Thailand Detox

Detox Supplements: Fight Cancer with Vitamins and Supplements by Kedar N. Prasad, Ph.D. and K. Che Prasad, M.D.

A Guide to Prevention and Treatment

Fight Cancer with Vitamins and Supplements: A Guide to Prevention and Treatment

Scientific research has proven that certain nutrients found in foods and many nutritional supplements can help the body fend off cancer.  For patients already suffering from cancer, these same elements can fight the disease and increase the effectiveness of traditional cancer treatments.  This book explains the most up-to-date information direct from the scientific community, helping readers better understand the role of vitamins and how they can benefit from these micronutrients.

This book helps readers identify important nutrients for reducing their risk for cancer and learn to incorporate these elements into their diet through foods and supplements.  Fight Cancer with Vitamins and Supplements includes:

• An easy-to-follow diet and supplementation program
• Information that clarifies the mysteries surrounding the latest anti-cancer nutrients
• Explanations as to how many vitamins found in foods are lost during storage and how to get them back
• Evidence that the featured cancer prevention program can also effectively prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other serious conditions

About the Author

Kedar N. Prasad, Ph.D., is director of the Center for Vitamins and Cancer Research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

His son, K. Che Prasad, M.D., is a fellow at the University of California, San Francisco.

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Overcoming Physical Hurdles

People are born unique to the rest of their peers in one way or another. Others may find these unique traits otherwise concealed, while there are those whose points of difference are in clear view of the world. These physical differences may be comparatively more difficult to cope with. However, these needn’t be reason to allow one’s self to be overcome by these difficulties.

Often, any physical hurdle creates an almost immediate impetus to find a place to throw the blame. Unfortunately, this blame often falls inwards, particularly when the physical difficulty resulted during birth or through an accident. This unhealthy imposition of blame on the self further feeds feelings of guilt, and may in the long-run contribute to far more self-destructive attitude, leading to depressive disorders and such.

The feelings of anyone with physical difficulties may go from one extreme to another, even if they do not confess to this huge variety of fleeting emotions. This non-admission is often a way for the mind to cope with things that we have to deal with.

The good thing is that physical challenges need not be a hurdle standing in the way of your achieving your dreams and ambitions. However, this reality isn’t one that you can lecture; rather, it is one that each person must discover, learn for themselves, accept, and live by. This process will be made possible by truly being open to the possibilities beyond those that you are able to see for yourself.

Luckily, when you look closely, those who face physical hurdles are often found in the center of a supportive group of people-family, friends, and colleagues. These people are often the ones who love them unconditionally, even if loving means being tough one time or another in order to help that person grow. With the help of these people, any physically-challenged individual can be open, honest, and true to themselves.

Seek that support group, especially during times of greatest physical and emotional difficulty. The special thing about support groups-whether you are intimately related to them like family, or in public support groups-is that they offer a listening ear and no judgments.

If you have a loved one who is physically-challenged, you may find that he is less willing to accept the fact that you love him with no regard for however different he is. This may make it a challenge to love  him more openly, especially because you yourself may not have any clear physical difference. In these instances, do not be afraid to seek the support of those like you, and perhaps, in the process, find words of advice as to how to deal with this situation.

Do not treat a person who is physically-challenged in a special way. You may adjust somewhat to the way he talks or help him walk, but this does not mean you have the license to show pity and treat him any less than how he deserves to be treated. This is ultimately, a show of respect that each person-even those with physical hurdles-expect to be given him.

Differences among people that manifest physically cause challenges not only among those who possess these traits, but also for the people around them who love and support them. However, it is best to muster up the will and courage to overcome this hurdle, because doing so is every bit worth the trouble. Instil in both parties confidence and a feeling of worth, and these physically-challenged individuals may even change your life for the better.

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Ten Sources of Hazardous Waste You May Not Have Thought Of

Any kind of waste product that is dangerous to the environment or to people is classified as hazardous waste. Anything that can catch fire, that can corrode and that can react in a dangerous way is a hazardous material. In America, we create several hundred million tons of these dangerous waste products in just one year.

There are many different places that hazardous waste can come from. The following are ten of the most common:

1. Companies that make metal products - Anytime metal is being created in a factory setting, there is also the creation of hazardous waste. Common hazardous waste products created in these environments include solvents, pickling solutions, plating waste, dangerous chemicals, paint waste and toxic water sludge.
2. Hospitals and and doctor’s Offices - Medical facilities are the largest creators of hazardous biological waste and waste contaminated with infectious diseases. Things like needles used for shots, organs that have been removed and bandages covered in bodily fluids are the most common examples but not the only hazardous waste created in these facilities. Treating patients with radiological materials or diagnosing them with the same materials create radioactive waste. Medication that is simply thrown in the trash instead of being disposed of correctly is also a form of hazardous waste.
3. Fuel stations - Since leaded gas is no longer used, gas stations are not producing as much hazardous waste as they previously did. The way fuel is stored in tanks below the ground that can leak and allow fuel into the earth is one area where hazardous waste can come into play. Newer gas stations have to follow strict rules to avoid these problems but older gas stations might still be creating hazardous waste.
4. Dry cleaners - The chemicals used in the dry cleaning process can be very hazardous to people and the environment. Everything these chemicals touch like materials used in cleaning and equipment filters can be classified as hazardous waste.
5. Photo developing centers - The chemicals used to develop photographs are hazardous in some cases. The silver in these chemicals can damage plants and animals living in the water. Silver can also affect how water treatment plants work by damaging the biological elements used in the plants. The chemicals can corrode metals in some cases.
6. Farming - While organic farming is mostly done with no hazardous chemicals, most farms rely on chemicals to get the most growth out of their plants. Some of the chemicals prevent damage to the crops from diseases and insects. The waste water created during the fertilization process are also hazardous to the environment.
7. Construction - Many older buildings were painted with lead paint, which is a hazardous material. The lead is exposed to air and enters the environment during demolition in these homes. Other hazardous items in older buildings, especially commercial buildings, can include asbestos and light fixtures with mercury.
8. Auto repair facilities - When car repairs are being done, there are is hazardous waste. These hazardous materials can include oil, gasoline, antifreeze and paint.
9. Research facilities - Any laboratory, whether it is a professional laboratory or a high school chemistry laboratory, use chemicals that can be hazardous. Things used to disinfect the lab, solvents and chemicals used for experimentation are all things that can be hazardous.
10. Your own home - While it may sound absurd, your house probably has its own share of hazardous waste. Often the things we use to clean our home can be a fire risk, can cause corrosion or can be reactive. The liquids and other materials used in car maintenance can be hazardous waste a well because they may have things like lead or mercury in them. This is just a small list of the possible hazardous waste items in your home.

Hazardous waste comes from many sources, these are just a few. Really, you can’t get away from hazardous waste. The best thing we can all do is to try to use less of the hazardous materials and make sure we get rid of any hazardous waste we have in the proper way to protect humans and the environment.

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Understanding Natural Sleep Therapy

You can’t be truly healthy if you are not sleeping enough but not everyone can sleep well without help. Many of us struggle with sleep problems every night. Often, we think that medication is the answer to our sleep problems whether it is over-the-counter medication or a prescription from our doctor.

The problem with these medications is that they can be dangerous. These sleep aids can be addictive. They can also cause you to wake up feeling tired and disorientated. Some have dangerous side effects. You don’t have to take sleeping pills in order to get a good night’s sleep. You can use natural sleep therapy to sleep well and feel better.

Change your Life and Improve Your sleep

Many people do not think to do the simple things and make simple adjustments that will improve their sleep. You should think about what you consume before bedtime, what you are doing before bedtime and how comfortable and conducive to sleep your bedroom is. Here are some things to think about:

• You don’t want to be waking up during the night to use the restroom. To avoid this, make sure you stay away from water for a few hours before you go to be and avoid drinking anything with alcohol or caffeine in the evenings.
• Exercise can be good for your sleep routine but only if it is done several hours from bedtime. You don’t want your body to be in an active mode when you are trying to sleep.
• Keep your bedroom free of light, quiet and comfortable cooled or heated. You don’t want any light in the room to wake up or and you don’t want to wake up because you are cold or hot. You can try earplugs or noise machines to keep outside noise out of your bedroom while you are trying to sleep.
• Don’t eat foods full of sugar or chocolate too close to bedtime. These are things you should avoid if you have issues with sleep. It is better to have a snack high in magnesium and carbs as these will help you sleep during the night.
• Try doing relaxation exercises like yoga or meditation to calm your mind and body. This helps you go to bed in a relaxed and peaceful state, which means you’ll sleep better.

Using Herbs to Sleep Better

People have been using herbal remedies to sleep better for centuries. If changing your habits isn’t improving your sleep, you may want to try using herbs to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Here are some ways to use herbs to improve your sleep:

• Valerian - Valerian helps reduce anxiety and help you sleep better. You can sometimes find a Valerian pill depending on where you live. Another way to use Valerian is to make tea from the roots.
• Hops - The flavonoids, chalcones and alpha acids in this herb can help you sleep better.
• Chamomile - Many people drink a tea made from chamomile to help them sleep. It is safe for all ages.

You don’t have to take medication to get a good night’s sleep. You may need to do something simple like make some changes to your bedroom and your habits at night. If you need more help sleeping, you can try an herbal natural sleep therapy remedy. There are many ways to use natural sleep therapy to get a good night’s sleep.

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Natural Methods to Control Fleas and Ticks

If you have pets, you have probably experienced a flea and tick problem at some point. Some animals get heavily infested with fleas and ticks but most have at least a bite or two in their lives. The most common products to control fleas and ticks are flea collars and other products that contain pesticides. The question is how safe are these for our animals?

The popular flea and tick treatments usually have an active ingredient called organophosphate, which attacks the flea’s and tick’s nervous systems. Carbamate is another chemical used to control fleas and ticks and it also affects the nervous system of the fleas and ticks. The problem with these products is they can be dangerous to our and our pets’ nervous system.

Often, people don’t take this into consideration when choosing a product to control fleas and ticks. They may believe that these products are the best and most effective treatments available. There are more natural options available to control fleas and ticks. Here are some ideas:

• Make vacuuming a priority all year round and even more so when fleas and ticks are most prevalent. You can remove a lot of fleas by vacuuming. It is important to use a clean bag on a regular basis, though.
• Make sure your pet gets baths on a regular basis with soap and water and use a flea treatment made from natural ingredients. One natural flea treatment you can make uses 2 pints of boiling water and 2 tablespoons of rosemary. After adding the rosemary, remove the mixture from the heat and leave for about 20 minutes to steep. When it is cool, strain the liquid and put in a spray bottle for easy application. Make sure your pet is not wet anymore before he goes out of the house.
• Keep your pet’s blanket and cushions clean so fleas and ticks can’t survive on them.
• Keep your grass short to deter fleas and ticks from moving into your yard.
• Keep mice out of your house because they can bring fleas and ticks with them. Things like wood piles near the house, leaf and brush piles and trash in open containers without a lid encourage the mice to move into your home.
• Comb your pet’s fur with a flea and tick comb on a regular basis to make sure you get any pests out before they can multiply. A lint roller can work if you are short on time.
• If there are fleas in your home, get a flea trap set up right away. This is usually a bulb to draw the fleas in and a paper that they get stuck to.
• Nematodes in the yard can be a good way to keep fleas and ticks out of the grassy areas.

No one likes fleas and ticks; they can be really bad for your pets. We need to be careful that we don’t do more harm to our best friend by trying to control fleas and ticks using products containing dangerous chemicals. It is better to prevent fleas and ticks from causing problems than to try control fleas and ticks after the fact.

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Fight Depression with Serotonin Boosting Foods

Often, if we are depressed, we turn to food for comfort. Food can be a useful tool to fight depression if you are eating the right kinds of foods. Some foods are thought to be effective at fighting depression.

What is Serotonin?

Serotonin is an important brain chemical. It is a neurotransmitter and it regulates our sleep patterns, our moods, our metabolism and our body temperature. Low serotonin levels are often the cause for depression. Many prescription medications for depression treat the disease by raising serotonin levels.

You do not have to take medication to increase the level of serotonin in your brain. Some foods are thought to increase the level of serotonin in the brain so if you eat the right foods, you can feel better without medication.

Serotonin Boosting Foods

The foods themselves do not have serotonin in them but they have properties that cause the body to produce more serotonin. One of these properties is amino acids like tryptophan, which creates increased serotonin levels. Foods with these properties include:

• Chicken
• Chocolate
• Crab
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Pork products
• Shrimp
• Spinach
• Tofu

You need to combine foods with a lot of carbohydrates with the foods with tryptophan in order for your body to be able to produce serotonin effectively.

Other foods you can eat to improve your mood are those that have Omega-3 fatty acids like DHA. DHA helps the serotonin in your brain move to th right parts of the brain and helps the brain use the serotonin effectively. Foods with DHA will take longer to affect your mood than foods with tryptophan will.

You can get a lot of DHA in salmon, tuna and other seafood items. If you don’t eat seafood, you can find foods with added DHA and eat these instead. The labels of these foods will state that they have high levels of DHA. You should get DHA in your diet a few times a week to be your healthiest.

You should be careful to not eat too much protein when trying to increase serotonin levels because protein interferes with serotonin production. That is why turkey is not a good food for boosting your mood - it has a lot of protein. If you are eating foods that have a lot of tryptophan, watch how much protein you are taking in. You get protein from foods with tryptophan but in small amounts that do not get in the way of your body’s production of serotonin.

Eating everything in sight is not the way to deal with depression but if you eat foods that will increase serotonin production, you can start to feel better. You will get good results if you eat the right foods and you will avoid the possible dangers that are associated with medications to treat depression. If you feel down, make sure you eat a serotonin boosting food.

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How to Do Chemical-Free Housekeeping

When the majority of us clean the house, we use a lot of different chemicals. Most of us have cleaning products like bleach and ammonia under our sinks and other products with chemicals we can’t even pronounce or know nothing about. While the chemical-filled cleaning products might do a good job of keeping our house clean, they might also be harming you and your family.

It is possible to get your house clean without using dangerous chemical. Chemical-free housekeeping can be done by using products with natural ingredients. This will allow you to have the clean house you want without exposing your family to danger. Here are few ideas:

• Instead of using furniture polish, use a quality microfiber cloth that you can use, wash and use again. These are costlier than just making rags out of old clothes but are great for dusting and will leave your wood and other surfaces shiny, clean and dust free.
• Use the power of steam. You can get your carpets and furniture clean and fresh smelling with a steam cleaner and it will be chemical-free. Other things that can be cleaned with a steam cleaner include wood floors and counters. You will have a damp but not wet surface when you use a steam cleaner so it will dry quickly.
• A new technology you can use is UV-C devices that remove germs from your home by using ultraviolet light. There are vacuum cleaners, air cleaners and wands that use UV-C technology.
• Instead of bleach, use hydrogen peroxide because it is as good at cleaning but less toxic. A little hydrogen peroxide in the wash will keep your whites white and even treat mold that may be in your home.
• Always have baking soda handy. Baking soda is used in many recipes but it is also a good cleaning product. It can help you get out stains from clothing and other fabrics and keep odors away from fabric, carpet and more. Baking soda will help you get even the grimiest dishes sparkling clean and is great for scrubbing counter tops. You can add baking soda to your dishwasher or washer instead of regular detergents. The baking soda in your fridge that keeps it odor-free can later be used for cleaning.
• Use vinegar to disinfect almost any surface in your home and get rid of mold and bacteria. Vinegar is great for keeping glass and mirrors sparkling clean and can be used along with baking soda to clear up clogs in your drains. Vinegar is also used to disinfect your dishwasher and clean things like coffee pots that are hard to get into.

It is going to end up saving you money and time in most cases if you do chemical-free housekeeping. While you pay upfront for technology like UV-C items and steam cleaners, you save money in the long run on the chemicals you no longer have to buy. You already have a kitchen with all the cleaning products you would ever need, you just don’t realize it. Chemical-free housekeeping is not as hard as it sounds.

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How to Achieve Natural Headache Relief

We all get headaches from time to time. If you are lucky, a headache rarely happens to you. Others are not so lucky and have headaches on a regular basis. We all know how difficult it can be to get through the day with a headache that you just can’t shake.

There are a lot of medications for headaches at your local drug or discount store including aspirin and NSAID drugs. People who have migraines and other serious headache issues often require prescription medication. The problem is that using medication to treat headaches regularly can be hazardous to your overall health.

You can get natural headache relief and avoid these medications. Here are some suggestions:

• White Willow Bark - White willow bark is what aspirin is made of. In its natural form, it helps relieve your headache but is less likely to cause stomach upset. You should not combine white willow bark with aspirin or NSAID medications. You can get white willow bark at a health food store near you.
• Apples - Eating an apple every day has always been said to keep the doctor away and it may keep headaches away as well. For best results, eat a whole apple when your stomach is empty once a day.
• Lemon - You can use lemons in a variety of ways for headache relief. You can make lemon tea with lemon juice and regular tea. You can also make a lemon paste from the skin and put that on your forehead. If you are overheated and have a headache as a result, try pressing lemon peels to your forehead.
• Sandlewood - When crushed and made into a paste, sandlewood applied to the forehead can help relieve headache pain.
• Cayenne Pepper - The capsaicin in cayenne pepper is known for its ability to increase the size of blood vessels, which helps relieve headache pain. Cayenne pepper is available in capsules or in the spice form. You can add a tiny amount of the spice to water or tea and drink for headache relief.
• Rosemary - Rosemary also helps increase the size of blood vessels to relieve pain. Rosemary tea made by mixing fresh rosemary with boiling water and steeping is good for headache relief. Other ways to use rosemary are to inhale the boiled rosemary water steam or to use rosemary oil on your forehead.
• Cinnamon - Headaches caused by exposure to cold can be cured with cinnamon paste applied to the forehead.
• Eucalyptus - This herb is said to help tension headaches. Eucalyptus oil applied to the forehead will help relieve headache pain. You can keep a piece of cloth with eucalyptus oil on it with you and inhale that when you feel a headache coming on.
• Ginger - Ginger helps relieve swelling, upset stomach and migraine headaches. There are many forms you can use including whole ginger, ginger capsules and ginger tea.

No one wants to have a headache but if you get one, there are many ways to relieve the pain. Often you can get more relief from natural headache relief than from medication. Consider an herbal remedy next time you get a headache.

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Dangerous Mercury and Lead in Electronics

There is so much new technology in our society that it is hard to keep track of and more are coming out every month. In the recent past, it was a big deal to have a color TV. Now the average home has several HDTVs, DVD players, computers and a few different gaming systems. Everyone wants to have the newest and most advanced technology so we end up disposing of our old electronics to make room for the new and improved ones.

It can be difficult to safely dispose of electronics. Usually people throw their old electronics in the trash can and they are taken to the landfill. This creates a dangerous situation. Electronics of all sizes are full of mercury and lead so putting them in the landfill can be dangerous to the environment.

Mercury is a very dangerous metal even in small doses. Exposure to large amounts can be fatal, and exposure to even small amounts of the chemical can lead to kidney damage, liver damage, immune system problems and damage to the nervous system. Pregnant women should never be exposed to mercury because it can harm the baby. There is mercury in many electronic parts including LCD displays, batteries, switches and circuit boards.

Lead, on the other hand, can cause problems with the development of a child’s brain. It is also linked to kidney damage, damage to the nervous system and reproductive problems. There is lead in most televisions and in many computer monitors. There can be up to 8 pounds of lead in a television or computer monitor. Circuit boards and batteries also contain lead but in smaller amounts.

How to Prevent Mercury and Lead from Getting Into Landfills

There is not likely going to be a decrease of electronics being thrown out for new, more advanced items anytime soon. That doesn’t mean we have to keep filling the landfills up with our old electronics. Many of the items otherwise thrown away can be reused or possibly recycled if they no longer work properly.

Instead of throwing out your old computer, you can simply upgrade your machine to include new technology. The problem is that not all computer manufacturers produce computers that are easily upgraded. Often, they make it hard to upgrade their machines so consumers will have to buy a new one. Consider this when you are thinking about getting a brand new computer and make sure your new machine is easily upgradable.

Your old electronics can be very useful at schools, churches and for the less fortunate. You can find many organizations and schools that are willing to take your old electronics to use in their facilities and you can get a tax write off for donating your old electronics. You are doing good for others and the environment because you are extending the life your electronics and keeping them out of landfills.

If you have electronics that are no longer any good, you should recycle them instead of throwing them in the trash. You may have to do a little searching to find a place that recycles electronics but it is worth it to protect the environment. Another option may be to return the equipment to the manufacturer if you were able to lease it instead of buy it.

The increased levels of mercury and lead that are filling up our landfills are a dangerous trend. If we all were more responsible with how we got rid of old electronics, it would make a big difference to our environment and health.

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Valerian for Anxiety Treatment

Herbal remedies have been the subject of both research and ridicule for many centuries now. Some see them as the balance between effectiveness and safety, while others see them as inferior to the chemical medications we commercialize today. One of the famous herbal remedies worth mentioning is valerian.

A perennial flowering plant that grows mostly in Eurasia, valerian is recognized by its pink and/or white trumpet-shaped flowers. Typically at around four feet high, this plant’s roots have been used for centuries as medicine for different ailments, especially anxiety.

The “Father of Medicine” Hippocrates has been said to administer valerian for digestive problems. However, it was only during the eighteenth century when the plant’s sedative properties became known. Upon this discovery, doctors started to prescribe it for conditions like insomnia, exhaustion, stress, and many others linked to anxiety. Up to now, it is still an herbal remedy recommended by herbalists.

This plant has also been subjected to rigorous medical research. While scientists are still not certain about the cause of valerian’s sedative properties, it is mostly believed now that it affects the neurotransmitters in the brain like benzodiazepines, which are mostly found in Valium and Xanax. This means that it works by blocking certain enzymes that break down gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitting chemical that is linked to mood, relaxation, and sleep.

However, valerian has more long term effects, unlike benzodiazepines. While the conventional prescription drugs wear off after several hours, the effects of valerian actually lingers and supplements positive changes in the brain, leading to lower incidences of anxiety and stress. Statistically, valerian has been successful in lowering stress in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Safety of Valerian

Valerian has been found to have little to no adverse side-effects for those who consume it. While this is so, it is best to keep in mind that it may do something if it mixes with other substances.

As a sedative, it is not to be used with other sedatives and anti-depressants. For those who pay closer attention to rock stars who end up becoming train wrecks, a cocktail of alcohol, barbiturates, prescription anti-depressants, and other sedatives can cause serious problems. Of course, herbalists who really know what they’re doing will give you mixtures of herbs with similar properties along with valerian, which is okay.

If you don’t want any accidents or mishaps, taking any sort of sedatives before driving or operating heavy machinery should be avoided. Since it may cause stomach problems, headaches, restlessness, and even over stimulation for some individuals, it is best to stay on the safe side and keep away from valerian before these activities.

Valerian is one of the oldest herbal remedies in all of human history. A non-addictive and widely available herb that has no dangerous side effects and is known for its safety, valerian offers no reasons to not try it. If you are suffering from anxiety, put that Valium pill down and try some valerian. You’ll be glad that you did.

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