Sleep Away Those Yucky Feelings!

By: Megan Zbyczik
Did you know that we are getting 20% less sleep than we did 100 years ago? According to sleep experts, stress is the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties. Common triggers include school or job related pressures, a family or marriage problem and serious illness or health issues in the family.
Usually the sleep problem disappears when the stressful situation passes. However, if short-term sleep problems such as insomnia aren't managed properly from the beginning, they can persist long after the original stress has passed.
Drinking alcohol or beverages containing caffeine in the afternoon or evening, exercising close to bedtime, following an irregular morning and nighttime schedule, and working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed can disrupt sleep. Not to mention they take a toll on our bodies’ ability to handle stress.
When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body's functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and production of stress hormones. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes, and stress hormones make it harder for you to sleep.
People who suffer from sleep disorders may also end up suffering from the following:
• Hypertension and elevated cardiovascular risks (MI/ stroke)
• Emotional disorders (depression/bipolar disorder)
• Obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes
• Alcohol and drug abuse
While we sleep, our body uses that time to repair and fix daily damage. Our cells produce protein needed for muscle and tissue repair, as well as damage caused by stress, UV rays, and other harmful exposures. Getting enough sleep every night also has been shown to improve memory, aid in weight loss, and reduce the chance of developing depression. So get that seven to ten hours of sleep every night, and do your body good!

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENZYMES

By: Tia Young
Colon Hydrotherapist
Enzymes are so vital that the body cannot function without them. Not only are they needed to digest food and assimilate nutrients, they are essential for breathing, growth, reproduction, cell metabolism, immune response, blood sugar regulation, sense perception, hormone regulation, and all other functions of the human body. Some enzymes are produced in the body, while others are obtained by a plant source, and are abundant in fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. Many health conditions can occur because of enzyme deficiencies.
Listed below are the four basic enzymes and the health conditions associated with their deficiencies:
Protease (digests proteins): Anxiety, low blood sugar, kidney issues, water retention, depressed immunity, bacterial and viral infections, cancer, appendicitis, and bone issues
Amylase (digests nonfiber carbohydrates): Skin rashes, hives, herpes, canker sores, asthma, bronchitis, and liver or gallbladder disease
Lipase (digests fats): High cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, spastic colon, and dizziness
Cellulase (digests fiber): Gas and bloating, acute food allergies, facial pain, candidiasis (bowel and vaginal yeast infection)
Although enzymes are extremely important, many of us are not getting these vital enzymes from the food we eat for the following reasons: pesticides and chemicals, genetic modification of food, pasteurization, cooking at high temperature, microwaving, fluoridated water, heavy metals -- and of course, because of not chewing food thoroughly.
You can increase the amount of enzymes you get from food by thoroughly chewing lots of “organic” fresh fruit, raw or lightly steamed vegetables and raw nuts (be sure to soak each portion of raw almonds overnight to activate enzymes). It is also beneficial to take an enzyme supplement, such as Multizyme, to support the proper breakdown of food and assist all other biochemical activity in the body. Please ask your therapist for more information. Take care and stay well.