A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in brain bursts, spilling blood into spaces surrounding brain cells. In same way that a person suffering a loss of blood flow to heart is said to having a heart attack, a person with a loss of blood to brain or sudden bleeding in brain can be said to be having a "brain attack."

The symptoms of a stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness(especially on one side of body); sudden confusion or difficulty in speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; difficulty in walking, dizziness or loss of balance; or severe sudden headache with no known cause.

Because stroke injures brain, person suffering an attack is not able to perceive of his/her own problems correctly. To a bystander, stroke patient may seen unaware or confused. A stroke victim's best chance for survival and recovery is if someone around him/her recognizes stroke and acts quickly.

Bystanders should know signs and act in time. If you believe someone is having a stroke--if they lose ability to speak, or move an arm or leg on one side, or experience facial paralysis on one side--call 911 immediately. The most common kind of strokes can be treated with a drug called t-PA which dissolves artery-obstructing clots. However, window of opportunity is only three hours and patients need to get to a hospital within 60 minutes of any attack.

In today’s world, pollution and chemicals come at us from all angles; our water contains toxic levels of metals and chlorine; our produce is tainted with pesticides; and our meat and meat products are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. It is small wonder that so many of us fall prey to chronic ailments and disease. So much so, that conditions like allergies, PMS, and migraines have become as common as a cold or flu.

In order to live a healthy and vibrant life in today’s modern, fast-paced world, it has become absolutely critical to eat consciously; including as much whole, unrefined, unprocessed grains, meats, and produce as possible; supplement diet with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids; get plenty of rest and relaxation; reduce health-eroding emotions like anger, resentment, and fear; eat organic whenever possible; and include plenty of antioxidants in form of dark, leafy greens and fruits and vegetables.

All of these components are necessary in building of Optimum health and success, as well as combating and preventing illness and disease.

Most North Americans do not get even close to their recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, and juicing is an easy way to accomplish just that. Extracting fresh juice from raw fruits and vegetables and drinking it right away, allows many of vital nutrients and enzymes to remain intact. And, since enzymes act as catalysts in almost every bodily function, juicing plays a significant role in fight against free radicals. It allows nutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, and trace amounts of essential fatty acids to enter body in a more bioactive form than supplements. In other words, body is better able to absorb all of nutritional value of fruits and vegetables when they are juiced. The result of all of this maximum and efficient nutrient absorption is increased energy and vitality.

In fact, Vitamin A, if taken in large doses in supplement form, could lead to toxicity; whereas, beta-carotene, which is pre-cursor that body then converts into Vitamin A in body, is water soluble, and carries almost no risk of toxicity. Fresh vegetables, especially carrots, contain large amounts of more easily assimilated, and non-toxic form of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, which is released with rupture of membranes when vegetable is juiced.