Holistic Feathers

Regularly consuming chocolate could be beneficial to those with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a study at Hull York Medical School. People who suffered with the illness found that they had more energy when they consumed high cocoa content.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness that has a vast array of diverse symptoms; the primary one being exhaustion. Most chronic fatigue specialists advise their clients to avoid chocolate because of the caffeine and sugar it contains.

Professor Steve Atkin, who led the study, said he had clients who reported feeling much better after swapping normal milk chocolate for dark chocolate with a high cocoa solid content. This sparked him to investigate further.

The trial consisted of 10 patients who received 45g of dark chocolate or white chocolate dyed to look like dark chocolate everyday for two months. After the month was over, they avoided chocolate for one month and then began taking the other type of chocolate for two months.

When the patients were taking a daily dose of dark chocolate, they reported significantly less fatigue, but felt the fatigue return when they stopped eating it.

Atkin was surprised at what good results were achieved. “Although it was a small study, two patients went back to work after being off for six months.”

He explained: “Dark chocolate is high in polyphenols, which have been associated with health benefits such as a reduction in blood pressure. Also high polyphenols appear to improve levels of serotonin in the brain, which has been linked with chronic fatigue syndrome and that may be a mechanism.”

Although more research was needed to confirm the findings, Atkin said that patients would not do themselves any harm by eating small amounts of dark chocolate. He added that no one in the study put on any weight.

Chronic fatigue is a very complex illness with many different causes including food intolerances, Candida, heavy metals and parasites. There is no single cure that works for everyone, and most people require quite a few lifestyle changes along with herbs, nutrients and detoxing.
Because of this, chronic fatigue specialists warn against believing that eating chocolate daily is going to completely solve the problem.

Most importantly, consuming chocolate with sugar in it should be generally avoided by everyone, especially those with a disabling illness.

Raw Chocolate

While dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and other nutrients, raw chocolate is even more potent since none of the nutrients have been destroyed through heating and processing. Further, raw chocolate is sugar free. Most people make raw chocolate with agave nectar, stevia or xylitol. All of these are fine in moderation for those with chronic fatigue syndrome because they don`t create blood sugar imbalances and they don`t feed the imbalances like sugar does.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7…
http://www.prohealth.com/library/sh…

(c) Sheryl Walters

Discovered on Natural News

NOTE:  You even get free organic choccies with the Raw Gaia ‘Bathtime Heaven‘ gift set … perfect for Valentine’s Day!

read comments (0)

Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting women during their reproductive years. Endometriosis is one of the most common reasons behind both infertility and chronic pelvic pain in women.

Pregnancy often provides temporary relief from symptoms of endometriosis, although there is no documented cure at this time.

The good news is that herbal and holistic treatments are very effective for controlling the symptoms of endometriosis and in many cases herbs are the best source of relief. During every monthly menstrual cycle the tissue lining from the inside of the uterus builds up and is shed. This tissue is called the endometrial tissue. When endometriosis is present, this tissue grows and sheds outside of the uterus. This tissue then forms lesions that respond to the monthly cycle similarly to how the tissue from the uterus responds.

The symptoms of endometriosis generally persist during childbearing years and subside after menopause. Approximately 30-40 percent of women with endometriosis experience infertility issues. The endometrial growth causes pain and other subsequent problems because the menstrual blood is expelled through the vagina but the blood and tissue from the endometrial growths result in internal bleeding and inflammation and eventually scar tissues are formed. These endometrial growths are not usually cancerous.

Although the precise cause of endometriosis is not known, excess estrogen secretion may trigger this condition. Conventional treatments involve surgery to remove the endometrial growth and/or ovaries and in extreme cases even a hysterectomy may be advised. Unfortunately, research has shown that patients undergoing hysterectomies for endometriosis sometimes experience a regrowth of lesions. Common drugs prescribed to treat endometriosis are Danazol (a male hormone derivative), progesterone, and birth control pills. Danazol shrinks the existing tissue and prevents ovulation. Progesterone has various side effects and cannot offer permanent pain control. A possible link between dioxin exposure and endometriosis has been uncovered by the Endometriosis Association. Dioxin is a toxic byproduct created from pesticide manufacturing, paper products, and bleached pulp. To enable the body to flush out these toxins, magnesium can be effective.

Natural Ways to Improve Endometriosis Symptoms: -

Nettle and Saw Palmetto — decrease the production of endometrial tissue.

Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids — improve the immune system. A strong immune system will be able to destroy endometrial tissue as it accumulates in the body. Bioflavonoids help to relax muscles and reduce inflammation and pain.

Wild Yam — When taken prior to ovulation this can reduce endometrial symptoms. Helps to balance menstrual bleeding.

Flax Seed Oil/Evening Primrose Oil/ Borage Oil — Good sources of essential fatty acids that regulate the production of prostaglandin.

Inositol and Choline — Help the liver to process estrogen. Too much estrogen can lead to endometriosis symptoms.

Phytoestrogens Vitex (chaste berry) and Dong Quai — Hormone balancers may help reduce the build-up of endometrial tissue and the associated pain.

Vitamin B-6 and 5-HTP — Help with the metabolism of essential fatty acids.

Source: http://www.healthynewage.com/endome…

News article discovered on Natural News

Note:  Most of these recommended nutritional supplements can be found at Higher Nature, which offers free post and packaging on all orders.

read comments (0)

Everyone has preferred oft-used methods for easing tension or stress. Sometimes these methods are productive and other times coping methods cause more problems than the original sources of stress. Some positive coping methods are meditation, exercise, deep breathing, journaling, and listening to music.

Negative coping strategies include drinking alcohol to excess, smoking, using drugs and overeating. Stress-reduction methods that have positive long-term health benefits are the best choices. It is important to remember that stress is not nearly as critical as how it is dealt with.

Here are some suggestions for positive coping methods:

Adjust Environment: Color, lighting and sound can either be soothing and comforting, or jarring and unhealthy.

*Light: Inadequate or artificial indoor lighting can cause stress that creates agitation, disorganized thinking, physical discomfort, and even disease. Conventional fluorescent lighting produces light that is deficient of some of the wavelengths that are contained in natural sunlight. Studies have shown that replacing this kind of lighting with full-spectrum fluorescent that more closely resembles sunlight can reduce stress levels.

*Sound: The sounds around us can either ease or contribute to stress. For this reason, it is important to become aware of how noise affects us.

*Color: Color can have both an emotional and physiological impact on stress levels. The impact of color comes from different vibrations inherent in different colors.

Seek Respite: A change of pace can enable one to find a new way to view a problem. Stop and find something else to do. Take a break. Take a nap. Force the mind to focus on something other than the source of stress.

Physical Activity: In the face of negative emotions such as sadness, anger, or pain, physical activity can help both emotionally and physically. Try physical activities like walking, hiking, stretching, jogging, running, or riding a bicycle to release pent-up energy associated with high stress levels. Even ten minutes of activity can be very effective for reducing stress levels.

Improve Time Management: Learning how to manage one’s time will reduce stress and make one more effective at reaching daily goals. Use a daily planner or a “to do” list and learn how to minimize interruptions that consume precious time.

Learn How to Delegate: Delegating tasks not only reduces stress and creates more time; it also promotes trust in relationships.

Be Aware of Stress Symptoms: When under stress, the heart beats faster, muscles tighten, breathing becomes shallower, and often nausea or headache will result. When symptoms of stress appear, stop and take a break.

Get Adequate Sleep: Getting enough sleep will enable one to better handle stress. Sleeping environment is important as well. Make sure that nothing interferes with peaceful sleep.

Learn How to Laugh: Laughter is a great way to fight stress. Studies have shown that laughter causes a measurable decrease in stress and a measurable increase in the immune system. Laughter increases blood flow to the brain and at the same time endorphins are released into the body making one feel better.

Find Someone to Talk To: Stress can be reduced by talking it over with someone. Find someone who will listen without judgment and who will help find solutions. Seek out optimistic people because these people tend to have lower stress levels in their own lives.

Learn Affirmations: Find some positive phrases that fit, learn them, and repeat them often. Write uplifting notes to yourself.

Say No When Necessary: Having too many responsibilities creates stress. Know your limitations and stay within them. Be sure to say NO without feeling guilty!

Breathe Deeply: Stress promotes shallow, rapid breathing. This deprives the body of oxygen and further exacerbates stress. Consciously breathing slowly and deeply will help the body relax.

Eat a Nutritious Diet: Often stress leads people to eat unhealthy foods, but this will only worsen the stressful situation. Highly refined foods have a bad effect on blood sugar levels and this will contribute to feelings of stress. Eating whole foods will help the body stay regulated and within normal levels.

Count Those Blessings: Focusing on problems contributes to stress. Trying to dwell on the things that are right will encourage feelings of appreciation. Appreciation is a powerful stress-buster.

Get a Massage: A massage will increase blood flow, lower blood pressure, help one rest, and elevate mood. When all else fails, take a day and give it to yourself. Make it a day that you do not put anyone else ahead of yourself for that period of time. Spend time in activities that will renew the spirit and reaffirm priorities. This should make it possible to return to regular life feeling refreshed and renewed with a better sense of purpose and direction.

Source: http://www.inspiredliving.com/stres…

Discovered at Natural News

read comments (0)

It often takes years for someone to realize candida is the mystery illness behind symptoms like fatigue, poor memory, sugar cravings and yeast infections. Fortunately, once you identify candida as the problem, it can often be treated swiftly without a prescription. Natural methods are actually far superior to any drug on the market. One of the simplest ways to treat candida at home is with apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can regulate the presence of candida in the body. It helps encourage the growth of healthy bacteria, which in turn minimizes the overgrowth of candida. Apple cider vinegar also balances your body’s pH level. These properties not only clear up candida, though. Once you start using it, the benefits of apple cider vinegar will extend to all areas of your health.

Buying the right apple cider vinegar makes all the difference. Much of the apple cider vinegar you’ll find in your local grocery store is simply white distilled vinegar with caramel coloring added to it. What you’re looking for is raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, preferably unfiltered and organic. This type of vinegar will contain the nutrients you need to combat candida.

The key to effectively using apple cider vinegar to cure yeast problems is to take it every day at a dose of 1-2 tablespoons. Apple cider vinegar can only balance pH levels if it is constantly present. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to sip all day on a tall glass of water mixed with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Feel free to sweeten the drink with stevia for a refreshingly sweet and tangy flavor combination. Another relaxing way to enjoy apple cider vinegar is in a cup of hot tea lightly sweetened with honey.

Cooking with apple cider vinegar is another way to get your daily serving. Use it in place of white vinegar or even wine in your favorite recipes. It’s also ideal for making vinaigrette salad dressings.

If you have external signs of candida, such as yeast or fungal infections, you can apply apple cider vinegar topically to help deal with this problem. Apply directly to the affected area or add a cup of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath.

Keep in mind your symptoms may get worse for the first few days when starting a regimen of apple cider vinegar. This is typical when treating candida and is caused by the yeast rapidly dying off. You may notice a headache and foggy thinking for a couple of days, but after that symptoms should clear quickly.
NOTE:  Higher Nature do an amazing apple cider vinegar which has the ‘mother’ (i.e. most healthy part) intact, for just £6.30!

Lawson, Cheryline. Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Cure Yeast Infection. The American Chronicle. (2009)

Paul, Linda. Apple Cider Vinegar. Bella Online. (2008)
Discovered on the Natural News website

read comments (0)

(NaturalNews)

Borage and flaxseed oil appear to act internally to improve skin health, according to a study conducted by researchers from Laboratoire Oenobiol in France and Heinrich-Heine University and the University of Witten-Herdecke in Germany, and published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers assigned 45 healthy, non-smoking women to receive a daily supplement consisting of 2.2 grams of either borage oil, flaxseed oil, or a medium-chain fatty acid placebo. The researchers regularly induced skin irritation (inflammation and reddening) in every woman by means of topically applied nicotinate. All participants were between the ages of 18 and 65.

Women who had been taking borage oil for several weeks were found to experience 35 percent less skin reddening than they had at the beginning of the study, while those taking flaxseed oil experienced 45 percent less. There was no change in the degree of reddening experienced by the placebo group. Women receiving borage or flaxseed oil also exhibited lessened blood flow to the skin in response to irritation.

After six weeks, those taking either oil supplement experienced a 10 percent decrease in water loss through the skin, and another six weeks showed even further improvement among the flaxseed group. Both groups showed significant decreases in skin roughness and scaling after 12 weeks, while no change was observed in the placebo group.

Borage oil consists of large amounts of the omega-6 fatty acids gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid (LA), and the monounsaturated fat oleic acid. Flaxseed oil consists mostly of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), along with smaller quantities of omega-6 fatty acids and oleic acid. Blood levels of GLA were observed to increase in the borage oil group after six and 12 weeks, as were ALA levels among the flaxseed group.

The current study was not designed to uncover the specific mechanism by which the oils improve skin health.

Get in touch with us at www.holisticfeathers.co.uk to find out how you can get 30% off superior-quality nutritional supplements, including flax oil and borage oil!

Sources for this story include: www.foodnavigator-usa.com

From:  Natural News

read comments (0)

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read this article in The London Paper (free commuter paper in the City) yesterday evening.  Boys … why waste your money and subject yourself to the needle and indignities of black eyes and puffy faces for a few weeks?  All you need to do is book a set of facial rejuvenation (natural face lift massage) treatments with me at Holistic Feathers and you will also get your 6th treatment free if you pay for 5 sessions up-front!  So you’ll feel great in your pocket as well as looking and feeling great, inside and out!!!

* * * * *

“City boys are increasingly spending their redundancy cash on going under the knife to boost their chances of getting a new job, figures have revealed. 

The trend, dubbed “City severance surgery”, saw a surge of almost 10% in facelifts for men in the last three months of 2008.

Thousands of workers in the Square Mile were laid off over the period and fuelled by the cosmetic surgery boom, according to the Harley Medical Group.  Facelifts cost more than £6,000 while liposuction, another popular procedures, will set an overweight City slicker back £3,000. 

Harley Medical Group director Liz Dale said:  “Our clinic has seen a decline in City boys using their bonuses for surgery.  Instead, this market has been replaced by City severance surgery. 

“City bankers are using their redundancy packages to rejuvenate their appearance for the challenges they face in securing a new job”.

Other figures show that operations to eradicate the condition known as “man boobs” (moobs!) increased by 44% last year.

Male breast reduction was almost unheard of five years ago but 323 British men have had their “moobs” removed in 2008.

And one in 11 botox procedures carried out on men last year – 3,004 compared to 2,881 in 2007.”

read comments (0)

- by Carrie Hart

You deserve it all.  You deserve a life of joy and happiness.  You deserve a life of abundance.  You deserve freedom from fear and doubt.  You deserve warm and loving relationships and doing work that inspires you.  You deserve it all.

And you have within you the power to create your life, a life of warmth and connection, a life of excitement and vital energy, a life of creativity and exploration.  You deserve the unfolding of adventure into becomingness.  You deserve it and you have the power to create it.

So begin here, with belief.  Begin with understanding that you have this power and believing deeply in it.  Believe that if you focus yourself on the love that resides within you, if you focus on the dream that floats before your eyes, if you turn your heart and your emotions away from the regrets of the past and the fears of the future, that you will then step into a new bright tomorrow, born of the love and laughter you put in your heart today, this moment, right now.

Give this moment your full attention.  Give this moment, right now, all of your energy.  Take your dream of love and connection, joy, laughter and happiness, and bring it into your heart in this moment.  Fill yourself with gratitude for how things are right now and then bring in even more; magnify the joys and abundance of this moment and allow that feeling to expand within your heart.

Your value is immeasurable, your worth endless and complete.  You are deeply loved and you are worthy of all of the love of the universe.  You deserve it and it is showered upon you, every moment of every day.  Open to it.  Open your heart to feel it.

Right now, step forward and drop the walls that you have built around yourself to protect you from the future.  Let it come.  Let the wonders come.  Let the adventure come.  Let the love flow toward you.  Open your heart wide and let love and life enter.  Feel the joy of an open heart, a welcoming heart.  Feel the joy of being alive.

Your happiness is a gift to the world.  Your laughter makes us all smile.  The joy that fills your heart overflows and touches us all.  When you allow yourself to truly feel your love and your power, when you embrace yourself with all the wonder and glory that is in you, when you allow yourself to truly shine forth, you bless us all with vibrant and glowing energy, energy that flows out across the world, the universe, announcing itself in beauty and glory.

Say it.  Sing it.  Know it.

“I am.  I am the light.  I am the wonder.  I am one with all that is, the highest of the highest, the limitless expression of love and beingness.  My light is the light that glows for all.  My heart is the love that beats for all.  I am the glory and I deserve to be, for I am all, I am one with the highest and widest, I am God embodied here in physical form, I am Jesus and Buddha, the saints and the prophets.  They are all in me and I in them.  There is nothing that is beyond me.  There is nothing that I cannot do and be.  For every heart that beats is within me and I am the full expression of the loving heart of God, the thinking mind of God, the wonder and glory that is.”

This is your call.  This is your song.  You are all of this and all of this is you.  Step into your true self now.  Let yourself shine.

(c) Carrie Hart
* Private Sessions *
I continue to offer private sessions–and am amazed at the results.  I am in awe, not only of the greatness within each of you, but of your dazzling uniqueness.  I treasure being invited up into your sacred space, so that your soul self may unfold to share its purpose and pour loving and powerful energy down into your body.

Many of you are rightly sensing that these turbulent times have opened doors.  If you are wondering if you are at the right door and if this is the right moment to walk through, please go to www.quado.com and sign up for a private session so that we may look through the door together.

read comments (0)