Allergy and Sinus SOS

By Issac Eliaz, MD, LAC

Get to the real cause of allergies and sinus infections. Find lasting relief with a combination of therapies, including herbs, supplements, and homeopathic remedies.

Chronic sinusitis is a common health condition that affects 14 out of every 100 people in the United States. While these problems may not seem serious, they can be an expression of imbalances within the immune or digestive systems. In addition to the typical sneezing and runny nose, sinus infections may cause headaches, abdominal pain, and even menstrual problems. Because there is only a thin plate of bone between the sinuses and brain, sinus infections can cause mental fogginess and a lack of concentration.

About NOW Foods

Founded in 1968 by Elwood Richard, NOW Foods’ values and mission are very much aligned with those of its main customers, the independent health food retailer. Although the company, founded in 1968 by Elwood Richard, has grown to become one of the industry’s largest manufacturers, NOW is still owned and run by the Richard family. They ensure the company fulfills its original mission: to provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.

Elwood Richard’s core belief that high-quality health products should not be a luxury available only to the wealthy still shapes the company’s policies today. People often ask how NOW can produce quality products at such reasonable prices, and the answer is surprisingly simple: commitment. GMP certified since 2000, every phase of the manufacturing process, from the purchase and delivery of raw materials, to the packaging and shipping of products, follows strict procedures overseen by an educated, experienced team of Quality Control & Quality Assurance experts. NOW’s modern, 250,000-sq ft facility, one of the industry’s most admired, houses six fully-functional laboratories running the most current and advanced testing equipment. Thorough testing and meticulous quality assurance ensures that NOW products are screened for contaminants, labeled accurately and of the highest possible quality.

NOW’s dedication to the customers who have made their success possible is illustrated by the company’s stellar customer service and enduring commitment to the health food channel.

via Whole Foods Magazine

Weighing in on Childhood Obesity

There are many ideas about good nutrition for parents helping children combat obesity—supplementing their diets is also recommended.

By Janet Poveromo

According to the Institute of Medicine, over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged two to five years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged six to 11 years. When the institute released its most recent fact sheet dated September of 2004, approximately nine million children over age six were considered obese.

The rate of childhood obesity has increased at such an alarming rate that last year the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concluded there was enough indirect evidence to suggest that starting pharmacological treatment early makes sense in children with very high levels of cholesterol.

About Ecover

Ecover stands for careful enterprise. This means that they produce their washing and cleaning products in an ecological, economic and socially responsible way in a unique ecological factory. Honest and open, they respect people and the environment. In their view, this is the only way to guarantee a sustainable future.

Fiber Fix for IBS

By Jini Patel Thompson
The secret to healing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may not be how much fiber but what kind you're consuming. Also: The best probiotic strains for IBS

Top food sources

Want to get more natural fiber in your diet? Here are some of the best sources.

Soluble (best for people with IBS)
Apples, Avocados, Carrots, Chia seed, Flaxseed, Oats, Papaya, Psyllium, Pumpkin, Squash, Yams

Insoluble
Barley, Beans, Brown rice, Celery, Corn bran, Root vegetables, Strawberries, Sunflower seeds, Wheat bran, Whole wheat, Zucchini

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—or a similar condition such as Crohn's disease, colitis, or diverticulitis—you've no doubt been told to add more fiber to your diet. In fact, if you look at the shelves in your local health food store, you'll likely see many "healthy" breakfast cereals touting the amount of bran or other fiber they contain.

Close Calls

by Jack Challam

12 Ways to Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Radiation

Cell phones emit radiation—technically known as low-level radio-frequency (RF) radiation—which is close to the frequency of microwaves. Although it’s not the same type of radiation found at nuclear power plants, it can disrupt normal cell activity. You wouldn’t stick your head in a microwave oven, but millions of people place their RF transmitters right next to their brain, often for hours at a time.

Is there a danger? The research linking cell phone use to brain cancer has been conflicting, but in 2011 the World Health Organization declared cell phone radiation to be a potential carcinogen. While the final word is still out on cancer risk, studies have shown changes in brain activity and brain glucose levels after someone holds a cell phone against their ear.

In fact, several studies have found that excessive cell phone use may disrupt sleep, cause headaches, and result in depression. The same may also be true of tablets that emit RF radiation. Furthermore, the younger you are, the greater the likely effect on the brain and other tissues, so children are especially at risk.

“We are bioelectric creatures,” says Shannon Kennedy, PhD, chief executive officer of Pong Research, based in Leesburg, Va. After all, our hearts and brains run on electrical impulses. “When people use cell phones, they’re bringing in an outside source of electrical signals. In today’s world, people are being bombarded with electrical fields,” says Kennedy.

So with cell phones now such a big part of most people’s lives, how you do minimize any potential risk from the radiation they emit? Here are 12 tips for using your phone safely.

Conquering Colds

By Emily A. Kane

Q: Cold and flu season is almost here. What should I do to avoid getting sick?

—Edith K., New York, NY

The first thing to remember is that colds are viral—so antibiotics do not help. Viruses get inside our cells and reproduce; bacterial infections, on the other hand, typically occur outside our cells and draw lots of white blood cells onto the mucous membranes (the sources of all that lovely phlegm). In contrast, our natural anti-viral defense is fever. So if you feel feverish at the beginning of your cold or flu—that’s great. Your body is doing exactly the right thing.

Kyolic Curcumin

What is Kyolic Curcumin?
Kyolic Curcumin is specifically formulated to supports a healthy inflammation response. Inflammation is critical to the healing process. However, recent studies suggest that chronic, low-level inflammation may contribute to premature aging and less-than-optimal health. The ingredients in Kyolic Curcumin work synergistically to help prevent potentially damaging inflammation while encouraging the body's ability to heal itself.

What makes Kyolic Curcumin unique?
Kyolic Curcumin is the only product on the market that combines Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract with Curcumin. This unique combination specifically targets the inflammatory response to safely and effectively support healthy tissues and organs throughout the body.

These proprietary ingredients have been studied extensively and found to benefit a healthy and robust inflammatory response during illness and injury while helping to keep chronic low-level inflammation in check. By combining these potent antiinflammatory ingredients, Kyolic Curcumin provides a powerful and natural way to discourage ongoing, systemic inflammation.

Tapping the Sap

Coconut palms are one of the oldest flowering trees in the world. Containers used to collect the sap are made out of hollow bamboo tubes that are fastened onto the thick fleshy stems covered in small flowers. The freshly gathered sap is exceedingly nutrient-rich, and comes right out of the tree naturally sweet and abundant in Minerals, 17 Amino acids, Broad-Spectrum B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and has a nearly neutral pH.

The most remarkable blessing about tapping a coconut tree, is that once it is tapped, it flows its sap continuously for the next 20 years.  From a sustainability viewpoint, the harvestable energy production from tapping coconut trees for their sap (which yields 5,000 liters per hectare), rather than allowing them to produce fruit, is 5-7 times higher per hectare than coconut oil production from mature coconuts.

Via coconutsecret.com

Rubinol

 DR. OZ RECOMMENDED
*NEW PRODUCT LINE AT THE HEALTHY WAY*

Raw, wild black raspberry extract cold-pressed, enzymes and nutrients intact.

Rubinol is the rarest of all nutritional supplements. There is no other supplement like this available, anywhere. That is because no other company takes the time and care that North American Herb & Spice does. Our own company workers (even our president) go out every year to hand pick these wild berries in remote-northern forests. There is a small window of only a few weeks to get out and harvest these natural gifts. During these few weeks, the berries are fresh and available, and that is when we must go find them and harvest them. After that, any berries left over simply dry up and go back to the earth. Even with picking for about two weeks straight, wild black raspberries are so rare that Rubinol is always a limited supply.

Chaganol

*NEW PRODUCT LINE AT THE HEALTHY WAY*

Wild chaga extract with wild birch tree syrup & wild blackberry extract .

Chaganol is the simple, tasty way to obtain the health and strength you need—every day—through the powers of wild chaga. This is wild, far northern chaga, which is concentrated through a special natural proce-dure to increase the density of its key active ingredients, superoxide dismutase (SOD), beta glucan, phenolic compounds, specialized sterols, melanin, and wild-source B vitamins. All of these chaga substances are extremely biologically active and rich in oxygen, which is critical for the health of cells. 

PureOmega

*NEW PRODUCT LINE AT THE HEALTHY WAY*

Organically grown sacha inchi oil—A top source of digestible omega-3 fatty acids

Sacha inchi, the so-called "Inca nut," is produced from the seeds of an Amazon plant found naturally in Peru. These seeds contain a highly nutritious oil, which is a top source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as omega-6s, amino acids, antioxidants, and omega-9s. It is a true whole food oil, the ideal fish oil alternative for vegans/vegetarians.

Compared to all other vegetable omega-3 oils, sacha inchi oil is superior. It contains a far wider variety of nutri-ents than flax, black currant, and primrose oils. PureOmega contains only oil from organically raised seeds. There are no chemical residues of any type in this oil. The organic certification is obtained through IMO Control under NOP and EU standards.

OregaBiotic

*New Product Line at the Healthy Way*

This unique formula is the ultimate synergistic blend of natural spice oils. OregaBiotic takes it a step further with a proprietary slow-release technology Taking a step back from modern technology, which uses plastics to achieve enteric coating, we look to the beehive to provide a natural slow-release product. Using the powerful multiple spice oil extracts of oregano, cumin, sage and bay leaf combined with natural beeswax and black seed oil creates the most advanced supplement on the market. These oils are harvested from remote mountain regions in the Mediterranean. This formula contains only wild-crafted, pesticide- and herbicide-free spices from completely non-GMO sources. No chemicals or solvents are ever used in the extraction process, giving you the purest, most unadulterated ingredients on the planet.

Seasonal Relief at Your Fingertips

Immune Balance Daily- Multidimensional immune support for year-round wellness.
Featuring EPICOR- Clinically Studied Fermented Yeast

• Supports the Body's Immune System
• Supports Optimum Respiratory Health
• Increases Secretory Immunoglobulin A - an Integral Part of the Body's Immune System
• Promotes and Maintains a Healthy Nose and Throat
• Supports Glutathione Production, the Body's Own Antioxidant
• Supports Gut-Related Immune System Function