THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LIVER

The liver is a very important organ in the body. It is also one of the largest glands, it performs various functions over 500 to be exact! You can call it "Your Lifeline, or "Fountain of Youth".  It helps clean the blood, remove pollutants, and remove dead or damaged cells from circulation, it also stores vitamins, sugar and iron and helps give energy to the body. You wouldn't be able to survive very long without your liver, but the good news is that you can survive even with 75% of the liver diseased or removed. Another amazing thing about the liver is that it can regenerate itself. Even if you lose half of your liver, it has the power to grow back and create new liver tissue. Now, if your wondering why the liver is called the "Fountain of Youth", it's because whatever way you treat your liver, that's how it will treat you. If you keep your liver clean, you'll look younger, if you keep it unclean and full of toxins, the opposite. There are many ways that you can take care of your liver, one being the foods you eat. Here's a list of foods that cleanse the liver.

FOODS THAT CLEANSE THE LIVER:

1) FRUITS & VEGGIES:
Tomatoes, carrots, lemons, berries, cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprounts, avocados, garlic, onions, white radishes, red peppers, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, grapefruit and asparagus.

2) HERBS:

Milk thistle, tumeric, artichoke extract, shisandra, rosemary, bupleurum, boldo, dandelion, yellow dock, gentian, eclipta, barberry, abuta, chance piedra, kudzu root, and angelica(dong quai).

3) GRAINS:

Amaranth, millet, quinoa, sorghum, wild rice, oats, rye, buckwheat, barley, spelt, teff, triticale, emmer, faro, einkorn, and bulgur.




4) OTHER POWERFUL FOODS:
Green tea, olive oil, and nuts.

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HOW TO REDUCE STRESS NATURALLY

Stress is a common problem for many people today. With everything going on in our lives and the toxins and chemicals that go into our bodies daily, it can be very hazardous to our health. Fortunately, there are natural remedies to help release stress. Here are a few:

1) EXERCISE:

Exercise is very helpful in releasing stress. It naturally changes your body chemistry and calms your nervous system. Doing something you enjoy and gets you moving can be very beneficial.

2) EAT BALANCED MEALS:

Eating healthy balanced meals, while avoiding too much sugar, caffeine, and alcohol can really take a load off you body.

3) HERBS:

Herbs are a great way to get rid of toxins that build up in the body. Some great herbs for stress are GINSENG, KAVA, VALERIAN ROOT, CHAMOMILE, and ST. JOHN'S WORT.

4) MEDITATION:

Meditation reduces stress and improves health. For as little as 10 min a day, you can reduce anxiety, improve cardiovascular health, and control stress.

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THE TOTAL THYROID

Ok, so most of us know what the thyroid is but do you know what it does? Most people take for granted even having a thyroid. Many people don't realize what a blessing it is to have a thyroid. I know I was one of those people, but ever since i've learned more about it and seen first-hand what my dad and others go through due to not paying close attention, I make sure to take care of myself now. Honestly, I used to not even know what the thyroid was. Now I know that without it, life is more difficult. The thyroid plays a very important part in your health. It is a very important gland in your body, without it you won't be able to function properly. It controls your hormones, metabolism, and heart rate. Due to various causes, partial or all of the thyroid must be removed. Unfortunately, my dad had to get his whole thyroid removed and is still struggling with many problems to this day because of it. So, my point is that you should take care of your thyroid because you don't want the issues that come with a damaged thyroid.  

TIPS FOR TAKING CARE OF YOUR THYROID:

1) EAT IODINE-RICH FOODS:
Some foods rich in iodine include spinach, walnuts, almonds, mustard greens, asparagus, lima beans, turnips, and brown rice.

2) EAT FOODS THAT CONTAIN HEALTHY FAT:
Nuts and seeds, olives and olive oil, nuts, and avocado.

2) STOP SMOKING:
 Smoking tobacco conatins substances that negatively affect the thyroid. The longer you smoke, the greater your risk of thyroid disease.

3) EXERCISE REGULARLY:
This can increase hormone production as well as boost metabolism and control weight.

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GREAT MOTHERS DAY GIFTS

Here are a few great healthy gifts you can give mom this mothers day.

1) Organic Chocolate: This tasty treat is not only satisfying, but also full of antioxidants.

2) A House Plant: There are numerous benefits to having a house plant. They purify the home and improve your mood. This makes a great mothers day gift.

3) Gym Membership: Paying for your moms gym membership is one of the best things you can do.

4) Gardening Gift Basket:

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NUT BUTTER HEALTH BENEFITS!

Mmmm... Nut Butters! If you haven't tried them you don't know what your missing. Nut butters are tasty and have many health benefits. One of the great things about nut butters is that they are easy on your digestive system and great for your health. There is so much variety in what kinds you can eat. Also, you can make them yourself which is great if you are on a limited budget. I used to eat whole nuts but now i'm crazy over nut butters. What's great about making your own nut butters is that you get to add whatever you want to them, cinnamon, honey, cane sugar, etc. Each nut butter has it's own benefits and you can make it out of any nut. My personal favorite is roasted almond butter; it gives off sort of a sweet nutty flavor and tastes great. By blending the nuts you also get more benefits because it releases enzymes. Here are some info and recipes of almond butter that is delicious & nutritious:

ALMOND BUTTER: Definately one of the best natural foods on the market today. This superfood is loaded with PROTEIN, CALCIUM, FIBER, MAGNESIUM, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN E, MANGANESE, TRYPTOPHAN, COPPER,  AND POTASSIUM. It's also low in saturated fat and decreases bad cholesterol.

CINNAMON HONEY RAW ALMOND BUTTER

 

What you'll need:

1)Raw Almonds

2) Food Processor or blender

3) Optional: Cinnamon/Honey

Instructions:

Put your desired amount of almond butter in food processor or blender. Blend until smooth(this could take up to 15 min). Add cinnamon or honey and refrigerate. Super simple right?

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