Our immune system is a complicated, versatile but amazing defence mechanism which protects our body from different environmental invaders. However most of us do not understand its importance till we fall ill. So today we’re going to talk about health foods and supplements to support your immune system and stay from falling ill altogether.

Vitamin C supplements prevent and reduce the symptoms of common cold and flu. Excellent sources of vitamin C include all citrus fruits, sweet peppers, strawberries, kiwi fruit and broccoli. They contain hundreds of phytochemicals that provide many preventative health benefits, by boosting the activity of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Vitamin C is also a very powerful antioxidant and helps the immune system by scavenging free radicals in our body.

Vitamin A: Skin is the first line of defence for our immune systems and vitamin A plays a vital role to support it. All yellow colour fruits like carrots, squash, pumpkin are great sources of beta-carotene which the body quickly turns into vitamin A. Research has also shown that older adults with high intakes of Vitamin A had a slower rate of mental decline.

Zinc is a trace metal which is essential for the functioning of the free radical scavenger Glutathione, which can increase the efficiency of immune system to fight against common cold, sore throat.

Few herbs can also work wonders to provide a powerful defence against harmful bugs:

1. Echinacea: The flowers of this herb are well known for their ability to prevent or decrease the duration of the common cold. It also helps prevent the breakdown of the connective tissue that invading organisms encourage, which lets them spread.
2. Turmeric and Garlic have anti-microbial, anti inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and expectorant properties. It is best taken with hot water and honey fresh after peeling.
3. Astragalus increases phagocyte activity, the function of the natural killer cells, as well as increasing the levels of antibodies thus boosting all aspects of the immune system.

Our best bet for staying healthy and reducing our risk of falling ill is to eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and get plenty of exercise and adequate sleep every night.

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The Acai Berry is a high energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree  collected in the rainforests of Brazil. It tastes like a combination of chocolate and berries. Acai berry has been classified as a “super food”; a food with high phytonutrient content. Phytonutrient basically means that something has a high nutrient level such as beta carotene.Acai berries are filled with antioxidants, amino acids and fatty acids that are considered essential. This has been a large part of the reason for it’s explosion into the health supplement market – though it is generally only found in specialist retailers – not your local supermarket for example.This berry is special in the properties it possesses for anti-aging. It has approximately ten times more antioxidants than red grapes. Because of this it can provide many benefits including fighting premature aging and promoting cardiovascular and digestive health.Acai berry has been most commonly touted as an aid in weight loss, leading to the development of the supplement in various forms such as capsules, tablets, smoothies and powders. This is because the high fibre content of the berry makes you feel fuller quicker when eating meals. It also aids digestion enabling you to process your food more efficiently.  Of course endorsements from Brad Pitt and Oprah have done no harm to the credentials of this potent health food supplement as a weight loss aid.Whatever your beliefs about the Acai Berry there are no doubts that it does carry many health benefits.  It has been called the super food by many and a weight loss miracle berry by others. Super food, anti aging wonder or weight loss drug?  It has many properties that are very exciting.  If this berry can do half of what is claimed then it is a very worthwhile addition to your daily supplement intake.

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After our post on the Mangosteen and its affects on Arthritis a few days ago we had an email from one customer asking ‘what the hell are xanthones’? Fair enough – I better get to the point sharpish by the sounds of things. In a nutshell xanthones are natural occurring chemical compounds found in various organic materials – in our reference point the Mangosteen fruit. Many researchers actually believe that Mangosteen contains the strongest xanthones of any fruit, the most beneficial being Alpha Mangostin and Gamma Mangostin. This is why the Mangosteen is a largely sought after source of xanthones.As with most things health related, research continues into the various ways in which xanthones affect the human body. What has already been established is that xanthones are extremely potent anti-oxidants and, as such, are benficial in fighting illness and disease (including cancer and asthma). Xanthones have also been identified as having a positive effect on cardiovascular health, as well as being a natural anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory. As we mentioned a few days ago this has led to Mangosteen being widely used in the treatment of arthritis. This is due to its ability to treat inflammation, though this benefit could also extend to treating other ailments such as heart problems, headaches, MS, and circulatory issues. It’s fair to say Xanthones play a large role in Mangosteen being literally a super food!

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Because the causes of hyperthyroidism vary, the treatments also vary depending on the original cause. If you suspect that you are suffering from hyperthyroidism then you need to be thoroughly tested by your doctor to establish firstly that you do have the condition and, if so, what the exact cause is. Once a treatment plan is established it can include a mixture of controlling symptoms whilst planning a long term cure. For example, if your symptoms include increased heart rate and palpatations then beta blockers might be a good option to get your heart rate under control.

Hyperthyroidism can be treated using prescribed anti-thyroid medication such as Methimazole and propylthiouracil. Such medicines can lead to quick improvements but, unlike natural remedies, can lead to side effects including itchiness, rashing and fever. A more widely recommended form of treatment is radioactive iodine which works due to the thyroid cells being the only ones in the body that absorb the iodine. The radioactivity is therefor localised to kill the thyroid. Again this does not come without side effects as after treatment you will have to take hormone treatment for the rest of your life.

As always at Troo Health Care we prefer if possible to take the route of natural remedies such as Native Remedies ThyroSoothe. ThyroSoothe has been specially formulated to support thyroid gland function safely and naturally. You don’t have the risk of side effects or ever lasting hormone treatment. Used as part of a long term natural health treatment plan you can improve your thyroid function, whilst using other natural remedies such as TremorSoothe to help reduce any other underlying hyperthyroidism symptoms.

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The most common cause of Hyperthyroidism, the body’s over-stimulation of the thyroid gland, is Graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disease meaning, like all other such diseases, it is not clearly understood. Autoimmune diseases are caused when our body’s immune system reacts to a perceived threat only to resultantly attack the body. In the case of Graves disease the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland which leads to over-production of thyroid hormones.

Symptoms of Graves disease, as you would expect, are very similar to hyperthyroidism. A sufferer would expect to have swollen glands, lose weight, sweat excessively, have frequent bowel movements and experience nervousness, tremors and over-heating. It’s a complex disease which can affect areas all over the body, including the nervous system, digestion, reproduction, eyes, nails, hair, skin and more. It can also lead to added problems which could result in possibly fatal heart, liver and kidney failure – known as thyroid storm. If you start experiencing any related symptoms such as extreme irritation, palpatations, rapid pulse, nausea/vomiting, heightened fever or delirium then you need to seek urgent medical attention.

As mentioned before, as an autoimmune condition not much is known about the causes of Grave’s disease. It has been recognised to be passed down through families and affects eight times more women than men. Stress is thought to also be a trigger.

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Despite being one of the most common medical conditions, it is not uncommon for Thyroid problems to go undiagnosed for lengthy periods of time. Symptoms are often onset gradually over time which can make them less obvious and difficult to detect. There are three different types of Thyroid problem, each with their own symptoms to look out for.

Hypothyroidism occurs due to a lack of the thyroxine hormone being produced by the thyroid gland. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, putting on weight, constantly feeling cold, constipation, concentration problems, dry skin and hair and heavy menstrual periods. In extreme cases you could develop myxedema which leads to drowsiness and extreme intolerance to cold – if these symptoms show then you need urgent medical treatment.

Hyperthyroidism is a different thyroid condition brought about when the body ‘over stimulates’ the thyroid, most commonly caused by Graves disease. Commons symptoms include ‘jitteriness’, quick heart beat, loss of weight, tiredness, increased bowel movements and shortened menstrual periods. In more serious cases an extreme symptom which can develop is thyrotoxic crisis which involves rapid pulse, heightened fever and delirium. Obviously in such cases urgent medical attention is required.

The third Thyroid complaint relates to thyroid nodules which are fairly common and more often than not completely harmless. In most cases nodules do not come with any symptoms but could cause pain in the local area.

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If you’ve been looking into adding acai berry to your diet you will know it comes in many forms and formulas. The most common of these are as a juice, or as a supplement in capsule and powder form. So how do you decide which is best for you?Lets start with juices. There are many acai juices available but you need to ay attention to what your juice contains. Just like with any fruit juice in a supermarket, you may find these juices diluted with other ingredients. To get the most benefits of acai juice you need to find out how the juice is manufactured, what % of the juice is actually acai, and how much potency is retained in the processing.Acai supplements in the form of capsules and powders are a lot more straight forward and, in the case of the powder, you can use it to make your own juice. Any acai supplement you get should be manufactured using 100% pure freeze dried acai berry. Widely regarded as the best and most pure form of acai is the sambazon acai.Acai powder can be used with food or can be mixed into cakes etc. It can also be added to juice, water or smoothies. Acai capsules are the most common form of acai supplementation. If weight loss is your aim you can also get Acai complex formulas that are added to well known weight loss herbs for an ultimate acai weight loss formula – take a look at our Acai Extra at TrooHealthCare.com for an example of this. Generally speaking acai capsules are the most convenient method of taking Acai.

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Acai Berry has received much publicity as a weight loss supplement but there is much more to this little super-berry than that. Acai Berry is high in essential fatty acids, high in fibre and has a very high ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity) rating, a rating applied by scientists to measure the anti-oxidant levels in food and chemicals. The sum result of all of this is that acai berry supplements are literally bursting with healthy goodness.So what does all of this get you? Well for a start, the essential fatty acids in the berry are highly efficient in cholesterol control, reducing LDL levels while increasing HDL cholesterol. The fibre content mentioned means that Acai can be used as a digestive aid, supporting your bowels in processing foods. Meanwhile the high ORAC value gives the berry potent anti-oxidant status, cleansing your body of toxins and supporting its ability to fight off free radicals. You will also benefit from a boost to your immune system, ensuring your body is fit enough to fight off and prevent illness, disease and infection.As we mentioned before the Acai Berry is mainly known as a weight loss aid.  This is because of the potent combination of amino acids, carbohydrates and fibre that is present. This nutrition combo promotes a healthy metabolism within the body whilst acting as an effective appetite suppressant. Weight loss using acai has been confirmed by many of the reviews you will see of this product, whilst celebrity endorsements have added fuel to this fire. There is no doubt that the mere hype surrounding Acai Berry will raise doubt in peoples mind. There is little doubt though that no matter what your expectations of this berry, you will get plenty back in terms of health benefits.

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If you have even just a passing interest in health supplements then you will no doubt have come across Acai Berry, a new phenomenon in health and weight loss circles. Acai Berry has received celebrity acclaim from no less than Brad Pitt and Oprah, resulting in soaring popularity that is snowballing. So what exactly is Acai Berry?Acai Berries are small purple fruits found in Acai Palm trees in the Amazon rain forests of Brazil. Acai has long since been harvested by natives as a natural food source, revered for its rich nutrients and potent health qualities. Until recently Acai was little heard of in the Western world but has fast been acknowledged by experts as being the number 1 super-food on the market.The main problem encountered in globalising Acai Berry is the speed at which it ’spoils’, lasting little more than 24 hours from harvesting. This has been overcome by the use of freeze drying, a technique which helps retain all of the potency and nutrition of the berry. It is this freeze dried form of Acai Berry which has enabled the formulation of the Acai Berry supplements and powders you see in stores today. In our next post we will discuss further the health benefits provided by acai berry.

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One of the negative aspects of the improved lifestyle we enjoy in the modern world is the extra exposure we all have to different toxins and chemicals. Whether we’re walking our dogs, at work or eating a meal we are constantly absorbing toxins – through our skin, through the air that we breath, or through food and drink we consume. By means of detox and colon cleanse you can help your body to deal with the excess waste.

Over a short period of time we have begun to ask our bodies to perform an awful lot of work in processing these new toxins. Through time excess waste accumulates in the body, building up in fat cells, tissues, blood and organs etc. This build up in toxins can lead to illness and, in the case of the colon, poor digestion, fatigue and vulnerability to infection.

Colon Cleansing is an excellent form of body detox that can help relieve bloating and boost your immune system. It is especially important for meat eaters living on a ‘western diet’. This is because diets high in meat content leaves the colon open to putrefying foods for prolonged periods of time. A good colon cleanser can regularly flush your system clean, allowing your body to work as it was intended. The health benefits of regular flushing are numerous but remember; if you suffer from an existing medical condition or are on medication the please do check with your doctor before undertaking any colon cleansing program.

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