The Circle of Life -- The Zodiac Signs and the New Moon's Journey
By
Rebecca Brents

Astrology is for Believers.

With an open mind and a knowledge of Astrology you can watch your life unfold in ways that make sense.

You can recognize the subtle knock of real opportunity and the soft voice of invitations to personal growth because you know they're coming, where to look for them, and what they'll look like when they appear.

Real Astrology ...
for people who take
their lives seriously.

Join our
Astrology and Tarot
Premium Membership
TODAY!!

Astrology is for Believers.

With Real Astrology as your compass, you can recognize what's right for you, work with your natural gifts and rhythms, understand the dynamics of your relationships, and take your place more easily in Life's natural flow.

Real Astrology ...
for people who take
their lives seriously.

Join our
Astrology and Tarot
Premium Membership
TODAY!!

You Can Remember Love : Contemplations on Science and Spirituality
By
Odete Martins Bigote

Our Premium Members get

Readings ~ Classes

Lectures ~ Articles

Ezines ~ Oracles

And More!!

For people who take
their lives seriously.

Join our
Premium Membership
TODAY!!

	A Kefir A Day Just Might Keep The Doctor Away! by Susan Rutter
Astrology, Tarot, and Self Improvement for the New Age.

    Email This Page to a Friend    

A Kefir A Day Just Might Keep The Doctor Away!
by Susan Rutter

What if eating a serving or two of a given food every day could help boost immunity against common infections, reduce the risk of developing stomach ulcers, skin disorders and maybe even colon cancer?

Buttermilk, cheese, kefir, yogurt and tofu may just deliver that kind of payload. The benefits of these "functional foods" are still under study, but dozens of small trials in people suggest they might help promote health in a variety of ways.

Of course, consumption of these products dates back thousands of years. "We've known for centuries that they may help keep a balance between bacteria that is very adaptable and helps with immune function and bacteria that is harmful," says Linda Duffy, associate professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the State University of New York's at Buffalo.

Scientists have found yogurt and kefir, a liquid fermented dairy product, contain such organisms as lactobacillus and bifido-bacteria. These "friendly bacteria" create an acidic environment that thwarts the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines and possibly elsewhere, including the vagina and the skin.

And it's best to get this healthful bacteria from food rather than "probiotic"dietary supplements, Duffy advises, because supplements are less subject to government regulation than drugs.

"Our concern with the probiotic dietary supplements is that we don't know the source of the bacteria, the purification, the quality or how much is really viable in the product," she says. "I'd want to make sure that they're not contaminated. And we don't know how much you should take."

For now, findings suggest a serving a day of yogurt, kefir or other foods that help boost levels of healthful bacteria won't cause harm and is probably a good idea for most people. As Duffy notes, "there's enough evidence from studies and some very small clinical studies to suggest there may be major public-health benefits from consuming cultured food products."

For those who don't like these foods or can't tolerate them, there's this tip: Studies from around the world suggest diets rich in vegetables and fruit also boost growth of these healthful bacteria. "If you eat a lot of meat, you may not have as much healthy bacteria," Duffy says.

Good food sources of friendly bacteria and the nutrients to help them thrive include:

Buttermilk: Yes, it's an acquired taste, but its nutrients raise acidity and promote growth of healthful bacteria. Read labels carefully, however, to search for brands that are lowest in fat.

Cheese: Among those that seem to provide the best nutrients for healthful bacteria are edam, gouda, blue cheese, Roquefort, Shropshire and cottage cheese.

Kefir: Sometimes dubbed the champagne of yogurts, kefir is not actually a yogurt, but a fermented milk product that resembles a milkshake. Find it in the diary case at health-food stores and specialty groceries. Like yogurt, it provides both healthful bacteria and the right nutrients to promote their growth in the body.

Soy: Tofu, a fermented bean curd product, and other soy products seem to be especially good at fostering growth of friendly bacteria in the intestine.

Yogurt: The more acidic it tastes, the better, because acidity signals a higher concentration of healthful bacteria. Fresh, unsweetened is best, but even frozen delivers a little beneficial bacteria, plus it's got the right stuff to help friendly bacteria thrive in the body.

Enchanted Spirit assumes no liability for health care recommendations or treatments discussed by individual authors whose work is published on our website.

The information here is offered to help in your research and investigation of possible ways to manage your own health care issues. Common sense as well as solid professional advice from your own trusted medical care specialist or personal holistic health care practitioner should always be part of managing your health care choices.

Note: This author's website is closed.

Susan Rutter: Author, publisher, nutritionist, instructor assists patients and the public make healthy choices and changes in their lives.

I do most of my work sitting down; that's where I shine.
~ Robert Benchley ~
Born September 15, 1889

Please click on the titles to visit these fine areas of Enchanted Spirit

---

	PO Box 1080 Sandia Park · NM · 87047

Enchanted Spirit is a non-denominational spiritual center of healing, support, self-improvement, personal guidance, education and writing. We publish multi-media works of New Age thought and information to encourage serenity and growth in individual life choices, advance the universal search for life's meaning, and promote tolerance for positive ideas from all philosophies and religious traditions, believing as we do that truth is where you find it.

---

This site is hosted and maintained for Enchanted Spirit by

Catweasel Ink

Copyright © 1999 - 2008 by Enchanted Spirit and Catweasel Ink.
Contributed works copyright by their respective authors. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction specifically prohibited.

Last updated July 6th, 2004

Rebecca is not available
right now.


Please check back
later
CLICK HERE FOR
MORE INFO

Real People
Real Lives
Real Ambitions
Real Questions

Our Premium Members
Get
Real Answers
Real Direction
Real Information
Real Advantages

Become a
Premium Member
today!!

Cut through the confusion.

See clearly

Think better

Make informed choices

Discover why the Tarot has intrigued, informed, and interested spiritual seekers for centuries.

What is your life''s biggest question?

Get a reading on Your Situation

Join our
Astrology and Tarot
Premium Membership
TODAY!!

You Can't Say That to Me: Stopping the Pain of Verbal Abuse -- An 8-Step Program
By
Suzette Haden Elgin