Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses essential oils that are made from plant materials. It is used in the prevention and treatment of diseases. It is also used to improve a person’s mood, brain function or general health.

Aromatherapy uses

Aromatherapy is performed by an aroma therapist. Nurses, doctors, massage therapists and chiropractors may also use aromatherapy in their practice. Nurses may use aromatherapy in anxiety /depression, pain management and even to improve function for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Some essential oils may be used in mouthwashes and rubbing ointments that one can purchase as an over-the-counter product.

Aromatherapy has often been used in the treatment of infectious diseases because some of the essential oils have antimicrobial properties.

Aromatherapy-origins

Aromatherapy originated in France, and they often included it in conventional medicine. Doctors may prescribe aromatherapy as part of the recommended treatment. In the United States aromatherapy is mostly used as massage oil and as a fragrance.

Aromatherapy-methods of application

• As a fragrance to disinfect the air
• To apply to the skin directly through baths, massages, compresses, skin care
• To inhale for respiratory disinfection and decongestion, psychological benefits
• Ingestion

Aromatherapy-the way it works

Aromatherapy uses essential oils to affect the brain through the sense of smell, and it also has direct pharmacological benefits when applied to the skin. Some of the oils can be ingested. Through the sense of smell they activate the limbic system and the emotional systems in the brain. Through the skin they activate the receptors in the skin and kill microbes and fungi. Through ingestion they can activate the circulatory system.

Aromatherapy-popular essential oils and some of their uses

• Basil is used to lift depression, relieve headaches and migraines and to improve sexual function.
• Bergamot is used to improve function of the urinary tract and the digestive system and cold sores.
• Black pepper is used to ease muscles aches and stimulates circulation which may assist in the healing of bruises.
• Citronella oil is used as an insect repellant.
• Eucalyptus oil provides relief for the symptoms of colds and flu.
• Jasmine oil is known as an aphrodisiac.
• Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic, as a relaxant for sleep disorders and to ease headaches and migraines.
• Tea tree oil is used as an antiseptic and a disinfectant.
• Yarrow oil helps relieve joint inflammation and relieve symptoms of the cold and flu.

Aromatherapy-Precautions

Even though essential oils are relatively safe to use in the practice of aromatherapy, it is still important to be careful about the adequate dosage for your size and weight. Also, pregnant and lactating women should take extra precautions. Essentials oils and aromatherapy may interfere with other prescribed medication you are taking through conventional medicine.

The price of essential oils vary greatly depending upon the country of origin, the type of extraction used, the harvest, and how desirable the oil is. It also greatly depends on whether or not the essential oil is “pure”. Usually the oil is extracted and then repressed or thinned out with an added substance. The more substance that is added, the less expensive (and less effective) the aromatherapy treatment should be.

Pain Therapy

The type of pain therapy you choose has a lot to do with your history with the pain you’re experiencing, the location, the intensity, whether it’s chronic or acute, and whether it’s a sign that something else is going wrong. This article will discuss some of the more poplar types of pain therapy.

First and foremost when considering pain therapy is your collaboration with your family physician so that he/she can rule out any other conditions which may require other specific treatment. For example, if you have cancer, then most of the pain therapy methods mentioned in this article may help somewhat in reducing the pain, but you’ll still have to treat the underlying cause through possible surgery, chemotherapy, medications, and/or radiation. Pain in the chest may signal an impending heart attack, and pain therapy will not help, nor is it advisable-taking your mediation and getting to the hospital is. In these cases, reducing the pain through pain therapy isn’t your only concern.

*Acupuncture as pain therapy: It is a process of inserting tiny needles into specific points (the meridian line or “life energy”) in the body which relieves pain for therapeutic pain therapy purposes. It originated in China. The general agreement is that the procedure is safe. If you are using this pain therapy method, and you are experiencing relief, then it may be the right pain therapy method for you.

*Massage Therapy as pain therapy: There are several different types of massage therapy and they all perform different functions. Swedish massage reduces emotional and physical stress. Neuromuscular massage restores balance of the autonomic nervous system. Lymphatic massage detoxifies the body and boosts the immune system. Shiatsu massage relieves blockages in the meridian pathways by massaging vital pressure points. Massage therapy is especially effective form of pain therapy if the cause of the pain is muscle tension due to stress, an accident or a poor posture.

*Reflexology as pain therapy: Certain points on parts of the body, often the feet, are manipulated and massaged. These points are said to be directly related to and affect corresponding internal organs. In order for this pain therapy to work you must tell the reflexologist exactly where the pain is, and she will massage the corresponding point.

*Chiropractor as pain therapy: This chiropractor will do a complete assessment of you and mark down all the areas of pain that you are experiencing. She/he will manipulate/massage and adjust your body so that the alignment is restored and all your organs are functioning properly again.

*Magnetic therapy as pain therapy: Magnetic therapy can be an effective form of pain therapy. Certain parts of the body are subjected to static magnetic fields improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and promoting healing. For safety reasons, magnetic pain therapy should not be used by pregnant women or anyone with an implanted electro-medical device. It’s a relatively inexpensive and readily available form of pain therapy.

Pain therapy is very individual. It depends on your personal preference, tolerance, and how you’re experiencing the pain in order to determine which pain therapy is right for you.

Finding Relief with Acupuncture Therapy

Acupuncture Therapy is an ancient art of pain relief that is still being used today. Millions of Americans have turned to acupuncture therapy in just the last 40 years. Acupuncture therapy was passed down to us from the Chinese who are still skilled at the art.

The Chinese perfected a way of changing the energy flow in the human body with acupuncture therapy. The tiny needles are inserted in the body to channel energy flow and help heal the body.

The human body has what are called channels known as meridians. These are branches or lanes leading to organs. If an organ is not functioning properly, acupuncture therapy has been successful in re-channeling energy and promoting healing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has found acupuncture to be effective for the treatment of almost every condition that attacks the human body. Acupuncture therapy is an effective way to treat allergies that are among the most common disorders people suffer with. Nearly two in 10 people suffer from some sort of allergy. It is one of the main causes of school and work absence. Many people with allergies have found relief from allergies along with gastrointestinal disorders, gynecological problems that millions of women suffer with each year. Acupuncture therapy has also been found to help people suffering with alcoholism and other substance abuses.

Headaches affect nearly every one of us. Many people have debilitating headaches that make it nearly impossible for them to function. Acupuncture therapy is a low cost way that has successfully relieved headache pain without high doses of medications or surgery.

Millions of Americans are suffering from arthritis. It causes joint pain and bone deterioration. Those living with rheumatoid arthritis can have crippling effects from the disease. Acupuncture therapy has relieved pain, restored circulation to the affected joints and restored energy resulting in an ease of movement. Osteoarthritis pain has been alleviated also.

Acupuncture therapy can be more successful when used before a condition reaches the point that heavy mediation or surgery is needed. Those suffering from AIDS or cancer need chemotherapy have been helped with acupuncture therapy. It is not meant to be used instead of Western treatments, but in addition to for relief pain.

Acupuncture therapy, as we now know it, was first used over 2,500 years ago in China and was called Nei Ching or The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. The Chinese have perfected acupuncture therapy, but it may have first started as an Asian therapy. The oldest text, discussing acupuncture, was found in a book entitled the Systematic Classic of Acupuncture, dated 282 A.D.

The art of shiatsu, acupressure massage and macrobiotics can be traced back to having roots in acupuncture. The Chinese use herbal remedies, dietary therapy, and lifestyle changes in addition to acupuncture.

Acupuncture therapy was introduced to America as late as the 1970s when Richard Nixon was the first president to visit China. In the early 1900s, Western physicians were fascinated with acupuncture therapy observed in China, but it was not accepted until the 1970s.

During Nixon’s visit, journalists observed surgery being performed on patients without anesthetics. The Chinese doctors were using the tiny acupuncture therapy needles to control the pain instead. The patients remained awake during the procedure. A journalist for the New York Times, James Reston, chose to undergo surgery and declined medication. The acupuncture therapy needles were used to control his pain. Acupuncture therapy became popular after he published a story describing his experience.

Acupuncture therapy is being used in all 50 states by over 9,000 doctors. As many as 4,000 doctors include acupuncture therapy with their practice. To date, over five million Americans have undergone acupuncture therapy.

The other forms of acupuncture used in America, in addition to the Chinese method, is Japanese acupuncture using thin needles and does not include herbal medicine. Auricular acupuncture therapy is used on the ears. Paul Nogier, a neurologist in France, developed a popular system based on neuroendocrine which is different than Chinese therapy. This method is also becoming popular in America.

Muscle Building Foods

You’re going to the gym on a regular basis (3 to 6 times a week) but you aren’t seeing the results you want because you aren’t incorporating muscle building foods into your diet.
No matter how many reps you do, and no matter how heavy the weights are, you just won’t build lean mass without adding muscle building foods, also known as a protein rich diet.
The very best muscle building foods are those that are full of protein, and these absolutely need to be added to your diet as well as the right amount of good quality complex carbohydrates (no junk food here), healthy fats and plenty of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. Drinking plenty of water during the day can never be emphasized enough. Your body needs water to digest food and eliminate toxins. Avoiding processed food is essential to provide your muscles with what is necessary to build lean mass.
Working your biceps, triceps, gluteus, hamstrings, pectorals and quads without eating muscle building foods is like riding a bicycle without the chain-you’re not going anywhere.

How often to eat your muscle building foods
You’ll have to eat protein every 2 to 3 hours totaling 5 to 6 meals a day. You will want to have healthy and easy-to-eat muscle building foods on hand for those times when you can’t prepare food. And who has time to put together a decent protein rich meal every 2 to 3 hours? A great snack to have on hand is nuts and seeds.

Time of day to eat the most muscle building foods
You’ll want to eat your largest meal after your weight training session. This is the time in which your muscles are most in need of those healthy muscle building foods.

When to skip a meal or snack of muscle building foods
If you’re serious and determined to build lean muscle mass, then you won’t want to miss an opportunity to ingest muscle building foods.

How much protein/muscle building foods do our bodies require?
The amount of muscle building foods your body needs depends on your age, size, gender, activity level, and the amount of exercise you do. In general, you can estimate how much protein you need every day by multiplying your body weight in kilograms times .8.  That result you’ll want to divide into 5 to 6 meals a day. You’ll need to add 1.5 to 2 grams of protein per kg of body weight on those days that you’re involved in heavy weight training.

A list of excellent muscle building foods
To give you an example of the portion sizes of muscle building foods, the food items listed all have approximately 8 grams of protein for comparison.

1 jumbo egg
1 cup of milk
1 cup of soy milk
1oz of most cuts of beef
¼ cup of most almonds and seeds
2 tbsp of peanut butter
½ cup of most beans
¼ cup of soy beans
¼ cup of cottage cheese
½-1 cup of yoghurt (depending on the brand)
3 slices of bacon
¾ oz of ham
1 ½ oz fish fillets
1 oz chicken

Changing your Life with Sugar Free Recipes

By not taking advantage of sugar free recipes and buying foods that are undergoing more and more processing, many of us are finding we are having adverse reactions to these foods. Gastric upset, insomnia, headaches, feeling tired, muscle and joint pain can be symptoms caused by adverse reactions to the food we eat. Without the help of sugar free recipes; these problems are passed off as just growing older, or maybe we did too much over the weekend. In our busy lives, many of us don’t take these signs as our body telling us that we need to eliminate some of these processed foods.

Taking advantage of sugar free recipes and avoiding wheat, processed sugar or dairy products may help you start feeling better. The problem now becomes finding foods that don’t contain wheat, processed sugar and dairy products. If we omit these ingredients, called for in sugar free recipes, what is there left for us to eat?

It takes time to educate ourselves about ingredients contained in food sold at the market. Your shopping trips will start taking longer because, if you intend to start eating less processed foods and using your sugar free recipes, you will also read labels. Finding new sugar free recipes will also be time consuming, but the effort will be worthwhile. If you start cooking with food that is less processed, contains fewer processed ingredients, you may start feeling less fatigued, go through your day without a headache, feel less joint pain, no upset stomach, and start sleeping better. That could be the reward when you use sugar free recipes.

If you start omitting wheat, processed sugar, and dairy products, what does that leave you to eat? It may be hard to find food that does not contain wheat. Replacing processed flour with whole wheat flour may work for you. Whole wheat flour is called for in many sugar free recipes. You can also replace processed sugar with gluten-free, or sugar substitutes, and dairy-free products. These are easy to find in the market. It is just a matter of re-educating yourself to buy these products, not the items that you have purchased for years, and your mother before you may have purchased for years.

Before taking your “first” trip to the market, research sugar free recipes calling for wheat flour, sugar substitutes, and non dairy ingredients. There are thousands of these sugar free recipes on the internet just waiting for you to try. Cooking can be just as easy with non-processed products as cooking with them. You may have to just change your mind set.

Another point that you may not have considered when cooking with sugar free recipes, you may start dropping off unwanted pounds. When you start sleeping better, felling less fatigue, and experience less joint pain, your exercise program may be a joy again. May be not a joy, but easier. We can hope for that.

More of people are being diagnosed with diabetes than ever before. This is a disease that should be avoided at all cost; and controlled if you are diabetic. Offering your children foods prepared with sugar free recipes may improve their health save their lives.

Research of over a thousand adults, who were following sugar free recipes, found that when following a low calorie, sugar-free or less processed food diet, most reported better health over all. If you think about it, processing foods eliminates many of the vitamins and minerals nature puts in. If you are cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables, you are feeding yourself and you family food that is higher in vitamins, minerals, calcium, fiber, and iron. By reading labels, you are becoming educated regarding foods that offer higher quality and not fillers to enhance taste. Sodium is not your friend. Following sugar free recipes containing less sodium will only be to your advantage.

If you are omitting sugar from your diet, sugar free recipes, don’t feel you have to miss out during this holiday season. There are so many sugar free recipes that have your good health in mind.

Sugar Free Eggnog

1 package of sugar free vanilla pudding
5 cups of skim milk
2 packets of Sweet One, or 2 packets of Equal
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
Add additional spices to taste
Optional, rum or scotch

Prepare pudding according to package using 5 cups of milk.
If mixture is to too thick to pour, add additional milk.
Add cinnamon and nutmeg
Add alcohol to taste.

Sugar Free Chocolate Chips Cookies

Preheat over at 350 degrees
½ cup butter (softened)
1 egg white, beaten
4 packets of artificial sweetener
½ cup non-fat dry milk
½ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/3 cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar cut into pieces

Blend first six ingredients until blended, about two minutes.
Add dry ingredients.
Fold in chocolate
Drop from a teaspoon onto un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Using Collagen Fillers As A Way To Look Young

Collagen fillers are becoming more and more popular as the population grows older. Since we are living in a world that rewards “being young”, the battle goes on to try to keep those years from showing on our faces. As lines start forming and getting deeper on our faces, many of us are doing all we can to make these lines disappear. We are doing what we can keep those lines and wrinkles away for a few more years.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 174,290 patients underwent collagen fillers in the year 2007. That showed a 70 percent increase from the year 2000.

Protein is the connective tissue support system for skin, bones, cartilage and blood vessels. The protein can also be called collagen. As a person ages, collagen breaks down causing the skin to wrinkle and show lines. When the collagen is replaced, with collagen fillers, the connective tissue system is restored for a little longer.

Among the collagen fillers used are, human collagen with CosmoDerm and Cosmoplast; collagen from cows or bovines, with Zyderm and Zyplast; or a hybrid gel filler containing millions of synthetic microspheres contained in purified bovine collagen.

Collagen fillers work best on people within the ages of 35 to 60. A person of any age that has frown lines, crow’s feet, smile lines, or deep lines around the nose will see benefits from collagen fillers. For women who are pregnant or nursing, collagen fillers are not recommended. If a person is allergic to cow products or lidocaine, a doctor will probably forgo collagen fillers. People suffering from any autoimmune diseases may want to find an alternative to collagen fillers.

Collagen fillers containing Zyderm and Zyplast have caused allergic reactions in some people. Before performing the injection, the doctor will test for allergies. Collagen fillers can be injected without anesthesia. A local anesthetic is used because a very tiny needle is used on the skin, and the procedure only takes about an hour. Several injections are usually required, depending on the size of the line or wrinkle.

Few people complain of discomfort, but the doctor is using a needle so some people do experience slight pain. Because the needle injecting the collagen fillers is so small, swelling and bruising is rare and, if it does occur, will subside after a couple of days. The procedure is usually done in the doctor’s office and people are able to go home immediately after the collagen fillers are complete and resume normal activities.

You will be able to appreciate the results immediately after the collagen fillers are injected. If the site seems to look like the doctor injected too much collagen, the area will return to normal in a couple of days. This may be from slight swelling. Even though results are seen immediately, total results will become evident in a couple of days. Collagen fillers are recommended every two to three months.

Complications after undergoing collagen fillers are rare. Some people may notice an uneven texture to the skin. An allergic reaction may show up later. Rarely does the area become infected, abscessed or show scarring. Leaving your hands away from the area injected with the collagen fillers is wise to avoid transmitting germs from your hands to your face.

If a person shows allergies to the collagen fillers, other treatments may be recommended such as Botox or Restylane. Botox is used with collagen and Restylane can be used in place of collagen fillers.

The extreme alternatives that can be considered, instead of collage fillers, are full facelift, forehead lift, blepharoplastym, eyelid lift, chemical peel, laser skin resurfacing, or microdermabrasion. All of these treatments may be presented to by your doctor. For best results, no matter what procedure you choose, consult with at least two doctors that are qualified in the dermatological field before your proceed.

Cellulite Treatments And Your Body

Millions of women have tried to reduce cellulite from their hips and thighs without success. There are as many reasons for the ripples as there are cellulite treatments that will not remove it. Thousands of dollars have been spent on cellulite treatments from cold jelly slathered on the legs and hips to lasers and ultrasound waves.

Cellulite is a cottage cheese looking substance just under the skin of the thighs, stomach, and buttocks, or upper arms. Fat that can be removed with liposuction as a cellulite treatment deeper than the fat you see on the surface. Many times, liposuction sucks out the deep fat, not the fat just under the surface. Cellulite is nothing other than fat pushing against tissue beneath the skin. It then makes the surface ripple and looks lumpy. Your age and thickness of skin will determine the amount of cellulite you have.

Go to the internet and you will find as many reasons for cellulite treatments as there are web sites, and as many different ways to treat it. The reasons for millions of women having cellulite treatments have been said to be for metabolic waste; poor circulation; no lymphatic drainage; the result of wearing tight clothing; wearing high heels; loose fat, and heredity. Dermatologists agree that cellulite is genetic. Many times, if your parents experienced cellulite, you will also. It is something most of us inherit.

Cellulite has been explained as a thickness of the inner layer of skin and the connective tissue under it that holds the fat cells. Men are more likely to have cross-hatch patterns that hold in the fat cells. Women have columns holding the fat cells. The fat cells find it easier to bulge through columns.

The only way to rid your body of cellulite is to undergo new cellulite treatments like liposuction that dissolves the fat. Some have been successful in reducing cellulite after plastic wraps, but the cellulite returned when the legs and hips became re-hydrated.

The FDA recently approved a substance called VelaSmooth cellulite treatments that appears to reduce cellulite in the thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen and upper arms. Velasmooth cellulite treatments have combined a Bi-Polar Frequency, Infrared Light, tissue mobilization for a fat burning, non-surgical treatment. Velasmooth cellulite treatments have reported results after eight to 12 sessions over a month to six weeks. The positive results will only last up to six months when used along with a careful diet and exercise. Velasmooth cellulite treatments must be maintained to have continued cellulite reduction results. Velasmooth cellulite treatments are a medical device that claims to have created a new era in cellulite treatments. It is just becoming popular.

Most women have had some degree of success. Velasmooth cellulite treatments use radiofrequency waves, laser, mechanical massages that break up the fat forcing the water to leave the tissues and reduce the cellulite. Velasmooth cellulite treatments are considered a safe new treatment to reduce cellulite like no other treatments.

Facial Spas

Second only to a body message, facial spas are the most popular gift we give ourselves. Facial spas can be done at home, but for a special treat, have a facial by a trained esthetician. Facial spas are for relaxation, and cleaner, clearer skin.

Estheticians are trained professionals found in facial spas. He or she has had special training to become educated in skin types and care. A trained esthetician will be able to give you a relaxing facial to rejuvenate your skin, and can recognize problems that may arise or exist on your skin. If the problem you are having needs more attention than she can provide, a professional esthetician will refer you to a dermatologist for treatment.

When you find an esthetician or facial care specialist, you will want to take notice of the work area. See that everything is clean. The chair or bed must be fresh and clean, the esthetician must be clean and all instruments must be sterile. When anyone is touching your face or body, it is important everything be as clean as a medical office.

Estheticians in facial spas are licensed in most states. If you would feel better knowing how your state licenses estheticians, you can find information on the internet. Your esthetician may have a certificate displayed at her location. Many states require estheticians to have at least 600 hours of training before they can be certified. You have a right to ask the esthetician how much training she has had. Estheticians operating facial spas are also called skin care therapists.

Medical spas are under the supervision of a medical professional and offer services for the treatment of spots, redness, and broken capillaries. These are conditions that cannot be treated by an esthetician in facial spas without a medical professional on site.

Facial spas offer services for the skin that include facials that exfoliate the skin. Exfoliation must be done right to leave the skin smooth and fresh without damage. This allows facial products to penetrate the skin. The skin is rubbed with an abrasive to remove dead skin cells, or a gentle abrasive with a small round brush. Exfoliation can range from a sugar or coffee ground scrub, or jojoba beads for a more complete result. Chemical exfoliation uses enzymes, alphahydroxy acids or betahydroxy acids. These substances break down the glue that holds the cells together allowing the old cells to be removed.

Some facial spas use effleurage which is stroking used in Swedish massage and facials. Effleurage can be used for the entire body. The massage therapist or esthetician will start with gentle strokes and increase the pressure, depending on the desired results.

The two types of effleurage are gentle facial and deep massage. Facial effleurage uses a gentle touch for smoothing of the skin. The therapist applies more pressure along with oils at the end of the massage. The different types of massages range from the body massage to facial spas.

Facial spas are enjoyed by men and women of all ages. The most obvious reason for having a facial massage is for relaxation. Facial spas are also nice for rejuvenating the skin, removing old cells, applying products deep in to the skin, and for wrinkle removal.

How To Lose Weight Fast

How To Lose Weight Fast Step 1
How determined are you to lose weight? How bad do you want to slim down? Your attitude will determine the results. If you are committed to lose weight no matter how difficult it is, you will surely succeed. Imagine how your life will change for the better when you shed the weight. You will not only be healthier, look more attractive and have fewer problems finding clothes that fit you. All these can spur you on. So, keep this in mind and constantly remind yourself that you can do it.

Keep a picture of yourself and set a date and weight you want to reach. When you reach the next month, take another picture of yourself. You will get more and more motivated when you are able to see the results of yourself looking slimmer.

How To Lose Weight Fast Step 2
Get yourself enrolled in a gym near your area. Most gyms offer at least a free trial membership so you can see if that gym right for you. If you can get a friend or buddy who can work out with you, you will also be able to encourage each other to work out more often. Get a personal trainer and be serious about the training so that you can reach your goal.

How To Lose Weight Fast Step 3
Exercise is the key to weight loss. Start your regiment of intense cardio at least twice a week, for an hour. If you prefer out doors to a gym, there are also other forms of cardio exercises. Swimming, running, cycling or rock climbing are also cardio exercises to lose those calories.

How To Lose Weight Fast Step 4
There are many different diet options. There are Atkins program, Zone diet and South Beach Diet. Choose the one which is most suitable for you.

How To Lose Weight Fast Step 5
Watch your diet diligently. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut down on meat and poultry. Reduce intake of sugar and soft drinks from your diet. Avoid too much carbohydrate as they will convert to fats if not burned up. It is best to consume carbohydrates before noon so that it can have time to be used and let your body burn it up in the afternoon.

How To Lose Weight Fast Step 6
Be persistent- with your workout regimen and diet plans, so that you can lose weight fast and effective. It will take time for weight loss to become visible. However, determination and hard work always pay off in the end.

Is Sugar Bad and Finding the Answers?

Is sugar bad? Sugar, though it comes from sugar cane and sugar beets, is not natural. The sugar we have today has been refined to the point of pure sucrose. The vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes and any other beneficial nutrients have been removed.

If sugar is bad, is it leaving the body to metabolize a substance that is unnatural for the body to handle? Sugar may not be bad, if we were to consume very small amounts, but unfortunately we are consuming sugar by about 115 pounds a year. This is not us collectively. This is 115 pounds for each man, woman and child.

Sugar is bad because it is being fed to very young children when they are newborns, so people are developing a taste for sweetened foods almost from birth. We are consuming an unnatural substance that is not handled well by the body. Eating sugar, good or bad, has become an accepted way of life. I am sure, in the beginning, few people thought we would become dependent on sugar as a refined food additive. Ninety-five percent of our population is addicted to sugar. Sugar is bad because it can be found in baby’s formula and mother’s milk while she is nursing.

The rule of thumb, most of us live by, is if you consume a substance, you are safe as long as you consume it in moderation. Consuming anything in excessive can be harmful. This is also true with vitamins and minerals that are good for us if we follow the directions on the bottle. Thinking, “If something is good in small amounts it can only be better in larger amounts,” is the thinking that causes millions of people a problem. The best example is with snake venom. Snake venom is used medically for therapeutic purposes, but if we take larger amounts of venom, like in a snake bite, it can be deadly.

Can sugar be bad? It has been around since the beginning of civilization. In the beginning, though, it was consumed only in small amounts. It was an insignificant food ingredient. The Greeks did not have a word for sugar which leads historians to believe sugar was not around. In medieval Europe, it was unknown to common people and a delicacy to the royal families.

In 1204, Christian Crusaders were offered sugar by Saracens and started using sugar freely. Spain grew sugar cane on Spanish soil and started refining the cane into sugar. When Spain drove out the Moors, they continued refining the cane sugar. It was not long until the Christendom started eating sugar, good or bad, and liking it.

Why is sugar bad? Sugar is turned into a chemical during refining that takes all of the natural food nutrients out that is the cane. Heroin and sugar are processed in similar ways. Heroin is an extract of the poppy. The opium is refined into morphine. Chemists were then successful in refining morphine into heroin. They claimed they had produced a new pain-killer that was non-addictive. We all know that isn’t true.

In a similar manner, juice is drawn out of the beet and refined into molasses. From the molasses comes brown sugar and then refined into a white crystal chemical that is then sugar as we know it.

Sugar is bad for the human consumption because it is as addictive as heroin. Not only is it habit forming, once a person develops a taste for sugar, the body craves it and only wants more.

Further, the reason sugar is bad is because the damage to our systems is gradual. Over the years, sugar will ruin the pancreas, adrenal glands, and adjust the endocrine system.

Americans are told that they are the best fed people in earth. In reality, Americans are the biggest consumers of junk food. Nearly everything sold in the market contains processed sugar. Sugar is bad because many foods are loaded with sugar. Sugar is bad because it is considered a long term chemical poison. Sugar is bad because damage it does to the body include, – poor nutrition, it causes tooth decay, gum disease, and bone structure failure; sugar raises a persons risk of becoming diabetic; sugar is bad because it also contributes to heart disease, arteriosclerosis, depression, and hypertension; sugar is harmful to the endocrine system and adrenal glands, pancreas, liver and blood sugar; sugar is bad because it attributes to binge eating and bulimia.