SkyBlue Cross Alternative Health Blog

Friday 23 November 2012

How to have Good Sleep with Home Remedies

How to have Good Sleep with Home Remedies
By: http://www.skybluecross.com
Have you ever laid around in bed and wished that the freight train noise next to you would stop? This occurs in far too many households for you to be alone in this problem. For the vast majority of people there is nothing worse than sleeping with a snoring spouse. However, it is a reality that does occur. The other side of the problem finds people who are unable to sleep because they themselves snore. Working to reduce this problem is critical and should be a top priority so that everyone in the house can sleep much better.

One of the biggest home remedies that is passed along the most is the advice of having the serial snorer sleep on their side. For some people this is easy to do, however for anyone who is in a habit of sleeping on their stomach or even their back it can be a bit more difficult. There are some attachments and bumpers that you can buy though which will help to ensure you remain on your side. Though there are also some cheaper alternatives such as piling up books, cushions and other materials to help discourage you from sleeping in a position other than on your side.

If you find that sleeping on your side is either completely uncomfortable for you or you are not getting the desired results it is time to move along to another common solution. This involves cutting out all meals and also alcoholic beverages for several hours before bed. Many people who take sleeping medication also experience increase risk of snoring as well. This is not always something that can be avoided, particularly if you require the medication in order to obtain any sleep at all. However, it is possible to talk to your doctor to see if there is a different medication that you can try which might reduce the snoring problem.

Sadly, obesity is another major factor for snoring. While it may seem as though it is merely as excuse to pick on someone who has a weight problem it is a proven fact that additional weight can cause the air pipes to shrink slightly due to the increase of fat in the neck area. Losing a bit of weight can help to remove the pressure on the air pipes and often significantly decrease the amount of snoring that you experience. This is also great for helping you to get into shape, and lower the risk of snoring excessively. Starting to lose weight slowly will be the best bet though, in order to ensure that you are losing the fat and reducing the skin in your neck area evenly.

Most people are well aware that serious snoring will involve treatment from a doctor. Taking some time to find a home remedy for snoring will not only help you get a much better night’s sleep but it will help you to ensure that everyone else in your house can sleep much better as well. Ignoring a snoring problem will not only cause you more difficulties sleeping than necessary but it will also substantially reduce the quality of the sleep that you are able to receive. Getting a grip on some great sleep will provide you with ample energy, while avoiding seeking help for snoring can find you suffering from exhaustion and even fatigue.


Thursday 22 November 2012

Fabulous Pet Remedies to Solve Your Problems

Fabulous Pet Remedies to Solve Your Problems
 http://www.skybluecross.com
 With pets becoming a very popular addition to most households there are plenty of occasions when a well planned home remedy can be extremely effective. Trying to ensure that life with your pet is just as happy as you have always dreamed is not always simple but if you are able to make some small adjustments to your lifestyle, you will be able to live happily with a healthy pet for a very long time.

 The majority of problems that can be treated with home remedies for pets are extremely easy to handle. Most will involve pests of some sort, but if caught quickly it is not something that should overtake you. The vast majority of people are not comfortable with the little pests that tends to cling to their pets; this can range from fleas to ticks to even ear mites. Working to remove these from not only your pet but also your home is critical. If you ignore problems with various pests on your pets it can spread to your house itself rather quickly. This makes it critical that you invest the time to avoid pest problems before they start it any way possible.

 The vast majority of pets will be prone to fleas at a minimum. Flea treatments themselves are not only expensive, but they are also extremely difficult to handle. They turn the pet greasy feeling as well which is not something most families are interested in when they have young children in the house especially. Working to avoid this need for chemical flea treatments really is possible, the first home remedy that you can try simply involves using the shampoo Pert Plus, this would allow you to quickly and easily remove the fleas. This is something that is quite easy and quick to do, especially since you are able to use this anytime you are giving your pet a bath and keep them smelling great as well.

 There are also some serious issues with ticks that most people are just unable to accept. For the majority of problems with ticks sprinkling some Borax around the house, as well as your garden will work to help repel the little critters. This will help to substantially avoid the risk of your pets bringing ticks into the house by treating the yard. Additionally, by treating your entire house it will help to ensure you are not allowing any ticks to continue living along with your pets.

 There are several ways to fight the smell that pets tend to acquire especially after playing outside when it is damp. The first place to begin is by taking a used fabric softener sheet and rubbing this over your pet once they come back inside will help to remove the smell. Other ways to remove the smell include using some of the sprays that are available at the pet store. The fabric softener sheets are extremely reasonably priced, and because you are using a used sheet the smell will be quite faint without being completely overbearing.
 These small techniques are great ways to make living with your pet much easier to do. There are plenty of problems that you may encounter with your pet, but knowing how to avoid these complications will allow everyone in your house to live together peacefully.

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Controlling Acid Reflux Using Natural Home Remedies

Controlling Acid Reflux Using Natural Home Remedies
By: http://www.skybluecross.com/en/

With acid reflux causing so many significant problems for so many Americans it is very important to ensure you can find relief as quickly as possible. What many people do not realize is that it is possible to find relief from the pain that acid reflux causes quite quickly as long as you know where to look. Of course, there are plenty of medications that you can purchase, however these tend to be extremely expensive, in addition to the fact that they are also accompanied by a large number of side effects. This combined with a rather large price rag for all of the treatment means it can be extremely difficult to even afford the relief.

Home remedies are fabulous for acid reflux because there are several options to try out. This can range from the extremely simple, to those techniques that are a bit more advanced. In order to find the best solution for your needs it is important to ensure you try out several different methods. This will allow you to really find which method is best for you. If you are interested in preventing acid reflux before it even starts you should seriously consider the foods that you are eating.

By adjusting your diet and omitting foods that are extremely spicy, you can typically lower the occurrence of acid reflux. However, it is also extremely important to ensure that you are not missing out on the foods that you really enjoy. If you happen to discover that there are several foods you thoroughly enjoy which tend to aggravate then you can always try taking two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses each day. Blackstrap molasses is available at most health stores and it is extremely effective in helping to reduce the occurrence of acid reflux.

Other ways to help reduce the amount of reflux you suffer from is to reduce the size of your meals. If you are only eating two or three large meals each day, you will have significantly more difficulties lowering your symptoms. An easy way to lower your symptoms is to break your meals down into six or even seven substantially smaller meals. By doing this, you are putting less pressure on your stomach, and helping to soothe the occurrence of acid reflux.

It is also helpful to adjust your bed a bit. If you are able to raise the angle of your bed by only 6 inches or so you can significantly reduce the amount of acid that is attempting to move up your body. This can be extremely helpful if you are finding yourself continuously suffering symptoms while you are trying to sleep. Not everyone finds this to be helpful, but for people who suffer acid reflux symptoms while they are trying to sleep it can be a significant help.

Other suggestions to follow include looking to see if you can add more apples into your diet. If you consume an apple after each meal, it is said to substantially lower the amount of acid that you have in your stomach. By eating more apples as well you are able to also add better foods to your diet, but it is important to ensure that you are eating the apple raw, rather than cooking it before eating.

As you can see, there are several different options available for you to help improve your overall health. Getting the most out of your life is not impossible, lowering the amount of acid reflux you suffer from really is possible, but it will take a good bit of effort on your behalf. Acid reflux is much better handled when you are making changes to your lifestyle and using natural home remedies to treat it. The time and expense that is associated with medical treatments is never any fun. This can all be avoided simply by looking towards some extremely effective home remedies and trying to ensure that you are thoroughly satisfied with how you feel.


Monday 19 November 2012

Health Benefit of Strange health food--Artichokes




Health Benefit of Strange health food--Artichokes
http://www.skybluecross.com

Artichokes have been around for a long time, but did you know how nutritionally benificial they are?
Artichokes have been around for a long time. Originally found around the Mediterranean Sea, they were used by the ancient Romans to treat poor digestion.
Somewhere along the line, the Romans realized artichokes also made great appetizers, and they have been a traditional Italian food ever since.

The Latin name for this greenish-purple vegetable is Cynara scolymus. Sometimes called French or Globe artichoke, it's the flower of the plant that is sold in grocery stores. But don't confuse it with the Jerusalem artichoke, which is really a tuber that grows in North America.

One medium artichoke supplies 20 percent of the vitamin C you need for the day. With only 60 calories, it's also a good source of potassium and magnesium, both important for a healthy heart. And like most fruits and vegetables, it's packed with disease-fighting antioxidants that nutritionists rave about.

3 ways artichokes keep you healthy

Steps up digestion.

As it turns out, the ancient Romans were onto something when it comes to artichokes and digestion. An ingredient in artichoke leaves helps your liver form bile - something necessary for good digestion. If your liver doesn't produce enough bile, your food doesn't get broken down properly, and you end up with stomach pains and indigestion.

If you feel sick to your stomach, overly full, and have abdominal pain after eating a normal-sized meal, you may suffer from dyspepsia - a fancy name for poor digestion.

Several scientific studies showed dramatic improvements in people with dyspepsia after being treated with artichoke extracts. You can also get help for your indigestion the way the ancient Romans did - by eating a delicious artichoke with your dinner.

Chokes out heart disease.

Bile from your liver does more than help you digest food. It also helps break down cholesterol from the fat you eat. But a liver that doesn't produce enough bile lets too much cholesterol get by - kind of like the I Love Lucy episode where the chocolate assembly line starts moving too fast for her to keep up. People with liver problems can have high cholesterol even if they eat a low-fat diet.

That's where artichokes come in. Because they can help you make more bile, you might be able to lower your cholesterol by eating them. A study in Germany showed that taking artichoke extract for six weeks caused LDL cholesterol, the bad kind, to fall by more than 22 percent. As a bonus, artichokes might also be able to block some new cholesterol from forming in your liver.

Lowers blood sugar.

Your liver is busier than you might think. In addition to breaking down fatty foods, it also stores extra glucose (sugar) in the form of glycogen and turns it back into glucose whenever it gets a phone call from your blood saying that supplies are too low. This is a great system in a perfectly working body. But some people have faulty phone lines, and their livers work day and night cranking out glucose their blood doesn't need. This overproduction of glucose can lead to diabetes and other health problems.

In animal studies, researchers found that substances in artichokes kept livers from making too much glucose. More studies need to be done, but scientists think artichokes might someday be useful to people with noninsulin-dependent diabetes. In the future, people might use plants, like artichokes, to keep their blood sugar production in check.

Pantry pointers

Choose artichokes with even, green color. Don't buy any that look wilted, dried out, or moldy. Heavy, small heads are best.

Small artichokes are good for appetizers, and larger ones can be used for stuffing with a variety of fillings and served as an entree.

Be sure to trim about an inch off the top with a sharp knife. And then trim about one-quarter inch from the tips of the leaves since this part is inedible and rough on your hands.

Artichokes can be steamed in a steamer basket or boiled in water. They should be tender and ready to eat in about 30 minutes. If you're in a hurry, you can microwave them more quickly. First, rinse them with water to add some moisture. Then wrap each one in microwaveable plastic wrap. For four artichokes, microwave on high for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meaty part at the base of the artichoke is tender.

You can serve these veggies hot or cold. Some people serve a dipping sauce with artichokes. It would be a shame to ruin a lowfat food with a rich sauce, so try a low-calorie, yogurt-based dip.

If you've never eaten an artichoke, you might be a little confused about what part is edible. The outer leaves are hard and a little bitter, but at the bottom of the leaf, where they pull away from the stem, there is a soft, velvety hunk of "meat" that you can eat by gently pulling the leaf through your teeth. After you've nibbled all the leaves this way, you're left with the best part of the artichoke - the heart. This is a soft, nutty-flavored center that can be eaten whole. Just scrape off the soft fuzz with a spoon before you dig in.



Saturday 17 November 2012

Reasons for Home Remedies

Reasons for Home Remedies
By: http://www.skybluecross.com

Have you heard of the green movement?  You likely have heard of this, but do you really know what it means?  There are thousands of people all around the world who are struggling to ensure they start living a healthier lifestyle.  For many this includes looking towards home remedies that are safe, rather than ingesting large amounts of toxins into their body.  If you find that you want to start avoiding toxins and instead treating ailments with home remedies you are certainly not alone.  A bit of help to get started is always a welcome sign, and in this nature it can help you to discover some of the many reasons for home remedies.

One of the biggest reasons to use home remedies tends to revolve around money.  In order to survive many people turn to home remedies as the perfect solution.  Many people discover rather quickly that always running to the doctor is just not an option when you are left paying all of the medical bills that are involved.  In order to really obtain the best results it is extremely important to know and understand that you are going to need to save some money and home remedies often make the perfect solution.

Going to the doctor can also be extremely embarrassing in some circumstances.  Do you really want to explain to the doctor how you managed to glue yourself… to yourself?  Most people are not interested in sharing overly embarrassing stories with anyone else, not even the person who is trying to help them.  In this respect it is extremely important to look at all of the options that are available to you and see what you can do about trying to lighten up the stress on your shoulders by turning to a home remedy rather than trying to hide your head the next time you are forced to recount that uber embarrassing story.

Home remedies also work wonders for people who are not really interested in ingesting toxins as well.  While many people believe strongly in modern medicine, there are even others who do not think that taking medication for every small problem in the world is the right answer.  For these people home remedies represent a large amount of freedom that just cannot be ignored.  Working to ensure that you get the very best results will often require a bit of dedication to research but many small problems such as colds, earaches and other small ailments can be treated safely at home with no complications.

It is also important to realize if you live out in the country that it can be difficult to locate a doctor precisely when you need them.  This can make it extremely difficult and complex at times.  If you are using home remedies, it can actually be much easier to treat those issues that ail you when going to a doctor simply just is not reasonable to do.  Many people heavily discount the problem that can occur with driving a long distance to a doctor.  Going when you live near the city is typically quite easy; however going when you live very far away is not always quite so simple to do at all.

With all of the benefits that home remedies tend to offer it can be overlooked just how simple they are.  Home remedies abound for just about anything imaginable.  From treating bug bites to riding your home of insects there is no reason at all why you should suffer with treatments that are expensive and not always effective.  Often finding the right home remedy is all that stands between you and getting the actual benefit that you really want, at a price that is reasonable to you.  Your comfort as well as the effectiveness of your remedy should be considered very carefully to ensure that you select the right remedy for you.  After all, many different ailments offer several different remedies that can be quite beneficial to your needs.

Friday 16 November 2012

Healthy Foods That Your Kids Will Love

Healthy Foods That Your Kids Will Love
http://www.skybluecross.com/en/
How to Prepare Your Kid's Favorite Healthy Foods
Is getting your kids to eat healthy foods is a battle in your home? If so, you’ll love these tips that will make your kids happy and give you the satisfaction of knowing you are feeding them foods that are good for them.

Start the Day Right

You can give your kids a delicious, healthy breakfast by getting rid of the ready to eat cereals and pastries and replacing them with bran pancakes and low-sugar syrup and/or fruit. Whole-wheat tortillas filled with fruit, scrambled eggs, or cheese and turkey bacon are delicious and your kids will have fun eating them, paying no attention to the fact that it is actually good for them.

Naturally Sweet

Most kids will ask for sweets such as candy and snack cakes. Instead of giving in to the pressure, give your kids applesauce and homemade oatmeal cookies prepared with a sugar substitute or honey rather than white sugar. Fruit snacks and dried fruit roll ups made from 100 percent fruit are great ideas for kids.
Replace fruit drinks and sodas with flavored tonic water and fresh fruit juice. Drink boxes containing pure fruit juice are relatively inexpensive and kids love the individual boxes, complete with straws.

Make it Fun

The secret is in the presentation. Arrange an assortment of healthy foods in a fun way on your child's plate. You can include smiley faces made from raisins or nuts and choose foods that are colorful. Kids will eat most things if they are presented in a unique design that makes eating fun.

Healthy Dinner

Dinnertime can include homemade pizza topped with cheese and vegetables, or soft tacos made with shredded chicken and cheese. Chicken strips prepared in the oven are always a hit and you could include an assortment of fresh vegetables and whole-grain breads. Fish sticks are relatively healthy if you prepare them in the oven rather than fried. Cheese and legumes are healthy choices.

It's not difficult to get kids to eat healthy foods. It just takes a little extra thought and planning. Start by using our tips and you may be surprised to see what your child will eat.



Thursday 15 November 2012

Be Careful Five "Health Foods" That May Be Making You Sick!

Be Careful Five "Health Foods" That May Be Making You Sick!
By: http://www.skybluecross.com
Be Careful Five "Health Foods" That May Be Making You Sick!

There are many of us who are dieting and trying to live a healthy lifestyle. We exercise and go out of our way to eat the best foods we can. Most of us already know that trans-fats, white sugar and white flour are not the best health choices, especially if we want to keep our weight down.

Unfortunately some of the very foods that we think are healthy are ones that can cause a lot of trouble for our bodies, and even make us ill. Below is a list of some surprisingly unhealthy “health foods.”


Artificial Sweeteners
Many people who are dieting, whether it is low calorie or low carb diets, will opt for beverages with artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Admittedly sugar is certainly a troublemaker and should be avoided, but artificial sweeteners are actually worse for you and could even be dangerous to your health.

All the artificial sweeteners are bad, but one of the worst sweeteners for us is NutraSweet (Equal, aspartame). There are over 92 different health related side effects associated with aspartame consumption, including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders and epilepsy/seizures. There are more adverse reactions to NutraSweet reported to the FDA than all other foods and additives combined.

A much better alternative to chemically derived sweeteners is stevia, which comes from a plant. It has been used for centuries with no know side effects. It can be purchased in most health food stores in the United States.


Sports Drinks
Although marketers would have us believe that sports drinks are what the body needs when exercising heavily, the truth is that sports drinks are filled with sugar (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) and salt (potassium and sodium) as well as artificial flavorings and colorings. Add a little salt to Cool-Aid and you have about the same thing. You would be much better off drinking spring water or diluted freshly squeezed juices while exercising.


Most Energy and Sports Bars
Most sports and bars are also filled with things that are not the best for our bodies, and are little better than candy bars. Many of them contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives, and synthetic nutrients. Check the ingredients before you buy an energy bar. Try to find one that is made with whole foods, such as oats and flax seeds, fruits, and natural sweeteners.


Soy Products
This is one of the most surprising ones of all, after all soy has been used for countless generations in Asia. But the way we now use soy is very different than the way the Asians have traditionally used it. The ancient Asians knew that the soybean was hard to digest, so they had extensive fermenting processes that broke down most of the indigestible components, making it much healthier to eat. Examples of this would be products like soy sauce, tempeh, and miso. These were used in small amounts as condiments and flavorings, not as a meat replacement.

But the way we use soy as a meat alternative (texturized vegetable protein or TVP) can be very unhealthy, since soy contains large amounts of toxins or anti-nutrients. Some of the problems the anti-nutrients in soybeans cause are conditions of the pancreas, cancer and thyroid problems. Soybeans also can block the body’s absorption of essential minerals.


Granola (and Other Unprepared Grains)
For the last 30-40 years granola has been synonymous with heath food. But eating unprepared grains, or grains that have not been soaked, fermented or sprouted, has only come about in the last 50-100 years. People who lived before our time understood that unprepared grains could cause dietary distress.

There are anti-nutrients in grains (like there are in soybeans), such as phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors, that make them harder to digest. These antinutrients can cause serious problems like Crohn's disease, colitis, and even mental disorders. Our failure to prepare our grains properly is one of the reasons that celactic disease is so prevalent now.

So, stay away from the granola. Oatmeal is an excellent addition to our diets, but use whole rolled oats (not instant) and soak them overnight before boiling them for breakfast. Go to our recipe blog at http://coconut-recipes.blogspot.com for a good recipe for coconut oatmeal.

Good breads to eat are those that have properly prepared grains, including whole grain sourdough and sprouted grain breads. You can usually find these in specialty grocery stores and health food stores.


If you are trying to lose weight and/or eat healthier, remember that just because a company markets a “healthy” product well or a health food store sells it, it doesn’t mean that it is really healthy for you. Do some research before you grab that sports bar, or better yet, reach for an organic apple, cherries, or some other natural (not processed) food. Your body will thank you and reward you for it.



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