DETOX DIET: Cleanse Your Body

Everyday each one of us is exposed to all kinds of toxins and harmful substances that could be aggravating to our health.

Toxins are in the foods we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe – practically everywhere. Toxins can include perfume, cigarette smoke, pesticides, alcohol, mercury, oral contraceptives, food additives, and cleaning supplies.

So if these toxins are everywhere around us, how do we get rid of them and keep ourselves healthy?

The answer apparently lies in a detox diet.

What is detox?

You can rest assured that when someone says anything toxic is bad for you, it is true. The word detoxification, or simply detox, refers to the natural, ongoing process of neutralizing and eliminating potentially harmful compounds, called toxins, from the body.

By adopting a detox diet of natural foods, veggies, and lots of water, you can help your body cleanse itself of toxins, which are the number one cause of diseases and illnesses.

Now, you might have heard of experts saying that your body does not need any help detoxifying itself. After all, the body comes complete with all the essential faculties to perform that function. But while this is true, it is also true that we ingest an enormous number of chemicals daily through, food, water, and the environment.

These chemicals can accumulate in our bodily organs, preventing them from functioning properly and leaving us vulnerable to sickness. The toxic burden or the buildup can overwhelm the natural capacity of the body to detoxify and may lead to hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiency, and inefficient metabolism.

At first, the signs are not easily noticeable. It could be something as subtle as fatigue or poor skin, which you may attribute to too much coffee but too little sleep. Over time, there may be pain and then diseases set in.

Cleanse Your Body the Natural Way

The ultimate goal of detox diet is to promote the excretion of stored toxins through the organs of elimination: the skin, intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys, and the lymphatic system.
As a type of diet, it calls for a change in consumption habits in an effort to detoxify the body by removing toxins and other contaminants. In so doing, you improve your health, energy, resistance to disease, mental state, and digestion on top of aiding you in weight loss.

There are several methods used to modify the diet for the purpose of detoxification. These methods include:

• Fasting – includes water fasting and juice fasting

• Increased consumption of fish such as salmon

• Combining foods

• Restricting calorie intake

• Herbal detox


In any of these methods, the emphasis is on fruits and vegetables which ought to compose a majority of your food intake. On top of that, you are also usually limited to unprocessed and non-GM (Genetically Modified) foods.

Fruits and vegetables are known to contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are substances found only in plants and can help fight against disease-causing free radicals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the vitamins A, C, and E are actually forms of antioxidants that are vital for health.

For years now, scientists have touted antioxidants as the answer to all sorts of diseases, even aging. From preventing heart disease to slowing down degenerative diseases, to stopping cancer, to reducing blood pressure – you name it and everything points right back to antioxidants.

The human body is incapable of producing its own concentration of antioxidants. For this reason, we depend solely on our diet in order to get the store of antioxidants we need to combat diseases. Antioxidants protect the body from harmful, excess free radicals, sweeping them up before they can cause damage.

The best way to lay an antioxidant-rich foundation that’s inhospitable to toxins and free radicals is through a combination of whole foods. With antioxidant supplements still far from the high expectations of the scientific community, you can in the meantime turn to the more reliable source of these helpful compounds, which are antioxidant foods. A detox diet is a way for you to cleanse your body of toxins by consuming lots of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.

Before You Start

Before you decide to go on a detox diet, it is important that you consult your nutritionist or dietician first. He or she can advise you on what methods of detox best suit you.

Moreover, it could be that the symptoms you believe to be a result of toxins in your body, such as fatigue or sleepiness, could be signs of a more serious underlying illness.

A detox diet will not be able to cure any illness or disease you might be suffering and may even serve to aggravate your condition because of the nutrition change that is likely to result from the diet.

The Detox Diet Plan

After consulting your doctor or nutritionist and getting his or her advice on what detox diet method to take, it is time for you to get really started. But first, a little background information and some precautions won’t hurt.

That said, here is a list of foods that are allowed while on a detox diet:

• Fresh Fruits

Emphasis should be on fresh. Avoid processed fruits, even fruit juices, as these may also contain chemicals and other artificial substances.

There is virtually no limit to the fresh fruits you can enjoy. The only exception is grapefruit which contains a compound, called naringin, that can significantly inhibit liver detox enzymes. Instead, eat a lot of berries, such as strawberries and cranberry, as these contain high amounts of antioxidants.

• Fresh Vegetables

Again, make sure that these are fresh and, as much as possible, non-GM. All fresh vegetables are to be enjoyed, except for corn which can be an allergenic food. Broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, red and green vegetables are good detox foods.

• Rice

Most people have no problem digesting rice. Select brown or basmati rice. You may also indulge in the occasional rice cakes, rice crackers, and rice pasta.

• Other Grains

If you are concerned about the high carbohydrate content of rice, you may try other grains. Quinoa, amaranth, millet, and buckwheat are good substitutes. You can find them at any health food store.

• Beans

Beans are highly recommended. In a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 100 foods were measured for antioxidant levels and found that beans occupy the top spot in the vegetable category.

Try split yellow and green peas and lentils, which are easy to digest and require less soaking time. You may also try kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, garbanzo beans (otherwise known as chickpeas) and adzuki beans.

• Nuts and Seeds

Sprinkle nuts, seeds, and nut butters over meals for added flavor. Make sure, however, that the nuts are fresh and unsalted. Your choices include flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Peanuts should be avoided.

• Fish

There has been criticism to the consumption of fish in a detox diet since, according to experts, fish meat contains several substances that may be considered as toxic. However, fish also contains several minerals and nutrients that are good for the liver, the primary detoxifying organ of the body. Therefore, it is not so much as avoiding fish altogether but enjoying it moderation.

• Oil

Recommended: extra virgin olive oil.

• Condiments

This includes vegetable salt, sea salt, vinegar, naturally fermented soy sauce or tamari. Also culinary herbs or spices and limited amounts of honey.

• Herbal Tea

Non-caffeinated herbal teas. Green tea, although it contains caffeine, is allowed. Black tea, oolong, and red tea are discouraged.

• Other Beverages

Water, lemon water, 100% natural fruit and vegetable juices, rice milk.


In addition to choosing from the above food list, it is also important that you observe the following detox practices:

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.

• Dilute fruit juices with water.

• You should enjoy each meal. Don’t eat too fast. Take your time chewing the food thoroughly.


As for foods to avoid, take note of the following:

• Sugar

Avoid artificial sweeteners and refined sugars, including mixtures containing any of either – sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup, brown sugar, and turbinado.

• Dairy Products

This includes milk, eggs, butter, and cheese.

• Wheat

Wheat and products containing wheat.

• Gluten

A type of protein found in a few grains, including barley, oats, rye, spelt, and kamut. Some people are sensitive to gluten. If you are one of these people, then avoid gluten and all gluten-containing foods.

• Corn

Corn and all corn products.

• Caffeine

Avoid beverages that contain caffeine, including coffee and black tea. For coffee, both regular and decaffeinated are highly discouraged. Green tea, however, is allowed and should be enjoyed as an alternative to coffee.

• Other Foods to Avoid

Includes yeast, alcohol, food additives and preservatives, chocolate, and high fat foods.



A detox diet is a lifetime diet. It is unlike other diets where the whole regimen lasts only for a few weeks. You are constantly exposed to all kinds of toxins as you carry about your daily routine. In order to keep yourself healthy and protect yourself against the harmful effects of toxins, you have to maintain a diet that is not only free of toxins but can also help you get rid of those toxins that you inevitably take in.

Vaginal Pain

It’s a little known fact but most women, at least 75% will experience a yeast infection at least once in their lifetimes, and most will experience recurrent yeast infections. If you suffer from a yeast infection then you know that vaginal pain can be one of the symptoms.

Other symptoms besides vaginal pain include vaginal itching, a burning sensation, a rash, soreness of the vagina, redness around the affected area, and sometimes even a slight swelling in or around the vagina.

These are all common symptoms of yeast infections, and you might experience some of them, all of them, or none of them. This depends to a great extent on your present overall health, your susceptibility towards the yeast infection and the severity of the yeast infection.

Vaginal pain can also herald pain when urinating and pain during sexual intercourse. If your vaginal pain is severe in either of these cases, you should consult with your doctor immediately to see what relief might be available to you.

You should be aware also that some people have adverse reactions to medications like Monistat which are used to treat yeast infections. A lot of people have no reactions but it has been reported that some people might experience vaginal pain or a burning sensation.

In fact continued use of these drugs if you experience such a reaction can make your vaginal pain worse. As an alternative you have the choice of using herbal remedies to treat your vaginal pain but you should do so only if you’re certain you want to, and if you’re not taking any other medications.

If you are taking other medication for either a yeast infection or other medical conditions you should ideally check with your physician to ascertain whether your remedies will react with each other.

In most cases the remedies are harmless and are the product of common sense, but it always pays to be cautious. For instance remedies utilizing such things as yogurt or garlic are fairly harmless unless you’re allergic to any of these.

You can include these in your daily diet to help get rid of vaginal pain, but if you’re seeking immediate relief you can smear your vagina with unsweetened yogurt to dull the vaginal pain.

Or you also have the option of using a peeled garlic clove wrapped in gauze and tied with a length of unwaxed dental floss. You then insert this into your vagina like a tampon with a piece of the dental floss dangling to be able to pull out the gauze.

And if these don’t work you could always try using a vinegar douche to rid you of your vaginal pain. Douching isn’t normally recommended, but in the case if yeast infections, it can be beneficial if used properly.

You’ll want to use 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to 1 quart of water for the vinegar douche. These are all viable methods for dealing with vaginal pain, and yeast infections.

Rocky Balboa Movie Review

Hey,

today I received this review by Matt:

Yesterday afternoon I went to see Rocky Balboa with
my wife and son. It is the sixth movie in the Rocky series,
and apparently, the last.

I took my son so he could see the training scenes as well
as the fight. Although he's only six, he's already showing
great interest in sports and physical training - and this is
not due to me pushing him or shoving the idea down his
throat.

For example, I rarely watch professional football, baseball or
basketball anymore. A lot of times the Super Bowl and World
Series don't even interest me. I wasn't this way when I was
a youngin - but I am now.

Yet, despite the lack of interest in most sports today, my son
is a fanatic. He watches football every Sunday - knows every
team - even called me when I was in China - at 5:30 a.m. - to
let me know that the Colts lost yet again.

We were recently given tickets to see the Bucs play in their final
game this year, and the boy is ecstatic.

Anyway, I figured Rocky Balboa would be a great movie for Frank;
especially in terms of motivation; of not giving up when life whacks
you.

10 minutes into the movie, however, Frank is asking, "Daddy, when are
they going to fight?"

Five minutes later he is lying sideways in his chair ... sleeping. Don't blame
him.

He did, however wake up before the training began, and the boxing match - and
he got very excited. I did, too, in spite of the fact that Rocky's training regime, for
the most part, was absolutely the worst imaginable fitness program for a 60-year
old former champion to follow.

The uphill sprints were great. So were the sprints up stairs. Punching the heavy bag
was spot on - and slugging the frozen cattle carcass was perfect.

Other than that, though, with the exception of some pushups - most of the training
involved Rocky doing heavy barbell squats, heavy bench presses, power cleans,
the clean and jerk, and so on. It was riveting. It was exciting to watch. But it is the
wrong way to train for boxing. It most assuredly is the wrong way to train for a
man in his 50's and 60's.

Stallone gets away with it, it appears, yet the varicose veins in his shoulder and pecs,
a rare sight on any man, and certainly something you never see on a man who trains
with his own bodyweight, make me wonder what price he is paying in pain to appear
"fit."

I admire the fact that Stallone has kept himself lean and mean - but I also know the
influence on training behavior a movie like this can have, and in my opinion, it's
sending the wrong message.

In a couple shots Rocky was using a kettlebell, and I thought that was pretty cool even
though I'm not a big fan of them. They're definitely a better choice than heavy barbells.

What was funny to me was how Rocky's trainer told him that he couldn't spar because
of all the calcium deposits and arthritis in his joints, he couldn't do road work because
he had bad knees - then you see Rocky running and lifting heavy weights. Since when
does someone with calcium deposits and arthritis train with heavy barbells?

Dumb.

In spite of the above, overall I liked the movie and give it a thumbs up. So does my
wife. The fight scene at the end was awesome - kept my pupils enlarged the whole
time.

Even though Frank snoozed through part of it, he liked it too. Evenso, I think he's much
more into Star Wars, Sponge Bob and Eragon.

Very Good Matt!

Here is the Movie Trailer:

Yeast Infection Cure

For a yeast infection cure you have no further to look than your physician, your pharmacy, or your fridge. All three of these sources can hold just what you need for a great yeast infection cure.

If we take our sources one by one, your physician has the ability to give you prescription medications which can potentially a yeast infection cure for you. For instance, the prescription drug Diflucan uses only one dosage and is supposed to be a particularly effective yeast infection cure.

Other prescription yeast infection cures include Terazol and Gynazole, both of which are vaginal creams, and also Mycostatin which comes in the form of vaginal tablets or vaginal suppositories.

All of these have side effects which you should be aware of when taking them, as do the next set of potential yeast infection cure, the over-the-counter variety.

Up until the very early part of the twenty first century it is shameful to admit but there were no over the counter remedies available as a yeast infection cure. On the contrary, if a woman had a yeast infection she had to visit her doctor to get proper medical attention and to receive a yeast infection cure.

So although the offerings in this department are still woefully meager, they are nonetheless there and available to anyone who doesn’t wish to advertise to the world, or their doctor, that they have a yeast infection.

Although it is best if you get a proper checkup for your yeast infection it can’t be denied that with the availability of these creams a new world has opened up, and women can now treat such a simple problem without any attendant fuss or hoopla.

All the available over-the-counter yeast infection cures work along the same principles as the prescription yeast infection cure, and most of them come in cream form, or suppository form. The more familiar brands include Monistat, Femstat, and Vagistat.

Moving on next to the natural cures and remedies section, you will find that the number of alternative yeast infection cure methods are too numerous to do more than give an honorable mention here.

To that end only a few of the well known natural yeast infection cure methods have been mentioned. To begin with we’ll start off with everyone’s favorite the yogurt yeast infection cure. It can be messy in the extreme to have to apply yogurt to the vagina, but it turns out that it is well worth the effort.

Another natural yeast infection cure that is well known and used is that of the garlic cure. Being one of the wonder herbs of the world, garlic is good for many an ailment and is a particularly effective yeast infection cure, especially when used as a suppository.

Next up you have apple cider vinegar, cranberries, oregano, cinnamon, curd, Tea Tree oil, lemon, lime, and Vitamin C. All of these can be used as an effective yeast infection cure and all of them work.

Take It from Albert Einstein: 5 Ways to Harness Your Creative Mind

From Albert Einstein are these Wellness or Fitness Tips: 5 Ways to Harness Your Creative Mind!

Believe it or not, it is easy to be a genius even if you think you are not born one!

Harness your own creative mind to be able to manage your own future.

The following are five strategies to be able to think in a productive manner. These will result to creative solutions.

Take note that these mentioned strategies are used by the same geniuses in the various fields such as art, science, etc.

Look at new ways to solve problems
The great artist, Leonardo da Vinci has always believed that in order to acquire knowledge on a particular problem, you should restructure that problem in various ways.

In doing so, new and unique perspectives can be discovered. He also admitted that the first time he sees a problem he normally has his own biases. It is by looking at it from different points of view that the problem is then restated and a solution can be discovered.

Visualize, visualize, visualize
Einstein has always used diagrams in order to restate the problem and look at it in various ways.

He then proceeds to visualize the solutions. He maintains the thought that numbers and words are irrelevant in the process of thinking.

Productivity is the key
It has been said that one is considered a genius if he can produce many things. This has been proven by Edison who was able to come up with more than a thousand patents.

He became productive by setting a quota of ideas for his assistants, as well as, for himself.

According to Dean Keith from UC Davis, respected scientists in history were able to produce many great works, as well as, a lot of bad ones.

They do not fear failure. They are not ashamed of mediocre works for in their minds, these are needed in order for their discoveries to evolve to excellence.

Combine, recombine, mix, remixTry to make unique combinations. As much as possible, recombine, combine images and ideas into various forms and mixes even if these appear unusual at first.

Believe it or not, the heredity law was actually formulated by a monk in Austria called Gregor Mendel who was able to combine a multi- disciplinary approach to create a new kind of science.

Make and form connections and relationships
Observe how da Vinci was able to formulate the idea that sounds actually travel in waves. He was able to come up with this theory by observing the ripples when a stone hits water.

The Morse Code was formulated by a man named Samuel Morse after watching the station relays of horses, after which he thought of telegraphic signals and relay stations.

All in all, it does not take too much to be able to think like a genius. One just needs an open mind and the ability to accept ambiguity. It is important to be accepting and open to new chances or opportunities. Also, analyze the problem and try not to ask yourself why you have failed. Instead, restate the problem and work from there.

Who knows, this could lead to a better, if not the best alternative, solution to a problem.

Slippery Sleep: How to Cure Extreme Insomnia

Did you know that one out of eight people suffer from insomnia or the inability to sleep?

Sleep – along with air, water, food, love, and sex – is a necessity to man. Yet despite this, some people stay wide-awake with the owls way beyond midnight.

Scientists say it is caused by stress, depression, anxiety, medication side effects, or simply a person's poor habits. Whatever it may be, insomnia can be frustrating. The feeling of frustration adds to the stress that one feels and can consequently make it worse.

If you find that sleep eludes you no matter how hard you try; here are some interesting ways to combat wakefulness:

1) Bore Yourself
Watch boring DVDs: The film selection is subjective, but many people have found their much needed ZZZs after watching the likes of Battlefield Earth, The Hours, Eyes Wide Shut, and Finding Forrester. You can disagree to this lineup, of course.

Get your old statistics books and relive the lullaby lectures. However, if you happen to come from Dilton Doiley's peer group and this activity excites you, try watching The Hours again.

Call your most boring friend and let him or her do the work. Politely say goodbye (and 'thank you'!) minutes before you actually doze off; or else, you might lose your most boring friend to call next time.

Practice your penmanship. Write your name repeatedly until you get tired.

2) Relax!
Drink a glass of warm milk or herbal tea.

Wiggle your toes. Reflexology says that your feet similar to a control panel for the rest of your body. Channels of energy end up in the feet and every part of the body is connected with these stinky friends. When you wiggle your toes, you stimulate your body, as it allows energy to flow freely and smoothly. So, wiggle your worries away!

Rub your tummy. This soothes the digestive system, relaxing your body eventually. Sleep facing downward and with your hand on your abs (or flabs). Start with small circles.

3) Position It Right
Sleep with your head facing north. This aligns your body with the magnetic forces of the Earth, which brings your energies into harmony. This sounds odd, but there's no harm in trying.

4) Get the Right Mindset
Count the sheep. From Ernie and Bert to your great grandmother, this has been the classic remedy to falling asleep. However, counting sheep jumping neatly over a fence doesn’t really work for most people. The reason: jumping sheep is exercising sheep and exercise does not exactly induce sleep. Therefore, why not count SLEEPING sheep?

5) Think It's Time to Wake Up
This may sound silly! But, who knows? Reverse psychology just might work!

There are countless and equally weird ways to get your self to doze off. It's just a matter of trial and error and creativity. Find your personal style. Find a sleep buddy to help you.

Of course, nothing beats the idea of having peace of mind. A calm mind and a happy heart are the keys to good and healthy sleep. So, let go of your worries and forgive your enemies. Indeed, having peace of mind can send you easily to dreamland.