Smooth Summer Feet: Make Your Own Honey Sugar Foot Scrub

Posted on by Tammy

When the summer hits, and the sandals come out, exposing feet to dry air can cause cracked heels and dry skin. On Dr. Oz’s website, podiatrist Dr. Krista Archer shared a simple recipe to make your own soothing foot scrub at home, and when stored in a lidded container, it can be used for one month.

With soothing and moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil and honey, mixed with brown sugar to exfoliate, it gets the job done and is a treat for the feet!

Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp honey
3 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions
Mix all the ingredients together and use firm strokes to massage and scrub your feet. Rinse off with warm water and dry feet completely with a towel. Save the remaining scrub in a lidded contain and use with one month.

Dr. Oz Shares 3 Natural Treatments for Pain Relief

Posted on by Tammy

In an article written for the Huffington Post, Dr. Memhet Oz shares seven alternatives for chronic pain, and specifically offered three options for natural relief.

These include arnica gel, aromatherapy and vitamin C. Arnica gel is the “go-to pain remedy for bruises and sore muscles” in the Oz house, he explained in the article, citing a study of 204 people with osteoarthritis in their hands that discovered using arnica gel for 21 days worked just as well as ibuprofen on alleviating pain.

Also, essential oils massaged onto parts of the body with pain can help, Dr. Oz said. For example, those with pain from fibromyalgia can try a mixture of rosemary, eucalyptus and aloe vera on areas of pain. Those who did so for one month “reported significantly less pain than those using a placebo oil, according to a study in the Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain,” he noted in the article.

Lastly, a vitamin C supplement of 500 milligrams per day can help osteoarthritis sufferers, according to a study in Arthritis & Rheumatism. Dr. Oz also recommended snacking on vitamin C-rich foods such as guavas and red peppers.

The Original “Chicken Soup for the Soul” 20th Anniversary Book Released With 20 Bonus Stories by Deepak Chopra, Dr. Oz and More

Posted on by Tammy

Open Road Media and Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing are releasing a 20^th Anniversary ebook edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul, by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, with 20 bonus stories from today’s thought leaders, including Deepak Chopra; surgeon, author and television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz; small-business expert Tory Johnson, and happiness expert Robert Holden. The book features 101 stories in total.

Dr. Oz talks about relying on faith as well as science to save the life of a depressed patient; nationally-recognized leader in human-development training Anthony Robbins, tells of how he handled the terrifying moment when his father-in-law almost died in his arms; and Deepak Chopra, MD, shares his moving thoughts on the power of love.

Other incredible contributors include Kris Carr, author of Crazy Sexy Cancer; don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements; and author and filmmaker M. K. Asante. These uplifting additions to the original will connect the book to a new generation of readers while flowing seamlessly with the classic stories that millions know and love.

As public relations influencer and entrepreneur Heidi Krupp writes in the foreword: “Chicken soup is more than a food—it’s what your mom feeds you when you’re sick, it’s what you eat when you need the ultimate comfort food, it’s recommended by doctors for the body and for the mind.”

To order the paperback version click here: Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition: All Your Favorite Original Stories Plus 20 Bonus Stories for the Next 20 Years

To order the kindle edition, click here: Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition: All Your Favorite Original Stories Plus 20 Bonus Stories for the Next 20 Years

RECIPE: Dr. Alejandro Junger’s 3 Day Jumpstart Cleanse for the Gut

Posted on by Tammy

On a recent episode of The Dr. Oz Show, cardiologist and New York Times bestselling author of “Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself,” Dr. Alejandro Junger shared his newest 3 Day Jumpstart Cleanse for the gut.

His new book, “Clean Gut: The Breaktrhrough Plan for Eliminating the Root Cause of Diseases and Revolutionizing Your Health,” explains why cleaning the gut is the most important thing a person can do to get their energy back.

“The gut is not only where we digest food, but around the gut is 80 percent of our immune system,” Junger said on the show. “There is a brain around the gut that is bigger then the brain inside your skull, and more active. Ninety percent of our serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter associated with well-being and happiness, is produced in the gut in a healthy person.”

Junger shared three signs a person is in need of detoxing, which include skin that is less elastic; dry, puffy skin; or skin with redness and discoloration. “A lot of people think the skin changes we experience are part of aging, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The health in your gut will determine the health of your skin,” he said, explaining those with redness and discoloration are showing signs of inflammation in the body.

The most internal part of our stomach is where the intestinal flora live, and a healthy human being has more good bacteria in their gut then the cells in the rest of the body, said Junger. The intestinal flora perform a number of functions in the body, and one of them is functioning as a satellite liver.

“Forty percent of the toxins we are exposed to are detoxified by the intestinal flora and if you kill them off you are going to be taxing your liver, so that will zap your energy,” Junger explained. “Also some nutrients are only made available if they are being digested by the intestinal flora. The prime example is the B vitamins, which is why fermented foods are so good for us.”

The Plan
The 3 Day Jumpstart Cleanse starts each day with a prebiotic shake and a probiotic supplement. The shake recipe is:

½ cup blueberries
1 medium banana
1 handful of baby spinach
10 ounces almond milk
2 tsp of apple cider vinegar
1 scoop of plant based protein powder

“The prebiotic shake is going to feed the good bacteria,” said Junger, recommending a probiotic supplement with at 50 billion organisms of a multi-strain variety.

For the afternoon, he recommends adding in the supplement Berberine at 400 mg, which has been used for healing in ayurvedic medicine for years, according to Dr. Oz, and also 1,000 mg of L-Glutamine.

The digestive tube surrounding the intestinal flora can drain us of our energy when bad bacteria, yeast and parasites organize themselves in something Junger called “a biofilm,” which prevents nutrients from getting though to the intestines. Also, if there are toxins in the system, they get stuck there, said Dr. Oz.

The goal is to eliminate this sheet of bacteria, and the supplement Berberine can help. Junger also spoke of GALT or gut associated lymphatic tissue – where 80 percent of our immune system lies to make sure nothing foreign gets into the blood.

“The intestinal wall protects the GALT from seeing what is inside the digestive tube, which is good bacteria, undigested food, bad bacteria and yeast, so when we have gaps in the cells of the intestinal wall [known as leaky gut syndrome] that is when the immune system gets into a defense and attack mode,” Junger said, explaining the L-Glutamine can help with this. “By promoting the growth of the cells and the recovering of the gaps, you will calm down the immune system and save it from consuming all that energy, which can be diverted to other things.”

In the evening, Junger recommends 250 mg of magnesium before bed to “jumpstart the second brain” in the gut. Around the intestines there is a large nervous systm with more neurons then the brain in our skull, he said.

“This is where 80 to 90 percent of the serotonin is being manufactured with many other neurotransmitters, so when the gut is dysfunctional, the nervous system in the gut starts participating and consuming energy, and it disregards other functions.”

The magnesium will help stabilize the nervous system and also help people to sleep better and stabilize their mood, he noted.

Lastly, when choosing a meal for lunch and dinner, the first rule is to avoid what Junger calls “food dumping,” or mixing the wrong foods together in one sitting. The goal is to choose vegetables and pair it with a choice of either a grain, bean or animal protein – but not mixing more than one of these choices together.

“You make them compete for the enzymes, which is slowing down digestion itself, which is leading to fermentation, which is not good for you,” he said of combining to many foods.

He also recommends taking a multi-enzyme supplement – one capsule – before every meal to assist with digestion, and during the cleanse, avoid the following as they lower our energy:

Gluten
Dairy
Processed Sugar
Caffeine
Alcohol

Three Dr. Oz viewers put the program to the test and one reported it was “very easy to maintain,” and it “fit into their schedule.” Another viewer said she was finally getting a good night’s sleep, and the third said it gave her a jumpstart to be more alert and aware throughout her day.

For a complete one-sheet on the cleanse, including a shopping list, click here.

Dr. Andrew Weil Talks All-Natural Remedies and 5 New Essentials on Dr. Oz

Posted on by Tammy

Best-selling author and medical doctor, Andrew Weil revealed his five new essentials on a recent episode of The Dr. Oz Show, along with some other tips for optimal health and healing.

Most people don’t realize the body’s ability to heal itself, and how important lifestyle choices are, Weil told Dr. Oz.

“Most diseases that kill and disable people prematurely in our culture are lifestyle diseases that could have been avoided if people made better choices,” he said. “People expect quick fixes and don’t want to do the simple lifestyle changes that take a little more time to work but ultimately are much better.”

Here are his 5 new essentials:

— Iodine – Weil explained most women are deficient – as many as 1 in 3 – and it’s a multi-purpose mineral that keeps everything functioning, including the heart, brain and stomach. The body can’t make it, so we need to rely on food or supplements. Iodized salt is one way to get it, as well as dairy, tuna, sardines, mackerel and shellfish. However, the best was is through seaweed, and Weil recommended capsules of kelp extract.

— Pistachios and DGL Supplements – These can help with digestion, according to Weil. Pistachios are full of fiber and minerals, and recent research shows they are a good pre-biotic. One serving is 47 nuts, and has 158 calories. Also, 85 percent of the fat is not saturated, so it’s good for the heart. The DGL supplements are good for those who suffer from heartburn or acid reflux disease. The usual dose is to chew one or two tablets before meals and at bedtime. It is made from an extract of licorice that increases mucus coating in the stomach and lower esophagus to protect tissues from irritation like stomach acid, he explained.

— Dial Down Stress – Since not everyone is open to meditation, Weil said people can dial down their stress in less than a minute by performing palm reflexology. In the palm of the hand, between the thumb and the pointer finger, massage the area with pressure and in a circular motion. Then go to the tops of the fingers and massage and gently pull them. Additionally, he recommends de-stressing with his “4-7-8 breathing technique” – inhale through the nose for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and blow air out of your mouth making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. He calls this a “natural tranquilizer for your nervous system.

— Raw Food – While Weil does not recommend a total raw diet, since some food is actually more nutritious when cooked, he does recommend some things be eaten raw. Tomatoes and carrots are actually more nutritious when cooked, but greens, including asparagus are great raw. He recommends dipping the raw asparagus, which is rich in folate and essential B vitamins, in salad dressing. Also, raw garlic is very beneficial. Crush it and let it sit 10 minutes. Then add it to a salad dressing, to tomato sauce at the end of cooking, or crush it and add it to toast. Weil said he eats raw garlic when he feels a cold coming on.

— CoQ10 – This is a supplement Dr. Weil recommends everyone take as it protects the heart and the brain, and the body can’t afford to live without it. It is actually an anti-aging supplement because it protects the cells in the body from oxidative stress – especially the heart – and also regulates metabolism. Additionally, as the body ages, it makes less CoQ10, and anyone taking a statin drug should be supplementing because these drugs cause the body to make less as well. Weil recommends 120 mg per day.

In addition to his five new essentials, Dr. Weil also offered some other tips based on viewer questions, and his own personal routine. These include:

Soaking in a warm bath is one of the best remedies for aches and pains.
DMSO solvent penetrates the skin very fast for things like tennis elbow.
Eucalyptus oil is very good for the respiratory system, so he recommends putting a few drops in a pot of boiling water on the stove and steaming.
Enhance health by adding Asian mushrooms to your diet, including shitake and maitake.
Add probiotics to your daily routine to restore the friendly bacteria in the stomach. Make sure it has a combination of lactobacillus and lacto bifidobacterium.
To boost memory, add a alpha lipoic acid supplement – start with 100 mg per day and increase to 400mg per day.
Siberian Ginseng supplements can boost energy.
Strawberries and oranges help to keep teeth white and protect the enamel.
To lower cholesterol, take red yeast rice supplement in combination with CoQ10.

Visit the health and healing and/or food and recipes section of the website for more information on these topics!

Dr. Oz Recommends New Supplements

Posted on by Tammy

In a recent episode of The Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Oz named four supplements that can be easily added to a vitamin regimen, including one to metabolize carbs and one for detoxing the liver.

1. White Bean Extract – Dr. Oz recommends taking 500 mg before a meal heavy in carbs as it can prevent the enzyme alpha-amylase (which occurs naturally in the body) from breaking down carbs into sugar. The goal is to leave behind less sugar for the body to turn into fat.

2. Bacopa – Taking 300 mg per day can boost memory and brain health.

3. Milk Thistle – Taking 200 mg per day can help the liver flush out toxins from food and beverages.

4. Krill Oil – Dr. Oz explained new research shows Krill oil may work faster and stronger than fish oil for heart health, is less contaminated and has no fishy smell. He recommended 300 mg a day.