Archive for the 'Natural Health' Category

Who Is Right: Medical Doctors Or Natural Health Promoters?

November 18th, 2009 -- Posted in Natural Health | No Comments »

Have you noticed that there is often a sharp divide in between the allopathic health community and the naturopathic health community? In other words, the Medical Doctors and the Natural Health Professionals often seem to disagree fundamentally. But which is right?

Perhaps it is not so much of an issue of being right as it is an issue of roles and expertise. Perhaps it is not that Medical Doctors are bad or that natural health solutions are a hoax. Perhaps they should work together!

In the part one of this report, we’ll discuss the medical side of the issue: Pros and cons. Then we’ll do the same for the natural side, then wrap the discussion up.

The downside of the allopathic approach to health

One of the biggest problems with the medical approach to health is side effects. Quite simply, there are no pharmaceutical drugs that do not have undesirable side effects. Some have fewer side effects, some have more. Some side effects are very serious, others are not. But all drugs have side effects.

Another bad aspect to allopathic health is that it generally is designed to artificially and often superficially correct the problem, but not deal with the root issue. For example, when you take cold medicine, it does nothing for your cold – it just suppresses the symptoms so that you don’t notice the cold symptoms as much.

So for me, the biggest problems with using pharmaceuticals is that they are toxic, can be dangerous, and often do not address the root health issue.

On the plus side, the Medical approach excels in crisis situations. For example, if I were in a car accident and were in critical condition, I would not go see a nutritionist. I would go to the hospital, where they could forcefully intervene and hopefully save my life.

While the allopathic approach to health certainly has it’s share of faults, the natural health approach is not perfect either.

Probably the biggest issue the natural health community faces is the issue of quality and truth. In other words, what really works, and what doesn’t? You sometimes have to dig through a lot of dirt to find the gold, as the proverb says.

Often times a particular nutrient, plant, or source may be helpful, but the end product is not. One study showed that some antioxidant products actually had an oxidative effect. Why? Because the company producing them had not properly researched, developed, and tested their products.

The greatest strength of the natural approach is that it generally works with your body, instead of against it or in spite of it, like the medical approach does. There are exceptions to this, though. Many herbs are really just natural drugs, so you should be careful with them.

But nutritional supplements, for example, work with your body to strengthen, build up, and equip your body to protect, defend and restore your health naturally, with no side effects. The flip side of the coin is of course that nutrition takes time to do it’s job. In critical cases, something more abrupt is needed – perhaps something the medical community has to offer.

That leads us to the conclusion: perhaps the solution is for natural and medical health practices to work together to create an even healthier you.

What if you were to use improved nutrition, nutritional supplements and other natural methods to naturally improve your health, but still use “conventional” medical approaches when needed? The key is to balance the cost and the benefits. Is not feeling your cold symptoms worth the potential side effects and long term health damage that you could get from using cold medication? On the other hand, if you have an infection, is running the risk of a serious infection or running the risk of damage from antibiotics worse?

Get the facts, balance the issues, and use natural and medical approaches together for the best of health!

Joshua Wills
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/who-is-right-medical-doctors-or-natural-health-promoters-76158.html

The Anatomy of a Natural Health Education

November 16th, 2009 -- Posted in Natural Health | No Comments »

The Clayton College of Natural Health is a distance education instituted devoted to helping people gain accreditation in various realms of health related fields. Some individuals benefit from taking distance education courses from this institution but others may not be suited for such a program. Following is some information about the Clayton College of Natural Health for you to consider.

First of all you want to think about your specific goals. You may find that you are heading down a career path that requires you to become very familiar with holistic nutrition, traditional naturopathy or natural health. These are the only subjects that degree programs fall under at the Clayton College of Natural Health.

Other programs offer certificates for subjects like herbal studies, iridology studies, healthcare professional studies and companion animal studies. There is no degree earned though these four subjects and I’m not quite sure how a certificate from any of those subjects could be used.

Some of the information offered by the Clayton College of Natural Health is a little unfamiliar to most. If you want to earn a degree in traditional naturopathy it would be best to look into the field a little before signing up for any classes. You may find that you are really interested in taking a holistic approach to your health studies.

There are some concerns about taking classes for accreditation at a distance education institution like the Clayton College of Natural Health. Since this seems to fall into the realm of medicine in a holistic kind of way it is certain that some may find the programs to be a little too unscientific for many healthcare professionals.

Consider where you will be employed in the future. If your goal is to work as a nutritionist for a large hospital you may want to forgo the Clayton College of Natural Health as an educational option. However, if you want to start a health and wellness consultation business you might be attracted to the degrees and certificates that the Clayton College of Natural Health has to offer.

The alternative health field is not for everyone. Many people prefer taking the traditional route to healthcare and nutrition. However, many others are drawn to alternative medicine as well. It is important to note that not everyone recognizes the Clayton College of Natural Medicine as a means of valid accreditation. You may want to conduct a little research before filling out an application.

John Wellington
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-anatomy-of-a-natural-health-education-75116.html

Natural Health Choices for Women

November 14th, 2009 -- Posted in Natural Health | 16 Comments »

Quite obviously, men and women are different in very many ways, but most especially in their physical appearance. This is certainly the most distinguishable difference, but there are many other different internal factors as well, such as the regulation of hormonal secretions and the type of secretions; in addition, women are more prone to certain diseases than men.

Natural health is making a huge difference in the lives of women, and if you decide to take natural health approach, you will need to address these differences in the regimen you create. You might know that it is important to eat low-fat foods, unrefined foods that do not contain preservatives, but do you know what vitamins and nutrients women are more likely to lack?–And do you know why not addressing those needs can significantly decrease your quality of life – both at work and at home?

You know from experience that a poor health habits will have an affect in everything you do. It will show on your skin and in your eyes. You will lack energy and it will show. Your body will reveal your lifestyle. The old saying is still true, if not more so today, ‘you are what you eat.’

Natural women’s health is one method you can use to reverse the effects of your poor health lifestyle. In addition to getting more sleep and drinking more water, a natural women’s health regimen should include proper nutrition. This is especially important if you are pregnant or planning to conceive in the future. If you want to have a child, you must ensure your body is functioning properly by restoring yourself to good health through natural methods; and if you are currently pregnant, you need to ensure that your body is replacing the nutrients your baby is consuming.

That is, however, not the only reason natural women’s health should focus on nutrition. It is also because there are certain foods that normally benefit women’s metabolisms, which can be very beneficial, as it is often harder for women to lose weight than men.

Natural women’s health is also an important part of regulating your PMS and menstrual cycle. It is a way of ensuring that while your body is performing all its natural functions it is still able to get all the nutrition it needs to keep going.

One excellent place to find free information about natural women’s health is the Internet. There are a number of websites that offer information and reference resources on natural health changes that could greatly improve your quality of life.

That is why so many women are thinking about changing their lifestyles to focus on a more natural approach to health. Today’s woman has enough to worry about and deal with daily. Why not give yourself a fighting chance at being the best you possible? When you’re healthy and functioning at your best you will be able to tackle all of the other issues that come up. Be proactive in creating a healthy lifestyle for yourself. Your body will thank you.

Sherry Frewerd
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/natural-health-choices-for-women-34019.html

How Safe are Natural Health Products?

November 13th, 2009 -- Posted in Natural Health | 5 Comments »

Natural health products are often promoted as safer, more effective, and less likely to have side effects than prescription drugs. It should be noted that internationally, natural health products are regulated on the basis of safety and quality and to varying degrees, efficacy. They are defined (in Canada) as: Vitamins and minerals, Herbal remedies, Homeopathic medicines, Traditional medicines, such as traditional Chinese medicines, Probiotics, and other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids. Natural Health Products are closely related to drugs, and have begun to be regulated in order to control health claims being made by products not classified as drugs, but are taken for reasons above and beyond simple caloric intake.

There are many more aspects of the body’s health and well being that can be enhanced when nutritional natural health products are added to a balanced diet. Natural health products are your fresh organic food products, fruits, vegetables & meats, food (dietary) supplements, preparations for skin and hair care. Unlike pharmaceuticals that must undergo rigorous testing and analysis, natural health products are not governed by the same regulations.

Incidences of harm caused by natural health products are statistically pretty insignificant, less than one in 100 000 by some measures, and extremely rare even by the numbers of the Fraser Institute. That’s because natural health products are, though physiologically active, not drugs. . They are available for self-care and self-selection, and do not require a prescription to be sold. Natural health products are regarded as dietary supplements and are not required to pass strict registration processes as would be expected of prescription drugs. In 1997 the Canadian government conducted a public review of natural health products and developed a separate regulatory framework to supervise them. As a result Health Canada created a new category called Natural Health Products and a new regulating authority was established to govern the sale of NHP’s in Canada called the Natural Health Products Directorate.

Natural Health Products can have potent effects on the body. Although herbal products are advertised as “natural,” they aren’t natural to the human body. They include supplements which, in many cases, are made from traditional or specialty crops, seafood and aquaculture. Natural health products in the US are generally regulated as dietary supplements and fall under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Natural Remedies are sold in grocery stores, pharmacies and health food stores and they do not require prescriptions from a doctor. Will changes to the Food and Drugs Act result in a ban on natural health products. Will this change mean a prescription will be required for natural health products, like Vitamin C. Sometimes the most natural solution is a healthy diet and taking the time to rest when you are sick.

Bob Withers
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/how-safe-are-natural-health-products-415497.html

Concentrated Health Drinks Provide the Power of Regeneration With All Natural Foods

November 11th, 2009 -- Posted in Natural Health | No Comments »

What is “the power of regeneration” and how do you get it from all natural foods that are mixed in concentrated health drinks? Regeneration is the opposite of “degeneration”, which is what happens to the human body over time if not treated properly. Most people in the world today are in a constant state of degeneration, but those who have discovered the secret of concentrated nutrition are revealing the potential for regeneration with all natural foods formulated into concentrated health drinks.

The Philosophy of Regeneration™ is a phrase that has actually been trademarked by Sunrider International, the largest herbal health food company in the world. Dr. Tei-Fu Chen developed the Philosophy of Regeneration™ after thorough study of Chinese and Western medicines. According to the philosophy, the body can balance itself when nourished and cleansed with the proper nutrition. That is why all natural foods concentrated into powerful health drink formulas can help the body keep a balance between yin (nourish) and yang (cleanse) and the five organ systems.

This sounds complex, but the simplicity of it is that when all your systems are in balance, your body is functioning so efficiently that it has time to “regenerate”. When you are taking in the proper nutrients through all natural foods that have been concentrated into these powerful health drinks, your body has the resources to create and sustain excellent health and fitness for life. Instead of having to spend so much energy digesting unhealthy foods, your body has the energy to work on areas that might have been damaged through years of poor eating or through injuries and illnesses.

Let’s say you have suffered from chronic pain for years. You decide to change your diet to include all natural foods and concentrated health drinks. Then, instead of your body degenerating without any help from your previous food and drink choices, you begin to feel relief. What’s happening is that damaged, old, dying cells are being replaced more rapidly by healthy, new cells that now are stronger because they are built with more powerfully nutritious tools.

When you are cleansing out fats and toxins on a daily basis with sophisticated health drinks and you are nourishing your body with concentrated all natural foods, then you are creating that balance of the systems, which allows for regeneration to take place.

If you are constantly pouring in acid forming foods, sugary drinks, or isolated nutrients from highly processed food and beverage products, you are causing your body to degenerate. You would have to eat an enormous amount of fruits and vegetables to create the regenerative effects possible from concentrated nutrients. When you consume all natural foods that have been concentrated into powerful formulas and health drinks that provide real whole food vitamins and minerals then you are living the philosophy of regeneration. You are taking your health to a new level.

Before you know it, you are feeling years younger and you start to believe that you really can live a healthy, energetic, disease free life until the day you pass away peacefully in your sleep. This is far different from how most people wind down their golden years. Far too many end up in hospitals and nursing homes unable to care for themselves. The sad part is that it doesn’t have to be this way. The philosophy of regeneration is real. You just have to start shopping differently for nutrition. Look for concentrated all natural foods and health drinks that are made with whole food ingredients, as close to nature as possible.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just buy fruits and vegetables from the store, you need to step up to a higher level of nutrient dense foods to really begin to feel the power of regeneration. So, pay attention to all natural foods and health drinks that are concentrated for maximum effectiveness if you want to feel results quickly.

Cliff Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/concentrated-health-drinks-provide-the-power-of-regeneration-with-all-natural-foods-563464.html

Natural Health Writing – the Need of the Hour?

June 3rd, 2009 -- Posted in Natural Health | No Comments »

Today, with more and more people taking a keen interest in natural health and natural remedies, the time has come for natural health writing to also come of age. Time was when looking for alternative therapies and simple natural health tips would probably mean going through tomes of very stuffy boring books and trying to sift out the nuggets that made sense to you. Cut to today when the Internet is full of so many natural health sites. Suddenly, health, such an important topic is being dealt with not with a sober demeanor but with simplicity, with sensibility and even with a touch of humor.

Does this mean that all natural health writing is gospel? Far from it. What I mean to deal with here is to look at how the style of writing has changed to fit in with today’s world. The content I do not presume to comment upon. There was a very clear divide in how medical problems were addressed in days gone by. Doctors spoke in a language different from the rest of the world, a language filled with jargon, which only another doctor or a pharmacist would understand. The Internet seems to have ripped that veil asunder and everyone, but everyone who has anything to do with health seems to be on the bandwagon of getting down to the grassroots level to be understood.

It probably started with the interest in natural health. From the kitchen shelf, to a little more knowledge about herbs and spices. Those sites on the Internet have changed the way not just how natural health writing is done, but how health writing as a whole is looked at. With so little time and so much to do, if you are obtuse, you get left out. So natural health writing, as well as most health writing on the Internet seems to be coming of age and coming down to the common man’s level.

Shalini Kagal
http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/natural-health-writing-the-need-of-the-hour-249467.html