Vitamin C which is acidic, helps the body absorb non-heme (plant) iron.  You can get the recommended vitamin C by squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water or by taking a 1,000 to 2,000 milligram

Many disorders can be misdiagnoses because their symptoms are similair.  Anemia is one of these.  One self test you can do at home to help your doctor determine if he should check you for anemia is to press down for about 2 seconds on an unpolished finger nail.  If you are pressing against the nail bed, this area should turn white.

When you stop pressing, the area should turn pink again within a second or two.  The longer it takes the area to turn pink, the more likely it is that you are anemic.

 If you are diagnosed with anemia, here are some tips to help your body.

Eat plenty of iron rich foods.  Good sources do include meats, but there are many plants that also have a form of iron known as (non-heme iron).  Since it is know that this form is not as easily absorbed, you may want to adjust your diet to help your body absorb the iron better.  Iron rich plants include “whole” grains such as barley and oats, beans, peas, seeds and nuts (especially sesame, sunflower, pistachios, pecans and almonds), Swiss chard and kale are also excellent sources.

The next post will discuss what to do for better absorption.

The common advise to those who suffer a depressive order due to the lack of sunshine, is to go where there is sunshine.  Well, wouldn’t we all love to live in Hawaii or some other tropical Island?  I once tried one of those special light bulbs that was supposed to help, but I don’t know if I didn’t spend enough time under it or what.  Needless to say I didn’t find it very helpful.  I am not sure if that product is even still around or not.  Personally, I wish I was a bear and could hibernate all winter long.  If winter days give you the blues, you may want to read the post and comment at this blog:  http://www.thevoicemagazine.com/blog/uncategorized/seasonal-affective-disorder-dealing-with-sad/

Believe it or not Coconut and Coconut oil has been used in many traditional forms of medicine.  The most well known is Ayurvedic and Indian folkloric medicine.  It has been used to treat a variety of conditions such as burns, wounds, ulcers, lice, kidney stones and choleraic dysentery.

Since Coconut oil consists of medium chain fatty acids (which are more easily digested than long chain fatty acids), it’s fat gives cells the energy needed to carry on their metabolic functions.  Both long chain fatty acids and glucose require the hormone insulin to transport them through the cell walls which creates a problem for those who are insulin resistant.    For this reason coconut oil has been used in special food preparations for those who suffer digestive disorders, infant formula and for the treatment of malnutrition (remember you need fat to absorb fat soluble nutrients).

Coconut oil has also been known to help with Crohn’s disease.  It has some anti-infalmmatory effect and its antimicrobial properties also help by killing microorganisms that may cause chronic inflammation.   Coconut oil has also been used for the purpose of enhancing the absorption of calcium and magnesium.  Dietary fats not only play a role in the formation of our bones, they can also actas antioxidants and protect the bones from destructive free radicals.

More on the benefits of Coconut oil later this week.

Let’s talk about fiber. You’ve heard about it. You may even know how it helps your body. For

the benefit of those who aren’t familiar with it, let’s start at the beginning.

Fiber is good for you. They say your body needs about 30 grams each day. Unfortunately, most

people eat less than 12 grams a day. That may be a problem. First, let me explain the

benefits of fiber. That’ll help you understand how a deficiency can lead to health issues

down the road.

One of the most common conditions that people cope with is constipation. According to some

estimates I’ve read, 20% of the population is constipated. Fiber moves matter through your

gastrointestinal tract. That is, it prevents constipation.

Another benefit of fiber is that it helps your body manage its blood sugar levels. That

prevents Type 2 diabetes from developing.

There’s yet another reason to eat fiber: diverticulitis. It’s a condition that occurs when

your colon develops small pouches. If they become inflamed, they’re painful. And it’s more

common than you may think; it’s estimated that over 30% of people who are 45 years old and

older have diverticulitis. Doctors insist that dietary fiber can reduce the likelihood of it

occurring by 40%.

That makes fiber pretty important, doesn’t it?

Let’s assume that you’re convinced. You’ve decided that you’re going to eat more fiber each

day (good decision). Where can you get it? You need both soluble and insoluble fiber. I eat

apples, almonds, whole wheat bread, black beans and tomatoes.

That’s enough to get you started. For those of you who are already getting the 30 grams per

day that you need, let us know the foods you’re eating in the comments.

You can probably relate to feeling exhausted at the end of the week. Everyone experiences

it. During the day, we trudge through meetings while trying to fulfill our job

responsibilities. When we finally leave the office to head home to relax, we’re blindsided

by a list of errands that never seems to end. It’s no wonder we’re exhausted.

Recently, I began using goji juice. A friend had recommended it to me after I explained how

tired I always felt. Let me admit something upfront… when I first started taking it, I was

skeptical. It’s my nature. What ultimately swayed me was the fact that the Chinese had been

using goji juice for thousands of years (I’ve always been fascinated by the holistic health

disciplines of the Chinese).

After using goji juice for awhile, here’s what I experienced…

1. More energy.

2. Headaches have practically vanished (I used to get them frequently).

3. Better night’s sleep.

4. More alertness.

5. Less feeling of being stressed.

6. I haven’t been sick since using goji. (My friend had told me that goji gives your immune

system a boost.)

7. My memory has improved.

Those are the benefits that were obvious from the beginning. That is, they manifested in a

way that I was able to identify them quickly. My friend also explained that goji improves

liver function, stems our bodies’ natural aging process and regulates blood pressure levels.

Should you use goji juice? Of course, that’s completely up to you. I am just trying to give

you helpful information and to explain what has worked for me. Personally, I intend to

continue taking goji.

When you experience a stressful situation, your body instantly begins going through changes. Your breathing becomes short, the pace of your heart quickens and the muscles throughout your body begin to tense. Stress can even cause your digestive system to stop working until you’re calm and relaxed. With enough time, perpetual stress can lead to serious health problems.

Tai chi is an exercise routine that relaxes your body. It involves a series of graceful moves that can slow your heart rate, relax your muscles and help you manage your breathing. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate stress, you can use tai chi to regain your composure and help you recapture a sense of calm.

The great thing about tai chi is that it’s easy and you can do it anywhere. You just need a little space that’s free from major distractions. Plus, tai chi can be performed at your own pace, regardless of your age or health because it focuses on low impact movements and fluid motions.

Tai chi is a great way to reduce stress and avoid the health problems that stress can lead to. Many people perform it not only as a relaxation technique, but also to increase their agility and energy level. You should take a class to learn the proper moves, postures and motions. After that, you can perform tai chi on your own and at your leisure.

They say laughter is the best medicine. But, most people don’t realize the physical and

mental health benefits that laughter provides. Believe it or not, both your body and mind

get a workout with every guffaw, snicker and hoot. Laughing lowers your blood pressure,

relieves stress and works your abdominal and back muscles, leading to improved overall

health.

When you laugh, your blood pressure rises temporarily. Then, it comes down to levels that

are below normal. At the same time, your breathing becomes deeper allowing your blood to

transfer more oxygen throughout your body. A 2005 study conducted by the University of

Maryland Medical Center found that laughter causes blood vessels to expand allowing more

blood flow. Over time, this increased blood flow prevents heart disease.

Another way that laughter is good for your health is that it lowers your stress levels. When

you laugh, your body cuts back the amount of stress-related hormones that it produces. In

their place, endorphins are released. Laughter also works the muscles in your abdominal area

and throughout your lower back. Each time you laugh, those muscles contract and relax,

building tone and strength. Ultimately, this improves your digestion and even burns

calories.

Laughter is good for our mental, physical and emotional health. It reduces our stress, tones

our muscles and improves our mood. The humor we enjoy in our lives can have lifelong health

effects.