Calcium and magnesium are the most famous of all the minerals due to their vast array of benefits to our health. Dr. Linus Pauling, the two-time Nobel Prize winner said: “You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.” Studies have proven calcium to increase bone health, reduce high blood pressure, relax the nerves and muscles, and prevent colon cancer and kidney stones. Magnesium is an effective nutrient for strengthening heart health, reducing diabetes, and treating migraines, insomnia and depression.
Calcium and magnesium were discovered by the British chemist Sir Humphry Davy in the early 1800’s. Regarding stomach and colon health, a 2007 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that calcium protects high-risk people from developing the polyps (growths in the colon) that can lead to cancer in the large bowel. The researchers found that the risk reduction occurred during the…
Here is an informative, colorful chart containing some of the top anti-aging foods and their health benefits. Enjoy these foods alone, or in salads, cooked dishes, or energy shakes.
This health news is brought to you by Nutrition Breakthroughs. For more info on natural remedies for good sleep, as well as joint relief and more, visit the Nutrition Breakthroughs website.
If we were to eavesdrop and listen in while the “Father of Medicine” Hippocrates spoke to his students in 400 B.C., we would hear him saying: “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” These words ring even more true today, when WorldHealth .net reports that each year prescription drugs injure 1.5 million people to the degree that they require hospitalization. Sleeping drugs, also known as “hypnotics”, come with their own set of side-
For those who seek natural options, some recent research studies have uncovered unique sleep inducing foods that can help with
In a study from the University of California San Diego, researchers examined the effects of potassium supplementation on sleep quality. A placebo-controlled study compared one week of oral potassium chloride supplements to one week of identical placebo capsules. Their results were published in the journal “Sleep”, and showed that potassium significantly increased…
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a form of insomnia characterized by an overwhelming urge to move the legs when they are at rest, especially during sleep. RLS affects about 10% of the people in the U.S. It runs in families and has a genetic component. Recent research studies have found that people with restless leg syndrome are deficient in the mineral magnesium.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia and sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Besides restless leg syndrome,other types of insomnia include sleep apnea, which involves interrupted breathing and snoring during the night; narcolepsy – which causes people to fall asleep throughout the daytime; insomnia from hormone fluctuations such as with menstruation or menopause; and insomnia from the use of medications, caffeine or alcohol.
Those who have restless leg syndrome experience unpleasant sensations in the legs described…
Sleeplessness is a big problem in America. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia at least a few nights weekly. Additionally, in a recent NSF poll they found that as many as 25 percent of the people in the U.S. use medications in an effort to combat insomnia and get some rest.
The use of prescription sleeping drugs, such as Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata, has been steadily increasing. Global sales for all sleeping pills, called hypnotics, will top $5 billion in the next several years. Most sleeping pills, especially when taken over long periods of time, stay in the bloodstream and give a hangover effect the next day and beyond. They impair memory, reduce performance on the job and at home, and contribute to machine and car accidents.
From a nutritional perspective, several research studies have shown certain minerals to be…
It can make a person feel so healthy and energetic to have smooth digestion and elimination, and it can feel equally as bad to experience an upset stomach, constipation or diarrhea. With infrequent bowel movements, the digestive tract can retain a large quantity of toxic material that can accumulate over time and contribute to many […]
There are a high percentage of people who encounter nightly insomnia and sleeplessness all over the world. In the United States, the National Sleep Foundation reports that up to 25% of adults have tried sleeping drugs in an effort to get some sleep. These medications come with extensive side effects and are not always effective.
Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs is a natural insomnia remedy that contains highly absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium. Customer reviews show that it works well for sleeplessness and insomnia, as well as for heart health, restless leg syndrome, bone strength, muscle cramps, menopause insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, and teenage insomnia.
Sleep Minerals II also contains vitamin D and zinc and is delivered in a softgel form mixed with natural rice bran oil, making it better assimilated than tablets or capsules and providing a deeper, longer-lasting sleep.
James F. Balch, M.D., author of “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” writes that: “A lack of the nutrients calcium and magnesium will cause you to wake up after a few hours and not be able to return to sleep.”
Here are some of the latest reviews of Sleep Minerals II from customers all over the world:
S.K. of Indianapolis, Indiana says: “I have been using Sleep Minerals II. I use it religiously every single night. I suffered from YEARS of anxiety-related insomnia. Nothing helped. My doctor couldn’t find a medicinal combination of medications to treat my anxiety well enough to allow me to get some good sleep. On my first night of Sleep Minerals II, I was able to sleep all the way through the night. I’ve been using it for almost two years now. I am absolutely 1000% satisfied with this product and have even recommended it to my friends and family when they discuss their sleep issues with me.”
K. C. of Homer, New York says: “I am writing to you a true believer of Sleep Minerals II. I never write product reviews…. good or bad. I had originally ordered your sleep minerals product and thought I would give it a try. Well I had given it to the entire family. We ran out of it and I really thought it wasn’t working. I quickly realized within a couple nights that without them the entire household was not falling asleep as easily as they were before! So I immediately ordered more. I will not let that happen again.”
I.C. of Ontario, Canada says: “I have Lupus, which is an autoimmune condition. I’m not allowed to take vitamins like vitamin C or anything that builds up my immune system. If I do, my immune system gets stronger and attacks me. I have diabetes, a thyroid condition, arthritis and other issues. The Sleep Minerals is just subtle enough that it helps me sleep and gives me the minerals I need – especially calcium. I have arthritis throughout my whole body and the minerals help this a lot. In fact, the Sleep Minerals lessens all of my symptoms greatly and has helped me to go into remission.”
W.W. of Perth, Australia says: “I have been taking the Sleep Minerals for the past 15 nights and am noticing an improvement in my ability to go back to sleep when waking during the night. I have also been able to start reducing the medication that I have been taking for the past 7 years for sleep. I will definitely keep taking them and hope to keep reducing the prescription meds and continue to feel more rested during the day.”
J.H. of Manitoba, Canada says: “Sleep Minerals II has made a huge difference in my life as I was having debilitating leg cramps that used to occur every night. My legs were sore even into the next day. These have now become history. My sleep is also so much better and now I don’t worry constantly about my calcium and magnesium levels. I am 70 years old and look forward to a very healthy old age. I suffered with sleep deprivation for a very long time and I will continue to pass the word on to my friends about how Sleep Minerals II has changed my life.”
M. T. of Tasmania, Australia says: “I received the Sleep Minerals II about a week ago and have been taking the softgels about an hour before bed. The last two nights I have slept well. The best side effect I have found, however, is that the night sweats and hot flashes I had constantly throughout the day, have almost completely stopped. And if I do have one, it is 95% less than I previously experienced. So far I’m very happy with the Sleep Minerals.”
Magnesium: Sleep Better and Reduce Insomnia — from the Poliquin Group
Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system, meaning that if you are deficient your heart rate and nervous system will be sent into overdrive.
Additionally, lack of magnesium has shown to alter electrical activity in the brain, causing agitated sleep and frequent awakenings.
A recent study of people with poor sleep quality as measured with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index found that taking a magnesium supplement decreased chronic inflammatory stress levels and improved sleep quality. The researchers suggested that adding magnesium to their diets decreased the participants’ nervous activity, effectively reducing stress and allowing them to relax.
Take note that in this study, lower magnesium levels were also associated with a higher body mass index, indicating the connection between body fat percentage and magnesium levels.
A second study supported the relationship between low magnesium levels, sleep deprivation, nervous system stimulation, and elevated heart rate response to exercise. Participants were chronically sleep restricted and it was found that a decrease in magnesium levels coincided with increasing levels of sleep deprivation.
At the same time, stress hormone concentration increased—an indication of nervous stimulation—which was suggested as the reason for the diminishing magnesium levels. Meanwhile, heart rate was elevated after a fatiguing exercise test, lending support to the connection between low magnesium, high stress, and anxiety.
TAKEAWAY : Take Magnesium to help you sleep restfully throughout the night and de-stress.
Comments from the blog author Nutrition Breakthroughs:Regarding the use of minerals for better sleep, one study called “The Nutritional Relationships of Magnesium”, notes that the type of insomnia associated with a calcium deficiency causes difficulty with falling asleep. The classical sign of magnesium deficiency is insomnia characterized by falling asleep easily, but awakening frequently throughout the night, with individuals finding themselves tired even after several hours of sleep.
It’s important to note that a balanced calcium magnesium ratio is important to overall health, and these two minerals should be taken together for best results (in a two to one ratio with twice as much calcium and magnesium). The original research on this recommended ratio appeared in 1935 in the Journal of Physiological Reviews.
In addition, a softgel form containing healthy carrier oils mixed with the minerals is more digestible than tablets or capsules, and provides a deeper, longer-lasting sleep. One formula that has these qualities and is gaining in popularity with people of all ages is Sleep Minerals II from Nutrition Breakthroughs.
Sleep Minerals II contains highly absorbable forms of the best minerals for relaxation — calcium and magnesium, combined with vitamin d, zinc, and heart-healthy rice bran oil in a softgel.
Kimberly B. of Troy, Michigan says: “I have been taking Sleep Minerals II for about a month now. I have tried everything out there and this supplement is amazing. I have suffered with insomnia for 2 1/2 years. I have also had restless leg syndrome my entire life and this is the first relief I’ve ever had…gone for a month now.”
By Dr. Joseph Mercola, a physician trained in both traditional and natural medicine who provides up-to-date natural health information.
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This article is shared by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective calcium, magnesium and vitamin D based sleep aid Sleep Minerals II.
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Did you know that some air pollutants are 100 times more concentrated in your home than they are outside? You are dependent on quality air to support your respiratory system and your overall health.
Unfortunately, several sociological studies demonstrate the average amount of time a person living in the U.S. spends indoors is close to 92 percent of their day. The data indicates people who are employed spend 2 percent of their time outside and 6 percent in transit between home and work.
This means the quality of the indoor air you breathe is very important to your long-term health. According the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), poor indoor air quality is one of the top public health risks you face each day.
Poor quality air has been linked to a number of different health effects that may be experienced immediately or several years later. Understanding and controlling the indoor air pollution you are exposed to by making small changes to your living space may help reduce your health risks.
Your Indoor Air Quality May Be 100 Times Worse Than Outside
You may think of outdoor air as being polluted and your indoor air as clean because you don’t detect chemical smells or notice smog in the air at home or in the office. As it turns out, the air in your home may be more dangerous to your health than the air outdoors.
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the levels of indoor air pollution in your home may be between two and five times higher than they are outside. Some of the different pollutants you breathe can even be as much as 100 times more concentrated inside.
Many newer homes and buildings are also built with an eye toward reducing utility costs. This requires the building or home owner to purposefully ventilate the building for air exchange. Although these buildings lower utility costs, they increase your risk of health conditions when not ventilated.
Both the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have established that 80 percent of all cancers may be attributed to factors from your environment.
Rather than genetic factors being responsible for the majority of cancers, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and toxins are among the causative factors.
This was proposed as far back as 1977, when four scientists explained evidence from their data indicating 80 percent of all cancers were triggered by environmental factors. Their studies included data relating to variations in geography, changes to risk over time, migrants, correlations studies and case reports.
What Is in the Air You Breathe?
The source of indoor pollution is a combination of interactions between the building, the occupants, climate, construction, furnishings and contaminated sources.Pollution generated by occupants is related to tobacco smoke and the products you may bring into your home, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies.
There are a number of different contributors to the rise in poor air quality in your home or office. Although volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is listed as one contributor, there are hundreds of different products you may find in your home that emit VOCs. The variety of contributors to indoor pollution include:
Asbestos
Bacteria and viruses
Building and paint products
Carbon monoxide
Carpets
Cleaning supplies and household chemicals
Cockroaches
Dust mites and dust
Formaldehyde
Lead
Pet dander
Radon
Secondhand smoke
VOCs
Fire retardants
VOCs are a specific and rather dangerous type of pollution emitted from products such as aerosol sprays, cleaning supplies, wood preservatives, hobby supplies and pressed wood products. Some of the more familiar names are benzene, formaldehyde and toluene.
Most of the health studies have focused on exposure to one VOC, so less is known about the effects on your health when these chemicals are found in combination.Although the toxicity levels for each of the separate VOCs has been determined, there are no real safe levels, and in combination those toxic levels may be lower.
How Indoor Air Pollution Impacts Your Health
Indoor air pollution can result in both short-term and long-term effects on your health. Children are especially vulnerable to chemicals and pollutants, both in their home and their school.Stay watchful for symptoms of air pollution in your children and get involved in your school district to improve the quality of their air.
Short-term symptoms of exposure to indoor air pollution resemble symptoms you experience from an allergy or a cold. They include:
Worsening asthma
Itchy watery eyes
Headaches
Dizziness
Fatigue
Scratchy throat
Runny nose
While these symptoms usually disappear within a couple hours after no longer being exposed to the pollutant, long-term health conditions don’t simply resolve by removing yourself from the polluted environment. These health conditions include:
Bronchitis, asthma and emphysema
Accelerated aging of lung tissue and lung cancer
High blood pressure,heart attack and stroke
Shortened lifespan
Decreased cognitive function
Houseplants Improve Your Home Environment
Houseplants are very functional decorations for your home and office that brighten your space, improve your mood and clean your air.
Several studies have found potted plants improve your work and living space by reducing your blood pressure, improving your attention and productivity, lowering your anxiety levels and raising your job satisfaction.
Other research has demonstrated that doing tasks around plants has led to a higher degree of accuracy and better results in the task performed. Memory retention and concentration also improved in this study. The researchers found that exposure to plants improved memory performance by 20 percent.
Research has also demonstrated that indoor plants kept close to an individual’s space at work had a statistically significant effect on how many sick days they took and their level of productivity. These associations may have practical significance when applied to a large number of workers over time.
Plants may also be used for phytoremediation, or the mitigation of pollution in air, soil and water. Scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), University of Georgia and Pennsylvania State University have demonstrated that potted plants in your home can improve your air quality.
Plants remove pollutants by absorbing them through their leaves and roots, in much the same way they clean the outdoor air from the pollution given off by manufacturing plants, cars and heating systems.
Plants You May Use to Decorate and Improve Your Air Quality
Most leafy plants are adept at removing some pollution from your indoor air. However, scientists have also discovered there are several that are better at removing VOCs from your home and workplace. NASA was behind some of the initial research in 1989 to determine specific plants that might be useful to reduce pollution in sealed environments.
Researchers have continued to investigate the abilities of different plants to clean your indoor air of pollution. More recent research has identified these 12 houseplants as those that are most beneficial, and the specific VOCs they are adept at removing. The results from this study are on the agenda of a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Jade Plant
Particularly good at absorbing toluene emitted from gasoline, paint, kerosene and lacquers. These plants flourish in medium light, single pot and room temperature. Allow the soil to dry between watering; brown leaves indicate they need more water.
Spider Plant
These plants can absorb up to 90 percent of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke and O-xylene from fuels and P-xylene found in plastics. (This plant is also called the airplane plant.) It is resilient and survives well even if you don’t have a green thumb. The plant is safe for your pets and easy to grow.
Scarlet Star Plant
In the family of Bromeliads, as is the pineapple, this plant easily purifies the air of 90 percent of benzenes emitted from glues, furniture wax, detergent and paint. These plants are easy to grow indoors and have very few problems with pests. They withstand drought well, but never overwater them.
Caribbean Tree Cactus
These lovely cactus plants can absorb up to 80 percent of the ethylbenzene in the space they are kept. This chemical is emitted from electronic products, construction material, garden care products, toys and furniture.
Most cactus plants will do well in pots with the right amount of food, light and water. Although they withstand the drought well, they do require more water indoors than they do in the ground.
Dracaena
These beautiful variegated leaf plants absorb 90 percent of the acetone from household cleaners and nail polish remover.
Ferns
These leafy plants require a lot of water and provide humidity for your home.
Peace Lily
These plants come in either a solid color or variegated leaf variety. They bloom in the spring and don’t require much light. Keep them close at hand in your office as they absorb electromagnetic radiation from your digital devices and humidify the air.
English Ivy
Easy to grow and care for, they are excellent at absorbing the toxins from cigarette smoke and cleansing the air for people suffering from asthma.
Ficus
Slightly more difficult to care for, the Ficus cleanses odors from the air and reduces toxic substances from your home and office. There are several varieties of the plant.
Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
This plant is easy to care for and grows well. It removes benzene and formaldehyde and increases the oxygen supply in the room at night.
Philodendron
These are favorite plants as they are easily grown and look great in hanging pots. They efficiently detoxify formaldehyde but are toxic to cats and dogs.
Bamboo Palm
Also known as the Reed Palm, this plant thrives indoors and readily absorbs formaldehyde outgassing from furniture. If you’ve purchased a new chair or couch you may want to decorate with a couple of these plants.
A Note from Nutrition Breakthroughs: Keep as many of these plants as possible in your home and work environment to help purify the air and protect your health.
This article is shared by Nutrition Breakthroughs, maker of the effective calcium, magnesium and vitamin D based sleep aid Sleep Minerals II.
There are a high percentage of people who encounter nightly insomnia and sleeplessness all over the world. In the United States, the National Sleep Foundation reports that up to 25% of adults have tried sleeping drugs in an effort to get some sleep. These medications come with extensive side effects and are not always effective.
News on Natural Remedies, Good Sleep and Good Health 