Archive for the ‘General Health’ Category

I don’t know about you, but strawberries are definately one of my summertime favorites. Unfortunately, after some revealing research lead me to uncover just how much of a dousing these beauties receive………..I’ll think twice before I purchase the  non-organic variety.

Just how bad does it get?  Well, to the tune of 9,274,453 pounds of pesticides used at an average of 279.44 lbs. per acre on 33,190 acres. This just happens to be the higest average pesticide use on any fruit or veggie! Can you say hormone disruption………cancer………….birth defects!

The most commonly used pesticide was Chloropicrin, but you might know it by it’s more common name of tear gas.

Second most used pesticide was Methyl bromide, that just happens to be a ozone destroyer.

A few more facts to brighten your day……..92.3% of the berries tested had pesticide residues. 69.2% of berries tested had two or more residues. Of the 109 pesticides used on strawberries, 38 were detectable on berry samples.

According to the Enviormental Working Group, strawberries were the second-most pesticide contaminated fruit.

Of course pregmant women, children, and the elderly will be most at risk from eating this fruit, but the truth is we are ALL at risk.

So, shop wisely, buy organic whenever possible and at the very least wash with a good quality organic soap. My favorite Masters Miracle II.

I have a question. What would happen if you ate and digested the perfect diet created just for you? Would you feel better or worse? Do you think your weight would normalize and would your overall health and well-being begin to improve radically?

My experience is that chronic problems such as heartburn, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, arthritis, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and weight gain improve greatly.

Since all chronic degenerative disease processes such as diabetes and heart disease have a nutritional link, I have found those to improve as well.

People love diets. Unfortunately the diets most of us love are just not creating the radiant health we so desire.

Nutrition in this country is typically a one-size-fits-all approach. If you were to pick up the latest and greatest diet book are they writing specifically about YOU?

When a book or article suggests taking 1,000 mg. of calcium per day, what if your body can only handle 750 mg?  Or, your body is actually calling for 1,500 mg. a day. And what if that form of calcium is completely ineffective and will not be utilized by your body, creating an additional stress for the body to eliminate it. Or maybe your style is just “pop and pray!”

Here at Women’s Health Advantage, we know that nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all, but is totally unique to YOU. We understand that proper nutrition is NOT giving a patient 100 different vitamins to take.

We also understand that health begins with giving a client the perfect eating plan FOR THEM based on test procedures that are reliable, reproducible and measurable. Next we understand that any diet is useless unless it is digested properly. So we give our patients the proper enzyme and nutritional supplements based on reliable testing procedures instead of having you just “pop and pray.”

Radiant health begins with the basics. To see if you are covering the basics call for your free no-obligation phone consultation and Vitality Check-Up at 661-310-7373. I look forward to guiding you on the road to vibrant health!

1. Check your thyroid function. Avoid thyroid toxins and inhibitors including: excess polyunsaturated fats (soybean, safflower, canola, flaxseed, and fish oils); raw cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage; lightly steaming them destroys the thyroid inhibiting substances they contain); fluoride (check toothpaste and mouthwashes); and mercury in silver amalgam fillings. A low protein diet also promotes hypothyroidism.
2. Control your weight. Obesity interferes with the normal assimilation of fats, causing a tendency toward increased cholesterol and triglycerides (lipids or fats formed from fatty acids and glycerol travel in the blood along with cholesterol).
3. Avoid stress. It increases cholesterol, which may be nature’s way of increasing the pathways to the stress hormones such as cortisol. This may require taking a hard look at your job and/or lifestyle. Take a 30 min. walk, join yoga or exercise classes, keep a journal or indulge in a deep tissue message.
4. Avoid synthetic fats (such as margarine and butter substitutes) produced from the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, which cause increased cholesterol. A better choice is raw butter, organic coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.
5. Eat foods high in fiber. Low fiber diets promote high cholesterol. Water-soluble fiber found in fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes binds intestinal cholesterol and inhibits its reabsorption. It is far better to get your fiber from whole fruits and vegetables than supplements whenever possible.
6. Get sufficient food enzymes. Enzyme-deficient diets lead to increased cholesterol and triglycerides. The need for lipase, the fat-digesting enzyme, may be necessary.
7. Eat whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Nutrient deficiencies associated with high cholesterol include Vit. C, the B-complex vitamins (especially B6 and B3), and certain minerals, such as chromium, zinc, and magnesium. Note that taking nutritional supplements while continuing to eat a nutrient deficient diet will not address these nutritional short comings. A nutrient scarce diet leaves you enzyme-deficient and without enzymes (as are found in whole foods), vitamin and mineral supplements cannot be utilized by the body and are therefore wasted.

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Please feel free to print a copy of this article.

Invest in yourself ~ Women’s Health Advantage is ready to help!

Are you…

• DONE wishing for better health?
• TIRED of just talking about what to do next?
• READY to make positive changes and live a more vibrant life?
• SUFFERING from health symptoms that are unexplained or unrelieved?
• Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.

Despite the recent boom in popularity of coffee merchants and drive-thru java stations, coffee drinking may be having a negative impact on your health, especially for mature women. Women are faced with new health challenges as they age.

Here are the top seven reasons for limiting coffee and caffeine to improve health and ease aging symptoms.

1. Coffee drinking is associated with increased risk of heart attack - Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the U.S. and studies show that coffee consumption may be linked to an increase in blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation, all risk factors for heart disease.
2. Coffee interferes with mineral absorption - Studies show that caffeine, along with other ingredients found in coffee and decaf coffee can reduce iron availability up to 50%. Caffeine also interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium, magnesium and potassium. This may affect energy and strength.
3. Coffee consumption may lead to osteoporosis - Low bone density increases a woman’s chance for developing osteoporosis. Studies suggest that women with high caffeine intake experience higher rates of bone loss. The high acidity of both regular and decaf coffee decreases the body’s ability to absorb calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron essential for strong bones.
4. Coffee drinking is associated with increased incidence of hot flashes - Women who drink less coffee report lower rates of hot flashes during menopause. Coffee drinking can increase the intensity of hot flashes during the night.
5. Caffeine negatively interacts with hormone replacement - Research suggests that postmenopausal women who take hormones and also drink coffee have an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
6. Caffeine increases breast pain and fibrocystic breasts in susceptible women - Studies show a link between caffeine consumption and fibrocystic breasts (non-cancerous lumps in the breast tissue). Women who experience regular breast pain decreased their pain by omitting caffeine from their diet.
7. Caffeine may affect sleep - Mature bodies metabolize caffeine more slowly. Caffeine can still be in your blood stream up to 18 hours after consumption. One cup of coffee in the early morning may still be interfering with your sleep cycle.

Try TeeccinoTM and Dandy BlendTM as excellent coffee substitutes. Teeccino is brewed like coffee and available at Whole Foods. Dandy Blend comes in an instant form and makes a delightfully healthy frappuccino! It is available in my office.

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Please feel free to print a copy of this article.

Invest in yourself ~ Women’s Health Advantage is ready to help!

Are you…

• DONE wishing for better health?
• TIRED of just talking about what to do next?
• READY to make positive changes and live a more vibrant life?
• SUFFERING from health symptoms that are unexplained or unrelieved?
• Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.

“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Common Cold
Plus A Few Things You Didn’t!”

Have you ever had an experience that goes something like this?

You have just awakened to a great new day. But before you can even muster the fortitude to crawl out of your cave of blankets, a relay of sneezes somehow escapes from your mouth with the force of a Florida hurricane. Ah… ah… ah… choooooooo!

You notice a slight shiver go through your body. Then, when you attempt that first big breath you are suddenly incapable. Why? Because your sinuses are packed tighter than cotton in a pill jar!!

Dragging your body to the bathroom, you take a quick glance in the mirror and notice the pair of eyes staring back. They give you the appearance of someone who has stayed up too late drinking rubbing alcohol and watching Ronco infomercials.

Oh, and could that really be your head on those shoulders, and when did it start feeling like the Goodyear blimp?

My dear, it’s time for Cold Care 101!!

Did you know that the cold and its ‘cousin’ flu are the most common infectious diseases in the entire world? It is also the leading cause of absence from both work and school, and the #1 reason for doctor visits.

If you were to ask what causes a cold, most people would probably guess (incorrectly) that colds and flu are caused by bacteria, cold weather, being improperly dressed or walking around with wet hair or clothing.

The real story is that colds and flu are caused by viruses (microscopic clusters of genetic material surrounded by a protein covering). There are four recognized distinct categories of cold viruses: rhinovirus, which is the most common, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and coronavirus (and, no that does not come from beer!).

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