But wait…this was no antibiotic. He handed me a small bottle labeled “Mulein Garlic.” Hmmm…

Now, I’m as open as the next person to herbal drugs, but did I truly believe in them? I guess not. I had personally experimented with ginseng and echinacea with mild success, but when it came down to something serious like my baby’s ear infection, I just wasn’t fully on board.

But I was willing to give it a try. I placed three drops of the smelly garlic oil in my son’s ear, three times a day. Within 48 hours, he was a different person. He looked completely healthy again. He slept through the night. And he was no longer cranky, which indicated to me that the pain had subsided.

The experience made me a believer. I now keep those garlic drops on hand, along with several other herbal drugs suggested by our doctor to treat common ailments such as pink eye (Rue Fennel cleared it up overnight) and soothe teething pain (chamomilla pellets which Logan loves for their sweet taste).

While treating illness with herbs may not be the norm just yet, there are several ways we, as parents, can avoid exposing our children to antibiotics. Ask your doctor. And if he or she isn’t yet a believer, get a second opinion from a doctor who understands every side of the debate.

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Naturally occurring? Yes, in most cases. Used for centuries? Yes, by numerous cultures as an integral part of their medicine and healing systems.

No side effects? Perhaps fewer than their pharmaceutical counterparts, but herbs DO have side effects. Safe? Most are harmless, but unless you know what you are doing, many can be toxic and may interact with drugs or other herbs you might be taking! In short, people can get very sick and even die from taking herbs.

There has been a tremendous increase in the market for herbal medicines in recent years. Herbal supplements are showing up everywhere. They are now available in capsule, pill, liquid, or tablet form, added to beverages, available as teas, and even added to foods. Unfortunately and fortunately, the levels we typically get from many of these are not sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response and therefore are also not sufficient to cause damage.

It is important to realize that herbal medicine is just that, MEDICINE. Medicine that can and dose effect the performance of other medicines. Did you know, for example, that therapeutic doses of St. John’s Wort can effect the toxicity of numerous drugs? This is especially true of anti-depressant drugs including those in the benzodiazepine class (e.g. Xanax,, Klonipin, Valium, and Ativan) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class (e.g. Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil). Valerian root is another example. Like St. John’s Wort, this herb can effect the toxicity of benzodiazepines.

Other herbs can effect the way we respond to anesthetic. Some experts suggest that patients should discontinue the use of all herbs for 2 to 3 weeks prior to any surgery requiring general anesthesia.

If we rely on the advice of those selling us the herbs, the information we get might not be very good. Keep in mind their “vested interest” of selling you a product and frequently, their source of information is their supplier who again has a “vested interest”. These people may not knowingly lying, but are often misinformed or only partially informed. Of note is the popularity of “weight loss herbal preparations” that contain caffeine and herbal stimulants like Ephedra (Ma Huang). It is very easy to find people who will tell you how “safe and effective” these are. In the 1960’s we used pharmaceutical stimulants for weight loss. This was to be a bad idea then, and using “natural” herbal products to do the same is a bad idea now!

Because of the abuse of Ma Huang as a stimulant, it has come under scrutiny  from the FDA. The regulation of Ma Huang has and continues to be under consideration as there have been deaths related to overdose of this herb. It would be very unfortunate if Ma Huang were to become unavailable, as it is a key component of very effective Chinese herbal formulas used to treat asthma.

In our culture we have traditionally looked to our physicians for guidance in matters relating to our health. We should continue to do that when it comes to herbs. Unfortunately, many physicians know very little about herbs. In spite of this, they need to know what herbs you are taking to avoid potential interactions. If you plan to use herbs, find a physician you can work with. Working with a qualified herbalist is also a good idea. Finding one that understands pharmaceuticals can be challenging. The best of both worlds would be an integrated approach to your care where the physician, herbalist and you work together to determine the best approach. With this approach it is possible to reduce the side effects of treatment, decrease the need for pharmaceuticals, and increase the effectiveness of treatment by supplementing with herbs.

In the mean time, it is important for you to take responsibility for understanding any herbs and pharmaceuticals you use. Take the time to thoroughly research any herbs or pharmaceuticals you use. There is a lack of research in this area, but the information that exists is more available than ever. The Internet is a great source. There is also much more available in print now than ever before. You should not be afraid to use herbs, but you should have a healthy respect for them.

As a general rule, I try to avoid penicillin and other antibiotics whenever possible, both for myself and for my child. Thus, when Harley got pink eye, I contacted a naturopath to see if I could find a herbal medicine that would help. For those of you unfamiliar with naturopathy, these doctors are like the general practitioners of the alternative health scene. They have the equivalent of a medical degree, with not only a bachelor’s degree, but also a graduate degree from a college of naturopathy, which includes an internship. They learn about many areas of wellness promotion and disease prevention, including but not limited to herbs, diet, acupuncture, homeopathy and hydrotherapy. They have a broad base of knowledge that they can delve into when trying to resolve their patients’ health issues. Furthermore, they look not only at the physical domain but also at the emotional and spiritual dynamics that could be affecting wellness.

I was relieved to discover that there is an herbal cure for this common yet irritating infection, conjunctivitis. It takes a bit of time and effort, but if you want to avoid penicillin as I do, it is well worth it.

The Eyewash

The first component is an herbal eyewash. You will need to find these herbs in bulk form, usually available at a good natural foods store like Whole Foods Market or Wild Oats. One Internet site I have found where bulk herbs are available is Penn Herb Co., Ltd.

Here’s what you will need:
calendula (calendula officianalis)
eyebright (euprasia officinlis)
goldenseal (hydrastis candensis)

Take one tablespoon of each and add it to one cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for 20 minutes (in other words, turn the heat off). Strain twice through a coffee filter.

Apply this tea (thoroughly cooled, of course!) to the affected eye with a dropper or sterile cotton. I used an eyedropper; my son did not like getting drops but the relief the eyewash gave him enabled him to tolerate it.

Refrigerate the eyewash, and reboil it every 12 hours for thorough sterilization.

Use the eyewash three to four times a day until the pink eye is relieved. When my son had this, even though he had symptoms in only one eye, I applied it to both. I also used it on myself even though I was symptom-free. Pink eye is, after all, extremely contagious! To me, one of the benefits of an herbal remedy such as this is that it is so gentle that using it as a prophylactic measure will do no harm.

Internal Herbal Support

In addition to the eyewash, the naturopath recommended that I support the immune system by giving my son several herbal tinctures. I have found HerbPharm to be an excellent tincture manufacturer; again, their products are readily available at any reputable natural foods store.

Here’s what to use internally:

echinacea (echinacea augustfolia/echinacea purpura)
goldenseal (hydrastis candensis)
licorice root (glycyrrhiza glabra)

For a child, give 30-60 drops (1/4 – 1/2 tsp.) of each in water or juice. For an adult, give 11/2-3 tsp. of each in water or juice.

Be forewarned that goldenseal tastes pretty bad: A strong-flavored juice might be your best bet, especially if you’re giving this to a child. You can also split up the dosage into several smaller amounts taken throughout the day. Another thing to note is that many herbalists believe that the augustfolia form of echinacea is stronger than the purpura. Often echinacea tinctures are made with a combination of both.

My Experience

I found this herbal remedy to be very effective. I made up a cup of the eyewash and used it consistently for a week to ten days, supporting it with the internal herbal tinctures. My son’s conjunctivitis completely cleared up, and I never got the condition at all. I stored what I could of the eyewash in a small brown glass dropper bottle, putting the remainder in a closed glass jar, both in the refrigerator. I made sure to boil the eyewash every 12 hours. One cup was enough to cure the condition.

I highly recommend this regimen for pink eye if you need to avoid penicillin due to an allergy or just because of philosophical objections. It is definitely worth the trouble.

Of course, the manufacturers want you to buy their products and commercials can be very effective at persuading viewers that they do need the product. This is not a slam on herbal medicine; there are many ads for prescription drugs that entice you to ask your doctor about a particular medication, without even telling you what it is for.

All that said, some herbal remedies are good medicine. Unfortunately, because the industry is not well-regulated, you have to do your own homework to find out which herbs are effective, how to take them, and which are the best quality products.

The sense of smell is awakened by the power of aromatheraphy. The use of clary sage is found to be emotionally uplifting. Place a few drops in a fragrancer to enjoy a mood-lifting experience. For increased vitality sprinkle a few drops of rosemary and geranium oils into bathwater. Many have found rose oil to be relaxing when rubbed on the neck, hands and wrist. A few drops of essential oil may be placed on a cotton ball to inhale. Try inhaling peppermint to calm an upset stomach. The peppermint oil may also be mixed in honey water and sipped from a spoon. Those unable to sleep will be soothed into rest by inhaling lavender. A few drops of lavender into a hot bath will also induce deeper sleep. Lavender is beneficial for relieving headache pain also. Just rub a few drops across the forehead and temples. Need a mid-morning pickup? Try inhaling a few drops of basil in a bowl of hot water or in a fragrancer. One whiff will perk up the brain cells into mental stimulation. Do the same for increasing efficiency by inhaling lemon oil.

When used daily, essential oils remove the everyday stresses and negativity that weaken the immune system. Consult with a reputable dealer that carries high-quality oils. Also check with an aromatherapist before using any essential oils while pregnant. Various combinations of the essences can be blended to create your own special aromas. Hands should be washed before beginning to avoid traces of other substances being mixed with the oils. The oils are very concentrated so replace the caps on the bottles so they don’t evaporate into the air. Count the drops and record the number. An oil base of safflower, sunflower, sweet almond, grape seed or peach kernel can be used to mix. Use three percent essential oil to the carrier oil. When the mix is complete, store the essential oils in dark glass bottles with stoppered caps in a cool dark place. Enjoy the benefits of the aromas in many ways. Sprinkle a few drops into the carpet. The oils give off their aromas much quicker when they are in contact with heat. Light an aroma light with a candle. Place a few drops into the radiator. Treat yourself to an electric aromatheraphy burner. Feel the stress of the day leave as the aroma relaxes and fills the senses.

Too much stress lowers the immune system making us more prone to illness. Stress that builds up over the years causes a breakdown in health. Essential oils can be used daily as preventative medicine and as a protection from the environment. For out of control emotions use ylang ylang, rose or clary sage. During the flu season essential oils can directly fight the virus or bacterial infection while encouraging recuperation. The first line of defense the body has is the throat. At the first sign of a throat infection gargle tea tree in pure water to fend off bacteria. Lavender oil can be used to fight a cold virus also. Rub the oil under the jawbone, sides of the neck, shoulders and upper chest. Another stress reducer is a footbath. Whatever happens to the feet can have an adverse affect on our well being. Add a few drops of peppermint to the water to relieve aching feet. The natural menthol will have a nice cooling effect in the summer months. Try using myrtle in a relaxing soak to warm a winter day.

It is important to know the effects the environment has on our bodies. Stress as well as drugs, antibiotics, and computer emissions are a few reasons for a lowered immune system. Stimulants such as coffee and alcohol as well as bad diets also contribute to lowering the immune system. To strengthen the immune system feed your body nutritious foods, vitamin C and zinc. Surround yourself with positive thoughts and people that love you. Reach for the essential oils to protect your body and to remain healthy and strong.

Low carbohydrate diets are quite the fad. Many have experienced great success by losing ten, twenty pounds or more. But does this type of diet keep the weight off permanently? In this article we will discuss the facts and realities of low carbohydrate dieting. Also, we will introduce some common sense, realistic approaches on how to alter your carbohydrate consumption lifestyle so you can lose the extra fat and keep it off.

Carbohydrates, what are they? It is appropriate at this time to introduce some definitions and common terms concerning carbohydrates. Carbohydrates act as the primary fuel source for the body. There are several types of carbohydrates. The three main types of carbohydrates are as follows: Monosaccharides (one sugar molecules); Disaccharides (two sugar molecules); and Polysaccharides (three or more sugar molecules).

Monosaccharides and disaccharides are also known as sugars or simple carbohydrates. Other common names for monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, sorbitol, galactose, mannitol and mannose. Disaccharides are also known as sucrose, maltose and lactose. Sucrose (simple table sugar) is made of glucose plus fructose. Maltose is made of glucose plus glucose. Lactose is made of glucose plus galactose.

Polysaccharides are called complex carbohydrates or glucose polymers. Polysaccharides are also known as starch, dextrin, cellulose and glycogen. All of these are made of chains of glucose.

Fibersinclude cellulose, hemicellulous, pectin, a variety of gums, mucilages and algae polysaccharides. Fibers are the indigestible complex carbohydrates that make up plant cell walls.

Glycogenis similar to starch found in plants in that it contains chains of glucose units. Its structure is different in that starch occurs only in plants and glycogen occurs only in animals.

Carbohydrates are the primary source of glucose and glucose is the primary fuel source for the brain and nervous system. Because the human body has a small and limited storage capacity for glycogen, it is important to provide a constant supply of carbohydrates by eating throughout the day.

Some carbohydrates are better for the human body than others. I prefer to divide carbohydrates into 3 categories. The first category is classified as simple carbohydrates. These simple carbohydrates include fruits and sweets. The second category is called Fibrous carbohydrates. This includes vegetables. The final category is classified as starchy carbohydrates. This includes grains, starchy vegetables, corn and beans.

The simple carbohydrates digest quickly and easily. They are high in sugar and sweet to taste. A small amount (2-3 servings max) per day is recommended. In fact, because simple carbohydrates break down into glucose so rapidly, they tend to be higher in carbohydrates and are not as nutrient dense as the other two categories of carbohydrates. It is best to consume simple carbohydrates only once per day and before noon if you are trying to lose body fat. Simple carbohydrates include all fruit, sugar, honey, corn syrup, etc. When you eat simple carbohydrates try to eat fruit instead of processed or baked sweets.

Eat very sparingly or better yet, eliminate cookies, candy, cakes, soft drinks, etc. These tend to be very high in sugar content and very low in nutritional value. When you commit to living a lean lifestyle, every calorie counts; make each calorie a nutritionally beneficial one.

Fibrous carbohydrates are the most important class for healthy eating and a lean lifestyle. You can eat as many fibrous vegetables as you want. Strive for at least 4 servings per day. Fibrous carbohydrates tend to be low calorie, low carbohydrate and packed full of vitamins and minerals. Fibrous carbohydrates include alfalfa sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, soybeans, zucchini, green beans, bell pepper, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, endive, lettuce, okra, onions, spinach, snow peas, tomatoes, radish, etc. Because fibrous carbohydrates contain lots of water and fiber, they can make you feel full and satisfy your appetite. Fibrous carbohydrates are the key to maintaining a lean body.

Starchy carbohydrates are important too, yet they should be eaten in moderation if you want to achieve and maintain a lean lifestyle. Starchy carbohydrates include potatoes, wheat, legumes, rice, oats, pasta, yams and peas. This type tends to be high in calories and high in carbohydrate count. Limit starchy carbohydrates to 2-3 servings maximum per day and eat them early in the day. I make it a point to not eat starchy carbohydrates after 4 p.m. It is important to eat starchy carbohydrates before a workout session to provide energy, but do not eat right before bedtime. When starchy carbohydrates are eaten just before bedtime, excess calories may be stored as fat if not utilized.

What about those no carbohydrate or very low carbohydrate diets?
Stay away from them!! They can be very dangerous. If a fad diet plan tells you to eat less then 50 grams of carbohydrate per day, DO NOT DO IT. The human brain requires at least 50 grams of carbohydrates per day just to maintain brain function. Less than that and you may seriously starve your brain. Dizziness, lightheadedness and inability to think are common effects of too few carbohydrates. A safe range for low carbohydrate consumption is between 70 and 100 grams per day. For fat loss, I recommend eating in the low range for 3 days and then normal for 3 days. This way your body can lose fat and still maintain your physical and mental health.

Once glycogen enters the body, one gram of glycogen is stored with about three grams of water. When the body uses glycogen stores, water is lost too. Many fad diets that promote a low calorie and high protein regime take advantage of this phenomenon. Liver and muscle glycogen can be depleted in 24 to 48 hours and can result in several pounds of weight loss from water weight alone. Do not confuse this weight loss with fat loss. This is not all fat loss. Also, because most weight loss diets are low in calories, within a few days the body will eliminate much gastrointestinal bulk. This can also be mistakenly perceived as lost body fat. After a week or two, several pounds of water and gastrointestinal bulk may be lost and only a pound or two of fat. This is one reason why quickly, seemingly overnight, all the weight lost over the previous week is gained back.

O.k. so now you know low calorie fad diets are not the way to go. So what is? One rule of thumb that I have always tried to live by is this:

Eat starchy carbohydrates for what you are about to do, not for what you have just done.As mentioned above, eat starchy carbohydrates before your workout or before activity. If you are not embarking on any activity for the next three hours, and plan to sit at your desk or watch TV, then eat only fibrous carbohydrates. If you need a quick pick-me-up or if you are craving something sweet, then eat simple carbohydrates (fruit). The goal is to eat what you can use and burn within 3 hours. Any food not utilized before sleep is more likely to be stored as fat. And as we know, this is counterproductive to losing excess stored body fat.

Long-term leanness does not mean starving. Nor does it mean doing 3 hours of cardiovascular activity every single day. Here is an example of my typical day. I am a woman weighing 130 pounds. I do cardiovascular exercise every morning for 30 to 45 minutes, and weight train 5 days per week at 8 a.m. in the morning.

7 a.m. Breakfast:
7 egg whites, Less than 1 cup refried beans, with salsa
Less than 1 cup oatmeal with 1-teaspoon fructose or sugar
1/2 grapefruit

10 a.m. mid-morning meal:
5 ounce chicken breast
1 cup steamed broccoli

1 p.m. lunch:
1 can tuna packed in water w/ 1 T. low fat mayo.
1 cup green beans
1/2-cup rice

4 p.m. mid-afternoon meal:
5 ounce turkey breast
8 raw baby carrots

6 p.m. dinner:
5 ounces baked halibut
Green salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and 1 T. low fat salad dressing

9 p.m. bedtime

Notice how starchy carbohydrates are consumed only twice per day before 4 p.m. Fruit is consumed only once before noon, and the last meal contains protein and fibrous carbohydrates. I get hungry every 2-1/2 to 3 hours, so I eat. If I am not hungry within 3 hours of my last meal, then I know I ate too much at my previous meal. This typical day will have to be altered to meet your particular caloric needs. Adjust the serving sizes as needed.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, women seemed to be bombarded with the media hype about getting breast implants. This made women question themselves. Was it true that breasts were really more important than the person herself? There was talk about silicone injections, which we often heard about. Movie stars like Jane Mansfield, a seductive sensual blonde bombshell, who moved with grace and beauty across a stage and was kissed by Hollywood greats like Clark Gable. The fear of waking up and finding one breast had migrated to the armpit or to the neck. It was a scary thought, but it did happen to people that had it done. Silicone travels, and as with any injection, is dispersed throughout the body. Who would ever do that, I thought? So along came the silicone implants: Silicone, nicely packaged into a little bouncy ball, feeling as natural as a real breast. No one thought about the downside of that, nor do girls today. Many teenagers think it’s a good thing and want to look like the models and superstars who have had their breasts augmented or enhanced. Even with the knowledge of risks and horrible scars, they will still lay on the operating table hoping for self-esteem, and beauty.

Many of my friends had the breast augmentation (breast enhancement using implants) after they had finished breast-feeding. Believing that it would be safe, they proceeded. One of my friends decided to get the silicone implants, and thought there would never be a problem with them. At least she was led to believe that. Almost immediately, after the horrible postoperative pain, she began to feel better about herself as a woman. She would never be flat or saggy from having children, and could look forward to wearing a sexy bathing suit while sporting a magnificent-looking chest. As the years went by, she began to notice her breasts were getting less attention, coupled with some tenderness and hardness. She ignored these symptoms, thinking it was just a temporary part of getting older, or part of her monthly menstrual symptoms. It continued. For about ten years the pain and hardness got worse. Eventually there were burning sensations, and obvious lop-sidedness of the breasts. She became worried that she didn’t look good anymore, and that she had made a terrible mistake. Her husband of 14 years left her, and a divorce was in store. She thought that if her breasts were more attractive, he might have stayed. She never seemed to put two and two together. It never was about how great or unattractive her breast were, it was about how she felt inside. What was she about as a person? Her self-image was not about her breasts but how she looked at herself as a mother, wife, friend, worker and lover. These issues were not explored. Her husband did not leave her because her breasts were now lop-sided from the silicone implants. He left her because she could not connect with him, or herself (inside).

As the years went by this woman found out through an MRI and doctor visits that her once beautiful breasts were now filled with silicone that had come from ruptured implants. The silicone had leaked into her system and migrated, leaving her breasts asymmetrical. She found herself dealing with the emotional pain and physical pain of losing her breasts once again, the self-defeating messages of making a bad choice in the first place, and wishing she had never had the surgery. She now faced a second surgery to remove all of the silicone. A five-hour surgery, and even then, the doctor could not remove all of the traces left in the breast tissues. A second surgery, more pain, more agony from a decision made years ago. My friend faced physical ailments like joint pain and muscle aches, swelling, and memory loss due to the poisonous chemicals that permeated her body through the ruptured implants. She wished she had thought twice about looking great in a bikini or tight sweater.

No one could have begged her enough or told her that if she could have looked “within” herself to see the beauty, she may not have died from choosing to look good on the outside. This is a strong message to teenagers and women who are considering breast implantation. Many doctors will resist or refuse to do breast implant surgery on teenagers, and many will wait until the patient has at least finished growing or had children. There is much research being done today, and some products are safer than others. However, as with all surgery, there is a risk, and hopefully a potential breast implant patient will do a thorough investigation before making a life, or potential death, decision, including the psychological one.

We advise use natural herbal essences instead dangerous cosmetic surgery and make breasts quickly become plump, round and robust.

There are four types of foods that are glucose producing. They are fruits, veggies, dairy and alcohol, which are quickly metabolized as glucose. When your digestive system senses that it is metabolizing glucose-causing foods, it signals the pancreas to secret insulin. Insulin is the hormone your cells use to change glucose into glycogen. Glycogen is the substance that produces the energy your body needs to function.

In order to use this metabolic process to your dieting advantage, you should plan your meals and snacks around a time schedule. This formula may appear complicated, but it very soon becomes habit and it is not very hard to fit your schedule around your blood sugar needs. Each of your meals should be a minimum of four and a maximum of six hours apart. Lunch should not be closer to breakfast than four hours and no further away than six hours. This means that your body has had adequate time to process your glucose-producing foods within that four hours, and your blood sugar will not dip too low until after six hours.

Within these timeframes are your snacks. Snacks are very important because they help control both your true hunger and your cravings. It is best to have two snacks. One snack should be between breakfast and lunch, or lunch and dinner, and before bed. The old adage of not eating before bed is all well and good, but a glucose-producing snack before bed will help to make sure that through the night when you are fasting, your blood sugar will not dip too low. This can cause you to waken ravenously hungry and possibly causing you to binge.

Your snacks should be no closer to a meal than two hours. So your morning snack must be at least two hours from when you finished breakfast and at least two hours before lunch. Snacks are also great at those times when you are naturally very hungry; say mid-morning, or perhaps late afternoon. Add a third snack if you need it to get through the day with out an unplanned feast. Just make sure it is at least two hours from a meal.

You can customize this schedule should you be unable to eat one of your meals or snacks when necessary. If you are delayed in having a meal, then have a snack instead. But then when you do eat, either forgo carbohydrates or wait at least two hours after eating that snack before you eat your meal.

Also, if you eat dinner very late because of work schedules and/or children’s schedules, then you can switch your evening snack to mid afternoon. Sherry’s husband works two states away and must travel by train for about an hour and a half to get home. He usually doesn’t leave work till 6 p.m., so the earliest she can have dinner is usually 8 p.m. They go to bed at 11 p.m. While there is time for an evening snack in that scenario, it is a long haul between lunch and dinner, so she has her evening snack about 4 in the afternoon. That way, her blood sugar does not fall too low and she doesn’t get intense cravings that could way lay her diet. Plus dinner is late enough to prevent a nighttime blood sugar lows.

Secondly, you should balance out your glucose-producing foods, carbohydrates, to assure that your blood sugar levels stay balanced. If your intake of carbohydrates is very erratic, your body can produce too much insulin that can drop your blood sugar too. Remember, too low levels of insulin can cause cravings. If your intake of glucose-producing foods is erratic, your body is never sure how much insulin needs to be released. If you eat a meal containing a high amount of carbohydrates, your body will ultimately produce a large amount of insulin to counteract your high blood sugar. Then, when you eat a meal with a lower amount of carbohydrates, your body will produce too much insulin. Eating the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal helps assure that this never happens.

You can do this by counting your carbohydrates on a non-low carbohydrate, non-diabetic diet. If you are permitted to have 200 carbohydrates a day, you can divide this up very easily. A snack of 30 grams, a snack of 20 grams and three meals of 50 grams each. As long as you keep your intake to within 10 grams above or below these amounts, your blood sugar and insulin release will balance each other out. This will then prevent the low blood sugar cravings and hunger.

A typical example of this schedule of eating carbohydrates would be:

8 a.m. Breakfast: 55 carbohydrates
1 egg, poached
2 pieces of whole grain toast
½ cup orange juice
1 ounce of cheese
1 cup skim milk

10 a.m. Snack: 23 carbohydrates
1 medium orange
1 cup skim milk

12 p.m. Lunch: 43 carbohydrates
3 ounces of tuna
1 cup salad greens
5 Ritz crackers
2 tablespoons non-fat, non-creamy dressing
12 grapes
8 ounces skim milk

5 pm Dinner: 48 carbohydrates
4 ounces chicken
Steamed carrots
Green beans
1 small dinner roll with fat-free spread
½ cup mashed potatoes
8 ounces skim milk
½ cup sugar-free pudding

8 p.m. Snack: 37 carbohydrates
3 cups popcorn with cheese-flavored granules

By determining whether your body is truly hungry and in need of fuel and eating your meals in such away that you allow your body’s natural hunger fighting abilities to work in your favor you can help to reduce cravings and take back control of your life.

There are two kinds of hunger: head hunger and true hunger. True hunger is the real thing. It’s when you are feeling hungry because your body is telling you it needs fuel. Your body signals you and lets you know what it needs. You have just lost touch with your inner-self so much that you don’t realize that you truly do need to eat.

There is a theory that if you can learn to listen to your body you will never overeat. The difficulty is being sensitive enough to hear what your body is telling you. You have ignored that voice so long that its cry is weak. If you are stressed or rushed you may not hear it at all. When you are facing a plate full of delicious food, you can be very good at ignoring that voice that says, “OK, now, you have eaten enough, it’s time to stop!”

Sometimes, your body may need some nutrients so badly that you will find yourself craving foods that seem odd. Carol recently related how she craved mustard, nothing else, not mustard with a hot dog or mustard with some cheese, just mustard. It got so bad that she carried a jar around with her, so that she could dip her finger in and scoop some out when she really wanted it. The nutrients in mustard can be found in many other foods. Yet for some reason, her body needed that acidic, pungent delivery system for those nutrients. In a short time the cravings passed and she has never had them return.

Once, when Jim was recuperating from an illness, he got an overwhelming desire for fresh fruit, in particular oranges, a fruit he rarely eats by choice. Jim loves the fruit; he just doesn’t like all the mess of peeling it and separating it into sections. But for about three weeks, he ate several oranges a day. His body needed the unprocessed vitamin C, the refreshing juiciness and the citric acid. One can hypothesize that it was because he was recuperating and his immune system needed a boost.

So, true hunger can be two things, either your body telling you that it needs fuel, or your body telling you that you need certain aspects of a food. But there is that other type of hunger, that craving that keeps bothering you to go eat some of the leftover dessert from dinner. How do you tell the difference, if, like most people, you are not often sensitive to your body’s voice?

Use the saltine test to determine when you are truly hungry and in need of fuel. It is very simple to use. Just ask yourself if you would be satisfied with saltine crackers and water. If the answer is yes, then you are truly hungry. Your body needs fuel.

The hunger that says, “No, I don’t want saltines and water, I want a thick juicy steak, or a piece of chocolate pie, or I just want to eat period, but more tasty foods than saltine and water,” is not true hunger — it is head hunger. It doesn’t originate from your need for fuel; instead it comes either from your head or your heart.

Head hunger is that voice that calls to you from the kitchen and says, “Wouldn’t you like a piece of cake?” Or, “Wouldn’t you like some ice cream?” when it is not time for a meal or snack. Even if it were time for a scheduled snack, these are not foods you would choose. It seems as if the kitchen talks to you. Those foods know your name and what buttons to push to make you crave them.

Head hunger has no rhyme or reason to it. It is not emotional hunger, it is not true hunger and it can be one of the hardest types of hunger to successfully overcome. However, eating your meals and snacks on a simple schedule can reduce it.

You want to eat in such a way that your blood sugar does not drop too low, which causes cravings. You also can keep that hunger at bay by balancing the glucose producing foods we eat so that they fall evenly through out the day. That way you always have a steady stream of glucose and a steady level of insulin in your blood. Low and uneven blood sugar often makes you crave sweet things. Of, course, a small glass of orange juice can raise your blood sugar, but that is not what you crave. You crave those wonderful sugary concoctions of dessert delights.
…to be continued

Hair loss and embarrassment ends up reducing the assurance rank. We begin to notice that we are getting older. Once hair is gone it is nearly impossible to grow it back, but we can fight back with hair replacement. It is essential to be careful before we have an assessment to halt and prevent hair loss.

The whole head of hair doesn’t fall out in one day. It requires time and we use the right type of care, considering all hair has disappeared; we can accept losing hair effectively. You can find an array of hair loss remedies offered on the web and in stores too. Everything that is explained may not give the desired results. It might have been a miracle for one person, but not the same results for everyone else, since all people are unique and different. A dermatology expert may examine your scalp to recommend the ideal treatment. This is the best method to reduce your hair loss; or rather than struggling with the loss, it might solve it.

A procedure like this sometimes takes a very long time. Overlook everything done, but the truth is that it could require a lot of time before you really see the first results. Being dependable until this happens and after this, is very important. Hair replacement therapy is another popular method since it aids in regrowth of full, vibrant hair.

There can be healing for hair loss. This is a subject of consistency. Even though typical methods are usually the best methods because not only they are effective, but also they are safe as well; however, some people try other methods.