Potassium - How to Apply This Essential Nutrient To Your Garden Plants

Potassium is one of the three macro elements essential to plant growth and development. The macro elements, which together with potassium include nitrogen and phosphorus, are so called, not because they are more important than the micro elements, but rather because they are needed and consumed in large quantities. It is important to take note of three points here.

*Firstly, by being required and consumed in large amounts, available potassium is liable to be lacking in certain circumstances.

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*On the other hand, high concentrations of potassium are liable to reduce the availability to the plants' roots of micro elements such as magnesium. This element by playing an essential role in photosynthesis is no less vital to plant physiology than potassium itself.

Potassium - How to Apply This Essential Nutrient To Your Garden Plants

*Thirdly, while potassium is easily leached from light sandy soils, it becomes attached to mineral clay particles in heavy soils, by virtue of its positive electrical charge. This means that uncontrolled applications of potassium fertilizer, can significantly increase soil salinity, the gravity of which should not be underestimated both for the health of the plants in the short term, and the soil in the long term.

The question for us gardeners therefore is how to ensure adequate supplies of potassium without affecting either the chemical balance of the soil or its salinity. The safest method is to feed the plants by regularly adding well-rotted organic matter to the soil like compost or commercially prepared humus. Compost as it breaks down to a mineral state, slowly releases nutrients in the soil, including potassium. Furthermore by improving the soil's aeration and expanding its micro biotic activity, mineral uptake of all essential elements is enhanced.

Before planting a new garden, carrying out a soil test will reveal the concentrations of potassium present. If these are below what's required, then adding compost may not by itself be enough to cover the shortfall. When I set up a garden I normally add slow release fertilizer to the compost and then rely exclusively on organic matter after a year or so. Slow release fertilizer is more expensive than readily soluble fertilizer, but much safer and less environmentally damaging.

Lawns under an intensive growing regime may also require additions of potassium in chemical form. From the point of view of root development, it is important to fertilize both in the autumn in Mediterranean climates, and in the early spring. Again I recommend the use of slow release fertilizer. Make sure, particularly in the autumn that the potassium value, marked by the chemical symbol K, is high relative to the N for nitrogen, and the P for phosphorus.

Potassium - How to Apply This Essential Nutrient To Your Garden Plants

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi.

I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden, so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com

Iron Deficiency - The Most Common Nutrient Deficiency?

Iron is a mineral nutrient present in plants and animals. It is crucial to the human body because it aids in transporting oxygen via the blood throughout all the tissues and cells. This form of iron is called hemoglobin, which is approximately 65 to 75 percent of the iron in the body. Hemoglobin is a protein that forms part of red blood cells. Any surplus iron is stored in your body as reserve. Since iron can only be obtained from the foods we eat, it is vital to consume iron rich meat and vegetables so that the body can absorb the iron from your diet.

When you are not consuming enough sources of iron, your body starts using your reserves. When the reserves are gone too, the blood does not have enough iron and hemoglobin to transport oxygen as necessary. This is called anemia. The World Health Organization flagged anemia as one of the most widespread nutrient deficiencies in the world. Worse, low iron is the number one nutrient deficiency in the United States. Low iron is caused by any or a combination of three factors: low iron in your diet, poor absorption, excessive loss of blood.

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The most common low iron symptoms are irritability, short attention span, a constant feeling of fatigue and weakness resulting to fainting or decreased performance at work or school. The body is more susceptible to infection, the tongue swells, and the person is always feeling cold. Infants and young children unfortunately show delayed cognitive development. The above-mentioned symptoms seem generic and vague, so much so that these are often dismissed as laziness or symptoms of stress. The demographics that are at risk are children, teenagers, senior citizens, pregnant women, women of child-bearing age and athletes.

Iron Deficiency - The Most Common Nutrient Deficiency?

The body is not capable of producing iron. Instead, it sources its iron needs from food. There are two types derived from food, non heme iron and heme iron. The non heme type is found in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, seeds, fruits and grains, among others. Heme iron is present in meat, poultry, fish and other animal products.

The body does not absorb the entire iron content of the food you eat. There are three main factors, which affect the amount absorbed by your body. These are: type of iron, the level of your body's reserves and any factors that increase or decrease iron absorption.

The level of your body's reserves is the main determining factor when it comes to the amount of iron you absorb. Low reserves prompt the body to absorb more. With high reserves in place, the body reduces the amount of iron it absorbs.

The type of iron and the presence of absorption inhibitors and enhancers also affect overall absorption. Heme iron is absorbed more efficiently than the non heme type. Foods containing absorption enhancers like vitamin C, increase the absorption of non heme iron, while foods containing absorption inhibitors like tea or coffee reduce absorption.

There are many different ways to treat iron deficiency anemia. The type of treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency and the severity of the anemia. Some of the prescribed treatment may be one or more of the following:

• Strict diet plan of iron rich foods
• Medication to treat complications
• Iron supplementation
• Iron injections
• Intravenous iron therapy
• Blood transfusion

Iron Deficiency - The Most Common Nutrient Deficiency?

Found out all you need to know about Iron Rich Foods and how to beat Low Iron Symptoms or recover from Iron Deficiency Anemia at http://www.ironrichfoods.info

SAM-e is Is A Nutrient That Does A Lot More Than Alleviate Depression

SAM-e Information : SAMe pros and cons

SAM-e information:

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SAM-e is a nutrient manufactured naturally by the human body. Our bodies use the amino acid methionine to produce SAM-e...and although methionine is a good amino acid supplement in its own right, you cannot
increase your body's level of SAM-e by taking methionine.

SAM-e is Is A Nutrient That Does A Lot More Than Alleviate Depression

However, if your body is lacking in methionine, then its production
of SAM-e may also fall as a result.

SAM-e is a very important substance that is involved in dozens of life giving metabolic processes within our body.

Continuing with SAM-e Information:

SAM-e has both pros and cons. Does SAMe work on depression? Tens of thousands of people take SAMe for depression.

SAM-e is crucial in the manufacture of important compounds found in the brain, such as phosphatidylserine and neurotransmitters.

SAMe helps neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites.

This, in turn, causes an increase in serotonin and dopamine activity -- two very important compounds that strongly influence our moods.

Phosphatidylserine itself is an essential nutrient for cells...especially nerve cells where it is needed in high abundance, helping such cells communicate with other cells by promoting and releasing neurotransmitters.

So, should you take SAMe for depression? Does SAMe work on depression?

Numerous studies indicate it does.

One Government study reports:

"Out of 39 unique studies considered, 28 studies were included in a meta-analysis of the efficacy of SAMe to decrease symptoms of depression....Compared to placebo, treatment with SAMe was associated with an improvement of approximately 6 points in the score of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression measured at 3 weeks (95 percent CI [2.2, 9.0]). This degree of improvement is statistically as well as clinically significant and is equivalent to a partial response to treatment."

SAM-e Information

There is a great deal of SAM-e information out there, but not much of it covers the fact that SAMe is effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain.

The same US government report above concludes that it is, in fact, 80% more effective in relieving osteoarthritis than placebo.

SAM-e Pros and Cons

Now that we've discussed some pros, let's talk about some of the cons.

SAM-e Information:

First, SAM-e appears to be very safe, with no signficantly adverse side effects reported in the literature. However, people with bipolar depression should avoid SAM-e.

In addition, people currently on prescription medications should speak with their doctor before taking SAM-e to discuss any possible drug interactions.

Other more common side effects include: nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort.

SAM-e is a nutrient that can be destroyed by your powerful stomach acids on contact. It is important you take an enteric coated SAMe supplement. The enteric coating allows the nutrient to pass through the stomach acids almost entirely unscathed and get into your bloodstream where it goes to work.

SAM-e is Is A Nutrient That Does A Lot More Than Alleviate Depression

Dan Ho is chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Info. Visit SAM-e information for more info and to learn about the product we take that contains SAM-e.

DIM - A Super Nutrient That Can Prevent Cancer and Help Balance Hormones As We Age

Many of patients are menopausal women and men older than 50. This is the age group where mid-life hormonal shifts and changes can become problematic and set the stage for the onset of future health problems, like breast, uterine and prostate cancers, if left unchecked. The problematic hormone that can get out of whack at this time is largely estrogen as "bad estrogens" can predominate which allow dangerous oxidation to occur that damages DNA. However, as I tell my patients, nature has given us a near miracle phytonutrient to reverse this process - DIM, short for Diindolyl Methane, and I'd like to tell you about it.

DIM - The Miracle Phytonutrient You May Be Missing

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If you eat several servings of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage, on a regular basis you likely get enough of DIM. Cruciferous vegetables like these are nature's carriers of DIM, an important phytonutrient that has been proven in numerous studies over the last decade to have amazing hormone-balancing and even anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Deficiencies in DIM are thought to be behind the rise in hormone-driven cancers like those of the breast, uterine and prostate; colon cancer, and even coronary artery disease as too much estrogen can increase the risk for hardening of the coronary arteries and the decreased ability to dissolve blood clots.

DIM - A Super Nutrient That Can Prevent Cancer and Help Balance Hormones As We Age

DIM has the capacity to regulate and balance estrogen metabolism and neutralize "bad" estrogen metabolites and promote "good" 2-hydroxy estrogen metabolites that have been shown in research to be protective against breast cancer, as well as other types, in both women and men. In addition high animal fat diets and deficiencies of Omega 3 fatty acids also correspond to low levels of these good, cancer-fighting estrogen metabolites.

Recent research has also made an even more important connection with prostate cancer and these bad estrogens. It is thought now that prostate cancer is likely more driven both by a man's age-related decrease of testosterone and rise of these bad estrogen levels. Yes, men carry estrogen too and it can start to be the dominant hormone when testosterone starts falling. Estrogens, specifically the active estradiol type, has been shown to drive up PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels as much as testosterone. Another of DIM's good estrogen metabolites, 2-methoxyestradiol, was shown in studies to inhibit this increase of PSA. Regular intake of DIM would protect against rising PSA.

Early research with DIM in animals showed that chemically-induced cancers were prevented by supplementation with DIM. These studies also showed that the addition of DIM supported "selective apoptosis", i.e., the natural, programmed cell death which removes damaged cells. In humans, 500 grams (about 2-1/2 cups) of broccoli, a high DIM content food, was shown to increase good, 2-hydroxy estrogen metabolites in urine.

DIM, however, is not a "phytoestrogen", like soy and other estrogen-mimic vegetables and compounds. It has no estrogenic activity which makes it ideal for a man over 50 in andropause to help protect against prostate and colon cancer. Similarly, postmenopausal women, fearful of taking traditional HRT because of its documented side effects, can supplement with DIM without worry. In fact, new studies out of Italy show that a woman may be much better off using DHEA instead of HRT as it has been found to protect breast and uterine tissues from cancer growth. Adding DIM to augment DHEA can further serve in the protection against breast cancer in the majority of women.

DIM has also been shown in research studies to be heart protective as well as it inhibits "lipoprotein oxidation", i.e., which precedes the formation of dangerous, hardened plaques on arterial walls. DIM's two good estrogen metabolites, 2-hydroxy and 2-methoxyl estrogens are powerful antioxidants that prevent this oxidation from taking place.

Other health benefits of DIM include an aid to fat loss, especially in over-50 age men whose testosterone levels are decreasing, but also in estrogen-dominant perimenopausal women who may be lacking progesterone. Estrogen imbalance can store fat around the middle and also cause water retention. Because DIM decreases estrogen levels in men, it has the effect of releasing more free testosterone which can lead to increased libido.

How Can You Add More DIM To Your Diet

As I mentioned above, cruciferous vegetables are the food source of DIM, but there are also other foods and nutrients that can help boost DIM. These include the following:

• Cruciferous (Brassica) vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, mustard greens, turnips, wasabi, watercress. Get at least 500 grams, or about 2-1/2 cups (100 grams equals ½ cup) per day. Note: If you take thyroid medication, be sure to eat these vegetables steamed which disables the goitrogen compounds in these vegetables that interrupt thyroid hormone production. Take thyroid medication in the morning 1 hour before eating.


• DIM supplementation: Men can take between 100-150 mg per day; women should start with half, 50-75 mg a day. Note: If you take thyroid medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist about taking DIM supplements as they may interfere with the absorption of your thyroid medication.

DIM has been shown in research to be beneficial to the prevention of many estrogen-imbalance disease states in both men and women. Ask your healthcare professional about using DIM to augment DHEA's alternative HRT, anti-aging properties. In addition, if you take thyroid medication, be sure to ask them if DIM will interfere with its absorption.

Stay well,

Dr. Mark

DIM - A Super Nutrient That Can Prevent Cancer and Help Balance Hormones As We Age

I am one of the few doctors in this country who is board certified in anti-aging and am currently the Director of South Florida's Institute For Healthy Aging. With more than two decades of experience in treating thousands of patients, you could say I've seen it all. I treat a wide range of medical conditions- from cancer to obesity- and believe that natural, practical alternatives carry the day.

I believe that education is fundamental to prevention and wellness. I've partnered with other medical experts and developed an online health education site, http://www.HealthyAnswers.com, which offers a wealth of natural health information, written by top physicians and medical experts.

700 Calorie a Day Diet - Plan Your Nutrient Rich 700 Calorie Diet to Lose 3 to 4 Pounds a Week

All dieters look for quick & easy weight loss diets. But very few diets are actually healthy & nutrient rich. The most common saying to lose weight is 'eat less and move more.' So you may restrict yourself to a low calorie diet in order to have a flat belly. A 700 calorie diet can actually help you lose 3 to 4 pounds in a week quite healthily.

Here are some diet tips to lose weight healthily:

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Shop wisely. : Read through the labels of the food you purchase properly. Chart even a chewing gum that you eat. The key is to know the calories you have eaten. You must distribute your meals in away that you land up eating not more than 700 calories in a day. This amount of calories is low but sufficient for your body. It is not deficient diet any which ways.

700 Calorie a Day Diet - Plan Your Nutrient Rich 700 Calorie Diet to Lose 3 to 4 Pounds a Week

Watch that you take all essential nutrients.: We must take a balanced diet in order to keep fit. Even fat & cholesterol are important to taken in the food. But you must check that you take good cholesterol and avoid unsaturated fat. A nutrient rich food in case of weight loss must have a high content of fibers. The best source of fibers is raw fruits & vegetables.

Exercise: Along with a proper diet, you must exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. It is not necessary to do intense workouts. Even simple cardio workouts like walking, jogging and swimming.

Water: Along with 700 calories, you must take at least 10 glasses of water every day.

Balanced Diet: You must take 6 short meals in place of 2 major ones. Take these on time and make sure that you do not skip them ever. The food items that are considered nutrient rich and healthy are whole grains, nuts, juices, salads & lean meat. Use honey and apple in place of sugar as sweeteners. Next avoid rice, potatoes, white flour, processed food, junk foods, etc.

Avoid Smoking & Drinking.: The impact of your 700 calories diet would almost double if you avoid smoking & drinking.

Avoid caffeine. : Avoid tea & coffee. In stead take green & white tea. They have low calorie and are very rich in nutrients. This would help in weight loss.

Acai Diet: Use weight loss supplements like Acai Berry pills & capsules. It would increase your metabolic rate and hence aid in reducing 3 to 4 pounds every week.

700 Calorie a Day Diet - Plan Your Nutrient Rich 700 Calorie Diet to Lose 3 to 4 Pounds a Week

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Iron As a Plant Nutrient - In What Circumstances Should Iron Fertilizer Be Used?

I was recently asked to give a consultation on the state of the plants in a private garden. I live and garden in central Israel, which has a typical Mediterranean climate, similar to places like southern California, south west Australia, and central Chile. I was inspecting the plants together with the homeowner, and while looking at a citrus tree, the lady suddenly said, "Oh and please show me how to apply iron fertilizer - I'm not very happy about having to use it every two weeks or so".

She had apparently been "advised" by a neighbor's gardener that the fruit trees should be so treated during the growing season. I looked again at the tree and what I saw were lovely dark green healthy leaves and plenty of decent looking fruit hanging on the branches. Her remark typifies to some extent, some of the misconceptions common amongst home gardeners on the important subject of plant nutrition.

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Iron is one of the twelve minerals essential to plant growth and development. It is a micro-element, meaning that the plant needs it in relatively small quantities, as opposed to the macro-elements, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium, which are required and consumed in larger amounts. Iron is rarely absent from soils, at least in dry climates, but a high soil pH, meaning alkaline conditions, prevent it dissolving in the soil water, thereby rendering it unavailable to the plants' roots.

Iron As a Plant Nutrient - In What Circumstances Should Iron Fertilizer Be Used?

The clearest sign of iron deficiency (a condition known as chlorosis) is leaves whose blades are yellow, but whose veins are green. If however, the leaves are perfectly green, the indication is that iron is definitely not lacking. Applying iron fertilizer when it is not needed is not simply unnecessary, but liable to be damaging as well, since excessive micro-elements in the soil water can actually be toxic to plants.

Significant iron deficiency will seriously retard the plants, but the idea that fertilizer should be added to the soil in order to pre-empt the possibility of chlorosis is utterly false. Iron fertilizer should never be applied unless there are definite signs of chlorosis. This often occurs when building rubble has been buried in the soil, or when plants are close to a wall, and the lime in the cement residues raises the pH to levels where minerals crystallize and cannot dissolve. In general, the best way of securing soil conditions whereby the micro-elements are readily available to the plants, is to periodically add compost or humus to the soil, as this balances the pH towards neutral, (neither too acidic nor too alkaline) at least in the alkaline soils common to most dry climates.

Iron As a Plant Nutrient - In What Circumstances Should Iron Fertilizer Be Used?

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Jonathan Ya'akobi

Your Personal Gardening Coach