Energy to Live

Vitamin B and Folic Acid Supplements Prevent Migraines

2009-09-03T20:48:00.001-07:00

I hope you enjoy the article below about vitamin B supplements and migraines. If you need a great vitamin b supplement you can visit www.azaloe.com to order and get more information. Here is the article

Vitamin B and Folic Acid Supplements Prevent Migraines

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
Key concepts: Migraine, Folic acid and Vitamin B
View on NaturalPedia: Migraine, Folic acid and Vitamin B

Increased intake of folic acid and other B vitamins may reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Genomics Research Center at Australia's Griffith University.

Migraine attacks are characterized by severe headaches, often accompanied by sensitivity to lights, sounds or smells; nausea; vomiting; and pins and needles sensations. Eighty percent of migraine patients suffer from at least one attack per month. Attacks can last up to 72 hours, and may be so debilitating that patients become unable to function.

Currently, migraines are treated with potent painkillers or anti-nausea drugs, with mixed results. Other treatments include antidepressants and beta-blockers, both of which carry the potential for severe and even dangerous side effects.

In the current study, researchers gave 50 migraine patients supplements of folic acid and vitamin B. According to researcher Lyn Griffiths, they observed "a drastic improvement in headache frequency, pain severity and associated disability for those treated."

The researchers suspected that B vitamins would prove effective because they are known to help regulate levels of the amino homocysteine. Genetic research has shown that a mutation or malfunction of the gene MTHFR results both in elevated homocysteine levels and an increase risk of migraine. High levels of homocysteine have also been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The Griffith University team is now preparing to carry out a larger study to find out what doses work best for individual migraine patients, also taking into account any genetic predisposition to migraine that they might have.

Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the world, with approximately 6 to 15 percent of adult men suffering at least one attack per year and 14 to 35 percent of adult women. Between 12 and 28 percent of people will suffer at least one attack in their lifetime.

Sources for this story include: www.telegraph.co.uk.

Have a great day

Mike
www.azaloe.com

Fish Oil Supplements Boost Memory

2009-07-13T20:44:00.001-07:00

Great article see www.azaloe.com for the best fish oil supplement on the market. Ask me for a free sample.

Fish Oil Supplements Boost Memory
DHA Supplements Help Stave Off 'Senior Moments'
By Charlene Laino
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJuly 13, 2009 (Vienna, Austria) -- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may boost memory in healthy aging adults.

In a new study, people 55 and older with age-related memory complaints who took the fatty acid supplements for six months had almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory skills, compared with those who took a placebo.

"The benefit is roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger," says researcher Karin Yurko-Mauro, PhD, associate director of clinical research at Martek Biosciences Corporation.

But the supplements do not appear to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in people who already have mild to moderate symptoms of the disorder, a second study shows.

Both studies were presented at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease.

DHA Boosts Memory
Previous studies have shown that people who eat a lot of fatty fish score better on memory tests and are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Animal research credited docosahexanoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid that's abundant in fatty fish and algae.

But most people don't eat enough fish to reap DHA's benefits, Yurko-Mauro says. So she and colleagues put DHA supplements derived from algae to the test, pitting them against a placebo in 485 healthy people with an average age of 70.

Participants had mild memory complaints that often occur with age, such as forgetting names or appointments. They were randomly assigned to take supplements containing either 900 milligrams of DHA or placebo, once a day for six months.

At the start and end of the study, participants were given a memory test in which they were asked to look at patterns on a computer screen and later recall where each pattern was on the screen.

It's almost like playing a video game, Yurko-Mauro says. Everyone improves over time, as they become more familiar with the technique. But people who took DHA improved more.

At the start of the study, people in both groups made an average of about 13 out of 30 possible errors on the test. Afterward, those given the placebo made an average of 2.4 fewer errors. In contrast, those given DHA supplements made an average of 4.5 fewer errors.

Blood levels of DHA doubled over the course of the study in people taking the supplements, and the higher a person's DHA level, the better the score on the test.

The supplements didn't cause any serious side effects.

William Thies, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer at the Alzheimer's Association, says that pending future research confirming the findings, the Alzheimer's Association isn't ready to recommend that people take supplements to fend off age-related memory loss.

"But DHA is available, and people will make their own decisions," he tells WebMD

Easy Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health and Live Longer

2009-07-09T08:10:00.001-07:00

Here is a great article about things you can do to improve your health and live longer. Many of the suggestions we can help you with since our products are the best antioxidants and health products on the market. Visit us at www.azaloe.com

Easy Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health and Live Longer
By Dr. Melanie Beingessner
By Sep 24 2007 - 5:15am

"The next century will be dominated by the concerns of the elderly" affirms Ken Minaker, MD., Chief of Geriatric Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. By the year 2050, our average life expectancy is projected to be 82.6 years (up from today's average life expectancy of 72.1 years for men and 78.8 years for women.) The census bureau predicts that 3 million baby boomers will live to be 100 years old or more!

Statistically speaking, we are going to live longer than our grandparents did, but the key factor in is that those who are in good health will be able to enjoy those extra years. Here are a few suggestions on how to improve health and live longer.

1. EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN

Mental activity produces lasting changes in the brain – it creates more synapses or connections, which can help make the brain more resilient to stress. Activities such as crossword puzzles, bridge, chess and other card games can help to sharpen mental acuity.

2. EXERCISE YOUR BODY

Those who exercise more, live longer. A thorough exercise program includes the following:

Aerobic activity. A study of 19,000 participants showed that death rates fell in direct proportion to the number of calories that the participants burned each week. Aerobic physical fitness can be as easy as walking for 30 minutes, 4 times per week. Weight-bearing exercise such as walking, dancing, and gentle aerobics help to strengthen bones and to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Stretching. Stretching helps to maintain limber joints and muscles. One relatively easy way to improve balance, flexibility, and muscle strength is T'ai Chi. T'ai Chi helps to improve strength, muscle tone, range of motion, flexibility, balance and coordination. In clinical trials, it has been shown to help reduce blood pressure and heart rate. T'ai Chi is for people of all ages and introductory classes are usually offered at community and recreation centres.

Muscle Strength. Your local gym is not just a place for body builders. A study done by Dr. Maria Fiatarone asked 10 chronically ill nursing home residents to lift weights 3 times a week over a 2-month period. The results were surprising: the participants' average walking speed nearly tripled and their balance improved by half. A weight lifting regime does not have to be complicated. A qualified weight lifting instructor could design a fitness regime to suit people of any age or activity level.

3. VISIT YOUR LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR

Chiropractic adjustments help to keep the spine flexible and the nervous system functioning at its highest potential. When vertebrae become fixed, they can put pressure on the nerves as they exit from the spine. Chiropractic adjustments help to relieve that pressure, which improves the communication between the brain and the body. With a better functioning nervous system, and a movable spine, chiropractic patients enjoy more vitality and energy. Adjustments are safe, and they feel great!

4. MAKE YOUR CALORIES COUNT

As we get older, our appetites tend to decrease. A diet based on low fat and high quality foods can help to reverse the effects of aging and to reduce high blood pressure. Try to include many fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Avoid processed and packaged foods as they contain more fat, more salt and less potassium than our bodies need.

One of the best ways to improve your energy level is to eat hemp hearts in the morning. Hemp hearts are shelled hemp seeds and they contain all of the essential protein and essential fats (the good kind!) that you need in a day. People who eat them with breakfast notice that they have much more energy and that they feel fabulous!

5. DRINK MORE WATER

It is important to drink eight glasses of water each day. This goal can be difficult for seniors to achieve because as we age, our thirst centres become slower to respond to the needs of the body. Seniors might not feel the urge to drink, even if their body is dehydrated. To remedy this, add an extra glass of water to your day, and SLOWLY (over a period of weeks) work up to at least three extra glasses of water per day.

If drinking water is difficult for you, try using a straw to reduce any gas or bloating that you might experience. You might try adding fresh lemon pieces to your water to improve the taste.

6. TAKE ANTIOXIDANTS

Jan Vijg is currently studying the affects of oxygen toxicity and aging. The oxygen that we breathe is a highly reactive element that can bond to almost anything. We can see the effects of oxidation in rusty metal parts, and just like with rusty metal, oxygen can have a detrimental effect inside our bodies. Oxygen toxicity can deactivate enzymes, change body proteins and compromise our DNA. Oxidative damage may be one of the major causes of the aging process, and it might cause cells to mutate, which can lead to cancer.

A study of Italian centenarians (people who are 100 years old or more) showed that they had elevated blood levels of antioxidants. An easy way to lower the risk of major diseases is to take a modest supplementation of antioxidants such as: vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium and grape seed extract. Be sure to consult a medical doctor or a chiropractor about what dosage is right for you.

7. DRINK GREEN TEA INSTEAD OF BLACK TEA

There are compounds in Japanese or Chinese Green Tea that help to fight cancer and to strengthen the immune system. It can be found in health food or grocery stores.

8. MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

The way that we adapt to the stresses in our lives can determine how long we live. People who manage their life stresses usually have a better functioning immune system, and are better able to cope in today's society. One way to help to relieve stress is to surround yourself with family and friends. A study of elderly heart attack patients found that people who had 2 or more close friends had twice the one-year survival rate of those who were alone.

Indeed, a person's collection of friends and family is as important as mental and physical fitness. A study by Lisa Berkman showed that people who have no close ties to family or friends are 3 times more likely to die over a nine-year period than people who have at least 1 source of social support. To increase your sense of well-being, call your friends and family, get out for a coffee and a chat, volunteer, or take a class at your local recreation centre.

9. GIVE BLOOD REGULARLY

By giving blood, we reduce the number of red blood cells in our bodies, and a reduction of the amount of iron in the body can reduce the amount of oxygen toxicity in the blood.4 Red blood cells contain iron, which carry oxygen to our cells and tissues. The problem is that we are not able to eliminate excess iron in our bodies. Pre-menopausal women do not have this problem because of their menstrual cycles. Men and post-menopausal women can retain too much iron in their bodies. By donating blood, the body is able to rid itself of excess iron and to make new and fresh red blood cells.

These nine suggestions are a way for anyone to maximize their health and longevity. By taking good care of our bodies, we all have a much greater chance of living a long and healthy life.

Author's Bio
Dr. Melanie Beingessner is a chiropractor, a breastfeeding counsellor, a certified infant massage instructor and the mother of three fabulous kids. She is the author of The Calm Baby Cookbook, written to help breastfeeding moms calm their fussy babies by changing their diets.

Dr. Melanie's website provides information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, ADD/ADHD, chiropractic, health and wellness at drmelaniebee.org

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Source URL: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Easy_Things_You_Can_Do_To_Improve_Your_Health_and_Live_Longer.html

Hope you enjoyed the article

www.azaloe.com

Mike

For Good Health: Take a Hike!

2009-06-04T08:45:00.001-07:00

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This article was forwarded to me by Harry, my father in law. His website is www.aloeaz.com.

I decided to add it to the healingtouchaloe.blogspot.com blog.

A summary of the benefits from hiking mentioned in the article include

- Reducing bad LDL cholesterol
- Uphill hiking reduced triglyceride levels.
- Improved mental/emotional health, moods and self esteem
- Reducing depression
- Removing blood sugars
- Improving glucose tolerance.

I'm planning on doing hikes on Wednesday mornings at 5 AM for those of you interested in Phoenix area hikes go ahead and send me an e-mail at mike@azaloe.com

Bring water and an apple or banana to enjoy at the top. Also some FLP products that you might find handy on your hike are Fast Break bars, Aloe2Go, Aloe Sunscreen and Aloe Lips Chapstick.

You can get these at:
http://distrib.foreverliving.com/retail/EntryServlet?langID=en&storeID=USA&distribID=001002331898&categoryName=Drinks+R

Wholesale pricing is also available for those interested just ask me about it.

Here is the full article

For Good Health: Take a Hike!
Written By:John McKinney
http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/for-good-health-take-a-hike-796

From William Wordsworth's poetry to the Boy Scout hiking merit badge pamphlet, tramping through the countryside has long been considered a tonic for good health.

"Walk out the door and find good health. There is no fever that a 10-mile hike can't cure," suggests Garrison Keillor, the wry host of National Public Radio's Prairie Home Companion.

Millions of Americans who like to hike believe that hiking contributes to good physical and mental health. And yet, until recently, nearly all evidence offered for the benefits of taking a hike was anecdotal, and very little hiking-specific scientific research supported that belief.

In 2004, Austrian researchers announced the results of an intriguing study demonstrating that different types of hiking have different influences on the fats and sugars in the blood. For the study, one group hiked up a ski resort mountain in the Alps and descended by cable car, while the other group rode the cable car up and hiked down. After two months of hiking, the groups switched hiking programs and repeated the experiment.

As expected, hiking uphill proved to be a great workout and provided measurable health benefits. Unexpectedly, researchers from the Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment discovered that hiking downhill also has unique benefits.

Both uphill and downhill hiking reduced LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Only hiking uphill reduced triglyceride levels. The study's surprise finding was that hiking downhill was nearly twice as effective as uphill hiking at removing blood sugars and improving glucose tolerance. A second study of uphill/downhill hiking was conducted this summer, but results have yet to be announced.

A study commissioned by Mind, a leading British mental health charity, suggests hiking contributes to improved mental and emotional health. Focusing on people affected by depression, researchers from the University of Essex compared the benefits of hiking a trail through the woods and around a lake in a nature park to walking in an indoor shopping center. The researchers found that the hikers realized far greater benefits than the mall walkers.

In fact, they found that taking a hike in the countryside reduces depression, whereas walking in a shopping center increases depression. Results from the 2007 study showed that 71 percent reported decreased levels of depression after hiking, while 22 percent of the participants felt their depression increased after walking through an indoor shopping center. Ninety percent reported their self-esteem increased after the nature hike, while 44 percent reported decreased self-esteem after walking around the shopping center. Eighty-eight percent of people reported improved mood after hiking, while 44.5 percent reported feeling in a worse mood after the shopping-center walk.

The American Hiking Society, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes hiking, produces a widely circulated fact sheet, "Health Benefits of Hiking," that relies on studies, mostly of walking, made by the American Diabetes, American Heart and American Lung associations to make the case. Hiking-specific research is likely to be of more value in linking hiking and good health than the general "Exercise is Good for You" studies long used by AHS and other advocacy groups.

"Hiking for health is what we're all about, so we're glad the benefits are getting quantified," declared Tracy Roseboom, senior national campaign manager for Hike For Discovery, a program of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that offers its supporters in chapters nationwide an opportunity to take a hike while raising money for cancer research.

Participants train and take practice hikes in their home locales for 14 to 16 weeks before embarking on a marquee hike in a natural wonderland, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Maui. Most hikers look at the training as a way to get fit for the once-in-a-lifetime hike, as well as for better overall health and fitness. Roseboom said the health benefits of hiking have been a key selling point for the program since it began in 2006.

Whether or not the latest research is influencing public opinion, hiking for health appears to be an idea whose time has come. The message is on cereal boxes and granola bar wrappers and a popular subject in Prevention, as well as women's and health magazines. Glamour.com and Self.com even feature a hiking-activities calculator. Enter your weight, duration of your hike, the kind of hiking you're doing (backpacking, climbing hills, etc.) and learn how many calories you blast on the trail. (There's also a good calculator here that also factors in weight, distance and elevation change for a better picture of the burn.)

And from the Devon Hiking Spa in Tucson, Ariz., to the New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vt., hiking spas are very popular these days with those who find combining hiking with all the usual health-resort activities makes for a stress-reducing, fitness-building holiday.

Roseboom said she's pleased by the new data that suggests hiking has health benefits beyond those of walking around the neighborhood, but the research doesn't surprise her. "I see hikers routinely make the connections between nature, themselves and good health," she said. "I'm glad the researchers are making the same connections."

Take Care

Mike
www.azaloe.com

More on Chia, great for diabetics, Omega 3's, complete protein

2009-05-09T15:30:00.001-07:00

Home made hand sanitizer recipe

2009-04-30T21:38:00.001-07:00

www.azaloe.com

100% pure aloe vera gel 1 cup, 2 teaspoons witch hazel, 3 to 4 drops each Tea Tree and Peppermint Oil, mix and enjoy

If you have FLP products on hand then the MSM Gel has the Tea Tree Oil in it and you could use that in place of the aloe vera gel, since the primary ingredient in the MSM Gel is pure stabilized Aloe Vera.

If you don't have FLP products on hand then visit my website at www.azaloe.com and get some. The Aloe first spray is also a great addition to help soothe, sanitize and nourish your skin.

Take care and Bee (bzzz) well

Mike

Multi Maca - A Good boost

2009-04-29T07:55:00.001-07:00

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Forever Living products has many clever youtube videos out there. One of the most funny ones is the Multi Maca video. Go to youtube.com and type Forever Multi Maca and you will see what I mean.

The results from the video are for real. I have used the product with great results.

Here is more information on Multi Maca

• Known as the sex herb of the Incas
• May promote libido, stamina and energy

Maca, also known as Lepidium Meyenii, is an annual plant that is cultivated in the Peruvian central highlands. The edible root, which resembles a radish, is a staple food for the local population.

Maca has been highly revered for over 2,000 years in Peru. According to legend, the Incan warriors ate Maca for strength and endurance before going to battle. The Spanish Conquistadors called it the "sex herb of the Incas." Today it is known as Peruvian Ginseng. Modern studies suggest that Maca may promote libido, sexual potency and energy.

Women in South America have also used Maca for thousands of years to help maintain their stamina, prevent fatigue and reduce the effects of stress on their body. Peruvian women begin using Maca at age 3, and remain strong, fertile and productive, and have immense stamina well into their later life. Maca may increase a woman's libido, and should be taken daily for best results.

The nutritional value of dried Maca root is high, similar to cereal grains such as rice and wheat. It contains 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, 8.5% fiber, and 2.2% lipids. Maca's reported beneficial effects for sexual function could be due to its high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients. Much of Maca's protein content is in the form of amino acids, which are required for many functions in the body, including sexual and fertility functions. They also are required in the manufacturing of substances that transmit signals in the nervous system and play a major role in the process of sexual arousal and physical performance during sex. The main amino acids that these substances require include phenylalanine, tyrosine, and histidine – all three of which are found in significant amounts in Maca. Maca also contains another amino acid, arginine, which may play a role in supporting male fertility and activity.

Forever Multi-Maca combines legendary Peruvian Maca with other powerful herbs and select ingredients, to create one of the finest supplements of its kind!

Take care and bee (buzz) well
Mike

www.azaloe.com

Looking to Detox and cleanse with natural herbs

2009-04-22T07:54:00.001-07:00

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Here are some FLP products to help with detoxing and cleansing.

Blood cleanser - Echinacea

Skin cleansers- Goldenseal (part of FLP Echinacea supplement), Cayenne pepper (part of FLP's Field of greens product), Ginger root (part of the Aloe First spray and also in the Aloe blossoms herbal tea.

Natural Antibiotics (fight bacteria)- FLP's Bee propolis, Garlic, Echinacea,

Helpful in reducing mucus- Echinacea, Goldenseal, Gin Chia (North American Sage) and Garlic.

Let me know if you need any information about FLP products and ingredients.

FLP offeres a Clean 9 program which is a 9 day Cleanse that can help you cleans and detox as well.

Wishing you all the best

www.azaloe.com

Mike

Gin-Chia - Omega 3's Who new

2009-04-17T19:16:00.001-07:00

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Gin Chia is an Forever Living product that has Chia and Ginseng. I had no idea what Chia was until I did some research. Turns out it is North American Sage. It is great for your skin and circulation. More details below. Yes and Chia is the same as Chia pet :), Turns out it is good for you to use as a supplement.

Gin-Chia®

Two ancient herbs: golden chia from the West and
ginseng from the East, combine to create a modern
miracle - Forever Gin-Chia. Let this powerful
combination of herbs give your body back what
your busy lifestyle takes out!

Golden Chia, or North American Sage, was used
by southwest Native American Indians in the US
at the turn of the century for its life-sustaining
properties. Chia possesses the highest percentage
of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, a-linolenic and
linoleic (i.e. 83.2%), of all crops.

It is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids,
natural antioxidants and dietetic fiber. The protein content of
Chia is higher than other nutritional grains.
Compare Chia's 19-23% protein to wheat (14%),
corn (14%), rice (8.5%), oats (15.3%), and barley
(9.2%). And, unlike these other grains, it is a
complete protein, meaning that it has the appropriate
balance of all essential amino acids. It is a
powerful antioxidant.

Ginseng is legendary as a tonic, earning its name
as the "King of Tonics." It contains eleven saponins,
making ginseng an adaptogen (a compound that
adapts its effects depending on the needs of the
body). Ginseng is also a potent antioxidant.

Take care

www.azaloe.com
Mike

Forever Lycium Plus (Goji berry or Wolf berry)

2009-04-08T07:44:00.001-07:00

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With so many products offered by Forever Living products its hard to know what everyone is and has in it. Forever Lycium Plus is one of those products that I didn't really understand until I did some more research.

The work Lycium doesn't really mean much to me, but there is a lot of buzz in the health circle about Goji berries and Wolf berries. After doing some research I discovered that the Lycium is really the same thing as these 2 berries.

Here is the information from the product PDF

A Chinese fruit used for centuries, lycium has been shown to enhance the complexion and help maintain energy and good vision. Forever Lycium Plus is a dietary supplement intended as a source of antioxidants, bioflavonoids and other beneficial phytonutrients.

Rich in amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and vitamins, lycium is known in China as a "yin tonic," with many traditional uses for maintaining good health. Licorice is considered to be the most widely used herb in China. It is made up of over 150 chemical compounds, which have been shown to have many beneficial effects. Its most frequent use by far is as a complementary herb, with its main function being to bring out the best beneficial effects of other herbs. This makes it an ideal companion for lycium.

Licorice Flavonoid Extract is a concentrated form of licorice bioflavonoids. It is produced according to a process that removes most of the glycyrrhizin, an intensely sweet component of licorice that has been shown to produce undesirable side effects. Based on modern studies, licorice bioflavonoids are among the strongest antioxidants discovered to date.

• Powerful antioxidant
• Good source of phytonutrients
• Beneficial to eyesight and skin
• Powerful tonic

www.azaloe.com

Take care and bee (buzz) well

Mike

Try Aloe for Colitis and Crohn's

2009-03-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

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I have heard and read some testimonials for Aloe and Crohn's. I myself have benefited personally from drinking aloe to help with my digestion, absorbtion and acid reflux. My mom suffers from Colitis and I sent her some of my Forever Aloe Vera Gel and she has seen improvement in her symptoms, so now I send it to her every month.

As a distributor of the product my goal is to offer an alternative, my M.D. told me I would be on prilosec and acid reducers my whole life. I'm glad I tried aloe vera instead.

Here is some of the information I pulled from the web on Crohn's and Aloe

CROHN'S DISEASE

Inflammatory digestive disease, which can be anywhere between mouth and bowel. Mostly commonly found at the conjuncture of the large and small intestine. There is no known cause or cure so it is a chronic decease.

Symptoms can include abdominal pain, frequent visits to the bathroom and bleeding. When a flare-up is severe often steroids or surgery is needed. However, a great deal can be done naturally with i.e. diets, reducing stress.

Aloe vera can help by cleansing the digestive system and greatly reduces the inflammation. Over a period of time, the Aloe Vera also helps the body to repair epithelial damage.

See clinical trial done at Great Ormond Street by Dr. Ramsden on Ulcerative Colitis and Welsh National Medical School clinic trials on I.B.S. – the biggest trial ever for this condition.

Take care and be well

Mike
www.azaloe.com

Forever Lean

2009-03-22T12:54:00.001-07:00

www.azaloe.com

Forever Lean - Forever Lean™ provides two revolutionary ingredients that can help reduce the body's absorption of calories from fat and carbohydrates. The first of these ingredients is a unique, fatabsorbing fiber derived from the cactus plant, Opuntia ficus-indica, otherwise known as Indian fig, nopal or prickly pear. Studies have shown that this unique fiber has a very high ability to bind fats, compared to other types of plants.

www.azaloe.com

Watch the video at www.azaloe.com on the products pages.

Have a great week

Dr Peter Atherton - "Aloe Vera - The Facts"

2009-03-09T08:54:00.001-07:00

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The following information is extracted from "Aloe Vera - The Facts" written by Dr Peter Atherton, MB. ChB. D.Obst. RCOG. MRCGP.

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe Vera, often called the Miracle Plant, the Natural Healer, the Burn Plant, goes by many names which have survived the 4000 or so years during which this amazing medicinal herb has benefited mankind.
Although there are over 200 species of aloe, there are probably only three or four with medicinal properties. Of these, Aloe Vera Barbadensis (Miller), which is also known as Aloe Vera (Linne), is the most potent.

Aloe Vera Barbadensis is a succulent, looking rather like a cactus but is in fact a member of the lily family related to onions, garlic and asparagus. It reaches maturity in four years when the content of its leaves, a mixture of inner gel and outer sap can be harvested, preserved and bottled to produce a product that is as near to the natural plant juice as we can get.

To benefit from Aloe Vera, the gel can be taken internally for its nutritional effect or it can be combined with other ingredients to produce topical creams and lotions to nourish and improve the quality of the skin.

Why does it work?

It works by providing a rich cocktail of nutritional elements whose combined action and balance produce a more powerful effect together than would be expected from the addition of individual components. This is because they work as a team, enhancing each other's effect - known as synergism. It also has adaptogenic properties which means it is a substance which increases non-specific resistance of an organism to adverse influences such as infection or stress.
Where does it work?

Aloe Vera, because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties, helps firstly to prevent injury to epithelial tissues*, and when they are damaged, it promotes healing. Antioxidants fight the destructive "free radicals", the unstable compounds produced by our metabolism and found in environmental pollutants. They are thought to cause various ailments including some cancers as well as contributing towards the ageing process.
* An epithelium is an anatomical term defined as "A layer of cells that covers the body or lines a cavity that connects it".
Our largest epithelium is our skin but also included are the lining of the gut, the bronchial tubes and the genital tract. No wonder that aloe works just as well on damaged skin as it does, say, on an inflamed bowel or in asthma.

How does it work?

Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action combined within its nutritional constituents promote cell growth and therefore healing. However, it is not only helpful for people with problems; most people taking it report a greater sense of well being - they just feel 'better' or they report feeling calmer and less anxious. I believe this last comment is due to aloe's second effect on the immune system which you may say becomes balanced or fine-tuned and therefore more efficient at defending the body from attack.
Inside an Aloe Vera leaf

Aloe Vera gel contains over 75 known ingredients which can be divided into the following groups:-

Vitamins
It contains a wide range, but the most important ones are the antioxidant vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene, the precurser of Vitamin A. It is also one of the few plant sources in the world of Vitamin B12.

Minerals
These include magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, chromium, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron.

Amino Acids
The human body requires 22 amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and Aloe Vera gel provides 20 of them. More importantly, it provides seven of the eight essential amino acids that cannot be manufactured by the body and which, therefore, have to be consumed as food.

Sugars
These include the important long chain polysacchorides which act on the immune system to boost its effects.

Enzymes
Lipases and proteases which break down food and aid digestion as well as carboxpeptidase that is involved in the inflammatory process.

Plant Sterols
The three main types act as powerful anti-inflammatory agents.

Lignin
This woody substance bestows on Aloe Vera its penetrative ability to reach deep into the skin.

Saponins
These are soapy substances that exert a powerful anti-microbial effect against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts such as candida and thrush.

Anthraquinones
The most important ones being aloin and emodin, but altogether they are strong painkillers, and are acknowledged to possess anti-bacterial and viruscidal activity. In their pure form, they are very powerful laxatives.

Salycylic Acid
This asprin-like compound is anti-inflammatory and topically helps to break down dead tissue.
Which type of aloe

There is no real evidence to suggest that whole leaf aloe, which includes the rind but is filtered and usually concentrated, is any more effective than just the inner leaf gel and sap alone. However, what is most important is the quality and quantity of aloe in the product being sold. Unfortunately, many products on the market labelled as "Aloe Vera juice" may contain only a small amount or proportion of the actual inner leaf gel. If in doubt, look for the Seal of Approval of the International Aloe Science Council. This is an independent American regulatory body which monitors the quality and quantity of aloe products. If their Seal of Approval actually appears on the container (not simply a claim), it is bona fide.
In Conclusion

Aloe Vera is not a panacea for all ills and there is no magic about it. I believe it works primarily in the two areas mentioned previously - epithelial tissue and the immune system. This is largely backed up by anecdotal evidence, as many thousands of people over the centuries have reported benefit for various skin complaints such as eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, burns, acne; even stings and bites. They have found relief for bowel disorders such as colitis, diverticulitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Other conditions resulting from a disordered immune system such as arthritis, asthma and ME (post viral fatique syndrome) and LE (lupus) have improved after a regular ingestion of Aloe Vera gel.
Aloe Vera therefore has a complementary role to play in the management of various conditions. It is very important, however, that people should always seek advice of their doctor when diagnosis is in doubt or where a condition does not improve. Self diagnosis can be extremely dangerous as many serious conditions can mimic more simple ones.

About the author

Dr Peter Atherton, MB.ChB.D.Obst.RCOG.MRCGP.
Qualified in 1968 at Leeds University and after six years in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he became a General Practitioner. He is currently the Senior Partner of a training practice with a special interest in dermatology, having spent 3 years working in a dermatology department of a district hospital. This interest combined with an understanding of the power of herbal remedies gained whilst serving in the Far East and India led to his fascination with Aloe Vera. He lectures extensively on the medical aspects of Aloe Vera and is the author of "The Essential Aloe Vera", the definitive work on the subject. He is a Research Fellow of GIFTS of Health and is also currently a Visiting Research Fellow at Green College, University of Oxford.

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Vitamin Absorption Improves through the Use of Aloe Vera

2009-02-17T18:13:00.001-08:00

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As a distributor for Forever Living Products I have felt a difference since I started using the Aloe Gel. Below is an interesting article about improved absorbtion of vitamins.

Vitamin Absorption Improves through the Use of Aloe Vera

In September 2002, breakthrough research conducted by University of Scranton scientists on the use of Aloe vera was presented at the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) annual conference. Lead researcher, Dr. Joe A. Vinson, described the research study demonstrating increased bioavailability of vitamins C and E when taken in combination with Aloe vera. The study was a human clinical trial whereby test subjects were given doses of vitamin C or E with or without Aloe. Blood samples were taken at the start of the trial, before the administration of the vitamins, and periodically for 24 hours after the administration of blinded test samples. The blood plasma was then analyzed to determine the level of concentration of each vitamin absorbed. The results of the trial show that Aloe vera improves the absorption of both vitamin C and E. The absorption is slower and the vitamins last longer in the blood plasma with Aloe vera. Researchers concluded that the intake of Aloe vera should be considered as a way to complement vitamins C and E. More research in this area will help to confirm these findings. Source: International Aloe Science Council.

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Fruits and vegetables

2009-02-05T07:29:00.001-08:00

http://www.azaloe.com/

Below is an article my health coach sent me that is really good.
She is an amazing lady that has helped me tremendously with my diet, lifestyle and recommendations on supplements.

Here is a link to her http://www.healthstylechoices.com/
In addition to eating fruits and vegetables as much as I can. I also take a supplement to assist me with meeting the goal for 5 fruits and vegetable servings a day. See video below for more details and visit http://www.azaloe.com/ and click shop now, if you would like to order the product.

Article starts here:

Why Eating a Rainbow Can Lead to a Pot of Gold

Are your current dietary habits leading you to a pot of gold or a pot belly? Unfortunately, most Americans consume a less-than-optimal diet, one that is disproportionately low in fruits and vegetables and high in saturated fats and refined sugars and carbohydrates. This “Standard American Diet” (or S.A.D.) has been linked to many chronic health conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

Lowering the Risk of Chronic Disease

Most of us know that fruits and vegetables play a key role in a healthy, balanced diet. Plant-based foods, in general, are naturally low in fat and provide important nutrients (called phytonutrients) and dietary fiber. Scientific research shows that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of chronic disease. For instance, in a meta-analysis covering 278,495 individuals followed over 11 years, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables from three servings per day to five servings per day was associated with a 17 percent reduction in coronary heart disease. Another study of 126,000 adults found that eating just one extra serving of fruits and vegetables daily could reduce the risk of stroke by six percent.
Don’t Be S.A.D. — Be Glad!

Sadly, many Americans rely on fast food restaurants as their source of fruits and vegetables. According to Dr. David Heber, author of the book, What Color is Your Diet, the top five choices for fruits and vegetables in the United States are iceberg lettuce, tomatoes (including sauces), potatoes (mainly French fries), bananas, and oranges (mainly as juice). But iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and French fries are typically part of an unhealthy diet (as in burgers and fries). And relying on orange juice and bananas alone won’t deliver the variety of nutrients required for good health.

A Rainbow of Nutrients

Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables will give your body the range of valuable nutrients it needs to maintain health, such as fiber, folate, and vitamins. And the deeper the color, the better: color is indicative of natural pigments that have been linked with health-promoting benefits. For example:

Red: Tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit may contain lycopene, a phytonutrient that been linked with reduced incidence of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, and macular degeneration.
Orange/yellow: Carrots and sweet potatoes are a good source of carotenoids, phytonutrients that convert to vitamin A. Among the many biological functions of vitamin A are cellular growth and vision. Lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are a good source of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps to form collagen in bones, cartilage, and muscle. It is also necessary for the absorption of iron.
Green: Dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain lutein. In patients with retinitis pigmentosa, lutein has been shown to help improve night blindness and peripheral vision.
Blue/purple: Blueberries, grapes, raisins, and eggplant may contain anthocyanidins, which function as antioxidants to protect from cellular damage.
White: Garlic and onions are a source of allicin, a natural compound exhibiting antibacterial and antifungal properties. Bananas and potatoes contain potassium, an essential mineral that helps regulate heart function, blood pressure, and nerve and muscle activity.
Making Colorful Foods Part of Your Daily Regimen

With today’s busy schedules, moving away from fast food to a more healthful diet, i.e., one that is more simple, balanced, and colorful, can seem challenging. But the good news is, doing so is not only easy, it can also be delicious!

Here are a few tips for getting more variety and color in your diet:

Each week, try a new fruit or vegetable
Visit ethnic grocery stores
Make rainbow fruit kabobs
Try dishes that invite color, such as stir-fries, omelettes, soups, salads, wraps, and smoothies
Switch from mashed potatoes to sliced carrots, or from corn to spinach
Toss in red pepper, tomato sauce, garlic, onion, or broccoli
Add rinds of oranges or lemons to water, chicken or fish
Eat fruit salads
Try a little bit of every color at a salad bar
Let Us Help

Therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) programs, including healthy eating, fitness, and stress reduction, are effective in helping prevent and manage many chronic health conditions. If you’re interested in finding out more about TLC, give our office a call today.

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Aloe Berry Nectar

2009-02-04T12:09:00.001-08:00

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Not as tasty as the bits and peaches but this has some additional benefits mentioned below.

Aloe Berry Nectar contains all of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes found in our Aloe Vera Gel, plus the added benefits of cranberry and apple.

Besides their reputation as a cleanser for the urinary tract, cranberries provide a high content of vitamin C. They are also a natural source of pycnogenol, a powerful antioxidant that is particularly useful in maintaining collagen.

Apple juice is noted for its vitamin A and C content, as well as its potassium and pectin.

You can drink Aloe Berry Nectar with meals or alone. The delicious flavoring is totally natural, prepared from a blend of fresh cranberries and sweet, mellow apples. Added fructose (a natural fruit sugar) sweetens it just enough to please both adults and children alike.

• All the benefits of Aloe Vera Gel with the sweet taste of cranberries
• Contains potent antioxidant which has a beneficial effect on the protection of the skin
• Natural source of Vitamin C

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Origins and evolution of the Western diet: health implications for the 21st century

2009-01-23T07:58:00.001-08:00

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Origins and evolution of the Western diet: health implications for the 21st century

Loren Cordain, S Boyd Eaton, Anthony Sebastian, Neil Mann, Staffan Lindeberg, Bruce A Watkins, James H O'Keefe and Janette Brand-Miller

ABSTRACT:
There is growing awareness that the profound changes in the environment (eg, in diet and other lifestyle conditions) that began with the introduction of agriculture and animal husbandry 10000 y ago occurred too recently on an evolutionary time scale for the human genome to adjust. In conjunction with this discordance between our ancient, genetically determined biology and the nutritional, cultural, and activity patterns of contemporary Western populations, many of the so-called diseases of civilization have emerged. In particular, food staples and food-processing procedures introduced during the Neolithic and Industrial Periods have fundamentally altered 7 crucial nutritional characteristics of ancestral hominin diets: 1) glycemic load, 2) fatty acid composition, 3) macronutrient composition, 4) micronutrient density, 5) acid-base balance, 6) sodium-potassium ratio, and 7) fiber content. The evolutionary collision of our ancient genome with the nutritional qualities of recently introduced foods may underlie many of the chronic diseases of Western civilization.

You can get the full text at
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/81/2/341

I find the above article fascinating. If we still ate the way cave men used to and if the food was the same then our bodies would be much healthier. I beleive Aloe is one of those things we can do to improve our health. Aloe is naturally packed with vitamins and is an alkaline, something we see very little of in our current diets.

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2009-01-21T13:25:00.001-08:00

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Take a step to be healthier in 2009

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Ducks Quack Eagles Soar

2009-01-21T13:24:00.001-08:00

Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: "I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement."

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said:

Wally's Mission Statement:
"To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment."

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf."

My friend said jokingly, "No, I'd prefer a soft drink."

Wally smiled and said, "No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice."

Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll take a Diet Coke."

Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today."

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card.
"These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio."

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always served customers like this?"

Wally smiled into the rearview mirror. "No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called "You'll See It When You Believe It". Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.

He said, "Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd."

"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."

"I take it that has paid off for you," Harvey said.

"It sure has," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action."

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

The above is based on a true story. This cabbie is based out of NY City. And I personally and truly love such customer service.

Give it a thought, how true it is. How many times we just start our day by complaining; - "Oh No! It's a Monday." And then go feeling miserable the entire day.

How many times, have we got up in the morning, felt the excitement within and exclaimed "This is going to be the BEST day of my life". Now even if after saying that you seem to not have a good day then turn around and do say and feel "This too shall pass".

At the end of the day, go to bed content that you know and feel right from the bottom of your heart that you have done the best you could. At the end of it, you will be the one who would have changed your own life forever

Information about Aloe

2009-01-13T09:16:00.001-08:00

www.azaloe.com

Here is some interesting information I was reading about Aloe from a competitor. The information is good so I am posting it, but in my opinion they are not as good as the FLP products because we are the number 1 in the world and the ones with the patented process.

from: http://www.lilyofthedesert.com/aloe_story.html

The Aloe Vera Story

HISTORY OF ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera has been used in the fields of medicine and cosmetics for Centuries. Ancient records show that the medicinal properties and healing advantages of Aloe Vera have been known for over 5000 years. The Bible mentions Aloe Vera in over a dozen passages, referring to it as the "bitter herb". The Biblical account of Christ's burial states that his body was anointed with bitter Aloes.

Ancient Chinese and Egyptians used Aloe Vera to treat burns, wounds, and to reduce fever. Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen, credited her irresistible charm and vibrant beauty to regular use of Aloe Vera gel. Legend reports that Alexander the Great, upon the advice of Aristotle, conquered the island of Socotra off the coast of Africa to secure supplies of Aloe Vera in order to treat the wounds of soldiers.

In 1944, the benefits of Aloe Vera were firmly established in the United States, when it was learned that the Japanese who were exposed to the "A" bomb. The injured that applied Aloe gel to their wounds reported faster healing of their wounds than others and had significantly less scaring.

Today, it appears that science is re-discovering what our ancestors knew. New studies continue to provide proof of the benefits of Aloe Vera both when applied externally and ingested INTERNALLY. It is currently one of the most studied herbs in the Natural Products category.

WHAT IS ALOE VERA?

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant member of the lily family. Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the actual botanical name for the variety grown commercially for the healing and moisturizing properties of the gel found in its leaves.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE ALOE VERA PLANT

There are over 400 species of Aloe Vera plants
Aloe is the most studied herb
Aloe contains over 200 biologically active, naturally occurring constituents
Aloe Vera directly absorbs water from the surrounding soil system
Aloe Vera plants reach maturity at 3-4 years
An adult plant can reach a height of 30 inches with up to 21 leaves
THE ACTIVE QUALITIES OF ALOE VERA

Aloe vera has three layers to each leaf which are filled with nutrients; the leaf or outer rind, the inner gel, and the Aloin or thin, slimy mucilage layer commonly known as the "yellow sap".

Aloe vera contains 18 amino acids, plus Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, and E. It also contains sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and chloride, as well as traces of magnesium and zinc. In addition to these major constituents, aloe vera contains numerous other naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.

Aloe vera is filled with Aloe Polysaccharides which are the naturally occurring active components that promote absorption, digestive health, immune qualities, anti-inflammatory, and overall health benefits.

POLYSACCHARIDE IMPORTANCE

While Aloe researchers report that aloe vera contains over 200 biologically active constituents, the aloe polysaccharide is the main naturally occurring active constituent in aloe vera that allows all of the benefits to be activated in the body. Polysaccharides are very safe in all toxicity studies, showing no side effects. In the makeup of the total solids found in aloe vera, polysaccharides represent approximately 20-25%. Most commercially produced aloe vera contains very little polysaccharides as they are destroyed in the processing by heat and enzymes. When they are broken in processing, they become simple sugars, and the body will not absorb them.

These glycol-nutrients are sugar molecules linked together like a string of beads.
Size varies based on molecular weight from 10,000 Daltons to 7 Million Daltons.
1. Lower Dalton weights (10,000 – 100,000) are most effective for supporting skin regeneration.
2. Higher Dalton weights (100,000 – 7 Million) are most effective with immune, anti-inflammatory, and absorption support.
3. The highest molecular weight ever studied were the Aloeride polysaccharides from 4 Million – 7 Million Dalton weight found
in Lily of the Desert aloe vera juice.
It is important that aloe products have the full range of polysaccharides to provide maximum health benefits.
Aloe polysaccharides are very efficacious both orally and topically.
Scientific studies confirm that aloe vera contains approximately 200 naturally occurring biologically active constituents. Most of aloe vera's biological activity is attributed to the polysaccharide fraction.
The higher molecular weight polysaccharides are found in the aloe vera inner gel while the highest total polysaccharide (volume) is found in the whole leaf aloe vera.
Most commercial aloe vera products contain very little polysaccharides as the sugars are destroyed in the processing by heat, enzymes, etc.
When the long chain polysaccharides are broken in processing, they become simple sugars; the body will not absorb them.
CERTIFIED ORGANIC ALOE VERA

As aloe vera is a succulent plant, it directly absorbs water from the surrounding soil system. If the soil contains herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals, the artificial chemicals would be directly absorbed into the leaves and could cause damage to the nutrients in the plant. Lily of the Desert Certified Organic aloe vera does not contain any herbicides, pesticides, or harsh chemicals.

FILLET vs. WHOLE LEAF ALOE VERA

Fillet aloe vera products are made by filleting off the outer rind of the aloe leaf and processing only the inner gel. Whole Leaf products are made by processing the entire leaf and filtering out the unwanted bitter constituents.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GEL AND JUICE

Aloe vera gel is actually made from the aloe vera juice by adding a food grade thickening agent called Carrageenan, which is a naturally occurring Sea kelp/Irish moss. They are almost equally effective because the Lily of the Desert juice products contain 99.7% aloe vera, while the gel products contain 99.5% aloe vera. Juice products are typically made for dietary supplement purposes, while Gel products are more commonly used for topical application, though they can be orally ingested and/or soothing to your throat, stomach, and digestive tract.

COMMON USES FOR ALOE VERA

TO IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH

Aloe Vera helps support a healthy immune system, as well as many other natural body functions. It is great as a part of a daily healthy maintenance regimen. It also works great to take in conjunction with daily vitamins and herbal supplementation. Studies confirm that taking daily vitamin supplements with aloe vera juice instead of water can improve the bioavailability (absorption) of the supplements.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM

Aloe vera helps promote healthy digestion throughout the entire digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach, small & large intestines, and the colon. It helps restore and promote regularity.

MUSCLE AND JOINT SUPPORT

Aloe vera helps support normal muscle, tissue, and joint functions.

ORAL HYGIENE

Aloe vera helps maintain healthy gums, mouth, and throat environment.

TOPICAL APPLICATION

Aloe vera is effective for minor abrasions, acne, burns, cold sores, cuts, dry skin, insect bites, scrapes, skin moisturizer, and sunburn.

BENEFITS

INTERNAL BENEFITS

Aloe researchers report that when taken internally, aloe vera coats the lining of the digestive tract allowing absorption of the aloe polysaccharide. Recent studies have shown benefits of using Aloe when taking supplements versus using water. One study showed an increase of over 204% absorption of Vitamin C & E when using Fillet gel. Another study showed an increase of 210% absorption of Vitamin C and 180% of Vitamin B12 when using Fillet juice. Whole Leaf juice resulted in 140% increase of Vitamin C and 160% increased absorption of Vitamin B12.

Antioxidant support
Joint and Muscle health support
Digestive support
Gastrointestinal Relief
Increased Absorption
Immune Support
EXTERNAL BENEFITS

Aloe researchers report that Aloe can penetrate through 3 epidermal layers of the skin when used topically. It provides the benefit of driving nutrients and other constituents into the deeper layers of the skin, which promotes epidermal health.

Sunburn relief
Burn and Wound relief
Anti-inflammatory
Skin Moisturizer
HEALTH TOPICS

DIGESTIVE HEALTH SUPPORT

Aloe vera, when taken orally provides a thin layer of nutritional coating in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract that remain intact for forty-eight hours. This coating serves as the foundation allowing polysaccharides to enter into the digestive tract with the other naturally occurring constituents and begin the healing process.
Lily of the Desert aloe products contain no more than 1-4 ppm of anthraquoine provide safe and effective cathartic effects to support constipation and regularity.
Recent studies have shown that aloe vera can promote tissue and cell regeneration and a healthy digestive system including support of: Acid Reflux, Heartburn, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and Constipation.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SUPPORT

Studies confirm that aloe vera contains glucomannans, a special cell-surface receptor which repair damaged tissue.
Plant hormones in aloe vera called auxins and gibberellins accelerate healing by stimulating cell replication.
The combination of salicylic acid and magnesium work together like an analgesic to soothe and relieve pain on contact.
The sodium in aloe vera helps prevent calcium build up in joints and bones.
The absorption benefits allow the penetration and absorption of other active constituents to maximize their known benefits of joint and anti-inflammatory properties.
Dr. Ian Tizard of Texas A & M University did research on aloe's effect on inflammation. Results showed that aloe has a second anti-inflammatory mechanism by blocking certain bacteria or viruses that invade the body. Evidence has been presented to show that certain aloe-derived carbohydrates bind specifically to carbohydrate-binding sites. In doing this, they significantly reduce swelling and redness in some models of experimental inflammation.
IMMUNE SUPPORT

Macrophages are specific cells of the Immune System. Studies show that aloe has a stimulating effect of the acetylated mannan (polysaccharides) on this primary cell, and that macrophages interact with other cells within the immune system to play a vital role in the body's defense system.
Studies confirm that aloe polysaccharides above the Dalton weight of 100,000 provide immune support. The higher the molecular weight, the greater the immune support.
Studies show that Polysaccharides may increase the action of white blood cells, thus increasing the production or what is referred to as the "Killer" in T-cells.
Researchers report that aloe vera has been proven to enhance the immune system's response to cancer by promoting the growth of new and healthy cells and reducing the overall viral load within the body thereby revitalizing the body in its fight against cancer.
Researchers repot that aloe vera can help reduce the damage to immune system cells when radiation and chemotherapy are used, which is critical in the body's recovery.
Aloe may support Immune Depressed conditions.
SKIN HEALTH

Studies show that aloe vera can penetrate 3 epidermal layers of the skin.
High polysaccharide aloe vera gel may improve absorption of other botanical herbs and vitamins.
Wound healing studies report that aloe vera interacts with cell surface receptors to repair fibrolast, stimulating faster growth and replication.
Normal skin cells are replaced in 180 – 200 days. Faster cell growth means healthier skin. Aloe vera can promote healthier skin.
Typically, aloe vera products should contain a significant quantity of aloe vera in the formula (30% - 99%) to be most effective on human skin.
Most aloe topical products at retail stores contain less than 1% - 10% aloe vera in creams, lotions, and other body products. Lily of the Desert topical products contain up to 99% organic aloe vera.

www.azaloe.com

New Years resolutions !

2009-01-04T18:54:00.001-08:00

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For years I looked for answers that were right under my nose. One such quest for me was what the best way to start of the day would be. Food wise I used to eat a bowl of cereal and then spend the morning in a carb induced coma.

I never thought that a health shake would hold me over as a morning meal but after doing a 9 day cleanse with the Forever Clean 9 product I realized that a shake was a great start and carb induced coma's are a thing of the past.

Now the plan for the new year 2009.

Wake up and have a glass of lemon water and take Forever Living Probiotic. Get ready for the day.

Breakfast time:

Drink 4 oz of Aloe Gel

8 oz of Almond milk (Best tasting non dairy drink)
1 whole banana
4 or more fresh or frozen strawberries
1 peeled Kiwi
1 Scoop Forever Ultra Vanilla
Blend and enjoy

This is the type of meal you can look forward to every morning.

If you have any questions about the products mentioned above you can visit our site at www.azaloe.com. There are links to videos for each of the products.

Have a great and rewarding year.

Sincerely

Mike and Shannon

Alkaline Diet and Cancer: Cancer Cells Cannot Live In An Alkaline Environment

2008-12-15T07:50:00.001-08:00

www.azaloe.com
- Aloe Vera juice is an alkaline. Adding it to your diet is a great way to promote alkalinity in your body. Here is an interesting article.

Alkaline Diet and Cancer: Cancer Cells Cannot Live In An Alkaline Environment

Ever wondered why the heart never gets a cancer. The heart might get affected eventually by cancer of any other part of the body but we never hear of cancer of the heart. This is because the heart never gets cancer. Alkaline diet is perhaps the only permanent way to prevent and rid oneself of cancer.

Let us understand what causes cancer and how an alkaline diet can prevent it. Each cell in our body takes in oxygen, nutrients and glucose while throws out toxins. These cells are protected by the immune system. But as the body gets acidic the immune system gets overpowered by the toxins and the cell looses its capacity to take in oxygen and thus ferments. This cell gets cancer affected and is lost. The next question is can cancer be prevented and cured by consuming an alkaline diet. Cancer cells lie dormant in a ph of 7.4 but as the body gets alkalized higher and the ph level reaches 8.4 these malignant cells die off. So the answer to cancer lies in an extremely alkaline diet. When the alkaline diet will result in a high alkaline body ph the cancer cells cannot live in that environment and die off.

Cancer cells being anaerobic cannot live in oxygen. They can only thrive in very low oxygen conditions. When the ph of the body is maintained by consuming an alkaline diet the immune system of the body stays strong. This leads to the cells getting enough oxygen and discarding their toxin waste. Cancer will neither thrive nor take birth under such circumstances.

How does an alkaline diet prevent cancer? An alkaline diet leads to a high alkaline body ph. This high alkaline body ph results in alkaline tissues in the body. Alkaline tissues hold 20 times more oxygen than acidic tissues. Cancer cannot live in an oxygenated atmosphere. If the cells are oxygen rich they will prevent cancer. Therefore while an acidic tissue will be an ideal ground for cancer to develop as well as spread, an alkaline tissue will destroy a cancer cell. Having a lot of green vegetables and fruits along with alkaline water can save you from cancer. An alkaline diet requires one to eat foods that are high alkalizing while avoiding the acidifying foods.

An alkaline diet is very beneficial in fighting many diseases apart from cancer. Alkaline supplements are good ways to include alkaline food in your diet. Over cooking of vegetables leads to their nutrients being destroyed. Alkaline supplements make sure one gets enough alkalizing foods in a day. Also alkaline water is a good alternative to ordinary water. So if you want your body to be cancer free as well as healthy and energetic adopt an alkaline diet and make it your way of life.

Discover How Alkaline Diet and Cancer Works and Why An Alkaline Diet Is Recommended, including Free Foods Chart: http://www.AcidAlkalineDiet.com/Health

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Johnson
http://ezinearticles.com/?Alkaline-Diet-and-Cancer:-Cancer-Cells-Cannot-Live-In-An-Alkaline-Environment&id=458737

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Aloe and the Alkaline diet

2008-12-02T20:02:00.001-08:00

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Aloe Vera Gel is a natural food to help alkalize your body. It has many other benefits as well.

The ideal ratio, according to the world's foremost authority on the relationship between the acid-alkaline ratio in the diet in health and disease, Dr. Ragnar Berg, is about 80% alkali-producing foods and 20% acid-producing foods.

Imagine slicing open an Aloe leaf and consuming the gel directly from the plant. Our Aloe Vera Gel is as close to the real thing as you can get.

The miraculous aloe leaf contains 200 compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins. A product of our patented aloe stabilization process, our gel is favored by those looking to maintain a healthy digestive system and a natural energy level.

The first to receive certification by the International Aloe Science Council, this rich cocktail of pulp and liquid authenticates this product just as nature intended. Taken daily, either alone or mixed with pure fruit juice, it is one of the best nutritional supplements available!

• The power of aloe – from the inside out
• The first of its kind to be certified by the International Aloe Science Council
• Contains over 200 compounds
• Beneficial for maintaining a healthy digestive system

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Forever Aloe Gel

2008-11-20T19:36:00.001-08:00

www.azaloe.com

Imagine slicing open an Aloe leaf and consuming the gel directly from the plant. Our Aloe Vera Gel is as close to the real thing as you can get.

www.azoaloe.com

Forever Bee Pollen

2008-11-17T08:33:00.001-08:00

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Whoever first said 'busy as a bee' was really onto something.
Often called 'Nature's Perfect Food', pollen has been providing energy and nutrition to people for thousands of years. Forever Bee Pollen is gathered in patented stainless steel collectors from blossoms which blanket remote high desert regions. This ensures the freshest and most potent natural food.

Bee Pollen provides a wide spectrum of essential nutrients. These include Vitamins of the B Complex, and Vitamin C. It also contains Vitamins D, E, K, and Beta Carotene. It is also a rich source of minerals and trace elements. A further 8 'essential' amino acids are included which the body cannot a manufacture for itself.

It is thought that Humans could live on Bee Pollen alone with the addition of water (although we would not recommend trying!), and for this reason is included as a key supplement in the Forever Clean and Lean weight management program.

Specific benefits include:
• Bee Pollen can help counteract the effects of food additives and preservatives.

• It is a natural source of Zinc and Vitamin B6, making it beneficial for depression and PMT.

• Although care should be taken initially in case of allergy, it can de-sensitise the body and raise allergy tolerance.

In case of allergic reaction - start with 1/4 tablet a day, working up to three if necessary.

Try for ME, tiredness, hayfever and asthma (check with your GP if necessary). Tablets are chewable.

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Forever Garcinia Plus - Weight loss aid

2008-11-07T10:24:00.001-08:00

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Weight loss and management aid:

Forever Garcinia Plus is a revolutionary nutritional supplement, containing a number of ingredients that may aid in weight loss when combined with moderate exercise and a sensible diet. The primary
ingredient is a natural substance derived from the fruit of a Southern Asian tree, the Garcinia Cambogia, also known as the Malabar Tamarind.
The rind of this fruit is dried and used to produce Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA). Chemically, HCA is very similar to the citric acid found in oranges and other citrus fruits. The fruit of the Garcinia is about the size of an orange, but is more like a pumpkin in appearance. For centuries, this fruit
has been used for culinary and herbal purposes in Southern India and in Thailand.

Specialists in plant compounds became aware of the remarkable qualities of HCA in the late 1960's, when they learned that this compound can reduce the body's production of fats from carbohydrates. During the normal metabolism of a meal, carbohydrate calories that are not used immediately for energy or stored as glycogen are converted into fats in the liver. HCA works by inhibiting the enzyme (citrate liase) which
converts these calories into fat. As a result, the body will burn existing fat stores, thus aiding in weight loss

When enough glycogen has been created and stored in the liver, a message is sent to the brain indicating sufficient food has been taken. This action is called a satiety reflex, and quells the appetite, reducing the desire for more food.

• Contains HCA, a natural appetite suppressant

• HCA inhibits the enzyme that converts calories into fat

• A useful tool in weight management

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Forever Active Probiotic

2008-11-06T10:28:00.001-08:00

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Forever Active Probiotic

Microbes are live microorganisms that exist in our bodies and play a role in our general health and wellbeing. While some microbes are bad, the
majorityare beneficial. These "good bacteria" are called "probiotic," meaning "for life" in Greek.

Forever Living Products recognizes the important role that beneficial microbes play in human health and the need for supplementation through probiotic supplementation. Designed to promote a
healthy digestive system, Forever Active Probiotic is a small, easy-to-swallow beadlet that helps overcome imbalances created by our food and lifestyle choices, which can inadvertently lead to a reduction in the amount of naturally occurring probiotics.

Forever Active Probiotic works primarily in the colon where it assists with the process of food digestion, helping to release nutrients for absorption, and contributes positively to normal human growth and development by helping to maintain a balanced and healthy system.

As probiotics emselves are quite fragile, Forever Active Probiotic uses an exclusive, patented encapsulation technology that protects the probiotics then releases a unique combination of six beneficial strains of microbes only after they reach the desired destination of the large intestine.
The probiotics in Forever Active Probiotic are derived from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera; the strains are: Lactobacillus Acidophilus –
inhibits undesirable organisms and helps prevent them from multiplying and colonizing.

Bifidobacterium Longum – crowds out bad bacteria to help reduce the frequency of gastrointestinal disorders.

Bifidobacterium Lactis –helps lower the body's pH and further inhibits
undesirable bacteria growth.

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus – helps to protect the intestinal tract so that the undesirable microorganisms can't get afoothold.

Lactobacillus Bulgaricus – helps to keep the small intestine clean and balanced.

Lactobacillus Plantarum – preserves key nutrients,vitamins, and antioxidants to help counteract undesirable substances in our foods.

It is the only shelf-stable, 6-strain probiotic that requires no refrigeration on the market today. What's great about Forever Active Probiotic is that
it works in tandem with our patented Aloe Vera.

Aloe acts as a "prebiotic", which fosters the growth of and provides the ideal environment for the probiotic to function. So whether your goal is to
promote a healthy digestive system or enhance nutrient absorption and immune function, add Forever Active Probiotic to your daily supplement
program.

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Helpful article about Aloe - Reflux and Gerd

2008-11-04T13:13:00.001-08:00

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Here is another helpful article about Aloe

Aloe for acid reflux by Emily A. Kane, ND, LAc

Aloe vera, a succulent cactus-like plant, is famous for its remarkable ability to cool a burn, but its soothing powers can also douse the internal flames that cause heartburn. In fact aloe juice may be the best treatment for heartburn. But first, here's why this herb deserves a top spot on your supplement list.

IMPORTANT TIP: Do not consume aloe gel from the plant. It contains a bitter compound that can cause diarrhea. These laxative properties are removed from commercial gels.

Aloe's Secret Ingredients
The healing aspects of aloe come from the herb's ingredients, including enzymes, amino acids, minerals and a sugar called glucomannan, the latter of which is available at health food stores in capsules and liquids.

A long-chain sugar molecule composed of glucose and mannose, glucomannan is thought to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral actions in humans. Researchers suspect the compound interferes with virus replication and/or alters a process involved in the development of infection. Researchers at Tokyo Women's Medical College have shown that certain proteins in aloe gel may stimulate the production of killer cells, which are naturally occurring white blood cells that defend against bacteria and other immune system threats.

How to Use Aloe for Acid Reflux
Acid reflux, also called heartburn and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), has become common, even among young people. In many cases, GERD occurs when the one-way valve at the bottom of the esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter) becomes pinched open, allowing food and stomach acid to travel back up into the esophagus. The result is a burning pain, especially noticeable when you bend over or lie down.

Chronic antacid use (including prescription acid-blocking drugs) can compound the problem: Stomach acid is important for proper digestion and immune function, but antacid use can suppress and/or interfere with this normal process.

The solution for GERD is to heal your lower esophageal sphincter using aloe and a few lifestyle changes. Take ¼ cup of aloe vera juice (not gel) 10 minutes before each meal. Continue for up to six weeks, depending on the severity of your problem. The juice not only soothes mucous membranes, but also acts as a healing agent for the lower esophageal sphincter.

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Omega 3 benefits

2008-11-03T06:55:00.001-08:00

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Fish Oil Benefits Number 1: Cardiovascular Health
Fish oil benefits our overall cardiovascular health. From reducing plaque in the walls of our arteries to lowering our blood pressure, the benefits of Omega 3 are amazing.

Fish Oil Benefits Number 2: A Fight Against Eczema
As popular as fish oil is for its benefits on our hearts, fish oil also has a positive effect on your complexion. People who suffer from eczema often have low levels of Omega 3 in their systems and also have unbalanced essential fatty acid metabolism.

Because of this, they are more prone to develop allergies and inflammations. By getting supplemental Omega 3 into their diets, they can balance their Omega 3 levels.

Fish Oil Benefits Number 3: Aiding the Joints
Arthritis can be a painful and debilitating condition. Finding ways to treat the condition has been some patients' worst nightmare. Thankfully, Omega 3 seems to be having a positive effect on treating the pain, inflammation and stiffness of the arthritis condition.

Fish Oil Benefits Number 4: An Uplifting Experience
Research indicates that there's been a link between people with certain mood disorders and having low concentrations of Omega 3 in their bodies. In studies, depressed patients were given Omega 3 supplements and many studies found that the Omega 3 supplements did have a direct impact on elevating moods.

Fish Oil Benefits Number 5: Helping Our Memory and Focus
In addition to all of the physical fish oil benefits, you can't overlook the benefit that fish oil has on our ability to focus and concentrate. Fish oil has been known to help slow the progression of Alzheimer's and can help with daily concentration as well.

www.healingaloe.myflpbiz.com

2008-10-20T12:30:00.001-07:00

www.healingaloe.myflpbiz.com

Top 10 things to know about Aloe Vera and Forever Living

1. Aloe Vera has been used for thousands of years as a safe, natural herbal remedy. It is not new, and has a massive weight of historical and scientific evidence to testify to its efficacy. It can be used safely either externally on the skin or hair, or taken internally as a drink.

2. The thick, clear gel inside the leaf contains over 75 different key nutritional compounds which are either required or beneficial to our health and wellbeing including:
- Minerals
- Vitamins (including B12)
- Aminio Acids
- Enzymes and more

3. There are no known side effects or contra-indications; and no adverse drug reactions. It is safe for all ages - from infants to the elderly.

4. Aloe Vera has many different benefits because of the number of nutrients that it contains. The benefits come from a synergy between the different nutrients, rather than as a consequence of one 'magic' ingredient.

5. Unlike many drugs, Aloe Vera works with the body to aid healing and wellbeing. Do not expect 'miracle cures'. In fact Aloe does not 'cure' anything. It simply provides excellent nutrition so that the body cures itself. Having said that, this does take time; which is why we have our 30-day unconditional money back guarantee - so that you can give our products a fair chance.

6. It is moisturizing for the skin, penetrating right down into its deepest layers. Because of its natural anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and nutritional qualities it promotes cell growth and healing - up to 30% faster.

7. Most people taking Aloe Vera report a greater sense of well being, feeling calmer and less anxious. Aloe also boosts the immune system making it more finely tuned and better able to defend the body from attack.

8. Our Aloe Vera is pure, organic and not tested on animals. We have the Kosher Rating, the Islamic Seal of Approval and the International Aloe Science Council Seal of Approval. There are no Genetically Modified ingredients in our product range.

9. FLP Aloe Vera is naturally stabilized using fruit and vegetable sources, rather than preserved chemically. Tested by independent laboratories even 5 years after stabilization, our Aloe is still essentially identical to freshly harvested Aloe.

10. FLP is the world's largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of Aloe Vera and Aloe Vera based products. We use Stabilized Aloe Vera as the primary ingredient in all of our products, far more than other companies, which leads to increased benefits.

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Desirada

2008-10-16T08:13:00.001-07:00

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Happy Birthday Sis :)

Below is the poem Desirada. The author is unkown but the words are priceless and timeless and have comforted me over the years. My sister and mom were the first to share this with me and I am so grateful to be blessed so deeply and have their support and love.

Desirada

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater
and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let not this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

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Daily Aloe - Benefits from the hive

2008-10-13T12:52:00.001-07:00

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from: http://www.bee-pollen-health.com/bee-pollen-research.html

What's the Buzz?
Medicine from the Bee Hive
by C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D

In ancient times raw honey was as valuable on the battlefield as it was on the dinner table. In fact, all bee products -- bee pollen, honey, propolis and royal jelly -- were essential medications for many ailments. Although the beehive's millennial track record is enough to satisfy some, skeptics might be interested in how science confirms ancient wisdom.

Bee Pollen is flower pollen collected by honeybees from a variety of plants and is the insect's primary food source. Pollen grains, which are flowers' male reproductive cells, contain concentrations of phytochemicals and nutrients. Bee pollen is rich in carotenoids, flavonoids and phytosterols.1

Studies show promising results regarding pollen's potential. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of 60 men, researchers from the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, found pollen extract was an effective treatment for prostate enlargement and prostatitis.2 In another study, mice with lung cancer survived almost twice as long when treated with pollen extracts compared with untreated controls. Pollen increased the effectiveness of chemotherapy when given simultaneously. Unlike chemotherapy, pollen didn't attack tumors but stimulated immunity.3

In a third study, rats were exposed to solvent vapors, simulating industrial exposure. This elevated their liver enzymes, indicating diminished detoxification capabilities. Liver damage was significant in the control rats, damage that was nearly prevented in rats given pollen.4

Honey is a by-product of bees concentrating plant nectars. It is mainly food for bees, bears and humans. The characteristic flowery taste of raw honey comes from the pollen it contains. Honey's ability to heal wounds and treat infections is quite notable. It also is known for its antioxidant, antibiotic and antiviral capabilities.

Honey is 18 to 20 percent water and is comprised of glucose and fructose; vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, K and beta-carotene, as well as minerals and enzymes. Raw, unprocessed honey has the most medicinal and nutritional value.

In a study of 104 patients with first-degree burns, researchers in Maharashtra, India, compared honey's effectiveness to gauze soaked in silver sulfadiazine (SS), the conventional treatment. After seven days, 91 percent of honey-treated burns were infection-free compared with 7 percent of those treated with SS. After 15 days, 87 percent of honey-treated burns were healed compared with 10 percent of the SS-treated burns. The raw wildflower honey formed a flexible protective barrier which prevented infection, absorbed pus, and reduced pain, irritation and odor.5

Researchers in Sanaa, Yemen, treated 50 patients with wound infections following cesarean section or hysterectomy twice daily with either raw wildflower honey or a standard antiseptic solution of alcohol and iodine (AI). The 26 treated with honey were infection-free after six days compared with 15 days for the 24 treated with AI. Furthermore, 84 percent of honey patients healed cleanly compared with 50 percent of AI patients. Honey treatment reduced the average postoperative scar width by nearly two-thirds, and hospitalization duration by half.6

Four mechanisms are proposed for honey's healing properties:

1. Honey is mostly glucose and fructose. These sugars are strongly attracted to water, forming a viscous syrup. When spread on a wound, honey absorbs water and body fluids, thus drying out bacteria and fungi and inhibiting their growth.7

2. Raw honey contains glucose oxidase, an enzyme that, in the presence of a little water, produces hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic. Glucose oxidase is destroyed by bright light, heat and pasteurization, so it is absent from most commercial honeys.7

3. Raw honey contains bee pollen, enzymes and propolis, all of which can stimulate new tissue growth.7

4. Honey can contain additional medicinal compounds, including essential oils, flavonoids, terpenes and polyphenols, depending on the plant from which the pollen was taken.7

In a laboratory study of 345 unpasteurized honey samples, the majority exhibited antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause food poisoning. When honey's natural hydrogen peroxide effects were removed, only honey from Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) were still active.8 New Zealand's dark, aromatic Manuka honey also inhibited Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that can cause ulcers.9 In general, stronger, darker honeys, such as buckwheat, sagebrush and tupelo, have greater antimicrobial and antioxidant activity--enough to act as food preservatives.10

Propolis consists mainly of specific tree resins collected by honeybees. Bees use propolis like putty to seal cracks and openings in the hive, strengthen combs and seal brood cells. Propolis also helps sterilize the hive--the resins protect both trees and bees from infections.11 Most research has been conducted predominantly on poplars, but beech, birch, chestnut and several conifer species have also been studied.12

More than 180 compounds have been identified in propolis, and many are biologically active.11 Flavonoids are abundant, including many that are anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antioxidant and/or antimutagenic and antispasmodic.13 Propolis is uniquely rich in properties which have been shown to inhibit cancer growth in animal studies14 and reduce inflammation as effectively as drugs.15

Propolis also contains organic acids and their derivatives. These constituents contribute antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral effects.11,13,16-18

In cultures, propolis inhibits the growth of various viruses and fungi including herpes, influenza, rota, candida and aspergillus.16,19,20 Many bacteria are also affected, including Clostridium spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. Propolis is active against bacteria isolated from people with upper respiratory infections, including penicillin-resistant strains.21

Propolis promotes pharmaceutical antibiotics, including streptomycin, penicillin, neomycin and tetracycline; the combined products act synergistically.21 Propolis can be taken in conjunction with prescribed medications but not in place of them.

Propolis is also a superior ingredient in wound salves and may help heal stomach ulcers. One tablespoon raw honey with propolis three times daily during an ulcer flare-up can be helpful. In addition to being antimicrobial, propolis is anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, and it stimulates new tissue growth.18

Royal Jelly is a thick, creamy fluid synthesized in nurse bees' bodies during digestion of bee pollen and secreted from glands in their heads. All larvae are fed royal jelly for three days, but the queen bee eats royal jelly exclusively, which makes her fertile and able to live for five to seven years. In contrast, worker bees are sterile and live just seven to eight weeks. Royal jelly has a reputation for maintaining youthfulness in humans, but research, while encouraging, lags behind that for other hive products.

Fresh royal jelly is 2.0 to 6.4 percent trans-10-hydroxy delta-2-decanoic acid (HDA) by weight.22 HDA is a monounsaturated fatty acid with a hydroxyl group. Hydroxy fatty acids protect skin from dehydration, and some are strongly anti-inflammatory. HDA may also be anti-inflammatory.23 Royal jelly also contains collagen; lecithin; and vitamins A, C, D and E--all of which benefit the skin.24 Concentrated royal jelly moisturizes dry skin and soothes dermatitis.18,25 Additionally, royal jelly contains all the B vitamins and several other compounds that help lower cholesterol. A review of controlled studies concluded that in humans, 50 to 100 mg royal jelly per day decreased total cholesterol by 14 percent and triglycerides by 10 percent.26 Royal jelly at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight also slowed the development of atherosclerosis in rabbits fed high-fat diets.17

In 1999 researchers at the USDA/University of Arizona in Tucson discovered genes that respond to a 24-hour royal jelly diet--the process that turns ordinary bee larva into queen bees. At Northern Ohio University in Ada, rats fed only raw bee pollen granules were healthier and leaner than those fed standard rat chow. Clearly, there's something to that millennial track record.

References

1. Markham KR, Campos M. 7- and 8-o-methylherbacetin-3-o-sophorosides from bee pollens and some structure/activity observations. Phytochemistry 1996;43:763-7.

2. Buck AC, et al. Treatment of outflow tract obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia with the pollen extract Cernilton, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Urol 1990;66:398-404.

3. Furusawa E, et al. Antitumor potential of pollen extract on Lewis lung carcinoma implanted intraperitoneally in syngenic mice. Phytother Res 1995;9:255-9.

4. Ceglecka M, et al. Effect of pollen extracts on prolonged poisoning of rats with organic solvents. Phytother Res 1991:5;245-9.

5. Subrahmanyam M. Topical application of honey in treatment of burns. Br J Surg 1991;78:497-8.

6. Al-Waili NS, Saloom KY. Effects of topical honey on post-operative wound infections due to gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria following caesarean sections and hysterectomies. Eur J Med Res 1999;4:126-30.

7. Molan PC. The antibacterial activity of honey, Part 1 and Part 2. Bee World 1992;73:5-76.

8. Allen K, et al. A survey of the antibacterial activity of some New Zealand honeys. J Pharm Pharmacol 1991;43:817-22.

9. Somal NA, et al. Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey. J Royal Soc Med 1994;87:9-12.

10. Frankel S, et al. Antioxidant capacity and correlated characteristics of 14 unifloral honeys. J Apic Res 1998;37:27-31.

11. Burdock GA. Review of the biological properties of propolis and toxicity of bee propolis (propolis). Food Chem Toxicol 1998;36:347-63.

12. Bankova VS, et al. Isopentyl cinnamates from poplar buds and propolis. Phytochemistry 1989;28:871-3.

13. Duke JA, et al. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Data Base (http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/) 1999.

14. Chinthalapally VR, et al. Inhibitory effect of caffeic acid esters on azoxymethane-induced biochemical changes and aberrant crypt foci formation in rat colon. Canc Res 1993;53:4182-8.

15. Mirzoeva OK, Calder PC. The effect of propolis and its components on eicosanoid production during the inflammatory response. Prostagland Leukot Essent Fatty Acid 1996;55:441-9.

16. Greenaway W, et al. The composition and plant origins of propolis: a report of work at Oxford. Bee World 1990;71:107-18.

17. Cheng PC, Wong G. Honey bee propolis: prospects in medicine. Bee World 1996;77:8-14.

18. Krell R. Value-added products from bee keeping. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 124; 1996.

19. Ghisalberti EL. Propolis: a review. Bee World 1979;60:59-84.

20. Amoros M, et al. Comparison of the anti-herpes simplex virus activities of propolis and 3-methyl-but-2-enyl caffeate. J Nat Prod 1994;57:644-7.

21. Krol W, et al. Inhibition of neutrophils chemiluminescence by ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) and its phenolic components. J Ethnopharm 1996;55:19-25.

22. Bloodworth BC, et al. Liquid chromatographic determination of trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid content of commercial products containing royal jelly. J AOAC Int. 1995;78:1019-23.

23. Ziboh VJ. The significance of polyunsaturated fatty acids in cutaneous biology. Lipids 1996;31:S249-53.

24. Lecker G, et al. Components of royal jelly II: the lipid fraction, hyrocarbons and sterols. J Apic Res 1982;21:178-84.

25. Iannuzzi J. Royal jelly: mystery food, in three parts. Am Bee J 1990;8:532-4, 587-9, 659-62.

26. Vittek J. Effect of royal jelly on serum lipids in experimental animals and humans with atherosclerosis. Experientia 1995;51:927-35.

C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D., heads 22nd Century Nutrition, a nutrition/scientific consulting firm, and is a visiting scientist at a government nutrition research laboratory.

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Daily Aloe - Top 10 reasons to drink aloe

2008-10-10T08:21:00.001-07:00

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Daily Aloe - Top 10 reasons to drink aloe

Just 2 to 4 ounces of Aloe to drink a day is all you should need.

Top 10 reasons to drink Aloe Vera Gel

by Dr Peter Atherton MB ChB, DObst RCOG, FRCGB & Advisory Board Member

Imagine slicing open an Aloe leaf and consuming the Gel directly from the plant. Forever's signature product, Aloe Vera Gel, is as close to the real thing as you can get. The first of its kind to receive certification by the International Aloe Science Council, this rich blend of pulp and liquid gives us a product as near to nature as possible. The proof is in the Aloe - after reading my top 10 reasons why I think you should drink Aloe Vera Gel, you will definitely see why Aloe Vera has earned the nickname 'the medicine plant'.

10. Effect on the gut
Aloe Vera has a wonderfully beneficial action on bowel function which results in smooth and efficient transit of contents, often eradicating inconvenient, colicky pain. This action, of course, is of great benefit to sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a problem that affects about one in five people in the Western world at some stage during their life.

9. Assists in healthy digestion
A healthy digestive tract ensures that nutrients from the food we eat are absorbed into the bloodstream. There is clear, clinical evidence that by drinking Aloe Vera Gel the bowel is able to absorb these nutrients more efficiently, especially protein. I also suspect that many other substances are much better absorbed under its influence.

8. Effect on gut flora
Aloe Vera is a natural 'balancer' in many areas and nowhere more so that inside the gut, where it tends to regulate the various bacteria and yeasts that inhabit it. For example, if a person were to suffer with too much yeast in the gut, such as candida, regular ingestion of the Gel would tend to reduce this overgrowth. The same can be said of the more unfriendly bacteria that can accumulate in certain conditions.

7. Effect on the skin
When they are first produced deep in the epidermis skin cells are rather large and very much alive, but by the time they reach the surface after 21-28 days (in normal skin) they are a shadow of their former selves and are transformed into just thin flakes of keratin which eventually fall off. Aloe Vera Gel provides the essential nutrition to feed the basal cells and therefore the skin remains healthy and is able to perform its vital functions more efficiently - as well as looking much better!

6. Increases the activity of fibroblasts
Fibroblasts are specialised cells found in the skin and their job is to produce fibre such as collagen and elastin. These fibres give the skin its structure and, of course, make it look plump and elastic. This is fine from a cosmetic point of view but they are also extremely important in wound healing, as these fibres create a mesh or network over which the new skin cells advance to close the wound. The effect of Aloe Vera is to stimulate them to reproduce faster and therefore, being more of them, they make more fibre. The time taken for wound heal under the influence of Aloe Vera can be reduced by up to a third.

5. Antiviral activity
Within the mucilage layer of the leaf which surrounds the inner Gel there is a long chain sugar or polysaccharide. This has the capability of being able to help defend us against attacks by various viruses, from the common cold to the extremely nasty virus that can cause AIDS. This sugar has actually been extracted from Aloe Vera and made into a drug which, when give alongside regular antiviral agents in the treatment of AIDS, appears to have a synergistic effect, making the treatment more efficient.

4. Anti-inflammatory and pain killing effect
Among the substances that have been identified in Aloe Vera are several that are naturally anti-inflammatory and painkilling. People who take it regularly often find that inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis, are greatly benefited. Although we do not have the hard, clinical evidence, I believe that other inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and diverticulitis are also helped in many cases.

3. A useful source of minerals
Some of the minerals found in Aloe Vera include calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. This is because the plant tends to grow in areas where soils are rich in these minerals and its roots are able to absorb them and deliver them to us in a very available form.

2. A useful source of vitamins
Aloe Vera Gel contains a large number of vitamins - even trace elements of vitamin B12 which is rarely found in plants. Apart from vitamin A, it contains B-group vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid. Many of these vitamins cannot be stored by the body so we need to constantly top them up from the food that we eat. What better way than by drinking a daily amount of Aloe Vera Gel while at the same time building up the body's defence system against oxidative stress naturally?

1. A general tonic for good health
By drinking the Gel with all its important ingredients (often now deficient in our food) including 19 of the 20 amino acids needed by the human body, and seven of the eight essential ones that just cannot be made, the body is able to get enough to allow complex enzyme systems to work really well. This means the body can function at 100%. The net result to the individual is a wonderful feeling of wellbeing which tends to go with an improved ability to withstand and even fight illness.

As you can see from these 10 great reasons, taken daily - either alone or mixed with fruit juice or our other wonderful antioxidant product Pomesteen Power - Aloe Vera Gel is one of the best nutritional supplements available!

Take care and be (bee) Well !

Daily Aloe update

2008-10-09T11:35:00.001-07:00

www.healingaloe.myflpbiz.com
Aloe Vera
The Medicine Plant for the 21st Century

by Karen Masterson Koch, C.N.

Aloe vera is nothing new. You may have discovered it back in the sixties or seventies, when it began to gain household recognition in the U.S. as a salve for burns. But it's been around much longer than that. Egyptian Queens Cleopatra and Nefertiti both gave tribute to aloe vera as one of their most important beauty secrets. Alexander the Great carried the aloe vera plant into battle to treat wounded soldiers. In fact, this high-sulfur member of the garlic family dates back 6,000 years, and has been in use for all that time.

When you peruse the literature, it's easy to see why Aloe Vera has earned a reputation as a medicine plant. A dermabrasion study done ten years ago showed that facial wounds healed seventy-two hours faster when aloe vera was added to the polyethylene oxide gel wound dressing (Journal of Dermatological Surgery and Oncology, 1990, vol. 16). More recently, vascular surgeon Dr. Tyler, M.D. of Louisiana recorded the near-miraculous second chance that aloe vera afforded a diabetic in danger of losing her arm (Bossier Medical Center, 1997). Aloe Vera also is great for avoiding scarring after reconstruction and facial surgery. In fact, studies have confirmed that aloe vera serves each of the following functions:

• speeds healing, tensile strength and repair of damaged skin

• holds moisture and adds flexibility to retard aging

• with its antibacterial properties fights infections including fungus and staph

• tightens and balances skin through astringent pH properties

• moisturizes by carrying added emollients into the skin up to seven layers

• with natural anti-inflammatory agents reduces pain

• minimizes scarring and may reverse scars less than five years old

How does Aloe Vera heal the skin?

Aloe vera is 99 percent water, and yet, it contains a storehouse of nutrients — more than 200 active elements that support health. In its most direct effects, aloe vera increases fibroblast production in skin tissue. The fibroblasts stimulate new collagen, thus accelerating wound healing. Collagen can be likened to cement that glues all of the body cells together like a large cellular puzzle.

Aloe Vera at Home

A recent clinical study has confirmed aloe's effectiveness as a home remedy for skin care. A double blind, placebo-controlled study of psoriasis patients showed that topically applied aloe cream treated psoriasis with no bad side effects. In this study, aloe cured twenty-five of thirty subjects compared to the placebo cure rate of two out of thirty (Tropical Medicine and International Health, 1996, vol.1). A peer-reviewed eighteen-month study conducted on 250 wounds, including many diabetic lesions, revealed 100 percent resolution of every wound, stages I-IV, with application of a quality aloe vera skin gel (C. Levescy, LVN, Aloe Life International, 1997).

Drink your (Aloe) Juice

Yes, you can drink Aloe! In fact, researchers recommend it. Aloe vera, along with protein; calcium; magnesium; zinc; vitamins A, C, and E; vitamin B-complex; and essential fatty acids, is a valuable component of a diet that's healthful for skin.

Healthy skin also depends on good digestion. A healthy digestive tract and liver are needed to properly convert vitamins, minerals, fats, and proteins into absorbable nutrients essential for healthy skin. Researchers have found that eating on the run and having reduced digestive juices in the body can create an internal environment in which as little as 10 percent of nutrients eaten may actually be absorbed into the blood stream. Aloe vera juice is an herbal bitter. This means that when no sulfites or water are added the juice contains a pH range of 4.7-5.2 and aids digestion. The best time to drink the juice is before meals.

Today, you can buy aloe juice at most health food stores and progressive grocers. (Bottled Aloe juices and skin gels that are golden in color have more medicinal value than products that look like water.) But you can drink the aloe from your plant, if you have one. People in ancient cultures commonly cut a leaf from the outer plant close to the base. If the plant received adequate sun and water, and was grown in rich soil, then a sufficient amount of yellow sap from the plant would seep out of the cut leaf. After allowing the sap to drain into a cup of water, they would drink it. Eating the plant's inner mucilage also was common.

Traditional Uses for Aloe Vera

Note: Consult a physician when medical attention is required.

burns
insect bites
infection
abrasions
rashes
acne
skin cancer
chicken pox
eczema
psoriasis
cuts
scars
skin ulcers
stretch marks
varicose veins
sore feet
sore muscles
frostbite
scalp rejuvenation
hair rejuvenation
gum disease
herpes
shingles
poison ivy
poison oak
diaper rash
hemorrhoids
sunburn
brown skin spots
after shave
aged skin
weathered skin
vaginal dryness
athletic injury
general body pains

How Does It Work?

Over 200 worldwide scientific research papers have been published on the effects of aloe vera. The three main categories of research include anti-inflammatory, anti- bacterial, and anti-viral actions of aloe vera. The juice is said to soothe digestive tract irritations such as colitis, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. Aloe's ability to encourage the release of pepsin (a gastric juice enzyme necessary for digestion) when the stomach is full is a possible reason for its ulcer-healing effects (Journal of the American Osteopathic Society, 1963, vol.62) In one study, oral use of aloe for six months helped mitigate asthma symptoms in almost half of the participants. Eleven of twenty-seven patients studied who drank aloe reported feeling better at the end of the study. Researchers think that results might be due to stimulation of the immune system, as well as naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents in aloe vera.

In 1997, University of San Antonio researcher Jeremiah Herlihy, Ph.D., conducted a study to observe any negative effects of drinking aloe daily. Rather than exhibiting negative effects, however, test animals receiving daily aloe showed a remarkable reduction in leukemia, heart disease, and kidney disease. Dr. Herlihy concluded, "We found no indication of harm done to the rats even at high levels." In fact, the aloe-drinking animals actually lived 25 percent longer than those in the control group (IASC Conference, Texas, 1997).

No Magic Bullet

There is no single ingredient that makes aloe vera potent and healthful. Researcher Robert Davis, Ph.D., an endocrinologist-biologist, explains that fifteen different compound groups of nutrients work together to make the plant effective. Much as a symphony creates a fuller, richer sound than any single instrument, the ingredients in aloe are more effective together than any single element taken by itself.

On the down side, that means that aloe vera's effects cannot be synthesized easily in a laboratory. On the upside, it makes the plant useful across a wide spectrum of circumstances. And because the various elements that make aloe effective are nutrients rather than drugs, aloe juice can complement medical treatments. In fact some cancer patients state that aloe vera seems to reduce nausea, increase energy, and may help to minimize low blood counts caused by chemotherapy or radiation.

Allergies to aloe vera are very rare. Yet any food can be a potential allergen. Test a small amount on the inner arm to see if any reaction takes place. If no irritation on the skin is observed then it is generally tolerated. If ingestion causes diarrhea, then reduce the amount you ingest, increasing use slowly over several days until the desired amount is tolerated.

Take it! It's a gift...

Aloe Vera can help adults, children, and even pets receive more value from daily foods and supplements, and it can heal wounded skin, as well. It's valuable enough for everyone to keep on hand. To gain the most therapeutic support it's wise to use a quality aloe vera product. Look for products that use the entire plant or whole leaf concentration; they contain up to five times more active elements than inner gel products. If possible look for products that state "no sulfites or water added." The strongest, purest product will allow you to use less and have more success in experiencing firsthand the magic of the ancient medicine plant.

Forever Living Products - My Story -www.healingaloe.myflpbiz.com

2008-10-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.healingaloe.myflpbiz.com/

July 2006 I was on my way to the Emergency Room (ER) after vomiting for 24 plus hours. It was the best 100 dollar co-pay I ever spent. They helped stabilize me and get fluids back into me.

Stress, poor digestion and stomach irritation had reared its ugly head my life.My doctor told me I would be on prilosec or other acid blockers like nexium, zantac or omeprazole for the rest of my life and I should be thankful the medicine was there for me.

Fundamentally I felt wrong about taking a pill that blocked something my body was doing. I met with a naturopathic doctor and a degreed nutritionist and they told me that acid blockers have links to hip fractures and stomach cancer.

I decided it was time to change after following my original MD’s advice for a year. Acid blockers aren’t something you can just quit cold turkey. It took over a month to reduce the dosage while watching what I ate and healing my stomach with Aloe and good bacteria (probiotic and enzymes).

My digestion is now stable. However reducing stress is also a key. Watching how involved I get in situations that I can’t control, like politics. Republican, Democrat, what ever you are just make sure and vote and let your mind rest. Stress and worry aren’t your friends. Find your happy place and nurture yourself. Try not to focus on things you can’t control. These words are as much for me as they are for you.

In the past years I have researched, read books, listened to every audio book I could get my hands on from Deepak Chopra to Andrew Weil. After all this gathering of knowledge the products I recommend are all from one company, Forever Living Products.

The products help with weight management, overall health, skin care, Gerd, acid indigestion, heartburn, Colitis, acne, eczema and psorasis.Aloe – research this miracle plant and you will find nothing but good.

However drinking Aloe was new to me. This is truly a gift and healthy cultures have been doing it since the times of the bible. Naturally soothing, anti inflammatory, healing and balancing.Probiotics- get the good bacteria back to help you digest and absorb the nutrients.Vitamins, Supplements and immune boosters to keep you well an energetic.

So now I am a believer and a distributor for this product. To see my web site go to http://www.healingaloe.myflpbiz.com/