Is Meditation Better Than Pills for Chronic Pain?

Could improving your meditation technique cure chronic pain? It's may be worth contemplating.

Chronic pain is estimated to affect over 76 million people, more than diabetes and heart disease combined, and back pain is our country's leading cause of disability for people under 45. And though the pharmaceutical industry seems very adept at introducing one new painkiller after another, the pills don't always help. A new study in the Journal of Neuroscience, however, suggests something else might: meditation. It seems that improving your meditation technique could very well be more effective than painkillers at cutting down on pain, and that could save you hundreds in prescription drug costs. Read more

Apple Cider Vinegar Health Drink

Apple cider vinegar can be used to make a delicious and healthful pick-me-up drink. The brand shown in the video, which can be found in any health food store, is the best to use.

Electrolytes: What Are They and Why Are They So Good for Us?

What are electrolytes and why are they so good for us? Dr. Edward Groups explains and tells how to get them naturally.

Electrolytes are ionic solutions (salts), existing in nature in the form of minerals. Electrolytes are responsible for keeping the body properly hydrated so the muscles and nerves can function properly.

Since the human body is composed mostly of water, it is important that we take in adequate amounts of these minerals. What is more, when we are well-hydrated, we are able to release toxic internal wastes such as harmful chemicals, urea and ammonia.

The essential electrolytes most commonly found in the human body are sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, calcium, and phosphates.

Why Are Electrolytes So Important?

When the kidneys are functioning properly, they are able to regulate concentrations of these vital minerals, in conjunction with fluid levels in the body. As we go about the day, and particularly when we exercise, much of the body’s precious fluid (and mineral electrolytes) are lost. We can also lose these vital salts through our lungs when we breath, as well as through urination, vomiting, going to the bathroom (especially diarrhea), and through the liquid content of wounds. Read more

Could a Pill Made from Olive Leaves Help Beat Heart Disease?

Scientists say that a pill made of olive leaves could be a powerful weapon against heart disease. However, you don't need to wait for years of clinical trials to be completed to benefit. Olive leaf extract is available in health food stores right now.

A pill made from the leaves of the olive tree could be a powerful weapon in the fight against heart disease, scientists say.

According to research, the olive pill is as effective as some prescription medicines at reducing high blood pressure.

And it also appears to lower levels of harmful blood fats, called triglycerides, known to raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Read more

Take More Omega-3 to Prevent Diabetes

Want to prevent diabetes? Take more omega-3 fatty acids, say two recent studies..

Consuming omega-3 fatty acids may help lower your risk of diabetes, according to two recent studies. The studies, one based in the US, the other in Singapore, found adults with higher levels of omega-3 fats were less likely to develop diabetes.

Researchers suggest people avoid interpreting the study as evidence of omega-3's as a "magic bullet" health solution. They note that omega-3 fats may only be markers for some other dietary or lifestyle aspect which helps protect against the diabetes. Rather than stocking up on fish oil tablets, they suggest a better way to avoid this disease is a diet based on whole foods. "Approaching your dietary intake with this 'big picture' approach should take care of the small things, like essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids," notes Andrew Odegaard of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, one of the researchers on the Singapore study. Read more

The Hidden Health Benefits of Sex

Talk about playing doctor! The health benefits of sex extend well beyond the bedroom. It turns out that  sex is good for you in ways you may never have imagined.

"Having sex regularly can do more than make you feel closer to your partner—it can actually make you physically healthier," says Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University and author of Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need, and Deserve. Check out a few of the surprising perks you can reap from great sex. Read more

10 Ways to Reduce Your Family's Exposure to Chemicals

The jury is still out about these substances' effects on human health, but if you want to reduce your family's exposure, this is how.

1. Use fresh or frozen foods instead of canned, when possible.

2. Use soy infant formula only if there is a medical reason for it, such as lactose intolerance or milk allergy, says Heather Patisaul, Ph.D. Genistein — a natural estrogen found in soy plants — is present in large amounts in soy-based baby formulas. (Some countries require a prescription for it.)

3. Don't microwave food in plastic containers or covered with plastic wrap. When plastic is heated, the chemicals in it can more easily migrate to food. Read more