•  Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is thought to be a major cause of stomach cancer.
• Foods high in nitrates (such as lunch meat and smoked foods) increase your risk for stomach cancer.
• Several small studies have shown that drinking green tea can reduce your risk for stomach cancer
•  Wheat raises your blood sugar levels faster than sugar; yes, even whole wheat. .
• One cup of spinach contains six grams of protein.
• According to a 2014 report from the USDA, 94 percent of the soy grown in the United States is genetically modified.
• A woman’s heart beats faster than a man’s.
• If you are at risk for breast cancer, put down the martini. Alcohol increases your chances of developing the disease.
• Humans shed 600,000 skin cells every hour.
• Fingernails grow fastest on the hand you write with.
• Forget food! A person will die faster from a lack of sleep than a lack of food.
• Your pupils dilate when you look at someone you love-and someone you hate.
• Do you dream frequently? According to scientists, that indicates you have a higher IQ.
• You can reduce allergic reactions by laughing.

Magnesium is an essential mineral that is used by the body in over 300 different biochemical processes. Because magnesium is so widely used, it is easy for it to become depleted.

Common signs of magnesium deficiency include

• Muscular cramps and spasms,
• Headaches,
• Eye twitches
• Decreased resilience to stress.

Magnesium deficiency is surprisingly more common than you may think.
Do You Need More?

While magnesium is critically important in the body, it also requires other vitamins and minerals to complement its function.  Common presentations of magnesium deficiency can include;

Stress: During times of stress there is an increased requirement for magnesium. If stress persists, this can often result in magnesium deficiency, which then heightens the stress response.

Cardiovascular support: Magnesium is a great supportive nutrient for heart health. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and support healthy heart function.

Irregular blood glucose levels: Magnesium can help regulate blood glucose levels, therefore decreasing fluctuations between hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia.

Restless legs and cramps: Muscular cramps, tension and spasms are commonly associated with magnesium deficiency. Magnesium has therapeutic applications in enhancing muscle relaxation and relieving spasms.

Fatigue : In every cell we have our own powerhouses, known as mitochondria. To produce good amounts of energy for our body and brain, these powerhouses need magnesium.

Magnesium Food Inclusions

Magnesium comes in a wide variety of foods, from nuts and seeds, to leafy greens and grains. Include these nutrient-rich foods in your diet to support your magnesium status:

•    Nuts and seeds – Raw almonds, cashews, brazil  nuts,walnuts, pepitas and sesame seeds.
•    Green leafy vegetables  -Kale, silver beet, chard and spinach.
•    Whole grains– Quinoa, buckwheat  and rye are high in magnesium.
•    Dark    chocolate – Feel like a  treat?  Raw cacoa  is  also  high in magnesium and makes a great guilt free treat in moderation.

It’s no secret that sleep is important. Getting enough shut-eye every night improves memory, boosts immunity, rejuvenates and repairs the nervous system and prevents various health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure (or hypertension).

Hypertension is one of the most concerning consequences of sleep deprivation. Nicknamed the “silent killer” because it presents no outward symptoms, hypertension greatly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney damage and even blindness.

It’s thought that lack of sleep—especially less than six hours per night—can affect the body’s ability to regulate stress hormones, which could contribute to high blood pressure.

Improve Your Sleep Naturally

As critical as it is for good health, getting the quality and quantity of sleep we need can sometimes be challenging. But here are some ways to do just that:

Boost your melatonin. This hormone governs sleep and wake cycles and influences body temperature as well as hunger and mood. Darkness signals the release of melatonin. As levels rise, drowsiness sets in. Production of the hormone continues throughout the night, then starts to wane as morning approaches.

Modern conveniences are not friendly to our circadian rhythms. As nighttime sets in, we tend to turn on the lights and sit in front of bright televisions and computers. This dramatically decreases the body’s secretion of melatonin, affecting the ability to fall asleep. Additionally, levels of this hormone start to decline around age 40, and insomnia and disturbed sleep become more common as we age.

Fortunately, melatonin is readily available in supplement form. Research shows that taking supplemental melatonin “decreases sleep onset latency, increases total sleep time and improves overall sleep quality.”

Take valerian (Valeriana officinalis), a herb used since the 1800s to promote sleep. One meta-analysis concluded that it may have a positive effect on mild to moderate insomnia. Additional research found that a valerian/lemon balm blend assisted in reducing sleep problems associated with menopause. Take up to 500 mg about 30 minutes before bedtime.

Arrange your bedroom so that it is as dark as possible. This may mean getting blackout blinds or thick curtains to completely block out any outdoor light, getting rid of your nightlight and covering up or removing your alarm clock and any other light-emitting electronics.

If at all possible, limit your exposure to electronics during evening hours. And if you wake up in the middle of the night, do not turn on a light or check your computer, phone, tablet or other electronic device. Research has linked exposure to blue light from computer monitors with significantly reduced melatonin concentrations.

Start a regular exercise program. Exercise enhances sleep in almost everyone, but particularly in those who already have sleep problems.

In conclusion, if you have prehypertension or high blood pressure, take a serious look at your sleep habits and patterns. If you find that you aren’t getting the quality or quantity of sleep you need (and deserve!), take whatever steps necessary to solve this problem. Also keep in mind, there are a number of supplements you can take to help support healthier blood pressure, including coenzyme Q10, magnesium and fish oil.

Pigs rout for them. Otzi the Iceman—the mummy found in 1991, who hailed from 3,300 BC—was found clutching two of them. The ancient Egyptians considered them the food of royalty.

In the medical world, they’ve been used to treat the eyes and have been the basis for many modern immunosuppressants, including penicillin, and even statin drugs.

In the culinary world, one type has been referred to as the “diamond of the kitchen,” with rare specimens garnering as much as $2,000 for a single pound.

We are talking about mushrooms.

What are Mushrooms?

When most people think of mushrooms, two things come to mind: truffles and culinary mushrooms. Like all mushrooms, truffles are a type of fungi. They tend to grow underground, usually near tree roots. They are rare and can be difficult to find, which is why pigs (and sometimes dogs) are often used to find them.

Culinary mushrooms are often the button, portobello and shiitake variety. They are most commonly used in soups and salads and as a staple with vegetarians in particular. Mushrooms in general tend to be rich in a variety of nutrients, including zinc, copper, selenium and B vitamins.

Mushrooms also contain beta glucan, a complex sugar that is so powerful, it has been shown to protect against radiation and anthrax (when taken with other nutrients, such as vitamin C). As such, it’s no surprise that, in medicinal circles, mushrooms have a much greater use—one that includes cancer prevention and immunity.

What are Medicinal Mushrooms?

Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Of these, the types of mushrooms most commonly studied include button, Cordyceps, maitake, reishi and shiitake.

Button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are the type you normally see in the grocery store or at a restaurant. But don’t let their commonness fool you. According to a study published in 2008, button mushrooms contain every bit as many antioxidants are their more exotic counterparts. And as you’ll read below, they have been shown to have some powerful cancer-fighting properties as well.

Cordyceps are a broad family of mushrooms that contain about 400 different species. They have been used medicinally in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Originally discovered in the high mountains of Tibet it was known to give energy to the animals that were herded there and was then utilized traditionally to provide energy, endurance and vitality to humans.

Research indicates that the Cordyceps family of mushrooms have a rich store of amino acids, minerals and vitamins, which explains their use for enhancing blood circulation, immune system functioning and also increasing sexual vitality. In fact, one species—Cordyceps subsessilis—has been used to make a drug known as ciclosporin, which is an organ transplant drug.

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese. These mushrooms were so valued that they were actually traded for silver. They most commonly grow in clusters on oak trees. Maitake mushrooms contain a vast array of nutrients, including amino acids, minerals, vitamins, plant sterols, enzymes and polysaccharides. They are also a rich store of beta 1,3 glucan, which has been studied for cancer treatment and prevention.

Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) also hail from Japan. They are thought to be one of the oldest mushrooms used for medicinal purposes. Reishi have a distinct woody and slightly bitter taste. They are also quite high in antioxidants and have been known to ease inflammation and support the immune system.

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentius edodes) are the darlings of the culinary world. With their trademark smoky flavor, they are specifically known medicinally for their rich stores of the polysaccharide lentinan—a form of beta glucan—and the glyconutrient N-acetyl glucosamine, which has been shown to help repair cartilage, lower insulin secretions and decrease inflammation.

Conditions Supported by Medicinal Mushrooms

Cancer

Heart health

Immune health

What Does the Research Say?

Cancer

Medicinal mushrooms have been shown to have anticancer properties. In a cell culture and animal study, reishi mushrooms in particular suppressed tumor growth in inflammatory breast cancer. In a number of cell culture studies, Reishi mushrooms caused breast cancer cells to die and has stopped the spread of the cancer.

Maitake is another medicinal mushroom that also goes to bat against breast cancer. In particular, maitake D fraction is known for its ability to weaken tumor cells.

In mice, maitake D-fraction has antitumor effects by enhancing the immune system through activation of macrophages, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. In humans, maitake has similar effects. Researchers administered maitake D-fraction to cancer patients who weren’t taking anticancer drugs. The researchers also monitored NK cell activity. Maitake D-fraction hindered the spread of the cancer, lessened the expression of tumor markers and increased NK cell activity in all patients examined.

Heart Health

Two mushrooms stand out when it comes to heart health: shiitake and reishi.

Research shows that people who eat five to six shiitake mushrooms a day enjoyed a 12 percent reduction in cholesterol levels in just one week. Other research from as far back as 1974 found that 460 people—40 elderly and 420 young women—who consumed 9 grams of dried shiitake a day lowered their total cholesterol levels by six to 15 percent after one week. Additional studies show that shiitakes also reduce blood pressure and even inhibit platelet aggregation

Immune Health

Mushrooms such as Agaricus blazei, cordyceps, maitake, Coriolus versicolor, reishi and shiitake are also powerful natural immune modulators. These fungi are rich sources of immune supportive polysaccharides like beta-glucans, which studies show can influence the activity of key cytokines  all of which help boost your immune system.

How to Use Medicinal Mushrooms

In addition to making mushrooms a regular part of your diet, you can also take them in supplement form. As with any supplement, dosages and frequency could vary based on the mushroom extract you choose and your particular needs.

Ideally, you’d want to use a product that contains a blend of several different types of mushrooms, including Cordyceps, maitake, reishi and shiitake. Aim for at least 1.5 grams total.

• Women between the ages of 45 and 64 are at greater risk for depression.
• Fifty to 75 percent of people with an eating disorder also have depression.
• The highest suicide rates in the U.S. occur in white men over the age of 85.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. women, regardless of race or ethnicity
• One percent of all breast cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are in men.
• According to an article published in 1995 in the medical journal The Lancet, when it comes to mammograms, “The benefit is marginal, the harm caused is substantial, and the costs incurred are enormous.”
• According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2014, with more than 29,000 men dying from the disease in the same year.
• Prostate cancer boasts incredibly high survival rates, with a five-year rate of nearly 100 percent, a 10-year rate of 99 percent and a 15-year rate of 94 percent.
• Even with impressive survival rates, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, with lung cancer being the first.
• Oil those tomatoes! Studies show that the lycopene found in these delicious orbs can reduce your risk of prostate cancer, but they need added oil to improve absorbability.