easy-to-brew teas remedies those things. The author covers such conventional brews as green tea and black tea as well as the generally familiar chamomile and peppermint herbal teas, and she lists the potential health benefits to each, some of which are known, some of which are surprises.

Lull also covers the advantages of less familiar herbal drinks such as garlic tea, which was called “Russian penicillin” in World Wars I and II because of its apparent prevention of gangrene. Goldenseal tea is another new recommendation for most people. It was a favorite tea of the Iroquois and Cherokee, among whom it achieved a reputation for stellar antibiotic properties.

The author herself learned of the pleasures of tea time when as a young child she visited relatives in Canada who celebrated the leafy brew. Later on she and her mother would put a kettle on the old wood stove in their Vermont country home and sip tea through an afternoon of Scrabble or checkers. Now Lull is studying to be a Master Herbalist, but the information she provides in this concise volume is more than sufficient for anyone who wishes to simply enjoy a cup of hot, healthy tea.

Halt Your Sniffles! Tips to Stop Your Cold this Season by Dr. Yael Halaas

Amaze Magazine — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:04:28 +0000

You may be worried about catching the dreaded cold or flu… Every year, there are over one billion colds in the United States and more than 200 different viruses are known to cause the signs and symptoms of the common cold. We all know the common wisdom to get rid of a cold: rest, drink fluids and wash your hands. However, there are other innovative ways to ease your discomfort and relieve the symptoms of the common cold!

Here a few tips to win the cold war:

Take Your Stuffy Nose Outside: Breathing cold dry air helps reduce nasal congestion than breathing normal room air
Pump Up The Probiotic: 42% fewer people caught a cold after consuming any amount of probiotic
Hit The Gym: Exercise sparks a temporary rise in immune cells
Practice Crowd Control: Protect yourself by not touching your nose and eyes while in transit and washing your hands immediately afterward
Make Some Music: Vibrations from humming open the sinuses to clear congestion

Dr. Yael Halaas, ear, nose and throat doctor. She’s been featured on round up/lifestyle and breaking news segments on The Doctors, FOX News and ABC New York. Dr. Halaas has extensive knowledge on the common cold and has been a guest on Inside Edition, The Doctors and ABC in New York. She has been quoted in US Weekly, Men’s Fitness & Fitness Magazine.

Resolve to Change Your Life This New Year

Amaze Magazine — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:02:40 +0000

Sweet Acceptance Versus Bitter Resistance (Booklocker) is revolutionary book for people who suffer from addiction, contend with bad habits, possess negative thinking patterns, or are held captive by an addictive personality. Author Dr. Peter Andrew Sacco can help readers transform their lives with his practical and theoretical knowledge for overcoming addictions, along with a revolutionary 3-tier approach of psychology, spiritualism and law of attraction. This book teaches that addictions do not discriminate, but people do!

Once the principles in Sweet Acceptance Versus Bitter Resistance are applied, readers will definitely be on the road to recovery and find the self that they had been seeking. Using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques along with the 8 Beatitudes from the Holy Bible, this book breaks new ground in combining psychology with spirituality for overcoming addiction. Furthermore, it employs the principles from the law of attraction, teaching individuals how to become what they most want to be, as well as showing them how to receive what they want.

Sacco is an author, psychology professor, and former private practitioner/Hypnotherapist. He is the author of many international popular selling books. He is also former Editor-in-Chief of Vices: The Magazine for Addictions, Habits and Well-Being, and author of more than 400 magazine articles. Sacco lectures at universities in the USA and Canada. He specializes in relationships, criminal psychology, addictions, sports psychology, and mental health. He has received the Award of Excellence in Teaching. He is also a regular resident expert on several television programs and has hosted the show Mental Health Matters for 2 years. He calls home one of the most picturesque regions of the world, Niagara Falls, Canada.

Sweet Acceptance Versus Bitter Resistance will be available in bookstores in the USA and the United Kingdom, as well as online at the first of the year. Learn more about this inspiring figure athttp://www.petersacco.com.

Secrets to Staying Young by Karen Elizaga

Amaze Magazine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:36:42 +0000

Secrets to Staying Young… A few simple tips!

Optimize your nutrition – feed yourself like a baby.

Any good nutritionist will tell you that all of the processed and chemical-laden foods are aging us. The stuff is pumping our bodies with hormones and pesticides that our bodies weren’t meant to process. Our systems end up working much harder and longer in order to protect our critical organs from the poisons.

As you think about how to eat, think about how you would feed a newborn baby… only the best. We think carefully about what goes into their mouths, opting for vegetable purees and whole grain cereals.

Try it yourself! Switching to a mostly organic and whole food diet (and if that’s not possible, ditch the fast and processed foods in favor of food that you can prepare yourself) will help you to feel better and allow your body to focus on what it needs to focus on, rather than protecting itself. Read labels on the food products you buy, or better yet, focus most of our grocery shopping on fresh foods that don’t have labels on them! Fruit, veggies, and meats and fish from humanely treated animals.

Give yourself the encouragement – just like that positive feedback you give your kids.

As we have aged and gone through years of school, we often focus on what we’re not. We didn’t get the A because we’re not smart enough. We didn’t make the team because we’re not fast enough. And it doesn’t end there – we beat ourselves up til there’s no energy or motivation to move forward. And when we actually do achieve something formidable, we take it for granted and move onto the next challenge. We don’t do the opposite of beating ourselves up – we don’t celebrate or dole out any positive feedback.

Carol Dweck wrote one of my favorite books on life – Mindset. In it, she talks about how to praise the process, whether you are talking to a child or anyone you manage (and that anyone includes you!). Instead of focusing on intrinsic talents, you give encouragement on the effort being made. “I like how you chose multiple colors for your drawing” instead of “great drawing!” Or “I really appreciate how hard you worked on that pitch” instead of “amazing pitch!”

If you start giving yourself some well-earned pats on the back for efforts that you make, and even for accomplishments achieved, you will find it so much easier to pave your path forward. You’ll be energized by your own work!

Exercise – dance, move, run, skip like you’re back on the playground.

Remember when you were 19, ahem 21, years old and hitting the clubs on a regular basis? Or even just the fraternity party down the road? How much fun was it to dance all night long? Or even before that, remember skipping as a child or riding your bike til your legs were about to fall off?

So fun. Exercise can continue to provide you with that amazing child-like energy. Find activities you enjoy, friends you like and time in your day. Incorporating regular exercise into your life will chop years from your life.

If you despise exercise, just turn up the music in your kitchen in the middle of – or at any point during – your day. Blast your favorite song and just move! At our house, we have regular dance parties, and the kids LOVE it. I love it.

Laugh – the average child laughs 150 times a day… the average adult, five.

We take ourselves too seriously. With so much to get done personally and at work, we are totally objective driven, often failing to stop and smell the roses, and worse, to laugh at the funny stuff.

Create time where you can laugh. Book dinners with girlfriends to talk about the absurdity of certain situations. Go to a comedy club. Roll around and play with your kids who naturally incite laughter. Not everything is a serious matter!

You’ll work your ab muscles and create joy at the same time!

Play – entertainment value is critical for keeping us young.

When was the last time you took a ride on a skateboard or played Scrabble or sang at the top of your lungs… just for fun? Yes, there are the moments on the spin bike or the run through the park, but my guess is those happen for exercise.

Give your bike a whirl outside with no particular destination. Rollerblade after you’ve exercised. Hula hoop. Dribble the ball around and play HORSE. Tennis. Give play no purpose other than fun!

Try out a few of these tips and see how you age in reverse. I have seen it work! Happy unbirthday to you!

Karen Elizaga is a lifestyle coach and founder of Forward Options. At the start of many client engagements, clients are exhausted, droopy and often look older than they are. They begin coaching with the intention to achieve their goals or make meaningful change in their lives, and an unintended byproduct is that they have more energy and enhanced youth! It is visible.

mn8 LadyCare Non-Invasive Natural Relief for Menstrual Symptoms

Amaze Magazine — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:23:32 +0000

mn8 by Ladycare, a natural therapeutic remedy launched in the US that will help millions of American women who suffer from menstrual cramps and other symptoms associated with their monthly period. mn8 uses patented therapeutic technology that has already changed the lives of millions of women in Europe, Canada, Australia and Israel and offers a reliable alternative to OTC drugs. This simple, easy-to-use magnetic devise has undergone rigorous, medically-supervised consumer surveys and clinical trials and is doctor approved.

What drug companies may not want you to know!

7 out of 10 women are affected by pain during or before their monthly period
40% of adult women have menstrual pain
Of which 10% are incapacitated for 1-3 days each month, and may result in absence from school or work
mn8 is a non-invasive patented remedy for menstrual pain and menopause. It comes in a simple, discreet magnetic devise that effectively works to balance a woman’s autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Price: $49.95

mn8 is now available online via www.ladycareusa.com

Research Confirms that Cocoa is Health Food for your Heart

Amaze Magazine — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:00:22 +0000

Cocoa for health? read on! A study published on August 29, 2011 in the British Medical Journal (BMJ 2011; 343:d4488) has shown that chocolate consumption significantly reduces cardiovascular disease risk factors,including coronary heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

The meta-analysis, conducted at the University of Cambridge in England, reviewed seven independent studies of cocoa consumption among more than 100,000 participants. The authors concluded that increased chocolate intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Those studied who ate the most chocolate were able to reduce their risk ofcardiovascular disease by 37 percent, diabetes by 31 percent, and stroke by 29 percent.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 23.6 million people will die from cardiovascular disorder by 2030; and already, one-fifth of the adult population suffers from metabolic syndrome, pre-disposing them to the risk of cardiac disease.

“This study confirms what has been long known about the health benefits of polyphenols found in chocolate and their ability to protect the heart from the build-up of atherosclerosis or plaques,” said author and neuroscientist Joseph Maroon, MD. “What has been unappreciated is that certain dark chocolates and chocolate concentrates provide some of the greatest sources of these healthy plant molecules in our diet.” Dr. Maroon isVice Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

According to Harvard nutritionist and epidemiologist Eric Ding, Ph.D., “The majority of the benefits of chocolate on heart disease are from special cocoa flavonoids, which have been recently shown to clinically lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol. People need to remember that it’s the cocoa flavonoids that are good, and the sugar and calories in chocolate that are bad.”

Ding led a Harvard research team’s analysis of 21 studies of 2,575 participants showing that cocoa consumption is associated with reducing blood pressure and improving blood vessels and cholesterol levels, among other benefits.

Along these lines, one concern noted by the BMJ researchers was that many commercially available chocolate products contain high levels of fat and sugar, which can actually increase the risk of weight gain. A new form of cocoa-based products called CocoaWell, made as a vegetable capsule concentrate, provides all the health benefits of cocoa without the added sugar and fats. This unique healthy delivery system contains high potency cocoa and pure plant flavanols, scientifically shown to optimize cocoa’s naturalantioxidant and cardio-protective effect. CocoaWell (see www.cocoawell.org and www.cocoawell.com) can be found at fine health food stores nationwide, including Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods and GNC.

Is There a Cure for Cancer? Raymond Francis, M.Sc. Thinks So…

Amaze Magazine — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:03:24 +0000

Never Fear Cancer Again, a groundbreaking book on preventing and reversing cancer, has just been published by Health Communications, Inc. The author, Raymond Francis, M.Sc., says that despite the billions of dollars spent on cancer research, the War on Cancer has been a colossal failure, with cancer rates soaring and survival rates showing no real improvement since 1950.

Francis, the author of two other alternative health best sellers, says that conventional medicine has been looking at cancer from the wrong perspective and as a result has been asking the wrong questions.

“Conventional medicine views cancer as a tumor,” Francis says, “and they ask how can it be killed or removed. But cancer isn’t something that can be cut, poisoned or burned out of the body. It is a biological process that needs to be shut down.”

Francis says removing or killing tumors does not address the cause, and therefore the cancer will most often come back because the process is still operating.

“Cure is defined in cancer treatment as ‘alive 5 years after diagnosis.’ Do you consider that a cure? I sure don’t. Cure means the cancer doesn’t return, ever!”

Harvey Diamond, coauthor of the #1 New York Times best seller Fit for Life, writes in the foreword: “While the knowledge to end this epidemic already exists, the problem is that it is not being assembled and packaged into something we can use. In this eye-opening book, that’s what Francis so eloquently succeeds in doing.”

The breakthrough idea in Never Fear Cancer Again is thinking about cancer in a new way—as a process. Once you understand this process, you can see how to turn it off, just like turning off a lamp in your living room.

“Once you learn what to do to turn off the process and keep it turned off, the cancer will not return,” Francis says. “Now that’s what I call a cure!”

We are all at risk. According to the American Cancer Society almost half of all Americans will get cancer during their lifetimes. That’s up from three percent of the population in 1900.

“A lot has changed since then,” says Francis. “Junk food diets, living in a sea of manmade toxins, exposure to a profusion of electromagnetic fields, high-stress lifestyles, lack of exercise and sleep, and health-damaging medical treatments all present the human organism with unprecedented challenges.”

Francis, an M.I.T.-trained scientist, nearly died 26 years ago from medically-induced liver failure at the height of an international consulting career. He brought himself back to health using his knowledge of biochemistry and the principles he explains in his first book, Never Be Sick Again. Since then, he has been disseminating the message that health is a choice, and he has taught thousands how to choose it.

Russell Blaylock, M.D., a retired neurosurgeon and author of Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients, says, “Never Fear Cancer Again can only be described as a masterpiece.”

Ronald Greene, M.D., a pediatrician who met Francis after being sent home to die with stage 4 kidney cancer, followed Raymond’s program, restored his health and has now returned to his practice. “Never Fear Cancer Again could save your life!” says Dr. Greene.

Never Fear Cancer Again available online at Amazon.com

5 Natural Ways to Prep Your Immune System For Cold and Flu Season by Carolyn Harrington

Amaze Magazine — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:44:50 +0000

Believe it or not but cold and flu season is right around the corner which means NOW is the time to boost your immune system to prevent using up all of your sick days come November! Instead of feeding your body medicine and pills that contain questionable ingredients, here are 5 natural ways to boost your immune system this year!

Load up on foods that contain tons of vitamin D!

New research shows that vitamin D rich foods instantly give your immune system the boost it needs! At your local grocery store, fill up on green leafy vegetables like Kale, Collards, Spinach, Turnip greens, Beet greens, Mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli and Onions .

Don’t wait for the weekend to catch up on your Zzzs!
If you think getting 5 hours of sleep per day and loading up on coffee will do the trick – think again! Sleep depredation not only makes you more prone to catching colds and the flu but it also plays a role on your body’s ability to fight illnesses! Try to plan each night for 7 or 8 hours of sleep.

Sweet Poison!
That sliver of chocolate cake or extra can of fizzy sugary soda could not only add inches to your love handles, but sugar actually lowers your immune system. The refined sugar found in dessert treats lacks minerals and vitamins and actually paralyzes the immune system by destroying the white blood cells, reduces production of antibodies and interferes with the transport of Vitamin C.

Powerful Vitamin C!
One of the most important immune system booster and the tastiest is Vitamin C! This powerful vitamin increases the production of infection-fighting white blood cells, increases level of interferon and prevents viruses from entering your body. And as an added perk, it’s super easy to stock your body up! Fill your fridge with strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, bell peppers and grapefruits! Getting your vitamin fix never tasted this good.

Natural Syrup Inspired by Mother Nature!
Sometimes it’s too late and the cold has embedded itself onto your weekend plans. For quick remedy relief, try Maty’s All Natural Cough Syrup that is loaded with simple ingredients like buckwheat honey, apple cider vinegar and cinnamon this syrup has been proven to kill colds quickly.

Carolyn Harrington is the founder of Maty’s Healthy Products and a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, trained in many aspects of natural medication, including Nutrition, Herbs and various mind/body therapies. She has studied the art of the hands-on-healing technique of Quantum Touch Healing and is currently studying for her certification as an Applied Kinesiology Healing Practitioner, a natural healing technique that uses muscle testing to analyze overall health of an individual and recommend lifestyle changes based on results.

Super Immunity by Dr Joel Fuhrman

Amaze Magazine — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:27:48 +0000

Super Immunity by Dr Joel Fuhrman: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free

Super Immunity is a compelling, yet easy-to-follow approach that gets the body’s immune system working to its fullest potential which promotes the body’s strongest defense.

Based on the latest scientific research, Super Immunity reveals how to become almost totally resistant to colds, influenza and other infections. If we do “catch” something, ‘super immunity’ provides us the ability to bounce back to wellness quickly, often within 24 hours. This means that we can prevent the complications of viral and bacterial exposures and stop them from evolving into more dangerous infections.

Super Immunity contains a wealth of information for better health, including the latest science on foods including soy, olive oil, nuts, and many other foods; the latest anti-cancer research; a list of super foods for super immunity; a two-week daily menu planner; and 85 delicious recipes. Dr. Fuhrman helps readers put the latest nutritional science into practice for improved health, increased longevity, and a powerful immune system.

Super Immunity by Dr Joel Fuhrman available at Amazon.com