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by Krispin Sullivan from NaturalNews.com
Originally published February 7, 2006

Doctor Price was right, as usual. Cod liver oil is very good for you, more than you ever knew. Research studies ranging from 1918-2001 give cod liver oil an A+ rating. This marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. Samples may also naturally contain small amounts of the important bone- and blood-maintainer vitamin K.
There is hardly a disease in the books that does not respond well to treatment that includes cod liver oil, and not just infectious diseases but also chronic modern diseases like heart disease and cancer. Cod liver oil provides vitamin D that helps build strong bones in children and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults. The fatty acids in cod liver oil are also very important for the development of the brain and nervous system. “If you want to prevent learning disabilities in your children,” said David Horrobin, distinguished medical and biochemical researcher, “feed them cod liver oil.” (continue reading…)

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by Alexis Black from NaturalNews.com
Originally published January 2, 2006

It’s no secret that long-term diet and nutrition choices have an effect on the way we look and feel; but new studies show that nutrition can also affect the way we think. As it turns out, there really is such a thing as “food for thought.”

It may seem strange that what we put in our stomachs can have such a powerful effect on what goes on in our minds, but research is increasingly showing that emotional, mental and psychiatric disorders like depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may more likely be the result of dietary deficiencies than genetic predispositions. The same is true of people who struggle with memory loss, have trouble learning new tasks, have Alzheimer’s disease or simply suffer from a lot of blue moods. The dietary deficiency that tends to frequently show up in these patients is a lack of omega-3 oils — abundant fatty acids found in cold-water fish like salmon, herring and cod. (continue reading…)

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Even if you’re not concerned about H1N1, as a parent of a young child, you probably dreaded the inevitable return of the cold and flu season. Your child may have already come down with a cold or the flu after going the whole summer without one. If your child is very young, you’re probably aware that many over the counter cold and flu remedies now carry warnings that they should not be administered to children under the age of two. Some cold remedies even say that children younger than six should not take them. Parents are instead cautioned to use only a humidifier and perhaps saline drops for sick infants and toddlers, and simply allow the cold or flu run its course. Yet it’s difficult for parents to just sit back and do nothing when their child is suffering.

Fortunately, alternative remedies are now readily available in health food stores like Whole Foods, in drug stores like Walgreens and CVS, and even in Walmart. Many of these remedies are homeopathic, although some may be herbal remedies. Some of them are even labeled for children’s use. This article provides a brief overview of homeopathy and homeopathic remedies, and describes a few of the remedies available for children and infants. (continue reading…)

ⓒ Savneet Singh

Turmeric is uniquely an Indian spice. India produces nearly all the world’s turmeric, and consumes 80% of that crop. Traditional healers use turmeric to treat and cure disease. Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. Its stalk has the healing properties. It has got a bright yellow color because of the presence polyphenols, curcuminoids, in it. In the past few years, researches have begun exploring myriad aspects of this compound:

• anti-tumor
• anti-oxidant
• anti-arthritic
• anti-amyloid
• anti-ischemic
• anti-inflammatory

Its anti-inflammatory properties come from curcuminoids’ ability to inhibit eicosanoid biosynthesis. Turmeric is effective in treating malaria and in the prevention of cervical cancer. Studies suggest that it can be useful in the treatment of the HIV virus. (continue reading…)

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Seasonal allergies are not just a springtime concern. With ragweed in full bloom from now until frost, many hay fever sufferers are finding the misery of allergy season just beginning. Some common herbs and supplements can provide relief from the pollen.

Butterbur

Butterbur is one of the most studied herbal allergy remedies. It has proven as effective as two pharmaceutical allergy drugs. In studies, 50 mg of butterbur twice daily was shown to be as effective as 180 mg fexofenadine (Allegra) in alleviating nasal symptoms of seasonal allergies (Pubmed). (continue reading…)

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A good diet of fresh foods will provide you with most of the nutrients you need, but it takes special effort to get Vitamin D. Good food sources for Vitamin D include fatty fish and fortified milk. Unfortunately, fatty fish are the most likely to have accumulated environmental toxins in their tissues.  Vitamin D is essential for health especially for boosting your immune system.

Human skin can synthesize Vitamin D from sunlight, with 10 minutes of unprotected exposure–shorts and a sleeveless top with no sunblock–daily providing enough Vitamin D in the summer months. During winter in most of the United States, the atmosphere blocks the wavelengths of sunlight that promote Vitamin D synthesis, so supplementation is necessary.  Getting Vitamin D from sunlight and/or supplementation is infinitely safer and more effective than getting the “flu shot.” Vitamin D is also known to reduce cancer rates, heart disease incidence. This is a very important substance for human health. (continue reading…)