Natural Health Remedies

• For 5% off your first order use discount code MP8745

I’m really annoyed with myself for not keeping up with exercising at the gym. I was going faithfully every other day last year until I moved to a different area. I’ve decided that I want to start back up again which means I need to get all the necessary protein powders to make sure I have enough energy to get me through a workout.

The problem with most shops selling protein powders is that 1) you are paying for brand names, 2) they come with horrible artificial flavours which make me want to gag and 3) you can’t buy smaller quanities to see if you like it.

This is where www.myprotein.co.uk comes in. What I like about them is:-

1. You can buy the powders in plastic bags or in containers. The more you buy the cheaper it becomes.
2. The powders are unflavoured but can you order different flavours if you want. Personally I just add in Nesquick to my protein shakes.
3. If you have special dietary requirements such as being vegan or kosher then just look out for the symbols. Besides the usual whey and egg they also have hemp, pea and brown rice.
4. You can customize your own formulas, they’ll do all the mixing for you free of charge. Taking protein from different sources is a good idea because each type of protein is used by your body slightly differently. For instance whey protein is used by the body very quickly but then your body runs out after 2 hours. Egg protein on the other hand is absorbed more slowly. By taking a blend of the two, your body is effectively getting a timed-release of protein.
5. They have a rewards scheme. If you use discount code MP8745 then you’ll get 5% off your first order and I’ll get that amount to spend on my next order.
6. See what other people think of the products. You can vote on the taste and mixability of each powder plus you can leave a comment. There’s also a forum for asking questions.
7. They have a really good selection of other supplements such as carbohydrates, vitamins and digestive enzymes. Plus there’s also products such as weight lifting gloves and shake mixers.

The only thing I would like to see different about the site is that when viewing each category you don’t know if the item is in stock until you click on the product for more details. I found that a couple of items I wanted to buy were actually out of stock which was a bit annoying.

Apart from that, if you live in the UK and are looking for a good source of protein powder, vitamins etc I really recommend www.myprotein.co.uk just remember to use discount code MP8745

If there was a vegetable that was found in places like Asia and South America that could help with diabetes, would you believe it?

Balsam pear aka Bitter melon may be just the vegetable. It is found in Asia, South America and Africa. It is a tropical veggie that gets its name from its bitter taste. They look like a light green cucumber and are very wrinkled. Inside an immature fruit you will find it to be white. As the fruit begins to ripen, it begins to have a red appearance. The seeds are very bitter and are better left out when cooking it. The longer the bitter melon ripens, the more bitter it becomes until it is inedible.

Health Benefits

Bitter melon has been used for centuries in Asian medicine. Its strong bitter taste means it can be used for digestion issues but can worsen other ailments such as ulcers.

Besides digestion, bitter melon was also used to treat psoriasis, cancer and diabetes.

The most significant health benefit has to do with diabetes. Bitter melon has been shown to help with blood sugars levels. The plant produces a bovine like insulin that can be injected into diabetics. The studies that have been done have shown that this plant insulin works just like its bovine counterpart with added advantages. It’s important to note that this benefit come from the juice of unripened fruit.

Some people are not able to take bovine insulin due to an unfavorable reaction to it. In these cases, the bitter melon can be given as a replacement.

Also, for those who are concerned with introducing an animal product into their bodies, this would be a great alternative. Vegetarians will be able to use the balsam pear insulin with no worries.

There have also been studies done that show benefits to people carrying the HIV virus. The bitter melon has been shown to help with negative reactions to HIV medications.

This vegetable also carries with it a number of vitamins and minerals. It is loaded with calcium and iron along with more beta carotene then broccoli. It has tons of potassium and vitamins A, C, B1 and B3. Oh, and let’s not forget the fiber.

Other uses for Bitter melon

You will find balsam pear used in many Asian dishes. It is usually not found with other vegetables because of its intense bitter taste. However, in China it is used in many stir fry dishes.

In Indian cuisine you will sometimes find bitter melon with potatoes. The potatoes help balance the bitterness along with the yogurt that accompanies the dish.

The seeds are usually discarded when cooking because they carry an extra dose of bitterness.

**Please, before taking any supplement to help treat a disease or ailment, contact your doctor to make sure the treatment is appropriate for your condition.

You may be wondering why I’m giving away a pair of sunglasses on a health blog, but have you never heard of the saying “prevention is better than cure”? Of course you have! You should also know that sunglasses help protect your eyes from UV light and so preventing cataracts.

What You’ll Win

The sunglasses I’m giving away are by Pilgrim and are worth £64.99 (approx $115). If you live outside of Europe you might not know who Pilgrim is but they’re mega popular brand of fashion jewellery that has in recent years branched out into eye wear.

This year Pilgrim have Liv Tyler modeling their collection so it’s only a matter of time before Pilgrim become the must-have fashion accessory internationally. What makes these sunglasses different is that they have interchangeable Swarovski crystal charms, so you can always buy additional charms to give your glasses a new look.

OK, OK, So How Do I Enter the Contest???

1. You must own a blog or website on any topic as long as it doesn’t promote hate, racism, violence or porn. Also your blog must not be a scraper site.
2. When you’re writing a blog post as normal simply add in a P.S. with the details of the competition, a link to this page and a link to the homepage with the anchor text Natural Health Remedies or www.naturalhealthremedies.org. If you don’t want to do a PS you can write a dedicated post instead.
3. Send an email to “contest@naturalhealthremedies.org” with the URL of your blog post.
4. Contest ends 10 August ‘07

Here’s an example of what I’m looking for:-

PS

The wife wants a decent birthday present this year (the steam iron didn’t go down too well last year!). So I’ve decided to enter a contest to win a pair of sunglasses courtesy of Natural Health Remedies. That should get me out of the dog house!

P.S. I want to thank ABCWin, The Prize Finder and Loquax for listing this competition.

Diabetes has been on the rise for several years now, especially in children. There is an increased need for information concerning this disease along with understanding and treatment options.

Understanding Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes and they are easily named. Type I Diabetes, and type II. Diabetes is when the body’s insulin is either not being made or not being used properly. Insulin in a healthy body is a hormone produced to break down sugars and starches into energy.

Type I is usually found in children and young adults. Insulin is not being made in patients with type I.

Type II is the most common. The body doesn’t make the insulin needed or is unable to use it in type II diabetics.

Natural Cures

The safe, natural way to treat diabetes is through diet. This may seem like common sense and easy to do, however if you are not reading labels and understanding how the body processes food, this could be more difficult than expected.

First, talk to your doctor about what types of things are good to eat and which ones you should stay away from. A nutritionist is another great person to see. They will be able to write out a menu for you that has all of the foods along with recipes that you can have.

Read labels! It is really a surprise once you begin. You will find that healthy fruit granola bar that you have been eating (and thought was good for you) is really packed full of sugar and fat. Maybe it’s a sports drink that you have after your daily exercise routine or your salad dressing. There are sugars and fats in a lot of what we eat. It’s important to know exactly what is going in your body.

Exercise is a must. Take the dog for a walk, climb those stairs instead of riding the elevator. Swimming is another great, low impact exercise. The more we move, the more fat we burn. The less fat our body has, the healthier we are.

There are supplements that can also be taken to help with diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions.

Chromium is one that has shown positive benefits. It has been shown to prevent the onset of Type II or even reverse it.

Bitter melon has also been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels. Others that may help are Java Plum, Noni, and Bitterwood. Java Plum may help to level out the insulin. Noni will help restore energy, while Bitterwood will help to stimulate the liver.

Reflexology and yoga can be used to reduce stress. Stress is often what causes a lot of the body’s problems including carving sweet, fatty foods.

Things to Remember

Diabetes is a very serious disease that can lead to things like blindness, poor circulation, and heart disease. It is very important you speak with a doctor about any treatments before you begin them.

Really enjoyed my week on Canna. As soon as we got off the ferry we saw a Seal plus a Sea Eagle being mobbed by a Buzzard. Other wildlife we saw during the week included:

Dolphins (well, I would’ve seen them if I wasn’t feeling sick as a dog on the ferry trip back )

Here’s a little video I made of the wave crashing against the basalt rocks. The rocks there are much the same as the more famous Giants Causeway in Ireland.