No more confusion over supplements

Finally,  a medical expert has written a book that will not only guide us through the maze of the supplement world, but also confirm why they are so needed in our daily routine no matter how healthy our diets.

With such a staggering amount of choices on the market and some people saying that supplements aren't needed, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and confused. That’s where Dr. Michael A. Smith, a senior health scientist, and his new book, The Supplement Pyramid, enter the picture to offer us a life-changing guide on what we individually need for optimum health and why.

Smith is often asked by people who eat a healthy diet if they really do need supplements. His answer is always a resounding yes with plenty of medically sound reasons why. In The Supplement Pyramid, Smith covers the many reasons why even the healthiest diets fall short in terms of supplying the optimal amount of nutrients we need – not just to survive but also to thrive.

Like traditional food pyramids that help us design and follow a healthy diet, The Supplement Pyramid is an educational tool that can be personalized to meet anyone’s specific nutritional needs. With its three-tiered plan comprised of the foundational, personalization, and optimization level, this book helps readers design a nutritional regimen that meets their unique needs.

Being user friendly is an understatement in this much needed book. Step-by-step instructions and detailed medical quizzes, along with useful information about blood testing, help readers determine the most important nutritional supplements for their bodies. This then becomes an ideal personalized menu from which to choose.

Knowing which supplements to take is only half the battle. Purchasing high-quality nutritional supplements is essential for success, so Smith covers all the information readers need to know to be sure they are making the best investment in their health. He writes in easy-to-understand language and provides a wealth of vital information.

The Supplement Pyramid will put all the questions to rest so we can each move toward an optimal personalized supplement regimen – free of any more confusion with a healthy future ahead.

To find out more and to reserve your copy early, go to www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com

The most important health discovery regarding inflammation is coming back...

The book that introduced readers to the landmark discovery that living in contact with the Earth’s natural surface charge – being “grounded” naturally discharges and prevents chronic inflammation in the body, is coming out again with new research and doctors' commentaries.

The 2010 edition of Earthing created a major buzz in the health world and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. This effect has massive health implications because of the well-established link between chronic inflammation and all chronic diseases, including the diseases of aging and the aging process itself.

Throughout history, humans have maintained an electrical ground connection with the Earth that naturally curbed inflammation disorders in the body. We walked barefoot and slept directly on the Earth. We were, at all times, naturally charged with the healing energy of the Earth.

Today, however, we mostly live and work insulated from the Earth. We wear non-conductive shoes with synthetic soles, walk on carpeted floors, and sleep in elevated beds. We rarely go barefoot outside. We’re disconnected.

Consequently, our bodies become chronically charged with inflammation. Earthing is the simple solution to reduce and prevent inflammation, and is as easy as being barefoot outdoors or sleeping, working, and relaxing indoors on conductive products that conveniently ground your body to the Earth.

This book documents how
grounding the body consistently produces these and other benefits:

• Rapid reduction of inflammation
• Rapid reduction or elimination of chronic pain
• Dynamic blood flow improvement
• Reduced stress
• Increased energy
• Improved sleep
• Accelerated healing from injuries and surgery without the burning inflammatory pain

Earthing is a missing link in the health equation. This book tells why and what to do about it and much more fascinating information that could transform your life and health. The second edition of Earthing comes out in mid-March, so reserve your copies to this groundbreaking book now. www.basichealthpub.com

Ben Franklin: Founding father and health trailblazer

No, it wasn't a typo – Ben Franklin was indeed a health and diet trailblazer.

Benjamin Franklin at Age 45

Franklin, America’s most influential founding father, gained fame and honor for his achievements as an author, entrepreneur, inventor, scientist, political activist, statesman, and diplomat. Yes, the list of his accomplishments is long, and we're about to make it longer...

The accomplishments of his celebrated and colorful life were so monumental that most people don't know that his extensive advice on diet may have been his greatest contribution to history.

Contrary to popular myth, Franklin was not overweight. Evidence suggests that he was actually trim and fit up until  his 70s. According to biographer, Walter Isaacson, Franklin was physically striking and quite muscular, open-faced, and almost 6 foot tall. A portrait believed to be the earliest likeness of Franklin was painted by Boston artist, Robert Feke, when Franklin was in his mid-40s. The portrait depicts him as tall, trim, and rosy-cheeked. At the time, Franklin was a successful entrepreneur and was portrayed as a prosperous Philadelphia businessman.

The most famous paintings of Franklin, though, were created by Joseph Siffred Duplessis in the late 1700s when Franklin was living in France. At the time Franklin sat for these portraits, he was in his 70s and had put on weight due to the heavy French cuisine and decreased physical activity. The artist painted what he saw, which is the chubby man we’re all familiar with. Although Franklin had a
generous waistline in his golden years, he was remarkably trim and healthy throughout his life, even by today’s standards.

Franklin developed a revolutionary new way of eating after he discovered the secrets to a healthy diet. In an age when the life expectancy of an adult was only 42 years, Franklin not only outlived the average colonist by double – he enjoyed good health throughout the majority of his life.

The Benjamin Franklin Diet book reveals his findings as he searched for the answer to the one question that plagues everyone: What am I supposed to eat? He created the Six Principles of Diet, which author Kelly Wright outlines in easy to understand terms for our modern society. These key precepts have been extracted from his writings, and they provide the framework for a safe and delicious approach to shedding unwanted pounds—and keeping them off for good.

Six Principles of Diet:

1. Eat to live, don’t live to eat.

2. Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

3. Eat and drink no more than the body needs.

4. Eating grain brings health and vigor.

5. Remain consistent with the portions and type of food you eat.

6. There are no gains without pains.

The Ben Franklin Diet was developed using Franklin’s principles, which unlock the secrets to losing weight. Following the advice outlined in this book can put you on  your way to permanent weight loss and good health. Combining this advice on diet with flavorful colonial cooking make Franklin’s dietary principles easy and delicious to implement.

To read more about this unusual diet, go to http://thebenjaminfranklindiet.com and www.basichealthpub.com

Health benefits of infused waters

Spice up bland water for rejuvenation 

Water is essential for us and although it’s great to drink it in its pure and natural state, there are some benefits from adding other ingredients to your water. We all know making sure your body is well hydrated is vital – good hydration helps your kidneys function properly, aids weight loss, boosts your metabolism, and helps you maintain high energy levels.  But by adding fruits and herbs to your water, trainer Dominika Brooks said you can also include essential vitamins and minerals. Not to mention this actually increases your chances of drinking your daily recommended water intake.


Brooks said to not be tempted to buy flavored waters from the supermarket shelves, though because most contain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, and refined sugar.

“Instead, make your own infusions at home – it’s really very easy,” she said. “Simply add fresh fruit, fragrant fresh herbs, and spices to filtered water and put it in the fridge. Try different combinations to find the taste you like. You’ll be surprised how much better and fresher they taste than pop or fruit drinks.”

Here are some classic flavored water ideas to get you underway:

Lemon water
It is one of the easiest and most drank flavored water. Just freshly squeezed lemon juice to lukewarm water. Brooks and many nutritionists recommend drinking it first thing in the morning because it wakes up your internal organs. Drinking lemon water helps balance ph, boosts your immune system, aids digestion, and weight loss, as well as stimulating your liver. It also provides you with a great dose of vitamin C.

Lemon and cucumber 
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with one cucumber and one lemon, thinly sliced and 1/4 cup of fresh finely chopped basil leaf and 1/3 of finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry water
Take a handful of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, then add the filtered water and let it sit for 30 minutes. Refrigerate and enjoy. This water’s full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and is a favorite for summer time  especially.

Parsley water
Take a bunch of parsley and cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot. Pour on fresh water and boil for 10 minutes. Let it cool down and then filter it and pour into a clean bottle. Then put it inside refrigerator to cool.

Here are some more specialized infused waters for targeted areas of the body:

For digestion — Fennel and Citrus
First, infuse 1 to 3 grams of dried and crushed fennel in 150 ml of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool.
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher, add lemon juice (put the leftover lemon in the mix) and a small thinly sliced orange and 12 fresh chopped mint leaves and the infusion of fennel seeds. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

The antioxidant — Blackberry and Sage
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of blackberries that have been very slightly crushed and 3-4 sage leaves. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

The tropical — Watermelon and Rosemary
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of watermelon cut into cubes and 2 rosemary stems. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

The exotic — Pineapple and Mint
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of pineapple cut into cubes and 12 fresh mint leaves finely chopped. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

The traditional — Apple and Cinnamon
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of apple cut into cubes and 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

The zinger — Ginger and Tea
First, heat 1 teaspoon of ginger in two cups of tea, let it cool. Then, mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with two cups of the ginger tea and 4-5 pieces of fresh ginger cut into cubes. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Lack of sleep can pile on weight

Did you know that if you don't get enough sleep it could cause you to eat more than 1000 extra calories a day? Learn how to stop sleep-related weight gain...

Valerian tea offers relaxation in a cup.

Dr. Nina Radcliffe, women's health expert, says that weight and sleep go hand-in-hand and that even the most dedicated dieter can struggle at consistently losing if they don't get enough sleep. Why? Because it messes with your hormones and undermines your effort.

 "There was a provocative study that showed people who did not get a good night's sleep have cravings that skyrocket," she said. "People can eat up to 1000 extra calories in just one day, and that can impact the belly fat and none of us want that."

Here are some tips to fight sleep-related weight gain starting tonight:

• Keep your bedroom much cooler than you think you should or may want to.  Research suggests that you should keep the thermostat in your bedroom at around 63 degrees. So for most of us that means no heat on in the bedroom...even in the winter. Same goes in reverse for the summer - cool the room to sleep better.
• Forget the flannel sheets and you don't want a big blanket or comforter on either – just sheets. Linen like sheets are best or a light cotton. Sleep with minimal light clothes on too.
• Establish a fat-burning bedtime. Scientists now know that getting just one hour of extra sleep a night, upping it from seven to eight hours, can help you to lose up to 15 pounds every year - all while you're sleeping. So pick your wake-up time and count backwards by eight hours - that's your fat-burning bedtime.
• Eat breakfast at bedtime. Snacking on the wrong types of snacks at night (you know all the ones we sinfully love) such as ice cream, cookies, and candy or not having a snack at all before bed can disrupt our sleep greatly. So the next time you get hunger pains at night, have a small bowl of oatmeal, a banana with some walnuts, or some whole grain crackers with a little bit of peanut butter. All of these small meals contain tryptophan, melatonin, and they have complex carbohydrates that can promote sleep.
• Replace your alcohol beverage at night with a cup of valerian tea instead an hour before bed. It will  help you relax, and unlike alcohol, it will help you sleep more soundly too.

Learn more about sleep disorders

If your lack of restful sleep is taking a toll on your physical, mental, or emotional well-being, a necessary first step toward resolving the problem is learning about the sleep disorder that's causing it. Overcoming Sleep Disorders Naturally explains the numerous factors that influence sleep and wakefulness, including normal sleep patterns and requirements, circadian rhythms and neurotransmitters that regulate the sleep/wake cycle,  and behaviors, thought patterns, and evironmental conditions that promote or interfere with sleep.

The impact of lifestyle issues such as inactivity, jet lag, and shift work can play a detrimental role too in our sleep. By promoting a state of balance in the mind and body, the strategies detailed in Overcoming Sleep Disorders Naturally will help readers regain the ability to sleep well and improve overall health. This book also provides a handy guide to selecting and purchasing natural sleep remedies, and lists additional resources for finding sleep-related information and products. In short, this book provides all the information readers need to get a good night's rest.

For more information about sleep disorders and to purchase the book, go to www.basichealthpub.com

Overcome insomnia naturally by eating the right foods

Move over melatonin and all the popular medicated sleep aids – there's a new kid on the block that will help you sleep more soundly and definitely more healthy. Actually, it's more like an old friend who's always been around and likely can be found right now in your kitchen cabinet. Eating the right foods in the hours before you hit the hay may help you fall asleep faster and even improve the quality of your sleep.

Almonds 

What's not to love about almonds? Not only are they good for your heart, but also since they contain tryptophan and magnesium they can make you sleepy. Almonds contain magnesium, which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation. Grab a handful about 30 mins before bed.

Tea

Chamomile works as a mild tranquilizer and a sleep inducer. Along with regulating sleep, liquid melatonin boasts several advantages: It helps lower heart rate and blood pressure, increases immune function, and blocks the body’s stress response. Try adding 18 drops, which is about .5 mg, of liquid melatonin to your tea two hours before bedtime.

Bananas

"They're practically a sleeping pill in a peel," says RealAge.com. Each tasty bite contains melatonin and serotonin to make you sleepy, as well as magnesium, a known muscle relaxant. Worried about the sugar in them? Don't be... having one right before bed will give you just enough sugar to calm your orexin cells, plus the potassium will also help to relax your muscles.

Milk

Drinking a glass of warm milk before bed will help you to sleep better - it's not just an old wives' tale. Dairy products are rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which helps in the production of the sleep inducing brain chemicals, serotonin and melatonin.

Oatmeal

Not just good for a healthy breakfast - the complex carbohydrate triggers a rise in blood sugar, which in turn triggers insulin production and the release of sleep-inducing brain chemicals. Oats are also rich in vitamin B6, an anti-stress vitamin, and melatonin.

Cereal

Having a bowl an hour or so before going to bed stimulates the release of insulin. This helps to clear amino acids that compete with tryptophan from the bloodstream, allowing more of this sleep-inducing amino acid to enter the brain.

Montmorency Tart Cherries

The Montmorency cherry is a type of sour cherry. The color is not as dark as the cherries we typically see in the stores. These cherries are great because they have about 6 times the amount of melatonin than a regular cherry. If you can find a cherry juice concentrate, this will also increase the concentration of melatonin even more.

There are many causes of poor sleep and regular sleep problems can hurt our overall health. Medications can help us get to sleep but carry a high risk. Long-term healthy solutions include balancing blood sugar and creating healthy sleep rituals like eating these foods. Now go have some and hit the hay!

How to cope with food allergies wherever you are

Food allergies are one of the fastest growing public health concerns in the United States, and there is no known cure. More than12 million people in the United States have food allergies – three million of them are children. So how do we begin to manage them as individuals and in our families?

Unfortunately, the cause has not yet been medically identified, but the condition is known to run in families. That's the case with author Mireille Schwartz, who is allergic to fish, and whose parents, brother, and daughter all have allergies to different foods. Because Schwartz has struggled since childhood with this life-threatening challenge, she knows firsthand how to help families deal with the many difficult consequences including imminent death their loved ones face.

Not only does she have personal experience with allergies – she's got the professional background to help navigate what can be very overwhelming and confusing territory. Schwartz is the founder and executive director of the Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board, an organization that promotes education and awareness, and provides no-cost medical care and medication to San Francisco Bay Area families with severely allergic children. She is the author of the new book, The Family Food Allergy Book.

Schwartz outlines the eight primary food allergies, which are to milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish – some may also be allergic to medication. Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction. Symptoms like breathing difficulties, trouble swallowing, fainting, or sharp increase in heart rate usually show up within minutes of exposure (although some may take several hours or even twenty-four hours). Therefore, early identification and strict avoidance of known food allergens are essential to prevent serious health consequences. Schwartz recommends observing children carefully for patterns and discussing them with your pediatrician. A colicky baby might be allergic to milk, or a diaper rash might show up every time after an infant eats eggs. Skin and blood tests are essential for a definitive diagnosis.

After Schwartz details the obvious and hidden sources of the eight main types of food allergies and shares savvy allergen-avoidance techniques, she devotes five chapters to various challenges and how to cope with them in schools and restaurants, on public transportation and other enclosed spaces, and during family vacations and holidays. Another chapter is chock full of recipes like chewy granola bars made without nuts or wheat, and homemade vanilla ice cream made without milk.

Besides providing a wealth of helpful advice, Schwartz's overall message is supportive and positive. "It's absolutely possible to live a full, active life with your food allergies," she said. "Arming yourself with information is the key."

To read more about managing allergies in families and for individuals, go to www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com to buy the book.

Soul sisters live perks of having cancer

How often do you hear the words “healthy, “happy,” and “cancer” mentioned in the same sentence? That is precisely what gives the book 100 Perks of Having Cancer (Plus 100 Health Tips for Surviving It) its unique character – not to mention its immense bravery. 

The authors, Florence Strang and Susan Gonzales, both survivors of cancer not only “talk the talk” of living a healthy lifestyle with a positive attitude on the cancer journey – they also continue to “walk the walk.” Strang’s perks, which are a combination of inspirational and humorous anecdotes, have made her audiences laugh and cry.  Gonzales’ tips are sought after because of their educational content with a witty twist. Together they provide a valuable resource, which will inspire and motivate their readers, while keeping them smiling.

Six months after being diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, Strang found herself faced with a life altering choice.  With just over a 50 percent prognosis of survival, she realized that she had a difficult journey ahead. She could choose to face this journey by focusing on the harsh, ugly realities of cancer, or she could choose to confront it with a positive attitude. She chose the path of pure strength.

As a psychologist, she was acutely aware of the mind-body connection and the health promoting benefits of a positive attitude.  Although under attack from a difficult chemotherapy treatment, she convinced herself that cancer was not that bad.  In fact, it even had its perks.  Yes, perks, and a lot of them.

So she issued herself a challenge to find 100 perks of having cancer and to honor this commitment she decided to blog her efforts (www.perksofcancer.com).  Little did she know at that time that thousands of people would be helped in the months that followed the blog’s debut.

While Strang was well educated on the psychological aspects of cancer, she found herself overwhelmed by the amount of information out there regarding the health aspects of it.  She soon discovered fellow Stage 3 breast cancer survivor and registered nurse, Gonzalez, who truly lived up to her blog persona of “The Savvy Sister.”  She seemed to know all the latest do’s and don’ts regarding cancer and could assimilate and summarize large amounts of information into articles that were not only immensely educational, but also entertaining.

While Strang found herself tuning in to Gonzales blog for healthy living tips on exercise, nutrition, medication and supplements, Strang would visit Gonzales’ blog for its humor and inspiration.
As Strang neared the end of her perks challenge, she invited Gonzales to join her in writing a book, which would address the needs of body, mind and spirit.  Together they share a vision of promoting the message that cancer does not have to be viewed as a death sentence.  Whether you are a cancer warrior who is actively battling the disease, a cancer survivor, or a cancer avoider, this book has something for you.

And if two savvy sisters can have this incredible attitude about cancer, imagine how the rest of us can adjust our attitudes when we're having a bad day? Now let's get busy living.

To read more about their incredible journey, go to www.perksofcancer.com. To buy the book, go to www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com

Super Bowl destroy your diet? Relax it's all good

Chicken wings – a Super Bowl favorite 

Now more than ever in our ever-changing world, it's time to focus on your health and what YOU can do to keep yourself feeling good and in optimum health. With the new health care system still taking shape and unexpected bills seemingly coming up every month no matter how much people try and save, we want to deliver the newest info, products, and literature that will help guide you to a healthier lifestyle. All you have to do is get on the computer and come here a few times a week, and we'll deliver the goods on what everyone is talking about and resources to support your health road map.

So what's everyone talking about today? The Super Bowl and the dominating blow-out win by the Seattle Seahawks over the Denver Broncos. For those people who are fans of football or for those who are not, they share one thing in common – if you went to a Super Bowl party chances are that you overate and that healthy diet went right out the window.  Have no fear because you are not alone.

The average Super Bowl spectator gobbles down about 1,200 calories worth of snacks on game day, according to the Calorie Control Council. That's snacks, people, not meals. Game day eating is so extreme that the United States Department of Agriculture has labeled Super Bowl Sunday the second most glutinous day of the year after Thanksgiving. And we all know how much we eat on Thanksgiving!

You can't go back and undo your overindulgence, but the good news is you don't have to worry about it a second longer because your new strict diet is over. You've heard it before that extreme diets don't work, and let's face it, they don't. If they did and we were happy with our weight, we wouldn't keep going on them, right?

So what's the answer? There is a profound absence of scientific evidence to support the claims of most of the popular weight-loss programs. Most diets can guarantee that if you eat 1,200 calories or less a day and exercise moderately, you will lose weight. It would also probably be safe to guarantee that you cannot sustain this regimen on a lot more days than the Super Bowl.

Men and women struggle equally with their weight. Brooks Carder, a scientist with a businessman's focus on the bottom line, made a firm decision never to go on a calorie-restrictive diet again. Yet he was facing health problems and needed to lose weight. Dr. Carder's salvation began with his love for Italian food and his introduction to the Mediterranean diet – not an actual diet, but a set of dietary principles focusing on whole foods that have been proven to promote health.

When he began to lose weight without deprivation or discomfort, his scientific curiosity was piqued, and he began to read the scientific literature on obesity, weight loss, and diets to understand what was happening. The Laguna Beach Diet is the culmination of these findings. This book presents an eating and exercise plan for sustained weight loss, along with the science that backs it up. It conforms to the principles of the Mediterranean diet, yet is also adapts to the cuisines of Asia and Mexico, representing the ethnic diversity of our country.

Unlike most diets, it is not necessary to buy special meals, weigh portions, count calories, or anything of the sort. Followers of the plan must simply keep the principles in mind and make the best choices he or she can, according to the ingredients on hand.

In the end, it's always about making better choices.  We will have days when we overindulge, but the key is to have more days when we don't. Most importantly, though, don't have any days when you starve and deprive yourself of healthy and delicious food.

When we deprive ourselves, we usually over do it –  so don't do it!

To read more about this doable approach to a healthy lifestyle, go to http://basichealthpub.com  or amazon.com