Herbal Organics... Health Tips:

1. Water Water Water...Our bodies need plenty of water to help us flush out toxins. Drinking lots of water keeps us hydrated we should try to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day.

2. Did you know high quality Organic extra virgin Olive oil contains anti oxidants and vitamins A, B, E and K. It is also a mono unsaturated fat considered a "good" fat which can protect against heart disease and can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).

3. Invest in a simple blender/juicer and try drinking raw fresh Organic juices, which are extremely healthy and rejuvenating. Drinking fresh juice is a great way to deliver the nutrients to your body, its a fast delivery of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and carbohydrates etc... all of which help protect us from Colds to Cancer. You can even throw in some Herbal Supplements ie. Noni is great in a Kiwi shake or juice.

4.Try and reduce your fat intake cut back on meat (pork, bacon, sausages etc) if you do eat meat go for lean cuts and dairy products (cheese, milk, cream, butter) go for low fat alternatives.... both meat and dairy should be eaten but the key is in limited amounts. Add more fresh Organic vegetables and Herbs to your Diet to balance everything.

5. Did you know Organic Honey contains vitamin A, Beta-carotene all of the B-Complex vitamins plus vitamins C,D,E and K, minerals, salts, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorous, iron, calcium, chlorine, potassium and iodine. Pure Organic Honey contains the healthy sugars Glucose and Fructose unlike table sugar which has no nutritional value. Organic Honey is completely unfiltered, unrefined and unheated and is known to have antiseptic, antibiotic and anti bacterial properties.

6. Going Nuts...Nuts are great source of dietary fibre,essential fatty acids and plant protein. They also contain many vitamins such as folic acid, niacin and vitamins E and B6 along with a range of minerals comprising of iron, magnesium, copper, selenium potassium. They are tasty and filling and can assist in maintaining a healthy body weight we would always recommend finding Organically grown nuts over others that are farmed using pesticides that are bad for the body .

7. Lets look at a few common types of nut more closely. Probably the most well known are Peanuts, they are high in unsaturated fat and magnesium which decreases insulin resistance also there rich in Omega -2 fats, peanuts can maintain healthy cells and skin.

8. Almonds are very rich in protein, they also have a wide array of nutrients incluuding magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron and phosphorous plus the antioxidant vitamin E which can help fight cancer. They can also help as part of a bone booster diet help to fight osteoporosis.

9. Brazil nuts have one of the richest sources of selenium which is a key nutrient for the immune system.High magnesium content to which helps muscles and nerves function.

10. Hazelnuts very high vitamin E content and mono unsaturated fats plus rich in fibre which is important for are digestion,they also have biotin a B vitamin good for hair and skin.

11. Did you know plant food epecailly Herbs which are also know as supperfoods or Herbal Supplements are the richest source of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that can cleanse the body from the inside out.

12. Raw Organic plant food contains between 70% and 80% more vitamins and minerals and 50% more protien and 100% more enzymes than when it has been cooked. Some of our herbs such as Spirulina has the highest concentration of nutrients of any plant matter on earth...

13. Where its possible always choose fresh, local, Organic Herbs, Fruits & Vegeatables in season... Organic means they have none of the agrochemicals you can find in other non Organic fruits.Also buying locally meansyou support your local economy and reduce the enviromental costs of transporting and storing goods.

14. What about a fantastic Detox drink you can try to give your body a much needed cleanse say after a heavy weekend on the town! . It,s based around apples, 2 apples,2 kale leaves 1 stick of celery,half a long cucmber and half a beetroot. This juice is packed with beta-carotene,folic acid and other essential minerals....Or here at HerbalOrganics we have a Detox Herb called Thunbergia Laurifolia

15. Did you know the Herb Mint is not only fantastically aromatic its properties are both refreshing and soothing it can help indigestion and relieve nausea....throw some in your next juice or smoothie.....the fresher the better!...You could also try Ginger as a great natural way to fight nausea.

16. Here is a list of foods that you should avoid or foods that you can enjoy.

Food to Refrain from

A list of "toxic" food that are looking to get in your body everyday

- Margarine and other hydrogenated fats (cakes, biscuits, French fries, doughnuts etc)

- Refined white sugar

- Junk foods, fast foods

- Food additives

- Refined salt ,table salt

- Antibiotics

- Mono sodium glutamate (MSG)

- Pesticides

- Alcohol and soft drinks

Foods we can enjoy we know help us.

- Extra Virgin Olive oil (rice bran oil, sunflower oil)

- Unrefined rice (brown rice)

- Omega 3

- Algae ( like Spirulina), seafood and unrefined sea salt high in its chromium and vanadium

- Organic produce (fruits, vegetables, meats etc)

Remember foods that our tongue enjoys is also the food that cancer prefers...particularly

Cakes, biscuits, cookies, fries, ice cream etc.

17. We all enjoy a cup of coffee or tea maybe first thing in the morning with breakfast or during our break at work or relaxing at home and drunk in moderation they are fine. What I'm going to look at today is different hot drinks which are not only tasty but also packed with healthy benefits making them a good alternative.

a. Firstly these are all teas that I actually drink myself my current favourite is called "Rooiboos tea" or Red Bush tea its derived from a bush found native in South Africa and is becoming extremely popular due to its many health properties. The main one being its Anti-ageing strengths, high anti-oxidant levels in the tea which help fight off those bad free radicals that can speed up the ageing process.

b. Another tea I really enjoy is Mulberry, I drink it in the mornings for breakfast as I find its similar to English breakfast tea and is also jam packed with good stuff for us. The tea itself is made from the leaves of the mulberry. Scientists in Japan and Thailand have found that mulberry leaf green tea can act as a shield against high blood pressure. It has also been found to benefit those with high cholesterol levels. Korean studies report that mulberry leaf green tea has anti-aging properties. It is also used as a weight loss aid and to help relieve constipation.

c. Peppermint tea not only smells refreshing it is refreshing I often drink it instead of heading for another coffee as a healthier pick me up. It can also help with gastric usets and help your breath out to!

18. I want to talk about Organic food today. Basically look at the reasons why it's a good choice. Organic farmers don,t use chemical pesticides or herbicides they employ different methods to combat against weeds and insects. They use crop rotation, cultivation mulching and encourage predator insects to take on the pests. By following these methods it means much less poisonous run off into our rivers and streams and vast improvement in the soil ecology, less soil erosion and much larger numbers of creatures in their fields......Eating good food / produce from an Organic source that hasn,t been treated, tainted or laced with any number of chemicals (and that list is a long one) to me makes sense!

19. Well I just had an Avocado....actually put half in my smoothie which made it extra creamy, and the other half I had in my Organic salad... and it got me to thinking about how long it was since I last ate one and also what was its benefits.

If your like me I was always under the impression that the Avocado wasn,t that good for us, full of fat and calories.....Sure that is true....but having looked into a bit more it turns out the Avocado seems to receive a lot of bad press when in fact it shouldn,t.

On the question of fat, yes it does contain fat but our bodies need fat and the fat it contains is the monounsaturated variety which does a lot more good than bad. Its good at lowering our cholesterol particularly the bad LDL cholesterol and raising the good HDL. The Avocado is high in fibre to which helps us fight those nasties high blood pressure and heart disease...plus some cancers. It also contains Vitamins C and K both good anti oxidants and E and B6 plus is good source of potassium which can help boost our immune system.

Hope i,ve cleared up a few misconceptions about the Avocado...I really recommend you toss half in with your smoothie it makes it rich and creamy.....almost a meal in itself.....a good one if your training.

20. I'm no health fanatic and I have to confess that I have weakness for sweet things...I blame my mum; sure we have to blame someone!

I like my desserts and cakes but my real Achilles heal is chocolate.

But what type of chocolate you like is an important factor. Reason being if like Dark or in some quarters its called Plain chocolate you are lucky as it possesses some pretty good benefits. However before I go on to list these benefits lets get one thing straight it doesn't mean we can chomp our way through pounds and pounds of the stuff!.....unfortunately its still high calories.

Ok let's look at what some of the plus points of Dark chocolate are. Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure. Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent. So 2 pretty good benefits.....Plus lets not forget another significant plus is its Taste...it stimulates endorphin production which can give us a feeling of  pleasure and satisfaction.

So the good news is eating a little dark chocolate can do you some good, the key as with all foods is moderation.

21.Ok today I want to talk about the term Detox.....what is a detox and why is it a good idea for us to do one from time to time....

I don,t know about you but when I used to hear the word Detox I used to think of people coming off drugs or alcohol and eventhough it still can mean that the word Detox has become a term more commonly heard in peoples everyday lives. Today it can relate to giving our bodies a cleanse a break if you will from our hectic modern lifestyles. If we think about it our lifestyles have changed drastically over the last few decades, we eat more and more processed foods and drinks, both have chemical residues in them from either the way they have been farmed or there actual production. More and more of us are moving and living in cities which even the cleanest can suffer from pollution caused by vehicle exhausts pollutants (carbon monoxide,carbon doixide) add to that the noise (another type of pollution) created by all the traffic causes us even more stress.

So to give our bodies a Detox once in a while has to be a good thing in my mind. There are many ways we can help our bodies out we can eat Organic produce, drink plenty of water, take a break from alcohol etc. We can also add a supplement into our daily routine like Thunbergia Laurifolia which is a herb used here in Thailand to great effect as a Detoxifier. To help us combat the stresses and strains of a modern lifestyle Reishi or Linghzi mushroom has be shown to have some fantastic benefits as a general body tonic. So why not give your body a boost and give the TLC it deserves.

22. Thought i,d start off with a quote today i just found in the newspaper i was reading  "From the bitterness of disease man learns the sweetness of health" Catalan Proverb......a pretty good point i think.

23. I love living in Thailand the availability and variety of fruits and vegetables on offer is staggering. You can buy almost anything, almost anywhere at anytime of the day or night. From the vendor pushing his trolley down the streets selling pineapple,watermelon and guava. To the many markets that seem to be all over the place that sell the freshest fruits and veggies. If your looking for a bargain always stick to the fruit that is in season which from looking around seems at the moment to be Pomegranate. I can,t remember ever trying one until i came here but after a little difficulty getting to know how to actually eat one i really enjoyed it. After eating it and buying a few more to bring home i wanted to learn a bit more about them. The fruit comes from a small tree that can be found in the Middle East and Asia and also India and the US.The fruit is juicy and has a citrus flavour it has been claimed that the fruit has many health benefits ranging from fighting some forms of cancer as it is rich in antioxidants. It may help to lower blood pressure and also reduce bad cholestrol levels (LDL) and raise good cholestrol levels(HDL).

24. Just wanted to let you about a fantastic drink a good friend of mine has just put me onto. He has been taking it for years and tells me and swears by its,some of you may already be partaking in a tipple but if not after trying it myself I strongly recommend it.
And the name of this drink is Apple Cider Vinegar...of course it should be the organic variety....Ok i,m not sure I could drink it neat but when mixed with a little honey and water it's a great pick me up.....i,m addicted to it and usually kick start my day with a glass. Its really refreshing and super healthy it has cleansing,healing and energizing qualities plus mixed with the raw organic honey you double up on the benefits.

25. Today I have a few tips for the ladies in the form of some good simple Breast Exercises which combine well with our Natural Breast Enhancement Herb Pueraria Mirifica will help boost the firmness and increased size.

a , Try to do modified push-ups. Lie on the floor face down bend your knees, and cross your ankles, then raise yourself using your arms and extend as far as you can. Repeat about 10 times.
b, Put your palms together like in a praying position. Then grip your hands tight putting some tension to the grip and hold this for about 15 seconds. Do repetitions over a 2 minute period. This exercise is good to enhance the cleavage.
c, Yoga is a great exercise to help tone the body including the breasts.

There are more Superfoods out there but we'll cover them on another day.....hope this information has helped....right I'm off for my lunchtime smoothie think I,ll throw in some spirulina and wheatgrass.