Feeling stressed? Your body may just need to recharge.

Being stressed out can be...well, stressful! And with your everyday routine getting in the way, who has time to de-stress themselves?

The answer is: you! Or at least you will after taking a look at these Simple Detox Solutions from Dr. Mehmet Oz!

So, release those toxins that are dragging you down and have a great week! Remember, you don't always have to wait for the weekend to recharge.

Still can't shake those negative feelings associated with stress? Here are some ways to keep positve :)

Image source: http://www.ringelfordelegate.com/2012/01/lets-make-your-bathing-relaxing/

Webber Naturals expert Wendy Tao shares the latest news on the sunshine vitamin!

You might just be surprised at the many benefits of vitamin D...

Draw a line from the northern California border to Boston on the East coast of North America. If you live north of that line — 42-degrees latitude — even if you go outside every day from October to March, you aren't likely to get enough sun exposure to make enough vitamin D.

If you don’t have access to the sun all the time, how can you get your vitamin D without spending huge amounts of money on a sunny, beach-side vacation? You can get additional vitamin D from the foods you eat or from supplements, especially during those winter months.

The importance of vitamin D and the deficiencies related to northern climates are old news. So why has vitamin D been in the limelight for the last few years? Our scientific understanding of how this nutrient works, and what it does have expanded and it certainly does more than prevent rickets (a childhood disease involving soft bones).

Did you know that vitamin D may help combat cancer? Reinhold Vieth, a nutritional scientist at the University of Toronto, proposes that many cells in the body use vitamin D to produce a signaling molecule that improves inter-cellular communication. The signals help a cell determine what part of the body it should become or what function it should have. The signal may also tell cells to stop replicating or proliferating, which is crucial when it comes to cancer cells. 

Not only can vitamin D help signal cancer cells to stop multiplying, studies suggest that it can also help those suffering from Alzheimer’s. A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that vitamin D may activate key genes and cellular signaling networks to stimulate the immune system so it rejects a protein, called amyloid-beta, found in patients with Alzheimer’s.

A Winnipeg doctor, Dr. Taback, made the news this past January taking the study of vitamin D in an exciting new direction. Dr. Taback submitted a proposal seeking $10 million in research funding over the next three years to give babies at high risk of Type 1 diabetes up to 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D as a preventive strategy. He wants to prove that there is a direct relationship between an insufficiency of vitamin D and onset of Type 1 diabetes. Scientists have found that the immune system, and the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas of people with diabetes, have receptors for vitamin D.

Another new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal found that women with painful periods, severe pelvic pain and immobilizing cramps before or during menstruation, suffer much less pain by taking a single mega-dose of vitamin D five days before their next menstrual period. Vitamin D works as an anti-inflammatory to decrease prostaglandin activity that may trigger inflammation and pain during menstruation.

Last but not least, Vitamin D may also help prevent cardiovascular disease by reducing chronic inflammation. It has been shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk for heart disease.

So remember: if you can’t see the sun, the sun can’t see you — so supplement with vitamin D , the sunshine vitamin for healthy bones, heart, brain and so much more.

Image Sources: We Heart It and fitnessgurusam.com

References

1. Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease 
2. Boning up on the sunshine vitamin 
3. Can Vitamin D Treat Pain? http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759254
4. Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
   
5. How Much Sun Exposure Do I Need for Vitamin D? 
6. Improvement of Primary Dysmenorrhea Caused by a Single Oral Dose of Vitamin D: Results of a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study
   
7. Type 1 diabetes prevention 'better than cure'
   

Webber Naturals' expert, Dr. Joyce Johnson, explains the importance of feeding your brain.

There's a reason they call it brain food!

How healthy is your brain? Do you know what kind of nutrition your brain needs? Don’t wait for your brain to go hungry and start misbehaving before you give it some attention!

Although it operates like one, your brain is not a computer. It needs to be fed. Don’t forget, this hungry organ lets you learn, focus, consider and concentrate, and remember! So how can you feed your brain to keep it healthy and functioning for life?

Here are the Facts

• Your brain cannot store a lot of nutrients - feed it every day.
• Missing breakfast doesn’t make you smart! A brain needs breakfast to function well.
• Memory loss, learning difficulties and dementia may all be caused or worsened by dietary deficiencies.
• Fish is the richest source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, important brain food.

Food for Thought

The omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a key component of the nervous system. It makes up twenty percent (20%) of your brain mass. Omega-3s help keep cell membranes fluid, and DHA specifically improves the communication and transmission of brain signals. Lack of dietary omega-3 can cause a communication breakdown in the brain, and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Japanese research showed that supplemental DHA sharpened memory in patients with dementia and depression, and improved behavior and speech in people with Alzheimer's.

In North America most people eat only enough fish to get an average 150mg[i] per day of EPA and DHA. Europeans consume more, 300mg per day on average, and Asians get about 600mg per day[ii]. Nutritional experts recommend 500 mg to 1000 mg of EPA and DHA per day[iii] for everyone. A balance between omega-6 fatty acids, from vegetable oils, and omega-3 are also important. The average North American consumes 20-30 units of omega-6 to 1 unit of omega-3, when the optimum ratio is 2 omega-6 to 1 omega-3![iv]

Young Brains Need Fish Too!

Pregnant moms need omega-3s, since the DHA needed to build a baby’s brain comes from mother’s diet. Research shows that omega-3 consumption by Mom may have a significant impact on baby’s intelligence and vision.

School-aged children have achieved improvements in learning, attention and attitude, with the help of EPA and DHA-rich fish oil supplements. Omega Oils and Essential Fatty Acid supplements are great for those of us who really don’t like fish. Some fish oils are flavoured and fish oil capsules may be enteric-coated to prevent any fishy taste. You can also find omega-3s in flaxseed, flaxseed oil and walnuts, but fish is the richest source.

Top 10 Foods for Brain Health

1. Oysters: rich in zinc and iron.
2. Whole grains: contain folate and vitamin B6.
3. Tea: high in catechins which are great for keeping your mind sharp, fresh, and functioning properly.
4. Eggs: full of vitamin B12 and lecithin.
5. Curry: rich in curcumin; curcumin is full of antioxidants that help fight against brain aging and maintain cognitive function as you get older.
6. Berries: sometimes referred to as “super-fruits” because most of them contain fisetin and flavenoid, which are great for improving your memory and allowing you to easily recall past events.
7. Nuts and Seeds: full of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, as well as folate, vitamin E, and vitamin B6.
8. Leafy Green Vegetables: rich in vitamin B6, B12 and folate.
9. Fish: source of omega-3.
10. Dark Chocolate: high in antioxidants, known as flavonols, which are said to help increase blood flow to the brain.

The Final Neuron

For a healthy brain, eat a plant-based diet and plenty of cold-water fish. Exercise your body and your mind. Read, learn to play an instrument, explore a new language, or volunteer. Keep your brain sharp so you can learn new things, and so you can keep all those precious memories — like where you left your glasses!

Image Sources: http://www.artuji.com/brain-food-for-your-child/344
http://guideyouthebest.com/eat-fish