3 Herbal Teas and How they Benefit Your Health

If you're not a big fan of green tea (I didn't use to be, but I've come around in recent years, and now I like it), herbal tea (technically an "infusion" - not a tea) also has some great health benefits, and may be more your cup of tea! While herbal remedies have been used in some cultures for centuries, other societies have just begun to accept their benefits.  Even now, some people still rely on modern medicine for problems that can be treated effectively with an herbal remedy because they are leery about them.  A great way to get the benefits of herbs without taking supplements is to brew them into a tea.  You then get the benefits along with a great tasting drink.

Here are three great herbal teas and what they can do to help you. 

Valerian Tea

Tea Inventory (Photo credit: euphbass)

Valerian has been used for centuries to help with a whole host of medical problems.  Most recently it has been used to calm nerves and even soothe severe anxiety and restlessness.  It is a great tea to enjoy at the end of the day when you want to unwind and relax.  Because it acts as a sedative, Valerian is often used to cure insomnia and get a restful night’s sleep.  It is also commonly used to help with menstrual cramps and digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Warning! You should also be wary of continued use because it can become addictive and produce withdrawal symptoms if you stop using it. If drinking valerian tea, do so only occasionally.  
When making Valerian tea, do not use boiling water.  You can decrease its potency; just use hot water. 

Echinacea Tea

Want to be able to strengthen your immune system and better fight off viruses like that flu?  Or course you do.  That’s why you should try to drink Echinacea tea regularly.  This tea stimulates your T cells and helps boost interferon production; both essential parts of immune functioning. Echinacea should not be taken daily, but you can safely drink Echinacea tea whenever you feel a cold coming on, or you just need a boost to your immune system. I love Celestial Seasonings' Echinacea Wellness tea - it tastes great, and is lovely when you have a cold, or are fighting one off.

Note: A few people may be allergic to Echinacea, so if you experience any signs of an allergic reaction or an asthma attack, discontinue use and see a doctor immediately. 

Herbal tea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hawthorn Tea

If you’re looking for a natural, effective way to help improve your heart function and circulation, you may want to try hawthorn tea.  This herb has been known to help the heart, relieve blood pressure problems, lower cholesterol, and improve circulation.  It’s also an antioxidant which means it helps prevent cancer and improves overall health.

If used properly, herbal teas can be a great way to naturally improve your health and help you live a happier life.  If you benefit from these teas, there are many other options that you can try to maintain good health.

NOTE: Before drinking herbal teas, taking herbal supplements, or taking any medications, you should talk to your doctor.  Herbs can have side effects, complications, and drug interactions; just like prescription meds.  You doctor will be able to tell you if it’s safe for you to use certain herbs or not.   

6 Healthy Benefits of Green Tea

While green tea has been used in Eastern cultures for over 4,000 years, only recently has it been recognized for its medicinal properties in Western culture. Here are just 6 of the many health benefits that green tea can provide. 

Vietnamese green tea leaves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Protects your smile.  Green tea contains bacteria fighting agents that kill the help stop plaque production.  Less plaque means you have cleaner, healthier teeth and gums.  Another plus, it also kills the bacteria responsible for bad breath.
2. Helps prevent cancer.  EGCG is a powerful antioxidant found in many teas, but is present in much larger concentrations in green tea.  Antioxidants combat chemicals that are naturally produced in the body that can cause cancer and other health issues.  Studies have shown one substance in green tea can slow the growth of cancer cells.  While research hasn’t been done on every type of cancer, green tea has shown that it may reduce the risk of one cancer up to 60 percent.  It has also been shown it may reduce the recurrence of certain other cancers as well.
3. Promotes a health heart.  The EGCG in green tea has also been shown to lower total cholesterol levels.  Specifically, it lowers “bad” cholesterol more than it does “good” cholesterol.  EGCG also helps prevent against heart attack and stroke by inhibiting the production of blood clots.  Green tea also helps to lower levels of stress hormones in the body, leaving you more relaxed.  Being stressed out can cause damage to the heart along with the rest of your body.  Drinking green tea could help keep your heart beating a lot longer.
4. Boosts immune system function.  While green tea can help fight bacteria in your mouth, it can also help fight diseases in the rest of your body.  Green tea contains an amino acid that helps fight bacteria and improve the immune response in your body.  If you regularly drink green tea, you may find you get sick a lot less.
5. Eases/prevents rheumatoid arthritis pain.  Green tea is not only beneficial in easing the symptoms of this painful disease; it has also been shown to help prevent you from ever getting it.  In China, where more people drink green tea regularly, there is a much lower incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.  
6. Promotes weight loss.  When you eat a lot of carbohydrates, your body responds by producing a lot of insulin; leaving you tired and craving more food.  Green tea has been shown to help keep blood sugar at lower levels so you don’t produce as much insulin.  This can help you eat less and lose weight - and also may reduce chances of developing diabetes.  Studies have also found that green tea can speed up how fast your body metabolizes certain foods.  And the faster your metabolism, the faster you slim down. 

Green tea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While these are all great health benefits, you should realize that drinking green tea every so often is probably not going to make a big difference to your weight - and you may not see other drastic changes in your health either.  Many of the studies that produced results had participants drinking up to 10 glasses of green tea a day!  If you find you’re just can’t drink enough green tea, there are supplements available that are green tea based; however, the best option is the real thing, and even including a glass or two of green tea in your daily routine can benefit your health in many ways. 

Note: This blog is for informational purposes only, and does not provide or substitute for medical advice. One should consult one's medical care practitioner before adding green tea or any other dietary supplement to your diet.

Video: Recyled Mushroom Craft Project

Here's a fun kids craft using some recycled materials. All you need is empty toilet paper rolls, scissors, glue, and some construction paper to make a whole mushroom forest in all different colors! Make this craft even more eco-friendly by using cereal boxes instead of construction paper - you'll get great funky color combinations and cool designs. This one is good for kids 5 and up, and younger kids may need some help with the cutting and gluing processes.

How to make a toy mushroom from a toilet paper tube
In this episode we show you how to make a toy mushroom from a toilet paper tube For more information about this tutorial visit : www.simplekidscrafts.com www.artsandcraftstv.com and English: www.manualidadesconninos.com www.manualidadestv.com Simple ...

Making Your Own Bathtub Toys - Thrifty & Fun!

If you are looking for entertaining bath toys for your kids, look no further than your own home. You can make inexpensive bathtub toys easily from everyday objects - with a bit of creativity, you can save some money by reusing or recycling these common objects into fun toys for bath time. Here are a few ideas - some require some craftiness on your part, but many other objects can provide a source of endless fun just as they are!

1. Sailboats

(Photo credit: Uriel 1998)

Here's another way to make use of those plastic water and soda bottles that seem to be everywhere these days. To make a sailboat, here is what you will need:

* Empty plastic water bottle
* Rectangular sponge
* Rubber band
* Scissors
* Drinking straw
* Craft foam or cloth
* Glue

Using the rubber band, attach the sponge to the outside of the bottle. When the bottle is laid on its side in the water, the sponge will absorb enough water to stabilize the boat and keep it from rolling over and over. On the side of the bottle opposite the sponge, poke a hole with scissors. Insert the drinking straw. Then, cut the craft foam or cloth into a triangle. Fold one edge of it around the straw and glue.

2. Funnels
Funnels of all shapes and sizes make wonderful bath toys as they are. Raid your kitchen cabinets.

3. Colanders

Let your kids play with the kitchen colander in the bath. Little ones love to see the water run through the holes.

4. Medicine droppers
Kids love to play with these. They look like syringes without needles. Squirting water out of them is a lot of fun - but be prepared to get wet! The same is true for bulb-shaped nasal aspirators. Make sure it's clean, and then let your child suck up and squirt water in and out of the bulb syringe.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

5. Measuring cups and spoons
These are always popular with kids, especially babies and toddlers. Held together by a ring, measuring spoons can be played with in the tub. So can measuring cups.

6. Plastic dish soap bottles

Your dishwashing liquid bottle can make a great tub toy when it's empty. It's big and easy to squeeze - fill it with bath water and let your kids squirt away.

7. Empty bottles

Big two-liter bottles or smaller ones can be used as is. Babies and toddlers love to watch the water chug and glug as they pour it out.

8. Ice cube trays

Pour "water fountains" up out of the small square compartments of ice cube trays (just pour water into the cubes from a height of a foot or more, and it will spray up like a "fountain"). And the trays are just fun to play with in the tub.

9. Plastic containers

Margarine, whipped topping, yogurt, and other foods come in wonderfully reusable containers of various sizes. Save them and use them in the bath tub - and at the beach they're great for making sand castles!

Finding Fun Recycled Craft Supplies

Many of us want to do crafts, either on our own or with children. But sometimes the necessary supplies can get expensive, and they are not always eco-friendly. Here are some ideas for craft supplies that are not only eco-friendly; they are inexpensive (even free!) too.

Look to Nature

Natural materials are wonderful for crafts. Whether you are weaving baskets, making wreaths, or building "log" cabins, nature provides all sorts of craft supplies. Here are some possibilities.

(Photo credit: Muffet)

* Evergreen branches can be cut and woven into wreaths - this is a great winter-time craft, and could even turn into a lucrative hobby if you find a market for your wreaths around the holidays!
* Pinecones and berries can be glued onto a circular frame to make a wreath (another good idea for those slow winter afternoons indoors).
* Strong, flexible plant fibers such as sea grass can be woven into baskets.
* Attractive branches can be made into picture frames.
* A handful of small, straight sticks can be used to build a log cabin or even a whole town.
* Pretty leaves can be pressed, dried, and used in decoupage.

Cardboard Tubes
Don't we all have those toilet paper and paper towel tubes in our recycling bins, or sitting out on our countertops? These readily-available tubes are good supplies for a variety of crafts, such as:

* Constellation-viewing telescope - fit of piece of aluminum foil over one end of the tube and secure with a rubber band. Punch holes in the foil in whatever design you like, then hold up the telescope to light and look into the non-foil end. Your design will look like stars.

* Hair clasps can be made from toilet paper tubes. You just cut the tube in half length-wise, decorate the convex side, then use a hot glue gun to adhere a plain hair clip to the undecorated, concave side.

* Varying sizes of tube can be painted a uniform color, and then glued vertically to a cardboard or wood base. This makes a good holder for pencils, paper clips, pens, etc.

A Papier-mâché project in progress. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Newspaper

Newspaper can be used for more than just covering your workspace. Tear it into shreds to make papier mache. Or shred it, mix it with water, then press out the water through a screen to make your own recycled paper - a fun craft for kids!

Cereal Boxes

Some craft projects call for paper plates. But cutting circles out of used cereal boxes is more eco-friendly, and often yields a sturdier circle. Other uses for cereal box cardboard are:

* Fold square sheets of it into decorative boxes.
* Cut one corner off and make a stand-up magazine or paper holder.

Potatoes and Apples

Cut a potato in half and carve a design into the cut surface. Use as you would a rubber stamp. To make an apple stamp, cut the flesh away from the core, and then cut the core in half cross-wise. Use as a rubber stamp - it will make a star shape.

These fun ideas are great for making crafts with the kids on cold winter afternoons when they can't get outside to play. They can have a source of creative outlet, and you can teach them about how much fun it can be to find eco-friendly materials for their crafts - make it a fun activity for the whole family!

Video: Why Alternative Fuel Sources Aren't Mainstream

While somewhat conspiracy theorist, this video does contain some interesting info and ideas as to why we are so reliant on gasoline and fossil fuels for our energy and transportation needs. It is going to take a massive demand from us as consumers to change the direction of the economic machine to one of cleaner and environmental resources. It really is up to us as individuals to make a difference and demand better choices be made available.

Alternative fuel government cant tax and wont support, water
Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces almost no pollution. NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the 1970s to propel the space shuttle and other rockets into orbit. Hydrogen fuel cells power the shuttle's electrica...

Building A Solar-Powered Car?

If water as a green energy source can be used to power a car, as we discussed in Monday's post, why don’t we do the same for solar power which has been around much longer?

Almost all cars are still powered by gas. But with the volatility of crude oil prices and because it is not a renewable resource, something must be done before it is too late. Given that solar energy, a green energy source, can be used to power entire communities, why not do this on a small scale by using the same principles to build your own car?

A modern solar cell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To make this work, you'll need lot of things but the two most important are the solar array and the batteries.

The solar array is vital because this is what’s used to collect the sun’s rays and convert them into electrical energy. There are two types to choose from in the market - namely the prefabricated type and the individual kind which you set up yourself.

If you are looking for branded parts, check out either Siemens or ASE Americas that sell terrestrial grade cells and space grade cells. The lower end model, which can still produce a significant amount of power, is the terrestrial grade version.

Proper wiring must be done to make sure that if one of the panels is not working, your vehicle will still move. Even if the voltage of the solar array doesn't exactly match the system voltage of your motor, in most cases it should still run.

We mentioned earlier that the battery is also important because this is where the solar energy will be stored. Your options for this are lead acid, lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium. Just how many you need to buy will depend on your motor’s voltage. 

When you finally have these two components, these will now have to be connected to the motor. And so that you know how much juice is left in your batteries, you will also need to install instrumentation similar to the heads up display console on regular cars which tells you your speed, mileage and gas.

Australia hosts the World Solar Challenge where solar cars like the Nuna3 race through a km (0 mi) course from Darwin to Adelaide. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Interestingly enough, the only commercially available cars that use solar energy so far are the ones used in long distance races, for example, in Australia. To help people realize that renewable energy is really the key to the future, the big automakers should try tapping this technology instead of relying of still relying on gasoline.

Apart from solar energy as a green energy source to power your car, biodiesel is another alternative. This is a combination of alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. This can also be done using corn and sugarcane.

Not only are these renewable, but they don't release the same pollution into the atmosphere that a gasoline engine does. This means you do not release harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide into the air which causes damage to the environment. So even if you can’t build a solar powered car, at least consider a different fuel alternative.

Can You Use A Green Energy Source Like Water to Power A Car?

For more than a century, we have relied on oil to fuel our cars. But did you know that the world’s oil production is now in permanent decline, and will eventually dry up completely? While that may not happen tomorrow or next year, or in the next decade, we are getting ever closer because of the increased demand in the world market, as well as the fact that fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource. Why wait for that day when we can rely on a green energy source like water to power our cars?

BMW Hydrogen 7 Engine From the TED Simulcast Lounge. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you think that’s impossible, you may be surprised to learn that this innovation is already in the works, but just not yet being made on a commercial scale.

The German automobile company BMW has recently produced the world’s first ever hydrogen powered car. While only 100 of these units were produced, it just goes to show the possibilities that can be achieved in this area.

The initial model, the BMW Hydrogen 7, uses the body of the 760i gasoline model. But once you pop the hood, you will notice that the engine is different since it uses both gas and hydrogen. Obviously we have not yet totally abandoned our dependence on gas. But given more time and money, the current 4.7 miles per gallon the car can travel using water alone could hit double digits in the near future.

The biggest challenge to using water as a green energy source as opposed to oil in vehicles is the engine. While there are cars around like the Prius, which runs on electricity and gas thanks to fuel cell technology, the hydrogen combustion engine is less than 10 years old so you could say we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

To prevent the water from evaporating in this type of engine, it has to be stored in a large, 30-gallon, bi-layered and highly insulated tank so this does not evaporate into compressed gas, which could pose a safety hazard. Another safety mechanism is the valves which are designed to open should the pressure within the tank exceed 5 bars.

With the success of the BMW H7, the company came out with a new car that is also partly powered by water known as the H2R. While we cannot yet put our garden hose into the fuselage to fill it up, this vehicle uses liquid nitrogen as a fuel.

Tests on this vehicle have shown it can achieve 285hp and reach a top cruising speed of 185.5 miles per hour. It can also accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour under 6 seconds.

Honda FCX (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But why use water? The reason is that hydrogen combustion is clean, so it does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere, unlike cars that run on petrol or diesel that emit carbon monoxide. Studies have shown that it also weighs less than hydrocarbon-based fuels and burns faster and more efficiently than conventional gasoline.

So when can you expect to buy a car that uses water as a green energy source? Hopefully in the next 15 to 20 years. It is really up to the automakers because all we can do is wait until a better and cleaner car hits the market.

Right now, the best option we have are electric cars. Since the electric car's introduction in 1999, more and more people are using them due to increased gasoline costs.  They provide a much cleaner and more efficient alternative to gasoline powered vehicles, and owners have been very satisfied with them. Until the hydro-powered car becomes a viable reality, remember, you may not be able to build your own hydrogen powered car, but you can vote with your wallet for cleaner and more eco-friendly choices!

Video: The Importance of Probiotics for Digestive Health

This short video gives a great introduction to probiotics and how and why they are so helpful for promoting good digestive health and immune function. A vast portion of our immune system is located in our gut, so a properly functioning digestive system, colonized with the right bacteria, is essential for overall health - and is something that is sadly lacking in many Westerners on a modern diet. Some have even surmised that unhealthy gut flora is the cause for many of our modern diseases and ailments.

Check out the video to learn more about probiotics and how they work, and why they are so important - and see below for some of the resources mentioned in the video.

Use Probiotics For Better Immune Function, Digestive Health & Less Gas - Dr. Agrios, ND
www.DrAngelaAgrios.com - Probiotics are friendly bacteria that reside in the gut, and they are essential for optimum gut health and immune function. Lack of friendly bacteria in the gut can lead to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, and once that ...


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How To Avoid Heartburn Naturally

Heartburn and indigestion make millions of people miserable. Thankfully simple changes in the foods you eat can provide relief. Overconsumption of rich foods during the holidays can lead to a painful January, so in the interest of digestive health this week we'll share a few tips for relieving heartburn, or just avoiding in the first place.

(Photo credit: moofbong)

A number of foods can trigger heartburn or indigestion by relaxing the band of muscles at the end of your esophagus so it can't keep out stomach acid. By avoiding spicy foods with black pepper or chili powder, garlic and raw onions, acidic or citrus foods like tomatoes, oranges, and grapefruit, fried or fatty foods, alcohol or anything with caffeine such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, heartburn and indigestion can be greatly lessened or avoided. (Be aware that many food sensitivities and allergies can cause heartburn, so it may be helpful to keep a food diary if you experience heartburn often, and if you notice you regularly get heartburn after consuming a certain food, you should avoid it, even if it does not appear in the list above.)

For overall healthy digestion and to minimize acid reflux, make sure you get plenty of fiber from a variety of vegetables, non-citrus fruits, and whole grains. Drink enough fluids to help your body absorb important nutrients and lubricate food waste, and use low-fat methods when cooking. Try drinking herbal chamomile tea after dinner or before bedtime, as it’s believed to have a calming effect on the stomach.

Smaller but more frequent meals can also help decrease heartburn and indigestion episodes. Be sure to eat your meals and snacks in a calm, relaxed atmosphere where there’s little if any noise or distractions. Wear properly fitting clothing that isn’t tight in the waist and abdominal area, and don’t lie down immediately after eating a meal. I know for me, heartburn always seems to occur at the end of the day after wearing a tight belt or pants that cut in at my waist all day. Also I seem to suffer heartburn if I let myself get too hungry, or go too long without eating, so these tips are especially helpful if your experience is like mine.

Citrus fruits can trigger heartburn.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Make your morning meal oatmeal. It’s high in fiber, low in saturated fat and cholesterol and when combined with whole milk, gives you a calcium-charged boost to your day. By adding blueberries or raisins you’ll be adding some extra iron and potassium into the mix for a well-balanced meal. (Note: Some people are sensitive to grains, and eating oatmeal may in fact increase heartburn occurrence. If you notice you have heartburn after eating oatmeal, try cutting it out for a week or so, and see if symptoms go away - then you'll know it's one food you should avoid.)

You can't beat turkey if you want a lean, nutrient-packed protein source that'll be easy on your stomach. Turkey is high in niacin, which helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Chicken is also a terrific low-fat source of protein. Both are easy to cook either indoors or out.

Apples and grapes are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and are a great non-citrus fruit choice for vitamin C and fiber, without irritating your stomach. Taking a digestive enzyme supplement with meals can also help your body absorb nutrients, while avoiding heartburn symptoms.

Following these simple food and eating tips can help you reduce your instances of heartburn, and keep your tummy healthy and comfortable.

Natural Remedies for Food Poisoning

With all the holiday meals, potlucks, and celebratory feasts of the season, food poisoning is fairly common this time of year. Unfortunately, drugs to combat food poisoning can increase your body's toxic load, and create more of a burden on your already stressed system. And they really aren't any more effective than natural methods of dealing with food poisoning. Here are some natural tips for recovering quickly - if you happen to get sick from something you eat.

Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph showing Salmonella typhimurium (red) invading cultured human cells (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Food poisoning is an all-encompassing term involving the consumption of contaminated food, whether by bacteria or chemicals, drug interactions, nutrient deficiencies or their excess. It can come on rather suddenly after eating; diarrhea or vomiting can begin 30 minutes to one hour after eating foods that are chemically poisonous; within one to 12 hours with bacterial poisoning, and 12 to 48 hours with viral or salmonella poisoning.

Food poisoning can be serious and a medical professional should be contacted especially if it is accompanied by a difficulty in swallowing, speaking or breathing; if there is a fever of 100 degrees F; if the person can't even hold down liquids; if there is severe diarrhea of more than two days.

The best remedy is to curtail eating until all the symptoms have subsided and the toxins have had the chance to exit your system.

Drink plenty of fluids - vitamin C and blackberry and peppermint teas can be taken then to strengthen the stomach, along with yogurt that contains acidophilus to recolonize the lost flora in the bowel. A good probiotic supplement can also work wonders at helping your body regain equilibrium quickly.

Diluted sweetened drinks can also be consumed to replace the body’s lost fluid and electrolytes, and the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, and toast) can also be helpful in getting the toxins cleared from the body.

Food safety template. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mint, lemon, raspberry, chamomile or teas might also be helpful in easing the stomach pain associated with food poisoning or stomach cramping. Ginger tea is also good for settling an unsettled stomach, and promotes good digestion. Try to get plenty of rest as food poisoning can be an exhausting and nutrient-depleting chore for your body.

Of course, prevention is always better than a cure, so as a precaution against food poisoning, great care should be taken when preparing foods. Avoid over-handling foods, and when in doubt, throw it out – don’t take a risk with leftovers if you’re just not sure how long they’ve been in your refrigerator.

Once you’re feeling better, be sure to eat a well-balanced healthy diet that includes foods rich in iron, zinc, vitamin C to help your body get back to its old self again, and supply your stomach with a good probiotic supplement to get your immune system back on track.

Video: Introduction To The Total Wellness Cleanse & Detox Program

This quick video gives you a good overview of the Total Wellness Cleanse - my favorite detox program. I like it because it's gentle and natural and supports your body in doing what it does naturally to regain and maintain optimal health. Unlike popping a bunch of weird pills, or going on some extreme diet of vinegar or lemon juice, which is very unnatural and stressful on the body, the Total Wellness Cleanse provides a program for eliminating sugar cravings, and feeding the body with whole, healthy, natural foods that give your immune system and detoxification organs a boost of healthful nutrients.

The video describes the parts of the process, and what the main goals are for the 30-day cleanse. Check it out, and if you are interested in learning more, click the link below the video for more info.

Happy and Healthy New Year to you!

Total Wellness Cleanse and Detox Program.mp4
Total Wellness Cleanse is a 30-day diet developed by a team of registered holistic nutritionists - Yuri Elkaim, Amy Coates, and Adam Elkaim. This is a time-proven detox and cleanse diet plan that will get rid of toxins and other wastes clogging your ...


Click Here for More Info on The Total Wellness Cleanse...

Try These Tips & Superfoods During Your Detox

Today we're talking about a topic that may be uncomfortable for some - literally! But this time of year, after lots of heavy and rich foods, some of us may suffer from this common problem - and it's worse for your health than you might think. When things get backed up, so to speak, your body is not able to eliminate toxins and other waste, and they can actually get absorbed back into your bloodstream - yuck! No one wants that....

Brussels Sprouts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But it's no wonder so many Americans suffer with constipation (4 million of us, to be exact). Our diet of meat and processed food contains little fiber. Most of us are lucky if we’re getting in half of the 30 grams of fiber that we should each day. Without that bulk in our diet, it can make bowel movements practically immovable. Here are some tips for "cleaning the pipes," without which, any other detoxification efforts will be in vain.

1. Eat plenty of fiber - namely, vegetables. The human digestive tract was designed for mostly consuming unprocessed plant foods that are loaded with dietary fiber, such as beans, leafy greens, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and whole grains. High levels of dietary fiber increase both the frequency and quantity of bowel movements, decreasing the transit time of stools, as well as the absorption of toxins from the stool.

2. Drink at least eight to twelve 8-oz. glasses of clean water per day. Hard, dry stools are a classic sign of dehydration. A good rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water when you wake up and then every hour after that.

3. Try adding some wheat or barley grass to your daily routine. Mix two to three teaspoons of a nutrient-rich blend of dehydrated wheat and/or barley grass in water, and have another serving later in the day. These drinks have a restorative action on the intestinal tract and are especially good for constipation, and they also contain many phytonutrients and antioxidants which will support your system during your detox.

Prune plums on the tree (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Add prunes. As a supplement to a healthy, high-fiber diet, bran and prunes are particularly effective in relieving constipation. Whole prunes and prune juice possess good laxative effects - and most people find them quite tasty! Eight ounces is usually an effective dose. A similar amount of aloe vera juice is also helpful. Or eat 6-10 dried prunes.

5. Consume superfoods containing vitamin C. Vitamin C rich foods can help with your detox as well, as they help with food and nutrient absorption. Try parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, oranges, lemon juice, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts, as they’re all great sources of vitamin C.

Following these tips will help get things moving smoothly, so that your body can eliminate the toxins that are released during your detox and cleanse diet, and restore optimal health.