Americans struggle with a myriad of health related problems, among which are blood sugar levels, weight and appetite control, insomnia, and lack of energy. There are hundreds of different pills available, both prescription and over-the-counter, that target these problems. Pills are very slow to absorb into your system and their effectiveness may be marginal. Most all have drawbacks or side effects. Most people would prefer a natural approach if it provided the appropriate results. This article will review some specific problems, provide basic tips for control and prevention, and finally share a source that is currently providing free samples of natural products that are formulated to help you combat these problems.
Diabetes
The number of people around the world suffering from diabetes has exploded in the last 20 years, from 30 million to 230 million, claiming millions of lives and severely taxing the ability of health care systems to deal with the epidemic. It is predicted that in the United States, the number of people suffering from diabetes will double over the next 25 years. There are many factors driving the growth in diabetes worldwide, but most experts agree that changes in lifestyle and diet are the chief culprits, in addition to genetic predisposition.
The fundamental causes of diabetes are imbalances in the body that results in insulin resistance and problems with blood sugar control. The main driving factor of diabetes is nutrient-poor, calorie-rich diets. This has led to a nation of overfed but undernourished people. There are so few nutrients in the typical diet that we now have an epidemic of nutritional deficiencies that promote the development of diabetes.
Here are some basic tips to control blood sugar:
1. Exercise regularly. When you exercise, your muscles require energy to maintain your increased level of physical activity. This energy comes from the breakdown of glucose, which the muscles extract from the bloodstream. By activating your muscles, you eliminate excess glucose in the blood and put that sugar to good use. Running, swimming or aerobic sports are great ways to lower your blood sugar.
2. Eat carefully. When you eat “simple” sugars or sweets, you add an enormous amount of glucose to your bloodstream. Craft a diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish and other lean proteins. Avoid fatty, salty and sugary foods.
3. Avoid alcohol, which raises your blood sugar level and places undue strain on your liver.
Appetite Control and Weight Loss As you make your New Year’s resolutions, the goals of reducing your appetite and increasing your energy will surely place high on your list. Combine those with a good exercise routine and you can’t help but have a healthier lifestyle.
Finding the right aids to assist you in accomplishing your goals is paramount. The steps are basic. You’ve seen them before:
1. Eat less
2. Eat the right things
3. Exercise
Insomnia Enjoying a good night’s sleep is a serious problem for millions of Americans. Whether it is a baby-boomer age related problem or simply financial or other stress factors which affect all ages, sleeplessness has serious consequences.
While insomnia is a nighttime problem, it may cause daytime challenges as well. People with insomnia often complain about:
* Fatigue and daytime sleepiness
* Moodiness
* Irritability or anger
* Lack of concentration and poor memory
* Upset stomach
* Mistakes/accidents at work or while driving
The potential causes of insomnia are numerous. These include:
· Some illnesses
· Stress, pain, anxiety, or depression
· Some medicines
· Too much caffeine
· Travel
Create the Best Possible Sleep Environment
· Remove electronics like computers and televisions from your room.
· Keep the room cool, comfortable, quiet, and dark.
· Use a comfortable mattress and pillows.
· Use the bed only for sleep and intimacy.
· An ideal environment is quiet, dark, and relatively cool, with a comfortable bed and a minimal amount of clutter from daytime responsibilities. Reminders or discussions of stressful issues should be kept out of the bedroom.
Energy
So many people depend on caffeine for an energy boost. We get in coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, and even common headache medicines. It can leave the drinker feeling restless, irritable, and make hands tremble. It can even create severe insomnia. Caffeine creates a dependency and users can suffer from caffeine withdrawal.
Natural Substances
Gymnema Sylvestre – Gymnema sylvestre is a plant used in India and parts of Asia as a natural treatment for diabetes. Gymnema helps support proper function of the pancreas and normal blood glucose levels and triglycerides.
Ecklonia Cava Sea Kelp Extract -ECE compounds have been found to be potent aldose reductase inhibitors, which may benefit patients with diabetes. ECE served to markedly inhibit NF-kappaB inflammation in the pancreas. A recent Harvard (Joslin School of Diabetes) mouse study directly implicates excessive fat deposition in the mouse pancreas as turning on the NF-kappaB inflammation pathway, resulting in full-blown type II diabetes and insulin insensitivity in the mice. ECE inhibits this depositing of fat.
Ecklonia Cava extract was shown to assist with:
· Supporting healthy cholesterol and cardiovascular functionality.
· Increasing blood flow and circulation – including to the brain.
· Promoting mental focus including providing antioxidant protection for your brain, unlike many land-based polyphenol antioxidants.
· Helping to ease every day joint aches and discomfort.
· Providing an antioxidant boost that lasts for up to 24x as long as traditional plant-based antioxidants. The unique molecular structure of Ecklonia Cava is active in your system for up to 12 hours, versus the typical plant-based antioxidants which last only 30 – 60 minutes.
Hoodia Gordonii -Hoodia Gordonii contains a molecule, called P57. This molecule fools your brain into believing that you are already full, although you have eaten only little or nothing. This leads to a lower calorie intake and ultimately to weight loss. Here is part of a transcript from 60 Minutes (aired in Nov 2004): So how did it work? Stahl says she had no after effects – no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn’t hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day. “I’d have to say it did work,” says Stahl.
- Leslie Stahl reporting on CBS News 60 Minutes
Caralluma Fimbriata – Caralluma fimbriata is a member of the cactus family. In times of famine in India people would often use caralluma fimbriata as a means of suppressing their appetite so that they would not feel the hunger when they were unable to eat. In recent years many researchers have begun to realize how effective this plant can be to people who are working to lose weight.
Chromium Picolinate – Chromium picolinate works together with insulin produced by the pancreas to metabolize carbohydrates. Chromium picolinate is used as an aid to lowering cholesterol and improving the body’s use of glucose (sugar). It is also commonly touted as a weight-loss supplement.
Green Tea – Clinical studies suggest that green tea extract may boost metabolism and help burn fat. Some researchers speculate that substances in green tea known as polyphenols, specifically the catechins, are responsible for the herb’s fat-burning effect.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid – The natural dietary supplement, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), is said to reduce body fat in people who are overweight. CLA is by no means intended to be a diet miracle drug, but in tandem with dieting and regular exercise it has been shown to have a substantial effect.
L-Tryptophan – L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The body can’t manufacture it. The body has to get tryptophan and other essential amino acids from food. L-Tryptophan helps the body produce the B-vitamin niacin, which, in turn, helps the body produce serotonin, a remarkable chemical that acts as a calming agent in the brain and plays a key role in sleep. Tryptophan may enhance relaxation and sleep, relieves minor premenstrual symptoms, soothes nerves and anxiety, and reduces carbohydrate cravings. Tryptophan is important for the production of serotonin. Serotonin is one of the key brain chemicals involved in regulating mood.
Melatonin – Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain. Melatonin helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of it are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Natural melatonin levels slowly drop with age. Some older adults make very small amounts of it or none at all.
Valerian Root – Valerian root has often been used in alternative medicine for its sedative properties. Research suggests that valerian root has mild sedative and tranquilizing properties – less than prescription sleep medication.
Acai Berry -Acai is a natural energy booster with a high content of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids.
FREE SAMPLES
New products have recently been released which use various combinations of these and other natural ingredients and mix them in an Aloe Vera juice base. Some research studies demonstrate increased bioavailability of vitamins and other nutritional supplements when taken with Aloe Vera. The company, U.S. Aloe, is so sure their product will help, they offer free samples. If you believe in natural alternatives, they are worth a try.
By Rod Taverna