All posts by Suzana Vukcevic

Natural Health Advocate. My wish is to make more people aware of unconventional, natural and less known ways to deal with the health challenges or simply live healthier.
Flu and Cold Remedies, Garlic, Natural Little Helpers

Garlic – Nature’s Little Miracle

Garlic – Nature’s Little Miracle

Garlic is certainly one of nature’s miracle plants. It has been known since the beginning of recorded history for its ability to heal and strengthen the body.

  • Garlic Is A Powerful Antibiotic.

Garlic destroys both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including streptococcus, staphylococcus, cholera, bacterial dysentery, typhoid, diphtheria, tuberculosis, tetanus and many others.

A significant finding from Washington State University shows that garlic is 100 times more effective than antibiotics.

Laboratory made antibiotics are non-selective and, besides harmful, they kill also “friendly bacteria” needed for proper metabolic function. This is causing us digestive problems, yeast and fungal overgrowth. Our bodies become immune to these antibiotics over time and dangerous resistant strains of bacteria are occasionally developed.

Garlic, on the other hand,  is “selective” and magically kills only bacteria that is harmful and at the same time enhances our friendly bacteria and improves our intestinal flora and digestion!

In addition to that, when the properties of garlic are present in the bloodstream, many aspects of our immune system are enhanced.  

  • Garlic Is A Powerful Antiviral Agent.

Garlic destroys various viruses that cause respiratory infections and influenza. Garlic destroys on contact the viral infections of measles, mumps, herpes simplex #1 and #2, herpes zoster, viral hepatitis, scarlet fever, mononucleosis, chicken pox and others.

  • Garlics Is A Strong Antifungal Agent.

In the laboratory, garlic has proven to be more potent than any known antifungal agent including Nystatin.  Garlic will also regulate the overgrowth of candida albicans.

  • Garlic Helps With Heart Disease.

Garlic prevents and helps with conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Garlic has been found to reduce the buildup and inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in our arteries.

Garlic extract supplements are proven to reduce high cholesterol levels and blood pressure in people with hypertension.

  • Garlic Is Used As Cancer Treatment.

The National Cancer Institute has reported that cancer incidence worldwide is lowest in the countries where garlic consumption is highest.

Garlic has been proven to increase protection and help against: breast, colon, lung, ovarian, prostate, esophageal and stomach cancer.

Organo-sulfur compounds from garlic have been found to be  effective against glioblastoma, a type of highly aggressive brain tumor.

Allicin from garlic may be useful as a cancer treatment.  According to one study, when garlic compounds were injected into a tumor cell, the reaction not only penetrated the cell but also killed it.

  • Garlic Is A Powerful Antioxidant.

The component of garlic, allicin, which causes the smell and familiar flavor, is an extremely effective antioxidant. As allicin digests in our body it produces a compound that goes after dangerous free radicals. This is another way how garlic protects us from cancer and suppresses chemically induced cancers.

How To Consume Garlic

The best way to eat garlic is to take a whole, fresh clove, chop it, smash it or press it, then wait around 15 minutes for the conversion (from alliin into the beneficial allicin) to occur, and then consume it. The active compound loses potency rapidly and can disappear completely within about an hour of chopping.

Credits, Sources and More Info

Garlic Proven 100 Times More Effective Than Antibiotics

Garlic Kills Brain Cancer Cells Study  

Lung Cancer Risk Cut 44% By Eating Raw Garlic Study

Garlic intake related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer

Garlic Could be Used as Cancer Treatment

Effects of garlic extract consumption on blood lipid and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in humans with high blood cholesterol

Iodine Deficiency Epidemic, Natural Remedies & Cures

Treat Iodine Deficiency Naturally

Iodine Deficiency Can Cause Cancer, Hypothyroidism, ADHD and Retardation.

Learn About 5 Simple Tips to Avoid and Treat Iodine Deficiency Naturally.

Iodine is important: each and every cell in your body needs iodine. Iodine is responsible for the production of all body’s hormones. Iodine is the key to a healthy thyroid and efficient metabolism.

Japanese consume a daily average of 13.8 mg of iodine (89 times more than Americans!), and they are one of the healthiest nations based on overall well-being and cancer statistics.

Why Iodine Consumption is Dropping?

It is estimated that about 1 billion people worldwide are susceptible to health problems due to iodine deficiency.

Iodine consumption for example in US has dropped 50% since the 1970s.  This is mainly due to the bromide exposure, fluoridated water, exposure to mercury from dental work, soil depletion, limited intake of iodine-rich foods etc.

Bromide is endocrine disruptor and even small amount of bromide is toxic. It is used as an additive in many products like pesticides, prescription drugs, personal care products, plastic products, dyes, added to some citrus drinks and bakery products (potassium bromate).

Iodine Deficiency Causes Cancer

Iodine induces apoptosis, meaning it causes cancer cells to self-destruct. Iodine is one of the most powerful anti-cancer agents known. It is both a strong antioxidant as well as oxidant in the body, thus maintaining the balance between the two.

While good iodine levels help fight back against cancer, lowered levels provide fertile ground for cancer to form in many different hormonally sensitive tissues — tissues of the breast, thyroid, prostate, uterus, and ovaries.

Iodine deficiency is linked to fibrocystic breast disease with nodules and cyst enlargement.

Iodine deficiency results in increased iodine trapping by the thyroid, thus iodine deficient individuals are prone to radiation-provoked thyroid cancer.

Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between low iodine intake and fibrocystic disease of the breast (FDB), both in women and laboratory animals. “Women with goiters owing to iodine deficiency have been found to have a three times greater incidence of breast cancer. A high intake of iodine is associated with a low incidence breast cancer, and a low intake with a high incidence of breast cancer”-  Dr. Donald Miller Jr.

According to Dr. Flechas the absence of iodine in a cell is what causes cancer, and some statistics support this view. For example, between 1971 and 2000, the average iodine levels in the US declined by 50 percent and cancers associated with iodine deficiency (breast, prostate, endometrium, and ovaries cancer) increased.

Dr. Brownstein has noticed clinically that iodine can cause tumors to shrink and die from the center out. He achieved similar results with nodules and cysts in the thyroid, ovaries, and uterus after introducing supplementation with iodine.

Iodine Deficiency and Hypothyroidism, Goiter (Enlarged Thyroid)

Iodine is the key to a healthy thyroid and efficient metabolism, and part of the thyroid hormone molecule itself.

Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to help regulate metabolism and development of skeleton and brain and plays a crucial role in thyroid biochemistry.

Thyroid hormones are used by every cell of our body to regulate metabolism and body weight by controlling the burning of fat for energy and heat. We also need it for your immune system to work properly.

Thyroid hormone production can be severely disrupted by high exposure to bromide/bromine, chlorine and fluoride.

Thyroid problem can actually be an iodine deficiency problem. If you feel tired, are overweight, have dry skin, suffer from hair loss, constipation or cold sensitivity, it could all be related to hypothyroidism.

Iodine deficiency can severely affect child’s brain function and IQ and cause mental retardation.

Iodine deficiency is a major cause of sub-functioning intellect as proposed by Dr. Flechas: “In newborn children iodine is responsible for the development of the babies’ I.Q. Recent research shows iodine deficiency is felt to be the source of attention deficit disorder in children”. Deficiency of iodine appears to be causing damage in developing embryos and in pregnant women iodine deficiency causes abortions and stillborns.

Besides iodine, a proper brain function and high IQ in children is promoted by the omega-3 fat DHA, vitamin D, optimized gut flora. Fluoride needs to be avoided at all cost.

Iodine RDA and Supplementation

It is obvious that recommended daily allowance for iodine are insufficient for optimal health and brain function, however in “alternative world” there is no consensus on what supplementation may look like and recommendations range anywhere between 800mcg to 12+mg and above 50mg for serious illnesses.

Some recent research also casts doubt on high-dose iodine supplementation and suggests it might not be wise to go above 800 mcg of iodine per day (source: Dr Mercola) whilst according to Dr. Flechas should be 12.5 mg/day.

Dr David Brownstein, based on his clinical and laboratory experience believes that an individual with a serious illness such as cancer or an autoimmune disorder may need protocols above 50 mg/day to become iodine sufficient.

Check At Home If You Are Iodine Deficient

According the Dr. Mercola, you can check at home if you are iodine deficient by applying the iodine tincture from the drug store and painting a 3-inch/8cm patch on your arm. The patch should last for 48 hours. The sooner it disappears the deeper is your iodine deficiency seem to be.

If serious deficiency of iodine is suspected, best to ask your health care practitioner for the urine iodine challenge test and based on the results work with on establishing a full nutritional program, which besides iodine supplementation calls also for adequate supplementation of selenium, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc and omega-3 in addition to healthy and balanced nutrition.

5 Tips to Help Avoid Iodine Deficiency

For those in good health and to keep on the safe side it may be preferable to optimize iodine levels through the natural intake of foods.

  1. Toxin-free sea vegetables like seaweeds kelp, bladderwrack and spirulina are among the best natural dietary sources of iodine.
  2. Celtic Sea Salt and  Le sel de Guérande are all-natural, pure source of iodine that contains up to 350 mcg per 1/4 tsp.
  3. Eat organic. Wash all produce to minimize the pesticides exposure (and bromine).
  4. Avoid using plastic containers. Use glass/ceramic instead.
  5. Buy whole-grain breads and flour and make sure they are bromine-free.

Credits, Sources and More Info

http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iodine.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/29/iodine-deficiency-risk.aspx

http://www.naturalthyroidchoices.com/IodineSuppl.html

http://www.health-science-spirit.com/iodine.html

Iodine Why You Need It by David BrownStein

Dental Care, Say No To Toxins

Natural Dental Care Tips

9 Tips to Keep Dentist Away

Conventional dentistry still use metals and dangerous tooth whitening technics.

Mercury and other metals are unfortunately still used in conventional dentistry even though they have well proven cancer-causing effects. Mercury is an extremely dangerous neurotoxin that damages your brain and causes permanent neurological damage.

Tooth whitening is hugely popular, however hydrogen-peroxide that is normally used for this procedure can cause your teeth to become sensitive, and can damage your gums and nerves.

Stay Away From Fluoride.

The toothpaste in most of the cases contains fluoride. Fluoride is a highly toxic agent that can cause significant health problems and is not an answer to preventing cavities contrary to what the marketing wants us to believe.

Diet is a Major Factor in Dental Health.

It may be obvious for some, however it is easily neglected that diet is a major factor in dental health.

Luka ZubiciGood oral care starts with a healthy diet of unprocessed and low-sugar foods, unpasteurized dairy and preferably raw and organic foods.  Sweet, sugary drinks, soda and carbonated drinks are severely damaging to our teeth and cause dental erosion.

Dental erosion is a process of incremental decalcification, which, over time, dissolves your teeth. Vinegar and citric juices are also shown to promote the dental erosion. Carbonation changes the pH in your mouth, weakens and slowly dissolves the enamel in your teeth. Even brushing your teeth too hard and for longer than is necessary may cause damage to enamel and gums.

Good News Called “Xylitol”

Xylitol (low glycemic, sugar like sweetener) is shown to prevent caries. Xylitol inhibits and eventually destroys “caries bacteria”. Not all xylitol products are equal, so you will need to buy a high-quality xylitol  obtained from a birch tree from Finland and pay close attention that it doesn’t contain GMO ingredients. The brands like Xylobrit  or Zylosweet (EU) and Smart Sweet (US) are good-quality choices.

9 Tips to Keep Dentist Away

  1. Floss your teeth regularly, ideally after every meal. The floss should be the non-wax, non-fluoride.
  2. Use a dry brush at a 45 degree angle. After trying far too many brushes, I have found Curaprox and have been using for few years already Curaprox Ultra Soft CS 5460.  According to the research the ideal brushing time is two minutes and the ideal pressure 150 grams (the weight of an orange).  Keep your toothbrush clean by soaking it in a cup with hydrogen-peroxide once a week.
  3. Use a fluoride-free toothpaste. Best to make it on your own, it is really easy. Take a few drops of natural antimicrobial (such as essential oil of rosemary or tea tree), xylitol and baking soda. Or mix some coconut oil, baking soda and few drops of essential peppermint oil.
  4. Use Xylitol for mouth rinsing and tooth brushing. Take half a teaspoon of xylitol powder and rinse your mouth with the xylitol for 3 -5 minutes, then spit. Alternatively, use the xylitol as your toothpaste and brush your teeth. Do not rinse your mouth to preserve xylitol’s positive effect.
  5. Avoid processed foods, sugar, refined flour and all artificial flavorings, colorings, and artificial sweeteners.
  6. Filtered, pure, non-carbonated water is clearly your absolute best beverage option regardless of your age – both for hydration, and dental health.  Stick to plain, non-carbonated water.
  7. For healthy gums free of plaque use a mixture of six parts of baking soda to one part of unrefined sea salt (blend for 30 seconds then place in a container). Wet the tip of your index finger and use a small amount of the mixture on the gums and massage it for 15min. Spit out and rinse your mouth.
  8. Whiten your teeth naturally by mixing a strawberry with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Keep the mixture on our teeth few minutes; brush it adding a bit of toothpaste and rinse. Use this method only once a week to avoid eventual damage to enamel.
  9. Make your own mouth-wash by mixing 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 3 drops of peppermint essential oils.

Sources and Credits

Water Fluoridation and Healthy Teeth

Xylitol Sugar Substitute Anti-Caries Treatment and Prevention

Secrets Your Dentist Doesn’t Want You To Know

Toothpaste Alternatives

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration book by Dr.Price

Whiten Your Teeth With Strawberries