The Hidden Cause of Aches and Pains and All Natural Remedy for It

Dehydration is a hidden cause of many aches and pains including headaches, back pain, and arthritic pain. It can even contribute to injuries since even mild dehydration can negatively effect mental clarity, performance and productivity in sports and in life. Most people live in a chronic state of dehydration without even knowing it. In fact, 75% of Americans are actually dehydrated right now! This is because the majority of the beverages we consume like soda, coffee, milk, alcohol, sports drinks and even bottled waters can have an dehydrating effect on the body!


Dehydrating Effect of Most Liquids

How can water and other liquids be dehydrating, you ask? Your blood needs to stay at a pH of just under 7.4. If the pH of a beverage is below 7.0, it is considered acidic and thus steals valuable minerals and energy from the body in order to neutralize it, having a dehydrating instead of hydrating effect. Tap water is regulated by the government to be at least a 7.0, while the pH of milk is about a 6.0, the pH of most bottled waters is between 3.5 and 4.5, and sodas, sports drinks, coffee, and alcohol usually have a pH of between 3.5 and 2.0! The pH scale is a logarithmic scale which means the difference between each number is actually 10 times greater than the one before it.

Traditional Painkillers


There are a number of painkillers on the market. Unfortunately, all medication (with the exception of some natural and homeopathic remedies) have an acidifying effect on the body. This means that they contribute to an acidic environment which is the opposite of the alkaline environment our body thrives in. Continuous use of over the counter medications for pain relief can actually prolong the problem--by constantly flooding your body with dehydrating and acidifying substances, you are creating an environment where pain and discomfort is likely to occur!

Importance of Staying Hydrated


Staying hydrated can help relieve pain and prevent injuries or discomfort from occurring the first place. Studies have shown that if you have a headache and opt to drink a full glass of water instead of taking a painkiller, the water alone may get rid of the headache. Other studies have shown that arthritic and back pains have a root in inflammation, which may be alleviated and prevented by staying properly hydrated.

How Much Water Do You Need?

We naturally lose an average of two liters of water a day through urination, perspiration, breathing and defecation. It is recommended that we drink a minimum of half our body weight in ounces daily (more if you are active or live in a hot climate) in order to replace the fluids lost and to stay hydrated. But hydrating with the right kind of water is equally as important as drinking enough water.


What is the Best Kind of Water?

Alkaline ionized water hydrates up to six times better than conventional water due to its microclustered size which is more easily absorbed by the body. Unlike acidic liquids, alkaline ionized water nourishes the body by providing bioavailable alkaline minerals instead of robbing the body of minerals. Alkaline ionized water also contains more antioxidants than orange juice, and has the ability to soothe inflammation of many kinds from the inside out. Alkaline ionized water can be produced in your home by hooking a Chanson water ionizer up to your faucet. The machine will allow you to make various pH levels of water, but the optimal drinking level of 9.5 pH supports overall wellness in a way that conventional waters cannot.

All-Natural Topical Pain Relief


In addition to hydrating the body with alkaline ionized water which may help prevent and alleviate pain, a topical application of high alkaline water often provides temporary pain relief. Strong alkaline ionized water neutralizes inflammation in the muscle and reduces oxidation which is a byproduct of inflammation. Just soak a rag in 10+ pH alkaline ionized water from a Chanson Water ionizer and apply to the sore area for a non-addictive, all natural remedy. With this remedy, you may no longer have to worry about the possibility of chemical dependency on over-the-counter and prescription painkillers or the effects those chemicals may have on your body.


Visit http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ now for more information on Chanson water ionizers and the amazing benefits of alkaline ionized water.

How to be Healthy at 100

To the average American, the idea of living to age 100 seems daunting with all the sickness and disease that most people endure late in life. If pushed to choose, most would rather check out early than suffer through nursing homes, a medicine cabinet full of prescription drugs, frail bodies and a lonely, sedentary lifestyle. But what if you were told that it's possible to be healthy and vibrant and full of energy at age 100 and beyond?

Studies have been done on the longest-living people in the world to find out their secrets. The common thread amongst the Hunza, the Vilcabama, the Abkhasia and the Okinawa people is that they eat a largely vegetarian diet using freshly picked organically grown fruit and vegetables. Many also drink naturally ionized alkaline water from uncontaminated fresh-flowing rivers and streams. Not only do the majority of them live to be well over 100, but they do so while remaining mentally and physically fit, and few suffer from poor hearing or loss of eyesight. They never adopt a sedentary lifestyle, instead choosing to keep active with daily walks and climbs.

Although Americans are living longer than ever before, the average American will spend 10% of his or her life sick. Half of Americans 65+ have two or more chronic diseases and 25% have problems so severe that their abilities to perform one or more tasks of daily living is limited. By 2040, it is estimated that 5.5 million Americans will live in nursing homes while another 12 million will require ongoing homecare services.

Despite all of the crippling disease and health problems, researchers estimate that 1 out of every 26 baby boomers will live to age 100. So the question is, would you rather be a sick and miserable centenarian or a healthy and vibrant one?

Fortunately, you do not have to move to the wilderness or join a tribe to be part of the latter group. The following is an abbreviated list of steps you can take to live longer and be healthier from the book "Healthy at 100" by John Robbins:

• Read labels--don't buy anything containing hydrogenated oil or high frutose corn syrup and avoid artificial colorings
• Eat an abundance of fresh raw fruit and vegetables and buy organic whenever possible
• Cut out processed foods and meat
• If you do choose to eat meat buy free-range and organic
• If you eat fish make sure it's wild and not farmed and low in mercury
• Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and don't stuff yourself
• Buy fruits and vegetables that are grown locally and are in season (or grow your own)
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead of frozen or canned
• Eat fewer flour products and more whole grains
• Drink water instead of soda
• Drink soy milk instead of cow's milk

Another easy step anyone can take for overall wellness is to start drinking alkaline ionized water from a Chanson ionizer. Water ionizers are designed to re-create what happens in nature when water rushes over rocks and is very similar to the natural Hunza water. Because not all of us have a waterfall in our backyard, a water ionizer is a wonderful investment for you and your family.

People who drink alkaline ionized water report increased energy and better hydration. 75% of all Americans are chronically dehydrated and most don't even know it! Symptoms of chronic dehydration include headaches, weakness, fatigue, weight gain, premature aging, constipation, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A Chanson water ionizer provides healthy, alkaline ionized water for drinking and acidic ionized water for eco-friendly household cleaning and skincare purposes, so get yours today! Visit http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ for more information.

9 Easy Alkaline Substitutions for Better Health

The idea of completely changing one's eating habits to a whole foods, plant-based diet is overwhelming for most people despite the many proven health benefits that may result. Adding to the challenge may be unsupportive household family members who scoff at the idea of eggplant as a main dish for dinner or refuse to even try tofu. In an effort to help, we've created a list of nine small, easy, alkaline substitutes anyone can make to improve their alkalinity (some of which you can swap without the family even noticing!). Even if you never make it to the ideal 80% alkaline/20% acidic ratio, these slight changes will be beneficial to your health and won't feel like much of a sacrifice (if at all).

1. Instead of Vegetable Oil try Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Corn oil, canola oil, safflower oil, and vegetable oil are refined oils that are not healthy and should be avoided and replaced with cold-pressed oils like extra virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil and hemp oils. Healthy fats are an important part of an alkaline diet and can be obtained through substituting healthy oils for the more mainstream unhealthy oils. All oils can create free radicals when heated, so we recommend using a small amount of water to steam fry your vegetables and then drizzling oil on top, making your own oil-based salad dressings and drizzling healthy oils on top of vegetable wraps.

2. Instead of Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners try Stevia

Sugar has been linked to cancer and artificial sweeteners are not only acidifying but carcinogenic. Swapping your sugar cubes with stevia, an all-natural sweetener derived from herbs, is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. According to Ray Kurzwell, author Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever: stevia is highly nutritious, lowers blood sugar in diabetics while regulating blood sugar in non-diabetics, lowers elevated blood pressure, kills bacteria that cause tooth decay, increases energy levels and mental activity, and reduces cravings for alcohol and tobacco. Other natural sugar alternatives: Chicory root, agave nectar.

3. Instead of Table Salt try Sea Salt

Our bodies contain about a pound of salt, and sodium is an alkaline mineral necessary for survival. But the refined iodized salt that sits on most dinner tables in America is completely unhealthy and the type of salt doctors are referring to when they advise patients to cut down on their salt intake. Refill your salt shaker with unrefined sea salt and sprinkle on top of wraps, soups and vegetables. Other alternatives: Celtic salt, Himalayan salt, Real salt.

4. Instead of Peanut Butter try Almond Butter

Peanuts are acidifying to the body and the moldiest, most undesirable peanuts are what is used to make peanut butter. Swap out your P.B. for it's healthier cousin almond butter, and spread on sandwiches and use as a dip for pretzels, crackers, fruit, and to make smoothies creamier.

5. Instead of Cows Milk try Unsweetened Almond Milk

Cows milk and other dairy products are not only acidifying but contrary to popular belief they actually rob the body of calcium and create a putrid sludge that wreaks havoc on your digestive system. Dump your carton of cows milk and try unsweetened almond milk instead. It is a healthy, delicious, alkaline substitute for drinking, cooking, baking, creamer and making cereal. Other alternatives (buy unsweetened): Coconut milk, soy milk, goat milk, rice milk.

6. Instead of White Rice try Brown Rice

The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. Fully milled and polished white rice is required to be artificially "enriched" with vitamins B1, B3 and iron. Clearly, brown rice is the nutritional winner over white rice. Other alternatives: Basmati rice, quinoa, jasmine rice, wild rice.

7. Instead of Soy Sauce try Bragg Liquid Aminos

Soy sauce is fermented and acidic. A great substitute is Bragg Liquid Aminos, which is a liquid protein concentrate derived from healthy soybeans, which contains 18 essential and non-essential amino acids in naturally occurring amounts, is not fermented or heated and is gluten-free.

8. Instead of Spaghetti try Soba Noodles

Most pastas are made with refined starches that lack nutritional value. Try swapping your spaghetti for soba noodles, tofu noodles, gluten-free pasta, whole wheat pasta or spaghetti squash. You can also try making your own pasta sauce from scratch instead of using pre-packaged sauces which tend to contain sugar and preservatives.

9. Instead of Bottled Water try Alkaline Ionized Water

Not all waters are created equal. Most bottled waters, along with distilled and reverse osmosis waters are actually acidic. Tap water is regulated by the government to be at least a 7 pH which is neutral on the alkaline scale, but is littered with contaminants. Therefore your best option is alkaline ionized water from a Chanson water ionizer which you can hook up to your tap. The water is pre-filtered and microclustered, resulting in better tasting water with a smoother feel that doesn't cause bloating. It is also rich in antioxidants and able to hydrate and detoxify better than standard water due to its smaller water molecule size. Being properly hydrated is the key to overall wellness and you will not regret the switch from bottled water to ionized alkaline water. Visit http://www.healingwatermachines.com/ or http://www.chansonwater.com/ for more information.

The Bones of the Matter: 13 Reasons You May Be At Risk For Bone Loss And Not Even Know It

Researchers estimate that about 1 out of every 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis and that men over age 70 are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. However bone loss can begin as early as our 30s and may be a direct result of diet and lifestyle.

Calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones to combat acidity as we age, which weakens bone tissue and can result in brittle, fragile bones that are more prone to fractures. Once diagnosed with osteoporosis, one can expect to lose an additional 1 to 2 percent of bone mass each year if they take no action to prevent or slow bone loss. It's precursor osteopenia has no symptoms, but your doctor can perform special spine and hip X-rays to measure bone density.

While osteoporosis has some well-known risk factors such as a low-calcium diet, inactivity, and bad genes, the following triggers may surprise you.

High Dairy Consumption

A 12 year long Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found that those who consumed the most calcium from dairy foods broke more bones than those who rarely drank milk. Surprised? Although cows milk contains 118 mg of bone-building calcium in every 100 grams, the problem is that those 100 grams also contain 97 mg of phosphorus, and phosphorus actually blocks the absorption of calcium.

Like all animal protein, milk acidifies the body which in turn triggers a biological correction. Calcium from our bones is used to neutralize the acidifying effect of milk. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones it leaves the body via urine, so the surprising net result is an actual calcium deficit after drinking milk. For more information on the dangers of milk, click here.

Medications

All medications--whether they be over-the-counter, prescription, or the very drugs which are designed to help osteoporosis--are acidifying to the body. Just as with milk consumption, your body needs to buffer acidity by pulling alkaline minerals from within the body, primarily calcium from your bones. Long-term use of any drug can therefore weaken the bones. In particular, antidepressants, glucocorticoids (steroids), anticonvulsants and the contraceptive Depo-Provera have been linked to bone loss.

Eating Disorders

If you are currently suffering from or have ever experienced anorexia or bulimia you are at a higher risk for osteoporosis due to malnutrition, excessive weight loss, calcium deficiencies, severe drops in estrogen, and excess cortisol production. To prevent further damage, those with eating disorders should seek professional help immediately.

Smoking, Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Smoking cigarettes may interfere with calcium absorption and is associated with an increased risk for bone fractures, while large amounts of alcohol can deplete hormones and increase cortisol levels, contributing to an alarming loss in bone density. Fortunately, bone health will return gradually after you stop smoking. It is recommended that you try to limit alcohol intake to a maximum of one drink per day.

Diabetes, Gastrectomy and Weight-Loss Surgery

The bone structure of diabetics is a little more porous than that of non-diabetics, so it’s easier to break.

Some evidence points toward an increased risk for bone loss after weight-loss surgery or the removal of part of your stomach because it could affect the ability of your digestive tract to absorb calcium and vitamin D.

Inflammatory Conditions, Kidney Disease, Hypoparathyroidism, Estrogen Deficiency

Chronic inflammatory conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia put you at risk for osteoporosis, while kidney disease and hypoparathyroidism can also wreak havoc with your hormone levels which ultimately affects your bone health. And anything that causes a drop in your estrogen levels can harm your bones, which is why bone loss accelerates after menopause.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is extremely toxic and harmful to all cells including bone cells. Fortunately one can generally recoup most, if not all, of their bone mass once treatments are over. However, you might want to consider a plant-based diet as an alternative to conventional cancer treatment.

Steps You Can Take to Help Prevent Bone Loss and Increase Bone Mass

1. Replace cows milk with one of the following more alkaline alternatives: almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk or goats milk.

2. Adopt a plant-based diet. Research shows that it's better to get your nutrients from food than from supplements. Consider the amount of calcium your body will absorb from eating 100 grams of the following alkaline foods: almonds (254 mg), broccoli (130 mg), kale (187 mg), sesame seeds (1,160 mg) and kelp (1,093 mg).

3. Drink Chanson alkaline ionized water. Reverse osmosis, distilled, and most bottled waters contain water that has been stripped of all minerals and is actually acidic. Drinking Chanson alkaline ionized water may be a significant source of calcium, providing over one-third of the recommended dietary intake of this mineral in adults. Chanson alkaline ionized water is micro-clustered which makes it easier to absorb at the cellular level and thus improves mineral absorption and overall hydration.

4. Make sure you are getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D. According to PubMed, it is recommended that you get 800-1,000 international units of vitamin D3 daily, which helps your body absorb calcium. The best source of vitamin D is natural sunlight (10-15 minutes a day without sunscreen). If this isn’t possible for you, Vitamin D supplements may be helpful.

5. Engage in weight-bearing exercise. During weightbearing exercise, bone adapts to the impact of weight and the pull of muscle by building more bone cells. Try walking, jogging, dancing, stair climbing, bowling or golf.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. The author of this article is not a medically trained physician; therefore, any theories or suggestions put forward are intended to supplement and not replace the advice of medically or legally trained professionals.