It’s also important to eat more magnesium-rich foods, and adding them into your diet really isn’t difficult. These would include dried apricots, leafy green vegetables, sesame seeds, black beans, broccoli, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, cooked spinach, whole grain cereal, and whole wheat bread.

Having enough magnesium is essential for over 325 different biochemical reactions in your body, including producing energy from the foods we eat, enabling muscles to relax, and regulating blood pressure.

When taking magnesium, it is also helpful to increase calcium intake as calcium will enable more of the vitamins and minerals to enter the bones. Calcium-rich foods such as almonds, tofu, plain yogurt, oats, and seafood can easily be used in a daily diet. If you have a cold already, you may want to avoid the obvious calcium food – milk – as it can make post nasal drainage worse.

Don’t forget to include foods such as carrots, garlic, onions, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tuna, natural peanut butter, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, citrus fruits, brown rice, oatmeal, flaxseed, black beans, and lentils. These are high in vitamins B6 and B12 which may help you recover from a cold quicker. In addition, some of them have vitamin C, long thought to be helpful in the case of colds, and zinc, also now believed to be beneficial in warding off colds, or helping a person recover more quickly from a cold.

Many people believe it’s easier to get the vitamins and minerals they need from over-the-counter products. You can do that, but it is more desirable to get your nutrition from natural sources.

So if you are concerned about your family’s health this winter, you can take preventive steps, and acan also easily eat some of these super foods to keep colds at bay this winter. Let’s face it, super foods taste better than the nutrients which come out of a bottle, so you’ll also be able to enjoy getting and staying healthy during cold season.

It’s not called “common” for nothing. Before long, millions of people will be affected by the common cold or the flu. Some people use traditional methods to stay healthy, including watching what they eat, and keeping their immune system strong with certain foods and herbs. You may want to try some of these “super foods” to keep colds at bay this winter.

Colds and flu are similar in that they’re both respiratory illnesses. They also have some of the same symptoms. While there are similarities, such as both being viral infections, there are also differences.

Symptoms from colds generally begin slowly, and consist of runny or stuffy noses, wet or productive coughs, mild fatigue, and slight body aches.

Flu, on the other hand, makes itself know quickly (often within three to six hours); symptoms include fever, more severe body aches, chills, moderate fatigue, dry or burning cough, severe chest congestion, and headache.

Obviously, preventing a cold is preferable to treating one and you can do much to reduce your chances of catching a cold: washing your hands with hot soapy water, avoiding touching your eyes or nose, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy diet. In fact, adding vitamin and mineral-rich super foods to your daily diet can be your front line to avoiding a cold this season.

Start by incorporating more immune-boosting foods such as garlic, onions, mushrooms, fish, oats, tea, and even Mom’s home-made chicken soup. You could also include vibrant fruits such as blueberries, oranges, raisins, and kiwi fruit.

California avocados, ginger, horseradish, and turmeric round out the foods you’d want to add to increase your immune system. Of course, you’d be hard-pressed to find a recipe that incorporated all of these foods at once, and you probably wouldn’t want to. But a little bit each week should help keep your immune system strong.

Sinus congestion and infections are common throughout the year, and nearly everyone will have them at one point or another in their lives.

Some people experience them so often the condition is considered chronic. Most people choose to treat chronic sinus infections with traditional methods, but some choose holistic treatments. What is the difference, and is one better than the other?

If you’ve ever had a sinus infection, you know the symptoms: headache, facial pain and heaviness, low grade fever, fatigue, or stuffy ears. You may feel like your head weighs a ton and you’re miserable. You also want to find relief so you can get back to your life and feel better.

Doctors will often prescribe an antihistamine or decongestant if you visit them to consult with them about your sinus infection. These medications will help keep your sinus passages open; they also allow the congestion to drain.

Some people use over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays, but using them for more than three days at a time can lead your sinuses to become dependent upon the spray to remain open. The possibility of becoming “addicted” to these sprays is so great that it would be best to talk with your doctor or nurse about using them at all.

You may notice your sinus pressure and discomfort lessening after you take a warm shower. This is because the moist heat loosens the congestion and allows it to drain. Using a damp, warm washcloth placed on the forehead or over the bridge of the nose and onto the cheeks (where sinuses are located) can also help. Be careful about the temperature of the cloth, however, as you don’t want to burn yourself.

Non-traditional and holistic treatments vary. Some of them include, but are not limited to:

* Aromatherapy which uses essential oils from flowers, fruits, and herbs to alleviate sinus congestion. Common essential oils to treat sinuses are eucalyptus or benzoin.

* Ear acupuncture, or auricular therapy, is used to stimulate a precise point on the ear by applying direct pressure. Since the ear has many nerve endings and blood vessels, manipulating the right spot can aide in natural healing and achieving proper balance within the body.

* Color light therapy is another holistic approach which may help those suffering from chronic sinus infections. Claims are made that unhealthy bodies can be made better by concentrating on specific colors to achieve healing. Those suffering from chronic sinus infections can get relief with green-colored light.

* Herbal remedies have been shown to be effective in treating sinus infections and many other conditions. Mullein has decongestant properties and will also soothe the mucous membranes. Walnut leaf tea helps stop nasal discharge and post nasal drip. Stinging nettle is a natural antihistamine. Blood root is used to treat nasal congestion and sneezing.

* Mesotherapy, which is used primarily in France, involves injecting tiny doses of medication into the affected area. Herbal and homeopathic medications are also used. This allows the sinuses to drain and is proven to be helpful in treating sinus pain and migraine headaches.

Both methods of treating chronic sinus infections can be effective. Is one better than the other? That depends on who you listen to. Traditional medicine is more widely accepted and easy to obtain. Holistic treatments, on the other hand, may not be readily available where you live.

Ultimately, the choice of which treatment to use to treat chronic sinus infections is up to you, but at least you have a better understanding of the options to be able to make an informed decision.

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Some people were told to gargle with warm salt water as a child when they had the first sign of a sore throat. This practice has been debated due to some concerns about further damage being caused to already irritated tissues. The consensus seems to be more recently that gargling with warm salt water is still a good idea. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water and then gargle. TO kill even more germs, add a tablespoon of Listerine to the mixture. You can also add lemon juice, as above.

You may also want to try a gargle made with hot water, powdered ginger, lemon juice, and honey. The ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, and honey is a natural antibiotic. Add the astringent properties of the lemons and you have the perfect sore throat gargle.

Add one teaspoon each or powdered ginger and honey to 1/2 cup hot water and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Of course, you may want to use the same ingredients in tea, instead.

Cooler weather often brings sore throats for young and old alike. Learning how to soothe a sore throat naturally can not only solve your sore throat problems, but it can also save you money.

There’s a reason people have been using these tried-and-true remedies for sore throats – they’ve been proven to work. Why not try one of these remedies the next time your throat feels sore? It will save time, and money.

People get sore throats for all sorts of reasons, especially this time of year. They may have yelled too much during a sporting event, developed allergies with post nasal drip, talked too much, or been around people who smoke.

Generally speaking, they also accompany colds and flu as well. Whatever the reason, many people want to know how to soothe a sore throat naturally, especially when the weather gets colder.

Sore throats are caused by inflammation to the back of the throat. Generally it’s more a nuisance than anything, but it can develop into something more serious. Dryness, burning in the throat, painful swallowing, and hoarseness are often associated with sore throats.

They can be caused by bacterial of viral infections and be part of the common cold or flu, as well as more serious diseases such as mumps, measles, and tonsillitis. There are a number of different ways to treat your sore throat naturally without spending a lot.

You can purchase sore throat lozenges or sprays to help a sore throat feel better, but why spend the money when there are a number of options you can try from the comfort of your own home for pennies instead of big bucks. These tried and true natural remedies may be right at hand, as the ingredients are commonly found in most homes.

Gargling with lemon juice in water is one of the most common home remedies for dealing with sore throats. The juice acts as an astringent which helps shrink the swollen tissues in the throat. It also creates a hostile environment for bacteria and viruses to live, much less thrive.

Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice into a cup of water. Fresh lemon juice is best, but pre-squeezed lemon juice you can find in the store will work just as well. To make the gargle even more effective, use warm water. It will soothe the throat as well as provide the above benefits.

Even with the amazing medical strides in recent years, sometimes the simplest and most natural solutions are best. Take vinegar, for instance. The power of acetic acid in vinegar has been shown to be effective for healing for centuries.

People planning a trip to the beach probably want to include a bottle of vinegar in their first aid kit. Why would they want to do this? Vinegar poured directly over jellyfish stings is extremely effective at reducing the pain. You can also dot vinegar on a bee or mosquito sting to reduce the pain associated with them.

Add a cup of vinegar to warm water. Pour this over your hair after you shampoo and it will remove any soap or sebum oil remaining on your hair. It will also restore the acid mantel. If you have brunette hair, vinegar will also add natural highlights.

Don’t you hate having the hiccups? Some people count to ten while holding their breath to get rid of them. Others try a teaspoon of sugar or peanut butter. Try swallowing a tablespoon of vinegar. It’s said to stop the hiccups instantly.

Lightly rub vinegar on any area of the skin affected by sunburn to relieve the pain. If the pain reappears, reapply more vinegar.

Add a teaspoon of vinegar to a glass of warm water. Gargle and then swallow the water and vinegar mixture. This will soothe a sore throat.

Put one-fourth of a cup of apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Add one-fourth cup of honey. Stir them together and take one tablespoon of this mixture six to eight times a day to help you get over a cold quicker.

Speaking of colds, you can relieve the cough associated with them by mixing one-half cup of apple cider vinegar, one-half cup of water, one teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and four teaspoons of honey. Stir these ingredients until they are thoroughly incorporated.

When you start coughing, take one tablespoon of the mixture. You may want to take another at bedtime to help control coughing during the night.

Sinus infections can also be treated naturally with vinegar. Add one-fourth of a cup of vinegar to a vaporizer and use it. This will moisten the sinuses and reduce the effects of chest colds.

All women will have a menstrual cycle from their teen years into their 40s and later. The vast majority of women also experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Simply put, their hormones are fluctuating all over the place.

Many women want to know how to improve hormone harmony naturally during PMS. Some men may want to know, too, so they can help the women in their lives to get over this distressing and often debilitating condition.

There are several things you can do to balance your hormones naturally to avoid, or lessen the symptoms of PMS:

* Start with a low-fat, high fiber diet. Beans and lentils are great choices to add during your monthly cycle. They are rich in B vitamins, high in fiber, and provide a number of minerals your body needs.
Some people also believe they increase the level of serotonin which calms the brain. If you’re eating lower fat foods, you’re also helping your body produce less estrogen which may ease some of PMS’s symptoms – including anxiety and irritability.

* Reduce sodium in your diet, particularly if you tend to retain water. The problem is many of the foods women crave leading up to their periods are chock full of sodium. Many experts recommend limiting your sodium intake to less than 2,000 mg per day. Too much sodium in the diet can lead to water retention, abdominal bloating, and breast tenderness, which most women would like to avoid during this time of the month.

Onions, mushrooms, and grapefruit are all good examples of foods which can reduce water retention in the body naturally, for added comfort, less water weight gain, and less of a bloated and cramped sensation.

* Get plenty of exercise. Exercise does more than improve your general overall health. Spending 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week in an aerobic exercise increases the endorphins in your system, and this helps improve your mood.

* Take time to meditate. Meditation can help reduce tension headaches and reduce other physical complaints women generally have during PMS. If you meditate consistently you may notice a reduction in the discomfort generally felt during the time leading to menstruation.

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Alternative Cures is a compilation of experience and knowledge from over 300 of America’s top doctors, herbalists, nutritionists, homeopaths and naturopaths. It is an A-Z of conditions and cures using the most effective natural home remedies.

Whether you are suffering from sinusitis, warts, acne, chronic fatigue, flu, shyness, heart disease, chapped lips or age spots, the book offers more than a 1,000 remedies to help you to combat symptoms.

The book also informs you about the benefits of alternative healing including acupressure, acupuncture, herbal therapy, flower essences, traditional Chinese medicine, breath therapy, music therapy and others. The book includes an illustrated guide to acupressure points and guidelines for safe use of remedies described in the book.
Alternative Cures: More than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies

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Do you or someone in your family have eczema or another common skin problem? If you look at the ingredients on commercial skin treatments, you may find evening primrose oil listed on the label. This powerful oil has been proven effective for treating rashes, dry skin, eczema, and even acne.

Evening primrose oil is taken orally over the course of the day to treat eczema or atopic dermatitis. It can be given to children and adults. Dosages are generally determined by weight and guidelines are printed on the label.

Another benefit of evening primrose oil is the anti-inflammatory properties in has. If you or someone you know suffers from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, you may want to suggest they supplement their diet with evening primrose oil. Reports show those taking this supplement have decreased inflammation and joint swelling.

Diabetes and diabetic neuropathy are common today due to more and more people developing Type 2 diabetes. Evening primrose oil has been shown to reduce the tingling, numbness, and sensation of loss that diabetics with neuropathy can suffer from. By supplementing the diet, evening primrose may help prevent the nerve damage associated with diabetes. The diabetics you know will thank you for suggesting they take this.

Evening primrose oil has been used for centuries and is a proven remedy for many common ailments.
You’ll find evening primrose at many larger discount stores in the pharmacy section, at pharmacies, and at health food stores. If you can find evening primrose plants, you may even want to learn how to make your own herbal remedies. Now you know about the benefits of evening primrose oil, you might want to get some for yourself.
We recommend this pack due to its high concentration and great value: Source Naturals Evening Primrose Oil, 1350 mg, Softgels, 120 softgels (Pack of 2)

Health care is a major issue in the news these days. Turn on the television and someone is most likely talking about it.

Whether you are fortunate enough to have health insurance or not, you are probably concerned with your health and that of your family. For those looking for alternatives to traditional medicine, you may want to look into the benefits of evening primrose oil.

Evening primrose has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years among Native American tribes. Medical science has been studying this herb and found that it has healing properties which may be beneficial for a number of illnesses and conditions.

While all parts of the evening primrose plant can be used medicinally, it is the oil from this flowering plant that is most effective. Evening primrose oil is made by gathering the seeds of the plant and pressing them to release the oil. This oil contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which is an essential fatty acid.

One of the many uses of evening primrose oil is to counteract the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. This oil contains eight to ten percent GLA which is higher than many plants.

By using evening primrose, many women notice breast pain, bloating, depression, and cramps are reduced each month. Some women have even found the symptoms have disappeared altogether. There are a number of different formulas available. Follow the oral dosing instructions on the package to receive the most benefit from this oil.

Best of all, you can get it in a high concentrate for a not very high price. Comparison shop-we recommend this great value pack from Source Naturals:
Source Naturals Evening Primrose Oil, 1350 mg, Softgels, 120 softgels (Pack of 2)