Helpful Centers

June 16, 2008

The Colloidal Silver Controversy

Filed under: Nutrition Info — admin @ 6:20 pm

Colloidal Silver might just be a wonderful thing and here’s
why: Prokaryotic, a.k.a bacterial cells and viruses cannot
live in it’s presence. That means that whether you have a
cold caused by a virus or a bacterial infection, colloidal
silver could be used to fight the infection.

Think about it, if anything is caused by bacteria or
viruses, it could certainly be influenced by the use of
colloidal silver. It can also act as a topical treatment to
prevent cuts or burns from becoming infected.

Colloidal silver will deactivate a prokaryotic pathogen’s ability to use oxygen, thereby suffocating the pathogen to death. Germs are not able to mutate to beat silver - at least not so far. So the super strains of bacteria that have shown up in recent times are not able to defeat silver.

Colloidal Silver is somewhat controversial. It seems to be
generally agreed that Colloidal Silver is an effective
topical antibacterial agent. Long term internal use may have
side affects, such as turning the skin blue. There is also
the question of heavy metal toxicity.

You might find it interesting to recognize that there isn’t
much argument about short term use. It seems to me that you
could use it like an antibiotic for two weeks at a time when
necessary. Of course, I’m not a doctor and you shouldn’t
attempt to self treat. If you have a health condition, go
see your doctor.

So, how come doctors don’t use colloidal silver in their
practices? Interesting question, that one.

All I can do is point out that colloidal silver is available
without a prescription at your local health food store.

The author of “The Body Electric” did some research on
silver and he found it to be a great treatment for burns,
that it did not upset the intestinal environment the way
that convention antibiotics do and he saw it as an
eliminator of pathogens.

Pathogens are those pesky bacteria and viruses that seem to
cause so much trouble. Silver is used in the treatment of
burns today.

This may be important: There are some out there that claim
the colloidal silver available on the market today is not in
a high enough concentrations to be effective. Some
recommend 500 PPM solutions.

PPM stands for Parts Per Million. You can find 500 PPM
solutions in health stores occasionally. There is not
enough research out there to say for sure that you need 500
PPM. But it doesn’t seem that unreasonable either.

Many brands that you find in store are only 50 or even 5
PPM.

Colloidal silver is available without a prescription, which
could be telling about why there isn’t more research
available. It’s just not profitable for the people who do
the most medical research to investigate it.

The money for them is in researching and creating new drugs.
In other words, there is no way to corner the market on
colloidal silver.

You would be right to lament the fact that not enough
research has been done, to tell us more about this
incredible option.

And it’s not that research has never been done. There is a
large body of research that supports the use of it, however,
it has never become mainstream knowledge

Again, some doctors and scientists are concerned about
toxicity levels with colloidal silver. If you have any
questions about it, it might be a good idea to consult with
your physician. See what she says about it.

Important note: Though many people use or have used colloidal silver without ill effects, including myself, there are some who have suffered terribly by the use of silver nitrate sprayed into the nasal passages. They have turned blue permanently due to the amount of silver that permeated the skin. Even though colloidal silver and the silver nitrate that used to be sprayed into the nose are not the same, you should do your research carefully before deciding to use colloidal silver.

This article is for information purposes only. It is not
intended to suggest treatment, prevention, or diagnoses for
any illness. See your doctor for diagnoses and treatment.

Dave Snape is a health, fitness and wellness enthusiast. His website is http://tobeinformed.com

June 11, 2008

Nutritional Supplements - A Few Reality Checks

Filed under: Nutrition Info — admin @ 8:20 pm

Aside from big Pharma being on their anti-nutritional supplement kick, there is another dark side to the supplement business that needs to have a little exposure. How often have we heard the comment “it’s natural so it’s safe?” Well, deadly nightshade and poisonous mushrooms are natural but I wouldn’t eat either so that nonsensical comment about natural being safer should be thrown to the wolves.

There are other issues in the supplement industry that need to be exposed as well. A number of the problems stem from multi-level companies which tout their products as being the best things in the world and that they will answer all of your health needs if you just sign up and buy their products. One such company touts that they have over 90 minerals in their multivitamin/multimineral supplement and that this will bring incredible vitality to all who use it. Well, I’m here to give you the old, “buyer beware” warning. If you think mercury, cadmium, aluminum, and arsenic are essential to health, then by all means buy the gunk. If you know otherwise like most of us do, then you’ll avoid that overpriced toxic soup like the plague.

When I argued with one of the shills from this multilevel company and pointed out the fact that their product contained poisonous heavy metals, he proclaimed loudly that “they were organic heavy metals and therefore safe.” When I pressed further and noted that the claim he made was absolute rubbish and total nonsense because organic heavy metals still posed a health threat he responded with the comment that “God put it on earth so it has to be safe.” He then accused me of being anti-God which took me aback because the last time I heard that kind of reasoning was when I was in elementary school.

The other problem with many of these products is their incredible expense. You’ve got to pay all of those downline distributors so the retail price of the products they hawk have to be exorbitant to start with. Best to go to your local health food store and buy a high quality multivitamin (capsules not tableted) and save yourself a lot of money and aggravating sales pitches from the salesmen.

Mark Schauss is the President of Carbon Based Corporation a company dedicated to diseminating health information, especially when it comes to laboratory testing. He has lectured the world over on subjects as far ranging as environmental health, nutrition, lab testing and childhood neurological conditions, especially epilepsy a condition his oldest girl is afflicted with.
Mark has also been involved in the alternative health community for over 20 years. His opinions have often times struck a controversial note not because of outrageous claims but because of his strident fervor of finding the truth. Hucksters, marketers and the dishonest are his life goal targets.
Highly respected in the community, his talks spark numerous “ah ha” moments as well as a deeper understanding of the important health questions of the day.

May 20, 2008

Calcium Magnesium

Filed under: Nutrition Info — admin @ 11:34 am

Calcium and magnesium are two elements that are highly essential for the body. They are mentioned together because they mostly function as a group. Calcium is the most abundant element in the body and is extremely essential for the growth and development of the bones. However it is not very easy for calcium to get absorbed within the body and hence most of it is flushed out. Magnesium is the element that helps calcium to get absorbed within the body.

Calcium and magnesium are retailed together in the form of tablets. Since both of them are better absorbed in the body in their chelated forms, one should look for their citrates, gluconates, aspartates, glycinates or lactates in the ingredients.

When the diet is insufficient in magnesium, calcium does not get absorbed in the blood and bones. Instead, it collects in the soft tissues, leading to arthritic pains. A common misconception was that arthritis is caused due to the deficiency of calcium. It is actually not the deficiency, but the malabsorption of calcium that is the culprit. A diet supplemented with magnesium can remedy the situation by allowing calcium to get absorbed in the blood and the bones.

Osteoporosis, i.e. the softening of long bones, is also caused due to improper absorption of calcium in the body. A diet well-balanced with magnesium can treat conditions of osteoporosis. Magnesium and calcium together can also reduce pain during menstrual cramps and pregnancy in women.

A proper ratio of calcium and magnesium in the body is 2:1. Higher proportion of calcium is required because it has difficulties in getting absorbed in the body. It is advisable to have at least 1000 mg of calcium and 500 mg of magnesium in the daily diet.

There are many natural foods that are rich in both calcium and magnesium. Calcium is present in all dairy foods such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, etc. It is also present in turnips and kelps. Magnesium is found abundantly in nuts such as almonds, cashew nuts and brazil nuts. It is also found in good proportions in buckwheat, brown rice, dandelion greens and corn.

Refined sugar and alcohol interfere directly with the amounts of calcium and magnesium in the body. Both of these substances eliminate more magnesium out of the body in the form of urine. As a result, magnesium is unavailable for the absorption of calcium and its level goes down too. Hence, people suffering from bone related problems must reduce their intake of both refined sugar and alcohol.

Magnesium provides detailed information on Calcium Magnesium, Magnesium, Magnesium Chloride, Magnesium Citrate and more. Magnesium is affiliated with Calcium Deficiency.

May 18, 2008

Colloidal Silver Immune Support - Snake Oil or Supplement

Filed under: Nutrition Info — admin @ 1:34 am

Colloidal silver has exploded on the web as a supplement, heralded as a cure all, and cursed by some officials that seem to be motivated by the large pharmaceuticals.

Colloidal silver was used as a natural antibiotic prior to the discovery of penicillin. The new antibacterial agent was the drug of favor worldwide. Colloidal silver was shoved to the back of medical consciousness and found little use after 1929. But wait, the medical world did not stop using silver. The overwhelming healing qualities of silver are continued even now in the world’s burn centers and millions of babies have had a silver concentrate flushed into their eyes immediately after birth.

So if this natural antibiotic was once used so widely, why did the physicians stop using it? Did bacteria develop a resistance to colloidal silver? Did it stop working? The answer seems to be a pharmaceutical decision. No resistance was developed to colloidal silver by bacteria and the benefits are as good today as they were prior to 1929.

A few wise doctors continued to use colloidal silver and some wise patients remembered this silver concoction and readily continued its use as it became an over the counter “supplement”. The immune system fights all intrusive germs, bacteria and disease to prevent the body from falling victim to disease.

Like any substance that is taken in excess the body treats overdoses of a substance as a toxin and rejects the immune system overload. Wheat eaten in excess is poisonous to the body. We recognize that excess grain in horses will cause them to founder and in some cases die. The effect would be similar in humans. Colloidal silver when ingested in the amounts recommended as a supplement has clinically shown to be an immune system support guarding against viral infections and bacterial infections.

Some manufacturers of colloidal silver used to make a solution of silver chloride. This is not desirable as it will cause the silver to accumulate under the skin giving a light blue hue to the skin. There are no known side effects in taking colloidal silver that is properly made and consumed. There are no recorded deaths from taking this immune system support boosting supplement, but plenty of government pressure trying to halt the sale for no other apparent reason than to appease the heavy lobbying pharmaceutical companies that seem to now want to prescribe this remedy again.

Colloidal silver has been sold as a dietary supplement for the immune system in every major health food chain in the country for over 25 years. The concentration of 1100 ppm used to be the “standard” available in 4 once bottles. It can be made up to 5 ppm in the home with a 9 volt battery, two silver leads in a glass of distilled water.

Testimonials have filled hundreds of web pages of how colloidal silver has been beneficial. These unsolicited accounts testify of a natural antibiotic that has powers beyond just being an immune system support “supplement”.

James Zeller writes for numerous alternative health websites and blogs. Colloidal silver has been a passionate subject for this author. You can find more information on colloidal silver at colloidalsilverworld.com or
n-ergetics.com for various kinds of colloidal silvers.

April 5, 2008

Healthy Recipes For Kids

Filed under: Nutrition Info — admin @ 8:32 pm

Healthy eating is important for proper growth in kids. Parents want to give their children a variety of nutrient-enriched food and drinks to help them to grow stronger and healthier. Usually, life patterns are set in childhood and early puberty. Following a healthy diet routine and using healthy recipes will give them the benefit of enjoying a strong body for the rest of their adult lives.

Healthy recipes for kids can be prepared by knowing facts about the food we eat. There is high-protein, high-fiber food that works for kids, and nutrient-empty, processed junk food that works against them. Studies show that on average, kids receive around thirty-eight percent of their daily calories from fats. The bad fat is responsible for creating free radicals in the body, which harm our good cellsincluding the brain cells. This fat negatively contributes towards obesity, heart disease, allergies, and other harmful conditions.

Sensible diets make sure that your kids are well, prevent the risk of developing dangerous diseases, and keep the foundation for solid mental as well as physical health. Junk food and unhealthy food can leave your child open to food hazards and infection, especially during rapid growth periods.

Statistics show that the obesity rate in kids is four times higher than it was in 1960s.This leaves children more susceptible to problems like diabetes, growth disorders, and sometimes even cancer.

Good food doesn’t mean bland taste. Kids can easily be lured to eat healthy food by presenting it in a colorful and decorative manner. The carrot will look enticing if it is shaped like a cartoon figure, spinach can taste yummy if combined with a dash of cheese, and cereals will be wiped clean from the dish if presented in attractive serving plates. The trick is to educate them about the food, list the benefits, and make kids feel that they are eating something special and different each day.

Healthy Recipes provides detailed information on Healthy Recipes, Healthy Chicken Recipes, Healthy Smoothie Recipes, Healthy Recipes For Kids and more. Healthy Recipes is affiliated with Gourmet Food Gift Baskets.