Category: Natural Health

The Traditional Naturopath Podcast – 72 – (07/28/21)
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Show Notes:
Dr. Bill shares a simple, easy to follow immune booster protocol, and discusses it in relation to his personal experience with Covid-19. (Jul 28, 2021)

I have had some friends ask what I would recommend as a simple immune booster protocol. Keep in mind, this is simply what I take, I am not directly recommending it, consult with YOUR healthcare provider However, I was taking this for months before I got infected with Covid-19, and, in my specific case, I had only a mild fever, loss of taste, loss of smell, and felt lethargic for a week or so, and since then have been fine. No breathing issues at any time… actually, a very mild reaction.

Here it is:

29 mg of Zinc
800 mg of Quercetin
120 mg Vitamin C
590 mg Elderberry
10,000 iu (250 mcg) of Vitamin D3

This can be done with these three supplements, all available on Amazon, take as directed on the bottles – daily:

Puritan’s Pride Mega-Potency Vitamin D3
Sambucus Elderberry Capsules with Zinc & Vitamin C
Zinc Quercetin 120 Vegetarian Capsules

(By the way, I get no revenue from Amazon, these are NOT affiliate links, it is simply what I use, and where I get them.)

Once again, we see that dietary changes and proper foods greatly influence our health!

Study finds that consuming more edible mushrooms lowers cancer risk

(Natural News) “Many people, especially those following a vegan diet, usually consume edible mushrooms to fulfill their bodies’ protein needs. However, a study from March 2021 found another benefit of including mushrooms in the daily diet. A team of scientists discovered that consuming more mushrooms is associated with a lower risk of cancer.

Researchers from the Pennsylvania State University and Penn State College of Medicine examined published studies regarding mushroom intake and cancer risk from January 1966 up to October 2020. They identified 17 relevant research papers from MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science involving more than 19,500 cancer patients. Their systematic review and meta-analysis was subsequently published in Advances in Nutrition in March 2021.

The team found that people who ate 18 grams of mushrooms every day – about 1/8 to 1/4 cup – had a 45 percent lower chance of developing cancer compared to those who did not. Further scrutiny revealed that of the specific cancers examined, people who ate mushrooms had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer.

Study author and professor John Richie remarked: “Overall, these findings provide important evidence for the protective effects of mushrooms against cancer. Moving forward, this research could be helpful in further exploring the protective effect of mushrooms against cancer.” He added that “future studies are needed to better pinpoint the mechanisms involved and specific cancers that may be impacted [by mushroom consumption.]”

The paper mentioned that mushrooms are rich in bioactive compound and micronutrients, making them an integral part of a healthy diet. Some of the important substances they contain include fiber, polysaccharides, selenium and other vitamins. Mushrooms also contain two crucial sulfur antioxidants – glutathione and ergothioneine. Scientists have pointed to these two compounds as having important roles in promoting healthy aging and preventing chronic diseases.”

Sources:
https://academic.oup.com/advances/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/advances/nmab015/6174025

Drinking enough water does SO much toward promoting overall health. We want to maintain homeostasis in our bodies, and being properly hydrated helps!

12 Simple Ways to Drink More Water

Healthline – By: SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD – “Your body is about 70% water, and drinking enough of it is vital for optimal health.

Water plays many roles in your body, including maintaining electrolyte balance and blood pressure, lubricating joints, regulating body temperature, and promoting cell health.

While everyone knows that it’s important to stay hydrated, doing so can be difficult at times.

Here are 12 simple ways to drink more water.

1. Understand your fluid needs
Before you decide to drink more water, you have to understand your body’s fluid needs.

A common recommendation for daily water intake is 64 ounces (1,920 ml), or 8 cups, but this is not based on science.

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) recommends that men consume 125 ounces (3,700 ml) and women about 90 ounces (2,700 ml) of fluid per day, including the fluid from water, other drinks, and foods.

However, NAM acknowledges that it isn’t ideal to make broad recommendations about fluid needs, as they depend on your activity level, location, health status, and more.

For most, simply drinking to quench your thirst will ensure you meet your fluid needs. Yet, you may need more fluid if you exercise regularly, work outside, or live in a hot climate.

2. Set a daily goal
Setting a daily water intake goal can help you drink more water.

Simply the act of setting a goal can be motivating and make you more likely to make positive changes that last.

To be effective, goals should be SMART, which is an acronym for the following criteria:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound

For example, one SMART water-consumption goal might be to drink 32 ounces (960 ml) of water per day.

It can also help to record your progress, which can keep you motivated to achieve your goal — and make it a habit.

3. Keep a reusable water bottle with you
Keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day can help you drink more water.

When you have a reusable water bottle, you can easily drink water in any setting, whether you’re running errands, traveling, or at home, work, or school.

Keeping a water bottle handy can also serve as a visual reminder to drink more water. If you see the bottle on your desk or table, you will constantly be reminded to drink more.

Plus, it’s better for the environment than relying on single-use plastic water bottles.

4. Set reminders
You can also set reminders to drink more water using an app or the alarm on your smartphone or smartwatch.

For example, try setting a reminder to take a few sips of water every 30 minutes, or set a reminder to finish drinking your current glass of water and refill it every hour.

These reminders can help you increase your water intake, especially if you struggle with being forgetful or too busy to drink.

5. Replace other drinks with water
One way to drink more water — and boost your health and reduce your calorie intake — is to replace other drinks, such as soda and sports drinks, with water.

These drinks are often full of added sugars, which can be extremely detrimental to your health.

For optimal health, limit your added sugar intake to less than 5% of your calorie intake. Just one 8-ounce (240 ml) cup of soda per day can exceed this limit.

Diets high in added sugars have been linked to obesity and other conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Furthermore, replacing these sugary drinks with water is an easy and cheap way to cut calories, potentially helping you lose weight.

6. Drink one glass of water before each meal
Another simple way to increase your water intake is to make a habit of drinking one glass of water before each meal.

If you eat 3 meals per day, this adds an extra 3 cups (720 ml) to your daily water intake.

Moreover, sometimes your body may mistake feelings of thirst for hunger. Drinking a glass of water before eating can help you discern whether you are feeling true hunger.

What’s more, if you’re trying to lose weight, drinking a glass of water may help you eat fewer calories at the following meal.

7. Get a water filter
In America, most tap water is safe to drink. However, if you have concerns about the quality or safety of your tap water, consider purchasing a water filter.

There is a filter for almost every budget, from costly whole-home water filtration systems to inexpensive water-filtering pitchers.

In addition, filtering your water could improve the taste.

Point-of-use water filters, such as water-filtering pitchers or filters that attach directly to a faucet, can reduce levels of waterborne bacteria, lead, and arsenic in contaminated tap water to safe levels.

Using a water filter is also less expensive and more eco-friendly than purchasing bottled water, which is oftentimes no different than tap water.

8. Flavor your water
If you dislike the flavor of water, or just need a bit of flavor to help you drink more, you have many choices.

Using an inexpensive fruit-infuser water bottle is one healthy option.

Popular fruit combinations to use in an infuser bottle are cucumber-lime, lemon, and strawberry-kiwi. Although, you can use any combination of fruits that suits your taste.

You can also purchase water enhancers in powder or liquid form to add to your water, but be aware that many of these products contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, or other additives that may harm your health.

9. Drink one glass of water per hour at work
If you work a standard 8-hour workday, drinking a glass of water each hour you’re at work adds up to 8 cups (1,920 ml) to your daily water intake.

Fill up your cup as soon as you get to work, and at the top of every hour, simply drink the remaining water and refill.

This method will keep your water intake consistent throughout your workday.

10. Sip throughout the day
Sipping on water consistently throughout the day is another easy way to help you meet your fluid goals.

Reaching for a sip of water consistently during your day will keep your mouth from getting dry and may even help keep your breath fresher.

Keep a glass of water or a reusable bottle nearby and within your line of sight for a constant visual reminder to take a sip.

11. Eat more foods high in water
One simple way to get more water is to eat more foods that are high in water.

Fruits and vegetables that are particularly high in water include:

Lettuce: 96% water
Celery: 95% water
Zucchini: 95% water
Cabbage: 92% water
Watermelon: 91% water
Cantaloupe: 90% water
Honeydew melon: 90% water

In addition to their high fluid content, these fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote your overall health.

12. Drink one glass of water when you wake up and before bed
An easy way to boost your water intake is to simply drink one glass when you wake up and another before you go to bed.

A glass of cold water in the morning may help wake you up and boost your alertness.

Plus, drinking water before bed can keep you from waking up with a dry mouth and bad breath.

The bottom line: Adequate water intake is essential to good health.

The National Academy of Medicine estimates that most people need 90–125 ounces (2,700–3,700 ml) of fluid per day, including fluid from water, other beverages, and food.

However, it can be difficult to drink water habitually, especially if you are busy, regularly forget to drink, or dislike the taste of water.

Choosing from these 12 simple tips can help you boost your daily water intake.”

Ginger Turmeric Tea has a number of health benefits. This article by Melissa Smith goes into some of the benefits, and how you can make your own!

Why you should drink more ginger turmeric tea: Facts, benefits

Natural News – By: Melissa Smith – “Ginger and turmeric are known as great herbal remedies on their own, but they make an even more impressive remedy when combined to make tea.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant that is used throughout the world as a fragrant and flavorful spice and as an herbal remedy. On the other hand, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a leafy perennial plant that actually belongs to the ginger family. Its leaves are used to flavor food in some cuisines, but it’s the rhizomes that provide the popular yellow spice. This deep orange-gold spice is also used in both cooking and medicine. Individually, these herbs pack an impressive nutritional punch, but combining them into an herbal tea amplifies their health benefits, which include:

Manganese – Ginger turmeric tea provides manganese. This essential mineral plays a role in many bodily functions. It supports bone health, fights inflammation, regulates blood sugar, and helps in nutrient metabolism, such as protein digestion and utilization. Manganese is also involved in regulating cholesterol and carbohydrates, as well as skin integrity – protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) light damage and oxygen-related damage.

Iron – This herbal tea is a good source of your daily iron needs. Iron plays an important role in helping the blood transport oxygen throughout the body. It also keeps your skin, hair, and nails healthy. Iron helps treat anemia, which occurs when the hemoglobin count is low. Iron is responsible for forming hemoglobin, a red protein whose main function is to transport oxygen in the blood. Hemoglobin also provides oxygen to damaged cells, tissues, and organs, which makes iron important for boosting immunity and promoting healing and recovery. Iron also helps reduce fatigue, as iron deficiency reduces energy levels.

Fighting inflammation – Ginger turmeric tea is considered an anti-inflammatory drink. Many cultures around the world use ginger and turmeric as a general anti-inflammatory for the joints and muscles. This herbal tea may reduce the symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Studies report that curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, can prevent joint inflammation, relieve pain, and improve function in knee osteoarthritis, as well as reduce joint pain and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Likewise, ginger is reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. In a 2012 study, researchers examined the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger extract on people with rheumatoid arthritis. They found that the herb treated inflammation as effectively as steroids did. Other studies also report that ginger effectively reduced pain caused by hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Lowering blood sugar – This herbal tea helps in regulating blood sugar levels. One Chinese study revealed that curcumin promotes insulin production and improves insulin sensitivity – both of which are beneficial for people with diabetes.

Warding off cancer – Ginger turmeric tea can lower your risk of cancer. Researchers at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia found that ginger and turmeric can prevent cancer and tumor growth. In addition, researchers at the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre in India found that ginger turmeric tea contains compounds like vallinoids, zingerone, shogaols, gingerols, and paradols that all protect against cancer. Additionally, researchers at the University of Michigan found some evidence that ginger may protect against ovarian cancer.

Improving digestion – Drinking ginger turmeric is good for digestion. Ginger provides a soothing effect on the muscles of your stomach and eases digestion, while the curcumin in turmeric stimulates bile production in the gall bladder, which can help in digestion. Both herbs also relieve upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.

Making ginger turmeric tea
There are many ways to make ginger turmeric tea. To make a basic turmeric ginger tea, heat a cup of water to a boil then slowly stir in 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric and 1 teaspoon of grated ginger. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add honey to sweeten the tea.

You can also make a creamy ginger turmeric tea. In a container, mix 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric and 1 teaspoon of grated ginger. Then, heat one cup of almond milk, but be careful not to bring it to a boil. Stir regularly as you’re heating it. Then, pour a small amount of the heated milk into the spice mixture and stir. When the consistency is smooth, pour the remaining heated almond milk, stir and enjoy.”

This is simple to make, and it won’t adversely effect your health, like some of the commercial varieties!

Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
Lemon eucalyptus oil contains trace amounts of citronellal and p-menthane 3.8-diol. These are odors that mosquitoes do not like to be around. However, one application will not be enough to last the whole night, especially if you are outdoors enjoying good friends, good food, and a good bottle of red wine.

You Will Need:

• 10 ml of lemon eucalyptus oil
• 90 ml of the carrier oil of your choice (like jojoba or sweet almond oil)

A jar with a lid to blend the oils and store the mixture – you can use coconut oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, witch hazel, or even olive oil (I do not recommend the last one if you do not enjoy olive oil as it has a very strong odor that can be overwhelming).

To make the mixture:
Take a 100 ml bottle or jar and pour in 10 ml of lemon eucalyptus oil
Add 90 ml of your carrier oil to the bottle or jar
Put the lid on and shake the mixture gently to combine the oils or use a spoon to stir the mixture properly.
Note: I squeeze a mandarin, orange, lemon, or lime into mine for an extra pleasant smell. This mixture can last for up to a month.

To apply:
Apply the oil to any part of your body that is exposed to the elements (like your arms, neck, face, and legs). If you find that as the day or night progresses mosquitoes are becoming interested in you again, simply reapply the mixture to your skin.

The Traditional Naturopath Podcast – 69 – (10/26/20)
Click on the “Play” button (the triangle pointing to the right) below to play it as Streaming Audio.

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Show Notes:
Are you being driven by fear? What are the physical changes that occur in your body when you live in fear?

I need to mention this more often! Follow me on Twitter to get hints, tips, and natural health insights! I am at: https://twitter.com/DrBillTN

Water is critical to your body! A large percentage of your body is made up of water, and most Americans are sadly dehydrated!

8 Fun Ways To Drink More Water If You Hate Water

Vitamin Shoppe – by Cassie Shortsleeve – “Water is a life necessity, there’s no way around it. Up to 60 percent of our bodies are made of H20, after all. But let’s be real: Drinking plain water day after day can be downright boring.

That could be part of the reason why up to 75 percent of the U.S. population is chronically dehydrated, according to Medical Daily. Fortunately, there are fun ways to stay hydrated, and you can start with these eight.

1. Carry An Inspiring Bottle
blender_bottlesThe market is flooded with water bottles for every personality. Picking one up will only set you back a few bucks, and carrying around a bottle that perfectly matches your mood or outfit will motivate you to drink up.

2. Add A Splash Of Juice
A glass of 100 percent fruit juice can be sky-high in sugar, sure—but a splash can easily sweeten water naturally, says Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet.

Your go-to recipe: Mix a quarter cup of your favorite citrus juice (think: orange, grapefruit, or unsweetened lemonade), and add three-fourths cup of water. Voilà! You’ll get a nutritional boost, too, says Gans: ‘The citrus provides your body with vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, which may help to strengthen your immune system.’

3. …Better Yet: Infuse The Fruit Itself
Not a fruit juice fan? No biggie. Stick with the fruit itself. Add fresh slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, orange, strawberry, or watermelon to a jug of water and refrigerate, suggests Gans.

If you want, throw in an herb like mint, which (added bonus!) works to soothe your stomach in the case of indigestion, she notes. Pro tip: Pick up a decadent glass dispenser to showcase your infusions. Who doesn’t want to sip water when your beverage is worthy of a Pinterest board?

4. Get Creative With Cubes
Fresh fruits and vegetable.Upgrade your glass by making it tasty, nutritious, and good-looking. How so? Fancy ice cubes!

To create your next-level cubes, start with pairing fruits and herbs like cucumbers and basil, lime and mint, or lemon and honey. Chop your ingredients into very small pieces, sprinkle them into your ice cube compartments, and fill with water. When chilled, serve with a glass of water or seltzer (while looking at just how awesome your creation turned out!).

For a healthy-gut boost, mix with Ultimate Flora Probiotic Fizzy Drink Mix in Raspberry Lemonade.

5. Add A Healthy Mix-In
You can’t go wrong with a drink that packs a nutritional punch and is bursting with flavor. Add an immune-boosting Vitamin C pack, or a protein (like Clean Protein – Unicorn Milk, especially within 30 minutes of your workout) to your water to reap extra benefits. Or, go for BodyTech’s Aminos, which are designed to help your body recover post-workout. Need a dose of energy? Garden of Life’s Organic Plant-Based Energy + Focus is a great-tasting (and totally clean) way to help get your body and mind into gear.

6. Go Ginger
Tea in white cup with ginger, lemon, cinnamon and honeyFile this one under ‘who knew?’: ‘A little amount of ginger can make a simple glass of water full of flavor,’ says Gans. To boot, it comes with a whole host of health benefits.

According to Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects, ginger offers up antioxidants to support the immune system, while it also promotes digestive health. To get in on those benefits, cut a two-inch slab of ginger and add to your water. For a warmer concoction, add a bit of warm water, a slice of lemon, and a spoonful of raw honey to the ginger-y mix.

7. Add Some Bubbles
Water haters might want to consider a machine like a SodaStream, which can covert a bottle of plain ol’ H20 to bubbles in seconds. While seltzer water (even unflavored) is a bit more acidic than regular water, most of us won’t see any teeth issues from sipping the sudsy stuff. And if you pop a couple strawberries, cucumbers, or lemon slices into the mix, you’ll have an updated, delicious beverage.

8. Don’t Drink, Eat!
The beauty of hydration is that you don’t have to always be drinking to achieve it. According to Nutrition Review, plenty of fruits and vegetables (think: cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, lettuce, cabbage, celery, spinach, pickles, and cooked squash) are found to be made up of 90 to 99 percent water.

You generally need about 64 ounces (or 1900 milliliters) of agua per day, so if you’re not interested in drinking it all, consider the water content of these fruits and veggies: A medium cucumber offers about 194 ml, a slice of watermelon contains about 147 ml, and a medium tomato offers about 119 ml. Since these are pretty widely available foods, it’s easy to get a lot of your water you need from the foods you’re probably already eating.

In the end, you’ll need to nosh on about two slices of watermelon or a medium-sized cucumber and a tomato (which is probably already in your salad!) to get a little more than eight ounces (or one glass) of water.”