Cobalamin, also referred to as vitamin B12, plays an important role in ordinary body activities. A water-soluble vitamin, B12 assists the brain and nervous system to perform properly.

B12 vitamin is also involved in the development of blood, synthesis of DNA, and energy production in the body. One can get vitamin B12 naturally from food items like meat, fish and dairy products. It is routinely prepared synthetically in the science laboratory to treat patients being affected by B12 vitamin deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is used to treat Pernicious anemia, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease. It is used to improve your mood and energy, to increase your concentration, and improve your immune system. It delays getting older, and it lowers the high homocysteine levels in the body. People who have very high levels of homocysteine are at an increased risk for coronary artery disease. High homocysteine levels in the blood can damage the lining of the arteries, and may make blood clot more easily than it should. This results in the increase of blood vessel blockages, increasing the risk for pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke.

Vitamin B12 both individually or along with other vitamins is used to treat heart diseases, diabetes, sleeping disorders, melancholy, mental problems, weak bones, AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease and swollen tendons. It is also used in the therapy of asthma, allergies, cervical cancer and skin infections.

When B12 vitamin is reduced in the body, the body exhibits precise deficiency symptoms.

Frequently, vitamin B12 deficiency comes about as a result of lack of a well-balanced diet. Deficiency can also be the result of some medications that lower gastric acid production.

A common reason is not enough stomach acid that separates B12 vitamin from protein that has been consumed. Other reasons of vitamin B12 deficiency may be malabsorption, persistent diseases like liver and kidney problems, and pernicious anemia. Consumption of booze may also trigger vitamin B12 deficiency. Pregnant women typically suffer from a lack of proper amounts of vitamin B12.

Common symptoms of B12 vitamin deficiency, like fatigue, bleeding gums, bowel problems, irritability, and lack of concentration, are felt in the earliest stages. Other symptoms such as cold and hot feeling, stabbing pain in the body, sore throat, or sense of deadness, could very well also be perceived. One warning sign that you could possibly be considerably low on vitamin B12 is the presence of lines or ridges on your fingernails, and the disappearance of the moons at the bottoms of your fingernails.

Decrease in appetite, accompanied by body weight gain, is very frequent in B12 vitamin deficiency. B12 vitamin deficiency may also lead to long term issues like Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, menstrual problems and heart diseases.

B12 vitamin deficiency may also bring about acute pain in the limbs, weakness of the arms and legs, and unpleasant jerking of limbs.

Symptoms of depression, nervousness, unpleasant body odor, and neuritis are additional symptoms of B12 vitamin deficiency, as are complications in walking and speaking. Vitamin B12 is often evaluated together with a folic acid test, because a lack of either one can bring on a form of anemia called megaloblastic anemia, a blood disorder in which there is anemia with larger-than-normal red blood cells, typically precipitated by a deficiency of folic acid or vitamin B12. B12 vitamin deficiency can sometimes lead to pernicious anemia.

The deficiency of B12 can be corrected by consuming nourishing food that provides plenty of B12. Intake of meat, fish, seafood, poultry, cheese, eggs, and milk may lower B12 deficiency.

For those of you who don’t eat animal products, or if you have a health issue that reduces your absorption of essential nutrients, health specialists suggest eating a B12-containing multivitamin plus eating breakfast cereal fortified with vitamin B12.

Eating lots of green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and fortified cereals can increase folic acid levels in the body and in turn assists to improve vitamin B12 in the body. If the issue is extreme, then it is vital to talk to a medical doctor. Your health practitioner may highly recommend B12 supplements in the form of tablets or shots. Sinus sprays are also available to remedy B12 vitamin deficiency.

If you experience symptoms of B12 deficiency, seek the counsel of your medical doctor regarding a blood test to assess B12 levels.

There’s a marvelous little red berry that grows all around the world, and people in different places call it by different names. Many English speaking people call it a Wolfberry, and nowadays even more English speakers are calling it a Goji Berry. But it’s really the very same thing.

As we all know, Science assigns two Latin names to every botanical organism, a genus and a species. Two plants that are even a little different from each other have different species names. Thus, if two plants have the same genus and species names, they’re the same plant. People can call them by different names, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re actually the same thing.

The Goji berry/Wolfberry plant, whose genus is Lycium, has two closely related species. One species is known as Barbarum and the other is Chinensis. Both species grow in many places on the earth.

Since people in different countries tend to speak different languages, it’s not surprising that Chinese and Tibetan people don’t call these berries wolfberries. China has many dialects. The plant is frequently called gǒuqǐ and the berries are called gǒuqǐzi (zi means “berry.”) “Goji” is a simplified pronunciation of gǒuqǐ.

A similar word can be found in other languages. For example, in Korea the berry is called gugija, and in Thailand it is known as găo gè. Tibetan has many names for the berries, including qouki, qou ki ji, quak qou, kew ji, and kew ki. In Japanese the plant is called kuko and the fruit is known as kuko no mi or kuko no kajitsu.

In about 1973, the word “Goji” began to be used for the first time in English so English speakers could have a word for this berry that was similar to these Asian words. Since then, the word “Goji” has been exploited by many marketers as the berries have appeared in more and more natural foods stores in the U.S. The new word “Goji” is now quite commonly used.

It’s not really clear where the word “wolfberry” originated. One theory is that it comes from the place name “Lycia”, the ancient name for Anatolia, in Turkey, and “Lycia” can be heard in the name Lycium Barbarum. “Barbarum” means that the wolfberry plant might have come from elsewhere, such as China, originally.

But this doesn’t explain why it has the word “wolf” in it. Thus, another possibility is that Lycium Barbarum comes from the Greek word “Lycos,” or Wolf. Wolves do eat berries and other fruits to get needed fiber in their diets. They also eat tomatoes, the Latin name of which means “Wolf Peach” (Solanum lycopersicum.) The word “lycos,” or wolf, can be seen in the Latin.

The genus Tomato (Solanum) contains another species, lycocarpum, which translates to Wolf Apple. This medium sized yellow tomato isn’t familiar to many of us because it grows in South America. South American wolves eat them! It’s not the same plant as the tomato we’re used to in North America. What’s my point? I’m getting to that…

Goji berries and Wolfberries are in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae), and so are tomatoes! Nightshades are an important source of food and spice. Nightshade species include potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, chili peppers (capsicum), deadly nightshade (belladonna), datura (jimson weed), tobacco, mandrake, wolfberry and many more.

Many of the species in this important family of foods are used in making herbal medicines by native peoples all around the world. Some of them have psychoactive properties. Goji berries are legendary as a medicinal plant and have been used as such for many centuries in many countries.

Goji berries and wolfberries have lots of other names such as boxthorn, Duke of Argyll’s Tea Tree, Matrimony Vine, Bocksdorn, Cambronera, Chinese Wolfberry, and Red Medlar.

The point here is that Lycium Barbarum and Lycium Chinensis are two completely different species, two completely different plants. Many people proclaim different names for them. They claim, for example, that “Tibetan Lycium Eleagnus Barbarum” is the REAL Himalayan Gogi berry, even though it doesn’t actually exist as a species.

There’s no question that these two species have different medicinal and nutritional properties, BECAUSE they’re different species. In fact, it’s not only that different species are different from each other, it’s also true that all the many VARIETIES of any one species are somewhat different chemically and therefore nutritionally.

In some mountainous areas of Tibet and northern China there is what is commonly known as the “Goji belt,” a fertile high altitude region where Goji plants are cultivated and grow wild. The “highest quality” Goji berries are produced in the best location and climate, which turns out to be this Goji belt. This is because of the purity of the water and the mineral-rich soil washing down from the high mountains.

The political strife going on between Tibet and China is well known. There is also Tibetan/Chinese political strife about what defines a Goji berry. From a Western perspective, this is just plain confusing.

Additionally, the name Tibet carries an unmistakable mystique. It’s therefore easy for Western marketers to capitalize on it, claiming the superiority of TIBETAN Goji berries over all others. But, as we’ve shown, from a scientific perspective, “Tibetan” Goji berries don’t exist.

Tibet, a country more vertical than horizontal, mostly dry, infertile and arid, with few roads among the highest mountains in the world, is not famous for farming. It’s adjacent to China. The political boundaries really don’t matter to the land or the Goji plants; instead, as has been mentioned, the soil and the climate are the important factors when growing Chinese wolfberries and Goji berries.

The highest quality berries have the highest levels of glyconutrients and are grown in Ningxia and Xinjiang provinces in China, right in the Goji belt. These areas have exceptional growing seasons, unusually alkaline soil, adequate rainfall and extreme temperature fluctuations from 102 to -16 degrees F.

The Goji belt produces four grades of Goji berries: super, king, special and Grade A. The largest berries are “super,” second largest are “king,” etc. You might find marketers advertising their berries as the biggest, but they’re still all the same berry, Lycium Barbarum. They’re that unless, of course, they’re Lycium Chinensis.

Wolfberries, Gojis, they’re wonderful. It’s easy for politics and marketers to confuse and blow smoke all around a bushel of Goji berries or Goji juice. However, nothing clouds the central fact that this unique little berry is the biggest nutritional powerhouse in the world!

Fats, calories, obesity…all these life-threatening words seem to be ruling the life of today’s youth. The recent in addition is Trans fat. For those who are not aware, it is a kind of fat which is created when the liquid oils get solidified partial hydrogenation. These fats account for at least 30,000 premature deaths in US within a single year span. The health experts also hold the belief that reducing the intake of these Trans fats would considerably lower down the annual rates of heart attacks (by 6,300).

According to recent researches, Trans fats have been declared as “the biggest food-processing disasters in US history”. You will mostly find them in processed foods like pies, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, potato chips and so on.

The dangers of Trans fats are quite few in number:

o Hardening of arteries – Trans fats accumulate in the arteries over time and eventually when they get clogged, the person suffers from a stroke or heart attack.

o Obesity – It is yet another dangerous resultant of Trans fats. If you consume more of Trans fats, you are sure to become overweight over time, and this again leads to a series of health issues.

To avoid the dangers of Trans fats you can follow some precautionary measures:

o Make use of olive oil in cooking as much as possible.

o Make use of liquid margarine instead of hard stick one.

o When you are planning to go out for meals, make sure you avoid all kinds of junk stuffs.

o Also see it to it that you do not consume food making use of partially hydrogenated oils.

A group called ‘Ban Trans Fats’ has started a national campaign in US to create social awareness. So if you intend to live a healthy life, avoid food items with any percentage of Trans fats.

“Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream”. Then we look in the mirror and scream again when we see that the ice cream has taken up permanent residence on our belly, hips, and thighs.

Are you a fan of the cool concoction but tired of paying the price for indulging in the dairy delight? Or are you lactose intolerant and a simple scoop of your favorite flavor will cause you to scream with anything but delight? For whatever reasons you regret craving the cold, creamy stuff, don’t despair. There is a solution to your predicament. Meet the popular dessert’s culinary cousin: fruit sorbet.

Homemade fresh fruit sorbets are the healthy equivalent of their evil relative. They don’t contain dairy products, unpronounceable chemicals, high-fructose corn syrup, refined and processed sugar, animal fat, or high amounts of calories and guilt. They do contain fresh fruit and nothing else. Oh, yes there is one other ingredient: the ability to kick cravings for that other substance right out of your head.

What you will need to make this frozen treat is a masticating style juice extractor and a variety of fruit in any combination you desire. Adding banana to any assortment will give extra creaminess. Cut your fruit into chunks, place them in a container or plastic bag, and freeze. Once the fruit is frozen you can run the chunks through the masticating style juicer using the “blank” screen. This allows the entire fruit to pass through the masticating process and out the juicer nozzle. What you will have is something resembling soft-serve ice cream without its sinful qualities. Instead you will have a delicious, angelic wonderfulness with some truly good things to recommend it, like all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes,and natural fiber of fresh fruit.

So if you have been mourning the thought of having to give up your favorite dessert indulgence, think again. Get into the kitchen and whip up some homemade fruit sorbet. It’s cold, it’s creamy, it’s sweet, it’s satisfying, it’s good for you and it’s oh so good. It may even cause you to scream with delight.

Lemon juice is widely recognized for its medicinal properties. In fact, it has been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes. It is a natural antihistamine and will reduce congestion. Very effective for all gastric problems, it helps to strengthen your immune system.

When taken regularly first thing in the morning, the fresh juice acts as a tonic to the liver and stimulates it to produce bile making it ready to digest the day’s food. It helps to lower blood sugar and can lower the glycemic impact of any meal.

Lemon juice is excellent as a cleanser because it affects the efficiency of the body’s digestive system. Years of eating fried and processed foods means your digestive system can become sluggish and inefficient. It is a tremendous natural metabolizer, breaking down the mucus and fat that can build up in the body, helping to break up hardened material in the joints and muscles, it clears the kidneys, dissolves toxins and congestion all throughout your body and lymphatic system.

It breaks up and dislodges the sticky mucus deposits that tend to clog up the system. Full of powerful enzymes and with a high vitamin-C content, the juice will flush your system of toxic wastes. Which is why it is said to help to prevent and cure osteoarthritis and the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Another great health benefit is that the juice of a lemon can protect your body against germs and bacteria. When used as part of a cleansing process it helps to rid the body of gallstones. It helps make colds less toxic in the body and can reduce the length of a cold. It is also one of the best alkalizing foods for the body.

The fresh juice can lower blood sugar and lower the glycemic impact of any meal. Supplying one of the richest and most concentrated food sources of vitamin C. Recent research suggests that people who include more fresh citrus fruits and juices in their diet are more likely to lose weight and are less likely to suffer from obesity as they generally are less hungry, therefore consume less food. The citric acid in lemons helps to stimulate gastric juices and saliva, helping the digestive process.

It helps to control Blood Pressure, purifies blood, reduces swollen spleen and strengthens immune system as it has vitamin C, B, B2, calcium and iron. It protects your body against germs and bacteria. The juice is also effective for people suffering from acid reflux because it stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juice and is an excellent digestive agent.

Lemon juice will help constipation, liver disorders, reduce mucus accumulation, improve digestion, reduce infections, and help to clear skin disorders like acne. It can even boost immunity and brain function, fight cholesterol and fire up your metabolism. Cleansing the lymphatic system, invigorating skin tissue and increasing blood flow.

It is a potential detoxifier for you and can drain away all toxins out of your body. it is a most potent solvent for breaking up the calcified formations existing in the body. Mixing the juice of a fresh lemon with water easily relieves heartburn.

I am a great believer in freshly squeezed juice. Nearly all of the store bought juices are filled with chemicals, pasteurized and not fresh at all. Processing lemon juice can seriously damage its health benefits. I like to make my own juice as it’s really easy and quick.

Pick up an electric citrus press, they are very inexpensive. Cut one or two lemons in half and juice them yourself. That way you can include the pulp which is a great source of natural fibre in your juice as well. I like to add a some hot water, it makes the juice easier to drink and it will be closer to the temperature of your body. It takes me no more than 5 minutes in the morning to prepare my juice. I do it while I am brewing some nice decaf coffee.

Don’t be tempted to add anything else to the pure juice and pulp such as sugar, honey or sweetners. If you do this then you are not drinking pure home made lemon juice and the health benefits I have written about here will not apply. In just a couple of days your taste buds will become used to the taste of lemon juice and you will have no problem drinking a glass or two per day.

The very first thing I take every morning is freshly squeezed home made lemon juice with a good dash of hot water. I really enjoy it and wouldn’t miss it, especially now that I know about all the amazing health benefits it is giving me.

I like to follow my juice with a glass of warm water, I swish it around my mouth and teeth before swallowing it. This way I have washed away any residues of the lemon juice from my teeth and gums.

The 12 benefits of adequate Vitamin D3 (CHOLECALCIFEROL) are easily identified from the medical literature. These benefits appear in enough different places that it can be assumed the studies are valid.

1. Adequate levels of Vitamin D3 protect against Breast Cancer. One problem with cancer cells is that they don’t destruct when they are supposed to. They keep dividing and reproducing. Vit. D receptors are present on most cells in our body and help to trigger appropriate cell death, and identify to the immune system the correct cells it should eliminate.
2. Ditto for Cancer of the Colon (large bowel). Both colon cancer and breast cancer are increased in people of color. The same people most likely to have lower levels of Vitamin D3 in their blood. People who have more pigment in their skin need 30% more sun exposure to produce enough cholecalciferol. Anyone and especially dark skinned individuals need to supplement if they live in northern latitudes that have more months of reduced sunshine per year.
3. Vitamin D regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus which are needed for healthy bones. Low levels of D3 are associated with poor bone development in children and bone softening in adults called osteopenia if mild or osteoporosis if advanced.
4. Vitamin D3 is associated with proper immune function. It is no coincidence that the “cold season” is during winter months when there is less sunshine.
5. The Brain’s health is dependent upon a number of factors and one of them is adequate levels of Vitamin D3.
6. Keeping adequate levels of Vitamin D3 in our blood and tissues is associated with decreased aging changes in our body. Want to keep your vitality longer? Make sure you get enough Vitamin D in your diet or enough sunshine in your life.
7. Certain female gynecologic infections are associated with inadequate blood levels of Vitamin D3. Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common of these and hardest to control. If you have vaginitis and it won’t clear, check your 25OH Vitamin D blood levels.
8. Insulin is a very important hormone but it can be over or under secreted. Vitamin D helps regulate insulin secretion.
9. Many patients, especially women complain of joint pain and fatigue. Some of them have been given the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. Inadequate blood levels of D3 are associated with these aches, pains and fatigue. Get your 25OH vit D levels checked or take a therapeutic trial of 1000IU/day and keep a journal of your symptoms.
10. Auto-immune disorders wreak havoc with tissues in our body. Common diseases that are caused by auto immune dysfunction are diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypo-thyroidism. Adequate levels of Vit. D3 in the blood and tissues decreases the risk and severity of such diseases.
11. Hypertension is associated with inadequate blood and tissue levels of several minerals and vital substances like potassium, calcium, selenium, and you guessed it Vit. D3.
12. Vitamin D3 if kept at adequate levels in the blood is associated with a decreased risk of death from any cause. It isn’t a panacea, but it obviously plays a more important role in our health than was realized for any years.

Unfortunately, there has not been any serious study done proving that Acai berries have any direct benefits for suffers of Parkinson’s disease. There have however been enough related studies and enough people swearing to improvement, that it should be seriously looked into.

Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease affecting the dopamine production on the brain. Symptoms usually start out as shaking and slurred talking. It is a progressive disease that continues to get worse overtime.

There have been many people who swear to the effectiveness of Acai berries as part of their diet routine. And, some of the studies that have been done on vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients do point towards it having a positive effect.

If nothing else, as you will see, Acai juice can help with some of the symptoms. While other treatments are working on the disease. And, it can make some of the recommended lifestyle changes easier on you.

While the actual cause of Parkinson’s disease is unknown, there is considerable evidence that oxidative stress contributes to or worsens the condition. With oxidative stress, free radicals are running around the body causing all types of degenerative diseases.

Antioxidants are nutrients that fight free radicals and remove them from the body. There have been studies that suggest that antioxidants are effective in improving the condition. Or, they may at least delay the necessity of taking certain drugs, for up to a couple of years.

That is why many physicians are recommending high doses of vitamin C and E to their patients. These vitamins are powerful antioxidants.

Acai juice has one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any natural food product. So, of course it would make a good supplement to take for this condition.

There is also a lot of evidence that omega fatty acids have a positive effect on brain function. Because Parkinson’s is a neurological disease, it stands to reason, that omega supplements would be of value.

Acai juice also happens to be very high in Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids.

One of the symptoms and side effects of Parkinson’s, is constipation. So often fiber is a required part of a Parkinson’s disease suffers diet. Once again, Acai berries are an excellent source of fiber.

While studies are still in progress, evidence definitely shows that nutrition has a very large place in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. And Acai berries happen to have very high levels of the vitamins and other nutrients which have been shown to have value.

In addition, exercise is an important component of treatment, and the energy boost that Acai berries give can help make exercise easier.

Because Acai berries, in its various forms (juice, capsules, pulp, etc) are essentially a food item, there really isn’t any harm in trying them. Many people have reported some amazing results.

Always talk to your doctor before starting any new diet routine. But, if he approves, there is nothing to be lost by adding Acai berries to your diet to help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Having been involved with triathlon for the past 5 years as both a coach and a top age group finisher I have come to realize that the sport of triathlon has a great many rewards to offer. It can be a very intoxicating sport and really boost one’s self-esteem. Pushing new limits and realizing what your body is actually capable of doing when appropriate training techniques/coaching and some discipline in both training and nutrition are put in place. However, there is a dark side to this sport and I intend on providing what I consider to be the 5 most common pitfalls TO IRONMAN DISTANCE training I have experienced and witnessed in my time in this sport. I specifically single out the full Ironman distance mainly because of its excessiveness. These 5 dangers I am about to list do not really pertain to the shorter distance events in my opinion.

5 Pitfalls to Ironman Distance Triathlon:

1) Over-Training: This is a no brainer but it has to be #1 since this is where most other problems stem from. However, even if one is not over-trained there are still issues that will cause one to question the training commitment required in time to properly prepare for an Ironman event.

2) The “Dehumanization” factor that has been written about previously and can be elaborated upon in this 1989 Sports Illustrated Vault article (Please see link below to article.). To sum Nicholas Dawidoff’s article up: Even if you are not over-trained, the time spent away from family and friends can create a situation in which one loses the feeling that they even belong to a family/community. The extreme narcissism of focusing one’s attention so deeply on their training/diet/recovery begins to negatively impact their relationships with family, friends and co-workers.

3) Divorce. Again, this can be a by product of over-training or just the fact that you are never around your significant other. Relationships require time as well. If you are out biking, running and swimming during all your free time then you are not at home spending quality time with your spouse. This puts excessive strain on any relationship.

4) Cost. Triathlon is not a cheap sport by any means. Once you decide you want to be an “Ironman” the costs can sky rocket. The registration fee alone is upwards of $400-$500 for an Ironman Event. Not to mention the cost of traveling to the event with yourself and your bike. Speaking of bike,,, the wheels alone can set you back a significant amount of money before you even have a bike. Then there is the power meter, the GPS device, the wet suit, the shoes, and yes….the coaching.

5) Suppressed immune system, injury, and osteoporosis ( http://www.usatriathlon.org/resources/multisport-zone/fuel-station/the-endurance-athlete-and-osteoporosis ). Most individuals who compete in endurance sports are at risk of all of the above. Osteoporosis, especially due to poor nutrition, but also due to the fact that very few endurance athletes lift weights. Swimming and cycling are non-weight bearing activities. Ah! but running is? Running is, but only for the lower legs. Running does nothing for the upper body in terms of building bone density.

There you have it. The 5 pitfalls to Ironman racing and training. This is not meant to be an all inclusive list but is a list of what I have both personally experienced and witnessed in the sport of triathlon. This does not mean one should not attempt to race an Ironman event either. However, those participants should realize the pitfalls and the possible shortcomings of this race. There seems to be this collective acceptance that you are in excellent shape when training/competing at the Ironman distance. However, how one defines “shape” or “fitness” is usually in there place in the final age group results. This is all well and good. However, don’t confuse fitness with health. Being incredibly fit does not necessarily mean one is in good health. Like your grandmother always said….”Everything in moderation.”

Sport’s Illustrated Article Link:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068911/index.htm

Unlike honey, Royal Jelly is not collected by the honey bees from flowers. It is a creamy white substance specially created by worker bees to feed the queen bee throughout her larval and adult life. The worker bees mix honey and bee pollen with enzymes in the glands of their throats to produce the jelly, an extraordinary and only food source for the queen bees and also often called “milk of bees” by many people.

Royal Jelly, an expensive item on the shelf, is increasingly becoming more and more popular as a beauty bee product. Precious and rare, and treasured as a beauty secret of royalty, Royal Jelly nourishes the body on the inside and revitalizes it on the outside as well. More and more girls are coming to understand what this stuff is as its benefits are extensively associated with healthier skin and hair and more youthful appearance. It is not only used in dietary supplements, but also as additions to skin lotions, creams and cosmetics. European women also have used it for its beauty benefits for centuries. Rich in estradiol, a major estrogen functioning as the primary female sex hormone, this natural substance is commonly known to be effective in treating women who have problems with their menstruation such as abnormal cycle, pain, discomfort, and fatigue.

Hailed “one of nature’s best kept secrets” by Royden Brown, author of the Bee Hive Product Bible (Avery, 1993), Royal Jelly contains an extraordinarily high concentration of vitamins B5, B6, and amino acids and is believed to be a potent antioxidant a special rejuvenating substance that promotes tissue growth, muscle and cell regeneration. It is taken as a health and energy tonic and remedy for a host of ailments such as:

1) Poor digestion

2) Stomach ulcers

3) High cholesterol

4) Insomnia

5) Menopausal symptoms

6) Fatigue

7) Colds and flu

8) Stress reactions

I found at the supermarket a drink called “Royal Jelly Honey”, which was basically honey mixed with the “bee jelly”. So far, I have already bought two bottles from the shop. My husband likes it a lot and will always ask me to mix him a glass of icy Royal Jelly honey drink whenever he has a sore throat. It tastes a bit sour and unusual when you first drink it but subsequently I think it really tastes great, especially that it was mixed with chilled water, very refreshing! Besides mineral, amino acid, and vitamins, this special jelly also contains 10-hydroxy decenoic acid which gives the sour taste. This acid can inhibit the bacterial growth and has the function of anti-cancer.

As the “milk of bees” is ultra sour and has a bitter taste and a strong odour, it is normally sold in capsule form for easy and convenient consumption. I have been advised that for best health results, the most ideal time to take this health supplement is in the morning when your stomach is empty.

Source: www.benefits-of-honey.com/royal-jelly.html

Anthony Robbins, a popular health guru and book author was the one who first introduced the alkaline foods list to the public. He based this list on his alkaline-acid diet program which promotes a safer and more effective method of dieting. Although the alkaline-acid diet system was created to help overweight people lose excess pounds, there’s clearly more that the program has to offer.

Apart from helping people reach their ideal body shape, alkaline dieting also teaches about correct eating habits and lifestyle. Choosing high alkaline foods is just one of the steps towards good health. Practicing an exercise routine and keeping away from vices like smoking and drinking are the other essentials of the program.

If you will study the alkaline foods list, you’ll notice that the list contains alkaline-rich sources from various food groups. You may notice that the chart is divided into categories – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein sources, spices and beverages. With each category, there are several varieties of highly alkaline foods that you can choose from.

Hence, the alkaline diet program can be considered as a flexible means of dieting. You are not encouraged to stick with just one type of meal or nutrient. On the contrary, you are encouraged to fill your body with all the nutrients you need from a wide range of food choices. It’s obviously not a boring diet to begin with. As long as you choose to feed your body with alkaline-rich food and beverages, you’re on your way to a healthier body.

Opposite the alkaline-acid chart are food sources that are high in acid content. Of course, we need just the right amount of acid in our system. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we should completely stop eating foods that contain acid. In fact, some fruits and vegetables contain mild to high levels of acid. However, by being aware of the acidity level of what we eat, we can lessen our intake of acidic foods and maintain the ideal pH balance of our system.