DGA Test Overview ( Directors Guild Of America)

Are you a hopeful who is going to take the dga test. So I do have a little information about what to expect on the directors guild of America test ( dga) since I took it a couple of times.

I remember when I was looking for an overview of the Directors Guild of America Test I could not find one anywhere. I made a basic overview of the test and what to expect. I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS! But I think it will be to your advantage to at least know what to expect.

Click Here For an overview of the test - This is an overview of the test that will be sent to you after making a $5 Payment. There are no refunds, exchanges etc. All payments are final.

Losing 300 pounds

What an incredible story about a woman who lost 300 pounds. She did regular diet and exercising and no excuses I have another 40 to go and I don't have her dedication.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/woman-loses-300-pounds-the-old-fashioned-way-25535671;_ylt=AlOSmumJvwixqPTCq5NUgLOz174F;_ylu=X3oDMTB1bGcwM3A1BHBvcwMyBHNlYwNjbGlwcwRzbGsDbm93cGxheWluZw--

Master Cleans and Random Fat Burning

I just want to say that my body is so weird. So over the past month I have tried to go on the master cleanse about 4 times and my body is not having it. I guess it's sick of me starving myself. When I first went on the master cleanse and then stopped my body would not gain or lose any weight. It just stayed the same no matter what. Then when I started again( and this only lasted for about 2 days) it lost weight and then gained it back as soon as I started eating. With most people when you start eating light, which is fruits and vegetables, your body will continue to lose weight because it is not starving and it has Bo burn what you are putting in it. Then you are suppose to increase your calories by 100 calories a week until you are back at your metabolic body rate. Well too bad my body does not work like that. So for everyone doing the diet I urge you to figure out what works for your body and if you are aiming to keep the weight off watch what you are eating as well as your calories.

Now we fast forward to months later. I start eating my basic diet of fish vegetables and my occasional vegan cookie ( and birthday cake) and my body is a fat burning machine. Well I did keep of the 35 pounds that I lost and the 15 or so I lost from doing the master cleanse. But my journey is not over.

Is Sweating Overrated

8 ways to burn calories without sweating

Activity is not just about "exercise," it's about moving your body more all day long. This type of light activity is essential, whether you're a card-carrying couch potato or a marathon runner. Growing evidence finds that too much sitting harms your heart health. Worse, that damage is not easily undone by jumping on the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes in the morning if you spend the other 23 ½ hours sleeping and sitting.  A recent study of 1,579 people found that people whose jobs require more than 6 hours of chair time a day are 68% more likely to wind up overweight than those who sit less.

The solution: Stand more. By using these tips you'll be in motion more all day long. That alone could be enough to help you shed stubborn pounds for good.

Lose 35+ pounds without working out


1.  Limit yourself to one TV show: Watching TV is a great way to unwind. But when it comes to the tube, there's such a thing as too much downtime. The average American tunes in for 3 hours a day, which is really bad news for your waistline, especially when you consider that watching TV burns only slightly more calories than sleeping. Harvard researchers have found that every 2 hours spent watching television increases the likelihood of obesity by 23% and raises your risk of developing diabetes by 14%. Trade 1 hour of TV time for one long walk, and you can slash your obesity risk by 24% and lower your risk of diabetes by 34%.

Wipe out cellulite in 6 moves


2.  Step it up: There's a reason an exercise machine called the Stair-Master exists: Taking the stairs is really, really good exercise! In one study, exercise scientists calculated that by taking just two more flights of stairs (up and down) each day, you could burn off 6 pounds in a year. Find excuses to make multiple trips between floors at work (using a restroom on another floor is one way) and at home.

See 10 ways to ignite your fat burn


3.  Walk the halls at work: When you're stuck for ideas at work, get up and walk the halls. Stand and stretch during phone calls. Twice a day, get up and walk to talk to a colleague instead of e-mailing. Stanford University researchers calculated that if you were to walk across your office building and back to talk to a coworker instead of spending the same 2 minutes e-mailing, you could spare yourself 11 pounds over 10 years--effectively avoiding the "midlife spread."

See 14 surprising everyday habits that cause back pain


4.  Stand at your desk: Here's a very simple move that every office worker can do: Stand up. Sitting at your desk for an hour burns 63 calories. Standing burns 127, twice as many. If you have a cordless phone, you might even be able to pace a bit, just to get the blood flowing even more. Many workplaces are now offering drafting-style tables and high chairs for office workers, which gives you the option of working on your feet most of the day and sitting down to take breaks (instead of the other way around--standing when you need a break). Ask your human resources manager about them. You'll be surprised how much more energy you have when you spend your day on your feet rather than in your seat.

See 7 easy office exercise moves


5.  Get on the ball: Sit on a large stability or Swiss ball while checking e-mail in the evening. It's an easy way to engage all of your muscles for 15 to 20 minutes. You might even be inspired to do a few stretches and crunches after you log off.

Trim your waistline and sculpt sexy legs with this 12-minute exercise ball workout


6.  Fire the maid and gardener: All those services that you hire to make your life easier can also end up making you heavier. Small daily tasks, like weeding the garden, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and cleaning house, can add up to an aerobic workout. In a 2-year study of 230 overweight and inactive men and women, researchers at the Cooper Institute, an aerobics-research organization in Dallas, found that those who spent 30 minutes a day raking the lawn, taking the stairs, and walking from far spaces in parking lots achieved the same improvements in fitness, blood pressure, and body fat as those who went to the gym for vigorous exercise 20 to 60 minutes at a time, 5 days a week.

See 4 high-tech tools that track calorie burn


7.  Prep yourself slim: Cooking is a great wayo burn calories. Slicing, dicing, and braising burns twice as many , in fact, as calling your Chinese takeout place. Because you're in charge of the ingredients, cook with metabolism-boosting ingredients like those from the Active Calorie Diet. Limit takeout and delivery to two meals a week, tops.


8. Consider a stepper: Office workers are ideal candidates for a portable mini stepper like the Stamina InStride Electronic Mini Stepper--essentially, just two small Stair-climber  -like pedals without the giant machine attached. Research from the Mayo Clinic found that workers who used these clever step devices while making phone calls or answering e-mail burned an extra 290 calories an hour--enough to burn off more than 40 pounds over the course of a year if they used the machines just 2 hours a day. The strategy is a little unconventional but worth considering. The stepper is relatively inexpensive and small enough to slide under your desk when you're not using it. Stepping is also something you can do while watching TV at night.

Get 5 calorie-burning dinners from the Active Calorie Diet

How do you burn calories without working up a sweat?

What burn 300 calories in 24 min without running

 This is my next workout plan...

The best-kept secret to maximizing your fat burn? A little thing called Tabata intervals. These are super quick, amazingly effective short bursts of exercise done for 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds rest. This unique twist on interval training may sound simple, but the calorie-sizzling results will shock you: You’ll torch 300 calories in just 24 minutes with SELF’s Drop 10 Challenge Tabata workout, plus your metabolism will stay cranked post-workout, incinerating as many as 120 extra calories long after you’ve left the gym! Try it today and I guarantee you’ll be hooked—the workout flies by so quickly, you’re done before you know it. Complete it three times, and you could drop 2 pounds this week!

You’ll need: A light to medium resistance band with or without handles and a timer. I love the GymBoss ($20; GymBoss.com, or download the free app) but counting (“one-one hundred, two-one hundred…”) works just as well.

What to do: Perform the first move for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds; do that 20-10 cycle eight times before proceeding to the next exercise. Finish the six moves and you’re done in less time than it takes to watch the evening news!

TAPPING TRIMMER

works shoulders, triceps, chest, abs, obliques
Start in a plank with your wrists directly under your shoulders (as shown). Bring your right knee toward your chest and tap your right foot with your left hand (as shown). Return to a plank. Repeat on the opposite side, for 1 rep. Continue, alternating taps.

JUMP SQUAT

works butt, thighs, hamstrings, calves
Place your band on the floor in an upside-down U. Stand with your feet outside the handles. Squat, arms extended behind you, to start (as shown). Jump, raising your arms overhead (as shown), landing inside band, then jump back to start. Continue jumping in and out.

FREEZE FIRMER

works shoulders, biceps, triceps, chest, abs
Start in a modified push-up on your knees, hands under your shoulders (as shown). Bend your elbows 90 degrees (as shown) and hold for the entire 20-second interval, keeping your abs engaged.

SIT TIGHT

works biceps, chest, abs
Lie faceup with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Anchor the center of the band
about a foot behind your head and hold a handle in each hand, arms extended to your sides at shoulder level (as shown), to start. Engage your abs and sit up, bringing your hands forward and together at chest level (as shown). Return to start. Repeat.

BURPEE

works shoulders, back, abs, butt, thighs
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Crouch down; place your hands on the floor under your shoulders. With your hands planted, jump your feet behind you (as shown), landing in a plank. Hop your feet back to your hands (as shown), then quickly jump up to return to standing. Repeat.

TWIST AND TONE

works shoulders, triceps, abs, obliques, butt, thighs
Stand on the band with your feet hip-width apart, a handle in each hand, elbows bent, hands at your shoulders, then squat (as shown). Stand as you rotate your right foot and torso to the left, extending your right arm overhead (as shown). Return to a squat. Repeat, rotating to the right for 1 rep. Continue, alternating sides.

Want to scorch another 100 calories in just 8 minutes? Simply add these two moves to your Tabata intervals workout.

The new Self Challenge Drop 10 program is here!  Join us in dropping the winter weight and you'll feel great for summer. Plus, this year we will email you the menu and workout plan free, every day.

Secrets of Skinny people

Well according to yahoo experts here are the & secrets of slim/skinny people


Ever notice how some women seem to stay slim without ever stressing about missed workouts or counting a single calorie? It seems unfair—and frustrating!—but those ladies might have some secrets the rest of us can steal. Turns out, you don’t have to completely overhaul your diet or exercise regimen to see fast and impressive results on the scale. (Though if you want a great, easy-to-follow plan, register for the Drop 10 Challenge on Self.com to lose 10 pounds in just five weeks.) In fact, recent research shows that sometimes it’s little, practically effortless changes to everyday habits that make the pounds fall off fast and forever. Try incorporating some of these simple, science-backed steps into your day-to-day life—it’s your turn to become one of those “naturally” slim lucky few!
Make time for tea
Women with the highest intake of catechins, antioxidants in tea that may accelerate fat burn, gained less weight over 14 years than those who sipped less, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals. White and green brews have the most catechins. Get brewing!

Move your workouts to the morning
Breaking a sweat before you sit down to breakfast can help you trim down faster, a study in The Journal of Physiology finds. Exercising on an empty stomach in the A.M. improves glucose tolerance, which spurs your body to shed fat.

Join the breakfast club
If you don’t already have regular morning meals, it’s time to start: Lifelong early eaters have a waistline about 2 inches smaller than that of breakfast skippers, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals. An A.M. meal may rev metabolism; plus, it may cause you to make less of an enzyme that raises cholesterol.

Savor your food
Eating slowly and steadily can help you stay slim. People who took 30 minutes to eat a bowl of ice cream created more fullness hormones than did those who ate faster, a study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism notes. Whenever you can, ditch distractions like the television while you’re dining so you can concentrate on enjoying the yummy food in front of you.

Become a creature of habit
Eating at the same times every day and could help you drop pounds. When mice ate at scheduled mealtimes and fasted for 12 hours at night, their liver turned on genes that burned more sugar and fat, say scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. No, we’re not mice, but if something as simple as sitting down to dinner at 7 P.M. every night helps speed weight loss, why not give it a shot?

Start with water
Downing two cups of H2O before meals helped people lose about 5 pounds more than those who said no to water, research from Virginia Tech reveals. Water is filling, so sippers ate 75 to 90 calories less. Enjoy a few cups of water while you prep a meal or before your entrée arrives at a restaurant to effortlessly keep calories in check.

Step on the scale
Dieters who weighed themselves at least weekly lost more weight than those who didn’t, according to research from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. Plus, the habit helped nondieters stay at a stable weight. Spotting scale swings early allows you to tweak your eating and exercise routine before pounds can pile up.
The new Self Challenge Drop 10 program just launched!  Join us in dropping the winter weight and you'll feel great for summer. Plus, this year we will email you the menu and workout plan free, every day.

Sponsor Claim Health Inc - New York NY

One of our sponsors is Claim Health Inc.

Claim Health Inc is a Healthcare company in New York City. They offer Nutritional support as well as diverse healthcare needs. Their home health company provides

In-Home & Community Support - Claim Health Inc assists individuals in their homes and in community settings in acquiring, maintaining, and improving the skills necessary to live in their communities, to live more independently, and to participate meaningfully in community life.

Supported Employment Services – Claim Health Inc empowers individuals to successfully integrate into their communities through employment/training. This includes vocational assessment, resume preparation, interview preparation, job finding, job training, job coaching, travel training.

Companion Services – These Services are provided by Claim Health staff to individuals living in private residences for the limited purposes of providing supervision and necessary care and minimal assistance that is focused solely on the health and safety of the adult individual with intellectual disabilities. These services are mainly provided in our Individuals home and also in the community.

Community Participation Supports (100%) – Under the Community Participation Supports, Claim Health staff assists individuals with opportunities to promote their community inclusion as well as building interest in, developing skills and potential for competitive integrated employment.

Homemaker/Chore Services – Indirect services provided by Claim Health Inc staff including household cleaning/maintenance and homemaker activities such as meal preparation, laundry or services to keep the home clean and in a safe condition.

Licensed Residential Habilitation Services -These services provided by Claim Health Inc staff, are direct (face-to-face) and indirect services provided in Claim Health owned, rented, leased, or operated licensed residential habilitation settings . Licensed Residential Habilitation Services are only available through the Special Waivers and base funds. These services are provided to protect the health and welfare of the individuals by assisting them in acquiring, retaining, and improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in home and community-based settings.

Respite Services -These are direct services that are provided by Claim Health Inc staff to supervise and support individuals on a short-term basis due to the absence or need for relief of those persons normally providing care to the individual. They include Licensed Out-of-home and In-home Respite. These services can be provided in Claim Health owned/leased licensed homes or in the individual’s home, where they live with family or guardian.

Behavior Supports – These are specialized interventions provided by Claim Health Inc staff which assists individuals increase adaptive behaviors to replace or modify challenging behaviors. These challenging behaviors are usually of disruptive or destructive nature that prevent or interfere with the individual’s inclusion in home or community life. Under the licensed residential habilitation service, this is not a discrete service .

Non-Medical Transportation – Public transportation for individuals enabling access to services/resources in accordance with their Support Plans to promote self-determination in a cost-effective manner.

Orange Juice Diet Day 4, 5 and 6

 Orange Juice Diet Day 4, 5 and 6


So I spent 3 more days on orange juice and I did not lose a pound. I then decided to eat again. I kept my calories under 1000 and I didn't gain any weight back. Now I am attempting to do the master cleanse again. I am on day 4 and I feel pretty good. I am hungry. I have only lost .8 pounds so far. I would like to lose 10 in this 10 day period again. I exercised for 2 days and I plan on exercising everyday to speed up the weightloss. I found that if only put 1 tbs of Maple syrup in the lemonade I can tolerate it way better, which is weird because I love everything sweet. But we will see how it goes. My skin has cleared up even more.

Orange Juice diet Day 2 and 3

Day 2 and 3 of orange juice

I guess yesterday wasn't that bad. I can honestly tell you that I am not hungry at all and unlike when I was on lemonade I don't want to eat and my energy has gone up a little. I feel full faster, its easier for me to drink the orange juice and it taste so good... but I am still only drinking about 3 to 4 cups a day. I will try to increase it as the weeks go on. I figure I will do this maybe for another 10 days or so  or until I want to stop and then I will do green smoothies. I think your body comes out of starvation mode when you are drinking orange juice so I do not think you will lose weight as rapidly as you can on the Master Cleanse. I am also less cold, which is one indicator that my body isnt using as much as its fat reserves that it was on the Master cleanse.

Master Cleanse Day 11

Day 11

So today is day 11 and I am going to break my fast with orange juice. I have only drank about 1 ½ cups of lemonade today and I am getting sick at the thought of drinking anymore for some reason. However I will continue with orange juice for as long as possible to see how long I can juice fast for.  In the Master Cleanse Group there is a guy who drank orange juice for 73 days.

Master Cleanse Day 10

Day 10

I cant believe I made it. I have done this cleanse before for either 15 or 20 days. I have done a juice fast for over 20.. but for some reason this time this was the hardest and I only did 10 days! I honestly think my body was the filthiest its ever been. I want to go for more.. but idk i’m going to take it one day at a time from now on. Today well last night I started getting this off and on again pain in my mouth/ear/tooth. it feels so weird. I believe that it is just a side effect from cleansing but I wonder why its happening.

Master Cleanse Day 9

Day 9

So I feel really good today like I can do this for another 30 days ..lol Well we will see how log this last. I wanted to eat, but It wasn't like the usual the feeling was less intense. I also had 2 solid bowel movements today.. I am so sorry for all of the nastiness that that entailed. but that may be why I am feeling amazing. for the last 2 days I had none, and before that they were always like pee.. ok that’s over. I had about 5 or 6 glasses of lemonade today, and that may be why, but I drastically made up for yesterday. I also made it into like an ice smoothie, which was really good. but that combination brought a lot out of me. I didn't weigh myself today but I probably lost a pound or so.

Master Cleanse Day 8

Day 8

I lost about ½ a pound today. because of my horrible scale I can’t tell how much. I feel up and down today, my menstrual isn't helping. I have a birthday dinner to go to tonight at 7:30. I am going to go late so that I don’t make everyone uncomfortable with my cleanse..lol and to help me not want to eat. I have been averaging about 5 glasses of lemonade a day. So its late and I noticed that my body was getting really irritated with the cigarette smoke that was at the place. I hate cigarette smoke but my body felt like it just wanted to spit it out. I didn't end up drinking my lemonade that I brought so I only drank like 2 glasses today.. I know that's bad.

WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE / HYPERTENSION

WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE / HYPERTENSION

Hypertension is medically defined as: "A common, often asymptomatic disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure persistently exceeding 140/90 mm Hg. Essential hypertension, the most frequent kind, has no single identifiable cause, but the risk of the disorder is increased by obesity, a high sodium level in serum, hypercholesterolemia, and a family history of high blood pressure. The incidence of hypertension is higher in men than in women and is twice as great in blacks as in whites. Persons with mild or moderate hypertension may be asymptomatic or may experience suboccipital headaches, especially on rising, tinnitus, lightheadedness, easy fatigability, and palpitations. With sustained hypertension arterial walls become thickened, inelastic, and resistant to blood flow, and, as a result, the left ventricle becomes distended and hypertrophied in its efforts to maintain normal circulation. Inadequate blood supply to the coronary arteries may cause angina or myocardial infarction. Left ventricular hypertrophy may lead to congestive heart failure." Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 3rd ed, p. 590
TYPES:
Resistant hypertension- is defined as the failure to reduce BP to the appropriate level after taking a three-drug regimen.[4] The American Heart Association released guidelines for treating resistant hypertension
Essential hypertension- indicates that no specific medical cause can be found to explain a patient's condition.
Secondary hypertension- indicates that the high blood pressure is a result of (i.e., secondary to) another condition, such as kidney disease or tumours (pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma).

HOW IT IS DEFINED:
Normal blood pressure reading for adults is 120 (systolic) / 80 (diastolic)
High Blood Pressure: Boarderline: (120-160/90-94) Mild: (140-160/95-104) Moderate: (140-180/105-114) Severe: (160+/115+)
In individuals older than 50 years, hypertension is considered to be present when a person's systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mm Hg or greater. Beginning at a systolic pressure of 115 and diastolic pressure of 75 (commonly written as 115/75 mm Hg), cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk doubles for each increment of 20/10 mmHg.[4]
Prehypertension is defined as blood pressure from 120/80 mm Hg to 139/89 mm Hg. Prehypertension is not a disease category; rather, it is a designation chosen to identify individuals at high risk of developing hypertension.[4]
Hypertension, is known as the ’silent killer’ because most people can’t tell when their blood pressure is high. Elevated blood pressure can lead to a greatly increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious illnesses. Along with high cholesterol and smoking, hypertension is one of the most serious causes of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
Hypertension is the result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.


SOME CAUSES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
• White table salt (sodium chloride)
• Too much sodium in foods ( read the label)
• Low fiber
• Coffee consumption
• Alcohol intake
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High sodium to potassium ratio
• Low fiber
• High sugar diet
• High saturated fat
• Low essential fatty acids
• Pharmaceutical drugs are right behind salt in contributing to high blood pressure. Pharmaceutical drugs have the same reaction in the body as white table salt. It is very common for people who take numerous drugs to develop high blood pressure.

FACTS ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
"An estimated 50 million Americans have high blood pressure. According to the U.S. Public Health Service, hypertension affects more than half of all Americans over the age of sixty-five. The percentage of the African-American population with high blood pressure is approximately one-third higher than that for whites. African-Americans between the ages of twenty-four and forty-four are eighteen times more likely than whites to develop kidney failure due to hypertension." – James F. Balch, M.D.
"In 1990, nearly 33,000 Americans died of hypertension-related disease other than heart attack and stroke." Balch supra.
Risk factors for high blood pressure include but is not limited to: STRESS, cigarette smoking, OBESITY, pharmaceutical drug use; HIGH SODIUM consumption, oral contraceptive use, stimulants; and EXCESSIVE meat and dairy consumption.
HOW TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE NATURALLY:
• Greatly modify the diet.
• Cut out or greatly cut back on meat and dairy products. Give mock meats, i.e. seitan, Gardein, soy/tempeh a try. And there are plenty of dairy-free dairy alternatives available today.
• Eliminate refined grains from the diet. Eat only whole-wheat grains.
• Reduce consumption of refined starches. Bake your starches instead of frying them.
• Cut out or greatly cut back on drinking acidic beverages (i.e. soda pop, beer, wine, coffee, lattes, milk, etc.). Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily (to help flush the body).
• Eat more vegetables (preferably organic) raw or steamed is best! Drink vegetable juice periodic (helps to wash away arterial plaque).increase onions garlic and celery
• Eat more e raw, whole fruits (preferably organic) and drink fruit juice (especially blueberry juice).
• Season your food with sea salt (use half of what calls for salt in a recipe, for example, if a recipe calls for one teaspoon of salt, you would use just half a teaspoon of sea salt). Try Herbal seasonings
• Avoid cooking with unhealthy oils such as lard, vegetable oil, corn oil, soy oil, canola oil, and kernal oil. Better oils to cook with include olive oil, grape seed oil, safflower oil, and sunflower seed oil, but only for low temperature cooking, like sautéing. It is actually best and better to bake your food than to fry it. This way, you don't require all that oil to fry with.
• If you smoke, consider quitting
• Cut back on alcohol consumption
• Move! EXERCISE or stretch!
• Look for herbal-based alternatives. There is an herbal alternative to every drug you may be taking. If you need help, contact One of our Health Counselors and we will assist you.
HERBS THAT HELP HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Cayenne, Butcher's Broom, Cinnamon, Glucomannan, Hawthorn Berries, Motherwort, and
European Mistletoe, chamomile, fennel

What is Celiac Disease?

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease also called celiac sprue is a chronic digestive disorder that is caused by an intolerance to gluten. Gluten is a component of wheat (including drum, semolina, and spelt) rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as triticale and kamut. It also appears to have a strong genetic component.
The small intestine is damages when a person with celiac disease consumes gluten. The theory is that the body responds to gluten as if it was an antigen and launches an immune system attack when it is absorbed by the intestine. This in turn causes the lining of the small intestine to swell. As a result, tiny, hair like projections called villi are basically destroyed, which impairs the body’s ability to absorb vital nutrients. The body stops absorbing the good stuff in the food, and the loss of vitamins, minerals, and calories results in malnutrition despite an adequate diet. Then diarrhea adds to the problem. Because the disease impairs digestion, food allergies may also appear (how do you know if you have food allergies? Try our food allergy diet)

When do you show signs of the disease? It affects both adults and children and it can appear at any age, but you may discover it at two very distinct times in your life. A very common age range is during the first 3 years of life after cereals are introduced into the diet. Studies have shown that breast-feeding may have a preventative effect, and that the introduction of cow’s milk and cereal grains into the child’s diet at an early age may be directly related to the child developing this disease. Another common age range is the third decade of life. The disease can be triggered by emotional stress or physical trauma such as a surgery or pregnancy.
What are the symptoms?
The first signs are usually diarrhea, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies. Other symptoms can include nausea: abdominal swelling: large pale yellow colored stools that float; depression, fatigue; irritability; muscle cramps; and joint and or bone pain.
Children
Infants or children may exhibit stunted growth, vomiting, an intense burning sensation of the skin and a red itchy skin rash called “dermatitis herpetiformis. A baby with celiac disease may gain weight more slowly than normal or may lose weight. The infant may have a poor appetite, gas, and offensive smelling bowel movements. The child is likely to have an anemic undernourished appearance. Ulcers may develop in the mouth.
If left untreated celiac disease can be quite serious, even life threatening. Bone disease, such as osteoporosis, central and peripheral nervous system impairment, seizures caused by inadequate absorption of folic acid, internal hemorrhaging, pancreatic disease, infertility, miscarriages and birth defects and gynecological disorders are just some of the long term modalities that can affect those with celiac disease. Certain autoimmune disorders can be associated with celiac disease, including kidney disease (nephrosis), Scarcoidosis ( the formation of lesions in the lungs, bones, skin, and other places), insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, systematic lupus erythermatosus , thyroid disease and rarely chronic active hepatitis, scleroderma, myasthenia gravis, Addison’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and sjojren’s syndrome
How you can be tested for the disease?
It is hard to be tested for the disease because symptoms are similar to those of other diseases.

Test include: Blood testing, and a biopsy of intestinal tissue
Herbs: Alfalfa, Olive leaf, Golden seal

What is a Colon Cleanse?

What is a Colon Cleanse?

A colon cleanse removes toxins from your colon and makes it work more efficiently. A colon cleanse provides support for the mucus membranes in your digestive organs and increases stimulation of bile flow. There are different types of colon cleanses. Some use herbs some use fiber and some use oxygen.
We use:
Homozon Which you can get from: Oxygen America
Dr Natura’s colon cleanse, which you can get a nice coupon off of our site for and OxyFlush


We absolutely love the oxygenated colon cleanses! (Please see our article on Oxygen Therapy) Oxygenated colon cleanses allow you to clean your colon and provides oxygen to your body assisting the healing process.
Why do we need to clean out the colon?
The colon can affect all of the other organs in the body. Most people’s colons are in a state of disarray. It is filled with mucus plaque, toxins and parasites. Many people unknowingly have acne (and a host of other conditions) because they need to clean out their colon. Poor diet and lifestyle choices leads to a pretty messed up colon. Too much protein, salt and sugar can lead to over-acidity( see our acidic foods article) and depletes the body of necessary minerals and electrolytes. This then leads to the inability of the colon to tackle harmful bacteria and toxins.
Colonic
Another way to clean your colon is by getting a colonic. Colonics help to cleanse the large intestine (colon) and the sigmoid (lower bowel). Performed by a professional and skilled colonic irrigation specialist in a safe, hygienic, and pleasant facility and utilizing modern and state-of-the-art colonic hydrotherapy equipment, colonics are very safe..

Colon cleansing herbs
Herbs such as Senna (leaves/pods), Cascara Sagrada, Aloe Vera resin, Rhubarb, Mandrake, Bilwa, Glucomannan, Bibitaki, Buckthorn, and Jalap Root will stimulate and enhance peristalsis. Senna is a very powerful African herb that will greatly unclog the colon and reverse constipation. Along with the herbs supra, fiber and mucilaginous herbs such as Psyllium Husks, Pamita, Fennel, Guar Gum, Acacia Gum, Oats, Irish Moss, Slippery Elm bark, and Kelp will help to eradicate constipation by constantly bulking up and sweeping the walls of the colon. Irish Moss is a very invaluable herb (sea weed, ocean herb) as it aids in the formation of stools.

What are raw foods

What are raw foods

Raw Foods are an essential component to natural health. They are whole foods, unprocessed, not cooked or treated by any type of chemicals. You can dehydrate raw food in fact this is how raw foodist make some of their breads and treats. However, usually the term is used for food that has not been heated above 115°F. The belief is that when food is heated above this temperature the enzymes in the food are destroyed or denatured, and cannot provide the same nutritive value. Although there are exceptions, most people who follow a raw food diet are vegan or vegetarian.

Benefits:
• You will get more nutritional benefit from eating food in its natural state
• Your body will be able to release toxins
• You will be able to heal from disease faster
• Your skin will improve sometimes acne will totally disappear
• You will have more energy and even look a lot younger
• Fight obesity by allowing your body to naturally lose weight

You do not have to be a vegan or a vegetarian to enjoy a this diet. Most people try to incorporate 50 percent raw food into their daily diet. With this increase, you may see a dramatic difference in the overall quality of your life.

So what are some of the things that raw foodies eat? They eat fresh fruits, dried fruits, herbs, nuts, seeds, spices and seaweed. When buying food you should try to make it organic so you can limit the amount of pesticides that the food was exposed to. You can also use sweeteners but make sure they are raw sweeteners such as, Date sugar, Dried fruit, Raw honey and Sucanat are common sweeteners. Check out our raw roods grocery list!

Vitamin Supplement Benefit

Vitamin Supplement Benefit

Vitamins are a group of organic food nutrients found only in living things, plants and animals. Vitamins are divided into two classes based on their solubility. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin K. The water-soluble vitamins are folate (folic acid), vitamin B12, biotin, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Fat-soluble vitamins contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen while water-soluble vitamins contain these three elements plus nitrogen and some-times sulfur. Water-soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body and the Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in substantial amounts in the body.
Vitamins are necessary in small amounts for normal metabolism and good health. Vitamins and minerals have no calories and are not an energy source, but assist in metabolizing nutrients in food and are invaluable in keeping your body running smoothly. Vitamins make it possible for other nutrients to be digested, absorbed and metabolized by the body. They are required to do many things and their excess or depletion can lead to acute and chronic disease.
Vitamins promote normal growth, provide proper metabolism, ensure good health and protect against certain diseases. Vitamin is required by the body in small amounts for metabolism, to protect health, and for proper growth in children.

When thinking of a Vitamin Supplement Benefit , vitamins assist in the formation of hormones, blood cells, nervous-system chemicals, and genetic material. Vitamins mainly serve as catalysts for certain reactions in the body. They combine with proteins to create metabolically active enzymes that in turn produce hundreds of important chemical reactions throughout the body. The fundamentals of cells depend greatly upon vitamins. Vitamins are responsible for keeping cells strong, binding tissues, fighting infections, etc. Without vitamins our cells would not function properly, thus, our organs would suffer, and eventually we would no longer be able to survive. Vitamins help regulate metabolism, help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assist in forming bone and tissue.
Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division and differentiation. Vitamin B complex improves the body's resistance to stress. Aids in digestion, promotes good muscle tone, healthy skin. Vitamin B complex reduces muscle spasms, leg cramps, hand numbness and helps regulate blood pressure. Vitamin C is responsible for helping to build and maintain our tissues and strengthening our immune system. An adequate amount of vitamin D is necessary for preventing bone loss. Vitamin E is the most effective, fat-soluble antioxidant known to occur in the human body. The main function of vitamin E is to maintain the integrity of the body's intracellular membrane by protecting its physical stability and providing a defense line against tissue damage caused by oxidation. Alpha-lipoic acid helps to neutralize the effects of free radicals on the body. Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting and bone metabolism (carboxylation of osteocalcin). Bioflavonoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Vitamin Diet Supplement

Vitamin Diet Supplement

What is a good vitamin diet supplement?
A good vitamin diet supplement should have a range or vitamins and minerals that must be present together because they complement each other.
Listed below are some of the benchmarks that we look for in a lab assessment of a dietary supplement.
• No microbial contamination - bacteria, yeast, or mold.
• No heavy metals - lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic or aluminum.
• Free of chemical solvent residue, pesticides and herbicides.
• No rancidity.
• Label claim potency - the product contains what the label claims.
• Stability - the product maintains potency until the expiration date.
• No dioxins, mercury, or PCBs in fish oil products.
Additional Quality Considerations
Product manufactured according to standards- A top-quality supplement is manufactured according to the strict standards of United States Pharmacopeia, and the proposed Food & Drug Administration's Current Good Manufacturing Practice Guidelines.
Non-allergenic- Supplements with food colorings such as tartrazine are a common source of allergy problems. Many "natural" supplements come from food sources such as corn, soy, yeast, dairy, or egg, which may cause allergy problems.
Highest purity- Some supplement manufacturers try to save money by adding cheap fillers, including lactose, sucrose, hydrated aluminum silicate, modified corn starch, sodium chloride, or sand. Binders, lubricants, and disintegrators might include talc, soap, rancid oils, shellac, tree sap, polyethylene glycol, waxes, or cornstarch.
Correct potency- Labeling can be deceptive. For example, it is legal to say "100 mg of citrus bioflavonoid complex" when in fact the "complex" you are getting is 30 mg of bioflavonoid and 70 mg of lactose (milk sugar). In addition, some manufacturers cut costs by simply not including the full amount of the nutrient.
Standardized herb potency- The potency of herbs in a supplement can vary wildly, depending on what part of the plant is used, the time of year it was harvested, how long it was stored, or how it was processed. By potency, we're referring to the components of the plant that are biologically active in your body. The most reputable supplement manufacturers used herbs with a "standardized" potency, so that you will know exactly how much of the biologically active part of the herb you are getting.

This is a great vitamin diet supplement website. It reviews the supplements and there is not outside funding.

Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin Supplements

Everyone is taking Vitamin Supplements . Please note that not all vitamins are created equally; let us start with why we need a vitamin. Back in the day people were not taking vitamins/did not need vitamin, even now in some very isolated cultures people are not taking vitamins mainly because we should get all of the vitamins and minerals that we need from fresh fruits and vegetables. Do we need vitamin supplements? Yes! Now more than ever! With the new age of prepackaged overcooked food, vitamins and mineral supplements are a necessity.
Most cultures made their meals from a variety of fresh food that was grown locally. The locality of fruits and vegetables allows the plants more time in the earth or on the vine that time lets the food soak up all of the vitamins and minerals that come from the soil and the sun. Most foods today are not grown locally; the plane conveniently transports goods from Costa Rica to Pittsburgh and from California to Boston. This is not necessarily a terrible thing; it allows areas that are cold and barren during the winter to supply an abundance of produce to people. However, all foods deteriorate as they age so shipping them over great distances also depletes the nutrients. In addition, chemicals are often added to these fruits so that they can look ripe and fresh when you receive them.
The old farming methods allowed the soil to be cultivated correctly and they switched the seeds from season to season. Modern mass-production agriculture depletes nutrients from the soil without replenishing them. The application of synthetic fertilizers stimulates the growth of plants that look beautiful; however, the nutrient content is missing. As a result, when you have a salad or slice of multi grain bread, you're getting less nutrition today than from the identical foods grown in the same soil fifty years ago.

We then add the fact that we also overcook and over process are food which strips away more vitamins and nutrients. Even if you prepare your meals at home, most of your food is probably cooked, not raw. The more you cook food, the less its nutrient value. Of course, there are some foods, such as grains and dried legumes that you have to cook and soak because they're inedible when raw.

The diet was also more diverse allowing a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to be eaten daily. Vitamin supplementation is not a supplement for a balanced and whole foods diet. The best thing to do is to incorporate a variety of fresh produce into your diet and take a multi vitamin and/or multi mineral supplement.
What are the benefits of a vitamin supplement?


What makes a vitamin good or bad?

Toxicity

Toxicity

Common indications include:
• frequent headaches • fatigue • weakness • muscle or joint aches and pains • sensitivities to chemicals, foods, drugs, especially to odors • poor concentration • poor memory • irritability • insomnia, anxiety, depression • mood swings • allergies • abnormal body odor • chronic respiratory or sinus problems • itching • bad breath • coated tongue • poor digestion • chronic constipation • brittle nails and hair • acne • weight gain • immune weakness

Many of the toxins that we ingest or make are stored in the fatty tissues. Obesity is almost always associated with toxicity. When we lose weight, we reduce our fat and thereby our toxic load. However, during weight loss we release more toxins, and thus need protection through greater intake of water, fiber, and the antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, selenium, and zinc. With exercise we can also turn fat into muscle (not literally) and help further detoxification.
Being toxic may also play a role in the following diseases and conditions:
• Arthritis, gout • Parkinson’s diseases • Alzheimer’s diseases • Autoimmune diseases • PMS • Tension headaches, migraine headaches • Kidney stones • Gallstones • Irritable bowel syndrome • Cirrhosis • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Fibromyalgia • Skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema, acne • Allergies • Chronic infections • Obesity • Peptic ulcers • Parasites, worms • Asthma • Colitis • Drug addiction

Importance Of Detoxification
Detoxification is essential for good health. We detoxify and cleanse our body for many reasons, mainly to improve health, vitality, and rejuvenation. Detoxification can be helpful for weight loss. Detoxifying gives our overloaded digestive and eliminative organs a chance to rest and clear out accumulated toxins. Most often our energy is increased and more steady. Detoxifying helps to clear addictions, improve symptoms, treat disease and prevent chronic disease. By detoxification of the body, we can optimize the well being of our healthy cells including our immune system.
Benefits of detoxification include: • improved health • better work of organs • weight loss • clean skin • improved flexibility • slowed aging • increased energy • better breath • reduced allergies • potentially fewer aches and pains • stronger immune system • healthier skin and hair • improved concentration and memory

Seasonal Foods

 Seasonal Foods

Seasonal FoodsChoosing food that is in season gives the year rhythm and ritual. The local strawberries are sweeter and the local spinach is fresh. Eating seasonal puts your body in tune with the climate you are living in.

 

January

Vegetables

• cabbages
• leeks
• broccoli
• cauliflower

Fruits

• oranges
• grapefruit
• tangerines
• tangelos
• lemons
• papayas

February

Vegetables

• broccoli
• cauliflower

Fruits

• oranges
• grapefruits
• lemons
• papayas

March

Vegetables

• broccoli
• lettuce

Fruits

• pineapples
• mangoes

April

Vegetables

• zucchini
• rhubarb
• artichokes
• asparagus
• spring peas
• broccoli
• lettuce

Fruits

• pineapples
• mangoes

May

Vegetables

• okra
• zucchini
• rhubarb
• artichokes
• asparagus
• spring peas
• broccoli
• lettuce

Fruit

• cherries
• pineapples
• apricots

June

Vegetables

• corn
• lettuce

Fruit

• watermelon
• strawberries
• cantaloupe
• cherries
• blueberries
• peaches
• apricots

July

Vegetables

• cucumbers
• tomatoes
• summer squash
• corn
• green beans
• lettuce

Fruits

• watermelon
• strawberries
• cantaloupe
• blueberries
• peaches
• apricots
• kiwi
• raspberries
• plums

August

Vegetables

• cucumbers
• corn
• eggplant
• tomatoes
• summer squash
• green beans
• lettuce

Fruits

• watermelon
• strawberries
• cantaloupe
• blueberries
• peaches
• apricots
• kiwi
• raspberries
• plums

September

Vegetables

• eggplants
• pumpkins
• tomatoes
• spinach
• lettuce

Fruits

• grapes
• pomegranates

October

Vegetables

• sweet potatoes
• pumpkins
• winter squash
• broccoli
• spinach lettuce

Fruits

• cranberries
• apples
• pomegranates
• grapes

November

Vegetables

• pumpkins
• winter squash
• sweet potatoes
• broccoli
• mushrooms
• spinach

Fruit

• cranberries
• oranges
• tangerines
• pears
• pomegranates

December

Vegetables

• sweet potatoes
• mushrooms
• broccoli
• cauliflower

Fruit

• pears
• oranges
• grapefruit
• tangerines
• papayas
• pomegranates

Bananas, potatoes and celery seem to always be in season. For bananas, at least, I think it's because they have to be shipped into just about everywhere. There are a few holes in this list, admittedly. I didn't find a clear season for carrots, parsnips and a few other vegetables and fruits.