The governor of New York has declared a state health emergency, as the flu epidemic that has sickened more than 19,000 people in his state.

We are in the midst of one of the worst flu outbreaks in recent years.  Massachusetts General Hospital has already treated more confirmed flu cases than it did by this time during the swine flu “pandemic.”

You don’t need to check the Center for Disease Control’s national flu trend map to know that’s the case.

The typical flu symptoms are a fever of around 100°, chills, exhaustion, cough, chest congestion, sinus pressure, runny nose, sneezing and body aches.

The typical flu also causes heaviness or pain behind the eyes.  A nasal swab can detect it, but this type of testing is not 100 percent accurate.

What is confusing for medical professionals and patients alike, is the fact that experts continue to encourage the flu shot, claiming it is well-matched to the circulating H3N2 strain of this flu virus, many patients getting the flu had received the flu vaccine. …read more of Natural Flu Treatment Alternative here

Iron is a double-edged sword.

If we don’t absorb enough we risk anemia, but if we absorb too much we may be increasing our risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease, infection, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory conditions. Video: Risk Associated With Iron Supplements

Other conditions that have been associated with high iron intake include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, arthritis, and diabetes.

Because the human body has no mechanism to rid itself of excess iron, we evolved to tightly regulate its absorption. If our iron stores are low our intestines boost the absorption of iron and if our iron stores are topped off our intestines block the absorption of iron to maintain the sweet spot. …read more of How to Enhance Mineral Absorption here

Vegan Fashion.  What is it, exactly?  The vegan lifestyle is inherently cruelty-free and posits that no animal is exploited in the production of any item, be it food, clothing, accessories, personal care products or furniture.

Compassion for animals is the basis for the ethical choices that vegans make and compassion in fashion is a logical extension. Living the vegan lifestyle is also the environmental choice because excluding animal products is a very effective way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Going vegan has become very trendy and it seems every day another star athlete or well-known celebrity makes the decision to kick animal products from their menu.

There are, however consumer items in all areas of life that exploit animals one way or another and while most begin by choosing the plant-based diet, eventually other areas of lifestyle come under scrutiny.

For clothing to be considered vegan, materials like wool, leather and even silk are not acceptable. Does that mean vegans cannot be fashionable?  Not at all!  Vegan fashion is not an oxymoron. …read more of Eco-Fashion: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good! here

A disturbing analysis of mortality and morbidity was recently published in the Journal of Gerontology. Americans are living longer but sicker lives. We’re now living fewer healthy years.

Compared to a decade ago, we live about a year longer, but develop a serious disease like a stroke, cancer or diabetes two years earlier. One step forward, two steps back.

The researchers at UCLA also tracked capacity to function, for example, the ability to walk up ten steps or to kneel without using special equipment and found a similar trend.

In just one decade, we now live more years with serious illness and disability, meaning we’re living longer in sickness, not in health; a longer lifespan, but a shorter health span. …read more of Watermelon for Erectile Dysfunction? here

With 50 million Americans suffering from allergies, it is no wonder that there are so many over the counter (OTC) antihistamines.[1]

A nationwide survey found that 54.6 percent of all US citizens test positive for one or more allergens.[2] Unfortunately, OTC medications are often either ineffective, or cause untoward side effects.

If you are an allergy sufferer, you know that spring rings in a season of itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion and postnasal drip.

In the worst of cases, spring allergies can turn into a sinus infection.  These natural remedies can help to ward off the discomforts of allergy season.

Eight Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

1. Medicine at the tip of your fork:  It is as much what you eat, as what you don’t eat.  This is so dramatically helpful that I have to put it at the top of the list.  Eliminate wheat, dairy and sugar and you may be surprised at how your sinuses clear up within a week or two. …read more of Eight Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies here