Banana diet gives woman better mental clarity, improves her overall health

(NaturalNews) When Yulia Tarbath decided that she needed to give her health a boost, she went to banana island. However, this island wasn't the kind that most people imagine, brimming with beachside hammocks and drinks with cute umbrellas. Rather, "banana island" is a term commonly used to describe the consumption of only one fruit, and no other foods, for a determined length of time. Also known as "mono-fruiting," it's touted by many as a method to detox their way to significantly better health.

Tarbath, who enjoys a high-fruit and low-fat raw vegan lifestyle with her husband, says that any fruit can be used, but bananas are often selected for their ease of eating, nutritional content and affordable cost. Furthermore, she says greens may be added, but suggests also going mono by using only one kind of green such as celery. By following a banana-only diet for 12 days, drinking plenty of water and getting rest and exercise, she saw vast improvements in her physical and emotional well-being.

The benefits of a mono-fruit diet

First, she was aware that her digestion was better and free of any complications. In fact, she didn't even experience any detox symptoms at all! Bananas, which are fiber-rich (one has about 12% of the FDA's recommended daily value of 25 g), are known for their ability to aid in digestion by regulating electrolytes and flushing toxins from the body.

Secondly, she says she felt "calm and peaceful" and "a lot more creative" while enjoying her banana diet. "I experienced tremendous mental clarity and focus," Tarbath says, adding that it was as if "extra time" was given to her. Bananas' levels of potassium and tryptophan are responsible for this feeling, helping with cell communication and maintaining proper oxygen levels in the brain.

With the ability to accomplish more through this heightened focus and increased energy, she explains how she even beat her personal best fitness records.

As if all of this wasn't amazing enough, her skin became softer and shinier.

Eating raw foods and enjoying occasional mono-fruiting has allowed Tarbath to live life to the fullest. Once struggling with candida, hypoglycemia, bad food cravings and severe mood swings, she now finds herself free of such complications, attributing her raw food lifestyle as the reason behind her gradual healing.

She and her husband are now Natural Health and Holistic Nutrition Practitioners, traveling the world to attend raw food festivals and outings. There, they meet with other health-conscious people to share ideas and personal healing stories and reinforce the importance of a healthy diet. Based on their success and enjoyment of this lifestyle, the two created a web site, Rawsomehealthy.com, which outlines the beneficial ways that eating fruits and vegetables can keep people healthy, focused and full of energy.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043460_banana_diet_mental_clarity_overall_health.html#ixzz2q9dN0fH9

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Hospital forces pregnant nurse to be injected with toxic mercury or lose her job

(NaturalNews) Horizon Healthcare Services in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is the latest U.S.-based medical facility to enter the "hall of shame" for its audacious trashing of the Hippocratic Oath. This is after it was reported that hospital administrators there recently fired a pregnant nurse for refusing to get a flu shot.

Dreonna Breton, a 29-year-old mother, says it was just another day at work when hospital officials sent out a notice that all employees would be required to get a flu shot. Concerned about the health of her unborn baby, Dreonna made the conscious decision to not comply with the mandate, which would have subjected her and her child to mercury and a battery of other neurotoxins.

When Horizon officials caught wind of Dreonna's decision, however, they were none too pleased with it. They immediately sent her a notice that she would be fired by December 17 if she did not get the jab by this date. Dreonna proceeded to enlist the support of both her obstetrician and primary care doctor, but even this was not enough.

Dreonna was eventually fired from Horizon for expressing her freedom to make the informed decision not to vaccinate. After suffering through three previous miscarriages, it only made sense for Dreonna to eliminate the risky shot, which numerous studies, including one published earlier this year in the journal Human and Environmental Toxicology, have found greatly increases the risk of fetal death.

"I'm a healthy person. I take care of my body. For me, the potential risk was not worth it," lamented Dreonna to CNN. "I know that the CDC says to get it, and that's fine, but it was our choice to avoid the flu vaccine and the unknowns that come with that. ... I'm not gonna be the one percent of people that has a problem."

Horizon Healthcare Services violating basic human rights by forcing flu shots

Horizon officials not only refused to compromise -- the hospital denied Dreonna's request to wear a protective face mask instead getting a flu shot, an alternative at many other hospitals -- they also refused to accept the expert advice of Dreonna's obstetrician and primary care doctor, both of whom supported her decision to refuse the shot.

Regardless, it is Dreonna's right to decide for herself what to put inside her own body, especially since her unborn child will also be affected by whatever decisions she chooses to make. Informed consent, which also includes the freedom to not consent, is not only a basic human right -- it is the very foundation of health freedom in this country.

"It is a basic human right to be able to make voluntary and informed decisions when considering invasive medical treatments (such as vaccines) which carry risks of injury and death," explains the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network, a Canada-based vaccine information organization.

"The individual's right to personal autonomy, freedom of conscience and religion, and the right to security of the person is inviolable and not subject to the whims of policies spun by medical bureaucrats."

Though she has every right to do so under the law, Dreonna told reporters that she does not intend to sue Horizon for violating her human rights. She is, however, hoping that the hospital will reevaluate its oppressive flu shot policy, which forces individuals to surrender their right to informed consent, not to mention expose themselves to substances that could cause permanent injury or death.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043434_pregnant_nurse_toxic_mercury_forced_vaccination.html#ixzz2q9crTcQD

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Warning: Scented Candles Could be Killing You

By Antonia

Scented candles are marketed to help regulate mood, remove unpleasant household odors and even evoke special memories. However, they may also be killing us.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that compared to unscented candles, ones that give off a “pleasant” odor give off more soot. In fact, research shows that some scented candles’ smoke contains nearly the same amount of toxins as those from cigarettes. Just as startling is a study conducted by Dutch scientists who measured the air particles in churches where candles were burned for nearly nine hours straight. The results? The air in these churches contained 10 times as many free radicals as did the air next to a busy highway.

In addition to scent, the wick can pose a health risk. The EPA also found that candles with a cored wick, made with cotton wrapped around a metal or paper core, release the dirtiest soot which contains zinc, tin, lead and cadmium particles. Unfortunately, these particles can seep deep into our lungs, creating health complications and exacerbating existing ones, especially affecting those with allergies and asthma.

Suddenly that fireside hot chocolate or cotton candy breeze candle doesn’t sound so appealing, does it? While the names and colors of scented candles often seem good enough to eat or even conjure up vacation memories, it’s wise to choose healthier candle options.

Why Some Candles are so Dangerous

Many candles are made primarily with paraffin, which is from petroleum, a nonrenewable source that contains carcinogenic substances. Add fragrance to that, and we’ve got a double whammy. According to a study conducted by the EPA, chemicals in fragrance include ethanol, acetone and benzyl acetate, to name just a few. In fact, when the word “fragrance” appears in anything from scented candles to skin products, it’s thanks to a loophole in which most industries are legally allowed to use the word in lieu of the long list of harmful ones that can cause respiratory failure, kidney damage, central nervous system disorders and headaches.

As if this isn’t bad enough, the manner in which people use candles worsens the situation. Because they are often used for relaxation or ambiance purposes, candles are often lit in smaller spaces like bathrooms or nooks where ventilation is virtually non-existent.

7 Candle Safety Tips

1. Choose unscented candles
2. Select soy candles over paraffin ones. Soy candles are made from soybeans and unlike paraffin, are a renewable, non-toxic source. Not only do they burn cleaner, but they also last significantly longer.
3. Look for wicks with a thin braid, not ones where metal or paper is used for support.
4. Keep wicks trim. When the wick is long, the higher the flame, and the more harmful soot particles are released in the air.
5. Light candles in a well-ventilated room. However, be sure it’s not extremely drafty, since too much draft can create up to 50% more soot.
6. Get to the bottom of the matter. The American Lung Association advises not using scented candles or fragrances to hide odors. Instead, the Association urges people to “Figure out what is causing the odor, then clean that up and ventilate to add fresh air.”
7. Does burning anything in your house not sit well with you? Check out flameless candles. Many look just as realistic as real ones and are safe.

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Four Reasons To Stop Using Antibacterial Soap Now

By Jordan Markuson

Posted Monday, January 6, 2014 at 11:41am EST

Keywords: Chemicals, health, wellness

A few weeks ago, the FDA announced a bold new position on antibacterial soap: Manufacturers have to show that it’s both safe and more effective than simply washing with conventional soap and water, or they have to take it off the shelves in the next few years.

About 75 percent of liquid antibacterial soaps and 30 percent of bars use a chemical called triclosan as an active ingredient. The drug, which was originally used strictly in hospital settings, was adopted by manufacturers of soaps and other home products during the 1990s, eventually ballooning into an industry that’s worth an estimated $1 billion. Apart from soap, we’ve begun putting the chemical in wipes, hand gels, cutting boards, mattress pads and all sorts of home items as we try our best to eradicate any trace of bacteria from our environment.

But triclosan’s use in home over-the-counter products was never fully evaluated by the FDA—incredibly, the agency was ordered to produce a set of guidelines for the use of triclosan in home products way back in 1972, but only published its final draft on December 16 of last year. Their report, the product of decades of research, notes that the costs of antibacterial soaps likely outweigh the benefits, and forces manufacturers to prove otherwise.

Bottom line: Manufacturers have until 2016 to do so, or pull their products from the shelves. But we’re here to tell you that you probably shouldn’t wait that long to stop using antibacterial soaps. Here’s our rundown of five reasons why that’s the case:

1. Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than conventional soap and water. As mentioned in the announcement, 42 years of FDA research—along with countless independent studies—have produced no evidence that triclosan provides any health benefits as compared to old-fashioned soap.

“I suspect there are a lot of consumers who assume that by using an antibacterial soap product, they are protecting themselves from illness, protecting their families,” Sandra Kweder, deputy director of the FDA’s drug center, told the AP. “But we don’t have any evidence that that is really the case over simple soap and water.”

Manufacturers say they do have evidence of triclosan’s superior efficacy, but the disagreement stems from the use of different sorts of testing methods. Tests that strictly measure the number of bacteria on a person’s hands after use do show that soaps with triclosan kill slightly more bacteria than conventional ones.

But the FDA wants data that show that this translates into an actual clinical benefit, such as reduced infection rates. So far, analyses of the health benefits don’t show any evidence that triclosan can reduce the transmission of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. This might be due to the fact that antibacterial soaps specifically target bacteria, but not the viruses that cause the majority of seasonal colds and flus.

2. Antibacterial soaps have the potential to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The reason that the FDA is making manufacturers prove these products’ efficacy is because of a range of possible health risks associated with triclosan, and bacterial resistance is first on the list.

Heavy use of antibiotics can cause resistance, which results from a small subset of a bacteria population with a random mutation that allows it to survive exposure to the chemical. If that chemical is used frequently enough, it’ll kill other bacteria, but allow this resistant subset to proliferate. If this happens on a broad enough scale, it can essentially render that chemical useless against the strain of bacteria.

This is currently a huge problem in medicine—the World Health Organization calls it a “threat to global health security.” Some bacteria species (most notably, MRSA) have even acquired resistance to several different drugs, complicating efforts to control and treat infections as they spread. Health officials say that further research is needed before we can say that triclosan is fueling resistance, butseveral studies have hinted at the possibility.

3. The soaps might lead to other health problems, too. There’s evidence that children with prolonged exposure to triclosan have a higher chance of developing allergies, including peanut allergies and hay fever. Scientists speculate that this could be a result of reduced exposure to bacteria,which could be necessary for proper immune system functioning and development.

Another study found evidence that triclosan interfered with muscle contractions in human cells, as well as muscle activity in live mice and minnows. This is especially concerning given other findings that the chemical can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream more easily than originally thought. A 2008 survey, for instance, found triclosan in the urine of 75 percent of people tested.

4. Antibacterial soaps are bad for the environment. When we use a lot of triclosan in soap, that means a lot of triclosan gets flushed down the drain. Research has shown that small quantities of the chemical can persist after treatment at sewage plants, and as a result, USGS surveys have frequently detected it in streams and other bodies of water. Once in the environment, triclosan can disrupt algae’s ability to perform photosynthesis.

The chemical is also fat-soluble—meaning that it builds up in fatty tissues—so scientists are concerned that it can biomagnify, appearing at greater levels in the tissues of animals higher up the food chain, as the triclosan of all the plants and animals below them is concentrated. Evidence of this possibility was turned up in 2009, when surveys of bottlenose dolphins off the coast of South Carolina and Florida found concerning levels of the chemical in their blood.

What Should You Do?

If you’re planning on giving up antibacterial soap—like Johnson & Johnson, Kaiser Permanente and several other companies have recently done—you have a couple options.

One is a non-antibiotic hand sanitizer, like Purell, which don’t contain any triclosan and simply kill both bacteria and viruses with good old-fashioned alcohol. Because the effectiveness of hand-washing depends on how long you wash for, a quick squirt of sanitizer might be more effective when time is limited.

Outside of hospitals, though, the CDC recommends the time-tested advice you probably heard as a child: wash your hands with conventional soap and water. That’s because while alcohol from hand sanitizer kills bacteria, it doesn’t actually remove dirt or anything else you may have touched. But a simple hand wash should do the trick. The water doesn’t need to be hot, and you’re best off scrubbing for about 30 seconds to get properly clean.

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Gluten-free Vegan Homemade Oreo cookies

Recipe by: Forknbeans.com

Makes about 2 dozen cookie sandwiches (approx 48 individual cookies)

Gluten, dairy, and egg free

(Inspired by the Baking Illustrated Icebox Cookie recipe/procedure).

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 c. brown rice flour
• 3/4 c. sorghum flour
• 1/4 c. potato starch
• 1/4 c. arrowroot powder
• 1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa
• 1/4 c. Enjoy Life chocolate chips, melted
• 16 Tbs Earth Balance butter
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 1 Tb Ener-G egg replacer + 2 Tbs warm water, mixed until thickened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer. AVOID MIXING TOO MUCH–1 minute TOPS (if you beat for a longer amount of time, the cookies will flatten out because too much air has been added into the mix). Add melted chocolate chips and mix. Add Ener-G egg replacer and vanilla and mix until well combined.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flours, starches, cocoa, and salt completely.
3. Add wet ingredients into dry mix bow and stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms. Dough should not be sticky (if so, add 1 Tb of flour at a time until soft still, not sticky.
4. Transfer 1/2 the dough onto a piece of parchment paper. With your hands, roll dough into a log that is 6″x2″. Smooth with hands. Wrap a piece of clear wrap around the dough and chill for 2+hours (i chilled my dough overnight and they were perfect. If you do not chill it long enough, the cookies will spread. You want them to stay in the same shape pre and post baking!) Do the same with the other 1/2 of the dough.
5. Once dough is chilled long enough, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
6. Unroll the dough out of the plastic wrap and slice cookies with a sharp knife at 1/4-1/2″ thick slices (It is important to cut them on the thicker side so they don’t spread, rather keep their shape).
7. Place 1/2 of the cookies a Silpat-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes (you might need to cook longer but at 15 minutes, keep your eye on the doneness of the cookies).
8. Allow to cool fully on the baking sheet. The cookies with toughen up and become crunchier the longer they sit.

For the filling:

• 1/2 c. vegetable shortening
• 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

1. With an electric mixer, combine all of the ingredients together until cream becomes thick and smooth (about 2 minutes).
2. Using a spatula, scrape the cream into a ziploc baggie, make a small slit in one corner, and thickly distribute the cream in a circular motion onto one cookie. Gently sandwich another cookie on top. Wa-la.

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Raw Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake

Raw Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake
Makes one 8" cake

Crust - choose any one of the crusts from my last cheesecake post
I like to do a simple almond raisin or almond date crust.

Filling

2 cups cashews
2/3 cup maple syrup
2/3 - 3/4 cup water
2/3 cup cacao powder
1 tablespoon pure vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup melted coconut butter

Blend the cashews, maple, water, vanilla and salt until smooth and creamy in a high speed blender.
Add the coconut oil and butter. Blend to incorporate.
Add the cacao powder last and blend again.The mixture is thick.
Pour over the crust and set in the fridge for at least 12 hours or in the freezer for 6 hours and then transfer to the fridge for a few hours.

Recipe by: Sweetlyraw.com She has a great blog Check it out! 

http://www.sweetlyraw.com/2012/08/raw-chocolate-cheesecake-and-22-more.html

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How a fever benefits your health

(NaturalNews) Most of our society lives with the idea that health is a state of "feeling good" and "not being sick or diseased." We fear contact with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. We use antibacterial soap, sprays, pills, potions and lotions. We are constantly "gearing up" for the next big flu pandemic, etc.

In traditional cultures, fevers were always well respected and understood. Most people knew that the fever would build up and then break, much like a wave rolling into shore. Now, our society tries to suppress the fever immediately using antipyretics, or substances that lower temperature.

These antipyretics include acetaminophen and ibuprofen. These quickly lower the temperature, but they also silence the body and hinder the development of the immune system. This allows the invading organisms to survive and contribute to the formation of chronic disease.

Your immune system is a muscle:

The immune system functions like a muscle in that must be challenged in order to grow stronger. Without resistance the immune system cannot get any stronger. An appropriate resistance may at times give someone a cold or fever. This is a natural adaptive response that the body makes in order to allow the immune system to function at a greater level.

Getting a cold or a flu and having feverish symptoms may be the best expression of health for someone. Their individual immune system's metabolic capacity may have been so weak that they couldn't handle the natural environmental stressors. So the body became vulnerable and developed a viral or bacterial infection.

Fevers stimulate the immune system:

The immune system responds to fend off infection and strengthen the body. Microorganisms can only survive at unique temperature ranges. The innate intelligence within our body understands this and has adapted since the beginning of time to create an environment that is incompatible for these infectious organisms.

As our core temperature rises, it reduces the microorganism load in the body. The body will not want to elevate temperature to the point of killing off all its good microbes but will if necessary. When the body is under extreme infection, the core temperature has to regulate the internal ecosystem by increasing the temperature and killing off microbes.

Our normal body temperature is said to be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. A fever is defined by an oral temperature that exceeds 100.4 degrees. At 101 degrees, most bacteria are unable to survive, and at 102 degrees, the viruses are unable to replicate and spread in the body. Fevers are typically self-limiting and short in duration. They are not dangerous until they get up over 104 degrees in temperature.

The increasing temperature activates the immune system:

As the core temperature elevates, it activates the CD8+ cytotoxic T cell. This is a special lymphocyte that is able to destroy cancerous cells and cells infected with viruses. Researchers have found that higher body temperatures raise the number of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. This creates a significantly greater immune response against infection.

The increase in core temperature also elevates neutrophils, which are unique immune cells that selectively target infectious bacterial cells. The temperature increase also improves enzymatic activity to create an environment that is unkind to the infectious microbes.

According to Dr. John Wherry, PhD, deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, "Having a fever might be uncomfortable, ... but [research reports show] that having a fever is part of an effective immune response."

Over-sterilizing our environment and using synthetic chemicals, such as drugs, artificial vitamins and fever reducers, only makes our body weaker. These products are like a crutch that does not allow the body to adapt and get stronger. So we end up weak and vulnerable and unable to effectively adapt to a challenging environment.

The role of mucus formation:

Mucosal surfaces are the primary entry points into the body for pathogenic microorganisms. Until recently, most scientists viewed mucus as simply a physical barrier that helped to prevent against the invasion of infectious organisms. It was also thought to play a lubricating role between tissues. However, the latest research shows that mucus appears to be the primary home of unique organisms called bacteriophages.

Bacteriophages, which are also called "phages," are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. They selectively target antagonistic microbes and thus enhance the health of the host.

Wherever bacteria and other microorganisms reside you will also find phages.

Researchers have found evidence that phages partner with host animals and humans to kill off unwanted bacterial colonies and control the composition of friendly microorganisms in the body. This reduces infectious organisms and improves the immune system.

In times of fever, the body increases mucus to trap bacteria and enhance the activity of phages in order to reduce infectious organisms. This is an intelligent response by the body to prevent chronic infection and disease development. Trust the body and trust your symptoms!

When is a fever dangerous?

You should always consult your natural health physician when fevers go over 103 degrees or last longer than four days. If the fever causes tremendous discomfort, trouble breathing or convulsions at any time, it would be an indication to go to the emergency room.

One should drink tons of clean water and use electrolytes such as fresh squeezed lemon. This will support the body as it uses up fluids and electrolytes quickly in an effort to rid itself of the infectious organisms. If the temperature gets up over 104 degrees, an ice bath can help bring it down a bit so as to not cause damage to any of the vital organs.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043390_fever_health_benefits_immune_system.html#ixzz2pOixk4Z8

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