You’ve probably heard of the multiple health benefits of turmeric – or perhaps you still think of it as simply a popular spice that belongs in a spice rack. Either way, you will probably be shocked to find out that the  combination of turmeric and honey (known as “golden honey”) is an very important and beneficial natural remedy.

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“The art of medicine consists of keeping the patient amused while nature heals the disease.”
-Voltaire

Laughter may be the best medicine. It can boost your immune system and reduce stress, according to US researchers at the University of California-Irvine. Laughter increases production of antibodies and activates body’s protective cells.

Laughter is One of the Best Natural Cancer Treatments of All

Laughter has also been found to fight against cancer by increasing the levels of IFN (Interferon-gamma) in the body. IFN stimulates the B-cells, T-cells, NK cells, and immunoglobulin, and it also works to regulate cell growth. These compounds are vital to a healthy immune system.   They help protect against cancer and the abnormal growth of cancerous tumors in the body.

Norman Cousins first presented the idea that laughter can benefit a person’s health in the 1970s. He published his personal research results in the New England Journal of Medicine and is considered one of the original architects of mind-body medicine. In 1964 after a very stressful trip to Russia, he became very sick and was quickly diagnosed with a fatal illness and given at best 6 months to live. He reasoned that if stress had made him sick, surely the opposite emotions would make him feel better.

After several years of continuous laughter therapy, Cousins experienced little to no pain in day-to-day living. Though he used Vitamin C to physically repair immune system, he relied on the often overlooked medication of laughter to mentally cure his condition and live to the age of 75.

Health Benefits Of Laughing

• Laughing boosts the immune system. According to research, (here)  laughing strengthens your immune system and reduces inflammation in the body. Laughing releases endorphins by sending signals to the brain similar to exercising.  Endorphins are truly the body’s natural painkillers.
•  Laughing helps prevent cardiovascular diseases.  According to a study conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore,  laughing may help reduce your risk of heart disease  the same way exercising does.

• Laughing lowers you blood pressure. Since stress contributes to high blood pressure, laughter works oppositely.  It reduces  stress hormones,  thus lowering  the amount of oxidation in the blood vessels.

According to many studies, laughter  also helps to:

• Enhance oxygen intake
• Stimulate the heart and lungs
• Relax muscles throughout the body
• Trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
• Ease digestion/soothes stomach aches
• Relieve pain
• Improve mental functions

Throughout centuries, laughter was prescribed as a cure and a way of recovery from surgeries. One of the French surgeons, Henri de Mondeville, applied laughter to speed up the recovery process. He wrote: “Let the surgeon take care to regulate the whole regimen of the patient’s life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives and special friends to cheer him and by having someone tell him jokes.”  So keep smiling! “A cheerful heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit makes one sick.” Proverbs 17:22

Reference:

Loma Linda University’s Schools of Allied Health (SAHP) and Medicine

http://medhum.med.nyu.edu/view/1700

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Did you know that many of the foods we consume today have been imported from China?

Chinese food industry is perhaps the worst culprit in the world for producing fake, toxic foods.

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Many of us have started paying close attention to what our food is being sprayed with, the ingredients that are added to our foods and especially,  if it has been genetically modified.

I think we also need to take a look at our cookware and make sure our costly whole foods are being prepared in quality materials. I did some research on the most common cookware materials and have included the top 6 that I would avoid, and why.

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Kids these days have a full schedule, much like adults. From music lessons, after school activities, tutoring sessions and play dates with friends. Our lives are full and busy, and on the go. I always have snacks in my purse for us when we have a busy day but it can be difficult to find healthy, wholesome snacks. The snack foods that are marketed for children can have anything from cancer causing artificial coloring to the unbelievable, petroleum products!

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As spring begins to mature into summer it’s time to think about pesticides again.  Unfortunately, we all know that most commercial bug-repellants are very toxic and certainly should not be used in or near a kitchen, picnic, food, children, etc.  In our area in southern California, fruit flies are a constant battle during the summer months.  As it turns out, science has discovered a possibly non-toxic solution (more on that later) in one of the most least expected places…Truvia.  For those of you not sure what Truvia is (perhaps it sounds familiar though) it is a sugar substitute sold by the food giant Cargill Inc.

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