Acai Berry

I'm sure you have seen all the different products that include acai berry now. This fruit has just swept the nation in a short amount of time. So what is it about this fruit that everyone just has to have? What are the benefits? What are the side effects? Well, I'll tell you what I have found and then you can make the decision for yourself on if you want to join in on this new craze.

The benefit list from using acai berries has a wide range of things including:

• increased energy/weight loss
• reduces cholesterol levels
• reduces risk of heart disease
• improves mood and cognition
• improves blood sugar levels
• helpful in controlling blood pressure
• lessens possibility of cancer
• helps in digestion
• slows down aging process
• and the list continues to grow

The list of side effects have very few things to be very concerned about. It can reduce appetite but then that also helps in the benefit of weight loss. Excessive consumption can cause messy stools or an acidic taste in your mouth. This is caused by excessive vitamin C and E in the berry. The only major side effect I could find was that you may be allergic.

Besides the side effects the major concern is the scams that include the acai berry. This berry is perishable and will start decomposing with in 24 hours of being plucked. You can only find this in the Amazon region. The only way to export to the U.S. is in juice or pill form. Because of this, you should read all labels and you should only buy acai berry products imported from the Amazon region. Most juices in the stores are diluted with water taking away from their nutritional value. Also, you shouldn't buy the juice in plastic containers as the nutrients will stick with the plastic instead of the juice when exposed to high temperatures like sunlight.

If you want to buy a juice you should shake the bottle to see if it seems watery. It should seem sort of thick with solid pulp. Sugar is a leading cause for inflammation. If the juice includes sugar it takes away from the benefit of an anti-inflammatory in acai. So you should always read labels and look for 100% organic since any pesticides make the antioxidants of acai ineffective to fight.

It really comes down to the acai berry is a fruit not a drug so we need to be more worried about the scams than the side effects. Its just like anything else right now everyone wants to make money off of the biggest newest thing right now. If you pay attention to the labels you should be fine and get plenty of benefits from this product.

Oil of Oregano

I think I may have found my baking soda of oils. Oil of oregano does so many things for our bodies just like baking soda does for cleaning the house. This product can be purchased as a liquid or capsule/tablet. The oil shouldn't be confused with the spice we commonly use on pizza.

The benefits of this oil just seem to be ongoing. It destroys organisms that cause skin infections and digestive problems, strengthens immune system, increase joint and muscle flexibility, and improves respiratory health. It is an anti inflammatory, slows down aging, protects from certain cancers, and many other benefits such as psoriasis, eczema, flu, athletes foot and food poisoning.

When taking oil of oregano you should dilute it in juice, milk, olive oil, or coconut oil. Oregano oil reduces the body's ability to absorb iron so you should take an iron supplement as well. People with allergies to thyme, basil, mint, or sage may be sensitive to this product. You should always follow the instructions on the bottle.

If you are giving this to your children you should take their age into consideration. With children 5-10 years old you should use one drop mixed with juice or milk and have them drink it 1-3 times per day. Don't exceed 7-10 days of use. With children ten and older use 3 drops of oil three times per day in juice or milk. With younger children you should use the oil externally. From 6 months old to five years dilute one part oil of oregano in four parts olive oil and apply to the soles of feet and spine. You can also add a few drops to warm bath water with bath salts. For children 5 and older you can use oil directly from bottle on soles and spine but you should dilute for sensitive skin.

As pregnant women shouldn't use this product I won't be using it at this time but I will be in a couple months. We need all we can right now to protect us from the winter sicknesses!