A soothing massage can help you unwind, but that's not all. 

Explore the possible health benefits of massage therapy, plus what to expect.

A good massage therapist can make you feel like a new person. And now research suggests massage can ease insomnia, boost immunity, prevent PMS, and more. Maybe that's why hospitals are making it a standard therapy.

Massage is no longer available only through luxury spas and upscale health clubs. Today, massage therapy is offered in businesses, clinics, hospitals and even airports. If you've never tried massage, learn about the possible health benefits of massage and what to expect during a massage therapy session.

Benefits of massage

Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage helpful for:

• Stress relief
• Managing anxiety and depression
• Pain
• Stiffness
• Blood pressure control
• Infant growth
• Sports-related injuries
• Boosting immunity
• Cancer treatment

Tell Pain Goodbye!

It sounds like a no-brainier, but rubdowns are especially effective for aches like low-back pain. Researchers at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, Washington, found that massage works better than common treatments including chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. It's not clear why, but several studies show massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. Those changes slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and block your nervous system's pain receptors. Massage also increases blood flow to the muscles, which may help them heal.

Deep Sleep
 
Fluctuations in several types of brain waves either relax you or wake you up. Massage increases delta waves -- those linked with deep sleep -- according to a study at the Touch Research Institute. That's why it's easy to drift off on the massage table.

Brain Stimulated

The Touch Research Institute study that connected massage to sleep also found that a 15-minute chair massage boosted alertness. "Subjects reported that it felt like a runner's high," Field says. Tests also show that brain-wave activity stimulated by massage is linked to improved attention.

Your Best Defense For Colds

Massage helps ward off bugs by boosting your "natural killer cells," the immune system's first line of defense against invading illness. "We know that cortisol destroys natural killer cells," Field says. "Therefore, since massage decreases cortisol, your immune cells get a boost." Massage even seems to boost immunity in those people with severely compromised immune systems, such as breast-cancer patients.

Stress Be Gone

Less cortisol and more serotonin and dopamine in your system may also mean less stress, anxiety, and depression. "We know that the right side of the frontal lobe of the brain is more active when we're sad, and the left side's activated when we're happy," Field says. "Our studies have observed that massage decreases activity in the right lobe and increases functioning in the left." The well-being people feel after a massage is a big reason why some hospitals offer it to anxious patients pre­paring for surgery and cancer patients going through chemo.

What is massage? Click Here

Massage is a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage therapists typically use their hands and fingers for massage but may also use their forearms, elbows and even feet. Massage may range from light stroking to deep pressure techniques.
Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often involves caring, comfort, a sense of empowerment and creating deep connections with their massage therapist.
Despite its benefits, massage isn't meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you're trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.

What you can expect during a massage

You don't need any special preparation for massage. Before a massage therapy session starts, your massage therapist should ask you about any symptoms, your medical history and what you're hoping to get out of massage. Your massage therapist should explain the kind of massage and techniques he or she will use.
In a typical massage therapy session, you undress or wear loose-fitting clothing. Undress only to the point that you're comfortable. You generally lie on a table and cover yourself with a sheet. You can also have a massage while sitting in a chair, fully clothed.

If you want, your massage therapist may use oil or lotion to reduce friction on your skin. Tell your massage therapist if you might be allergic to any ingredients.

A massage session may last from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the type of massage and how much time you have. No matter what kind of massage you choose, you should feel calm and relaxed during and after your massage.  If a massage therapist is pushing too hard, ask for lighter pressure. Occasionally you may have a sensitive spot in a muscle that feels like a knot. It's likely to be uncomfortable while your massage therapist works it out. But if it becomes painful, speak up.

Use massage as another health care tool

Brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. To the contrary, massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever.

Don’t delay call today to schedule your massage and start feeling better now!  704-823-1577

Schedule online today and start feeling better!

Most people tend to think of fatty foods as "evil" or at least bad for their health. While it's true some fats, like margarine, shortening and refined vegetable oils aren't good for you, you do need the right kinds of fats to be healthy. Good fats can keep your eyes and brain healthy, reduce your risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, ease pain and inflammation and even help you lose weight.
Discover how the right kinds of fat can be good for you...


Fat Facts and Fallacies
How much do you know about fats and oils and human health? Let's find out if you know the real story. Just mark the following statements as true or false.

___ Excess fat in the diet is a major cause of heart disease.
Saturated fats raise cholesterol levels.
___ The saturated fats in butter and coconut oil contribute to weight gain.
___ Polyunsaturated vegetable oils like canola oil are healthy fats.
___ Margarine is healthier for you than butter.
___ Animal fats are harmful to human health, so you should eat lean meats.
___ If you want to lose weight you should eat less fat and more carbohydrates.
___ When a vegetable oil says "cold-pressed," it means that it has been extracted without using any heat.

How do you feel about your answers? How many did you mark as true? Before we continue, let's point out that your body actually needs fats to be healthy. In other words...

Fats are Important in Human Health!

First of all, fats are a major component of cell membranes. They are also a major component of brain and nervous system tissues. Secondly, burning fats helps keep the body warm and medium chain saturated fatty acids are the preferred fuel of the heart. Third, fats are necessary for the production of many hormones and they play a role in reducing pain and inflammation and helping the immune system fight infection. Finally, fats keep the skin soft and moist and fat-soluble vitamins are essential to healthy bones and teeth.

Realizing that fats are essential to good health, it is surprising how demonized they have become. Which is why, it may surprise you to learn that all of the above statements are false. That's right. Although these statements are widely believed to be "facts" about fats, the truth is that they are all fallacies.

For decades we've been told that dietary fat causes us to gain weight, contributes to heart disease and otherwise damages our health. We've been told that saturated fats are bad for us and that vegetable oils are good for us. Misinformation about fats abounds and people have responded to this misinformation by changing their diets to cut our even those fats that are necessary for good health. This can be demonstrated by the following statistics.

Between 1910 and 1970, the proportion of traditional animal fat in the American diet fell from 83 percent to 62 percent, and butter consumption declined from 181bs. per person per year to 41bs. Since the 1970s this decline has continued, but that's only the beginning. During the same period we increased our consumption of vegetable oils, margarine and shortening by 400 percent. Unfortunately, these changes have not been good for our health.  The good news is that the experts are waking up to the fact that dietary fat, especially natural fats, have been getting a bad rap.

The Good (and Bad) News About Fats

For decades the rationale of the experts concerning fats has been pretty much backwards. It's high time we acknowledged the importance of fat in our diets and stopped trying to avoid them altogether.
To appreciate the importance of natural fats in the human diet, one need only look at isolated traditional cultures. In the 1930s Dr. Weston Price examined the dietary habits of fourteen isolated traditional cultures that enjoyed superb health. He found that the healthiest peoples ate fatty seafood, dairy products and organ meats liberally. They valued animal fats as absolutely necessary to good health.

In consuming these naturally fatty foods, Dr. Price found that people in these traditional cultures had 10 times more fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K, in their diets than did their modern counterparts. Of course these people also ate plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains in their whole, unrefined state, but typically 40- 50% of their caloric intake came from fats! These diets clearly weren't low fat.

Dr. Price, who was a dentist, observed that traditional diets resulted in people who were free from dental decay and gum disease. He also found they were resistant to disease in general and did not suffer from mental illness. Their bodies were sturdy, strong and naturally attractive and they produced healthy children with ease, generation after generation.

Dr. Price's research shows that much of modern "wisdom" about fats is completely wrong. However, this doesn't mean that all fats are good for us. The fats and oils found in natural plant and animal foods do not occur in isolation. They contain vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients. However, natural fats (like all natural foods) can spoil, decreasing their shelf life.

Bad Fats: Vegetable Oils, Margarine and Shortening

This is why modern vegetable oils are refined. The process is not unlike making refined sugar or white flour. It takes a nourishing whole food and turns it into a lifeless, empty-calorie food.

When high heat is applied to any unsaturated fat, free radicals and trans fatty acids are formed. Even though many refined oils say "cold-pressed" or "expeller pressed, "people usually aren't aware that the extraction process ("pressing") often heats the oil to a high temperature from the mechanical action of the extractor. That's why "cold-pressed" doesn't mean the oil hasn't been subjected to heat. In some cases chemicals are also used in the extraction process.

But, the problems with the extraction process are only the beginning.  When an oil is partially hydrogenated (as many vegetable oils are), this process not only creates more saturated fats, it also forms more harmful trans fatty acids. Margarine and shortening both undergo a hydrogenation process, resulting in a very unnatural fat.

The alteration of the natural oils also involves degumming them to remove phospholipids like lecithin and minerals like iron, copper, calcium and magnesium. Sodium hydroxide (found in drain cleaners) is added to remove free fatty acids (fatty acids which are not attached to glycerine molecules). This removes more minerals and phospholipids. Oils are then bleached and deodorized to remove beta-carotene, aromatic oils (which give natural oils flavor and odor), and any remaining free fatty acids. These processes
usually involve heat, which of course, adds more trans fatty acids.

The bottom line is that modern vegetable oils, shortening and margarine are very shelf-stable, but lack the flavor and the nutritional value of natural fats. They are devoid of the fat-soluble vitamins we need as well as other minerals and nutrients that would be found in the natural oil. Their chemical structures also become altered, causing harmful effects on human health.

Problems with Animal Fats

There is also several problems with modern animal fats. First of all, many chemicals such as pesticides are fat-soluble compounds. This means that if the animals are fed crops that have been treated with a lot of chemicals, these chemicals, will concentrate in the animal's fat cells. This is a good argument in favor of eating only organic meat, eggs and dairy products.

Secondly, most modern animals are fed commercial feeds that are based primarily on grain. This is done to increase the amount of fat in the meat, but it also alters the kind of fat found in the meat. Animals that are grass-fed have less cholesterol, more fat-soluble vitamins and a better fatty acid profile than animals kept in feed-lots. So the best animal fats will be found in meat, eggs and dairy where animals are grass-fed or pasture-raised.

Healthy Sources of Fats

The fact that many modern fats are bad for you, doesn't mean you should avoid dietary fats altogether. Olive oil is a truly cold pressed oil and one of the healthiest of all the vegetable oils. Coconut oil is also a good fat and an excellent natural oil for cooking, as it is very heat stable. The natural fats found in nuts, seeds and avocados are also good fats.

Butter is an excellent source of healthy fats, especially if the butter is organic and comes from grass-fed cows. It is high in important fat-soluble vitamins like A, D and K. The natural fat found in organically raised or pasture-raised poultry, eggs, dairy and red meat is also good for us, when eaten as part of a balanced diet that also.includes fruits and vegetables.

Getting the Healthy Fats We Need

We've established that the body needs fats (and fat-soluble vitamins) to be healthy. To understand how to get the fats our body needs, we need to understand some basic things about fats.
First of all, all dietary fats and oils are triglycerides. This means that they consist of three different fatty acids attached to a molecule of glycerine. Fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated. This has to do with the number of carbon atoms not bonded to hydrogen atoms. If all the carbon molecules in a fatty acid are attached to hydrogen molecules, the fat is saturated.

Unsaturated fatty acids can be monounsaturated; meaning only one carbon atom is not attached to hydrogen, or polyunsaturated, which means that two or more carbon atoms are not attached to hydrogen atoms. Fatty acids are also classified by their length. They can be short (4-6 carbon atoms), medium (8-12 carbon atoms) or long chain (14-18 carbon atoms). Certain long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids must be obtained from the diet and have been given the name, essential fatty acids (EFAs). They are classified as either omega-6 or omega-3 EFAs.

Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids

Omega-6 EFAs are needed for healthy bones, skin, hair, reproduction and brain function. One of the major omega-6 fatty acids is gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Oils rich in GLA may be helpful for PMS symptoms like breast swelling and tenderness, especially when combined with Vitamin B6 and magnesium supplements like Magnesium Complex. GLA is also used in the creation of chemical messengers called eicosonoids that play essential roles in maintaining normal blood pressure and body weight. They also help to reduce platelet aggregation and inflammation.

Super GLA contains three oils that are all high in the omega-6 essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). These oils are evening primrose oil, black currant oil and borage oil. These oils also contain omega-3 essential fatty acids. Most Americans, however, don't need to
supplement omega-6 fatty acids as they tend to be plentiful in the American diet.

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids

In contrast, omega-3 EFAs tend to be lacking in modern diets. Deficiencies of omega-3 EFAs have been linked to decreased mental abilities, loss of memory, learning disabilities like ADHD, PMS problems, tingling sensations in the nerves, poor vision, increased tendency to form blood clots, reduced immune activity, high blood pressure, and inflammatory disorders like arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

The principle form of omega-3, alpha linolenic acid (ALA) will convert into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and then into docosahexaenoic acid (0 HA) in a healthy body. EPA in combination.with GLA (from omega-6) is used to make eicosonoids that mediate inflammation, improve immune response and otherwise promote good health. Without EPA, omega-6 EFAs tend to be converted to eicosonoids that lower immune response, increase inflammation, raise blood pressure and have other undesirable effects.

Omega -3 is found in flax seed oil, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, avocados, some dark green leafy vegetables (e.g. kale, mustard greens, collard greens), deep ocean fish (e.g. mackerel, sardines, anchovies, albacore tuna) and wild (not farm-raised) salmon. Supplementing one's intake of omega-3 with Super Omega-3 EPA can be helpful for people concerned about reducing their risk of heart disease, easing chronic pain (like arthritis) or helping brain and nerve function.

DHA-An Important Omega-3

DHA is an omega-3 EFA and the most abundant fatty acid in the brain. It is essential for the myelin sheath and is needed for development, growth and maintenance of the brain. Supplementing with DHA may be helpful for improving brain function and memory and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. It may also be helpful in neurological conditions such as neuralgia and multiple sclerosis (MS). DHA is the major fatty acid in the retina of the eye and can be helpful for promoting eye health as people age.

DHA is very important for the developing brains of children. It can be given to them in chewable form using Sunshine Heroes Omega 3 with DHA for children. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to enhance brain development and intelligence in children. They can be helpful in behavior problems such as ADHD.

Healthy Oils

Flaxseed oil is a vegetarian source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the right proportions, although it does not supply the long chain omega-3s, like EPA and DHA. Flaxseed oil also contains lignans, (flaxseed oil with lignans) which are linked to lowering the incidence of breast and colon cancer. Flax seed oil can be taken in gel caps or in liquid form. Do not use flax seed oil for cooking.

For low heat cooking, use olive oil, the most natural of all the vegetable oils. Olive oil is high in monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. It also seems to have a beneficial effect on the gallbladder. For high heat frying, however, coconut oil is a better choice.

Medium Chain Saturated Fats

Most people think that saturated fats are bad for you, but the medium chain saturated fats found in coconut oil and butter are very beneficial to both the heart and the immune system. Coconut oil is one of the best oils for frying and contains caprylic acid, a fatty acid that helps fight yeast in the colon. Caprylic acid is found in Caprylic Acid Combination and Caprylimune.

A great way to supplement good fats in the diet is to make flax seed oil butter. Obtain a high quality butter (ideally organic from pasture-raised cows) and allow the butter to soften to room temperature. Add 1 1/2 cups of flax seed oil to each cup (1/2 lb.) of butter and blend together with an electric mixer until smooth. This makes a healthy, soft spread butter that contains fat-soluble vitamins, healthy medium chain saturated fatty acids and omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Krill Oil with K-2 is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and also contains significant amounts of omega-9 fatty acids (monounsaturated fats like those found in olive oil). The supplement also provides phosphatidylcholine, vitamin A, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), astaxanthin and the important fat soluble vitamin K-2, which helps bone and cardiovascular health.

The fat-soluble vitamins A&D are also helpful for bone and cardiovascular health. Most people are low in Vitamin D3 and supplementing with this vitamin can help build healthy bones, reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, and improve immunity during the winter months.

All products can be purchased from the web site http://www.hcwellnesscenterandspa.com/ or call 704-823-1577 to order today!!!

Would You Be Interested in a Simple Nutrient that Can...
...reduce your risk of colon cancer, diverticulitis?
…eliminate hemorrhoids and other colon health problems?
...lower your cholesterol naturally, without drugs?
...lower your blood sugar levels and help prevent diabetes?
...decrease your appetite and help you lose weight?
...help keep you regular and prevent diarrhea, too?

Fabulous Fiber Are You Getting Enough? 

Fiber is the indigestible portion of the plant foods we eat. Even though your body can't break it down for fuel or nutrients, it is still essential to your health. Unfortunately, most people don't get enough fiber, which contributes to many of the health problems they experience.

The benefits of getting an adequate amount of fiber are numerous. For starters, fiber helps keep us regular because it absorbs water, lubricates the stool and helps food pass through the digestive tract quickly. This prevents toxic materials from irritating the colon and being absorbed into the body. Research has shown that having a diet high in fiber-rich foods helps protect against appendicitis, colon cancer, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome and hemorrhoids.

However, fiber's benefits on the gastrointestinal tract are only the beginning. Fiber also reduces the risk of cancer in general (including breast cancer in women) because it binds with toxins (like xenoestrogens) so they aren't absorbed. Fiber also helps reduce cholesterol because it binds the cholesterol-rich bile salts produced by the liver. This also reduces the risk of gallstones and other gallbladder problems.

By slowing the release of sugars into the blood stream, fiber also helps in the management
of hypoglycemia and diabetes. Fiber's effects on blood sugar, coupled with the fact that it creates a feeling of fullness that causes a person to eat less, also makes fiber helpful in weight management. With all these benefits, who wouldn't want to make sure they have enough fiber in their diet?

How Much Fiber Do You Need?

The Institute of Medicine recommends that men under 50 should get about 38 grams of fiber daily and at least 30 grams if they are over 50. The recommendation for women is slightly lower: 25 grams under 50 and 21 grams over 50. Children, of course, need less. Unfortunately, the average American (both adults and children) consume only about half the grams of fiber they need.

This probably wouldn't be the case if we didn't eat refined and processed foods. The fiber rich peelings and seeds are removed from fruits and vegetables. The bran is removed from fiber rich whole grains and sugars are extracted from fiber rich plants. In addition people eat a lot of meat and dairy products (which do not contain fiber) instead of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables.

Traditionally, people used to call fiber "roughage," but most fiber in foods is not "rough" in any sense of the word. Fiber actually absorbs water to form a soft mass, which lubricates and soothes the intestines. In fact, we might call most fiber "smooth-age," because it makes things move more smoothly through the gastrointestinal tract.

In this issue we'll talk about the benefits of getting enough fiber in your diet. We'll explain the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber and give you practical suggestions for increasing your intake of both.

We'll also discuss some quality fiber supplements you can use.

The Many Benefits of Fiber

Fiber is important if you want to enjoy optimal health. Here is an explanation of the many benefits of getting an adequate amount of fiber in your diet.

Preventing Constipation

Constipation is a root cause of numerous other health problems. When food moves too slowly through the digestive system, intestinal membranes are irritated and toxins are absorbed into the blood stream, stressing the liver and increasing inflammation throughout the body.

Soluble fiber helps keep the stool soft and lubricated and promotes intestinal peristalsis. It also soothes the intestinal membranes and absorbs irritating substances so they don't enter the body. Fiber can only do this when it is taken with lots of water. If you increase your fiber intake without drinking adequate amounts of water it can't do its job of keeping the stool soft and keeping you regular.

Preventing Colon Cancer and Other Cancers

Soluble fiber appears to play a role in the prevention of bowel cancer. The Journal of the American Dietetic Association explains that studies examining the correlation between fiber
intake and colon cancer, while not entirely consistent, offer sufficient evidence for health professionals to advise patients to consume adequate fiber as protection against cancer.

Soluble fiber works to prevent cancer by preventing waste material from staying in the colon for long periods of time, thereby preventing toxins from irritating colon tissues. This may have benefits in preventing other types of cancer, as well. Fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer because it absorbs excess estrogens. Also, many fiber rich-foods contain lignans and isoflavones (phytoestrogens) , which block overstimulation of breast, uterine and prostate tissue by stronger estrogens.

Promoting Colon Health

Fiber reduces the risk of forming diverticula (bowel pockets), hemorrhoids and anal fistula. It also reduces the risk of inflammatory bowel disorders. Soluble fiber also feeds the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in the colon. These bacteria protect the body from infections by pathological organisms and regulate the immune system to reduce the risk of allergies, asthma and auto-immune disorders. Other supplements that work well with fiber in keeping the colon healthy include enzymes (like Proactazyme or Food Enzymes) and probiotics (like Probiotic Eleven). Taking these supplements with fiber increases your protection against diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Types and Sources of Fiber

There are two basic types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Let's look at the difference.

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber can’t be broken down by our digestive system, but the friendly bacteria in our colon can ferment (or digest) this fiber. Soluble fiber is broken down into short chain fatty acids that can be absorbed and burned for fuel. The amount of calories they release is small, but since these calories can't be released until the food reaches the colon, this helps to stabilize blood sugar. Soluble fiber acts as a food for the friendly flora (pro biotic bacteria) found in the digestive tract. These bacteria protect us against infection and have many other benefits for our health.

Soluble fibers include beta-glucans (which lower cholesterol and benefit the immune system), pectins, gums, mucilage and fructooligosaccharides like in ulin (which are known as pre-biotics because of their ability to feed the probiotic bacteria). Foods naturally rich in soluble fiber include:
• Flax seed
• Nuts (especially almonds)
• Legumes such as beans and peas
• Grains like oats, barley and chia
• Fruits and natural fruit juices, such as prune juice, plums, berries, bananas, apples and pears
• Vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and Jerusalem artichokes
• Root vegetables and tubers such as sweet potatoes and onions

Insoluble fiber

Insoluble fiber consists of those parts of plant-based foods that your body doesn't break down at all. It passes through your digestive tract unchanged and serves primarily to bulk the stool, preventing constipation and autointoxication (the absorption of toxic substances from the colon).

Foods rich in insoluble fiber include:

• Whole grains, bran
• Nuts and seeds
• Legumes such as beans and peas
• Fruits like avocado and slightly green bananas
• Vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, zucchini, celery, and no pal
• The peelings of most fruits and vegetables, including potato skins

Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of altered blood sugar levels, excess weight, high blood pressure and high triglycerides. It is a precursor to diabetes, heart disease and other diseases associated with aging. It is caused by eating a lot of simple carbohydrates (such as refined sugars and white flour products).
Fiber-rich foods slow the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream, which helps to correct one of the underlying causes of metabolic syndrome. This is also helpful in the management of type 2 diabetes. A study published in the 2010 Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology explained that psyllium and other soluble fibers have a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels, fatty acids and satiety, thus supporting the use of soluble fiber as a treatment for metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Reducing Triglycerides and Cholesterol

In addition to slowing and regulating sugar absorption, soluble fiber binds to fatty acids slowing their absorption into the blood stream. The supplement Fat Grabbers is specifically formulated for this purpose. Fiber also binds the cholesterol rich bile from the liver and gallbladder. This keeps the cholesterol from being reabsorbed, which helps to lower both LDL and total cholesterol levels. It also inhibits the formation of gallstones and reduces the risk of gallbladder diseases.

Cardiovascular Health

If you are not already at risk for cardiovascular disease, eating insoluble fiber on a regular basis may reduce your risk of developing it. Even if you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease eating insoluble fiber may slow the progression of cardiovascular disease in your body, according to the American Heart Association. Some research suggests that insoluble fiber can help your heart by reducing inflammation in your arteries, reducing your blood pressure, and reducing your chances of developing blood clots. Research even suggests that a high fiber.diet reduces your risk of getting varicose veins.

Weight Management

The simple fact that high fiber foods require you to chew longer can actually help you lose weight. Chewing longer gives your body a chance to detect fullness signals, which reduces
your risk of overeating. Eating fibrous foods can also help you feel full longer, and foods with lots of insoluble fiber tend to have fewer calories. This may help you to reduce your weight.

As you can see, the benefits of fiber are numerous. The best way to get adequate fiber is to eat fiber-rich foods, which contain other beneficial nutrients besides fiber. Unfortunately, most people in our society are not going to get adequate fiber from their diets. This makes taking a daily fiber supplement a beneficial health practice for most people.

Fiber Supplements

The best fiber strategy for men and women is to eat a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber in the amount of 25 to 35 grams per day. Taking a fiber supplement each morning before breakfast is a great way to increase the amount of fiber in your diet, but remember you need more water for the fiber supplement.

Start slowly, with about 1/2 a teaspoon and gradually work up to two or three teaspoons. Mix the fiber with water or a non-citrus juice such as apple, grape or apricot. Drink quickly before the fiber has a chance to gel. Follow with a large glass of water. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day when taking fiber. Exercising also improves colon tone and increases the effectiveness of fiber.

If you have very sluggish bowels when you start taking fiber, it may be wise to take an herbal laxative for a few weeks to speed up colon transit time. LBS II or Cascara Sagrada can be helpful. One can also perform a type of daily "cleanse" by taking fiber with a detoxification formula like All Cell Detox or Enviro- Detox. This helps protect the body against environmental toxins.

Here are some fiber blends to consider.

Psyllium Hulls Combination

Psyllium hulls are a popular source of insoluble fiber because they absorb several times their weight in water. Psyllium binds cholesterol and is soothing and mucilaginous to intestinal membranes. Psyllium Hulls Combination contains an extremely high grade of psyllium hulls flavored with hibiscus flowers and licorice root. This is the coarsest of the fiber supplements and is best for people with atonic colons. It should be avoided by people with irritable bowel or inflammatory bowel disorders.

Nature's Three

To supplement your diet with a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber in a convenient form, try Nature's Three. This product contains fiber from three different sources: psyllium, oat bran and apple fiber. Oat bran is rich in beta-glucans and has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. Apple fiber is very good at relieving constipation. This is a gentler fiber combination and can be made even gentler by mixing it with equal parts freshly ground flax seed or chia seed. This formula is particularly useful for people who are new to taking fiber.

LOCLO

LOCLO gets its name from the fact it was designed to lower cholesterol. It provides both soluble and insoluble fiber from six sources: psyllium, oat bran, apple fiber, acacia gum, guar gum and flax seed. The gums are mucilaginous fibers that have even more soothing effects on the colon. Flax seeds are very lubricating to a dry colon and also contain fatty acids that benefit the immune system and reduce inflammation in the bowel.

LOCLO also contains a blend of powdered fruits, vegetables and herbs, as well as bioflavonoids. These provide antioxidants that soothe intestinal inflammation, making this a more suitable table fiber for people suffering from inflammatory bowel disorders than either Nature's Three or Psyllium Hulls Combination.

Everybody's Fiber

Everybody's Fiber is the most gentle fiber product of the four. It contains no psyllium or oat bran. Its primary source of fiber is slippery elm, a soothing and nourishing herb that is often used for people with Crohn's disease, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. It may also be beneficial in the treatment of peptic ulcers and diarrhea (especially in children).

Everybody's Fiber also contains apple pectin, flax seed and marshmallow root, all of which contain soothing water soluble fibers. This blend also contains herbs that reduce intestinal Inflammation, relieve gas and bloating and balance gut flora, making it the best fiber supplement for people with any type of inflammatory condition in the gastrointestinal tract. It combines well with Intestinal Soothe and Build for these conditions.

All of these products can be purchased from our web site  www.HCWellnessCenterAndSpa.com under products or by calling our office 704-823-1577

1 large banana(s), chopped to blend easier     

 1 cup(s) frozen unsweetened mixed berries, Frozen    

1 cup(s) water    

1 cup(s)  Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1/2 cup   High Fiber Cereal    

  

Blend together until smooth. * Notes: I added ice cubes halfway through. You can adjust the amount of water depending on how thick you like your smoothie.      

    

Nutty Strawberry Smoothie 

6-8 large strawberries 

1/2 cup (.5 cup) of walnuts/chopped 

1/2 cup raisins (.5 cup) 

3/4 cup of oats (.75 cup)or ground Flax 

1/2 cup of water (.5 cup) 

6 large ice cubes 

1-scoopNature's Harvest  

 

“What is a colonic?” 
Excellent question, I found out about colonics in the early 90's when I was suffering from a host of digestive problems.  I was in a book store and on the wall was a business card that sounded like something that would help me.  We didn't have the internet so it was a blind faith judgement that got me to a colon hydrotherapist and that was the beginning of my journey to better health.

I first started getting colonics as needed or as I like to call it allopathic medicine the way you would see a regular physician.  I soon found out that as it helped me I still was not getting the results I wanted or needed to completely heal my inner workings.

That is when I found out that in order to heal I would need to step up my sessions to allow the colon to be free of the years of abuse  I had subjected it to.
Colonics Explained
 A colonic is all about cleansing the bowel, specifically the large intestines. The bowels  are one of the major elimination systems of the body, and when we cleanse out toxins we remove that which could be perpetuating illness.

When one gets a colonic (also referred to as receiving “colon hydrotherapy”), filtered water is slowly released into the large intestine via the rectum. Once inside the body, the water can soften waste matter on the intestinal walls. As the waste matter softens, it can then be released on the outflow of water. Do this process repeatedly, and recent waste as well as built up waste from days, months, even years prior can be dislodged. Remove the toxins (and possible encrustation of waste on your gut walls) and you just might experience greater health!

Once the toxins are out, your body has the potential to go to new heights of healing!

Needless to say I have been able to overcome a lot of the health issues I had 20 some years ago and I still maintain at least one colonic a month as maintenance. 

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