How Inflammation Affects the Body [Infographic]

How Inflammation Affects the Body - 
Infographic from Holistic Health Journal
Inflammation and Chronic Diseases

Recent and ongoing studies demonstrate that inflammation plays a role in many medical conditions and chronic diseases.

Some health experts believe it may be at the root of practically all chronic health conditions - as this infographic entitled "How Inflammation Affects the Body" from Holistic Health Journal illustrates and explains.

Accelerated Aging, Fatigue, and Weight Gain

Inflammation has also been linked to accelerated aging, fatigue, fluid retention, weight gain and obesity.

According to Dr. Stephen Sinatra, reducing inflammation is the secret to weight loss.  Dr. Sinatra recommends naturally reducing inflammation and losing weight by eating certain foods in abundance and often (like leafy greens and other colorful vegetables, lentils, berries, garlic and chili peppers) while limiting or avoiding certain other foods (like organ meats, veal, high-fat dairy, farmed fish, refined flours and sugar, margarine, and shortening, fatty and fried foods).  Read Dr. Sinatra's blog post for more information on the connection between inflammation and weight gain.

Chronic stress has also been linked to inflammation, aging and weight gain.  Other than a diet high in fruits and vegetables, another excellent way to naturally reduce inflammation is to learn to manage stress levels.  Some of the most effective stress management activities include regular exercise, yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques.

Related

How Gut Bacteria Affect the Brain and the Body
FAQ:  The Human Microbiome
Probiotics and Good Gut Health
Inflammation and Gut Health - Why It Matters


A to Z SuperFoods

Here is a fabulous A to Z Superfoods Chart from Superherbalfoods.com.

Although superfoods are often thought of as belonging to a category of exotic and often expensive foods like Maca, Lacuma or Camu Camu, you might be surprised that many of the common fruits and vegetables in your supermarket can actually be classified as a "super food" due to their vitamin, mineral, micronutrient content and other properties that have been shown to be beneficial to human health.

Some important points to remember:

  • Buy locally grown and organic whenever possible
  • Buy produce that is in season
  • Eat fresh produce as soon as possible for maximum health benefits
  • Eat at least 5 servings a day (recommended by U.S., EU and world health organizations)
  • Eat more servings for weight loss and detoxification
  • Eat a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables - eating a daily "rainbow" is recommended

Related:



Superfoods A to Z from SuperHerbalFoods.com
Foods Included in this Chart:

Carrots
Damsons
Eggplant
Figs
Grapes
Hubbard Squash
Iceberg Lettuce
Kiwi
Leek
Melon
Nectarines
Onions
Peppers (Sweet)
Quince
Raspberries
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Ugli Fruit
Vine Leaves
Watercress
Xigua
Yellow Plums
Zucchini


Garlic Health Benefits [Infographic]

Health Benefits of Garlic - Infographic from Stedas Dizajn
Garlic has been used as a herbal healing remedy for an array of ailments and conditions in various cultures for many centuries.

Garlic has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties making it effective against certain bacteria, viruses and fungi.

It is rich in important vitamins, minerals and sulfur compounds.  One such compound, Diallyl Sulphide (DADS), is believed to influence the human epigenome in a positive way:  it increases histone acetylation and "turns on" anti-cancer genes.

Thus, consuming garlic on a regular basis may provide protection against certain types of cancer.

Read more about garlic and cancer here:

Epigenetic Diet:  Impact on the Epigenome and Cancer (US National Library of Medicine; National Institutes of Health)


This infographic, entitled "The Natural Cure, Garlic, Your Health Keeper" from Stedas Dizajn illustrates and explains some interesting facts about garlic including its healing properties, nutrient makeup, available forms, health applications and benefits.

It should be noted that many health experts advise eating the plant, not supplements, to get the benefits.  This is because it is believed that the various compounds of the whole plant work in a synergy to provide the benefit.

Worried about bad breath?  This infographic offers some suggestions and tips on dealing with garlic breath.

Infographic source and more information at:  Stedas Dizajn - Health Benefits of Garlic.

Related:

Garlic Medicinal Properties and Uses

5 Cancer Fighting Spices (and Herbs)

6 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs

A Woman's Healing Herbs

15 Herbal Teas for Health and Every Ailment [Infographic]

15 Herbal Teas for Health and Every Ailment
Infographic from Hello Natural

Undoubtedly, you've heard about the many great health benefits of drinking green tea.

Green tea is even touted for weight loss. Although everyone has a different experience, my own experiment with green tea resulted in a small amount of weight loss - without any other changes in my diet or exercise and without any other extra effort. I simply replaced the morning coffee with a cup of green tea and drank 2-3 more cups of green tea throughout the day.

In my view, green tea is not the magic bullet for losing weight, but it really seems to help.

But green tea is not the only tea with promising (and, according to some sources, proven) health and healing benefits.

This infographic entitled "15 Herbal Teas for Every Ailment" from Hello Natural illustrates healthful teas and describes some properties and conditions that each is thought to have and treat:

❤ Green Tea
❤ Black Tea
❤ Oolong Tea
❤ White Tea
❤ Rooibos
❤ Peppermint
❤ Dried Ginger
❤ Stinging Nettle
❤ Yerba Mate
❤ Lemon Balm
❤ Chamomile
❤ Hibiscus
❤ Red Clover
❤ Dandelion
❤ Cinnamon

Infographic source and more information regarding the health benefits of tea:  Hello Natural - The Health Benefits of Tea + 15 Teas for Any Ailment.

Related:
Health Benefits of Teas & Tisanes7 Healing Herbal Teas
Health Benefits of Medicinal Teas

Breathing for Health [Infographic]

Breathing for Health - Infographic from Huffington Post
Breathing is one of the body's most important detoxification systems.  It also directly and indirectly affects other aspects of our health.

Many health experts say that, unfortunately, most of us do not breathe "correctly".  That is, we routinely take short, shallow breaths and this type of breathing can cause various negative health effects in the body.

This infographic entitled "Change Your Breathing, Change Your Life" from Huffington Post illustrates and explains some of the many ways breathing impacts our health including how "correct" (controlled, long and deep breathing) can:

 Stimulate brain growth

❤ Improve heart rate variability

❤ Lower stress levels

❤ Alleviate anxiety and negative emotions

❤ Reduce testing anxiety

❤ Lower blood pressure

❤ Alter gene expression

Additionally, certain deep breathing techniques - like those often used in yoga and meditation - are thought to prevent premature aging, detoxify, and increase the metabolic rate.  For example, it is thought that the additional oxygen received from exercise (particularly exercise performed outdoors) boosts metabolism and helps to burn fat.

Together with reducing and managing stress (another big consideration in weight loss), deep breathing techniques may have the potential and effect of helping you to lose weight.

For additional reading and listening on this subject, we recommend:

Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing from Andrew Weil, M.D.

The Healing Power of the Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions from Richard Brown M.D., and Patricia Gerbard MD

Infographic source and more information:  Huff Post The Third Metric:  How Changing Your Breathing Can Change Your Life

Related:
Heart Healthy Foods
Is Your Diet Toxic?
How to Naturally Cleanse Your Body
Top Foods that Chelate the Body of Heavy Metals

Spices for Weight Loss [Infographic]

Spices for Weight Loss | 7 Spices that Help You Lose Weight
Infographic from PositiveMed.com
Spices not only add amazing flavor and color to food dishes, studies show that various spices may also provide equally amazing weight loss and other healing and health promoting benefits.

For example, in a study conducted by researchers at England's Oxford Polytechnic Institute found that just one teaspoon of yellow mustard seeds boosts metabolism by 25% for several hours, which translates into burning more calories and weight loss.

Spices (and dried herbs) are rich in various antioxidants, phytochemicals and other micronutrients that are linked to an array of health benefits, including neutralizing and removing toxins, reducing inflammation, increasing energy levels, and possibly even turning off fat genes  - according to the latest and ongoing research in the emerging field of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics.

Spices also satisfy taste buds and can replace or dramatically lower the use and intake of salt and toxic sugar, thereby reducing the number of calories consumed from sugar and bloating.

This infographic entitled Spices That Help You Lose Weight from PositiveMed illustrates seven spices that are thought to promote weight loss:

✿ Turmeric
✿ Ginseng
✿ Cardamom
 Ginger
✿ Cayenne
✿ Dandelion
✿ Cinnamon

Infographic source and for more information on weight loss, fitness, food, natural remedies and health, visit:  PositiveMed - 7 Spices that Help you Lose Weight.





Related:
Healing Herbs and Spices
10 Herbs that Heal
Top 10 Spices with Health Benefits
5 Cancer Fighting Spices (and Herbs)
6 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs
Six Super Spices
A Woman's Healing Herbs



7 Superfoods to Power Up Your Life [Infographic]

Eat for Health:  7 Superb Superfoods to Power Up Your Life
Infographic from Mercola.com
What, exactly, is a superfood?

In nutrition circles, superfoods are defined as a class of foods that are the most nutrient dense and best health promoting foods found in nature.

These tremendously beneficial foods are exceptionally high in a wide range of important micronutrients including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals (phytonutrients).

Generally, in order to be classified as a superfood, a particular food must have at least twelve or more unique health benefiting properties.

Many "common" superfoods can be found in the produce department of most supermarkets or, better yet, at a local farmer's market.  These "common" superfoods include:

 Artichoke
✿ Broccoli
✿ Brussels Sprouts
✿ Kale

Less common, "exotic" superfoods can generally be found at specialty health and natural food stores and include:

✿ Acai Berry
✿ Chlorella
✿ Spirulina

Naturally, it is always best to purchase organic, locally or sustainably grown produce whenever possible.

This infographic entitled 7 Superb Superfoods to Power Up Your Life from Mercola.com illustrates and explains the nutritional makeup of seven common and exotic superfoods.  It also lists some of the health benefits associated with each superfood.

Related:
10 Superfoods for Exceptional Health
SuperFood Salad Best Ingredients
6 Food Based Medicines that May Save Your Life
15 Foods to Include in Your Everyday Diet

Infographic source and more information about superfoods, health and wellness guides and interesting infographics, visit Mercola.com - 7 Superb Superfoods to Power Up Your Life
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