When talking about weight loss supplements there is an old school remedy that is often missed – Cider Vinegar. We’re all guilty of looking for the next weight loss mega supplement or fad, and sometimes this leads us to forget about the old faithful. The beauty about cider vinegar is that you might well have some already in your own cupboard, and if not you can always choose the popular apple cider vinegar tablets.

So exactly how does apple cider vinegar assist with your weight loss? The fact is, no one really knows for certain. Scientific studies have not been able to categorically prove anything with regards cider vinegar and its connection to weight loss. The reason to give cider vinegar a try is mainly down to previous results in tests and of previous and current users who have lost weight thanks to it.

There are a  some theories as to why cider vinegar helps in weight loss. It is believed that it speeds up a person’s natural metabolism, making our body digest and change food into energy quicker. Others have reported that cider vinegar actively burns the calories in your body to help you shift weight. Meanwhile other reports say that cider vinegar supports cleansing of the liver, an organ that can have a big impact on weight loss.

One recent experiment demonstrated that taking cider vinegar with or right before a meal can help you feel more full, and thus control eating habits. The test was a very small one, but the results looked very good. Admittedly Cider vinegar weight loss still has to be tested more before we can be sure just how much it helps. There’s evidence that ancient Egyptians used cider vinegar for weight loss, and with other evidence of its effect it seems to have a lot going for it!

There are a couple of different ways that cider vinegar can be used in your weight loss program. The simplest method is to add a small amount of cider vinegar to a glass of water or juice, and drink it with a meal. Alternatively you can buy apple cider vinegar tablets or capsules that, as per their name, have cider vinegar in them. Some of these supplements contain other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6 and lecithin, which may have more effect than cider vinegar alone.

Aside from weight loss properties, cider vinegar is extremely healthy for you. It is naturally potent in vitamins and minerals, and can assist with a number of medical problems and improve your general health. For example, cider vinegar contains potassium, which helps reduce blood pressure. It also contains fibre, which can absorb the cholesterol that can lead to  heart disease. Those are just a few examples of health issues it helps with – there are more such as help with digestion, sore throats, arthritis pain and even diabetes.

Despite all the benefits of using cider vinegar for weight loss, it has some down sides as well. The most important thing to watch out for is that cider vinegar is very acidic, meaning it can burn and damage your teeth, mouth or throat. It is very important that you dilute cider vinegar in water or juice before drinking it. As with any supplement or remedy always contact your doctor before trying cider vinegar if you have any serious medical conditions.

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Home remedies have been around for hundreds of years and just like most things their popularity comes and goes.  At the moment the popularity of  natural products and remedies is on the increase and many folk are on the look out for the effective home remedies.  So just how do you start finding home remedies that are suitable for you?

The first thing to finding home remedies that work is to start off with the most basic and straightforward remedies that you can find.  If you have never intensively researched and investigated natural home remedies, then leaping in and trying to self-treat a major disease or medical condition without the advice and support of your GP is not advised and should be avoided.

Most commonly people will use natural remedies for more everyday injuries and conditions and that’s where you should start. Something like toothache for instance, an oral care complaint that because of the way it can quickly develop – sometimes in the middle of the night when seeing a dentist is not possible – is an ideal condition to try to treat via natural remedies. 

Start by lifting the head if the toothache developed in the night when you were sound asleep.  By simply sitting yourself up with some pillows you will relieve the pressure in the head and sinus regions and this could be all that you need to reduce the pain.  If that isn’t enough, then you can place an ice cube on the affected tooth and this will numb the nerves and reduce inflammation.  All great to help you through before you can get to the dentist.

Another of the home remedies that you may be interested in is an allergy treatment such as a remedy for Hay Fever.  Hay Fever, that periodic burden on so many lives as the pollen rises, can be managed and kept at bay by following some simple steps.  Have you tried lining the insides of your nostrils with petroleum jelly?  You should try it if you suffer with Hay Fever!  What this does is to trap and stop the pollen from entering through your nose and setting off your allergies.  For Hay Fever you can also add a tea spoon of local honey, along with a tea spoon of apple cider vinegar to some hot water and drink as an early morning tea.

So, as you can see finding yourself some home remedies for you does not have to be a huge undertaking of mixing complex potions and concoctions. all it takes is a little common sense and a little research and before you know it, you’ll be using these remedies without giving them a second thought.

Merry Christmas everyone!

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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 long-term effects of suffering from stress are well documented. They include cardiac disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, diabetes, heart attack, immune mediated diseases and more. In order to be able to reduce stress it is important for individuals to recognize the symptoms of stress in their lives. Only by recognizing the symptoms of stress will people be able to identify causes because without a symptom you won’t look for a cause.

Researchers believe that 12 million people in Great Britain suffer from mental health problems which include anxiety and depression and those numbers are even greater in the United States. Many of these mental health problems are related to the long-term effects of experiencing stress in your life. Psychologists believe that it is important to recognize early symptoms of stress in order to decrease the likelihood that there will be physical or psychological damage.

Physical symptoms of stress will include headaches which are repetitive and nature and different from the variety which we all experience now and then. In other words, it is following to have the occasional headache but getting them most days is important to take note of.

Other physical symptoms of stress can include muscle and back problems as well as general aches and pains and even skin issues. Acne is often the result of a change in hormonal balance which will be affected by the amount of stress and individual suffers. Weight gain is another warning sign of stress because many people are "stress eaters". This means that is when under stress people turn to food in order to comfort themselves. Unfortunately, most of these foods include cakes, chocolate, sugar and high processed snacks. All of these things will pile on the pounds.

Other physical symptoms include grinding teeth, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, and nausea, increased pain, frequent illnesses and increased sweating. Stress will negatively impact an individuals immune system which will cause them to become ill more frequently. Individuals who are stressed may also breath more shallow which results in frequent yawning as they are starving their body of oxygen.

Stress will also become evident in the emotional irritability and heightened sensitivity. This means that a person may find themselves crying more easily and more often than usual or may suffer from a general lumpiness that is unusual for them. In other people stress may cause them to withdraw or make less of an effort to keep up with their friends. Stress can also cause an individual to take less effort with their personal appearance and feel less bothered by their home environment as well.

The final type of symptoms are behavioural and psychologists believe that these are more likely to be noticed because they are more obvious. Some of these behavioural symptoms include the inability to make decisions, even trivial every day tasks which would normally be executed without hesitation are suddenly mind-boggling. Stress will also decrease the persons natural confidence and may results in a person who wavers on unimportant and important choices.

Other behavioural symptoms include breathlessness, irritability, frequently bored, worrying, nightmares, apathy and sexual problems or loss of libido. Individuals who find themselves getting angry easily and experiencing mood swings or having more problems in their relationships should consider the likelihood that they are feeling the physical and emotional results of stress in their lives.

It is important for people to identify the symptoms of stress that they are experiencing in their lives in order to recognize the necessity of identifying a cause. By decreasing stress people can improve their productivity, their time management skills and decrease the risk of experiencing any long-term physical effects which may place their life in danger.

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Its when the autumn is gone and you can feel a nip in the morning air, you know winter is not far. This weather is also a very favourable time for microorganisms to grow and multiply. The cold air inhaled causes the blood flow to certain parts of the throat to decrease, as a part of our body’s adaptation to decrease heat loss. This in turn compromises on the immunity at these sites, since the immune cells are essentially blood borne. The throat and upper respiratory tract become easy targets for invading organisms. It is important that we strengthen ourselves from within, in terms of a strong immune defence to fight such invasions this winter. With the added threat of swine flu it has never been more important!

It is important that you start top boost your immune system well ahead in time for the autumn; later October or beginning of November. It can take weeks to develop a strong and healthy immune system. A few things can help develop a strong immune system before winter sets in. The idea is to “have” a strong immune system when the winter starts, not to build up during the cold weather months. If you haven’t started yet though don’t worry – there are plenty of long cold months still ahead to protect yourself for.

Regular exercise is essential for a healthy immune system, as this helps stimulate our lymphatic system to make its specialized cells called lymphocytes, which help fight infection. Walking is one of the most effective forms of exercise to help your whole body function at its optimum, however cardiovascular & resistance exercises are also essential.

Fresh fruits are a rich source of vitamins essential to support and maintain the functioning of the immune system running at its best. A multi-vitamin is always a good idea too. At TrooHealthCare.com we also have specialist immune system support supplements such as ImmunityPlus which can give your body all the nutrients it needs to protect itself. We also have specialist supplements for children so you can keep your family safe too. Don’t delay – take a look at your immune system requirements today!

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The Acai Berry and more recently the Maqui Berry are the two top super berries, both hailing from the exotic South America. The Acai comes from the dense rainforests of the Amazon, while Maqui is found further south, in the Patgonian area of Argentina and Chile.

Between the two the Acai fares somewhat better in taste, but what keeps consumers interested in these berries are their scientifically proven antioxidant contents and overall health benefits. Antioxidants protect our body against free radicals which are unstable molecules produced during day to day functioning of the cell. The antioxidant activity of these two berries is attributed to their content of a phytochemical, Anthocyanin. These antioxidant packed berries empower us to fight the pull of age, wear a healthy skin, stay active and look young.

Consumers, in their quest for the one which will promise a longer and disease-free life are now between two horns while searching for the overall better among the two berries.

The acai berry is an excellent source of anthocyanin. No one can argue against the benefits this berry provides to the human body.

The little deep purple Maqui berry on the other hand has now set the bar higher and in doing so set the wellness industry on fire. With its ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) content 4-10 times higher than that of the Acai berry the Maqui is set to become the new king of health supplements. Maqui berries also contain minerals such as iron, calcium and potassium; along with Vitamins A and C.

But the Acai does still win against the Maqui Berry in its rich content of Omega 3 essential fatty acids.

Finally, the factors that will drive home the popularity of Acai and Maqui berries are scientific research and raising public awareness of their superfruit credibility. Both the Acai and the potentially improved Maqui are touted to benefit weight loss, boost immune support, possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-carcinogenic properties, and definitely provide long term benefits like help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

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Are you setting up your own home gym? Equipping your space with the right exercise equipment can be fun. Are you wondering though what to look for in exercise equipment? Finding the right exercise equipment for yourself can be challenging. If you have an idea of what you want to buy, what part of your body you want to be worked on or what will fit in your exercise room you have conquered half of the challenge. If not then check out some exercise tips to help you work out what you want to achieve.

The first thing that you want to look at after you have determined how much space you have in your house is what you hope to accomplish in the way of fitness. Are you looking for some good cardio fitness equipment? Are you just trying to maintain good heart condition and fitness? Are you already in pretty good shape physically? Or are you out of shape and trying to get back into shape? Do you need to lose weight or just firm up? Does your upper half need more of the workout or does your lower half need more toning? The exercise equipment that you might want to consider purchasing will be based on your answers to these questions. If you just want to be heart healthy and go the maintenance route then you would likely benefit by a treadmill. If you want to lose weight a treadmill, again, is great. However, a rowing machine might be more beneficial as it burns more calories. If you are looking to build up your arms dumbbells are a great basis for a workout. You might want to just lose weight and get some good motion going on. In this case a DVD of aerobics would be excellent, as would a mini trampoline to jump around on.

How much money can you spend? The least expensive exercise equipment to have is a good DVD and a set of dumbbells. Also, a mini trampoline is quite reasonably priced. When selecting any type of exercise equipment you will want to look at how well it is made. Are the joints welded securely? Does the overall construction look adequate or are there areas of empty space and weakness? Is the brand reputable? Usually an off brand is not as well made as a more popular brand.

When you go shopping for your exercise equipment bring someone with you. Get their opinion on what to purchase. Try out each piece of equipment that you purchase. If it has to be ordered before trying it out then order it. Setting up a home gym can be fun, but make sure that you will be using the pieces of equipment that you will buy.

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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.

Technorati Tags: acai,acai berry,acai berries,supplements,super food,antioxidants,aging,anti aging,health,digestion,cardiovascular

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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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