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Archive for May, 2009

Basic Flu Remedies For Kids

17 May



Influenza is commonly referred to as the flu, is a highly contagious disease caused because of the RNA viruses. Flu is an infection of nose, mouth, ears, throat and lungs that at times may also lead to death. Every year about 35,000 deaths occur just because of flu. The most common symptoms of flu are shivering, high fever, sore throat, body pain, muscle pain, severe headache, cough, weakness, tiredness, nausea and uneasiness. When flu symptoms worsen it causes Pneumonia, especially in young kids, elders and chronically ill individuals. A flu infected child may feel nostalgic and fatigue.

Flu infection is spread through the air. It enters into the body of a person through the nose, eyes or mouth. Flu is transmitted from one person to another while coughing, sneezing or by sharing infected objects. The flu virus is more active in winters, so it is necessary to keep yourself fit and boost up your immune system during this time. Sunlight and disinfectant can inactivate the flu virus.

Causes of flu

Flu is divided into three groups

1. Influenza A

2. Influenza B

3. Influenza C

These three types of Influenza virus are responsible for flu symptoms. The flu virus is transmitted from one person to another by coughing, sneezing and by sharing contaminated objects. Recovering from flu takes almost two weeks with or without antibiotics.

General Measures

A sick child must get plenty of rest; children must sleep well, get plenty of water and eat a healthy and immune boosting diet. Children should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water ever day. It helps in hydrating the mucus membrane. A nebulizer can help children to breathe comfortably and you must also keep their nose clean with saline nose drops.

Flu Remedies

Fever can be seen as a healthy sign of the body’s immune system. High temperature can weaken and kill flu virus and bacteria in the body by its self defense system. To support your immune system herbs play a great role. A tincture along with herbs like Echinacea, garlic, lemon balm, elder blossoms or thyme supports the immune system in your body.

Over-the-counter Flu remedies

You can give your child decongestants, nasal sprays, cough drops, cough syrup and pain relievers, so that the child can get some relief from the harsh effects of the flu. You should never give asprin to children that have symptoms of flu, especially when they are suffering from high fever.

Prevention with the help of flu remedies

Children, elders and those people who are suffering from a chronic disease should get yearly vaccines and antiviral drugs. Antiviral drugs help you in decreasing tenure of the flu. Some basic flu remedies and habits that help in flu prevention

• Get a flu shot / vaccine.

• While coughing or sneezing cover your mouth and nose.

• Keep distance from people who sneeze and cough.

• Blow nose with a tissue and then throw away the tissue. Clean your hands thoroughly with antibiotic soap.

• Wash your hands every 2 hours with antibiotic soap and warm water. Dry your hands with fresh towel.

• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands after touching any object.

• Use an alcohol based sanitizer to wash away germs from your hands. Alcohol based sanitizer helps in killing bacteria.

• Take sauna baths which will help you in killing the flu virus. It is not possible for the flu virus to stay alive in the sauna bath because the atmosphere there becomes very hot. A steamy bathroom helps in relaxing nasal passages as well.

• Drink lot of water which helps in keeping your mucous membranes well hydrated. Hot liquids help you a lot in relaxing your upper respiratory tract.

• Avoid crowded places if there is flu epidemic. The virus spreads very easily in crowded places.

• Avoid alcohol, tobacco and cigarette smoking during a flu epidemic or flu season. These are harmful for your body and at the same time they weaken your body’s immune system, making you more susceptible to the flu.

• Reduce stress because it can bring down your immune system.

• Sugar should be avoided when you are not healthy. Sugar damages your immune function, making you more and more prone to flu infection

• Stay away from exposure to dust, chemicals and polluted air in addition to unexpected, rapid and extreme temperature changes.

Caution

Take children immediately to the doctor when child has trouble breathing along with other symptoms like pale skin, not taking any liquids, extreme weakness, too much irritability, uneasiness, fever with rashes, cough and symptoms like high fever.

 
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Fabulous Sinusitis Herbs For Quick Sinus Relief

16 May



Over the last 10 years there has been a large increase in the use of herbs for sinusitis. This is most likely due to the fact that sinusitis afflicts over 30 million people yearly and many are looking for ways to resolve this issue. The problem is that many misunderstand how to use these herbs properly and don’t find any relief. So here is a list of the best sinusitis herbs and how to use them.

First we’ll take a look at the herbs that are great at reducing congestion and clearing up excessive mucus. Astragalus and Ginger are the two best herbs that fit into this category.

Astragalus is by far one of the best decongestant herbs you’ll find in the market. One of its main actions is thinning mucus, allowing for proper drainage and therefore helps reduce the pressure in the sinuses. It also has a secondary action, as it is listed as an adaptogen meaning it helps your body adapt. Research shows that taking Astragalus on a consistent basis will reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, which are a major cause of sinusitis. Depending on what you want to use it for will dictate how to administer this herb. It is best used as a tincture but for its decongestant properties take around 30 to 60 drops in 8 ounces of warm water 2-3 times a day. For its adaptogenic properties dosing it once a day is enough.

Ginger is also a great decongestant but works in a completely different way than Astragalus. Ginger increases the local blood flow to tissues that are stagnant (sinusitis causes a decrease in local tissue flow). This increase in blood flow raises the local temperature and in a sense “melts” the mucus. This action also brings more immune cells to the area, allowing for any bacterial or viral issues to be cleared up. Studies have shown that dizziness associated with sinusitis is also cleared up with Ginger. Again the dosing is extremely important as most people are not getting the right dosage to achieve the appropriate therapeutic effect. Taking this herb as a tea seems to be the best delivery method. The dosage will depend on your individual body. You know you are at the right strength when a slight amount of sweating occurs after drinking the tea. If you do not feel “warm” after the tea, it was too low of a dose. You will want to drink this tea about 3-4 times a day. If you have cardiovascular problems it is best advised to make sure your local physician thinks it is safe for you to take ginger.

Another category of sinusitis herbs are those that revolve around the immune system. Upper respiratory tract infections, mostly mediated by viruses, account for the majority of the instigating event that leads to sinusitis. So preventing this infection is vital to reducing sinusitis. Echinacea and medicinal mushrooms definitely are the way to go here.

Echinacea has received much media attention and many research studies have been conducted on its efficacy. Studies have shown that using Echinacea increased the population of white blood cells, our immune cells and reduces the severity and time of being sick. What I have learned though is that its medicinal properties rely heavily on the appropriate dosing schedule. Again as with many other sinusitis herbs most under dose this herb. Taking it as a tincture is my favorite way to dose it, using 60 drops at least 4 times a day in 8 ounce of warm water. If you do not like taking it as a tincture capsules are the next best thing.

Resit and Shitake mushrooms receive the most attention as cancer fighting agents. Studies have shown that their medicinal properties increase the activity of certain immune cells vital for keeping cancer form growing and spreading. These same cells are also vital for the general immune response against viruses. Taking a mixture of both, each at 500mg three times a day will drastically reduce your sinusitis incidence.

Remember, most sinusitis herbs have a specific dosing schedule and amount to them, so be sure to follow these guidelines exactly for quick and safe sinusitis relief As with all medical treatments it is best to consult your local physician before implementing them.

 
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Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Begin in the Intestine?

14 May



It’s not widely known, but the results of numerous clinical trials over the last 30 years have pointed to an intriguing connection between rheumatoid arthritis and the intestines. As long ago as the 1940s, Charles de Coti-Marsh in his pioneering research into the causes and treatment of arthritis declared ‘the disease begins in the bowel.’ Nowadays there is increasing evidence that he was right.

Unfortunately, the connection between arthritis and diet has historically been downplayed, with nutrition never quite making the grade as an object of scientific study. More recently, however, the development of nutritional biochemistry. immunology and pharmacology, as well as ever increasing scientific data on free-radical disease, antioxidants, prostaglandins, and flavonoids have lifted the subject of nutrition out of the realm of anecdotal uncertainty into the province of credible science.

In Joints and Arthritic Disease (2002), Dr Gail Darlington references a number of research projects, for example a study by O’Farrelly which took small intestinal biopsies from 93 patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA) and compared them to those of a control group. The conclusion was that the gut may play a part in the immunopathogenesis of certain cases of RA.

The combination of the development of certain types of gut flora and an increased permeability of the intestine (allowing potentially harmful bacterial antigens into the blood stream) seems to be the key issue. Darlington notes that ‘RA patients untreated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have normal gastrointestinal permeability, but patients on NSAIDs and perhaps also on disease modifying antirheumatic drugs show increased permeability. Such increased permeability may allow food or bacterial antigens to be absorbed in greater quantities than usual, overwhelming normal gut defences and, possibly producing symptoms of RA.’

What that means is that dietary manipulation could, in theory, reduce gastrointestinal permeability, with reduced absorption bacterial antigens

 
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How to Prevent Getting a Cold Or the Flu

14 May



It is getting to be that time of year when we are bombarded with news articles about getting a cold or the flu. They are saying that this year the flu has shown up in the general population earlier than usual. In this article I will give you some tips that may help you or your family prevent getting a cold or the flu. Each year numerous days of work and school are missed because of these troublesome ailments.

First, you may want to get a flu shot.It is best to speak to your doctor to see if you and your children are good candidates for the shot. They are recommended especially for the young and old and those people with compromised immune systems.

Secondly, I can not stress enough how important it is to wash your hands properly. So many germs remain on our hands and then we touch our face. This is one of the main ways that germs are spread. Take the time to teach your children proper hand washing. How to wash with soap and correct scrubbing methods and to make sure they always use soap. You can never wash your hands too many times in a day, especially during food season.

Third, eating properly is also very important. A healthy diet high in vitamins and nutrients is another step in fighting the war against colds and the flu. You want to make sure you are eating the correct recommended servings of vegetables, fruits and proteins.

Fourth, taking a multiple vitamin is a great way to ensure along with healthy eating that you are getting the correct amount of vitamins and nutrients.

Fifth, you want to make sure you are getting enough sleep. When your body doesn’t get enough sleep. When we are sleep deprived we become more susceptible to illness. A good rule of thumb is to try and get at least 8 hours of sleep.

Sixth, get some exercise take walks participate in some sports. Just keep your body moving all of this helps to kick start your immune system.

Lastly, both you and your kids should stay away from people who are sick. It is so easy to catch a cold or the flu so don’t place yourself in a position to make yourself vulnerable.The same rule should work in reverse, if you or your children are sick stay away from others.

 
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Getting Sick – A Bodybuilder’s Guide To Dealing With Illness

13 May



Everyone becomes sick from time to time. It’s just a part of life. Your immune system becomes weakened by a variety of agents, and allows a cold or flu bug to slip through. In most aspects of life, you can just pause things for several days, and stay in bed, and recover. But in the world of bodybuilding, progress is lost when you fall ill. Much of what bodybuilding entails – extremely hard training and rigorous dieting – actually causes the body to face greater likeliness of becoming sick. You tear down your immune system and central nervous system when training hard and heavy. Bodybuilding makes your muscles stronger but often leaves your immune system weaker.

One cannot just skip the gym every time he feels a little run down or tired. At the same time, going to the gym when you’re very sick is a recipe for hurting your recovery, as well as spreading your illness to others in the gym. A fine line must be drawn as to when you miss workouts, and when you train when you should not.

A few simple questions should be asked. Are you afflicted with a serious enough malady to warrant losing your bodybuilding progress? Would training with this illness cost you MORE bodybuilding progress? Finally, are you at risk of giving your illness to others, as well as make yourself more susceptible to other illnesses in your state of weakened defenses?

If you decide to train

Dress in layers. Take your medicine – Zicam and Echinacea are wonderful for boosting the immune system and destroying a starting illness. Start with light cardio, then light weights. If you feel yourself getting worse, halt and take a break. Some people believe you can “break” a cold or fever by training through it, although this is unproven.

If you decide to take the time off

Most people choose to take 3 to 7 days away from the gym to recover from a cold or flu. Give the body time to rest, and then get back in there. See a doctor if illness continues. Also look for environmental factors, which may be contributing to the illness.

Ten years later… When it’s all said and done, missing a few days due to illness is normal and to be expected. It’s very necessary to give your body time to heal when illness hits. On the other hand one should be careful not to squander training results by skipping the gym every time he/she is feeling a little run down. Once that can be achieved, long-term bodybuilding success can be achieved, despite any illnesses!

 
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A Few Cold And Flu Remedies Passed On To Me By A Wicca Witch

10 May

It is that time of year again colds and flu are just around the corner, of course according to me I never get a cold it is always flu.

These are just a few home made recipes passed on by my good ladies cousin, she is a Wicca witch, but do not worry these ladies are not the scary witches you see in the movies.

She does not live out in the country in a hovel, far from it she resides in a block of flats in my home city.

We never buy any of the cold and flu remedies from the chemist shop, instead we use natures pharmacy.

Obviously if your symptoms get no better after a few days it may be time to visit the doctor.

1. Onion and honey cough syrup.

This is not really a cough medicine as such because you could put it directly onto potatoes or your favourite vegetables. But personally I like to take it by the spoonful as many times as required.

Cooking this mixture up could not be easier, use a small saucepan chop a yellow skinned onion, add a cup of honey and a tablespoon of thyme, as much as you want if you can get it fresh, cook until the onion is soft, that is it job done.

Research has proven that onions and garlic irritate the lining of the stomach, this in turn forces the lungs to release a secretion that thins the thick mucus that makes you feel ill.

When peeling onions they make your eyes water this is the same action working, but it is getting rid of the sticky mucus in the lungs.

2. Thyme is an age old remedy, boil it up with some honey and drink as a tea, effective against laryngitis.

3. I remember an old remedy my dear old mother used on us as kids to relieve coughing.

Chop an onion place it in the oven to heat up then wrap it in a cloth, make sure it is not to hot and place directly on the chest, if you are using this on a child it may help to tape it on.

The fumes from the onion will stop any cough dead in it’s tracks, fair comment the bedroom and you will stink the next day, but hey you have had a good nights sleep.

4. Lemons and honey are another great remedy, squeeze a couple of lemons heat with a teaspoon of honey, and drink the mixture, this is an excellent way to help ease sore throats.

5. Another Wicca remedy I have tried and I would sooner have the flu, take some elder-flowers fresh or dried boil them up and make a tea, drink hot. Good luck with this one I have never tasted anything like it, totally disgusting.

This seems a bit strange it has nothing to do with Wicca, I do not know how it works but it did for me.

Although I think maybe you should get medical advise before trying this, as I am not responsible I am just passing on the information.

There has been research done, I believe many years ago, that says cold and flu bugs enter through the ears.

This is certainly not what we have been taught, do you remember all of the adverts and posters coughs and sneezes spread diseases, yes as far as we knew we inhaled these bugs.

Although I am convinced this remedy works I am not prepared to put my name to it, but the information is out there if you require it.

But the best remedy of all go to bed for a couple of days, get well wrapped up and have someone run around after you.

Convince them that alcohol is the perfect cure, and get them to make you a few hot toddies, read a good book and sleep a lot.

 
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Ways To Treat Arthritis

10 May



Arthritis is an affliction that cover more than one hundred different conditions and osteoarthritis coupled with rheumatoid arthritis are the most widespread. Forty six million people in United States are afflicted with arthritis and arthritis does occur in children. With arthritis, you will get joints pain, which can range from severe to mild. Arthritis is non-curable, so you have to manage it and try out different treatments until one that help you to control the pain.

As lots of people suffer from arthritis and different treatments suit different people, it is far from certain that one particular remedy will be right for you. Arthritis can just happen in a single joint for some patients but there are many who are afflicted with arthritis in many locations and getting the right treatments is difficult. With longer lifespan, more and more people are getting arthritis in their advancing years.

The intense pain from arthritis can be unbearable and coupled with swelling and other arthritis ailments; it can cause depression. Besides synthetic drugs that might cause severe side effects, natural form of treatment is more ideal. Arthritis can strike at any time and it doesn’t just cause stiffness and pain but can result in disability. The proper set of treatments is necessary and patients are in the best position to determine what sort of treatment is right for them in collaboration with the physician.

The conventional forms of treatments are arthritis drugs but there is the possibility of side effects and different people respond differently making dispensing the drugs difficult. The arthritis drugs are Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs and Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs or DMARDs.

Other is corticosteroids or glucocorticoids, which is known as ‘steroids’. Arthritis patients suffer a lot of pain and analgesics or painkillers can control the pain. Unlike NSAIDs, they do not reduce inflammation but narcotic analgesic drugs help to relieve severe pain. The conventional drugs help to slow down bone loss and promote its growth in addition to preventing fracture.

Some milder form of arthritis just requires an aspirin or any non-prescription drugs but more severe form will require more than just an aspirin. Synthetic drugs can provide immediate relief but there are side effects and some of the patients can experience very severe form of it such as strokes or heart attack. With multiple lawsuits filed, those drugs are withdrawn from the shelves. So those patients and other who do not have the side effects start to look for natural remedies.

Certain natural form of treatments is useful but it is necessary to find out more before starting the treatment. Some people do benefit from apple cider but other sufferers do not find relief from it. Apple cider does no harm so everyone can give it a try even though you might not get the relief you seek.

Glucosamine is a natural occurring substance in the body and the supplements are available as well, with some sufferers finding it to be effective. Other forms of natural cures are ginger and omega-3 oils and ginger can be used to flavor food. As for omega-3 oils, they occur naturally in fish and are highly recommended. Arthritis patients need to seek the advice of the physician before committing to any form of treatments.

You can seek professional message therapy but the relief is only temporary unless you go for regular sessions. Message therapy can provide the necessary relaxation to your muscle and reinvigorate the body, providing many form of benefits. On the other hand, acupuncture is a beneficial natural form of treatment to provide immediate relief from arthritis pain. Acupuncture stimulates the body nerves to get the desired outcomes.

Warm baths are another way to get relief from arthritis and that can be done before you sleep as warm water relax the whole body and mind, thus giving you a respite from arthritis. Hot and cold patches are also effective through direct application to the affected joints, just like those people who use ice packs to reduce swelling.

You also can get arthritis relief creams that can be applied to the joints to get instant relief and there are sprays as well to apply on the go so that you can be free from pain. With cream and spray, they can be put into handbag so that you can retrieve it when you need it.

It is best to stick to natural form of arthritis cures as there is no short as well as long term and severe side effects. The pain can be incapacitating and incurable but there are many natural forms of arthritis cures that you can look to.

 
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What Are Remote Controlled Electronic Dog Training Aids?

09 May



These days we see so many electronic dog training aids being advertised on line and on TV which tell you that your dog will behave well with the use of this device. Do these really work? Well the answer is both yes and no.

Actually these electronic training aids are just nothing but electronic buzzers or vibrators which produce some sort of stimulation. These have nothing to do with behavior control at all. As a matter of fact you have to train your dog to get conditioned to it. These do not have any secret power to stop your dog from howling or misbehaving.

The art of conditioning is to train your dog to react in a manner that you teach him in response to the stimulation produced by these training aids. For example, you can train your dog to stop barking or to immediately come to you whenever you activate the device.

This has to be taught to your dog as a response by giving him a treat every time you buzz during the initial training session as a reward. Later this becomes a natural habit and a reaction for your dog to act as per your training.

This is important to understand that these devices at their own do not have any capability to stop your dog from attacking a visiting stranger or chewing your furniture. It is all up to you as to how you condition your dog’s behavior with this device.

Another thing of utmost importance is that you should not change the device frequently as it will only confuse your pet. If you find him not acting as per your desires, then the problem is not with the dog training aid but with your teaching technique or your dog’s attitude. For this I recommend that in such a situation consult a professional dog trainer for help to achieve your goal.

 
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Golf Swing Training Aids – How to Increase Your Golf Swing Distance on a Budget

08 May

What are the best golf swing training aids in the market now? Honestly, I do not know and do not really care. I feel that the golf swing trainers market is over-hyped and over-sold. As someone formerly in an engineering-related line, I strongly subscribe to the 80-20 rule – 80% of my problems come from 20% of my game. If I spend my hard-earned cash on that 20%, I can easily add yards to my drive.

In my opinion, the best investment of time and money is to buy a medicine ball and exercise mat and do core-training exercises. These are not strictly golf swing training aids, but just look at Tiger Woods. He is one of the fittest professional golfers, and the power of his swing reflects it. If your golf swing techniques are good, a lot of your power comes from your core muscles. Doing core-training exercises can add anywhere from 5 to 10 yards to your drive.

Next up on the good and cheap scale are golf club training grips. Use these grips regularly and you will learn how to grip the golf club correctly. A correct grip will fix many problems, including your slice. It is better to buy them at your local golf store, where you can try different-sized grips to find the best fit. Amazon also sells training grips for as little as $7. High handicappers will find their handicaps dropping steadily over time as they improve their grips. Your drive will straighten out and range will increase when you correctly grip the golf club.

To improve your golf swing, nothing beats lots of practise. Top-ranked pros like Vijay Singh spend many hours everyday just hitting the golf ball. Unfortunately, we do not have so much time to spend at the driving range. If you have a backyard or garden, getting a hitting mat, a hitting net and lots of cheap golf balls makes for a decent substitute. The feel of hitting the golf ball against the hitting mat will not be exactly the same as the fairway, but it is a good way to master your golf swing techniques. If you only practice driving the ball off a tee, you do not even need the mat. The net will catch the golf balls you hit, so you do not need much space for your practise. All three – mat, net and balls – can be bought cheaply on Amazon.

My final selection for good, cheap golf swing training aids would be cheap digital camcorders. Just set up a camcorder in your backyard together with your hitting mat and net and swing away at a few dozen golf balls. Once you are done, plug the camcorder into your TV and analyze your drive with help from a good golf swing reference book. Take note of where your biggest mistakes are, and practice again. Repeat this a few times and your golf swing mechanics will improve greatly. You will gain in consistency, and add a few yards to your range.

As you can see, these golf swing training aids cost you under $200 altogether. In reality, most of us spend less. After all, we need to buy golf balls anyway. And most homes nowadays have camcorders.

 
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Arthritis Caused By Aluminum Poisoning

08 May

Heavy metal poisoning has become a major health problem in recent history and will inevitably become much worse, as more countries become industrialized nations. Metals and industrial bi products seep into the water and enter the food chain.

Heavy metals have a density of over five times that of water, which means the human body is unable to successfully break down the foreign bodies and is forced to retain them. The accumulation of heavy metals trapped in the body causes toxicity to poison the bloodstream, leading to damaged kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other organs.

What is Heavy Metal Poisoning (Toxicity)?

Heavy Metal Toxicity is the level of toxic metals that has been absorbed by the body in numerous ways which usually depend on the type of metal. The four main toxic metals are aluminum, lead, cadmium, and mercury. These metals can cause various complications and indeed in many cases lead to illness and disease.

Aluminum.

Aluminum is the most common toxic metal & is found in almost everyone’s body. Whether it is under your arms, in your teeth, or even on your skin, aluminum is found more than any other metal. Sources: Aluminum foil, antacids, aspirin, toothpaste, dust, auto exhaust, treated water, nasal spray, milk products, salt, commercially-raised beef, tobacco smoke, anti-antiperspirants, bleached flour, cans, animal feed, ceramics, canned food, cosmetics, and even cigarette filters.

Symptoms of aluminum toxicity.

Symptoms are thought to include Brittle Bones, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis as aluminum is stored in the bones. Kidney disease and malfunction may also result, as the kidneys filter aluminum. ADHD, ADD, Hyperactivity, memory disturbances, and learning disabilities.

How To Get Tested?

Getting tested for heavy metal poisoning is relatively easy and can be detected through a hair-follical test, you will need to speak to your doctor in order to get tested.

How To Treat Heavy Metal Toxicity.

Although there are supplements available which claim to rid the body of these damaging metals, ones best course of action would to detoxify the body naturally.

 
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