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Karla-Despierta America: Have you ever heard that our bodies have the capacity to heal?
Well this is what many branches of alternative medicine believe.
Karla-Despierta America: Welcome Alejandra.
Alex: Thank you.
Karla-Despierta America: Let's start by defining what disease is from alternative medicine's
viewpoint.
Alex: One of the most general concepts of alternative medicine is that disease manifests
when there is an imbalance in the body. Alternative medicine uses therapies sourced from nature
in combination with a healthy diet, looks to restore that balance of the body.
Karla-Despierta America: So what is the difference between traditional medicine and alternative
medicine?
Alex: There are many. Alternative medicine in general seeks to restore an overall balance
in the body. Another way it differs is in the way it considers an individual's unique
profile. Also, approaches usually involve a specific diet, mild exercise routine and
incorporating stress management techniques.
Karla-Despierta America: So one of the things natural medicine helps to do is prevent certain
conditions. You have brought us several examples of natural foods that help to balance the
body.
Alex: Yes, here for example we have lemons. Lemon juice in warm water 1st thing in the
morning is considered a powerful liver tonic, aids digestion and is also rich in vitamins.
Many times symptoms are related and by helping one part of the body you help others. Lemon
can also help allergy sufferers because it has powerful detoxifying properties.
Karla-Despierta America: So right after you wake up, warm water with lemon?
Alex: Yes, simply cut your lemon, preferably fresh, and squeeze the juice of half into
one cup of warm water. You can drink another cup before bedtime if you'd like. The most
important recommendation is that warm water is used because it really helps the digestive
system.
Karla-Despierta America: Well here we have flax seed, which our grandmothers used frequently!
Alex: Yes, that's true it was commonly used by our grandmothers. What we have here is
the whole flax seed. This seed must be grounded before consumption, you can do that in your
blender, or in a coffee grinder. Usually the amount taken is two tablespoons daily. It's
very versatile.
Karla-Despierta America: Can I eat it at any time of the day?
Alex: Yes, at any time. You can add it to your yogurt, to your cereal, I love it in
my juice. I just mix it. It has a very nice taste similar to walnuts or almonds. It's
so good for you digestion and is a great source of omega fatty acids.
Karla-Despierta America: Super properties, and here we have cultured milk, also known
as Kefir, its commonly consumed in Mexico.
Alex: Yes, that is kefir, its a cultured milk that has a much thinner texture than yogurt.
Karla-Despierta America: Where can you buy it?
Alex: You can get it at any supermarket.
Karla-Despierta America: And this is a common households ingredient
Alex: Yes oatmeal, it's so good for your heart and cholesterol levels because it is so high
in fiber. One cup
of oatmeal a day is highly recommended as part of a healthy diet. You can eat it with
fruit or you can add plain oatmeal to a vegetable soup and it helps to thicken a soup.
Karla-Despierta America. They say it makes your skin very healthy and attractive.
Alex: Yes its wonderful for your skin.
Karla-Despierta America: And we've many times that apples are a miraculous food!
Alex: Yes, they have amazing properties;like they say in the United States, an apple a
day keeps the doctor away. Actually, without going to those extremes, we can definitely
say that apples are wonderful for your digestive system because they are rich sources of dietary
fiber, they also contain antioxidants and benefit the lungs. Something as healthy as
this should be eaten at least once a day.
Karla-Despierta America: Thank you very much for these great tips.
Alex: Thank you.