Fight Bad Breath Naturally With This Green Drink

Bad breath can be caused by various food products, tooth decay, indigestion or insufficient oral hygiene. But luckily nature is a great friend of health, so you can eliminate this problem with a few sips of this healthy, natural shake. One of the most popular spices – cinnamon contains essential oils that eliminate bacteria in the throat, responsible for causing bad breath. Citric acid neutralizes the rest of the food, and spinach and parsley kill bacteria in the digestive system.

The mixture of these ingredients and some honey will save you from bad breath when you most need it.

Ingredients:

    1 lemon
    ½ tablespoon of cinnamon
    1 ½ tablespoon of honey
    2 tablespoons of spinach
    10 parsley branches
    1.7 oz/50 ml warm water

Preparation:

Wash both spinach and parsley, put them in a blender and add some lemon juice and warm water.
Mix well all the ingredients and add cinnamon and honey at the end.

You can keep this powerful shake in the fridge and consume it in the morning before your meals

Source : HealthyFoodHouse

Homemade Lemonade to Quickly Shift Your Body PH in your Favor

Our body’s pH is linked to many diseases. Do you know if your pH levels are good?
Unfortunately, most Americans pH balance is not good our body requires a slight alkaline condition to function properly. As Americans, most of ours is predominately acidic due to our diet. It is way easier to keep our bodies acidic than alkaline because when our bodies are at an acidic level it borrows materials such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium from our vital organs and bones to neutralize the acid and get rid of it. This is what sometimes causes osteoporosis and arthritis.

Did you know if your pH levels are not normal you could have a greater risk of bone loss? This was determined in a 7-year study at the University of California. Nine thousand women all middle aged were studies and the study concluded many of these women were having bone fractures. Turns out that many of these fractures were connected to the acidic pH levels in their body. According to this study, our diet consists of too much animal food and too fewer vegetables.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tells us how we can protect ourselves from letting our body’s pH levels become too acidic. Well, it first starts off with your diet, if your diet has been bad all you need to do if too quickly shift your body’s pH in your favor! One way to do this is homemade lemonade. It is a great way to shift your pH levels quickly. Below is a recipe for this lemonade.

Ingredients:

Four lemons
Four teaspoons of raw honey
purified water


Directions:

Squeeze the juice from the lemons and put it in a 36-ounce ( 1 - Litre )  glass.

Add your four teaspoons of raw honey.

Drink throughout the day !


Source : Organic Health

Sprouting Seeds in Mason Jars

By Angie Rayfield

In most areas, it's easy to pick up sprouts in the produce section at the local grocery store, but for the
freshest sprouts and widest variety of options, try sprouting seeds in Mason jars at home.

Steps to Sprouting Seeds in Mason Jars

Although there are kits available for sprouting seeds, no specialized equipment is required. You'll need a clean glass Mason jar, or you can substitute another wide-mouth glass jar. Use cheesecloth, hardware cloth, stainless metal screen or even old pantyhose to cover the mouth of the jar, and secure the covering with a ring lid, rubber band, or string.

Soak

Start by soaking your seeds in lukewarm water. For a quart-sized jar, use two to three tablespoons of seeds. Cover them completely with water, with roughly two inches of water above the seeds, and set the container in a warm place out of direct light. Use purified or filtered water to avoid contaminates being absorbed by the seeds. Most seeds or beans should be soaked about 24 hours, although very small seeds can be soaked as little as six hours. Seeds expand as they absorb water, and may be twice their original size after soaking.

Drain and Store

Drain the remaining water from the jar completely. This will be easier with large seeds. You may need to shake small seeds vigorously to get as much water as possible out of the jar. After draining, place the jar back out of direct light. If possible, place the jar tilted downward at an angle, which will allow fresh air into the jar while still draining excess water. Be sure to place something under the jar to catch moisture.

Rinse and Repeat

Seeds will need to be rinsed several times a day. Fill the jar with fresh cool water, swirl and shake gently for 10 to 15 seconds before draining. Repeat once or twice, and then drain the excess completely before returning the jar to its original position. Repeat this process two to three times a day for three to five days.

Final Steps

The last stage of the process is to expose your sprouts to the sun. Rinse and drain seeds before placing the jar in bright indirect light. This allows the sprouts to develop chlorophyll and 'green up.' The amount of time will depend on the type of seed, but this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Continue to rinse the sprouts regularly.
When ready to harvest, seeds will require a final rinse. Fill the container with water, and skim off any hulls or debris before draining thoroughly. Once sprouts are dry, they can be eaten immediately or stored in the refrigerator for several days.

Types of Seeds to Sprout

Most people are familiar with the big white sprouts on salad bars, but these are not the only option. Make sure seeds you use are intended for food and not for planting, however. Seeds for planting are often treated with insectides or other chemicals that may be dangerous to consume.

• Peas, Lentils, Soybeans and Mung Beans - Mung beans are used for the common white sprouts seen in most grocery stores. Peas, lentils and soybeans produce similar sturdy sprouts.
• Radish, Clover, Broccoli and Alfalfa - These small seeds grow thin, delicate sprouts that develop tiny leaves.
• Wheat, Rye, Barley and Oats - Although most people are more familiar with growing these grains like grasses, they also can be sprouted in only a few days.
• Sunflower - Hulled seeds can be sprouted in the jar, or the intact seed can be soaked and grown like grasses in a tray.

What About Mold?

There are few hazards in sprouting seeds in Mason jars, but it is important to watch for mold. If you find mold on your sprouts, throw them out and begin fresh. These tips should help prevent the problem:

• Make sure there is plenty of air circulation. Try placing the jar in another location, or add a small fan near the jar to keep air moving. If you use a fan, make sure it is not blowing directly on the jar.
• Use colder water when rinsing, and rinse more often.
• Make sure the sprouts are drained thoroughly. Too much moisture encourages mold.
• Thoroughly clean and sterilize the jar and other equipment. Use one tablespoon of bleach per pint of water. Soak the equipment for 20 minutes before scrubbing thoroughly.

Source : Love to Know

7 Spectacular Benefits Of Sleeping Naked

If you find sleeping naked strange or a taboo, you probably either haven’t yet tried it or you just don’t know that it has some positive effects on the human body. Want to know more about these surprising, yet helpful qualities of sleeping with no clothes on? Well, read along to find out.

Controls cortisol levels

One of the most important benefits of sleeping naked and letting your body cool properly at night is that it helps maintain healthy cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone which is related to stress. High levels of cortisol lead to numerous concerning conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, different types of disorders and imbalances, weak immune system and increased appetite. The cortisol levels in the body are usually lowest when you are sleeping deeply (normally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.). But after that period of time, they start to rise in order to prepare the body for the day and to leave you feeling more fresh and well-slept when you wake up in the morning. The problems occur when the body doesn’t get the proper sleep it needs to recharge. When you are under-slept, in the morning your cortisol levels are unusually high and this can lead to several discomforts at first (for example, increased appetite). It is highly possible that you will have strong cravings for sugary and foods. Also, you will be more prone to over-eat. Want to get rid of that belly fat? You may find the solution in sleeping naked and getting a proper night sleep.


Deeper and better sleep

As we know, our body temperature plays a big role when it comes to the quality of our sleep. It was proven by a study in Australia that some types of insomnia can actually be caused by poor body temperature adjustment during sleep. A different research also showed that you can reach deeper levels of sleep when your body temperature is regulating properly while in bed. Another study held by Dutch scientists made an experiment in which the partakers were given thermosuits to put on which would lower the skin temperature without affecting the overall core temperature of the body. The results showed that the participants experienced a pleasant, undisturbed and deeper sleep. What we can sum up from all these studies is that being too warm in bed at night can lower the quality of your sleep. So  why not try throwing the pj’s and warm blankets away for a night and sense the difference yourself.


Better quality of the sexual life

Sleeping naked stimulates different types of hormones which are good for the body and another one of them is oxytocin. This is the “love hormone” which is released when experiencing orgasms, sexual desires, also stress. It helps fight depression and also it contributes for gut health and a healthy blood pressure. Maybe it is needless to say that sleeping naked with your partner can light the flame and increase your sexual desires which can improve your sexual life as a whole.


Increases anti-aging hormone levels

Believe it or not, sleeping naked can actually help you look younger for longer. As we stated, it is really important to let your body cool during sleep but what is more that you can do is to keep the temperature of your bedroom lower than 70˚F (21˚C). The warmer the air is while you sleep, the more you suppress the release of the anti-aging hormones (melatonin and growth hormones). When it is dark while you sleep, melatonin is being released into your body and this slightly contributes to the cooling of the body. Also, when the temperature of your body is lower, this stimulates the release of the growth hormones which benefits your skin. The journal “Sleep” wrote about a study which found that sleep itself stimulates the release of the growth hormones.


Overall body health

As it was already mentioned above, high skin temperature while sleeping can suppress the release of growth hormones which are responsible for a healthy body functioning and good skin.The University of Warwick proved by a study that sleeping less than six hours a night can lead to many unhealthy conditions like diabetes and heart problems. Weight gain is also related to sleep deprivation. The release of the stress hormone, cortisol, is stimulated when  you are not getting enough sleep and this triggers hunger hormones as well. This way, the levels of insulin also increase. Moreover, the hormones which are responsible for fat-burning and the control of the appetite increase.


Reduces risk of yeast infections

Yeast infections are common and can be easily cured with proper nutrition and an  immune system boost. However, sleeping naked can even lower the  risk of getting them because yeast grows in warm and moist conditions. By having no clothes on while you sleep, you give your body the opportunity to cool down and stay dry all night long which prevents yeast from growing and spreading.


Confidence boost

By sleeping naked you start to feel more and more comfortable in your own skin. This gives you an amazing confidence boost which will definitely make you feel more happy. Also, by gaining more confidence you will want to check yourself in the mirror more often and that can encourage you to look your best all the time.


Source : iheartintelligence.com

How to Lose 8 Inches In 10 Days With These 8 Moves

This is based on Tracy Anderson Method,  “the moves are strategically placed in order to fatigue the muscles, allowing you to work each one deeply for overall strengthening, balance and proportion,” explains Tracy. “Building strength and allowing the body’s muscles to work together as one cohesive instrument will give lasting results and a lean and even-toned frame.”

Try to do this at least 4 times a week, but for fuller effect, do this six days a week, following each strength session with 30 to 60 minutes of cardio, and you could lose up to 8 inches over your whole body in 10 days.


Leg Kick

Start on all fours, with hands placed right over left directly below chest, knees slightly wider than hip-width apart and feet pointing out . Pull abs in, lift right leg and extend it out diagonally from body. Return to start. Do 30 to 40 reps.


Plank

Start in plank with legs slightly wider than hip-width. Lift left arm out to side while raising right leg diagonally away from body until both arm and leg are higher than back. Pulse up for 30 to 40 reps.


Bend, Stretch, and Kick

 






































Start on all fours with right leg extended straight back, resting tips of left toes on ground (A). Bend right leg and tuck it behind left knee (B). Bend elbows, drop chest to ground and extend right leg straight up (C). Press chest back up until arms are straight while lowering right leg back to start.     Do 30 to 40 reps.


Squat With Leg Extension

 






































Start in down dog, with knees slightly bent and legs in a wide stance. Lift right foot, tuck right leg in toward chest (think mountain climber), allowing left leg to bend deeper (A). Straighten left leg as you extend right leg up to ceiling (B). Return to start. Do 30 to 40 reps.


Hip Drop and Kick

 






































Start kneeling; reach left hand to floor so it’s in line with left knee. Place right hand along right leg. (Keep chest up and left arm straight). With hips stacked, lower them to 6 inches off the floor (A). Push hips back to start as you extend right leg straight out to side (B). Do 30 to 40 reps.
Keep gaze down so that neck stays in a neutral position.


Crawl Leg Extension

 






































Lie facedown with hands under shoulders, elbows bent, right leg at 90 degrees with inner thigh on the floor and left leg extended straight back on the floor (A). Push up until arms are straight, bend left leg until kneeling (keep foot off the floor) and extend right leg straight back (B). Lower down, pulling right knee back into a 90-degree angle. Return to start. Repeat 30 to 40 times.


Plie With Kick

 






































Stand with heels together and toes pointed out. Lower hips down while allowing knees to open and heels to rise (A). Drop down to kneeling position (B). Place hands on the ground and extend right leg straight back, then lift (C). Perform entire movement in reverse. Do 30 to 40 reps.


Leg Swing

 






































Start on all fours with hands in fists. Extend right leg straight back, reaching lower leg toward left side. In one fluid motion, drop your left forearm to the ground (A) and swing right leg out to right side as leg fully extends (B). Return to start. Do 30 to 40 reps. Don’t place entire body weight on or sink into the elbow.




Source : http://organichealth.co/how-to-lose-8-inches-in-10-days-with-these-8-moves/

This Will Make You Never, Ever Want To Clean Your Ears Again

The question: Is it true that I shouldn’t use cotton swabs to clean my ears?

The answer: Whether it was mom or grandma who said it first, she was definitely right: You probably shouldn’t put anything in your ear that’s smaller than your elbow.

But in order to understand why you don’t need to swab out the ol’ ears, we first need to understand why we have earwax to begin with. That gross gunk, known medically as cerumen, is actually there for protection. “The purpose of earwax really is to keep your ear canal clean,” says Douglas Backous, M.D., chair of the hearing committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNSF) and director of hearing and skull base surgery at Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle.

Not only does earwax help to keep dust and dirt away from the eardrum, it also provides some antibacterial and lubricating perks. And — one of the body’s many wonders! — your ears basically clean themselves. Once earwax dries, every motion of your jaw, whether that’s chowing down on lunch or gabbing away with friends, helps move the old earwax out of the opening of your ear (much like as if it were riding an escalator, says Backous).

The problem, then, is when we think we’re smarter than the systems our bodies have had in place since the beginning of time, and go poking around in those cerumen-laden ears of ours. Sure, that cotton swab looks tiny enough, but it’s actually pushing earwax deeper into the ear (after shoving it off of that escalator), where it gets stuck in the parts that don’t clean themselves, he says.
Earwax trapped there also brings with it fungus, bacteria and viruses accumulated in the outer ear, potentially leading to pain and infection, says Backous.

Pushing earwax deeper inside can also block the ear canal, leading to hearing loss, or, if you push it even farther, a ruptured ear drum — which, if that episode of “Girls” is to be believed, seems more than a little bit painful.

Every year, about 12 million Americans head to their doctors with “impacted or excessive cerumen,” a really gross-sounding way to say they’ve got serious earwax problems. All those checkups lead to about 8 million yearly earwax removal procedures performed by medical professionals (a.k.a. not the ear candle specialist at the salon on the corner), according to the AAO-HNSF.

Ears really only need to be cleaned — even by a medical professional — if they feel full or you notice changes to your hearing that could be related to waxy buildup. The AAO-HNSF feels so strongly about not sticking cotton swabs in your ears that it released an official position statement about earwax removal, for both physicians and patients. And even the website for Q-Tips, arguably the only most popular brand of cotton swabs, advises to use the product “around the outer ear, without entering the ear canal.”

Yes, we know what you’re thinking, with that grossed-out look on your face: You can’t just stop cleaning your ears. Well, that’s only because you’ve created a vicious “itch and scratch cycle” for yourself, says Backous. The more you rub the skin of your ears, the more histamine you release, which in turn makes the skin irritated and inflamed — just like how that mosquito bite gets itchier the more you scratch it. Plus, because of the lubricating nature of earwax, removing it can simply make your ears drier, motivating you to keep sticking swabs in there in a mistaken attempt at relief.

For those of you who just can’t leave your ears alone, Backous recommends a little at-home irrigation. A few drops in each ear of a mixture of one part white vinegar, one part rubbing alcohol and one part tap water at body temperature should do the trick. (Too cold or too hot and you might feel dizzy, he warns.) But the bottom line? “I can tell you,” says Backous, “there is nothing good about putting anything in your ear.”


Source : http://www.ideadigezt.com/this-will-make-you-never-ever-want-to-clean-your-ears-again/

6 Important Benefits Of Vitamin C That You Must Know

Not only anti-aging, many studies also show that vitamin C can prevent cancer and longevity.

1. Increased longevity

According to the researchers, if you give your body vitamin C from fruits and vegetables would be better to use the vitamin supplement and it also contributes to longevity for you. The researchers found that if the supply from 300-400 mg of vitamin C per day can help men live about 6 years more than normal, for women, the number of life years increased by approximately 1 year.

2. Prevent Cancer

Vitamin C has long been viewed as a natural weapon to help support cancer prevention. Antioxidant properties of this vitamin helps protect cells and DNA from damage and mutation. It supports the immune system of the body, enhancing the ability to fight cancer and prevent cancer-causing compounds formed in the body. Vitamin C reduces the risk of almost all cancers. According to scientists, this nutrient does not directly attack cancer cells but it helps foster a healthy immune system to fight cancer.

3. Enhance bone health

Everyone knows that the best way to prevent osteoporosis is to provide a large body of calcium from foods like milk. However, many people do not know a thing is to absorb more vitamin C also helps effectively avoid brittle bone, brittle. Postmenopausal women who used vitamin C supplements will have bone density was significantly higher compared with those with vitamin deficiency.

4. Improved vision

Additional enough vitamin C for the body can fight cataracts proof thanks to increased blood flow to the eye, so keep your eyes healthy. This effect is related to the antioxidant properties of vitamin C.
According to researchers, our eyes need a lot of vitamin C to combat all the free radicals formed from the impact of sunlight on the eyes. Therefore, health experts also recommend that you use the full 1,000 mg of vitamin C every day to prevent cataracts as they grow old.

5. Supports fat burning

People with the level of vitamin C in the body reached the standard (not surplus, no shortage) is capable of reducing to 25-30% more fat than those who were deficient in vitamin C as fitness exercises like together. This is explained as follows: vitamin C helps synthesize the amino acid L-Carnitine, helps metabolize fat into energy and body will use this energy for exercise as well as working often.

6. Prevention of stroke and cardiovascular problems

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, USA. The study compared 65 people who had suffered a stroke and 65 healthy controls. Results showed that stroke patients had levels of vitamin C in the blood is very low, while healthy people have normal levels. That’s because the other antioxidants, vitamin C helps prevent heart disease by preventing free radicals from damaging formation and prevent arterial plaque formation in the artery wall. This nutrient also keep cholesterol in the blood at a stable level, thereby preventing heart disease and stroke. Patients with high blood pressure may also improve blood pressure status when the full complement of vitamin C.


Source : http://www.healthdigezt.com/6-important-benefits-of-vitamin-c-that-you-must-know/