Health Expo

Take The Risk - Vulnerability

Sam is invited to attend a business conference overseas, it’s no coincidence that he’s been requested by his manager to represent his company, Sam is really just an honest guy, quite unassuming, loyal, and much of an introvert. The date soon approaches, and Sam is flown first class, given a hefty allowance, and is collected from the airport to his luxury hotel where he will attend the conference.

After hours of tiresome speeches, Sam is optimistic that he will get an opportunity to rub shoulders with the “it” people, especially the main speaker. Sam has been spending a lot of nights reading about new trends in the industry especially because he has been thinking of a new career venture in future. In the dining lounge where all the delegates are having some cocktails, the main speaker approaches Sam and says, “You spoke very well, you sounded quite knowledgeable about your subject matter, well done!”

Sam, being the introvert that he is, starts getting sweaty. An awkward impression comes to his mind at the prime of his networking moment, the Holy Spirit says; tell this man about the deep love of God for him and Gods desire to have a personal relationship with him. The lump in Sam’s throat swells up. Is it too much of a risk? At some point in life many of us have taken some or other risk, whether calculated or not. We have been, often or not at the verge of losing all for that which we saw as valuable at some point. However; these risks whatever they are, come in a little on the lighter side than the risk of vulnerability. Does Sam do it? Would you do it? 

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21 

OHO Medical Missionary Training: Sanctuary Restored

Mental Health #5 - Expectations

Denis is an 11 year old, short, dark and chubby boy who loves playing with cars and trucks like other boys do, except that he has an exceptional interest in making his own cars with wire. Making extra little miniature cars for his friends doesn't come cheap as he sells them to earn extra pocket money. His dad does not really have a stable job and dreams of Denis becoming an engineer. Eight years down the line, Denis is doing his first year in Civil Engineering at one of the Universities chosen by his parents. He does well in his course, completes his degree in the set out 3 year period, and graduates cum laude.

A local engineering giant co. offers him a lucrative salary for an entry level position, but Denis is uncertain of the position, he takes 4 weeks to think about the offer and what that would mean for his family especially his dad, so he decides to accept the offer and starts working as a junior engineer. At age 25, after working for the engineering co. for four years, Denis’s mom notices that he’s losing a lot of weight, his skin is becoming dull, he leaves church earlier than usual, does not participate in family gatherings anymore, and has become quite withdrawn. On the other hand at work, his manager sets up a meeting with him over his slacking performance since his promotion to the senior engineer role.

You see, Denis has been struggling with depression and chronic stress for as long as he can remember enrolling for the Engineering course; he had never wanted to be an engineer that…was his dad’s dream. Denis has always wanted to be a layout artist so that he can create quality publications for the ministry he was interested in joining, but due to his family’s situation he chose his dad’s dream over his call. Denis still wants to follow his call, but does not know how to break the news to his family. Did you know that like Denis, many individuals are stuck in occupations they never wanted to be in? They’re stuck in relationships that hinder their spiritual growth, and are living according to the expectations of their loved ones or general others. Did you know that many people have suffered long-term health illnesses; some have even died due to unhappiness? What has God called you to? Are you heeding that call?

Mental Health #4 - Family Matters

Emily is gifted five year-old with kinky coily hair. Today, she has arranged a new piece of scripture song during her music lessons and would like to share it with dad when he gets home. Mom has prepared dad’s favourite meal, lasagne, baked potatoes & tossed spinach salad with chickpeas. The day has been long, and she too has a lot to tell dad about the day’s activities and about Emily’s latest achievement. Dad arrives home at 7pm, tired as usual; he greets Mom and Emily then heads straight to the study room. He works for a big corporation and has had tight timelines and projects since the day he signed their contract. Emily runs to the study room, elated to share with dad what she had learnt. “Not today my angel, dad is very busy, how about you tell me tomorrow? I promise I will listen.” Emily turns away disappointed, her hopes shattered. Will dad ever be available to listen?

Emily grows up unstable, and moves from relationship to relationship, with the hope of one day meeting someone who’ll give her the attention that her dad never gave. On the other hand Sarah (mom), grows estranged from Larry (dad), he’s hardly ever home, and when he is home, he’s always working. Sarah frequently suffers bouts of depression and anxiety; she develops peptic ulcers and is now scheduled for an operation. Had Larry foreseen that while his plans to secure a “better life” for his family were good, those plans would come at the expense of love and neglect of his wife and daughter, would he have risked?

Many children, spouses and parents have long lasting wounds from neglect, lack of love, broken promises, lack of time and appreciation from their loved ones. Mental conditions like depression, anxiety and stress among others are among the many causes for broken homes, conditions like ulcers and instability in various areas of life. Have you spent time with your family lately?  Spending time together enhances ones emotional well-being and behaviour. Do shared activities with your family like outdoor exercise, attending religious services and family worship together, having at least one meal a day together without TV, mobile handsets and the technological gimmicks. Try it and let us know how it goes (leave a comment below)….your family matters.

“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.” Psalm 103:13

Mental Health #3 - Never Doubt

What are some of the causes of being mentally out of sync?  A story is told of a family of swallows whose nest was right above a big river. The mom and dad swallow had four chicks which were now off-age and ready to leave the nest. So as nature calls, the mother swallow takes the first little bird and throws it over the edge of the nest...each time going down to swoop below the chick and transporting it safely back into the nest. This training was done until such a time as they were ready to go off and fend for themselves.

As has been before, the mommy swallow threw out the first little one from her nest and watched…with its tiny wings it flapped & flew and so did the rest of them, except for one fellow, who thought that he would stay in the nest forever. The mother swallow tried to throw him out, however; he held to the branch with his beak, so mom started to peck at his beak till it was more painful for him to hold on than to let go. Eventually he let go and as he was frantically flapping his tiny wings, somewhere in mid-air he realised that his wings were actually designed for flight and so he flew off like the rest of the birds.

Take a moment to reflect…did the mother bird seek the best for the little swallows? Did she always make sure that they got a squirmy worm each day? Why could this little bird not trust the mother’s care? Why do we distrust our Heavenly Father’s care? Why do we doubt His goodness? Does He not seek our good? Does He not provide for all our needs each day? Doubt not only robs us of the happiness which the Lord wants us to have, but it also spreads shadows of darkness in our minds and to others, thus covering the Sun of Righteousness, [our only hope] from our view. The effects of doubt on the brain are immeasurable, for what we say with our mouths tends to be what our mind believes as reality. The words of doubt we utter today may just be the very thing keeping us from grasping tightly to the hand of faith, it is a hindrance from seeing the reality of exercising our faith…“so then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Mental Health #2 - Vital Connection

We live in a fast-paced society where almost everything is concrete and the works of men are all we see. The challenges brought by this fast life pose a threat to the much needed connection with our Creator. We need time aside to reflect...on life, it's purpose, our purpose and actually find ourselves. But what other place would be conducive to encourage such thoughts than amidst nature? There are plenty of lessons we can learn from this silent minister. Nature writes a picturesque and evident story of the Creator's love and constancy, just like an evergreen tree. The beauty of quietude and purity found in nature "leads the soul away from sin and worldly attractions and toward purity, peace and God."

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed;" 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

Mental Health #1 - Walk by Faith

Do you know of someone suffering from a mental illness? How have you dealt with the individual? How can you ensure that you don't become a statistic? First we need to understand 'what is health?' I suppose an assortment of answers can be given in response to the question, however; health is said to be "the absence of disease." We add that health is when the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of any human being are maintained at optimum equilibrium (balance). What is mental health? I'm sure you get an idea now, it is however; amazingly common for people even in our day to think that mental health almost inevitably refers to conditions like schizophrenia, depression, or madness to the exclusion of negativity, pessimism, hatred, jealousy, and fear etc. among others. But did you know that even the currently excluded conditions can be classified under the banner of mental illness? Many individuals including Christians are held captive by their own imagination, but what causes these mental problems and how can one foster optimum well-being mentally? Now, do you know someone suffering from a mental illness?

Follow the logic as we go through some few pointers on maintaining mental well-being over the next few weeks:

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Beat Colds and Flu

Having trouble with common colds and flu?

Step 1: Ascertain the cause, 

Step 2: Correct harmful/wrong habits (dietary or lifestyle)

Step 3: Exercise (mental, physical, spiritual)

Step 4: Drink water at regular intervals

Step 5: If you can feel the symptoms coming:

You'll need:

 1 clove of raw fresh garlic crushed (let it stand for 10 min)

1 teaspoon raw fresh ginger root crushed

1/2 a lemon 

1/4 teaspoon raw honey

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Add all the above-mentioned in a small pot of boiled water, let it stand and once it is just warm enough to drink, then you can drink a cup of the mixture, wear socks and warm loose sleeping clothes. Get inside the bed, cover yourself and rest. You'll start sweating, then get into a bath of warm water or a shower contrasting the water from hot to cold. Sit in the tub for another 20 min and you'll continue to sweat, drink warm water every time you sweat to restore the lost electrolytes. Then wear dry warm clothes and go get bed rest.  This will relieve unnecessary pressure off the system and will assist nature in restoration.

The Science of Vegan Cooking

Optimum-Health-Outlook is available to conduct Nutrition and Vegan Culinary Art seminars. Contact us now for details. Dates for upcoming seminars to be announced. Keep on the loop!!

~ "The kitchen is a jungle, explore it!"~ N. Litsibane

Mask Yourself: Bentonite Clay

In various African cultures the application of clay on the face or the body has been done for years, but it had never occurred to me that the people could be using it for detox purposes or even for beautiful skin…excuse me for being backwards! With so many detox regimens these days we can barely count what, when and how these things work and the effect they have on our system, but I must say that I love the smell of clay on my face not only because it smells so natural, but it also feels so natural. J One of my favourites is Bentonite clay since I can use it both internally and externally, now that’s cost saving. After a long hard day, drinking and applying Bentonite clay on your face is quite beneficial.

What are the benefits of BC? The brief:

·         BC can be used for cleansing the system since it absorbs toxins and also helps in elimination of those toxins. (Mix 1 tablespoon of clay with 1 cup water and drink the solution)

·         Supplies the skin and hair with the much needed minerals

·         BC is best for oily skin and should be applied lightly on sensitive skin

·         BC is a good exfoliator, mix 1 tablespoon of clay with ¼ cup of water or until textured, but smooth, apply the clay and wait 15-20 minutes. Rinse with clean warm water; rub with a dry towel…et voila!

Go ahead, mask yourself J

Losing weight: It’s easy!

A bit of pineapple, a bit of dried fruit and some melon, that’s right! That’s what I’ll have this morning before I have my cereal. As I pick the fruit and add them to my plastic container one lady says to me, are you on a diet? “My diet is permanent” I reply, “I envy you” she utters. Well that’s it! That’s the secret to losing weight fast, that’s how you can maintain a desired weight and not have to worry about gaining, it’s not spasmodic, it’s permanent. Every day I witness women, men and children who’ve gone way over the border line. Some reckon that following a cabbage soup diet with dry wafers for a month or so will help, but what happens is that they deprive their bodies of the much needed nutrition found in a variety of healthful food. Others reckon it’s getting some kind of gadget, suction or supplement treatment that will help remove the flab, but what happens when the treatment ends? It’s rhetorical. The obvious happens; we waste thousands of Rands or Dollars pilling up with machinery, corsets and treatments that are a means to what end? Catch the rhetoric? So what did I mean by ‘permanent?’ Health is a lifestyle; that’s right! It’s what I put in that influences what goes out, in all respects of the wordJ. If I sow wheat, I should get wheat as the result, “whatsoever a man soeth, that shall he also reap.” So what do you suppose I should get for filling my body with junk? Junk in = junk out, fat in = fat, cholesterol and disease out. You get more out than you actually get in.

So what actually works?

1.    Eating whole grains (brown rice, brown bread etc.), greens and whole fruit not only helps the body to excrete the extractable easily, but also helps reduce chances of getting chronic and inflammatory diseases like strokes, diabetes type 2, heart disease, colorectal cancer, arthritis, gum and tooth disease helps maintain healthier blood pressure levels and helps to keep your weight down.

2.    Exercise, exercise and exercise! Instead of using the elevator or escalator to the 5^th level of the building, use the stairs when going up and going down the next level, that’s what keeps me energetic throughout the day! Instead of driving, try walking, it will not only save you petrol/gas, it will save your life and induces weight-loss. Eating healthy coupled with exercise is the best combination and will never disappoint.

3.    Drink plenty of water not less than 8-10 glasses of water a day. Apple juice, coffee, tea and fizzy drinks just don’t do it, water, water, and more water!

4.    Spend time in the outdoors early in the morning, and late in the afternoon to get fresh air and sunshine. The best and safest time to bask in the sun is between sunrise and 9am and again between 4pm and sunset.

5.    Moderation is key, it’s called balance. Keep all things at a moderate level; eat enough, but never too little or too much, exercise enough and never too little or too much, the same with sleep catch the drift?

6.    Rest, we live in a fast-paced society where there is hardly any rest. Get rest every day, that’s not an option – that’s if you don’t want wrinkles and mood swings and the rest literally, you get more from rest than you get from not resting.

7.    We’ve lost confidence in humanity, we’ve lost confidence in love and in anything that requires us to trust, but amidst all the strife and all that happens around us, there is one whom we can place our trust in, that’s the Creator. Trust His providence, His love, and His care. It’s has been proven, daily prayer does wonders to our lives. It does wonders to those who are physically, mentally and spiritually worn out. Try it, it works!

There you have it, lose weight, it's easy!!

Thank God for Water!

We often take it for granted that water is important until we find ourselves in a crisis. I mean what could possibly go wrong? A lot can go wrong! On my way to work one morning, I try to be as comfortable as possible, I grab one of my books and start reading. After 10 minutes of departure, a lady we were travelling with starts choking...'what's happening' we exclaimed? 'Is she having an epileptic fit?' one asked, 'she can't breathe' another muttered, 'could it be an asthmatic attack I asked?' *totally clueless*. To my surprise, she was actually having an asthmatic attack. 

One of the ladies hurriedly asks 'is there anyone with water?' The vehicle was dead with silence, I grabbed my backpack and took out a bottle of water. She drank the water as I uttered a silent prayer, 'Lord please help her,' I said. After a few minutes she was able to breathe well again, sounds extreme hey?! but after that incident, it really made me think, had I not been late, had I finished my water, what would have happened to the young lady? I usually drink about 2 glasses of warm water with lemon juice in the morning, then later on as I travel, I drink some warm water from my water bottle. That morning I was too pressed to drink more water as my focus was on getting to work, little did I know that my leftover water would help someone. 

So what's the point? 

1. Tjoo!! Thank God for water!

2. Drink water at regular intervals and keep hydrated (at least 8 glasses per day).

3. Always carry a bottle of water with you.

4. Value water and use it wisely.

Lice - No Respecter of Persons

I never used to understand why some people washed their clothes with hot water, here’s to the bug! They’re creepy, crawly and downright ugly, head lice are every mom’s worst nightmare. It’s amazing how this critter can create so much fear, yet it’s just the size of a sesame seed. If you’ve never had an encounter with this bug, you probably already have incorrect ideas about how pesky it is and whom it affects. Unlike the popular view that classifies them under the lower income group, head lice are no respecter of persons or financial status. They crawl on the heads of majestic kings as well as lowly peasants.

How can one avoid getting head lice? Simple, avoid sharing combs, brushes and clothing items with others. Children tend to share things among each other at school and during sleep overs. What if you don’t take precautions? Be prepared to shave your hair or face the tug of war especially when dealing with the eggs (nits) since they’re much smaller than the adult and baby louse. Makes one think, how about hair salons, how do I know I won't get lice? Ask your hair stylist or just Do It Yourself :)

Let’s get our facts straight, not every itchy head is infested with lice and certainly does not mean one is dirty. If you’re already engaged in the battle, here are some of the measures you can take to eliminate and remove the nits or the louse:

1.    Be patient, you’re in for a long ride!

2.    Purchase a nit comb and always wash your combs or brushes after use.

3.    Wash affected clothes, bedding etc. with hot water, thereafter wash regularly and allow clothes to dry in the sun.

4.    Apply some olive oil on the hair, wear a shower cap and leave it on for 6 hours then wash your hair.

5.    Apply Apple cider vinegar on your hair and massage it through, leave it on for 2 hours and wash your hair.

6.    Lice are apparently repelled by the smell of rosemary one can use rosemary as a rinse for the hair and also the sprigs can be placed inside the pillow. Tea tree oil also helps

7.    And if preferable use over the counter lice treatment 

Hypertension

Hypertension (high-blood pressure) used to be perceived as a degenerative disease (of old age), however; recent research indicates that more young people are becoming prone to the condition. Also known as the silent killer, hypertension has become among the most prevalent diseases in the world and many of those who have the condition, are not aware of that hence the 'silence'. As described by C. Steyn (S.A. Medical Research Council), Hypertension is "a risk factor for heart attacks, stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy, renal disease, and blindness" and further notes that "hypertension frequently co-exists with other risk factors for chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDL), such as diabetes and obesity."

In most cases diet is the primary cause of disease and can be attributed to hypertension as well. "Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health. In case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to re-establish right conditions in the system."

In order to improve your overall health, 

·         Drink pure water, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (2 glasses of warm water with lemon juice in the morning, 2 glasses 2 hours after eating breakfast, another 2 glasses 2 hours after lunch and another 2 glasses 2 hours after supper )

·        Eat high-fibre diet of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains (oats, corn, whole wheat, brown rice, sorghum or mabele, couscous, polenta etc. avoid refined food).

·         Eat 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed/ lin seeds per day sprinkle in your cereal

·         Raw garlic normalizes blood pressure; try to get the garlic cloves and not the crushed ready-made garlic.

·         Grape seed extract

·        Eat tomatoes, celery, valerian and onions in moderation, tomatoes have certain amino acids that reduce blood pressure.

·         Broccoli has chemicals that reduce blood pressure

·         Carrots, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, avocados, oranges, grapefruit and peaches have antioxidants that help prevent or reduce the artery-clogging plaque from being deposited into the coronary artery walls.

·       Regular exercise tends to decrease the systolic pressure by 4-6 points and the diastolic pressure by up to 3 points. Outdoor exercise is the best example, brisk walking and gardening. Not only will you be getting sunshine, but you will also be tired enough to rest which the body needs to replenish for the next day. Exercise also helps improve circulation thus helping to transport enough oxygen to the brain; this process helps to improve memory.

·         Check your blood pressure regularly

·         Keep your weight down (switch to a plant-based diet, this helps to loose weight)

·         Get a neutral warm bath and rest

·         Visit quite places with fresh air (take time to go to the country side)

·         Pray daily, fellowship with others and cherish a spirit of gratitude to God.

·         Decrease your salt intake and eat several hours before sleeping.

·         Avoid caffeine in tea or coffee (de-caf included), chocolates and soft/fizzy drinks including diet soft drinks, if you have to, rather drink 100% fruit juice or even better drink water.

·         Emotional stress, overeating, anger, impatience and tobacco affect blood pressure levels

·         Avoid cheese since it contains a lot of sodium, and a lot of saturated fat, also has a high tyramine content

·         Avoid flesh (fish, chicken, meat), dairy products, margarine, butter or animal fat, it is better and would improve your health to adopt a plant-based diet

·         When you’re anxious, try not to eat and when you do eat, eat slowly, it has been proven that the slower you eat the more satiety you get from your food and you are less likely to eat more than is required by the body, thus avoiding gaining excess weight.

Grasp hold of this special promise: "do not fear, for I AM with you; do not be dismayed, for I AM your GOD. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Escape Depression

Have you ever felt like life is not worth living? Have the suicidal thoughts of sadness flooded in your mind to a point that you lose interest in things that used to matter to you the most? Throughout the world thousands of individuals are falling prey to the saber tooth tiger called “depression.” Depression affects how we feel, behave and think, it causes us to be hopeless, restless, have low levels of energy, be more forgetful to name a few. Not only can depression be linked to emotional problems, but it is also linked to many physical problems. Are you depressed?

Despite the many types of depression, neither one can ever occur without a cause, “as the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come” Proverbs 26:2. Before treating the symptoms, we must first ascertain the cause. What is bothering you? Is it a broken heart, is it sickness? There’s a promise for you in Psalm 147:3 “He (God) heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” Are you an orphan or a widow? God cares about you as in Psalm 68:5 “God, who lives in His sacred temple, cares for orphans and protects widows.” Have your family or friends forsaken you? Proverbs 18:24 says “there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Make Jesus that friend. Are you anxious? Claim this promise “and the peace of God, which passes ALL understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 furthermore Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Tips to alleviate depression:

1.     Eat food that is high in vitamins, nutrients and minerals, complex carbohydrates and a little bit of fat (avoid frying, rather steam or bake food).

2.     Eat food that’s rich in antioxidants e.g. grapes, carrots, goji berries, broccoli, spinach, nuts (especially almonds), olive oil, blueberries, peaches and seeds (flax/lin seed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds)

3.     Limit sugary food/treats rather opt for complex carbohydrates like whole grains e.g. brown rice, whole wheat, and whole sorghum along with lots of fresh fruit, wheat germ, veggies and legumes.

4.     Eat enough protein as found in beans, peas, soy products etc.

5.     Dink lots of water

6.    Spend time in the outdoors (especially in nature), exercise and bask in the sun (early morn or late noon) talk to someone you trust J

7.     Pray

8.     Think positive thoughts

9.     Trust God

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:38,39

The Best Medicine

Learning a foreign language is a challenge in the beginning, however; once the learner is now able to express themselves in a different language, it becomes enjoyable and beneficial. Laughter is as a foreign language to some individuals, it’s quite hard to grasp, but believe me it (laughter) does a great deal of good to our health, once we make it a habit to do.

Medical researchers not only claim, but we know from personal experience just how good laughing is for us. It is said to “enhance our body’s intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles” thus increasing the endorphins that are released by our brains. Laughing helps us in times of stress, by assisting in circulation and increasing our heart rate, we are able to get a good relaxed feeling after laughing.

Laughing helps to strengthen our immune systems, this researcher’s say is also good, as negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that affect our bodies by inducing more stress to the system, “in contrast positive thoughts are said to release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.”

Laughter helps to ease pain, improves our personal and interpersonal relationships as our moods change. The wise man Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Sources: Mayo Clinic

The Holy Bible

Cancer Loves Sugar

Can sugar really lead to cancer and obesity? Found this interesting video on YouTube, what an eye opener! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJGS3jdjJGE

Berry Blast

Did you know, that there are other berries apart from strawberries, blueberries and goose berries? In fact researchers at the Center for Human Nutrition (2008), have confirmed that "the dietary intake of berry fruits has a positive and profound impact on human health, performance and disease." From blackberry, black raspberry, cranberry, red raspberry, chokecherry, serviceberry, (oh yes!), silver buffaloberry, arctic bramble, bilberries, black currant, boysenberries, crowberries, elderberries, lingonberries, marionberries, rowanberries, açaìa berry to goji berries, the list is endless. 


The latter though is quite an exceptional berry, gojiberries (Lycium barbarum; also known as wolfberry) might as well be called nature's powerhouse. These berries are packed with antioxidants, particularly beta-carotene and zeaxanthin which is said to be a major contributor to protecting the eye retina. Furthermore, researchers say that if food sources rich with this mega antioxidant (zeaxanthin) are taken regularly (in moderation), the risk of getting age-related macular degenerate diseases (AMD) which leads to loss of vision in people over 65, could be reduced. 

Several research studies have shown that the antioxidants in goji, may assist in preventing the the growth of cancer cells, reducing blood glucose and also lower cholesterol levels. This awesome berry is said to also contain cyperone which is of benefit to people with high blood pressure and those with heart disease. Moreover, it has the ability to ease menstrual discomfort, and also assists in treating cervical cancer. Germanium is another compound in goji which is said to reduce the growth of tumors, reduces the risk of testicular, lung, liver, and uterine cancers. Basically goji is a powerful cancer fighter, and coupled with a healthy lifestyle, our food can be our medicine. Go ahead get yourself some berries!

*If you are taking blood thinners like warfarin, and diabetes or hypertension drugs, it is suggested to avoid goji berries as they react with the drugs. Nature works best without the interference of drug medication.



Sources: Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of Calafornia
WebMd

Detox

On a daily basis our bodies are exposed to substances that ought not to enter, these harmful substances which often enter through the food we eat, the air we breathe and some of the household products we use act as toxins to our blood and encourage disease. With the pressure of having to deal with fast foods, preservatives, additives, refined food articles, and fertilizers our bodies deserve a break!

There are tons of juice fasts that are said to help eliminate toxins from the body, however; not all "detox" plans are safe. Try things that are in their most natural state like raw veggies, get yourself a juicer and try the recipe below. Be careful not to over do it. 

Detox recipe:

Juice 1 raw beet

Juice 5 carrots

Juice 1 Tbs fresh ginger

Juice 2 sprigs Celery

mix all the juices together and 

Squeeze 1/2 fresh lemon into the mixture

Drink the juice and watch the effects :) 

1. Beets are a source of iron, niacin, folic acid, sodium, magnesium, Vit A, C are a great immune booster
2. Carrots are one of the best sources for Vit A which when regularly taken can help with acne issues
3. Celery has high fiber content thus helps in curbing colon cancer, promotes healthy elimination, and is high in antioxidants.
4. Lemon is high in Vit C, balances PH, clears the skin, hydrates the lymph system, and is a natural diuretic.
5. Ginger is known to some as the 'comforter' for it's soothing effect on the stomach, helps reduce morning sickness and alleviates the common cold