Troubled Teens?

Teenagers Don’t Have to Mean TROUBLE!

Learn How Good Nutrition and the Right Supplements
Can Transform Troubled Teens into Terrific Teens!

Our nation is facing a health crisis. Experts are saying that, for the first time in many generations, the youth growing up today will have a shorter life-pan than their parents. Diseases that were once considered diseases of old age are striking younger and younger people each year. Why is this so? 

Well, it largely has to do with nutrition. Refined and processed foods have become the normal way of life for most Americans. Many people are too busy (or perhaps too lazy) to cook, which means that convenience foods and microwaved foods are increasingly common. To raise funds, many schools have soda pop and candy machines in the hallways.
These high glycemic foods raise blood sugar levels rapidly. This causes the body to secrete excess insulin which drives these sugars into storage, often as fat. Thus, obesity has become a serious problem among teenagers, which is also leading to the development of type 2 diabetes in teenagers. An estimated 2.7 million teens are pre-diabetic.
Unfortunately, the tendency of these foods to cause weight gain and the growing concerns about obesity have caused more and more teens to develop eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia in an effort to stay thin.

These empty calorie foods are also lacking in the essential nutrients needed to keep the body healthy. They contain food additives, pesticide residues and other chemicals which cause irritation and, ultimately, inflammation in tissues. The high insulin levels also contribute to more inflammation. 

Because these foods lack essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, they also lead to numerous other health problems, including problems with the development of bones and teeth. Cavities, impacted wisdom teeth and the need for braces are all signs of poor nutrition, not inevitable consequences of growing up.

Empty Calories Create Empty Heads 

Blood sugar imbalances and nutritional deficiencies also affect a child's learning ability. American students rank last in performance on standardized tests among the top 18 industrialized nations and test scores have fallen since the 1960s. A more rigid educational system is not likely to solve this problem if we don't start nourishing our young people with healthier food. 

Blood sugar problems also lead to greater emotional problems such as anxiety, depression and delinquency. In her book Food, Teens and Behavior, juvenile parole officer Barbara Reed reports on her discovery that most juvenile delinquents have serious blood sugar problems and lived on diets of junk food and alcohol. When put on a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and meat with no sugar, white flour, caffeine or alcohol, the delinquents she worked with never got into trouble with the law again. 

With the social pressures from peers, TV and our "fast food" culture, helping teens get the nutrition they need to be healthy-physically, mentally and emotionally-can be tricky. Bur, it's worth the effort!

Helping Young Adults Get the Nutrition They Need 

When seeking a way to help teenagers eat healthy foods it's good to remember a story from the life of Ghandi. A woman came to Ghandi and told him that she was afraid for her son's health. He was eating far too much sugar and would not listen to anyone who told him that this was not healthy. She implored him to tell her son to eat less sugar. Ghandi said that he could not do so that day, but asked the woman to return in two weeks.
The woman and her son returned to Ghandi two weeks later. 

Ghandi told the boy that sugar was a great risk for his health and advised him to stop eating it. The young man was moved by the great man's words and promised to follow his advice. As the mother and son were leaving the mother stayed behind for a moment to ask, "Why did you have us wait two weeks before you offered this charge to my son)" Ghandi smiled and replied, "Well, two weeks ago, I had not given up eating sugar."
The best way to help our young people develop better food habits is by setting a good example. What kind of foods do they see other people eating? Teenagers are entering a stage of life where they are no longer children. They are young adults with a growing need for independence. Lecturing seldom works because it typically engenders rebellion. So, start by cleaning all the junk food out of your pantry and refrigerator and replacing it with healthier versions of familiar foods.

A Good Breakfast is Essential 

Take time to make a healthy breakfast for your self and your kids. Most Americans tend to eat their biggest meal in the evening, but the best advice for good health is to eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. This is because breakfast helps set a person's metabolism for the day.

Studies showed that kids who were fed high glycemic carbohydrates (i.e., simple carbohydrates such as processed breakfast cereals, pastries, white bread, etc.) for breakfast performed worse in school than kids who skipped breakfast altogether. This is not a reason to let your kids skip breakfast, however, because kids who were fed proteins for breakfast performed the best in school. 

The reason is simple. Eating simple carbohydrates for breakfast sets the body on a blood-sugar roller coaster for the rest of the day. Blood sugar and insulin levels spike, and then drop, resulting in low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia causes difficulty with concentration, moodiness and irritability, as well as cravings for more sugar. When more sugar is eaten, blood sugar levels spike once again and the process starts all over. This blood sugar roller coaster typically ends in a mid-afternoon energy slump. 

Providing high quality proteins and healthy fats for breakfast, along with some complex carbohydrates (fresh fruits, whole grains, etc.) helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces sugar cravings and overeating later in the day. Eggs, preferably free range and organic, are a traditional breakfast food that contains all of the essential amino acids the body needs as well as vitamin A, the B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin), and vitamin D with only] 11% fat. Egg fat is a good fat as it is unsaturated oleic acid, which is also found in nuts and avocados. 

Whole grain porridge (oatmeal, grits, etc but not instant.) is a good breakfast food, especially if you put the grain into the water the night before and let it soak overnight before cooking it. Add some butter or cream from grass-fed cows or some flax seed oil, hemp seed oil or coconut oil to the porridge as this slows the absorption of the carbohydrates and lowers the glycemic index of the food. This keeps blood sugar levels more stable.

If you're in too much of a hurry to make breakfast some mornings, a good option is to make breakfast shakes. Most teenagers will actually enjoy these shakes and they are quick and simple to make. Take some fresh or frozen fruit (peaches, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are all good choices) and put them in the blender with some protein powder (such as Smart Meals or Nutri-Burn) and perhaps a little yoghurt. Xylitol can be added as a sweetener, if necessary. Blend this mixture and drink it for a quick, but healthy breakfast. 

Making your teens lunch or helping them make their lunch the night before will help insure they are getting the healthy nutrients to keep them going throughout the day. Encourage the school they attend to provide healthy choices in vending machines. Check the school lunch menu and learn if it is consists of mostly healthy foods or if it is full of unhealthy foods that are fried, heavily processed or are full of sugar. Many schools are in the process of offering healthy choices for their students; you can help by getting involved. 

Energy Drinks, All natural and Safe

If your teenager or you need more energy there is the all natural Solstic Energy that will give you a slow but steady uplift without crashing at the end of the day like so many of those over the counter energy drinks, which are not safe. Also there is Solstic Revive to give energy and balance electrolytes which are especially great for those in sports or other actives.

To satisfy any sweet cravings try all natural, sweetened with Xylitol that has no calories and much safer than NutraSweet. Also, great for dental health. Chocolate Bars, Gum: Cinnamon, Green Tea, Peppermint and Spearmint. Mints:  Berry, Lemon, and Peppermint.

Basic Supplements for Teenagers 

Like adults, teenagers can benefit from taking the right kinds of herbs and nutritional supplements. Because teenagers don't always eat right, a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement like Super Supplemental is the best place to start.
Omega-3 Essential Fatty acids are important for brain function, hormone balance, regulation of inflammation and healthy skin. In a world of fried and fast foods, these essential nutrients are typically lacking in the diet, and Super Omega-3 EPA is another basic supplement that may benefit teenagers. 

A convenient way to get both Super Supplemental and Super Omega-3 EPA is to take Super Trio, which contains both of these products. It also contains an antioxidant supplement, Super ORAC, which helps counteract the free radical damage and inflammation caused by the environmental toxins present in today's world. Antioxidants are as essential to teenagers as they are to adults. 

Another good antioxidant supplement to consider is Thai-Go. Most teenagers will readily take this mangosteen juice blend. 

Minerals are also vitally essential for growing and changing bodies, particularly trace minerals like those found in Ionic Minerals. Ionic minerals can be mixed with Thai-Go to improve their flavor. 

Another mineral supplement to consider is HSN-W, which supplies silica and other trace minerals necessary for healthy hair, skin and fingernails as well as bones, teeth and joints. HSN-W also helps the brain and memory, making it a great supplement to help teenagers with both their looks and their cognitive abilities. 

Regulating Blood Sugar 

Helping teenagers maintain a balanced blood sugar level is essential to both their mood and their performance in school. Hypoglycemia can cause irritability, lethargy, inability to concentrate and mental confusion. Blood sugar problems also contribute to juvenile delinquency, addictive behaviors and weight issues. 

Besides the basic tips for eating right, there are supplements that can help keep blood sugar levels balanced. Super Algae is high in amino acids. It provides energy, helps balance blood sugar levels and improves mental function.  It is great to take with breakfast or anytime a person is experiencing sugar cravings or a drop in energy.

Licorice Root can be used to balance blood sugar and reduce sugar cravings in teenagers. Take two capsules with breakfast and two with lunch, if possible. (Many schools have issues with kids taking supplements to school because of drug problems. You may have to work with your school on this.)

Balancing Hormones 

It's no great secret that teenagers are undergoing major hormonal changes. These changes affect not only a teen's body, but also their thoughts and emotions, so it is important to talk with kids about these changes and help them through this critical time in their lives. Appropriate herbs and supplements can also help. 

For young women who are just starting their periods, a female hormone balancing formula like NF-X can help. It cleanses the genito-urinary system and can make periods easier, reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and counteract environmental estrogens. It can also help reduce androgens in teenage boys to lessen acne. (Also helpful is Female Comfort or Pro-G-Yam Cream).

Another good hormone balancer is Wild Yam and Chaste Tree. Chaste Tree, also known as vitex, regulates the pituitary gland to balance hormone levels. It is a useful remedy for teenage acne but can also help with excessive aggression in boys and menstrual cramps in girls.

Acne from the Inside Out 

Mild acne is common during adolescence, bur severe or ongoing acne is not. While mild acne can be annoying, severe acne can be painful and cause serious self-esteem issues.
Acne occurs when the glands that secrete oil to keep the skin soft and moist become irritated and inflamed. Where pus is present, this may be due to a bacterial infection. Most treatments focus on dealing with the acne topically, but from a natural healing perspective, acne means that Some form of toxin or irritant is present in the body and is being eliminated through the skin. Because these toxins are affecting oil ducts, they are fats or fat-soluble substances. 

It is well known that teenage acne is related to hormonal changes. Reproductive hormones are involved in the process of fat metabolism, so eliminating unhealthy fats is a good first step. High doses of vitamin A have been known to help acne, and this is probably became Vitamin A is an antioxidant that protects fats from oxidation. Two herbs that have been helpful for teenage acne, Burdock and Chickweed, are both known help to assist the process of fat metabolism. 

Remedies that balance teenage hormones can also help clear up acne. Christopher Hobbs, a fourth generation herbalist, says he has cleared up many cases of teenage acne using chaste tree berries alone. Chaste tree helps balance reproductive hormones via the pituitary and can be a good general remedy for balancing hormones during puberty. It can be found in the formula Wild Yam and Chaste Tree. 

However, on a deeper level, a poor diet and exposure to chemicals may cause intestinal inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, chronic yeast infections and sluggish liver function, all of which play a role in severe acne. This is why it is a good idea to start with a cleanse when dealing with severe acne. The Tiao He Cleanse, along with some extra fiber from Nature's Three or Everybody's Fiber, would be a good cleanse to try. If the acne sufferer has taken a lot of antibiotics in their life, it would be good to add Yeast/Fungal Detox to the cleanse in order to eliminate yeast overgrowth. 

Historically, herbalists have treated skin conditions, like acne, with alternatives, herbs that cleanse without forcing elimination. The afore mentioned burdock and chickweed are both helpful alternatives, but a good alternative formula may also be more effective. BP-X or Skin Detox are good choices. 

Of course, there are natural remedies that can be used topically for acne. Using a fine clay as a facial mask will draw toxic fats and other irritants from the skin. A clay such as Hydrated Benoite can also be used in baths to draw our toxins. To counteract infection, Silver Shield Gel can be applied topically to the skin once daily. Tea Tree Oil can also be used topically on blemishes to fight infection, reduce inflammation and promote healing.
If young women are having problems with painful periods, irregular periods and other menstrual problems, Female Comfort can help. This blend of herbs counteracts PMS and balances the reproductive cycle.

Stress, Mood and Learning Problems 

Many of today's teenagers are under a great deal of stress and pressure. This can cause teenagers to become depressed, lethargic, irritable or otherwise moody. It's important to keep lines of communication open so teens are able to discuss their problems and find a sympathetic ear, but there are also supplements that can help.

If teenagers are agitated, anxious or moody, Nutri Calm may be helpful. Nutri Calm feeds the nervous system to reduce the effects of stress and improve mood. It can also help with learning problems. Adaptagens, like Eleuthero Root, also help counteract the effects of stress and can be helpful for both reducing stress and improving school performance. Stress-J is for stress and can be used with Nutri Calm or alone.
For kids (or adults) who are suffering from over stimulated brains that make it difficult to concentrate, Focus Attention may be helpful. This supplement calms the brain and is available both in capsules and powdered form for younger kids. Brain Protex may also be added.

There are many other challenges teenagers can face and many other supplements and natural remedies that can help. 

QUALITY HERBS DO WORK!

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Contact: Karen Olerich, Herb Specialist and Natural Health Consultant

Phone: (719) 495-4930

E-mail: herblady@a-renewedhealth.com
 

It’s Spring Again!

Ah....Choo......

It's that time of the year again – spring – when billions and billions of tiny pollen grains start filling the air, causing some 22 million Americans to experience itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and irritability. If you're one of those unfortunate souls who suffer from allergic rhinitis (known to us lay folk as hayfever).

Hayfever is caused by sensitivity to the pollen released by flowering plants, especially trees, grasses and ragweed. Pollen is the male "seed" of the plant, which is carried by wind or insects for reproduction. These tiny pollen granules enter the respiratory system and lodge on the mucus membranes.

In most people they cause no discomfort, but in the hayfever sufferer the immune system is excessively sensitive to tiny foreign particles. It produces antibodies to destroy them. These antibodies tend to cling to special cells called mast cells which are very prevalent in the lungs and liver. The antibodies attach themselves to the pollen (or other irritant) to destroy it.

This antibody reaction causes the mast cell to rupture, which releases large quantities of chemicals (histamine is one of them). This in turn causes inflammation of the surrounding tissues. It is the inflammation of the mucus membranes in the sinuses, lungs and eyes which causes the suffering in hayfever (i.e., the itchiness, the redness and irritation). It also causes the thin, watery mucus discharge, which helps to "cleanse" the area of debris.

You can see why medically, hayfever is usually treated with antihistamines and ant-inflammatories. The goal of orthodox medicine is to counter the histamine or reduce the inflammation. These chemicals may help to alleviate symptoms, but they are not getting at the root causes of the problem. They typically have side effects such as drowsiness and depression.

Chronic suppression of the inflammatory response in the lungs through the use of these drugs can actually make the problem worse. It reduces the ability of the mucus membranes to keep themselves clean. A little recognized fact is that suppressed hayfever can turn into other problems like asthma. Most cases of asthma today are allergic reactions in the lungs which are causing swelling of the lung tissue.

Don't worry, though. Mother Nature has nontoxic and inexpensive answers to these problems which are overlooked by most people, perhaps because her methods aren't considered "scientifically proven" (whatever that means). Herbs, supplements and dietary changes may not afford the rapid symptomatic relief offered by drugs, but what they do offer is hope of a lasting cure.

Think of it like this: Have you ever had a leak in your roof? Putting a pan under the leak may protect your carpet, but it doesn't stop the leak. Drug treatment for hayfever is similar. It may ease the effects of hayfever, but it does nothing to stop the cause.

In a similar manner, a drip from the ceiling doesn't mean that the roof is leaking directly above that spot. When you check the attic, you may find the water is running along a beam and the leak is actually in another location. It's the same with allergies. Don't assume that the respiratory symptoms mean that the original cause is in your lung and sinus tissues.

Believe it or not, your runny nose is probably originating from a "leak" in your gut. When digestion isn't working properly, food ferments and putrefies in the intestinal tract causing inflammation and irritation. The irritated mucus membranes of your stomach and bowels allow large molecules of improperly digested food, as well as the toxic end-products of fermentation, to enter your blood stream.

This overburdens the liver, an organ charged with the responsibility of filtering your blood and keeping it healthy. Your immune system has to deal with all this waste material in your blood stream and your eliminative organs become overburdened and overworked.

Thus, when the hay arrives, it's one "straw" too many and the "back" of your overtaxed immune system "breaks." Put more plainly, the runny nose is a "safety valve" to let off the excess pressure from irritants in the system.

So, from the natural healer's point of view, hayfever isn't a sign that the body's immune system is running "amok." Your immune system is just doing its job. What it needs is for you to take some of the stress off of it. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food. Keep your bowels and liver in good working condition. You may be pleasantly surprised at what the Tiao He cleanse program might do for your hayfever.

Finally, try some of the remedies listed following. They can help your respiratory passages cleanse themselves. Some can stabilize the mast cells so they are less likely to burst and help the liver and other organs remove histamine and other toxins from the system more efficiently. Others can reduce inflammation without side effects.

Trees are the first plants to release their pollen in the spring (all trees have flowers, many just aren't showy, so people seldom notice them). Later grasses get into the picture. Hay, of course, is simply cut and dried grass, so it's the grass pollen allergies that give this disorder it's common name. Ragweed pollen shows up in the fall. Hayfever like symptoms also occur in some people with exposure to dry grass, animal hair, mold and house dust.

Bee Pollen

A homeopathic-like therapy which has worked for many hayfever victims is to eat bee pollen. The encapsulated pollen helps some people, but even more effective is to get pollen from local bees. Eating raw, locally produced honey may help too, because of the small amounts of pollen present in the honey. It's best to start with a very small amount and gradually increase the dose.

Herbs to the Rescue

Although plant pollens trigger hayfever, the plant community also contains many allies which can relieve both the cause and the symptoms of this disorder. Your best bet is probably an herbal combination, which will help not only with the respiratory system directly, but will address the digestive tract, liver and other underlying causes. Here are three popular herbal formulas to consider for hayfever problems.

ALJ

A well-known formula with a popular reputation for relieving allergy symptoms is ALJ. However, as we examine the ingredients, we realize that half of the herbs in this formula are specific remedies for the digestive system! So this formula doesn't just treat the symptoms, it gets to the cause.

The fenugreek, fennel and horseradish in ALJ all stimulate and improve digestive function. They help increase hydrochloric acid production and settle nervous indigestion.

Fenugreek also helps to decongest the sinuses and breaks up hardened mucus in the body. Along with mullein and boneset it helps drain the sinus cavities so they can cleanse and heal themselves.

It's important to understand that ALJ isn't going to arrest sinus drainage like antihistamines do. Quite the contrary, you may actually notice an increase in drainage for the first day or two. As the mucus membranes cleanse themselves of irritants, the drainage stops and healing begins.

Mullein and boneset also help soothe mucus tissues and reduce swelling and inflammation. Be sure to take enough, because these are mild herbs requiring high amounts in order to see best results. Anywhere from two to four capsules every two to four hours is usually required.

Sinus Support

Sometimes, we need some symptom a tic relief because we can't wait a couple of days for our sinuses to drain and clear. That's where Sinus Support comes in handy. Sinus Support contains immature orange peel, a natural antihistamine. It dries out mucus membranes and reduces drainage.

Sinus Support also contains herbs which work on the underlying causes of the problem while affording temporary relief of symptoms.

For example, Sinus Support contains burdock, an herb which purifies the blood and strengthens mast cells (which reduces the release of histamine). Parsley, a diuretic, also helps to cleanse the blood. Goldenseal is a specific for chronic inflammation of the mucus membranes, while yerba santa and horehound act as decongestants to rid the body of excess mucus. Lastly, capsicum not only stimulates digestive function, it also reduces inflammation.

In short, Sinus Support is a good choice for weaning someone off antihistamine drugs, because it provides both short-term and long-term relief

HistaBlock

HistaBlock contains a powerful blend of herbs and nutrients that naturally enhance immune function and inhibit the release of histamine and other inflammatory compounds that initiate the sneezing, swelling and itching of allergic reactions. HistaBlock can be used to safely relieve allergy symptoms and improve breathing, without the side effects commonly associated with over-the counter and prescription antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays.

Four

Long used to combat hayfever, combination Four combines herbs for respiratory congestion together with plants which aid liver and digestive system function. The pleurisy root and yerba santa in this formula are respiratory decongestants which tone-up mucus membranes to reduce watery secretions. Yerba santa helps asthma-like conditions and dries up water secretions. Pleurisy root reduces swelling in the mucus membranes and chest cavity.

Catnip and blessed thistle, also found in this formula, have little direct effect on the respiratory organs. However, both aid digestive function. Blessed thistle helps decongest and protect the liver. It also stimulates digestive secretions. Besides settling the stomach, catnip also reduces nervous stress. An over stressed, excited nervous system will merely add to the severity of the allergy.

Other Products

Other herbs and formulas which may help hayfever or other respiratory allergies include the following:

Breathe Activator TCM is a Chinese formula designed to "ventilate the lungs." It helps to open blocked airways and may help hayfever and asthma. Unlike SN-X, it contains ephedrine.

Eyebright is an herb most people associate only with vision problems. However, that's not even close to eyebright's most important use. This herb is a specific for upper respiratory problems. In particular, it helps reduce itchy eyes and nose and thin, watery mucus secretions. In short, it reduces the allergic response. This anti-allergenic effect is very important in children who are allergic to dairy foods, as eyebright can reduce swelling of the eustachian tubes and thus the incidence of ear problems.

EW is an herbal eyewash formula which contains the eyebright herb just mentioned. Like eyebright itself, however, this combination is extremely useful for upper respiratory problems.

Besides eyebright, it contains goldenseal which we mentioned earlier as being excellent for chronic irritation of the mucus membranes. Another ingredient is bayberry, an astringent which reduces mucus in the digestive tract and respiratory areas.

Licorice root supports the adrenal glands and helps to reduce stress levels in the body. The adrenals also produce cortisol to reduce inflammation levels in the body. Thus, licorice has an anti-inflammatory action and soothes irritated mucus membranes, valuable benefits in hayfever cases.

Breathe Free Essential Oils can be used like an inhaler and/or rubbed on your wrist or feet to help with freer breathing.

Vitamins for Hayfever-

High amounts of vitamin C can act as a natural antihistamine to bring quick relief from hayfever. Bioflavonoids, especially quercetin, help to stabilize the mast cells to prevent the release .of histamine. So, Citrus Bioflavonoids with vitamin C would be a good choice for possible hayfever relief.

B-complex is also helpful, but pantothenic acid (one of the B's) is often all that is needed. Both vitamin C and pantothenic acid aid adrenal function. Your adrenals produce hormones which reduce inflammation. So supporting your adrenals may help relieve hayfever. Vitamin A has also been reported as helpful in some cases.

Additional Helps

The Boomerang air Sanitizer may help to reduce pollen and airborne allergens. Keeping pets outdoors can help, too.

Eat yogurt with live acidophilus or take Bifidophilus Flora Force daily (dairy free). One study showed that regular consumption of yogurt reduced the incidence of asthma attacks. If you have a dairy allergy, of course, this won't be helpful.

QUALITY HERBS DO WORK!

Subscribe to have newsletters and info sent to your e-mail.
and
Request a computerized "Nutrient Survey" to see what your needs are.
and/or
Go to my personal NATURE'S SUNSHINE site for your Brilliant Body Assessment
and
FREE membership.

Check my personal site out for more health and product information.

Contact: Karen Olerich, Herb Specialist and Natural Health Consultant

Phone: (719) 495-4930

E-mail: herblady@a-renewedhealth.com