It controls blood sugar, cuts triglycerides, even lowers "bad" cholesterol. But it's not a drug ... it's a spice — and probably in your pantry right now!
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How would you like to control your blood sugar and cholesterol with a spice that’s probably in your pantry right now? Cinnamon can help regulate your blood sugar, cut triglycerides, and lower total cholesterol, according to some studies. Plus, it relieves indigestion and fights food poisoning.
Historians will tell you that in the ancient world, people were dying for cinnamon — literally. Considered more precious than gold, Egyptians used it to preserve bodies after death. Cinnamon comes from a bushy evergreen tree whose inner bark is dried and used as a spice.
It turns out cinnamon’s active ingredient, a polyphenol compound called methylhydroxy chalcone polymer (MHCP), mimics the action of insulin in your body and helps control blood sugar levels.
Many people with diabetes have higher blood levels of fats called triglycerides and LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. Insulin partly controls these as well as your blood sugar, and studies showed cinnamon helped lower unhealthy levels of fat and cholesterol.
You don’t need mass quantities of cinnamon to reap its benefits, either. Just 1 gram, or about one-half teaspoon, each day will do the trick. In fact, even smaller amounts probably help.
To learn even more about the hidden powers of spices, turn to page 108 in The Complete Sugar Control Strategy Guide: Easy Steps to Melt Away Belly Fat, Clear Your Arteries, and Control Your Blood Sugar Without Dangerous Drugs.
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Technically an herb derived from the husk of psyllium seed, psyllium forms a gel that slows the digestion of food as it moves through your system. Because it takes longer to break down carbohydrates and absorb glucose into your bloodstream, insulin has more time to convert that glucose into energy.
A Spanish study of 12 men and eight women with diabetes reported encouraging results. After taking 14 grams of psyllium a day for six weeks, they saw their glucose absorption decrease by 12 percent. However, results varied greatly between individuals. Their total cholesterol (7.7 percent) and LDL cholesterol (9.2 percent) also dropped significantly.
It’s not hard to get psyllium into your diet. Besides Metamucil and bulk laxatives, you can find it as a food additive in breakfast cereals, or you can buy your own psyllium at a whole foods store and sprinkle it on your morning cereal.
If you have diabetes, taking just one teaspoon, or about 5 grams, with water three times a day before meals can help reduce blood cholesterol levels and control blood sugar levels.
Psyllium can interact with many medications, so talk to your doctor before supplementing your diet with psyllium.
Also, be sure to monitor your blood sugar carefully while using psyllium. Its ability to lower blood sugar means that it may push blood sugar down too far in some people, especially when taken with drugs that reduce blood sugar.
That’s just the beginning of what you’ll discover in The Complete Sugar Control Strategy Guide: Easy Steps to Melt Away Belly Fat, Clear Your Arteries, and Control Your Blood Sugar Without Dangerous Drugs. Get your copy today to learn more!
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This little seed lowers blood pressure, reduces risk of stroke, fights arthritis, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stomach disorders, and even mental problems. Sound too good to be true? It’s not!
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For more than 10,000 years, humans have used flax to improve their health and way of life. Flax is an herb high in the heart-healthy fat omega-3, which is unusual for a plant.
Whether in the form of flaxseed oil, ground flaxseeds, or flax flour, this plant gives you a good amount of alpha-linolenic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid that lowers blood pressure and your risk for stroke. It’s also rich in fiber, which helps improve your cholesterol levels.
If diabetes runs in your family, and you eat a typical modern-day diet, your chances of getting this blood sugar disorder are high.
Researchers are finding that diet is as closely linked to diabetes as family history. It seems the more omega-6 fats you eat, like fried foods, the more likely you are to be overweight. You’re also more likely to become resistant to insulin — a double whammy that sets you up for diabetes.
When laboratory animals were fed a high omega-6 diet, no one was surprised when they got fat. But animals fed the same amount and calories of omega-3 fats weighed an amazing 33 percent less. That’s the difference between a 150- and 225-pound person. Maybe you don’t need to eat all that tasteless low-fat food to stay slim. Maybe you’re just eating the wrong kind of fat.
Besides keeping you thin, this friendly oil also helps your blood sugar. When a group of people with insulin resistance were switched to omega-3 fats instead of omega-6, they got better. They had lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and less harmful fat floating in their blood.
For more tips on ways to control your blood sugar, check out The Complete Sugar Control Strategy Guide: Easy Steps to Melt Away Belly Fat, Clear Your Arteries, and Control Your Blood Sugar Without Dangerous Drugs.
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You know how to use coffee filters to brew some java, but do you know these other surprising places you can use them around the house? Using them will save you some money!
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You know how to use coffee filters to brew some java, but do you know these other surprising places you can use them around the house?
Coffee filters aren’t the only useful household java item … the used grounds themselves can do all sorts of things like get rid of grease, deter pests, and more! Grab your copy of Save It, Fix It, Keep It, Use It: 1,437 Surprising Ways to Save Cash with Items You Already Have to learn more.
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No more scrubbing those zapped-on messes in your microwave! These tips will have you wiping them away in a flash.
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Cleaning your microwave can be just as quick and easy as cooking in it when you know these tips …
For more cleaning tips just like these, grab your copy of Save It, Fix It, Keep It, Use It: 1,437 Surprising Ways to Save Cash with Items You Already Have.
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Don’t waste money on expensive, chemical air fresheners. Use these cheap, natural odor-busters instead!
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Research shows that certain chemicals found in air fresheners and household deodorizers may harm your lungs. Keep your family safe by using these natural products that have been used for generations to freshen the air.
Save It, Fix It, Keep It, Use It: 1,437 Surprising Ways to Save Cash with Items You Already Have is packed with even more time and money saving household hacks just like this. Grab your copy today!
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While feelings are important, they are unreliable indicators of the trustworthiness of God’s promise.
Our feelings change easily, but God’s Word, and His character, remain constant. This illustration shows the relationship between fact (God and His Word) and our feelings.
Fact: The chair is strong enough to support you.
Faith: You believe this chair will support you, so you sit in it.
Feeling: You may or may not feel comfortable in this chair, but it continues to support you.
The promise of God’s Word, the Bible — not our feelings — is our authority, The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word.
Suggestions for Christian Growth
Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7)
Read God’s Word daily (Acts 17:22); begin with the Gospel of John
Obey God moment by moment (John 14:21).
Witness for Christ by your life and your words (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8).
Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7).
Holy Spirit — allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness (Galatians 5:16, 1 Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18).
Grab your copy of Daily Wisdom from God, where you’ll find devotions for every day of the year, plus, real stories from people who faced life’s challenges and saw God answer their prayers. He doesn’t answer the way we expect … but He always answers!
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Religion and health care have been intertwined for thousands of years. Monks, priests, shamans and medicine men were all once healers, as well as spiritual, leaders for their communities. But today, doctors never ask about your spirituality, and this may be a mistake.
An astonishing amount of scientific evidence links religion and well-being. Here are 3 ways your religion and spirituality can keep you healthy.
Daily Wisdom from God: 365 Real-Life Stories That Will Give You Peace, Hope, and Joy, is filled with devotions for every day of the year that will remind you of God’s power and faithfulness! Try it for yourself and see if you notice a change in your mental, or maybe even physical, health.
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Most of the research on spirituality has to do with mental health. And, overwhelmingly, the results show practicing some type of religion helps people cope with illness, stress and hardship.
Based on more than 3,000 studies, spanning close to 140 years, researchers found that religious people were optimistic, happy, and felt they had meaning and some sense of control in their lives when compared to people who were not religious. That also meant they were less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Many experts think it is a belief in God or a higher power that helps you battle negative emotions and the isolating effects of mental difficulties.
If you’re ready to strengthen your faith and boost your mental health, grab a copy of Daily Wisdom from God: 365 Real-Life Stories That Will Give You Peace, Hope, and Joy.
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It’s so embarrassing. You know the face, but you can’t for the life of you recall the name. Sound familiar?
Well, forget that! USA Memory Champion Nelson Dellis has come up with a surefire, if odd, way to remember any name.
Want to remember an important address or a list? Just do this one weird, but quick, thing with your eyes. Look for it on page 235 of Your Brain and Body Answer Book. Don’t forget, now!
This lunchbox favorite isn’t just for kids anymore ...
Sweet, creamy peanut butter is a potent body fuel — loaded with iron, B vitamins, protein, and fiber to name but a few of its powerhouse nutrients — so a small amount can go miles to improve your health.
In fact, eating as little as a couple of tablespoons a day can measurably reduce a person’s risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure!
And on page 99 of Your Brain and Body Answer Book, you’ll discover how combining it with one popular fruit can keep your brain young, too! It just might be the perfect snack — for any age!
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In a huge study, Australian researchers gave extensive memory tests to 29,500 people and also recorded their habits and daily diet.
This research revealed the 7 habits of people with the sharpest memories. Here are the ones you can probably guess:
But I bet you wouldn’t guess these ... First, write every day — try keeping a diary or journal. It beats watching TV, because folks who keep their memories also limit television to 1 hour per day!
What about food? First, eat fish every week — it really is brain food! And have a cup of tea or coffee daily. Nutrients in these foods protect your brain cells.
Oh, and about reading ... you can get an extra boost by picking the right kinds of things to read. See page 35 of Your Brain and Body Answer Book to find out how to supercharge your protection!
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Looking for a drug-free, quick, and natural way to reduce anxiety? Look no further than dark chocolate! We’re not joking — dark chocolate has real health benefits.
In a remarkable study conducted by Swiss scientists, people who ate approximately 1 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate daily for a span of two weeks experienced a significant decrease in their stress hormone levels.
Dark chocolate also triggers the production of serotonin, often referred to as the “feel- good” hormone. So not only does it help you combat stress, it also contributes to an overall sense of well-being. And here’s the best part — none of the participants in the study reported any negative side effects, such as an increase in blood sugar levels.
Looking for more all-natural, delicious ways to improve your health and happiness? Look no further than The Country Doctor’s Kitchen Secrets Handbook 2: 1,267 Pantry Prescriptions and Refrigerator Remedies for Almost Every Health and Household Problem.
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Tomatoes are loaded with a special antioxidant compound called lycopene. It neutralizes molecules called free radicals, which are the by-product of everything from environmental toxins to unhealthy diets. Lycopene prevents free radicals from damaging healthy cells — potentially reducing the risk of cancer.
In The Country Doctor’s Kitchen Secrets Handbook 2, you’ll learn about an Ohio study that found women who consumed the equivalent of four tomatoes per day had a remarkable 45% lower risk of developing kidney cancer! And how research shows men with higher levels of lycopene in their bloodstream, were 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer compared to those with lower levels!
Just another reason why you can’t afford to miss the amazing information we’ve gathered in The Country Doctor’s Kitchen Secrets Handbook 2: 1,267 Pantry Prescriptions and Refrigerator Remedies for Almost Every Health and Household Problem.
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You may think vinegar, lemonade, and baking soda are an unlikely combination, but these three actually have some amazing uses. They’ll do wonders for one of the toughest- to-clean appliances in your kitchen — the dishwasher.
To get rid of stains and smells, empty your dishwasher, and work your way through these three steps.
You’ll find dozens more tips for a healthy home in The Country Doctor’s Kitchen Secrets Handbook 2: 1,267 Pantry Prescriptions and Refrigerator Remedies for Almost Every Health and Household Problem.
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Fiber, the unsung hero of a healthy diet, offers numerous benefits for our bodies. Found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, fiber plays a vital role in our digestive system and overall well-being.
Firstly, fiber keeps our digestive system happy and running smoothly, preventing constipation and promoting regularity. Secondly, it helps control blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream. Additionally, fiber aids in weight management by providing a feeling of fullness and reducing overeating.
By including fiber-rich foods (like the ones on page 106 of Grandma’s Miracle Food Fixes) we can improve our digestive health, manage our weight, and support a balanced blood sugar level. Embrace the power of fiber and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle!
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If you're seeking a natural solution to stimulate hair growth, castor oil might be your hair's new best friend. Derived from the seeds of the castor plant, this thick and nutrient-rich oil has been used for centuries to nourish and revitalize hair.
Castor oil is packed with essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and proteins that promote healthy hair growth. Its moisturizing properties help prevent breakage, making your hair stronger and more resilient. Additionally, castor oil has antimicrobial properties that can benefit scalp health, reducing dandruff and promoting a clean environment for hair growth.
To incorporate castor oil into your hair care routine, gently massage it into your scalp and work it through your hair. Leave it on for a few hours or overnight, then rinse thoroughly. Regular application, about once or twice a week, can yield noticeable results over time.
And you can also use the natural-beauty staple on page 256 of Grandma’s Miracle Food Fixes to help grow stronger, thicker hair. But, don’t apply it to your head … eat it instead!
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Tomatoes have a special ability to help prevent and fight cancer!
It's all thanks to a powerful substance called lycopene. Lycopene is like a superhero antioxidant that can stop harmful molecules from causing cancer.
Studies have found that when we eat foods with lycopene, like tomatoes, it can lower the risk of different types of cancer, such as prostate, lung, and stomach cancer. It does this by stopping cancer cells from growing and even making them destroy themselves.
The best part is, you can grow this cancer preventer in your own back yard (or even in a pot on your back porch!) To make them taste super sweet, add banana peels to their water. It’s as easy as that!
Tomatoes aren’t the only easy-to-grow super healer. Page 3 of Grandma’s Miracle Food Fixes reveals the herb that can prevent blood clots and lower cholesterol!
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Dark chocolate fights heart disease, high blood pressure, and other ailments. It works because of flavonoids and resveratrol, the natural plant chemicals you find in chocolate.
They behave as antioxidants, fighting free radicals, and in turn, prevent damage to cells that can lead to heart disease!
Dark chocolate also lowers levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of harmful inflammation in your body. This antioxidant effect also allows chocolate to improve blood vessel function and reduce high blood pressure. Not to mention, it can also improve your cholesterol levels!
Just avoid drinking milk when you eat your yummy chocolate. Milk has been shown to limit the health-boosting benefits chocolate has to offer by blocking the absorption of antioxidants.
For more delicious foods, that are also great for your health, order What Every Senior Should Eat 2.
]]>A tip from Smokey the Bear might help ease your arthritis symptoms. Smokey always said a spark is enough to start a forest fire. Likewise, sparks of inflammation in your joints trigger rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms. Research suggests you may help dowse your symptoms if you eat inflammation-fighters like these ...
There are even more natural arthritis relievers to be found in What Every Senior Should Eat 2.
]]>It’s amazing how something you already know and love can work wonders for your body! Take coffee, for example. It can help protect you from diabetes, gallstones, and even cancer! Here’s how …
And that’s just one of the MANY natural-healing staples you’ll discover in What Every Senior Should Eat 2.
]]>No matter how you drink it — caffeinated or decaffeinated — coffee does more than get your day started off right. Drinking 3 to 5 cups of this popular beverage every day could make you 65% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s (AD) or other dementias in your later years.
Coffee cans the clumping that leads to AD. A jolt of java contains between 800 and 1,000 compounds — with caffeine being only one of them. Phenylindane is another and it may be helpful in preventing AD. Darker roasts of coffee appear to have higher concentrations of phenylindanes than lighter roasts.
Researchers at the University of Toronto believe phenylindane hinders the clustering of proteins called beta-amyloid and tau. Left unchecked, these proteins form plaques and tangles that can disrupt brain cell communication and lead to AD. Turn to page 74 of The Ageless Brain for Seniors: 1,001 Secrets to Keep Your Brain Young, Your Memory Sharp, and Your Mind Healthy for an entire chapter on the health benefits of coffee!
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Piggyback. Help your recall by linking fresh material to an already-established memory. Want to remember your neighbor is from New York? Think about your trip to the Big Apple and connect the two.
Rehearse, recall, repeat. Ever forget someone’s name right after you met them? How embarrassing! You’re not alone, though. People may forget as much as 80% of newly learned information within a few days. But repetition can help you retrieve the information later on.
So next time you meet someone, say their name out loud and repeat it several times in the conversation. Or try subbing them into “The Name Game,” a song from the 1960s. “Shirley, Shirley, bo-ber-ley, bo-na-na fanna, fo-fer-ley, fee fi mo-mer-ley, Shirley!” Who could forget a name after that?
Memory palace. Be like Sherlock Holmes and use this strategy — also called the method of loci — to make your memories stick.
Start by picking a familiar place, like your house or a well-known street, to be your “palace.” Then map a route through the space, placing the information you want to remember in distinct spots as you walk through. You’ll follow this path each time to keep those memory triggers in order.
Maybe you want to remember your sister lives in Chicago. Using a mind palace of your childhood home, you could envision the city’s famous sculpture, “The Bean,” sitting on an armchair. When you imagine walking through your palace, you’ll see the silver sculpture and remember Chicago. You’ll find three more great memory tips starting on page 213 of The Ageless Brain for Seniors: 1,001 Secrets to Keep Your Brain Young, Your Memory Sharp, and Your Mind Healthy.
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Tai chi is a graceful form of gentle, low-impact exercise so simple anyone can do it. The series of stretching movements are performed slowly, allowing each position to flow into the next without interruption. This side effect-free therapy has been used for thousands of years to discipline the mind and body.
Experts say all you need is a little more than two hours of practice a week over six months to gain the brain benefits of tai chi. And its gentle, rhythmic movements can be adapted to suit many physical abilities. Some may find it necessary to use a chair as support, for example. Instructors recommend that you check with your doctor before starting a program so you can spot any challenges tai chi might pose.
Ready to get started? Check out page 310 in The Ageless Brain for Seniors: 1,001 Secrets to Keep Your Brain Young, Your Memory Sharp, and Your Mind Healthy to learn about Tai Chi websites and where you can find classes near you.
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Your body produces vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun’s UV rays. And studies show it could help keep cancer at bay!
For example, a recent study in older women found that those who took vitamin D and calcium supplements were at a 60% lower risk of all cancers.
Evidence shows that those who get more vitamin D lower their risk of breast, colon, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers!
The good news is, you can get vitamin D from a variety of sources whether it’s the sun, delicious foods, or supplements. If you’re looking for the best food sources of vitamin D, you’ll find them listed throughout The Kitchen Table Book 3!
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Don’t throw out cheap olive oil — even if you’ve decided to move up to extra-virgin olive oil for cooking. Put the inexpensive stuff to good use around your house.
The best part is, olive oil is a non-toxic, natural cleanser! For even more inexpensive, chemical-free cleaning solutions, check out The Kitchen Table Book 3. Page 11 reveals the 75 cent product that will have your guests thinking you hired a professional cleaner!
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One bite of this tropical delight can inspire dreams of sun-kissed shores. Even grapefruit’s botanical name — Citrus paradisi — conjures up images of swaying palm trees and gentle ocean breezes. But this tart and tasty fruit is no watered-down weakling. It’s packed with a heart-healthy compound that fights high blood pressure and dangerously stiff arteries. Citrus paradisi, indeed.
You can blame the natural compound naringin, a type of flavanone, for grapefruit’s bitter taste. But you also have to give it a tip of the cap for keeping your blood pressure in check and your blood vessels healthy.
Studies revealed that drinking grapefruit juice dilates your blood vessels to help your blood flow more easily through them. This, in turn, lowers blood pressure and helps keep your heart in tip-top shape!
Even though grapefruit is healthy for some folks, it’s not for everyone! Be sure to see the medications listed on page 144 of The Kitchen Table Book 3. They can have dangerous side-effects when taken alongside grapefruit!
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It may seem overwhelming to enter the world of streaming. But really, the hardest part is getting started. Streaming services for movies and TV shows are usually accessed by one of three methods:
Some services offer options for using either a box or a stick for accessing content via a TV. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about smart TVs (and how to work them) starts on page 327 of New Technology Made Easy for Seniors: The User-Friendly Guidebook to Smartphones, Smart TVs, Super Sites, Computers, and More (It Doesn't Have to Be So Complicated!)
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Have a long message to type? Make it easy on yourself and speak it instead. When typing a message on an iPhone or Android smartphone, simply tap on the microphone icon next to the text box to record a message by voice rather than text.
Smartphones use virtual keyboards, which appear whenever text needs to be entered. You can set your keyboard to do handy tasks like automatically capitalize words at the beginning of sentences, check spelling, and enable predictive text so the keyboard guesses at words as you type them.
To look at the keyboard settings on an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard. For an Android smartphone, go to Settings > System > Language & input, and tap on one of the keyboard options, depending on the type of Android device.
But, uh-oh! You got the text typed and sent, but realized you sent it to the wrong person! Learn how to unsend it on page 36 of New Technology Made Easy for Seniors: The User-Friendly Guidebook to Smartphones, Smart TVs, Super Sites, Computers, and More (It Doesn't Have to Be So Complicated!).
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Does the thought of learning new computer skills seem daunting … even a little scary? Fear not. Take a look at these tips to help you get up and running in the digital world.