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Whether you’re new to the powers of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or a seasoned pro, we’ve pulled together some facts to help you maximize your use of this healthy oil.

How to Use It

If you grew up in an Italian household this might seem like we’re telling you how to use water, but the truth is, there are quite a few people who miss out on chances to use olive oil just because they don’t know how.

But we decided that’s not enough of a reason for anyone to miss out on this plant-based oil that’s full of monounsaturated fat that just might lower your LDL cholesterol levels. Olive oil also has the highest content of polyphenols—powerful antioxidants that can promote heart health.

So ready or not, here comes your olive oil crash course:

Taste it. Rather than being afraid to use olive oil because you’re afraid it will throw off the taste of your dish, run your finger around the rim of the bottle and taste the oil on its own.

Savor the slight nuttiness of the creamy oil. Remember that taste so that you can start using it in dishes that will complement that flavor.

Drizzle it. If you’re still hesitant to cook with it, start using it to drizzle over grilled vegetables, use it in salad dressings, or dip your bread in it.

The more you taste its flavor on foods you already love, the more confidence you’ll have to start sautéing your foods in this healthy oil.

Don’t let it go bad. There’s nothing worse than trying to ease yourself onto a new staple by buying too much and letting it go bad on you.

Make sure to close the cap on your olive oil tightly and keep it in a cool, dry place. This will help ensure that you get the best flavor out of your oil.

Whether you do it for your heart, or for your palate, don’t miss out on the benefits of olive oil any longer.

Coca leaves have been chewed and consumed as tea and a pain killer for thousands of years in the high Andes. Indigenous tradition and scientific studies have both confirmed that in their natural form, the leaves are completely safe and non-addictive — it takes intensive processing and toxic chemical ingredients to produce cocaine.

Despite this, the United States still aggressively pursues an eradication policy that encourages Andean governments to spray their forests with toxic chemicals to eliminate this crop, thereby eradicating the ability to make cocaine. In fact, I’m sure you know that it is illegal to import or possess the leaves under U.S. law.

Unless you’re the Coca-Cola company.

In an effort to preserve the traditional flavor of the best-selling drink, the company long ago convinced the U.S. government to exempt it from the law.

Coca-Cola manages to keep this importation of coca leaves secret by sending them to a nondescript processing lab known as the Stepan Company. In 1922, the Jones-Miller Act banned cocaine imports into the United States, but Coca-Cola (and its lab) was granted an exception. This exception remained a secret until the late 1980′s when the New York Times seemed shocked to discover the truth.

Approximately 100 metric tons of coca leaves are imported to the Stepan Company each year under “special permission” from the DEA. And if you don’t believe that it goes to making Coca Cola, then an almost as disturbing question is, “Where, then, does all the cocaine go?”

Whether the coca leaves are addictive or not, the American people deserve the right to know exactly what is making it into their favorite drink.

It seems like every few years we discover another fruit that has native people in much better health than our population, and we think that if we can only just introduce this berry into our diet than we will be cured from all our problems. This was the philosophy behind the sudden introduction of the acai berry into all of our juices, supplements, and even frozen yogurts.

Soon after its “discovery” in the lush forests of Brazil, this small, round, black-purple drupe was touted as a miracle drug that could cure everything from obesity to cancer. This immediately started a media craze and it seemed like anything that didn’t have acai in it was not going to be beneficial for you at all. However, the truth behind acai has slowly been trickling out.

In 2004, the multi-level marketing company MonaVie started selling an acai blend tonic for $40 a bottle and misusing celebrity names like Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray to promote the online sales of acai. All the claims about acai’s high levels of antioxidants, as well as the slew of various health benefits, were all proliferated without one shred of scientific confirmation.

But not only did an entire nation get duped into dousing their frozen dessert in acai syrup, but a lot of us also got our credit taken advantage of. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, thousands of consumers had problems with recurrent charges on their credit cards when they tried to cancel their free trials of acai-based products. There were even some websites that warned against acai-related scams and then turned out to be the same scams.

As of right now, there are multiple lawsuits underway against MonaVie, both for falsifying health claims, and slandering the names and reputations of certain celebrities.

A patented form of CLA, Tonalin CLA has risen to fame as the ultimate good fatty acid engineered to burn fat and promote a powerful thermogenic effect. It is known for improving cholesterol and heart heath, and some say that it may also build lean muscle mass to promote better long term effects. But there’s no other good fatty acid that has ever been proven to promote fat burning.

How Does Tonalin CLA Work?

Tonalin CLA supposedly affects 4 parts of the body: adipocytes, triglycirides, apoptosis, and CPT, all of which are fats. And by doing this, it supposedly makes your body work in a healthier manner, increasing good cholesterol, lowering bad, and improving health. But what we really care about is the weight loss results.

Does Tonalin CLA Promote Weight Loss?

Tonalin CLA has been publicized, and it has become extremely popular. But ironically, Tonalin CLA has never been clinically proven to promote any weight loss results. Tonalin CLA has been through multiple studies, and the studies that supposedly support weight loss results, show a 2 pound difference in a year! Debatable, absolutely! Proven, I would say no.

Ironically, Tonalin CLA has not even been technically proven to improve heart health. While omega fatty acids show plenty of strong heart health improving benefits, Tonalin CLA has never been proven to have this effect. Studies seem to show no noticeable difference.

Is There Any Benefit to Using Tonalin CLA?

So far, studies do not show any known benefits at all. So there’s no known purpose for using Tonalin CLA. It doesn’t demonstrate any common side effects. But it’s certainly not the amazing fat burner that most describe.

If you haven’t noticed, experts who recommend daily chocolate intake are on the rise, as are companies who sell “healthy chocolate.” But while some recommend dark chocolate, you may have noticed, the “healthy chocolate” beans do not necessarily taste that good, and pills might be a little easier to swallow. Scientists are not fans of other types of chocolate, because other types of chocolate are loaded with plenty of milk, sugar, and calories. Dark chocolate is the closest thing to pure cocoa that you can find in grocery stores and therefore the healthiest. But what’s so special about chocolate?

What’s So Great About Chocolate?

First, most of us now know about all the antioxidant benefits of chocolate. Antioxidants eliminate free radicals, which obviously means that it can improve skin health, increase energy, and a lot of other things that you might not normally think of. Antioxidants are considered by some to be the key to better health. But there’s more.

Appetite Suppression and Weight Loss

What some may not know is that chocamine is also rich in weight loss benefits, because it happens to be rich in two major ingredients known as phenylethylamine and synephrine, both of which suppress appetite. And to add to that, synephrine also burns fat and promotes other healthy weight loss benefits while increasing natural energy levels. And of course it acts as a mood lifter, being nicknamed the “love drug.” But what about side effects?

The Possible Side Effects of Chocolate

The only side effects of chocolate seem to be related to its natural diuretic value. But even then, the side effects seem to be relatively mild as compared to other diuretics.

Final Word on Chocolate

Don’t count on a bunch of health benefits from a normal bar of chocolate, like milk chocolate for example. It’s just not going to happen. But dark chocolate, which is largely untainted by large amounts of milk or sugar and of course pure cocoa beans (which don’t taste quite the same), are more likely to promote the health benefits that you are looking for.

It’s not much of a surprise to find out that a lot of people are sick of prescriptions that oftentimes, do not address the real problem, only the symptoms that stand in the forefront. And many would swear to you that it was natural treatments that changed their lives.

It comes from the ginger family, which is typically used to fight stomach upset. But this particular anti-inflammatory has also been used to fight many of the inflammatory symptoms of joint pain and even arthritis. It can be used in both raw and fresh form, and it can be ingested or spread across aching joints as a paste. But its best known use is as an herb used in Indian cooking.

In a study, it was shown that when applied, turmeric reduced swelling and inflammation, allowing users to get rid of joint pain with fewer side effects with the best results when taken about 3 times a day, with each supplement containing about 400-600mg.

Natural treatments are generally known for promoting benefits (or sometimes not promoting benefits), but generally without side effects. Turmeric fits this stereotype if you will perfectly, allowing you to achieve distinctive and noticeable results without actually causing serious side effects and without many other all too common issues.

Found in the Brazilian rainforests, cha de bugre is found in many popular weight loss supplements, most of which focus on its “amazing Brazilian” properties. It is sold mostly by Raintree Nutirtion, and some say it has everything from fat burning benefits to appetite suppressing benefits.

How Cha de Bugre Promotes “Weight Loss”

Cha de Bugre is said to contain various supplements ranging from caffeine to potassium, allantoin, and allatoic acid. Some say that it acts as a mild diuretic, which is always bad. Diuretics promote fast weight loss by getting rid of water weight. But it causes potentially serious side effects, and the weight ALWAYS comes back! You would think that because of the caffeine, it would burn fat. But this is not necessarily the case.

There are no studies that back the idea that cha de bugre acts as a weight loss supplement at all, let alone a powerful one. It seems to cause the side effects commonly associated with caffeine such as jitters, insomnia, headaches, nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, etc. But there are no clinical studies or other resources that show that it might even begin to target fatty deposits.

Is It Still Used?

Cha de Bugre is still used by some Native tribes. It is used for various medicinal properties, and it is still thought of as the “coffee of the woods”, because it does have some stimulating properties. And of course, it is still consumed on a regular basis by some women who frequent Brazil’s beaches, but not necessarily as a weight loss supplement.

Should You Use Cha de Bugre?

Scientists have not necessarily determined all of the possible dangers and side effects. Some are still skeptical, and it has never been proven to promote any weight loss at all. As such, I would be inclined to say that you should not waste your time on Cha de Bugre, at least not until there is stronger proof.

A cellulite treatment and everyday fat burner in one bottle? L-carnitine is actually an amino acid that is considered to be non-essential. Amino acids are known to be split into two groups: essential and non-essential. And amino acids are an essential part of our daily diet. Amino acids feed the muscles and it actually prevents muscle breakdown and works as a nutritional supplement. But this is not necessarily true for all amino acids. It depends on the individual one.

Benefits of L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is one amino acid that has been known to break the blood-brain barrier. It makes its way into the brain, making up one of the basic building blocks of the brain, and it enhances memory and overall brain function. It acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting the brain from damage and improving circulation.

Because of this, some people believe that l-carnitine improves the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and it can also prevent other issues with memory and otherwise. In addition, it has been known to improve sperm mobility in men and reduce the amount of plaque buildup specifically in men with Peyronie’s disease.

L-Carnitine and Weight Loss

The two things that L-carnitine has never been proven to do is to reduce fat or cellulite. The only natural treatment that reduces cellulite is a coffee scrub, and obviously, it works from the outside. L-carnitine has never been proven to reduce cellulite, and it has no weight loss benefits whatsoever.

Final Word

There’s a lot to say about l-carnitine. But it has never been clinically proven to promote weight loss results. L-carnitine may be an amino acid. But it does not even build or sustain muscle. It is an entirely different type of amino acid. And it’s clear that supplements that use it should be using it as a health supplement, not a weight loss supplement.

Vaginal dryness may seem like a small problem. But it is one of the most common problems among menopausal women causing pain, discomfort, and “sandpaper sex.” Because of this growing problem, there are always plenty of people promoting the use of personal lubricants. Is it actually a good solution?

Let’s talk to the experts.

Dr. Machelle Seibel MD, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts states, “Vaginal dryness can occur at any age, and its effects range from minor discomfort to chronic pain, but it can be especially troublesome for women going through menopause. It is most often associated with the normal decline or fluctuation of the female hormone estrogen. This fluctuation can be triggered by childbirth, breastfeeding or menopause. Dryness can also be caused by stress, certain medications, or exercise.”

Seibel, who is a spokesman for Replens Long Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer does promote the use of lubricants, regardless of what brand you happen to use to avoid sandpaper sex, helping women to continue having sex without pain. Too little or no lubrication can cause irritation, bleeding, and pain, and according to experts, “The cells of the lining will repair over the next several days but it can be pretty uncomfortable in the meantime.”

According to Seibel, Replens is one of the few and only options that provides long term solutions rather than a temporary fix. But obviously, he is somewhat biased, being a paid spokesman.

Either way, experts agree, whether those particular experts are selling a particular brand or not, most experts agree that a little lubricant, even outside of sex depending on the particular brand that you choose, can help you to avoid vaginal dryness and improve the menopausal experience.

7-keto DHEA is a natural substance used to burn fat and improve lean muscle mass without any stimulants or common side effects. It is non-hormonal and non-androgenic, and this groundbreaking formula seems to activate powerful thermogenic enzymes.

7-keto DHEA may help users to train into old age, and recent studies have shown that it helps users to be “youthful, healthy, and physically active” for much longer than without. Obviously, all of this sounds good. But is it clinically proven?

The Science Behind 7-keto DHEA

There are many substances out there that have not been proven. But 7-keto DHEA is one of those that has. Studies started in the late 1950’s, and ever since then, 7-keto DHEA has been heavily studied for all of its potential benefits. In the late 1950’s, it was called by a more complicated chemical name that was only later shortened down to the 7-keto DHEA we now know.

Studies have shown that 7-keto level decrease as we age, and it is directly connected to increases in fat and decreases in muscle. Over time, if you supplement 7-Keto DHEA back into the body, it has the opposite effect, and toxicology studies have shown that the levels typically used are very safe, providing a safe alternative even for those with certain hormonal cancers. Dosages depend partly on body weight. But multiple studies have found that the right amounts make a significant impact.

Immune Boosting Properties

Because 7-keto DHEA is so strongly connected to aging, studies have also found that the supplementation of 7-keto DHEA can improve immune response and immune function. And again, it seems to be well tolerated, and it comes without serious side effects. A study conducted at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science in Beijing confirms the immune boosting properties, and it seems that thyroid levels also increase in direct correlation with this product.

Powerful Thermogenic Fat Burning

7-keto DHEA produces some of the most powerful thermogenic effects the industry has seen, creating a heat in the body, which helps to properly metabolize the foods we eat. Greater thermogenic activity also burns more fat, and it can help you to convert stored fat into energy, getting rid of it over time.

With proper use, studies such as the study published in Current Therapeutic Research show that 7-keto DHEA can promote weight loss, even when combined with an 1800 calorie diet.