Your brain is the most important organ of your body. It controls all the other functions of your body, which includes the beating of heart, lungs breathing and all other systems in the body. Because all the bodily functions are dependent on the functioning of your brain, it is important to keep it healthy with a wholesome healthy diet and exercise.
Avoid Sugary drinks:
Sugary drinks like soda, cola, juices, energy drinks and sports drinks expand your waistline; increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Not just this, they also have a negative effect on your brain. Type 2 diabetes has been linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Most sugary drinks are high in fructose, which is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, high blood fats and arterial dysfunction. These aspects of metabolic syndrome can lead to an increased risk of dementia. Diet high in sugar can lead to brain inflammation and impaired memory.
Avoid Alcohol:
Excessive consumption of alcohol can have serious side effects on the brain. Chronic alcohol use can result in the reduction of brain volume, metabolic changes and disruption of neurotransmitters. People who consume too much alcohol are often deficient in vitamin B1, which can lead to a brain disorder called Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which in turn can develop Korsakoff’s syndrome. This syndrome can lead to severe damage to the brain, including memory loss, disturbance in eyesight, confusion and unsteadiness.
Avoid Aspartame:
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free products. People who are trying to lose weight often choose to have these sugar-free products. Aspartame is made of phenylalanine, methanol and aspartic acid. This sweetener is linked with behavioral and cognitive problems, though the research is controversial. A study conducted in mice has found that repeated intake of aspartame is liked with impaired memory and increased oxidative stress in the brain. To avoid aspartame, simply cut artificial sweeteners and excess sugar from your diet.
Avoid Fish high in mercury:
Mercury is a heavy metal containment and a neurological poison that can be stored for long in the animal tissue. Long-lived predatory fish are susceptible to accumulating mercury and carry amount over 1 million times the concentration of their surrounding water. If a person ingests mercury, it spreads all around their body, concentrating in the brain, liver and kidneys. In pregnant women, it also concentrates in the placenta and fetus. The mercury toxicity can lead to the disruption of the central nervous system and neurotransmitters, resulting in the damage of the brain. High mercury fish includes shark, swordfish, tuna, orange roughly, king mackerel and tilefish. However, it’s safe to have two to three serving of other low-mercury fishes per week.
Avoid highly processed foods:
Foods that are highly processed are high in sugar, added fats and salt. These foods include chips, sweets, instant noodles, microwave popcorn, sauces and ready-made meals. These foods are high in calories and low in nutrients, which can lead to obesity and have a negative impact on the brain. A small study of 243 people found that fat around the organs is associated with brain tissue damage. Another study found that a diet high in unhealthy ingredients resulted in lower levels of sugar metabolism in the brain and a decrease in brain tissues. The two factors that are the markers for Alzheimer’s disease. A study conducted on 18,080 people found that a diet high in processed foods and fried foods is associated with lower scores in learning and memory.
Avoid High trans-fat foods:
Trans fats are the unsaturated fat that can have a detrimental effect on your brain health. The Trans fat found naturally in animal products like dairy and meat are not a problem. It’s the industry-based Trans fat, also called hydrogenated vegetable oil, which can be a problem. Studies have found that people who consume a higher amount of Trans fat are at an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, lower brain volume, poorer memory and cognitive decline. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids can help protect against cognitive decline. You can increase the amount of omega 3 in your diet by eating foods like fish, chia seeds, walnuts and flax seeds.
Avoid refined carbohydrates;
Refined carbs include sugar and processed grains like white flour. Refined carbs have a high glycemic index, which means they get digested very quickly, resulting in sudden blood sugar spike. Foods that have a glycemic index have been found to impact brain functioning. Studies have found that people who consume foods high in fat and refined sugar have poorer memory. Another study found that elderly who consumed more than 58 per cent of their daily calories from carbohydrates had double the risk of mild mental impairment and dementia.
Conclusion:
Following a healthy diet is essential to maintaining optimal brain health. . Dark chocolate, avocados, and fatty fish; bone broth, berries, and broccoli—they’re all brain-boosting foods. But there are plenty of foods that have the opposite effect and can sap your smarts, affecting your memory and mood and lead to early dementia.
Havening refers to a newer alternative therapy technique that incorporates distraction, touch, and eye movements. Its goal is to reduce anxiety and distress associated with negative memories. According to Dr. Steven Ruden and Dr. Ronald Ruden, the use of therapeutic touch can help treat mental health symptoms by changing pathways in the brain linked to emotional distress.
The theory rests on the idea that touch can help boost the production of serotonin in your brain. This, in turn, helps you relax and detach from an upsetting memory or experience. The release of serotonin is said to have a soothing effect that helps relieve mental health symptoms and keep painful memories from troubling you further.
Uses:
According to Havening’s creators, it can address many types of emotional distress and may help treat:
phobias
memories of painful events, including breakups and humiliations
grief and sadness
Post traumatic stress after assault, disasters, or other frightening experiences
persistent feelings of anxiety, fear, and panic
unwanted cravings
short-term or chronic pain
The Havening technique:
The Havening Technique uses a range of touches on the upper body and involves counting, visualization, and eye movements. The approach aims to help a person cope with stress, trauma, anxiety, and physical pain. The practice focuses heavily on self-compassion, kindness, and self-care.
Subjects might notice some temporary effects after a session, including:
light headedness
emotional numbness
bodily tension or discomfort
increased anger
Conclusion:
There’s not much research on the topic, but anecdotal reports suggest that havening may be a helpful technique for addressing symptoms of anxiety, trauma, and other mental health issues. There’s little risk involved, so if you’re interested, it likely can’t hurt to give it a try. It may not work immediate wonders, but it might offer some measure of relief.
Many foods that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants can assist your body’s natural ability to cleanse and detoxify itself. Not only can these foods help your body remove toxins, but they also provide nutrients that you need to lead a happy and healthy life
Some foods that help detoxify the body:
Asparagus
Asparagus contains glutathione, a well-known antioxidant that promotes detoxification. It is also a good source of fiber, folate, iron, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as being beneficial to those with high blood pressure. Asparagus is also known to help the kidney and bladder cleanse itself.
Broccoli
Broccoli contains sulforaphane, which is great for fighting off infectious cells in our bodies. Eating broccoli also helps your body fight off cancer-inducing chemicals, and boosts the liver’s ability to clear bad chemicals from our bodies.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is loaded with nutrients including vitamins A, C, and B1, as well as pantothenic acid, fiber, potassium, and biotin. Enzymes found in grapefruit may also break down the fat in your body to help promote weight loss. Please note that grapefruit may interact with some medications, so you should speak with your primary care provider before increasing your grapefruit intake.
Avocado
Avocados are loaded with antioxidants that help your body expel harmful toxins. A nutrient-dense food, avocados contain around 20 different vitamins and minerals that help decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Kale
What’s the fuss over kale? Packed with amino acids that help keep your mind sharp, kale is also beneficial for managing cholesterol. Kale can also help with managing blood pressure due to its high levels of magnesium and potassium.
Artichokes
Give your liver a break! Artichokes provide a wide variety of nutrients for your blood and liver. Two phytonutrients found in artichokes help the liver produce bile, which is important in the digestion of fats.
Collard greens
Collard greens are rich in sulfur-containing compounds that support your body’s detoxification process. Not only are they high in vitamins K and A, but collard greens may also lower your risk of breast, colon, and lung cancers due to indole-3-carbinol.
Beets
Beets are a high-antioxidant vegetable that is also rich in nutrients. Beets contain betaine, which helps the liver rid itself of toxins, as well as a fiber called pectin that clears toxins that have been removed from the liver.
Spinach
Spinach is low in calories, but packed with nutrients. Spinach contains vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as thiamin, folate, calcium, iron, and magnesium—the list goes on! Flavonoids in spinach help keep cholesterol from oxidizing in your body by acting as antioxidants.
Conclusion:
Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants helps your body reduce damage caused by free radicals and may lower your risk of diseases that can impact detoxification.
You can enhance your body’s natural detoxification system and improve your overall health by staying hydrated, consuming less salt, staying active, and following an antioxidant-rich diet.
We all love long and thick eyelashes? But did you know eyelashes help in protecting the eyes from dust, sand, and little debris? Not just that, the eyes also act as sensors when the eyes sense potential danger with certain objects. Long lashes help in enhancing your beauty even more. If you have spent your life thinking there is no way you can grow your eyelashes, then we have good news for you- there are natural ways to grow your lashes and enhance their thickness.
Try these 5 home remedies to grow lashes naturally
Castor Oil: Castor oil not just help you to grow thicker eyelashes, it will prevent them from falling out. Just mix a few drops of coconut oil with castor oil and apply it gently on your lashes with a cotton tip. Make sure you do it every night before going to bed. Wash it off in the morning.
Green tea: Take a cotton ball and apply cool, unsweetened green to the eyelashes.
Olive oil: Olive oil is one of the most effective and an efficient hack to get long lashes. Take little extra virgin olive oil in a cotton swab and apply it to your lashes.
Coconut Oil: This magical oil is gentle and safe to use on your lashes. Mix coconut oil with extra virgin olive and gently apply it with a clean mascara wand on your lashes.
Aloe Vera Gel: For thick and long eyelashes, apply aloe vera gel on your lashes before going to bed and wash it off in the morning.
Grooming your eyelashes:
Proper eyelash maintenance can improve the health of your eyelashes, making it less likely for them to break. This can make them appear longer and thicker. Some eyelash grooming tips include:
regularly brushing your eyelashes with an eyelash brush
washing your face and eyes with gentle soap daily
removing eye makeup at the end of each day
Conclusion:
There are many types of home remedies that purport to help grow one’s eyelashes, but none are proven effective or safe it’s very important to avoid putting potentially dangerous substances in or near your eyes. And if you use medication, you need to ensure you keep it out of your eyes to avoid side effects.
Mindful eating is a type of mindfulness meditation practice that focuses on increasing your awareness during meals. Mindfulness practices may help improve symptoms related to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and stress. A mindful eating practice helps promote healthy eating and reduce overeating, while also improving mental health.
Benefits of mindful eating:
Increased awareness of hunger and fullness. …
Weight loss. …
Stress reduction. …
Better digestion. …
Reduced overeating and binge eating. …
Increased satisfaction with food. …
Healthier food choices.
How It Works:
Mindful eating focuses on your eating experiences, body-related sensations, and thoughts and feelings about food, with heightened awareness and without judgment. The goal is to promote a more enjoyable meal experience and understanding of the eating environment. Fung and colleagues described a mindful eating model that is guided by four aspects: what to eat, why we eat what we eat, how much to eat, and how to eat
Seven practices of mindful eating:
Honor the food. Acknowledge where the food was grown and who prepared the meal. Eat without distractions to help deepen the eating experience.
Engage all senses. Notice the sounds, colors, smells, tastes, and textures of the food and how you feel when eating. Pause periodically to engage these senses.
Serve in modest portions. This can help avoid overeating and food waste. Use a dinner plate no larger than 9 inches across and fill it only once.
Savor small bites, and chew thoroughly. These practices can help slow down the meal and fully experience the food’s flavors.
Eat slowly to avoid overeating. If you eat slowly, you are more likely to recognize when you are feeling satisfied, or when you are about 80% full, and can stop eating.
Don’t skip meals. Going too long without eating increases the risk of strong hunger, which may lead to the quickest and easiest food choice, not always a healthful one. Setting meals at around the same time each day, as well as planning for enough time to enjoy a meal or snack reduces these risks.
Eat a plant-based diet, for your health and for the planet. Consider the long-term effects of eating certain foods. Processed meat and saturated fat are associated with an increased risk of cancer and heart disease. Production of animal-based foods like meat and dairy takes a heavy toll on the environment than plant-based foods.
Conclusion:
Mindful eating is an approach to eating that can complement any eating pattern. Research has shown that mindful eating can lead to greater psychological wellbeing, increased pleasure when eating, and body satisfaction. It is a healthy lifestyle that reduces the risk of chronic diseases, promotes more enjoyable meal experiences, and supports a healthy body image. More research is needed to examine whether mindful eating is an effective strategy for weight management.
Gerson therapy involves a specific organic vegetarian diet with nutritional supplements and enemas. There is no scientific evidence to use it as a treatment for cancer.
Gerson therapy uses a specific organic vegetarian diet, nutritional supplements and enemas to treat cancer
There is no scientific evidence that it can treat cancer or its symptoms
Gerson therapy can have severe side effects
What is Gerson therapy?
A German doctor called Max Gerson developed Gerson therapy in the 1920s and 30s. He claimed that it helped cure his migraine headaches. So, he went on to use it to treat other diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer.
The Gerson regime has 3 main parts:
a strict organic vegetarian diet made up of fruit and vegetables high in potassium and low in sodium
vitamin and mineral supplements, and specific enzymes
coffee or castor oil enemas
Gerson therapists believe that people with cancer have too much salt (sodium) in their bodies. This is compared to the amount of potassium.
People following the therapy have to eat large quantities of fruit and vegetables. It is believed that by doing so, it will restore the right balance. And that it will cleanse the liver. It is also believed that coffee enemas further help to excrete toxins from the liver and colon. And that taking certain supplements and enzymes help the body to get rid of cancer cells.
The Gerson diet is a strict low salt, organic fruit and vegetable diet.
Each day you will need to:
drink 20 pounds (about 9 kilos) of crushed fruit and vegetables (one glass of juice hourly, 13 times each day)
have 3 or 4 coffee enemas and perhaps also castor oil enemas
take potassium and other supplements, including vitamin B12, pancreatic enzymes and thyroid supplements
Side effects:
Coffee enemas remove a lot of potassium from your body and have been known to cause:
infections
dehydration
fits
salt and other mineral imbalances in the body
heart and lung problems, even death
constipation and inflammation of the bowel (colitis) from regular, long term use of enemas which can weaken the bowel muscle
Other reported side effects include:
loss of appetite
diarrhea and sickness
abdominal cramps
aching, fever and sweating
cold sores
dizziness and weakness
Conclusion:
There is no evidence to prove that Gerson therapy works as a cure for cancer. We need more research to compare it with accepted and proven treatments within properly organized clinical trials. The National Cancer Institute in the USA did a review in 2010. They found no evidence that it helped people with cancer.
It is up to you to decide whether you want to use any alternative therapy. Stopping your conventional cancer treatments and methods of symptom control can be harmful. Talk to your specialist about any alternative or complementary therapies that you want to try. Find out all you can about the therapy before deciding to use it.
There is increasing evidence that suggests hydrogen therapy may just be the fountain of youth we have been searching for since the dawn of time. Hundreds of studies confirm it is not only safe. It also appears to be a highly effective therapy for several diseases, for enhancing energy and sports performance, and for the support of best possible health and long life.
Mechanism of action:
Hydrogen therapy uses molecular hydrogen (H2), which is a naturally occurring molecule formed when two hydrogen atoms combine. Molecular hydrogen is the smallest element in the universe, and its tiny size allows it to quickly permeate and penetrate all of the body’s tissues, and cells.
Health and Longevity Applications:
Anti-Aging Molecular hydrogen is a powerful antioxidant that helps to defend cells and genes from damage and death caused by harmful free radicals. These properties, in combination with its anti-inflammatory properties help enhance longevity because aging is caused by tissue degeneration, oxidative stress and inflammation.
Disease Prevention There is currently 150 different diseases in which molecular hydrogen appears to exert a beneficial effect. Some of the most common include: cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, diabetes, allergies, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer.
Safety of Hydrogen
H2 is completely non-toxic and naturally produced in the body when intestinal bacteria breakdown dietary fibers. There are no adverse effects associated with H2, and when H2 is broken down, the byproduct is simply water (H2O).
Who Can Use H2 Therapy
Since it has such a high safety-profile, and produces such a wide-range of positive health effects, virtually everyone can benefit from it. H2 is so safe scientists are currently studying it as a therapeutic aid for terminally ill patients, for pediatric purposes, for pregnant women and even for fetuses and newborns.
Potential health benefits of hydrogen water:
1. Anti-wrinkle and anti-sun damage; 2. Anti-diabetes and blood pressure; 3. Anti-tumor and acidic pH; 4. Anti-obesity and cholesterol; 5. Anti-inflammation & free radicals; 6. Anti-stress and fatigue.
The possibility of protecting against the above mentioned common health and aging problems is enough to get us convinced that including Hydrogen Water in our health routine can really do us good.
Protein is possibly one of the most trending words in the world of nutrition. Rightly referred to as the ‘building block of life’, protein helps build muscle and promote overall growth. Protein foods and powders have become a fad and are frighteningly expensive. Nutritionists recommend few cheap and good sources of protein. Read on…
Some common sources of first class proteins:
Amaranth Puffs:
One of the richest sources of plant-based proteins, amaranth is just ideal to include in your weight loss or muscle-building diet. In fact, some studies also state that the protein content in amaranth is equal to any animal protein.
Peanuts:
As per USDA, per 100gm peanut has 26gm of protein content. You can have it soaked, roasted or add it to different recipes you make. You can also use peanuts to prepare peanut butter at home and include it in your meals in the yummiest way possible.
Chickpea (Chana):
USDA data says, 100gm of chana or chickpea contains 19gm of protein. This is why you will find a pool of chana-based recipes on the internet when you search for protein-based recipes. It is also rich in fibre, making chana ideal to curb appetite.
Paneer:
Paneer is often referred to as a superfood. Paneer is a dairy product, which makes the ingredient rich in protein, vitamins, calcium and several essential minerals. Include paneer in your daily diet and enjoy an overall healthy lifestyle.
Moong Dal:
The health benefits of moong dal need no separate introduction. It is considered a must-have in your healthy food habit, especially when you are trying to lose weight. Besides protein, moong dal also consists of fibre, antioxidants and several essential minerals that make a wholesome food, with adequate nutrients in it.
Conclusion:
A high protein intake offers several potential health benefits and could help increase weight loss, enhance muscle growth, and improve your overall health.
Counterfeit drugs are becoming a great international dilemma and are threatening to destroy the already fragile healthcare systems in several third world countries. As the name suggests, counterfeit drugs may contain the wrong ingredient, sometimes no active ingredient or the incorrect amount of the ingredients and these drugs can disability, drug resistance to microorganisms in cases of infectious diseases and rarely death, if the ingredient is toxic to the patient. According to the World Health Organization a counterfeit medicine is one, which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity and/or source.
The Statistics from the WHO and FDA are very interesting:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that 10% of all drugs sold in the global medicine market are counterfeit.
According to WHO, 25% of the drugs consumed in developing countries are fake.
Counterfeit drugs are a major concern in the growing economies of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia where their prevalence is about 10%.
In Vietnam an investigation shows that 64% of anti-malarial tablets contained no active ingredient, which eventually led to the death of patients.
In India 7% of medicines were found counterfeit and Indian companies were accused of exporting counterfeits to African markets.
Counterfeit drugs are 40-50% of all the drugs present in Pakistan. Pakistan is considered one of the 13 countries of the world where the manufacturing of counterfeit medicines is on the rise. The situation is alarming, as the country is also alleged as being a counterfeit hub- exporting counterfeit drugs to North America.
Why should the world be worried about counterfeit drugs?
Counterfeit drugs are unlikely to be as useful as the real products.
They may also cause allergic reactions or and bizarre side effects.
They could make medical conditions worse. This especially happens when counterfeit antibiotics are administered in Infectious diseases. It can cause an exacerbation of the disease and also contribute to drug resistance.
Many counterfeit drugs contain poisonous substances and can be hazardous or even fatal.
People who manufacture these counterfeit drugs, distribute and sell them must be treated as criminals because they cost all of us. They cost us individually and they reduce the profits of genuine pharmaceutical companies and this may take away resources for development of newer drug molecules.
This large-scale presence of counterfeit drugs can seriously cripple health care services and have devastating effects on the GDP of a nation.
This problem can be tackled the consumer level by:
The World Health Organization has some consumer guidelines:
Patients are advised to buy drugs only from licensed pharmacies and drug outlets;
They should be suspicious, when drugs are heavily discounted;
Patients should not buy from peddlers or market places;
Patients should insist on receipts when buying drugs;
They should check the packaging to see if it is carefully and properly sealed;
Patients should check if the packaging indicates the batch number, manufacturing date, expiry date, and the manufacturer’s name
Patients are encouraged to be proactive and report to their health worker or doctors if they notice any lack of improvement after taking a drug.
Pharmaceuticals and Health ministries must unite and co-ordinate:
Industry should wake up to the dangers of counterfeit drugs. They should try and collect reliable data about the problem. Governments should ensure that drugs are freely available and affordable. Counterfeiting drugs increases when there is a shortage of drugs and when drugs are exorbitantly priced. Often pharmaceutical companies and governments are reluctant to release the exact statistics of the problem. The pharmaceutical companies are worried about the damage to their reputation and governments are worried about a possible violent public backlash.
Governments should enact tough legislation, which prohibits manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit drugs. Drug regulatory authorities must be given sweeping powers so that pharmaceutical establishments comply with mandatory drug regulatory requirements. All drugs should be registered before they are introduced in the market. There should be random checks of the drugs at the distributors or chemist level to prevent substandard and counterfeit drugs reaching the public. Drug regulatory authorities must also be given powers to destroy counterfeit drugs as soon as they find them.
Public education about counterfeit drugs should be given a priority. Today, ‘The consumer is God’ and he should be encouraged to buy drugs from reputed pharmacies. Patients should also assiduously report adverse effects or lack of improvement to their doctors.
Internet sales of medications:
A new mode of sale of medicines is through the Internet. This is a major source of counterfeit medicines. To be fair, it must be said that some Internet based pharmacies are indeed genuine. They will deliver the medications only after verifying the prescription. However, many illegal Internet pharmacies have mushroomed and they sell medications without prescriptions and use counterfeit products. This is a new menace that gullible patients have to guard against.
More power should be given to courts:
Some lawmakers have suggested that there should be special courts for Counterfeit drug case and justice should be brutal and swift. In fact some governments are toying with the idea of instituting the death penalty for criminals in the business of counterfeit drugs.
Some unique suggestions to prevent counterfeiting of drugs:
IBM has come up with a RFID system that is efficient enough to track and trace the movement of drugs throughout the supply chain. The system tries to make the supply chain foolproof and prevents any counterfeit drugs to enter the market and thus protects the consumers by making sure that the drugs they receive are the same as those prescribed by their doctor. The RFID tag embedded on the product help to authenticate the product from the manufacturer to the wholesaler to the hospital and finally to the pharmacies. With nearly 8 percent of the world’s prescriptions proving counterfeit each year, the US Food and Drug Administration have cited RFID as the most promising technology to ensure that the medicine in the bottle is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Other important anti-counterfeiting technologies include colour-shifting inks, holograms, and chemical markers incorporated into a drug or its label.
How can the international community help to stop this menace?
Governments should enter into multilateral agreements with other countries to prevent cross border trade and smuggling of counterfeit drugs. Organizations like FDA, WHO, Interpol and the World Customs Organization should interact with one another closely to prevent counterfeiting of drugs.
All countries should team up and have a common definition for Counterfeiting of drugs, which should be on the same lines as international measures used to curb the narcotic trade.
Conclusion:
Precise data on counterfeit medicines is impossible to obtain. It is estimated that 1 % of all medications are fake in developed countries and over 10 % in developing countries. Even this piece of statistics varies in different geographical areas and varies in city versus rural areas.
The pharmaceutical trade is a lucrative business all over the world. A US based Center for Medicines in the Public Interest predicts that counterfeit drug sales will reach US$ 75 billion globally in 2010, an increase of more than 90% from 2005.
Many allopathic medications are expensive and counterfeiters take advantage of this fact to proliferate counterfeit drugs. The problem is compounded because of lack of patient awareness, poor law enforcement, lack of political will and the inability of the international community to recognize this menace and join hands to fight it off.
References:
Global rise in use of fake drugs. London: BBC News; 2003 November 11.
World Health Organization. WHO/DMP/CFD/92. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1992. Counterfeit drugs—Report of a WHO/IFPMA Workshop, 1992; 26 pp.
World Health Organization. WHO/DRS/CFD/98.1. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1998. Report of the International Workshop on Counterfeit Drugs.
Newton PN, Rozendaal J, Green M, White NJ. Murder by fake drugs—Time for international action. BMJ. 2002; 324:800–801. (Pubmed)
Fulvic acid is an organic compound naturally found in the earth’s soil and bodies of water. It is created as a consequence of millions of microbes breaking down decaying matter during a process called humification.
Fulvic acid will help prime your body to create more energy at a more efficient rate, and therefore minimize fatigue, leading to an increase in mental acuity, physical performance and endurance.
STRENGTHENS IMMUNITY:
Research has also shown that fulvic acid acts as an anti-microbial substance, which may further help to protect the body against infectious diseases.
INCREASES COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND DECREASES THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED COGNITIVE DISEASES:
There is emerging research showing that fulvic acid has nootropic properties. A nootropic is a substance that can help increase markers of intelligence and cognitive performance, such as working memory and one’s ability to learn and retain information. Researchers state that fulvic acid has the potential to improve and protect cognitive impairments, such as those which fall under the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease causes the blockage of other neurons from making connections.
INCREASES NUTRIENT AND SUPPLEMENT ABSORPTION:
Fulvic acid helps your body absorb more nutrients by increasing cell permeability. In order for your cells to effectively absorb nutrients, they require electrolytes to allow for the flow of ions. Fulvic acid is high in electrolytes.
MAY HELP WITH HIGH BLOOD SUGAR, DIABETES AND OBESITY:
Research has shown that fulvic acid can decrease hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in diabetic rats. Other research shows that fulvic acid can increase antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the beta cells of the pancreas. A study from the Journal of Medicinal Food found that obese individuals who used pure shilajit responded better to exercise than those who didn’t.
LOWERS FREE-RADICAL DAMAGE AND ACTS AS A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT:
The antioxidant properties of fulvic acid support the idea that fulvic acid should be used in pharmaceuticals as an accessible source of natural antioxidants.
SUPPORTS A HEALTHY GUT AND MICROBIOME:
Research has made it clear that poor gut health is the backbone of inflammation and many diseases. There is emerging evidence that fulvic acid offers a lot of therapeutic potential to improving gut based diseases. The alleviation of these symptoms can help to improve diseases such as small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IMPROVES MUSCLE FUNCTION AND INCREASES TESTOSTERONE:
One study found that men between 45-55 who used fulvic/humic acid experienced a significant increase in testosterone. The mutual increase in ATP through increased mitochondrial efficiency and the increase in testosterone will work synergistically to improve recovery, muscle hypertrophy and performance.
NATURALLY DETOXIFIES AND CHELATES HEAVY METALS:
Research has shown that fulvic acids act as a potential mitigator of toxic metal absorption, as seen by reducing toxic metal agents in water. One reason why fulvic acid is so powerful for both digestion and energy levels is due to its ability to detoxify the body. Consuming humic acids helps to bind and break down toxins and metals which are consumed through one’s diet.
HELPS TO DECREASE INFLAMMATION:
Chronic inflammation is one of the key driving factors of disease. Chronic inflammation simply describes a range of illnesses which cause and accompany prolonged inflammation. Fulvic acid has the capacity to reduce the pro-inflammatory markers.
MAY SLOW DOWN AGING AND INCREASE LONGEVITY:
Fulvic acid is anti-inflammatory, protects against oxidative stress, and is good for the mitochondria; it is more than probable that fulvic acid is incredibly beneficial for those of us trying to live a long and healthy life.
PROTECTS AND REPAIRS SKIN
Evidence has shown that humic acids help to improve skin health. Fulvic acid supplementation significantly improved symptoms associated with eczema compared to other commonly used eczema treatments.
Conclusion:
Fulvic acid (FvA), one such NHP, comes from humic substances produced by microorganisms in soil. Traditional medicine and modern research claim FvA can modulate the immune system, influence the oxidative state of cells, and improve gastrointestinal function.
