5 Super Foods That Remove Nasty Toxins From Your Body

5 Super Foods That Remove Nasty Toxins From Your Body

Harmful toxins are everywhere and are increasing every day, say holistic health experts. Humans are using more pesticides, chlorine, formaldehyde, heavy metals such as lead, and other nasty toxins every day. Over time, these toxins will accumulate in the tissues and cause symptoms. Toxins produce free radicals and oxidation, which can cause problematic changes in cell structure such as mutations in DNA. There are many ways to detoxify your body. For a start, be aware of what toxins you may be exposed  to, in water, in foods, chemicals in the environment, mercury fillings in your mouth, artificial colors and flavors, pesticides in foods and wines and inhaled during gardening. Eating  50 g of fiber a day, using  detoxifying herbs and antioxidants as well as breaking a sweat daily is a start to cleaning up your blood and tissues.

Holistic health specialists know that our bodies accumulate harmful toxins over time. However, they warn, we shouldn’t wait until we start feeling bad enough to seek professional help. Your body has an amazing ability to clear itself out of toxins. However, you need to give it the right materials it needs to properly cleanse itself. So what foods can you enjoy to help your body rid itself of harmful toxins? Here are some super foods holistic health experts recommend eating more of to help your body, help itself:

Cilantro and Parsley

Heavy metals in the human body, such as aluminum, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, cause many harmful health conditions. In fact, experts have found that heavy metals like these facilitate the formation of certain diseases. Studies have shown that cilantro and parsley both effectively remove mercury, lead, and aluminum. In fact, Miso and cilantro are often mentioned together as very powerful detoxifying agents. A miso broth with cilantro and green onions is not only a powerful punch to free radicals, it is also pleasing to the palate.

Onions and Garlic

Both onions and garlic are part of the allium or lily family. And both are full of phytonutrients and antioxidants. But in addition to being full of nutrition, they both help fight free radicals in your body and help boost immune efficiency. Onions are also rich in quercetin, an antioxidant that helps ward off free radicals. And Garlic is a natural antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial that helps to sweep your digestive tract free of toxic waste while helping to maintain healthy intestinal flora.

Green and Black Tea

Tea leaves (green tea in particular) have been in the forefront of holistic health for thousands of years. Tea, in general, contains a high concentration of antioxidants due to a powerful presence of polyphenols.  These polyphenols help to fight free radical damage. However, green tea contains more of these powerful compounds than other leaf teas. Uses of green tea run deep in ancient Chinese and Indian traditions to help cleanse and fortify the body. Research shows that the enzymes present in green tea help increase the body’s defense mechanisms against cancer-causing toxins.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Holistic health experts are known to tout the many benefits of Cruciferous vegetables; broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts,  cabbages, radishes, and turnips. Green leafy vegetables like kale, chard, mustard greens, collard greens and spinach are also Cruciferous. Experts explain that these vegetables are widely known for being rich in glucosinolates. This compound not only inhibits cancer cell growth but also acts as a detoxifying agent. In fact, glucosinolates trigger the liver to produce detoxifying enzymes that block free-radical attacks on your DNA.

Lean Meats, Proteins, and Dairies

Amino acids, found in high-quality animal products like meat and dairy, are essential to help your body rebuild itself. Your body uses amino acids to repair the damage that toxins and free radicals do to you. Your body cannot create essential amino acids by itself and gets its supply from what you eat. Choose lean meats such as chicken or fish, or fat-free dairy like yogurt all contain amino acids. Make sure the animal products you consume come from animals that eat only their natural, native diet and raised in healthy surroundings.

Your Holistic Health Expert Has the Best Nutritional Advice

Toxins are everywhere in our modern society and are all but unavoidable in today’s world.  Beyond prescribing a healthy diet, your Relax holistic healthcare professional can perform treatments such as acupuncture, and moxibustion. These also remove toxins from your body. For those with larger concentrations of toxins, homeopathic medicine, compounds, and supplements such as red clover, dandelion, milk thistle, bentonite clay and chlorella may help as well.

 

Is your Holistic Diet and Exercise Plan Right for Your Body Type?

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Have you been doing everything right, and still struggling to maintain or lose weight? Even if you’re sticking faithfully to your diet, and getting consistent exercise, you might not get the results you see from the person next to you at the gym. Unlike what fad diets would have you think, you won’t find a single diet that works for everyone. In addition to a holistic diet and healthy lifestyle, your body type plays a big role in how well you can lose and keep off extra weight.

Everyone falls under 3 main body types, which are Ectomorph, Mesomorph, and Endomorph. If you’re an Ectomorph and you’re eating and exercising like an Endomorph, you won’t be happy with the results. On the other hand, if you exercise for your body type, and follow the right diet, you’ll see gains. Even within the body types, each body is different, and you should see a doctor specializing in holistic health to tailor your diet and exercise plan to your exact needs.

Ectomorph Body Types

If you’re an Ectomorph, you have a small frame with a light build. Your joints are small, and you’ve got lean muscles. Ectomorphs are characterized by their ability to eat as much as they want, as well as their difficulty gaining muscle mass.

Because you don’t gain weight so much as an Ectomorph, you don’t have to be as careful about what you eat. However, you will want to add protein to your diet if you want to add muscle mass. You should eat frequently, 6-8 meals over the entire day. For timing, you should get your carbs in after your workout. You probably don’t need to worry about calories. Even though conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t eat before bed, if you’re an Ectomorph, eating before bed can help prevent muscle catabolism overnight.

When you’re working out, you should make sure your workouts are short and intense. While you’re doing these intense workouts, focus on your big muscle groups.

Mesomorph Body Types

If you have a medium sized bone structure, an athletic body, and a good amount of lean mass, you’re probably a Mesomorph. Mesomorph body types find it easier to gain muscle and fat.

You should focus on having a balanced diet, splitting your food types up by 40% Carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat. This 40/30/30 balance will give you the nutrients you need for your body type. Be sure to take frequent, smaller meals just like Ectomorphs.

Like everything else with your body type as a Mesomorph, you should do balanced workouts, combining weight training and cardio.

Endomorph Body Types

If you work hard to lose weight and nothing seems to work, chances are high that you’re an Endomorph. Endomorphs have large bone structures and high amounts of total body mass. Some of the characteristics of being an Endomorph are that you’re naturally chubby, or you have a round and soft physique. You’ve probably got a slow metabolism, and find it much easier to gain weight than lose it. However, you’ve also got an easier time gaining muscle mass as well.

When you’re eating, it’s going to be more important for you to avoid sugars, high carbs, and starches. Because Endomorphs tend to have slower metabolisms, you’ll turn those sugars into fat more easily. While you’re avoiding sugars, carbs, and starches, do eat lean proteins, essential fats, and high fiber foods. Make sure those high fiber foods are more veggies than fruits though.

As an Endomorph, you’re going to want to hit the weight training, and high-intensity interval training 3 days a week. This gives your body time to respond to the intense workout regimen.

The Doctors at Relax Holistic can help you find the holistic diet and exercise plans that will work for your body type. You can start your path to a healthy and natural lifestyle at any of their 3 locations. Call (310) 838-1600 for the Culver City location, (310) 652-3200 for the West Hollywood location, and (310) 827-3200 for the Marina del Rey location. If you’d like to get in touch over the internet, you can request an appointment from any page of the website, or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the homepage.

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Candida and Its Effects On Your Overall Health

Candida and Its Effects On Your Overall Health

Candida is a common condition but is also less well known. Many bodily disorders are associated with Candida, so it is important to recognize if you do have it.

Candida is yeast overgrowth and it can affect many different areas of the body. Yeast overgrowth emits toxins into the body that result in chronic illness and causes a variety of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, and ‘foggy’ brain.

If you have Candida, don’t fret. We will go over how to test for it, understand its causes, recognize the symptoms, and offer holistic care options available to you for treating it.

Testing for Candida

A simple way to test whether you have a yeast imbalance is to take the spit test. This is something you should do first thing in the morning without having put anything in your mouth yet.

You will need to grab a clear glass and fill it with distilled or filtered water. Do not use tap water as it may contain many impurities that will affect your test. Collect saliva in your mouth with your tongue and spit it into the glass. Observe what happens to your spit for 15 minutes to see if yeast colonies are present in your saliva.

Yeast colonies are present if you see:

  • Saliva stays at the top and you see thin strands that look like strings or spider legs extending downward
  • Saliva floats to the bottom and looks cloudy
  • You observe little specs floating in saliva

Symptoms

Candida can affect all parts of your body as it doesn’t discriminate. Here are different areas of the body that Candida effects and their symptoms:

Head: dizziness, fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, depression, insomnia, bad breath, migraines, headaches, poor memory, brain fogginess in the morning, cravings for sugar, earaches, sinusitis, poor vision, floaters, and learning disorders

Body: joint pains, fibromyalgia symptoms, muscle weakness, rashes, itching, eczema, chronic fatigue syndrome, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, digestive problems, insomnia headaches, fever, swollen glands, exhaustion, swollen body and weight gain

Digestion: abdominal gas, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating after eating, constipation, diarrhea, cramping, GERDS, indigestion, vomiting, and stomach pains

Genito-urinary: Vaginal yeast infections, premenstrual syndrome, infertility, impotence, prostatitis, jock itch, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, and acid reflux

Causes

The most common type of candida involves gut flora.  The health of intestines is key to the overall health of your body. When your gut flora is unhealthy, you will usually suffer adversely. Several other factors that influence yeast overgrowth in the body are:

  • Antibiotics – One or more cycles of antibiotics is enough to weaken the digestive system.
  • Regularly eating refined sugars, starches.
  • Regularly drinking soda or alcohol.

Candida and other intestinal conditions affect your holistic health

Curing Candida with Holistic Care

If any of these observations occur, don’t panic as Candida and most diseases of the body can be easily addressed!  It takes just a little guidance and a bit of willpower for 3 months to rid oneself of unwanted yeast. You may need to change your diet as well as consider holistic care options such as acupuncture.

Our Relax Holistic Acupuncturists can address concerns of symptoms you may have arising from yeast, with acupuncture treatments that correct yeast imbalance and dampness in the body.

Relax Holistic has three convenient locations in West Hollywood, Marina del Rey, and Culver City. Call for a free consultation and they will be happy to discuss any health concerns with you.

Is Your Body’s PH Balance Optimal?

Is Your Body’s PH Balance Optimal?

You may have heard of pH Balance and wondered what all the hype was about. The body’s pH balance has a great impact on your overall health. PH stands for “power of hydrogen”, which is a measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration in the body. The total pH scale ranges from 1 to 14, with 7 considered to be neutral. A pH less than 7 is said to be acidic and a pH greater than 7 are alkaline. The ideal pH for the body is slightly alkaline, between 7.3-7.45.

The body will usually regulate this naturally, but at times we may need help if our body is compromised by poor diet or excessive stress. There are many holistic care options for treating the body’s pH balance, here are a few different methods to start getting your body’s pH balance on track.

Holistic Healthcare - Managing your body's pH balance

Begin By Testing Your Body’s pH Balance

You can begin by seeing what your own body’s pH Balance is by using a testing strip with both saliva and urine samples. Using a test strip should be done 60 minutes before eating a meal and again 2 hours after eating to give a more accurate range of your body’s pH levels. Testing a few times in a week will provide more accurate results as well.

  • Testing the pH of your urine for a healthy range should be between 6.0 and 6.5  in the morning, and between 6.5 and 7.0 when you test in the evening. If the pH is not within these ranges, it may show that your body is having trouble removing acids and maintaining optimal amounts of minerals meant to protect over-acidity of the body. You can improve your urine’s pH by taking supplements of sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium.
  • Testing the pH of your saliva should show a pH level between 6.5-7.5 at all times. This will also show digestive enzyme activity in the body. Be sure to cleanse your mouth as well as wait two hours after eating or drinking so that food matter will alter results.

Change Your Diet

One of the most convenient and effective ways to reduce the body’s level of acidity is to hydrate first thing in the morning and throughout the day with an alkalizing drink. Lemon juice added to water provides alkaline minerals and bicarbonate precursors in the form of citric acid.

Certain food groups are also crucial to controlling pH balance in the body and are considered acidic, alkaline or neutral. It is good to change your diet to include more alkaline foods than acidic foods.

Here are a few examples of differing food groups and their pH levels:

  • Acidic: Meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, grains, and alcohol.
  • Neutral: Natural fats, starches, and sugars.
  • Alkaline: Fruits, nuts, legumes and vegetables.

Alkaline foods include green juice, vegetable juice, fruit juice, garlic, berries, oranges, bananas, figs, kale, pumpkins, squash, peas, green tea, and most other fruits and vegetables. However, avoid processed fruit juice and some fruits that are quite acidic, e.g. cranberries, plums, rhubarb, blackberries, and prunes. Great alkaline protein sources include almonds, but avoid most meats and dairy for their high acidity.

Check Your Medications

Certain medications can cause your pH balance to be acidic. If you are not sure, speak to your doctor. If the medication is necessary and you cannot avoid it, you may help combat the acidic pH by eating more alkaline foods.

Monitor Your Stress Level

If you made dietary changes and included less acidic foods in your diet and still notice a high acid pH balance, stress could be the culprit. Stress does things to your body that you may not be aware of, including altering your pH balance.

Reduce stress by incorporating meditation, yoga, or Tai Chi into a daily routine. Other holistic care treatments such as acupuncture, and stress reduction techniques will be helpful in reducing stress and acidity.

Benefits You Can See!

Having optimal pH balance of the body will be noticeable. Health benefits include neutralizing free radicals, reduced sick days, stronger bones and teeth, reduced inflammation, and increased energy levels.

Chiropractors and acupuncturists are available at Relax Holistic to address any dietary concerns you may have and help you with holistic care options for balancing your body’s pH levels. They can help and are knowledgeable in health regimens, diet, nutrition, and exercise!

TMJ Shows Us That Everything In Our Body is Connected

TMJ Shows Us That Everything In Our Body is Connected

You probably have heard the statement about your body that ‘everything is connected’. The ligaments, the muscles and the joints of the body all work together in harmony so that your body is healthy and in peak performance. When something is disjointed within this system, it can greatly impact your health and well-being. TMJ is a perfect example of this.

TMJ, also known as TMD, refers to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. The Temporomandibular Joint connects your jaw to your skull. This joint affects a lot of your daily activity. It affects the ability to open your mouth, chew, speak and the overall health of your cranial muscles.

You may experience problems with this joint if the muscles or ligaments that control its movement are having issues. Many people may dismiss the symptoms early on and may not realize they have this condition. By recognizing the symptoms and causes of TMJ, you can revive the health of your temporomandibular joint with many holistic care options such as acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments.

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Common Symptoms

Do you or someone you know regularly grind their teeth? You may even notice that you wake up in the morning with jaw pain. These can be common symptoms of TMJ. Other symptoms can involve different areas of your body other than the jaw including ear aches and headaches. Over time, these symptoms cause damage that may include erosion of the joint, improper alignment of the joint, or damage of the joint cartilage.

Common symptoms include:

  • Pain in your jaw, cheek, teeth or front of the ear when you chew or yawn
  • Clicking noises in the jaw
  • Jaw Lock when opening your mouth
  • Poor occlusion of the teeth
  • Headaches
  • Symptoms relating to the ear, including hearing issues, dizziness or earaches

Causes

Common causes of TMJ disorder include serious jaw trauma, dislocation or dental work.  Maybe you have experienced head trauma that now affects this joint. Even physical or emotional stress can cause TMJ. Emotional stress at work or within your daily life can lead to teeth clenching or grinding. Mineral deficiencies may be another cause.

Statistics show that women are three times as likely to suffer from TMJ as men. Scientists are now studying how female hormones might be correlated with this disorder.

Treatment & Relief

Acupuncture is a great method of relief from TMJ. Acupuncture provides short-term relief from painful TMJ disorder symptoms.  Our Acupuncturist will determine the cause of TMJ by focusing on the meridians of the body. Meridian imbalances are related to other organs in the body. Treating areas of the body with needle pressure can rebalance the body and provide some relief of symptoms.

Massage is effective in relieving TMJ pain. Some massage therapists specialize in TMJ and even work on the muscles inside the mouth to release tension surrounding the jaw.

Chiropractic care treatments may alleviate some of the symptoms of TMD through manipulation of the jaw and muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joint. This can be a huge relief from tension and pain.

You Don’t Need to Suffer from TMJ

TMJ can end up being very uncomfortable to live with without treatment. With holistic care treatments, such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and other non-evasive treatments, you will be able to find relief from TMJ. Once your practitioner confirms the diagnosis, you’ll be given a treatment plan based on the specifics of your situation.

The health care team at Relax Holistic will diagnose the cause of your discomfort by looking at the upper cervical vertebra, cranial bones and reviewing your nutritional status. Treatment at Relax Holistic may include holistic care options such as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and massage.  Treatment could also include ultrasound, specific cranial adjusting, or even physiotherapy which manipulates the muscles in the mouth. Contact them today at any of their three convenient Los Angeles locations for relief from your TMJ symptoms!