Avoiding GMO foods is becoming more of a challenge as they remain mainly unlabeled. Many consumers also are left in the dark about what these foods are, and there is a persistent misconception that ‘all foods have been modified anyway.’ That is not true, and there are stark differences between foods that have changed through creating heirlooms and hybridization versus altering the DNA of GMOs and other new gene editing technologies like CRISPR. These differences affect not only the plant but the health of the consumers. With the rise of serious, life-changing and life-threatening diseases such as cancers and autism, understanding which foods have been modified and how in order to avoid them is more important than ever.

Image credit: Heirloom Veggies: 5 advantages over hybrids

Heirloom Seeds Are The Chosen Ones

“An heirloom variety is a plant variety that has a history of being passed down within a family or community.” – Seed Savers.

Heirloom seeds are often prized by farmers as the best seeds available. They are the best of every crop that came before it. The process of creating heirloom varieties in absolutely natural and can be done by anyone who grows their own food. The featured image above contains heirloom vegetables.

Must Read: How to Avoid GMOs in 2018 – And Everything Else You Should Know About Genetic Engineering

All it takes is harvesting the strongest, best-looking seeds from the best plants. For example, a farmer grew a whole row of tomato plants, but a couple stood out as bigger than the rest with larger yields. The farmer may then choose to live the best of the tomatoes from these plants (often chosen by size or color) and leave them for seed collecting. The next year, using these seeds, the farmer follows the same process until years later they are left with quality heirloom seeds.

Heirloom foods are often tastier and may have better pests resistance that was developed over the decades.

These heirloom seeds are often passed down generation to generation, and they keep improving with time. They were the most popular seeds throughout history until large-scale farming became common. On large farms, the field technologies do not have the capacity to collect the best seeds. Heirloom foods are grown by primarily small farmers and gardeners.

Today, some farmers still like to specialize in heirloom varieties, and some seed companies sell nothing but heirlooms. The best way to support these foods is to buy heirloom produce from small farms.

Great heirloom vegetables and fruits to try are lemon cucumbers and ‘Mexican Sour Gherkin’ cucumber, ‘Pink Accordion’ tomato, ‘Lebanese Bunching’ eggplant, ‘Green Nutmeg’ melon, ‘Romanesco’ broccoli, and ‘Chioggia’ beet.

Recommended: Start Eating Like That and Start Eating Like This – Your Guide to Homeostasis Through Diet

Hybrids: Natural, Yet Limited

“Hybridization is a controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different species or varieties is crossed by human intervention.” – Seed Savers.

Hybrid foods are also created without the use of laboratories and genetic editing. It is done by controlling pollination to cross two different varieties or species of plants. It is done on small farms, but also on a larger scale. Mass commercial hybridization began in the 1950s.

Commercial hybrid seeds are labeled as F1, but there is a huge flaw in growing them. They produce the intended harvest once, but the follow-up seeds are unpredictable and often unusable. Farmers who use hybrids have to buy new seeds every year.

Hybrid seeds can be stabilized to grow the same variety every time, but the process takes years and patience. Some hybrids have been in our food system for many decades. Hybrid corn goes all the way to Mayan times, and the non-GMO hybrid corn available today was created in the 1930s.

Other common hybrid produce includes carrots, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, and squash. Many fruit varieties are also hybrids.

Hybrids are the biggest reason why some people argue that many foods have been genetically modified. That’s incorrect. They have gone through hybridization, but that is natural and not done in the lab like in the case with actual GMOs.

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GMOs: The First Lab-Altered Foods

“Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.” – The NON-GMO Project

GMOs are most known to be created by one of Big Biotech corporations Monsanto. Yet, it is not the only company producing GMO foods and patents. Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences, Bayer, BASF, and a few smaller companies are also producing GMOs.

The very first GMO was created in 1982, and it was a diabetes medicine. This approval has led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) giving green light to many GMOs to come, including foods. The first tomato was altered in 1994, RoundUp soybeans in 1996, and today there are GMO rice, corn, squash, canola, yeast, alfalfa, cotton, sugar beets, papaya, and salmon.

GMOs are defined as an organism that was genetically altered in the lab. Often times, these organisms have genetic material from other species inserted into them.

The most bizarre genetic manipulations included inserting a gene from a flounder fish into a tomato. The product from this experiment never made it to the market, but now there are actual GMO animals. GMO salmon is the first and entered food supply in 2017 after being approved two years earlier. This salmon is modified with a growth hormone to make it grow faster.

Like other GMO foods, activists and many health experts are raising alarm to the fact that there is still not enough information regarding GMOs effect on human health. There are, however, many studies linking GMOs to increased risks of cancers and other diseases.

Due to these risks, GMO foods have been banned in dozens of countries around the world, yet in the U.S., biotech companies are not slowing down.

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American consumers today are left to figure out which foods contain GMOs themselves and make educated choices. There are many hidden GMOs in processed foods. Most commonly found are the ones made from corn, soy, and canola. These are corn flour, corn masa, corn meal, corn oil, corn sugar, corn syrup, and cornstarch; and soy flour, soy isolates, soy lecithin, soy milk, soy oil, soy protein, soy protein isolate, and soy sauce.

Other ingredients can be less obvious. The common potential GMOs are also in baking powder, citric acid, condensed milk, glucose, glycerin, lecithin, maltodextrin, protein isolate, starch, sugar, vegetable fat, and vitamins B12 and E.

The one way to know for sure you are buying a non-GMO food or product is to buy certified organic and look for the non-GMO label.

Gene Editing

“CRISPR/Cas9 is a system found in bacteria and involved in immune defense. Bacteria use CRISPR/Cas9 to cut up the DNA of invading bacterial viruses that might otherwise kill them. Today we’ve adapted this molecular machinery for an entirely different purpose – to change any chosen letter(s) in an organism’s DNA code.” – The Conversation

Gene editing technology is the newest on the market today. The one technology that is gaining attention is “CRISPR” or Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which is the basis for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.

In the future, this technology can be used to slice human DNA like a pair of scissors and choose to alter the genome in absolutely any way. The potential there, some scientists say, is to find answers to treating incurable diseases.

The danger in this technology is that any minor error in the genetic code can have unpredictable results. The second concern is that this technology can be accessed by anyone.

Finally, CRISPR has been approved by the USDA earlier this year to be used on food. First foods that received the green light include white-button mushrooms and an oilseed crop.

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The USDA also said that as long as the gene is manipulated in the way nature can, the CRISPR food will not be regulated. This is a stark difference from animals edited with CRISPR that are classified as “animal drugs.”

CRISPR cannot introduce DNA from one species into another, but it is still questionable what hidden effects it has on food and animals that it genetically edits.

This newest technology is hotly debated among the health groups, but companies out to make money will be too fast to patent and sell it to the consumers. Both Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer already have their hands on it. Another food company which is exploring CRISPS is Mars.

When it comes to CRISPR food, the consumers will once again be left in the dark, as it will not be labeled.

Conclusion

To say that most foods are not what they used to be is correct. Most plants have changed over the decades whether by their own evolution or the hand of man. Yet to say that all have gone through genetic engineering is false.

By definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, genetic engineering means:

“The group of applied techniques of genetics and biotechnology used to cut up and join together genetic material and especially DNA from one or more species of organism and to introduce the result into an organism in order to change one or more of its characteristics.”

Foods that were enhanced by creating heirlooms or hybridization are not cut up and manipulated in the lab. They do not contain are foreign DNA from very different species. Neither do they have any health concerns.

GMOs created by Monsanto and other biotech companies, on the other hand, could not be done without using a laboratory. The true results of these DNA manipulations are still hard to fully grasp. Yet, too many studies already exist linking them to adverse health effects. Natural foods will always be safer and in the case of the heirlooms tastier, which is why it is highly recommended to always choose organic foods and produce.

Be sure to check out How to Avoid GMOs in 2018 – And Everything Else You Should Know About Genetic Engineering.

Sources

• What is an “Heirloom” Food? – Eating Made Easy
• 19 Best Heirloom Plants – Sunset
• What’s the Difference? Open-Pollinated, Heirloom & Hybrid Seeds – Seed Savers Exchange
•  Hybrid Foods – Live Strong
• The Monsanto GMO Story: Adding a Fish Gene Into Tomatoes – Mother Earth News
• GMO Ingredients A-Z – Food Babe
• The USDA Just Gave the Green Light to CRISPR’d Food – GIZMODO
• GMO Facts – The NON-GMO Project

There are more reasons than ever to filter tap water for drinking and cooking. Tap water is commonly contaminated with heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactive elements. Toxic water has been found in many cities across the U.S., from the Flint crisis to many communities who may not even know hazards in their water. The utility companies are doing a lot of shady business to hide this information from the consumers for the sake of saving their pockets. Luckily, it is possible to take the situation into your own hands by filtering your water at home. With so many water filters out there, the only next step is choosing the right one. Expert information such as from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) can help you make the right decision for you.

Contaminants that Hide In Tap Water

When it comes to hazards in tap water, there are different contaminants to be aware of.

Recommended: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Fluoride: Fluoride is a toxic substance that has been added to public water supplies since 1945, and became a nationwide phenomenon in the 1960s when society was tricked to believe that it helps prevent cavities in teeth. While there is a very small benefit to applying fluoride straight on the teeth, it is a very health-damaging substance. Worst of all, drinking it has no benefits to teeth. (When comparing decay rates for fluoridated and non-fluoridated countries, the results are similar).

The harm, however, is significant. Fluoride is toxic in any amounts, and it is impossible to predict the dose of it a person is receiving on a daily basis when drinking unfiltered tap water. Fluoride causes arthritis-like symptoms. It is toxic to the brain, and it may increase the risk of cancer, especially bone tumors, and lung, and bladder cancers.

Another chemical that is added to tap water on purpose is chlorine. Because it is used as a cleaner, it is added to water to “purify” it. However, it is not fully safe. It can react with water and produce toxic hydrochloric acid which causes cell damage, memory problems, and can even impair balance.

Heavy Metals: Since the Flint Crisis, this type of contaminant has been the most commonly discussed. Lead and other heavy metals can leach into the water from old pipes.

Lead, the element that poisoned Flint children, is one of the worst. It is a neurotoxin and also toxic to nearly every single organ in the human body. Lead poisoning, as well as chronic low-levels of lead exposure, can lead to developmental and behavioral issues in children, as well as brain damage at high doses. It has also been linked to cancers, kidney and heart problems, and reproductive issues.

Mercury is another extremely toxic heavy metal that is not safe at any dose. It can also cause brain damage, as well a nerve damage and cognitive disability. The many symptoms it causes include headaches, fatigue, memory problems, rashes, and mood swings.

Radioactive elements: It was recently found that 170 million U.S. people access tap water that is contaminated by carcinogenic radioactive elements. These elements come from inside the Earth when mining for gas and oil. Because they create ionizing radiation, this leads to cancers, birth defects, and even dysfunctional brain development. Elements such as radium 226, radium-228, radon, uranium, tritium, and strontium-90 increase chances of cancer even at legal limits. However, all of them are found at higher than allowed levels across the U.S. The highest number of people affected are in California, Texas, and Florida, but other states are not far behind.

Other chemicals: Many other chemicals end up in our drinking water supplies from the manufacturing industry; big corporations poisoning the environment. In one case, not that far from Flint, Michigan, an auto part manufacturing left a giant toxic plume over 50 years ago. Today, the pollution in the groundwater is still growing and affecting more households by contaminating water with a known carcinogen called trichloroethylene (TCE).

Recommended: The Best Water For Detoxifying and Drinking

Other factories left behind polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); chemicals that were used in paints and electronics until their ban in 1979. Still today, they are found in tap water as far as thousands of miles away from their main source – where they lay in landfills. PCBs are also linked to cancer risk, as well as are hazardous for the immune and nervous systems.

Although arsenic can exist from natural sources, is often used artificially by the industrial companies. Long-term arsenic poisoning is linked to cancers of skin, lungs, and bladder; and severe abdominal issues.

Other chemicals that end up in water from different toxic industries are dioxins (released when burning waste), DDT (banned insecticide), HCB (banned pesticide), dacthal (herbicide still used today), and MtBE (a gasoline additive).

What About Bottled Water?

A lot of bottled water companies take the same tap water that you have access to, filter it, and re-sell it for way more of a price (hundreds of times more expensive). They often do a bad job filtering the water. If it’s not just filtered tap water, it’s coming from companies like Nestle damaging local environment and putting local populations at risk.

Related: Drinking Bottled Water Means Drinking Microplastics, According To Damning New Study

The second, much bigger issue, with bottled water, is that other chemicals may leach from the plastic into the water. This is especially true when the bottle is left in the sun during hot weather. The chemical often found in plastics is BPA – which acts like a hormone and disrupts many functions in the body. However, even buying BPA-free is not enough. Manufacturers substitute BPA with other chemicals…that also act like hormones! A study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that over 95% of products in BPA-free plastics tested positive for these chemicals when exposed to natural sunlight.

In the end, the safest thing to do is to purchase a glass bottle and fill it with water you filtered yourself at home.

A Detailed Guide to Water Filters

To bring some clarity to choosing the right water filter for you, EWG released a buying guide. To help you choose, here are the different types of filters available, which technology they use and how it works.

First, it is important to note that the most common brand available at supermarket chains, Brita, does not filter out fluoride. The best of the filters are not usually sold at major stores and are found online.

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These filtering systems can come in forms of water pitchers, countertop faucets, under-the-sink systems, and whole-house filtration. Whenever possible, a whole house system is the best choice for health, so that there are no chemicals absorbed through the skin when showering or washing hands at different sinks in the house.

From there, you should choose which filtering technology you prefer (some use multiple) instead of focusing on the brand name itself. Each technology can also vary in quality and how well it removes every contaminant.

Carbon or activated carbon filters: Carbon removes contaminants from the water by bonding with them on a chemical level. . Some remove only chlorine, but unable to clear out the other toxins, leaving heavy metals and chemicals behind.

These filters can use a carbon block, a fibredyne block, or granulated activated carbon. The first two are more effective in general, but the second type is best at removing sediments.

On the plus side, carbon filters serve for a long time without needing replacement.

Related: Activated Charcoal is Very Popular Right Now – Here’s Why

Ceramic and mechanical water filters: Ceramic filters and mechanical filters block sediments by using tiny holes but they let all the contaminants pass. They do not remove chemicals.

Deionizing filters: These filters work through an ion-exchange process; it removes mineral salts and electrically-charged molecules from the water, but leave behind non-ionic contaminants including toxic VOCs.

Ion exchange water filter: This process replaces ions using a resin. For example, water softening removes calcium and magnesium and adds sodium.

Ozone and Ultraviolet filters: Both ozone and ultraviolet light kill bacteria and microorganisms, but do not remove chemicals.

Reverse osmosis filters: Reverse osmosis blocks any particles that are larger than the molecule of water, therefore blocking: fluoride, arsenic, and nitrates. However, it cannot block chlorine or VOCs. The other setback of this filter is that it uses a lot of water – not the best pick for the environment. This method also ends up being pricey.

Solar-powered water filters: These filters use natural solar energy to purify the water and are a good investment for camping and other outdoor activities.

Distilled water filter: Distillation heats water until vaporization happens, then condenses it back into liquid form. Distillation removes minerals, bacteria, and viruses, but not chlorine or chemicals.

Related: Symptoms of Dehydration & Benefits of Proper Hydration – Are you getting enough water?

The main advantage of distilled water is that it removes the most amounts of toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and radioactive elements.

One concern some people have is that distilled water is acidic. However, if you do not let the water stay in the jug too long before drinking it, the acidity level will be lower. Also, if you take care of your digestive tract, it will also not affect anything – the body will be able to take care of it.

The Newest Player on the Market: Structured Water Filters

This type of filtration system is new, or not yet fully known, but it may become the best choice in the future.

Dr. Gerald Pollack discovered the fourth phase of water – also called structured water, living water, or exclusive zone (EZ) water. This type of water brings the water to its original state as if it came straight from a spring; it hydrates the body better and is healthier in every way.

Editor’s Comment:

I like the Berkey the best. We hope to have these on Green Lifestyle Market soon, but at this time we do not sell any water filters at all.

At my house, we have a Berkey with the fluoride-filter attachments, and we also have an AquaTru Water Filter. I like this one, and I think it does an excellent job, but Berkey water tastes better. You can taste the plastic with everything else when you do a side by side comparison. I’ve used Zero, Britta, and Pure pitcher filters as well. Zero was the best pitcher filter. Using this meter to check PPMs, both filters bring tap water down to zero.

Must Read:

• What’s the Best Water for Detoxifying and For Drinking?
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
• Inexpensive, Easy Detox – The One Gallon Challenge

Sources:

• 12 Toxins in Your Drinking Water – The Global Healing Center
• 170 Million In U.S. Drink Radioactive Tap Water. Trump Nominee Faked Data To Hide Cancer Risk – Environmental Working Group
• Study: Most Plastics Leach Hormone-Like Chemicals – NPR
• EWG’s Updated Water Filter Buying Guide – Environmental Working Group

Some of the best natural remedies take root thousands of years ago, and only today are making a huge comeback. No wonder, some of these can completely change if not save lives.

One of these remedies that is quickly growing in popularity is black seed oil, also known as black cumin oil, black caraway oil, Roman coriander oil, or black sesame oil.

The oil is derived from the Nigella sativa plant, a native to Asia. The plant’s small, black, crescent-looking seeds were used for centuries in India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. It was used to make the oil as early as 3,000 years ago in Egypt. The oil was even found in the famous Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. It is also been said that Hippocrates, a Greek physician, used it for digestive issues.

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What’s so special about this oil? Over 630 scientific peer-reviewed studies have suggested that there is virtually no health issue that black seed oil cannot help defeat.

This is not surprising, looking at its long list of properties. Black seed oil is:

• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-fungal
• Antiviral
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Analgesic
• Antispasmodic
• Insulin-sensitizing
• Anti-hypertensive
• Hypotensive

Black seed oil contains over 100 compounds! Its powerful medicinal properties come from arachidonic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, protein, calcium, phosphorous, folate, zinc, iron, copper, and vitamins B1, B2, B3.

But its best active compounds are crystalline nigellone and thymoquinone.

Must Read: Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease

Black Seed Oil: Cures Everything Except Death!

It is said that the prophet Mohammad said that black cumin can cure everything but death itself. And it truly may be so! From heart disease and severe allergies to diabetes and cancer.

Reasons to Consume Black Seed Oil Regularly

Cancer prevention

Colon, lung, brain, prostate, pancreatic and multiple other cancers can be significantly reduced by using black cumin oil. A 2012 study found that thymoquinone has an anti-tumor effect and can be used to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy. Other studies also suggested that it can protect the body from radiation, for those who are using conventional cancer therapies.

Black seed oil also helps prevent and treat cancer because of its many mechanisms: anti-metastasis (prevents spreading of secondary cancer), anti-proliferation (prevents spreading of cells), and anti-angiogenesis (prevents developing of new blood vessels, which feed and grow tumors).

Heart health

Because black seed is full of unsaturated omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. In addition to providing phytosterols, they help you keep a healthy heart, healthy blood pressure, and healthy cholesterol — all of which are interconnected. Just consuming a teaspoon of black cumin oil every day will have these positive effects on the heart.

Weight Loss

Have you ever wished you lost cravings for junk food? Black cumin’s unique combination of compounds reduces appetite for unhealthy foods! Meanwhile, it also helps burn body fat. It may be one of the best natural anti-obesity remedies on the planet!

Hair and Skin

Back in ancient Egypt, Cleopatra is said to have used black seed oil for her long, beautiful hair to give it shine and luster. It also strengthens hair roots, giving it an incredible ability to restore hair loss, likely to its high antioxidant content. While promoting new hair growth, black seed oil clears out dandruff. Leaving it on the hair for 30-60 minutes is the best treatment for hair.

It successfully treats not only hair damage but also skin damage. From a simple hand cream for dryness to addressing hand eczema, this oil is popular to use on skin.

Immune System

Black cumin stimulates the increase of white blood cells in the body, which are responsible for fighting off disease. This boost of the immune system can be vital in treating a cold, flu, or even bronchitis and pneumonia.

Respiratory Problems

Having a hard time breathing? The respiratory tract is not doing well due to allergies or congestion? Black seed oil can reduce inflammation in the body and allow you to breathe freely again. For this health problem, it is better to take the oil as a preventative than as a medicine to treat an existing issue.

Coughing

Speaking of respiratory health, for a simple cough, just adding black cumin oil to ginger tea and a teaspoon of honey does wonders. It suppressed the need to cough and relaxes bronchial muscles, all while soothing a sore throat.

Rubbing black seed oil on the chest also helps open up and clear out the airways.

The third way to use it to relieve a cough is to add it to boiled water and breathe in the healing steam.

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Digestion

Hippocrates knew what he was doing when he used this remedy for digestion. Black cumin can aid healthy digestion, decrease bloating, relieve gas, and alleviate muscle cramps. It also has a soothing effect on the whole intestines, which can provide real relief for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

Anxiety and depression

Black cumin seeds can stabilize the mood, and by doing so decrease anxiety and lift depression.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

Other uses:

• Acne
• Allergies and sinus infections
• Arthritis and joint pain
• Asthma and cholesterol
• Bacterial infections and the flu
• Blood sugar
• Boils and carbuncles
• Breast pain
• Bruising and scars
• Colic
• Diabetes
• Diarrhea
• Epilepsy
• Fertility issues and low testosterone
• Fever
• Fungal infections
• Gum disease
• Headaches and migraines
• Heartburn and constipation
• Hemorrhoids and gallstones
• Hypertension
• Infections and nasal congestion
• Insect Bites
• Insomnia
• Kidney stones and Liver Health
• Lactation issues
• Lead poisoning
• Memory problems
• Menstrual pain
• Moles
• Muscle spasms and cramps
• Nausea and upset stomach
• Nosebleeds
• Opioid addiction
• Osteoporosis
• Pain
• Parasites
• Pink eye and earaches
• Psoriasis
• Toothaches
• Vision problems
• Ulcers

Most of these are thanks to thymoquinone — heals anything but death!

NOTE: black cumin oil should NOT be taken by pregnant women as it can trigger a miscarriage; or by those with diabetes as it can lower blood sugar. Taking too much of this oil can be problematic for people who have liver and kidney problems. For anyone, do not take more than one teaspoon of this oil twice a day.

Easiest Ways to Take Black Seed Oil

Many holistic doctors agree that one teaspoon of black seed oil a day is the perfect amount to take to receive all of its health benefits (1 tsp for a 150-pound person). Because it can be too bitter for some people prefer to mix it with honey for taste and to add extra medicinal properties.

Related Product: Organic Black Seed Oil

The best time to take the oil is first thing in the morning. By itself, with honey, or mixed with a small amount of water on an empty stomach, black seed oil will kick-start your metabolism.

The oil can also be used in cooking. It is not the kind to use for fried foods, but rather as a dressing.

Cooking with it can also be a great way to incorporate it into the diet. You can add it to bread or bagels, soups or stir-fries, and mix it into seasonings such as mustard.

Finally, black seed oil also has great cosmetic uses. It can be used on the skin as a moisturizer, an exfoliator, or a face mask; or added to shampoo for split hair prevention and a healthy scalp.

Sources:

• Scientific studies on Nigella sativa — U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Black Cumin Seed Oil Benefits: The Seed You Need — Activation Products
• 7 Proven Black Seed Oil Benefits — Dr. Josh Axe

There are few things as devastating for a woman as seeing her hair fall out at an unusual rate and feeling powerless to stop it. Fortunately, in most cases, hair loss can be reversed by a few lifestyle changes and the help of herbal remedies.

A person has around 100,000 strands of hair on the scalp, and it is normal to lose 50-100 strands every day. However, if more hair falls out, it can lead to bald spots or a thinning hair line — a problem that affects millions of women in the world.

Hair loss happens when the hair follicles are blocked or are not able to function properly. This can be a side effect of poor scalp circulation, vitamin deficiencies, improper diet changes, dental problems, stress, hormonal imbalances, and toxic hair products.

Bring More Circulation to the Scalp

Increased circulation to the scalp helps regrow hair because the scalp cells die or don’t function properly without enough blood and oxygen. You can bring more circulation by massaging the scalp and through the use of hair oils and herbs.

Massaging the scalp also reduces stress levels, another threat to healthy hair.

Massage the scalp at least once a week as a preventative. If you are experiencing hair loss, massage the scalp on a daily basis. If your hair is falling out at an extreme rate, keep the pressure gentle. If you are too rough, you may accidentally rip out weak hair stands.

Use Beneficial Oils in Your Hair

Using hair oils is a popular remedy in India. It is not only used for hair loss, but to grow thicker, longer, and healthier hair. When massaging the scalp, use a few of these beneficial oils to regrow hair. You should rub it on the spots that have been especially affected.

The nutrients in the oils help boost blood flow and circulation and also address a dry scalp issue. If the scalp is dry, and if you have dandruff, the hair follicles are blocked, leading to hair loss. Using oils will moisturize the scalp and stimulate the hair follicles to stop hair loss and regrow lost hair strands, and it will keep the existing hair stronger and healthier. A few oils to consider are:

• Castor oil
• Argan oil
• Jojoba oil
• Emu oil
• Carrot seed oil
• Coconut oil
• Bhringraj Oil

You can also add a few drops of essential oils, such as rosemary essential oils, to speed up the healing process of your scalp.

Apply Herbal and Nutrient Rich Mixtures to Scalp and Hair

There are also many recipes of healthy mixtures you can make and put on your head overnight for nutrients to be absorbed directly into the scalp. This type of treatment is messier than the oils and requires you to wear a shower cap when sleeping, but it has worked for many people. It can also be fun to experiment because there are so many options out there.

• Indian gooseberry – Mix one tablespoon of Indian gooseberry (rich in Vitamin C) with one tablespoon of lemon juice, massage into the scalp and leave overnight. Wash your hair in the morning.
• Fenugreek – Make a paste from one cup of soaked fenugreek seeds (protein-rich), apply to hair and leave for 40 minutes.
• Aloe vera – Use aloe vera juice or gel or the scalp, leave for a few hours, wash it off.
• Licorice root – Mix one tablespoon of ground licorice root with one cup of milk and ¼ teaspoon of saffron.  Apply to scalp and leave overnight. Wash off in the morning.

Herbs that Are Beneficial for Hair

Ayurveda medicine and Western herbal medicine use herbs for hair health. These herbs boost blood circulation, heal the scalp cells, and promote hair growth.

In Ayurveda, the recommended herbs are:

• Horsetail – rich in silica
• Indian gooseberry or amla – vitamin C and antioxidants
• Neem – fights dandruff
• Ashwagandha – immune support

Western herbal medicine recommends the following:

• Hibiscus – against dandruff, prevents premature gray hair
• Stinging nettle – follicle health (taken internally)

Vitamin Deficiencies — Getting Enough Nutrients

If your body is deficient in vital nutrients, this can lead to hair loss. Simply taking a good multivitamin or even a multivitamin formed specifically for hair health may bring good results. There are also specific vitamins that are most important to hair health: biotin, iron, protein, and healthy fats.

Biotin: The Most Important Vitamin for Hair

Biotin or vitamin B7 is the most important vitamin for addressing hair loss. Biotin improves keratin – a protein that makes up hair, as well as skin and nails. If you have leaky gut or if your digestive tract is not able to absorb nutrients properly, you are probably deficient in biotin.

Food sources for B7 are:

• Liver
• Eggs
• Salmon
• Cheese
• Avocado
• Raspberry
• Cauliflower

Vitamins and Healthy Fats for Hair

Hair loss can also be caused by a lack of iron (especially if you have anemia), protein, potassium, and protein. You may be experiencing a lack of iron if you do not eat red meat. Other sources of iron are chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, beans and lentils, and spinach.

Hair growth also requires a good amount of protein. If you are vegetarian or vegan, good sources of plant protein are beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, and some superfoods such as algae, goji berries, hemp, and chia seeds.

Potassium brings circulation to the scalp and boosts follicle health. You can get a lot of potassium from bananas.

Finally, it is important to get plenty of healthy fats. Salmon and avocados are two good sources.

Make Sure You Are Eating a Proper Diet

Hair loss can be a side effect of changing a diet too rapidly, switching to a diet that is lacking in nutrients, eating a high-glycemic diet, or going on a crash diet.

As a rule, avoid any crash diets, and avoid diets that are high in sugars (especially fake sugars), and processed foods.

If you just switched or are thinking of switching to a plant-based diet, make sure you do your research to find the best plant sources for all your vitamin needs, especially protein and iron.

Hormonal Imbalance Can Lead to Hair Loss

In today’s world, many of us live under high amounts of stress on a daily basis. This can lead to hormonal imbalances, a poorly functioning thyroid, and poorly functioning adrenals, all of which can lead to rapid hair loss. Addressing these underlying issues, including auto-immune disorders and chronic illnesses, is important for many people to regain a healthy scalp and strong, healthy hair. Also, it is important to recognize that some medications cause hair loss. If this is the case,  you will have to wait until you stop taking them to see real results.

Take Care of Your Emotional Health

Like stress, anxiety and depression can lead to hair loss.  To reduce your stress levels and to help alleviate anxiety and depression,  try yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, and journaling.

Address Dental Health

The connection of dental health with hair health is less known, but more studies have recently come out bridging the gap between the two. What the scientists are starting to find out is that any health issues in the mouth directly affect the rest of the body, including hair. Gum disease, cavities, and infections in the mouth all can lead to hair loss.

Switch to Natural Hair Products

Finally, some people experience hair loss simply from the toxins of the hair products they use. Most shampoos and conditioners, hair sprays, hair dyes, and other products, contain cancer-causing chemicals, as well as chemicals that ruin hair. These chemicals include sulfates, parabens, phthalate, artificial coloring, and artificial fragrances.

Switch to natural, organic shampoos. If you want to dye your hair, use henna instead of commercial dyes. While traditionally henna is red, more companies are now making henna hair dyes in shades of brown and black.

Recommended Reading:

• Natural Hair Loss Baldness Remedies and Cures
• Reverse Gray Hair Naturally
• Mercury Fillings, Root Canals, Cavitations – What You Need to Know
• Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies
• The Power of Our Hormones and How To Balance Them
• The Soap and Shampoo Conspiracy

Sources:

• Home Remedies For Hair Loss In Women — Organic Facts
• Biotin Benefits: Thicken Hair, Nails and Beautify Skin — Dr. Axe 
• Home Remedies for Hair Loss — Top 10 Home Remedies

Chemotherapy is currently the most common treatment for cancer. While there are many well-researched and less-risky natural treatments available to cancer patients (The Gerson therapy, the Budwig protocol, and many others), the majority ends up choosing chemotherapy. Common reasons for this choice are fear, lack of funds, or lack of information about viable alternative treatments. (If you are newly diagnosed and still have time, I urge you to complete your research in order to make an informed decision).

Those who survive chemotherapy are sent home with little information. They are told the percentage of people who live for five years after remission. They are given a list of other chronic or even life-threatening illnesses they can expect to battle down the road. They are not given information on how to detoxify from the chemicals they were given or how to repair the damage caused by mainstream cancer treatment. They are not even given directions for lifestyle changes to address the original cause of their cancer.

Fortunately, there is a wealth of information out there from natural cancer research clinics and doctors of naturopathic and functional medicine. These practitioners look at the body as a whole. They can help you detox and bring your body to an optimal state of health to prevent a recurrence of cancer or the onset of other diseases.

Detox All of the Organs from the Effects of Chemo

Chemotherapy may easily be the most toxic treatment in modern conventional medicine. During the treatment, patients experience chemo brain (a special type of brain fog), extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting, weakness, complete loss of appetite, hair loss, and mood swings. The side effects do not end with the end of treatment. The American Cancer Institute warns that long-term effects from the variety of drugs used include: memory issues, poor vision, poor thyroid function, weak bones, inflamed lung tissue, infertility, gum disease, heart disease at a younger age, emotional issues, and the development of other cancers. In children, the lifelong problems may also include behavioral problems and lower IQs. Most of these (and in some cases all of these) side effects can be prevented by eliminating the toxins left behind by chemotherapy.

The main organs to detox, restore and repair are the gut, liver, adrenal glands, and thyroid, plus any organ directly affected by cancer.

Detoxifying and Repairing the Gut

Many doctors say that health starts and ends with the health of the digestive tract or gut. If the gut is not functioning correctly, the body does not get enough nutrients and it is unable to perform normal detoxification on a daily basis. In addition, the immune system is severely compromised. Most of the people who have any type of dysfunction in the body or any chronic condition suffer from poor gut health. Gut health is adversely affected by many medications; it is greatly affected by chemotherapy.

First of all, clean up the diet. Remove all the junk: sugars; gluten; refined flours; GMOs; non-organic meats and dairy; foods that contain preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, MSG or trans fats; commercial oils (such as canola oil); alcohol; tobacco; and coffee.

Replace these foods with fresh, raw organic produce, more vegetables than fruits, and foods that help heal the whole digestive tract: fermented vegetables, organic kefirs, raw dairy, turmeric and ginger, coconut oil, and aloe vera.

A good colon cleanse is a must. Every case and every body is different, and if you have the time and resources, consulting a certified doctor of natural medicine is the best way to find the best option for you. However, you can make your own cleanse at home as well, with no known risks (if you are not allergic to the ingredients).

Josh Axe, a doctor of natural medicine, recommends the following simple cleanse (everything should be organic):

• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp ginger juice
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup warm water

Mix all the ingredients together in warm water, and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.

More info: Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

Bringing the Liver Back Up to Health

If the gut is not functioning properly, our bodies cannot absorb enough nutrition, even from the best quality foods, green juices, and supplements. Healing the gut must come first. Once it is functioning well, other problems can be fixed.

The liver is arguably the hardest hit by chemotherapy. Chemo drugs are so toxic, they may even cause sudden liver failure. To avoid further damage to the liver, the following should be avoided:

• Alcohol
• High-sodium junk foods
• Sugar
• Red meat (and limit all meat products)

Instead, pack your diet with garlic, green tea, dark green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, turmeric (with black pepper), and avocados. All of these contain lever-cleansing and liver-building compounds.

As far as detoxing goes, milk thistle is the number one herb for cleansing the liver (as well as the kidneys and gallbladder). It is also recommended for people who have gone through radiation. This herb not only supports the liver with its active ingredient silymarin, it helps prevent cancer and other diseases by increasing glutathione levels. Milk thistle is a master antioxidant. It will help improve skin health, kidney health, brain function, and cholesterol levels. Dr. Axe recommends taking 150 mg 1 to 3 times daily when using it to treat liver dysfunction, 50 to 150 mg daily when using it as a preventative.

More info: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting - Recipes Included

Rebuilding Adrenal Glands: No More Fatigue

It is common for cancer survivors to experience lifelong adrenal fatigue, which comes in cycles of complete burnout, followed by “feeling better” and increased energy only to have a stronger burnout later on. That is symptomatic of adrenal glands that are exhausted and are working in complete overdrive.

The symptoms of adrenal fatigue are:

• Always feeling tired and overwhelmed
• Hormonal imbalance
• Irritability
• Racing and troubling thoughts
• Body aches
• Depression
• Trouble focusing
• Hair loss
• Trouble getting up in the morning

The adrenal glands are responsible for our stress response. Besides the toxic chemo drugs, most cancer patients can burn out the adrenal glands from the overwhelming stress brought on by their diagnosis.

Do everything you can to decrease your stress levels. Get plenty of sleep, eat well, and exercise. Avoid getting stuck on negative thinking and find a way to deal with emotions in a healthy way (meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga are just a few options).

When it comes to a healthy diet for optimal adrenal health, follow the guidelines above and enjoy plenty of cruciferous vegetables, avocados, nuts and seeds, kelp, olives, coconut, and sea salt. Add adrenal-boosting herbs and vitamins to the diet, especially vitamins C, D, and B-complex; magnesium; zinc; fish oil; holy basil; and ashwagandha.

Most importantly, be patient. It can take up to 2 years for adrenals to fully recover.

More info: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Restoring Healthy Thyroid Function

Thyroid and adrenal glands are most often linked when it comes to health. If one is not functioning properly, the other is likely struggling as well. The thyroid is also easily damaged by stress and toxins, and adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) often go hand in hand.

When the thyroid is not functioning properly, you can develop hypothyroidism, when the thyroid is not producing enough hormones (often leading to fatigue and weight gain), or hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid is producing too much of the thyroid hormones (often leading to insomnia, weight loss, and muscle weakness).

Whether it is hypo or hyperthyroidism, thyroid-nourishing supplements can be used to help heal the thyroid and help regulate its function. B vitamins are the main vitamin for thyroid health. Selenium improves general thyroid function, and ashwagandha helps with stress.

More info: Hypothyroidism - Natural Remedies, Causes, and How To Heal the Thyroid

Foods that Help Prevent Cancer

Many foods from the above categories that need to be avoided and need to be added are the same for every organ. Fortunately, the lists are also similar for general cancer prevention, so you can adapt one diet that helps your whole body rebuilt itself while preventing cancer at the same time. The basic rule is to stop eating all processed foods. Your diet should consist of 80% raw, fresh, whole, organic produce. Foods that are beneficial for almost everyone (apart from people who have specific allergies or rare conditions) are:

• Leafy dark green vegetables: kale, spinach, etc.
• Cruciferous vegetables: cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, etc.
• Berries: blueberries, goji berries, camu camu
• Fresh herbs: turmeric, garlic, oregano, cilantro, basil
• Raw and cultured milk products: raw milk, kefirs
• Nuts and seeds: chia, flaxseeds, hemp, sesame seeds (soaked before eating to release enzyme inhibitors)
• Healthy oils: coconut, flax, and extra virgin olive oil
• Herbal teas: green matcha, dandelion, chamomile

Besides eating well, it is also crucial to take care of your physical and emotional health.

Also: How to Use Turmeric to Kill Cancer

Other Lifestyle Changes: Physical and Emotional Health

When it comes to physical health, it is not the strength of the muscles that is the concern but preventing stagnation in the body tissues. Going to the gym and lifting weights every day does not do much for overall health. A healthy body needs good circulation, flexibility, and a type of physical exercises that addresses every part of it. Yoga has repeatedly been proven to be one of the best options. Yoga poses address the whole body and are gentle enough for anyone, regardless of age or health. There is even chair yoga for people with movement restrictions. Tai Chi and Qigong are other gentle exercises that address whole body health and proper breathing.

In addition to exercising, add the following to your regular routine:

• Dry skin brushing (aids the lymphatic system)
• Hot/cold hydrotherapy (aids the circulatory system)
• Epsom salts baths (cleanses and detoxifies and the body absorbs magnesium)

While taking care of physical health, it is important to remember to address emotional health as well. If the mind focuses on fear of cancer or feeling traumatized by the cancer experience, stress will prevent healing and the body’s return to its optimal state. If you decide to seek professional help, be selective in your choice of a therapist. Look for someone who will help you let go of the trauma you have endured, not dwell on it. You are not your cancer. You are not a victim. Find a therapist who can help you feel empowered and help you let go to make cancer a thing of the past. Emotional Freedom Technique is one example of a therapeutic modality that may help.

Speaking of making it your past, Dr. Richard Schulze adds a curious protocol to his healing – get rid of 1/3 of what you own. While the number is not important, here is what is: people “collect” bad memories and tokens of the past as if they were valuable. For example, many people keep mementos such as old wigs used during hair loss, photos of the hospital,  clothes worn on the day of the surgery, etc. Get rid of any item that reminds you of what you just went through. Both the body and the mind react each time you look at something that reminds you of a traumatic time.

Afterword

While chemotherapy is extremely toxic, there is no need to focus on fears of the lifelong health effects it may have. Instead, focus on healing. It is possible to bring the body back to health – or at the very least, significantly reduce the aftereffects. Find a doctor of natural medicine who is knowledgeable and has a positive outlook to help guide you, and listen to your body’s needs. Our bodies have an enormous capacity to heal. Let the mainstream doctors call it “spontaneous recovery” or “a miracle.” A body is a miraculous creation, but staying healthy is not. Follow the healthy diet, detox from toxins, and keep your mind positive. You will be surprised what positive effects this will have on your heath and your life.

Recommended Reading:

• How to Cure Lyme Disease, and Virtually Any Other Bacterial Infection, Naturally
• How to Detoxify From Chemotherapy and Repair the Body
• Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease
• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children
• Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally with Organic Oral Care – Toothpaste recipes included

Sources:

• Milk Thistle Detox for Heavy Metals, Chemotherapy, and Radiation – Dr. Axe: Food is Medicine 
• Chemotherapy Side Effects: Why It’s Critical to Detox After Chemo – The Truth about Cancer

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins for general health and well-being. It is essential for bone health and a healthy immune system. It helps prevent and fight cancer and is a key factor in preventing depression.

In Europe, papers on diseases linked to vitamin D deficiency were written as early as the 1600s. It took the medical establishment in the U.S. a little longer, but since the 1900s, everyone knew of this vitamin’s importance. Contributions to the original research came from different doctors; many of them were looking for a way to cure rickets, a childhood bone disease. But the word spread far after Adolf Windaus, who won a Noble Price for Chemistry in 1928, spoke of vitamin D in his acceptance speech.

And yet, here we are, almost a full century later, with the media starting to publish about vitamin D’s benefits as if they were just discovered. Moreover, there have a been a lot of lies about vitamin D spread for a few decades, some accidental due to misunderstanding of what vitamin D is, some are very much purposeful to prevent us from using a truly natural way to heal, instead having to rely of pharmaceuticals that in no way can ever produce the same effect.

Sifting through all of the medical chatter, this is what you need to know about vitamin D.

What is Vitamin D, Really?

What confused earlier doctors the most, is that vitamin D is not really a vitamin. Generally speaking, true vitamins, such as vitamins A, and C, are found in food. The human body is not able produce these vitamins. Vitamin D is different; it’s a hormone that’s not common in the foods we eat. Vitamin D naturally occurs in fish and egg yolks and it is produced by the body when our skin comes in contact with the sun, The ultraviolet B energy is converted to vitamin D3, which is transferred to the liver, and later made into vitamin D by the kidneys.

Because vitamin D is mostly acquired from the sunlight, vitamin D deficiency has plagued humanity at different stages. In the case of rickets, the disease was a huge problem for children who lived during the Industrial Revolution, when smog filled the cities preventing sunlight from coming through. Today most people are vitamin D deficient due to our modern lifestyles and because we have been taught to fear of the sun (and sometimes vitamin D in general).

Vitamin D from the Sun is Vital (and Sunscreens Blocks It)

Researchers have noticed that when there is a lack of sunlight, such as during the winter months, there are more illnesses – from a simple cold to cancer. It is extremely important to soak up the sun. But many ask, “Doesn’t the sun lead to skin cancer?”

The sun’s electromagnetic light spectrum is divided into different wavelengths: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Only the first two reach the Earth’s surface. UVC gets blocked by the ozone layer. It is the UVB rays the body uses to create vitamin D. And unfortunately, it is these rays that the sunscreen blocks. The ones that may contribute to cancer are the UVA rays, and they sunscreen does not protect against them (instead most sunscreens contains chemicals such as oxybenzone that actually lead to skin cancer and other cancers). And let’s not forget that even though more people use sunscreen, and with higher SPF value, the rates of skin cancers did not

The ones that may contribute to cancer are the UVA rays, and sunscreen does not protect against them. Instead, most sunscreens contain chemicals such as oxybenzone, that actually lead to skin cancer and other cancers. And let’s not forget that even though more people have been using sunscreen, and with higher SPF value, the rates of skin cancers did not decrease. They actually increased.

It is not the UVB rays that increases your chances of skin cancer, but being sunburned does. There is no such thing as getting too much vitamin D from the sun. As long as you do not get burned, you can get as much sun as you want.

To prevent sunburn, eat a lot of antioxidant-rich foods, especially dark greens, as they help protect the skin from cell damage. If you are planning to stay outside for a long time, wear a hat and clothes that cover your body or  stay in the shade. And if you are sure  you may get too much sun, choose sunscreens that are made with more natural ingredients.

When you soak up the sun, you receive the most vitamin D, and the benefits of it are numerous.

A Long List of Benefits

• Healthy bones: allows body to assimilate calcium and prevents fractures and osteoporosis
• Healthy teeth
• Muscle strength
• Heart health: prevents heart disease: heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, artery damage, cardiovascular issues, and cardiovascular death and controls blood pressures.
• Immune system: prevents autoimmune disorders, type 1 diabetes; helps fight the flu, tuberculosis, and the common cold.
• Nervous system: prevents multiple sclerosis
• Kidney health
• Proper calcium absorption
• Reduces inflammation
• Prevents obesity
• Prevents premature death

And perhaps one of the most important benefits of vitamin D in today’s world is cancer prevention.

Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention

What many don’t realize, is that vitamin D is a strong cancer-fighter, and by being exposed to the sun, you are actually lowering your chances of cancer.

Vitamin D helps destroy damaged cells and reduces cancer cell growth. Studies have shown that at least 16 types of cancers can be prevented by a higher vitamin D intake, including breast, lung, and skin cancers.

In the winter months and in places where the natural sunlight is not easily accessible, it is possible to receive some vitamin D from the food, but most often it is important to add a good vitamin D supplement to your daily wellness routine.

Foods With Naturally Occurring Vitamin D

• Cod liver oil
• Swordfish
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Other fish
• Seafood (clams, crab)
• Liver (beef, pork, chicken, lamb)
• Egg yolk

It is also possible to take vitamin D in supplement form. Naturopathic doctors recommend up to 10,000 IU’s per day.

The FDA recommends between 400-600 IU a day, but that number is flawed. When the medical establishment studied vitamin dosage, they used synthetic versions of the vitamin, which can indeed be toxic at higher levels, leading to birth defects, cancers, breathing problems, and mental problems. It is impossible to overdose on Vitamin D acquired from the sun, its few food sources, or naturally derived supplements.

Related Products:

• Vitamin D

Related Reading:

• Foods with Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 for those with Multiple Sclerosis
• Vitamin D and Hypertension
• Vitamin D and Hypertension
• Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases
• The Power of Our Hormones and How To Balance Them
• Sunlight and Vitamin D

Sources:

• The Nobel Prize and the Discovery of Vitamins — The Official Website of the Noble Prize
• History of the discovery of vitamin D and its active metabolites — BoneKEy Reports
• The Surprising Cause of Melanoma (And No, it’s Not Too Much Sun) — Mercola