With it being the civic holiday weekend, I thought it would be fitting to talk about grilling as I'm sure many will be grilling this weekend.
It's delightful to grill outdoors when the weather is warm. Unfortunately, grilling meats can lead to the production of carcinogenic (potentially cancer-causing) chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HAs). To reduce HAs, try the following:
1.Limit the quantity of meat you grill, and make grilled vegetables the main course.
2.Pre-cook your foods in the oven or on the stovetop and finish them off outdoors - less grill time means fewer carcinogens.
3.If you do grill meat, cook it thoroughly but avoid charring or blackening it (don't eat any blackened parts).
4.Marinate your meats. Marinade may help reduce HA formation, especially if it's made with spices such as ginger, rosemary and turmeric.
5.Avoid charcoal lighter fluid or self-starting packages of briquettes in a charcoal grill - they will leave residues of toxic chemicals in your food. A healthy alternative is an inexpensive chimney lighter that uses a small amount of newspaper to ignite a mass of charcoal in a large metal cylinder. Gas grills are good alternatives to those that use charcoal.
NaturalNews) The CDC has estimated that by 2050, as much of thirty percent of the American population could suffer with diabetes. New studies show that diabetics, in addition to coping with the effects of their disease, also have nearly double the risk of cancer compared to the rest of the population.
Although much of the mainstream media continues to focus on the latest Big Pharma proposed "magic bullet" drug to cure diabetes (see, for example: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/ju...), increasing evidence shows that the disease can be prevented, curbed, or even cured by choosing the right foods.
"Nature is the best chemist" states University of Rhode Island researcher Navindra Seeram whose team studied the health benefits of maple syrup. Their findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, showed that the substance derived from the sap of maple trees can protect against both diabetes and cancer.
This natural sweetener offers abundant anti-oxidants. It also contains a newly identified substance called Quebecol, formed when the sap is boiled. This study is particularly interesting since the old-fashioned medical advice to diabetics was to steer clear of anything sweet.
Ayurvedic healers have long used natural herbs and spices to treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes. Two spices familiar to those who consume Indian food offer some protection against diabetes. The yellowy-orange powder turmeric, made from the rhizomes of a plant native to South Asia.
Research in the past decade has shown that turmeric not only aids against diabetes but also helps cleanse the liver; offers natural anti-inflammatory properties; protects against breast and prostate cancers; counteracts depression; and slows the advance of Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin is the key substance in turmeric which researchers identify as the source of its multitude of healing powers.
Another substance used to spice Indian food, fenugreek, also offers protection against diabetes. Fenugreek has the added benefit of boosting male sex drive, enhancing liver function, and helping to lower cholesterol.
A recent study involving the Yup'ik people of Alaska indicates that consuming the type of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acid can protect against diabetes. This study is particularly interesting because it suggests that the link between obesity and diabetes may be more complex than originally thought.
Although 70% of the Yup'ik population is classified as obese, only 3.3% of them have diabetes. Fish which contain omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, salmon, lake trout, herring, tuna and salmon.
A 2006 Italian study found that dark chocolate reduces the risk of insulin resistance. Don't buy a box of chocolates to celebrate this news, however. Only with raw, unprocessed cocoa without any refined sugars added offers the protective benefits.
Researchers involved in the study suggest that in moderation, dark chocolate made with minimal processing are a healthier form of occasional indulgence than most other sweets, but their calorie content still makes them a potential danger.
Cocoa powder and baking chocolate contain the highest levels of the flavonoids responsible for the positive health effects associated with chocolate. Dark chocolate provides fewer of these flavonoids while white chocolate has none.
Good news for those who crave a cup of morning coffee. UCLA researchers say coffee consumption increases plasma levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) which regulates the biological activity of the body's sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen. These hormones have long been thought to play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
The natural chemicals found in red grape skin and red wine known as polyphenols can help the body regulate glucose levels, preventing potentially dangerous plunges and surges in blood sugar levels. Health experts recommend that people consume wine in moderation and suggest that those already diagnosed with diabetes and/or those with weight concerns, take the calories in a glass of wine into account when considering whether or not to imbibe.
Consuming blueberries might help reduce your risk of diabetes, with the added benefit of helping you lose belly fat. A 2009 University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study found a blueberry-enriched diet significantly improved the health of laboratory rats.
Researchers believe that the high level of phytochemicals - naturally occurring antioxidants -- in blueberries provides the health boost. Other sources of phytochemicals include cranberries and strawberries.
Due to the influence of food advertising, many people have bought into the idea that a healthy diet offers less taste pleasure consuming foods high in cholesterol, triglycerides and refined sugar. The truth is that a diabetes-prevention diet can literally be a bowl of cherries.
A 2004 study at Michigan State University in East Lansing found that chemicals called anthocyanins, which are abundant in cherries, increased insulin production in animal pancreatic cells by 50%. These plant pigments, responsible for food color, are also found in strawberries, red grapes and blueberries. However researchers say cherries provide the best source of anthocyanins.
Beans can help regulate blood glucose and insulin levels. They can help prevent diabetes, or minimize its effects in those diagnosed with the disease. They also help lower cholesterol levels and offer anti-oxidant properties. Red beans offer the highest anti-oxidant levels, followed by black beans.
Coconut oil has a unique molecular structure which makes it a superior health choice compared to most other oils. Olive, safflower and sunflower oil are all built from a long chain of fatty acids. These long chains are either deposited in blood vessels as cholesterol or stored as fat around the waist, thighs and buttocks.
On the other hand, the coconut oil's medium chain fatty acids immediately become available as energy. These smaller, easily absorbed medium chain molecules supply the cells with essential fatty acids without glucose and without inhibiting insulin production.
Coconut oil also has antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Most coconut oils do not impart a coconut flavor to food, so you can use them to replace other oils in most recipes. Try to buy only organic virgin coconut oil in order to obtain the maximum health benefits.
Almonds and walnuts prevent diabetes by regulating blood glucose. Eating almonds before a meal helps regulate blood sugar levels, say researchers who published their study in The Journal of Nutrition. This effect means the nuts help lower the risk of diabetes, as well as help control the disorder.
A 2009 European study found diabetics who included walnuts in their diet had improved their insulin levels. In addition to fighting diabetes, nuts deliver other health benefits. According to an article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, regular consumption of nuts alters blood lipid chemistry, reducing the risk of coronary disease and heart attacks.
Buckwheat -- which is technically a fruit rather than a grain -- helps control blood sugar levels. Although holistic nutritionists have extolled the virtues of buckwheat for years, mainstream medical science -- and the mainstream media -- caught on to its benefits fairly recently. A 2003 Canadian study found that when extracts of buckwheat seed were fed to diabetic rats, the animals' glucose levels went down by twelve to nineteen percent. You can find buckwheat products, including pancake mixes and Japanese soba noodles, at most health food stores.
You might think of cinnamon simply as a flavoring to sprinkle on a bowl of hot oatmeal, but this spice actually has a centuries-old tradition of healing. In addition to providing antioxidants and aiding against arthritis, urinary tract infections, sinus congestion, tooth decay and gum disease, the powdered bark of Cinnamomum trees is also effective against diabetes. It improves blood sugar regulation by significantly increasing your glucose metabolism. In addition, it has insulin-like effects in the body. Plus, proanthocyanidin, a bioflavonoid found in cinnamon, changes the insulin-signaling activity of your fat cells.
Green tea may help prevent the progression of type 1 diabetes, also known as childhood-onset diabetes, or prevent this disorder. Studies show green tea regulates glucose levels in the body, an important function since the pancreas in Type 1 diabetics produces little or no insulin, the hormone responsible for converting glucose (sugar), starches, and other foods into energy. Green tea also lowers blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics, reduces complications associated with diabetes such as cataracts and cardiovascular disease and promotes weight loss.
If you prefer black tea, your beverage choice can still help fight against diabetes. Researchers in China have found that polysaccharides, a type of carbohydrate that includes starch and cellulose, may benefit people with diabetes by slowing glucose absorption. Black tea contains more polysaccharides than either green or oolong teas. Additionally, a Scottish study found that natural chemicals found in black tea may protect against diabetes by mimicking the effects of insulin in the body.
If you have developed a taste for seaweed though visiting Asian restaurants, congratulations: you have one more ally in your crusade to lose weight and avoid diabetes. Wakame, brown seaweed used to flavor Asian soups and salads, helps promote fat-burning proteins. It also helps promote the synthesis in the liver of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), a fatty acid also found in fish oil.
In addition to its weight loss and anti-diabetes effects, this ocean plant also helps prevent prostate cancer, supports thyroid function, assists in blocking the growth of breast cancer tumors and can help fight radiation sickness. Researchers attribute wakame's healing properties to a carotenoid it contains called fucoxanthin.
Whether you're in the best of shape or dealing with a health concern, anyone can reap the benefits of eating dark, leafy greens. Produce stand staples such as kale, collards, beet greens and bok choy are tasty sources of vital nutrients. In addition to containing antioxidants, vitamins A, B and K, iron, lutein and omega-3s, dark leafy greens:
1.Help reduce inflammation.
2.Lower cholesterol levels.
3.Protect the immune system.
It may be tempting to try them raw, but many vegetables such as chard, spinach, collards and mustard greens are actually better for you after they've been cooked. Make sure you don't over cook them.
The potential health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids aren’t just limited to adults. More and more, research is finding that children could reap significant benefits from receiving more omega 3 fatty acids – especially EPA and DHA – in their diets. Over the next few weeks, the Isotonix Blog will examine research related to omega 3s and children.
The little kid who won’t sit still. The middle school student who has a hard time concentrating in class. The teenager who acts out.
While some of these characterizations might seem like mere growing pains, more and more researchers look at these as signs to a much larger – and much more preventable – problem: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common developmental and behavioral disorder characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness that are inappropriate for the child’s age.
Children and adults with ADHD are easily distracted by sights and sounds in their environment, cannot concentrate for long periods of time, are restless and impulsive, or have a tendency to daydream and be slow to complete tasks.
While ADHD has long been associated with children’s academic progress, the issues are more far-reaching. Researchers at the University of California, Berkley found that girls dealing with ADHD are “at greater risk” of abusing drugs and alcohol and having emotional problems, in addition to academic difficulties.
“The cumulative picture is that girls with ADHD are at risk for a lot of problems,” said psychologist Stephen P. Hinshaw, lead author of the study and chairman of the psychology department at Berkeley.
Children living with the disorder cope with the stigma of being labeled as hyper, lazy, unmotivated and unfocused by adults who don’t understand the problems these children must deal with. Worse yet, many of these children and their parents are told their only solution – their only chance to regain some normalcy – is to take medication on a daily basis.
The Omega 3 Connection
Research continues to suggest that omega 3 fatty acids – those essential building blocks that doctors have been recommending to adults for years – can help curb the onset and development of this disorder in children.
The connection between omega-3 fatty acid deficiency and ADHD has been confirmed by studies in which youngsters with ADHD, when compared with non-ADHD children, had much lower blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid necessary for normal function of the eyes and the cerebral cortex (the brain region that handles higher functions such as reasoning and memory).
One such study, conducted at the University of South Australia, called the use of omega 3s more effective than the commonly-prescribed ADHD drug Ritalin.
“Supplementation with [omega-3 fatty acids] resulted in significant improvements … of core ADHD-related behavioural and cognitive difficulties, namely inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, with medium to large effect sizes, and also in ratings of oppositional behaviour,” the report stated. “There is no known evidence that medication provides any benefits beyond four weeks, whereas in the present trial symptoms continued to improve after 15 weeks of supplementation.”
It is estimated that as many as 10% of U.S. children have attention-deficit problems, which includes ADHD and hyperactivity. Despite this, most people get just one-fifth the amount of omega 3s – either from oily fish or other sources – recommended.
So what should parents do? First, pregnant women should make sure they are receiving enough omega 3s to help with the development of their unborn child. Post-pregnancy, parents should make sure their child receives adequate amounts of omega 3s, whether from natural sources (fish, walnuts, etc.) or from supplementation.
Author: James Moffat
A woman shops at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto. (Charla Jones/The Globe and Mail)
Obesity is on the rise and becoming increasingly costly, according to new report.
But the 54-page study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada also notes that some simple measures – at least in theory – like exercising more could avert a lot of weight gain.
Even a little extra weight can shorten your life: study
U.S.-Canadian obesity gap is narrowing
Nearly three-quarters of Ontario adults are obese or overweight
Photo Gallery Canada's Food Guide through the years
“Not surprisingly, this report shows that improving lifestyle behaviours, such as healthy eating and physical activity, can have a significant impact on reducing the waistlines and improving the health of Canadians,” said Jeremy Veillard, vice-president of research and analysis at CIHI.
At the same time, he pointed out that there are many “interconnected factors” – chief among them poverty – that interfere with the ability to make healthy choices.
Here are some highlights of the new report entitled Obesity in Canada:
Obesity cost the Canadian economy somewhere between $4.6-billion and $7.1-billion a year. Those costs are split pretty evenly between direct health-care costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity of people unable to work either because of disability or because they are unable to find employment due to discrimination.
About 15 per cent of women and 17 per cent of men are considered obese, based on their self-reported height and weight. (Obese is defined as having a body mass index over 30, meaning roughly 30 per cent of body weight is composed of fat.)
However, when researchers actually measured and weighed Canadians, they found that more than 1 in 4 adults – 25.4 per cent – were actually obese.
That means there are somewhere between 3.3 million and 5.2 million Canadian adults who are obese, depending on the method of calculation.
There are more obese males than obese females in every age category, except the over-75 group.
More than half of Canadians, 51.1 per cent, report being overweight, meaning they have a BMI of over 25. When they are actually weighed and measured that increases to 62 per cent. That means almost 13 million Canadians are of an unhealthy weight.
In the past 30 years, the percentage of obese adults in the population has doubled.
Obesity is increasing not only in numbers but in severity. The biggest increases have been in the number of morbidly obese –those whose BMI exceeds 40.
About 1 in 11 children – 8.6 per cent – are considered obese.
In children and youth, the prevalence of obesity tripled between 1979 and 2008.
As you move from west to east across the country, obesity rates increase: British Columbia has the lowest prevalence at 12.8 per cent and Newfoundland and Labrador the highest at 25.4 per cent.
There is a six-fold variation in obesity rates between various regions of Canada.
Canada’s “lightest” community is suburban Richmond, B.C., with an obesity rate of 5.3 per cent.
Canada’s “heaviest” community is the Mamawetan/Keewatin/Athabasca region of northern Saskatchewan, with an obesity rate of 35.9 per cent.
Obesity rates are strikingly high among Canada’s aboriginal people: 37.8 per cent of aboriginal adults are obese based on measured height and weight; the self-reported obesity rate is 25.7 per cent among aboriginal adults.
Obesity rates among aboriginal children differ by background: 17 per cent among Métis, 20 per cent among off-reserve First Nations and 25.6 per cent among the Inuit. (There is no good data for on-reserve First Nations children.)
International obesity rates vary greatly, from a low of 3.4 per cent in Japan to 34.3 per cent in the United States.
Socio-economic status is a good predictor of obesity. For example, in Halifax, 11 per cent of those in the highest 20 per cent of income earners are obese, compared with 26 per cent of those in the lowest-income group.
Women in high-income families are significantly less likely to be obese than women in low-income families. However, that does not hold true for men.
Physical inactivity – meaning a person is active less than 15 minutes a day – is the greatest predictor of obesity.
An estimated 646,000 cases of obesity in women and 405,000 cases of obesity in men could be averted if inactive populations became active.
Similarly, getting those who eat virtually no fruits and vegetables to eat the minimally recommended five servings daily could result in 265,000 fewer men being obese and 97,000 fewer women being obese.
If low-income Canadians shifted to a higher-income group, that could result in 158,000 fewer women being obese, but there would be no significant difference in men.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of 18 chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and some forms of cancer.
Almost 45 per cent of morbidly obese Canadians and 27 per cent of the obese suffer from cardiovascular disease; by comparison, 8 per cent of normal weight and 16 per cent of overweight Canadians have heart trouble.
About 9.3 per cent of all deaths in Canada can be attributed to obesity.
ANDRÉ PICARD,
PULBIC HEALTH REPORTER - Globe and Mail Update
Last updated Monday, Jun. 20, 2011 5:11PM EDT
The best way combat obesity is to follow the Transitions Lifestyle System. It's not a diet and it will be the last system you will EVER need to follow. This program will get you healthy again and the side benefit is that you will take up less room!
Check out this video to learn more.
Contact me today for more information on how to get started on this life changing system.
One of the biggest learning curves you'll need to make when embarking on a gluten-free and grain-free lifestyle is working out all the sneaky places grains lurk for the unsuspecting shopper.
Its challenging for a gluten-free person but even more so for the grain-free as refined maize features so prominently as an additive in nearly all processed food. So even if something is clearly labelled "gluten free" in many cases the product can still contain a grain-based additive.
Dextrose, Glucose and Maltodextrin
Dextrose is a refined sweetener made from plant starch, usually corn or rice starch. Sometimes this is tapioca based. Depending on the labeling laws in your country they may state whether it is corn/maize/rice or tapioca, but not always.
Some of the less obvious places you will find this are potato chips / french fries - they are soaked in a dextrose solution to help them fry crispy.
Glucose is another sweetener that is frequently made from wheat or other grain-based ingredients.
Maltodextrin is used as a sweetener, filler and binder and is made from rice, corn (usually) or sometimes tapioca or potato starch.
These three ingredients wipe out a huge range of refined sauces, condiments, ketchup, syrups, icecream, commerical french fries. I would say 90% of what is in the condiment aisle of your supermarket contains some form of these hidden grains.
Soy Milk Additives
Soy Milk is usually made with additives to make it taste "better". Here are a couple of ingredient lists of two popular soy milks on the market in Australia:
Notice the Wheat Protein and Malt Extract, both grains.
I also notice alot of soy milks use rice syrup instead of sugar to sweeten.
And other weird places
Grain-based additives have been spotted in flavoured teas, many other kinds of flavoured drinks, spice mixes, baking powder and other food items. It is usually in sausages and mince mixes, hamburger patties (unless stated 100% beef), any caserole, stew or stir fry you haven't made yourself you can usually assume the meat has been dusted with flour as a sauce thickener. Grilled fish and meats are usually dusted with flour so it doesn't stick.
The illustration above shows a very typical "lethal" meal for an unsuspecting eater: meatballs (full of flour and possible spice mixes containing gluten and grains), a lovely sauce (would be full of either glucose, dextrose or maltodextrin and some kind of starch to thicken).
Why is MS on the rise after we spend billions dollars a year treating the disease? I have found that there is a better way then traditional western medicine. I have witnessed a woman in a wheel chair walk again after working with a colleague of mine in Toronto. If you know anyone with this nasty disease please contact me for more information on how we can help! It is short of a miracle!
(NaturalNews) Is it true that those who suffer from Multiple sclerosis (MS) just need a little sun? Researchers at the University of Oxford seem to think so. In 2006, a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested higher levels of vitamin D might decrease overall risk of developing MS. Now researchers at the University of Oxford are backing that study with further evidence while also suggesting a link between lack of sunlight and how the body responds when faced with an infection. The research concludes that MS is caused by several factors working in combination but clearly correlates to a lack of vitamin D.
Is it really as simple as soaking up some rays?
While the phenomenon of vitamin D deficiency is seen all over the world, countries in the northern hemisphere have been linked to significantly higher rates of MS. Scotland, for example, has one of the largest populations of MS sufferers, while the disease is "virtually unknown" in Africa. Even in sunny areas of the globe, it's not uncommon for people to become vitamin D deficient during the winter, as the sun's rays aren't often high enough to penetrate atmospheric layers.
The research put forth by the University of Oxford suggests that, while those who already have MS may not benefit exponentially simply by increasing levels of vitamin D, getting more sun could be an effective preventative measure against developing the disease and managing symptoms.
More importantly, MS sufferers may be able to boost immunity to other conditions with an increase in vitamin D. A recent study by Anticancer Research affirms that typical adults need much more than the daily dosage recommended by the U.S. Government. According to that research, 4,000-8,000 IUs of vitamin D every day could not only help prevent MS but also several types of cancer and Type 1 diabetes.
The health care industry, of course, won't promote a natural and safe preventative measure for degenerative diseases. Instead, people are warned about the dangers of UV exposure and the risks of vitamin toxicity. With vitamin D deficiency afflicting 90% of the U.S. population, however, it may be time to get a tan. Here are some interesting facts about the relationship between vitamin D and health:
1. It's free. Five to thirty minutes of sunlight a couple of times a week is usually sufficient for helping the body create enough vitamin D
2. Getting enough vitamin D from food is virtually impossible
3. Sunscreens may block the body's ability to generate vitamin D
4. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium in the body
5. Those who live further from the equator generally require longer periods of sun exposure to generate enough vitamin D
6. A lack of vitamin D can affect bone strength. One theory suggests that women who are deficient in vitamin D can suffer from contracting pelvises, which can result in the death of babies during labor
7. Vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed quickly. It takes months for the body to increase and regulate vitamin D levels. This is why short periods of sun exposure are not only safe but also necessary for the synthesis of this important substance
For those with MS, increased sun exposure may be an easy and safe preventative measure against further cognitive and physical degeneration. As a direct threat to the medical establishment, however, it remains to be seen whether further government warnings and regulations about vitamin D will eventually ban people from sun bathing.
Contact me today if you are looking for a simple, easy and guaranteed way to help with MS.
As women age, they can experience a loss of bone mass as well as normal wear and tear on the joints. Small preventive measures can help to protect joints and keep bones strong - consider the following supplements and vitamins:
1.Calcium. People who don't get enough calcium may lose bone mass faster and fracture bones more easily. Taking magnesium (half as much as the amount of calcium) with supplemental calcium will help offset any constipating effects. I recommend women supplement with 500 to 700 mg of calcium citrate in two divided doses taken with meals for a total of 1,000-1,200 mg from all sources (including diet); most men do not need calcium supplements, but should instead get 500-600 mg per day solely through diet.
2.Vitamin D. Deficiency is widespread in the developed world, which is unfortunate - “D” facilitates the absorption of calcium, helping to support strong and healthy bones. It also promotes bone mineralization. Get regular sun exposure (about 20-30 minutes a day is adequate) and take 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day - look for supplements that provide D3 (cholecalciferol) rather than D2 (ergocalciferol).
3.Vitamin K. It helps activate certain proteins that are involved in the structuring of bone mass. Low intake of vitamin K has been linked to low bone density. You can get adequate amounts of vitamin K through a diet rich in leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables, such as Swiss chard, kale, parsley, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
When supplementing please use ONLY high quality supplements! For the most absorbable supplements on the market click HERE to watch a quick video.
Do you know the healthy balance that can save your life?
Your body is an amazing machine. If you keep it in balance it will run efficiently; but if not, it will shut down early.
Are you putting in the right fuels or are you going to break down?
Understanding why and how can save your life!
All foods have a pH yield which will determine the effect they have on your body. Alkaline pH is 7.0 and higher. Acid pH is 6.9 and below.
An alkaline body is healthy and will perform proficiently, free of disease.
An acidic body has to work much harder. Often the immune system will be compromised allowing disease to settle in. If your body remains acidic for too long you will experience life threatening disease.
What causes this and how do you stay healthy?
Your diet! It’s that simple!
It is nearly impossible to keep 100% alkaline all the time. We all have our vices; and that’s okay, if you enjoy them in moderation.
A diet that is 70% alkaline and 30% acid is a healthy balance.
Some examples of pH yields of common foods
Acid-Yielding Foods
Spaghetti
Corn Flakes
White Rice
Rye Bread
White Bread
Whole Milk
Lentils
Beef
Pork
Very Acid –Yielding Foods
Parmesan Cheese
Processed (soft) Cheese
Hard Cheeses
Alcohol
Cottage Cheese
Luncheon Meats
Soda/Coffee
Whole Wheat Bread
Peanuts
Alkaline-Yielding Foods
Green Apples
Kiwifruit
Cherries
Watermelon
Broccoli
Raw Almonds
Steel Cut Oats
Greens
Salmon
For a more extensive list see below.
How does disease set in?
Your body will adjust for your diet choices for awhile, but will show warning signs. For example; if you choose to consume a lot of dairy products, you may think you are doing your body good because of the calcium. But in fact, dairy has an acid yield. When your body’s pH is lowered by that acid, the kidneys coordinate efforts to buffer that acidity. Bones release calcium and magnesium to reestablish alkalinity, and muscles are broken down to produce ammonia, which is strongly alkaline. By the time the response is all over, your bone minerals and broken down muscle get excreted in urine.
Long term, excess acidity leads to thinner bones and lower muscle mass, which leads to Osteoporosis and other diseases.
Canadians consume more calcium-rich dairy foods than almost any other nation, and yet we have one of the highest rates of Osteoporosis.
How to test your pH levels
It is quite simple and inexpensive to test your own pH. The easiest method is using pH test strips. You can test with your saliva or urine. To get a more accurate number, test in the morning before you eat or drink anything or with your second urination of the morning. Compare the color of your test strip with the color chart that comes with the pH strips. Do this test for at least a week to 10 days and average the middle four to six numbers. You want to have a pH of 6.8 to 7.2 to keep alkaline and healthy.
Go to your local health food store to purchase test strips.
Do supplements help?
Certain supplements will help alkaline the body along with alkaline-rich foods.
PROTEIN
Eggs
Whey Protein Powder
Cottage Cheese
Chicken Breast
Yogurt
Almonds
Chestnuts
Tofu (fermented)
Flax Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Tempeh (fermented)
Squash Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Millet
Sprouted Seeds
Nuts
OTHER
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bee Pollen
Lecithin Granules
Probiotic Cultures
Green Juices
Veggies Juices
Fresh Fruit Juice
Organic Milk
(unpasteurized)
Mineral Water
Alkaline Antioxidant Water
Green Tea
Herbal Tea
Dandelion Tea
Ginseng Tea
Banchi Tea
Kombucha
SWEETENERS
Stevia
SPICES/SEASONINGS
Cinnamon
Curry
Ginger
Mustard
Chili Pepper
Sea Salt
Miso
Tamari
All Herbs
Acid reflux or “Gerd” is a very common condition that affects millions of people on a consistent basis. Basically, liquid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, causing the esophagus to inflame. This is extremely painful and can linger for hours, sometimes days. It is most commonly known as heartburn and affects 1 in 10 adults in Canada on a daily basis.
The solution recommended by pharmaceutical companies is medication; (what a surprise). Do your research before getting hooked on these medications. It is ultimately your responsibility to understand what you are putting into your body, and the long term effects it creates.
Acid reflux is big business for drug companies because so many people suffer from it, especially seniors. Today, in our drug orientated society, the treatment is mostly based on the suppression of the amount of acid. Drugs are promoted as the miracle cure for millions of people, which means billions of dollars of profit for drug companies.
What is most important for you to recognize is, when a drug is truly necessary, and when is it simply to increase a drug company’s profit margin.
Although these drugs may work temporarily, they do not solve or cure the problem of acid reflux. In fact, they can make the problem worse.
Drugs such as these drastically diminish your ability to digest food properly. Without sufficient amounts of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, you reduce an important defense mechanism against food-born infections and increases your likelihood of food poisoning. Not digesting your food also increases your risk for nearly every other chronic degenerative disease.
What can you do?
What can really help is to change what is going into your body. Following an alkaline diet (coming soon) alone will improve acid reflux, allowing the body to start healing itself without the constant barrage of arrows attacking it. Acids are your enemy so eliminate the major ones first.
Some suggestions of the acidic foods that you should start to eliminate or reduce would be: coffee, alcohol, dairy, red meats, refined sugars and white flours. This will start to normalize the pH in your stomach and alleviate the reflux.
You may notice certain foods that trigger attacks; try to stay away from those foods as much as possible. Try to slow down, reduce stress, and enjoy life as it is. My first suggestion would be to drink 2 oz. of Aloe Vera Juice (more on this below). Other suggestions would be to try B5 and B Complex after you eat, as well as water with lemon or lime.
Don’t just put a band-aid on the problem!
Drugs are just a band-aid approach to the problem and therefore can be so dangerous. We live in a society that wants instant gratification without any responsibility. The drugs allow us to forget about the pain, so therefore we think its better so we go on eating and living the same lifestyle that created the acid reflux in the first place. In the meantime your body continues to become more acidic causing more damage.
You need to ask yourself, “Is my reflux getting better?” If you have to use your medication more often and feel it wears off more quickly, the answer may be that your reflux is getting worse.
Eventually the drugs don’t work as well. Then stronger drugs are needed to be prescribed. This becomes a vicious cycle. The reality is you have to look at the cause and change that first. Look at your current lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress. Evaluate your actions and you will more than likely be able to change in a few areas to make yourself healthier. Drugs are not always the answer.
Additional remedies to help with acid reflux
Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily; water will help dilute the acid in the stomach.
Eat fresh garlic every day; garlic will optimize bowel flora and kill pathogenic organisms.
Supplement with a quality probiotic; probiotic creates good bacteria in the stomach so it can function normally.
Drink 2 oz. of Aloe Vera; Aloe Vera is a healing plant so it makes sense to start to heal the stomach. 2 ounces daily will alkalize the stomach and repair it at the same time.
When looking to purchase an Aloe Vera juice, be forewarned that there are many low quality products on the market. I recommend an Aloe Vera that is certified by the International Aloe Science Council with a patented process.
Aloe Vera Juice can assist with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, promoting an overall healthy lifestyle. It is very beneficial for children. We have testimonials on people having success with many challenges such as psoriasis, constipation, dry skin, overall immune challenges and more. For more information on a quality Aloe CLICK HERE
Take care of your body and it will take care of you!
If you found this article informative please pass this along to someone who may be on a drug treatment for Acid Reflux. You will be saving their health.
Have a Healthy and Successful Acid Reflux Free Day!
The research has been done. Are large doses of vitamin C, and antineoplastons more effective than the traditional approach. I believe so and so do many others, so why do they hide it from most everyone?
As crazy as it might sound to some, the point of the cancer industry is not really to cure cancer -- it is to keep raising money for the alleged, and never-ending, "search for the cure." This is why I will not donate to any heart & stroke, MS, or cancer society. The money is not used for the purpose as to which it was given, and to me that is a complete disgrace. I just wished I knew what I know now back a few years ago when I lost some loved ones to cancer.
(Natural News) Burzynski The Movie shatters the illusion that the cancer industry is actually trying to cure cancer
There is so much to Burzynski The Movie that you really need to watch it for yourself. A few highlights from the film are:
• The proper response to cancer is not to blast the body with toxic chemicals and radiation, but rather to feed it various nutrients and compounds that communicate naturally with genes how to effectively destroy cancer cells on their own.
• The Burzynski treatment is the only cure for "incurable" brainstem gliomas that has been tested in FDA-approved trials -- and it successfully cures up to 50 percent of them, while conventional treatments cure absolutely zero.
• Congressional passage of the "Prescription Drug User Fee Act" in 1992 is the reason why the FDA has become Big Pharma's lapdog. The law basically allows drug companies to purchase approval for drugs from the FDA through drug application user fees, which has stunted any real mainstream progress in discovering a cure for cancer.
• Drug companies spent more than half a billion dollars in 2010 alone purchasing drug approvals from the FDA -- and the average amount spent per conventional cancer drug was nearly $1.5 million (can you see now why there is a huge vested interest in stifling Dr. Burzynski's work?)
• The FDA has already approved more than 25 different cancer drugs that mimic Dr. Burzynski's treatment protocol by targeting the genes responsible for cancer growth -- but none of these drugs are effective because they are synthetic copycats that target only one or two genes, rather than the nearly 100 genes that Dr. Burzynski's treatment targets.
• Most or all of the chemotherapy drugs that doctors prescribe actually cause cancer -- and this "side effect" sits alongside other devastating ones like heart failure, infertility, nerve damage, and kidney damage.
• Many of the FDA's drug approval advisers and committee members also hold positions at major drug companies, which means they are anything but objective in the decisions they make concerning cancer drugs.
The complete, full-length documentary is available now. It's a must watch if you have known of anyone with cancer!
If that wasn't enough, see what the University of Alberta has done! Why has it been pushed aside?
Hot chile peppers may do more for you than add heat to your next meal. Studies show that capsaicin—a pungent compound in hot chiles—increases your calorie burn by boosting your metabolism. It may also stimulate brain chemicals that help us feel less hungry.
You can boost your calorie burn with simple steps.
So. You’re trying to lose weight... join the club. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just turn a knob and rev up your metabolism, your calorie burn, just like that? (Imagine me snapping my fingers here.) Well... we all hear about diet and exercise strategies that supposedly do just that. But do they work? Yes—and no.
You can boost your burn by... Spicing things up.
Studies suggest that capsaicin, an antioxidant in chile peppers (and also what makes them hot), increases the body’s metabolic rate—slightly.
Do I recommend it? Why not! While the metabolic boost you get by added chiles to your diet isn’t likely to melt away pounds, some research also suggests that capsaicin may stimulate brain chemicals in a way that helps you feel satisfied. And when you make your foods delicious with spices—instead of huge amounts of butter or cream—you save calories.
You can boost your burn by... Eating more often.
By having many mini meals instead of fewer, larger ones, you can shift your metabolism into a higher gear more often—and burn more calories. Our metabolisms rev up slightly each time we eat, as our bodies process what we’ve consumed. Also prevents overeating!
You can boost your burn by... Exercising.
As you age, muscle metabolism decreases—by 1 to 2 percent each decade after age 30. When you're young, muscle burns up to 10 times more calories per pound than fat. So even if you maintain the same level of exercise and calorie intake, you tend to accumulate fat. Regular exercise can help offset reduced muscle metabolism and help you stay lean. Muscle dictates metabolism!
Exercise not only boosts your resting metabolism so that you’re burning more calories when you’re at rest, heart-thumping activity blasts away calories while you’re doing it and makes you feel great. If you’re just getting started with an exercise program, check with your doctor first.
Here are a couple of great recipe's to rev up your metabolism. Also throwing in a nice little snack! :)
Paprika & Red Pepper Soup with Pistachio Puree
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 small onion, diced
2 large red bell peppers, halved lengthwise, stemmed, seeded and diced
1-2 fresh green Thai or serrano chiles, stemmed and coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons sweet Hungarian paprika
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 cup unsalted shelled pistachios
2 cups vegetable broth or water
1 cup nonfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro or basil
Preparation
1.Heat oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers and chile to taste. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables release some of their juices and the onion is lightly brown around the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle the vegetables with paprika, salt and cardamom and cook, stirring, until the spices are very fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
2.Add pistachios and broth (or water). Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat; let cool 5 minutes.
3.Transfer the soup to a blender (in batches if necessary) and puree until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Return the soup to the pan.
4.Whisk buttermilk and cream in a bowl; stir into the soup. Gently warm over low heat. Serve sprinkled with cilantro (or basil).
Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Paprika Shrimp & Green Bean Saute
Serve with quinoa or brown rice.
Ingredients
4 cups green beans, trimmed (about 12 ounces)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup minced garlic
2 teaspoons paprika
1 pound raw shrimp, (21-25 per pound; see Note), peeled and deveined
2 16-ounce cans large butter beans, or cannellini beans, rinsed
1/4 cup sherry vinegar, or red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Preparation
1.Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Put green beans in a steamer basket, place in the pan, cover and steam until tender-crisp, 4 to 6 minutes.
2.Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and paprika and cook, stirring constantly, until just fragrant but not browned, about 20 seconds. Add shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Stir in beans, vinegar and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup parsley.
3.Divide the green beans among 6 plates. Top with the shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with pepper and the remaining 1/4 cup parsley.
Tips & Notes
Note: Shrimp is usually sold by the number needed to make one pound. For example, “21-25 count” means there will be 21 to 25 shrimp in a pound. Size names, such as “large” or “extra large,” are not standardized. In recipes calling for a specific count, order by the count (or number) per pound to be sure you're getting the size you want.
To peel shrimp, grasp the legs and hold onto the tail while you twist off the shell. Save the shells to make a tasty stock: Simmer, in enough water to cover, for 10 minutes, then strain. The “vein” running along a shrimp's back (technically the dorsal surface, opposite the legs) under a thin layer of flesh is really its digestive tract.
To devein shrimp, use a paring knife to make a slit along the length of the shrimp. Under running water, remove the tract with the knife tip.
Frozen Chocolate-Covered Bananas
4 large ripe bananas, peeled and cut into thirds crosswise
3/4 cup 70% dark chocolate, melted (see Tip)
1/4 cup shredded coconut
Preparation
1.Peel 4 large ripe bananas, cut in thirds and insert a popsicle stick into the cut end of each piece. Melt ¾ cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips. Cover each piece of banana with melted chocolate and sprinkle with coconut. (Reheat chocolate, as needed, to keep it melted.) Place the bananas on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper and freeze until frozen, about 2 hours.
Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Store airtight in the freezer for up to 1 week. | Equipment: 12 wooden popsicle sticks
Tip: To melt chocolate, microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted. Or place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.
Have a Healthy and Successul Metabolism Boosting Day!
I’d like to share with you a few conversations that I have had about vitamin D3. Let me preface a few things. I live in Ontario and the weather isn't always consistant. That said if you are familiar with southern Ontario you would know that you can be in a turtlneck one day and in shorts the next. We really look forward to the 3 months of summer. Clearly being bundled up in our Snuggies we are not getting exposed to enough sunlight. We need vitamin D bad!
If you can answer yes to any or all of the above questions, you probably are deficient in Vitamin D.
I have been asked countless times if I could suggest something that would cheer them up, get rid of a lagging cold, prevent the cold or flu, or give them more energy. My answer to all of these is to supplement with Vitamin D3.
I call Vitamin D “the good mood vitamin.” Not only will it get you more motivated and feeling good it has many prolonged benefits for prevention of disease.
I had to laugh the other day when I was asked, “What is this hot new Vitamin on the market?” Well it’s NOT new and IS essential for overall well being.
So why is Vitamin D receiving so much attention lately? Well a few reasons; first more and more research is being done on the benefits of Vitamin D. With this research also come profit margins, companies that are looking to make a buck. You will notice much more advertisements for products fortified with Vitamin D and its benefits. Now this is really good for you if you do your research. You receive really good information on its benefits and gain the knowledge on how to weed out scams. Your job is to find what works best for you.
We hope to help you along in this process with quick and easy information to follow and understand. It then is up to you to apply and move forward with that knowledge.
Did you know that it is estimated that over 60% of adolescents and adults are deficient, I believe it is even higher in the regions lacking in consistent sunlight. Once you understand the importance of Vitamin D you will see why this is a major health challenge. My goal is to increase your understanding of vitamin D and promote awareness of its connection to health and well-being.
Below are just a few of many testimonials that I have received on supplementing Vitamin D. For a recommendation of a quality product CLICK HERE
Below you will find a few question and answers to support the benefits of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin. I like to call it my good mood vitamin. It is synthesized naturally in the body when skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for bone, brain, and immune system health. Many of us, however, don't have enough vitamin D in their bodies.
A mounting body of research suggests that vitamin D may also have antibiotic properties and play a role in reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers; stalling tumor growth; treating skin disorders; and promoting mental health.
What is the Difference between Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3?
The two forms of vitamin D available as supplements are ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). In humans, vitamin D3 is much more effective, and safer, than vitamin D2. Therefore, if you supplement, be sure that you are taking vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol. D2 has a much shorter shelf life and potency can be an issue.
Vitamin D helps maintain bone density, healthy bone growth and helps maintain the normal functioning of the nervous system. It is crucially important in aiding the body’s absorption of calcium. Without sufficient vitamin D, calcium supplements are almost useless. Vitamin D insufficiency is a contributing factor of osteoporosis, as calcium absorption cannot be maximized. It has also been found that having a higher intake of vitamin D can help lower certain cancer risks, such as breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.
Vitamin D is well known for its role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory effects, anti-cancer activity and its ability to strengthen the immune system.
What Evidence Exists for the Benefits of Vitamin D?
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with at least 17 varieties of cancer, along with many other chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
The body can make its own vitamin D following exposure to UVB radiation from the sun. Adequate exposure typically requires around 15 to 20 minutes of midday sunlight, 2 to 3 times per week. However, this particular ultraviolet light is not available during the winter months at some latitudes, while other latitudes offer a year-round supply. Those with darker skin will require a longer duration of exposure to sunlight, compared to those with lighter skin.
Remember to protect your skin if you are going to be in the sun for prolonged periods of time. Sensible sun exposure must be balanced against the harmful effects of sunburn.
Supplementation can provide an optimal amount of vitamin D for those unable to spend sufficient time in the sun. There are also dietary sources of vitamin D, but it's practically impossible to get enough from food alone. Some examples include fatty fish, egg yolks and fortified milk. To reach even bare minimum levels you would need to drink 20 glasses of milk every day. Not recommended!
Am I Taking Enough or Too Much?
Estimates from current research show that a healthy individual uses around 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day. The dose needed to satisfy daily demand varies depending upon sun exposure factors, age and weight. Generally, older people need more than younger people, and those who are overweight need more than those who are normal weight.
Fortunately, there is a wide gap between the level of supplementation that will guarantee optimal vitamin D status and the level that could lead to toxicity. Research has shown that vitamin D toxicity may occur following long-term intake of around 40,000 IU daily; whereas, toxicity is unlikely with a daily intake of 10,000 IU or less. While it is true that most individuals do not need a dose of 10,000 IU per day, it's good to know that vitamin D has such a wide margin of safety.
Many in the medical profession are beginning to recognize that people who take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are becoming vitamin D-deficient. Cholesterol is required by the body to synthesize vitamin D and statin drugs are responsible for eliminating it, leading many to speculate that statin drug users do not have enough cholesterol to process vitamin D
Vitamin D is found naturally in few foods. Good sources include cod liver oil and other fish liver oils, and fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. Vitamin D is also found in egg yolks, beef liver, cheese and some mushrooms. Some foods are fortified with vitamin D, such as milk and milk products, margarine, bread, breakfast cereals and orange juice but generally is D2 and has a short shelf life and low levels.
Vitamin D is also available as a supplement. It is very difficult to get all the Vitamin D without supplementation, especially if you live in a colder region where you are not exposed to consistent sunlight. If you are looking for a quality Vitamin D3 Click the link below.
When enjoying the outdoors this season, be prepared to protect yourself against common summer ailments. I have found the following to be naturally effective in preventing and treating a variety of summer afflictions:
1.Ginger: This may prevent motion sickness or nausea from other causes.
2.Stinging Nettles: By far the best remedy I know for hay fever.
3.Arnica: The tincture of this plant when rubbed onto an injured body part can help relieve the pain and tenderness of sprains and sore muscles (do not take arnica internally unless in the form of a homeopathic remedy).
4.Bromelain: Promotes the healing of soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains and bruises.
5.Geraniol: Products made with this oil are an effective way to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
6.Tecnu: Helps prevent rashes from poison oak, ivy and sumac.
7.Aloe Vera: For sunburn, thermal burns and any areas of skin irritation or inflammation.
By Dr. Weil
(NaturalNews) Move over calcium, there is a new bone builder in town. Research published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research back in 2010 showed that blueberry compounds helped improve bone development in lab rats, and new research conducted by the same team of scientists is now investigating how the fruit works in humans to boost bone development.
Jin-Ran Chen and his colleagues from the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock recently received funding from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explore bone development in humans during infancy, childhood, and early adulthood. Part of this includes studying how blueberry compounds play a role in bone development.
In their first study, Chen and his colleagues observed that blueberry polyphenols, which are the pigments in the fruit that give them their bluish, purple, and red colors, are clearly associated with building strong, healthy bones. Rats fed freeze-dried blueberry powder as ten percent of their diets developed significantly more bone mass than rats not fed the powder, which spurred further research into which blueberry compounds were responsible for this amazing effect.
Blood samples taken from the blueberry-fed rats revealed high rates of phenolic acids, the antioxidant compounds believed to help improve bone development. When blood serum taken from the blueberry-fed rats was applied to lab cultures of osteoblasts, the cells responsible for forming bones, researchers noted that osteoblasts formed into mature, functional bone cells much more quickly than they otherwise would apart from exposure to the polyphenol-rich serum.
TCF and LEF, two types of human genes, promote the synthesis of beta-catenin, a type of protein. Beta-catenin is responsible for telling osteoblasts to form into fully mature bone cells, and it is blueberry polyphenols' interaction with these various human components that Chen and his team believe is responsible for improved bone synthesis.
Have a Healthy and Successful Blueberry Filled Day!
(NaturalNews) Over the last two years, we've witnessed a mass exodus away from agave nectar and a search for more natural sweeteners that are both low on the glycemic index and high in nutrient density. Several candidates have emerged, but my all-out favorite has become coconut sugar, which is really more like a coconut caramel sap.
This sweetener is fast becoming extremely popular among raw foodies, vegans and vegetarians. Many have switched from agave nectar to coconut sugar for all the reasons I'm covering here.
The coconut sugar (sap) I've been using is a 100% pure organic crystallized coconut sap from Thailand. It's harvested from the sap of unopened coconut blossoms, then boiled under controlled heat to drive off the water and condense the liquid to a dark brown sap. There are no additives used, no bleaching, and absolutely no stripping of minerals or other nutrients. It's not a raw food, however. Cooking the sap is a necessary part of concentrating it, just like with maple syrup, which is really a concentration of the watery maple sap.
The result is a thick, liquid "caramel" sap that's brown in color and extremely sweet. It tastes almost like fudge, and some people even eat it like fudge. (Intense sweetness!) I use it in smoothies, where I've found it to offer the most full-spectrum sweetness taste from any natural sweetener I've ever tried. Agave nectar was great, but coconut sugar is so much better -- it actually reminds me of the richness of raw cane sugar juice that I used to drink in South America.
Works in smoothies, recipes and hot beverages
This caramelized coconut sugar is also very handy in its sap format: It melts easily in hot beverages, it mixes easily in recipes, and it blends easily in smoothies. Amazingly, it's only 12% sugar, and it's high in potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. It's also high in several key B vitamins, so eating it is not just delicious; it's also healthy! (My theory is that the presence of certain trace minerals enhances the sweetness and richness of the flavor without needing high sugar content like you'll find in refined sugar...)
You will be amazed by the taste of this Thai coconut sugar. There's nothing like it in the world of natural sweeteners. I encourage you to actually try it straight! It's an intense, fudge-like taste with an amazing texture that just melts in your mouth. Drop it into smoothies or recipes to give them a taste of heaven.
The claimed glycemic index (GI) of this food is 35 -- which is extraordinarily low for a sweetener. Over the years, however, I've gained a fair amount of skepticism about the GI numbers that sweetener companies claim. However, I've been using it regularly and have had no blood sugar issues at all -- and I used to be hypoglycemic and borderline diabetic, so I'm extremely sensitive to my own blood sugar fluctuations. Try it yourself and I think you'll be surprised at the minimal impact this has on blood sugar (which is probably due in part to the high trace mineral content it contains).
Plain old garden-variety procrastination is very common. But whether it is related to work, home or personal life, chronic indecisiveness and delay can eventually undermine a healthy lifestyle. The good news is there are simple ways to help overcome these tendencies. You can address procrastination through behavioral workshops, group therapy, individual therapy or with some of the following lifestyle strategies:
1.Break large jobs into small ones. Start with a yearly plan, break it down into months, then weeks, then days. Feel free to specify detailed tasks for the days and weeks only a month or so in advance.
2.Organize your environment. Chaotic surroundings can be distracting and stressful, and pull your focus from the task at hand.
3.Schedule your time. If you need to, awake an hour earlier or use part of your break time as a temporary strategy to get tasks accomplished.
4.Set reasonable goals. Trying to achieve too much in too little time can actually set you back.
5.Set deadlines to accomplish your larger tasks. When you achieve them, treat yourself - some flowers or a small piece of dark chocolate are appropriate and satisfying rewards.
6.Pace yourself. Work on a task you've been postponing for ten minutes and then decide whether or not to continue. If you discontinue the task, schedule another time to get it done.
Have a Healthy and Successful Procrastination Free Day!
(NaturalNews) As most NaturalNews readers probably already know, there is a rapidly-growing resistance to antibiotics that has given way to antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), and even the strongest antibiotic drugs available have all but lost their ability to treat even the most common infections that afflict people today.
However, a research scientist from the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in Leipzig, Germany, has discovered that simple, natural amino acids work better than antibiotics at treating infections, and they do not cause harm to healthy cells in the body.
For their study, Dr. Andreas Schubert and his colleagues from Fraunhofer tested the effects of amino acids in vitro and found that they broke through bacterial membranes and penetrated them quicker and with less of a required concentration than antibiotic drugs. And the best part of all was that the amino acids caused no cell damage, unlike antibiotics which kill off beneficial bacteria in the system as well as harmful bacteria.
"Antibiotic peptides (from amino acids) unlock their microbicidal effect within a few minutes. They also work at a concentration of less than 1 microliter, compared with conventional antibiotics which require a concentration of 10 microliters," said Schubert as part of his test results. "The spectrum of efficacy of the tested peptides includes not only bacteria and molds but also lipid-enveloped viruses. Another key factor is that the peptides identified in our tests do not harm healthy body cells."
The findings are revolutionary, because they show that amino acids work on virtually every infection, including even MRSA and CRKP. And because amino acids occur naturally in various foods like nuts, grass-fed meats and dairy products, beans, seafood, eating more of these foods regularly can help boost levels of these vital nutrients without the need for drugs. Amino acids supplements are also a great way to boost amino acid levels to optimal levels in order to prevent or treat infections.
"We have already identified 20 of these short chains of amino acids which kill numerous microbes, including enterococci, yeasts and molds, as well as human pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, which is found in the human oral cavity and causes tooth decay," said Dr. Andreas Schubert, group manager of Fraunhofer. "Even the multi-resistant hospital bug Staphylococcus aureus is not immune, and in our tests its growth was considerably inhibited."
If you've gained weight as an adult, blame it on potatoes - chips, fries and other potato dishes seem to be the foods most directly responsible for the pound per year the average adult gains. That news comes from a Harvard School of Public Health Study that examined the diet and lifestyle factors that appear most related to long-term weight gain. The researchers reviewed three separate studies that included data from nearly 121,000 men and women who were followed from 12 to 20 years. None of the participants were obese or suffered from any chronic disease when they joined the studies. The researchers assessed changes in consumption of specific foods and drinks, physical activity, TV time and time spent sleeping to help identify what contributes most to weight gain. All told, the researchers found that diet was the primary culprit and that the foods linked to the greatest weight gain were potato chips, other potato-based foods, sugar sweetened beverages, and unprocessed and processed meats. Increased consumption of some foods (vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and yogurt) were linked to less weight gain.
My take? Here's another example of how specific foods that rank high on the glycemic index can contribute to weight gain. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates on the basis of how quickly they raise your blood sugar. Rapid elevations in blood glucose set in motion a series of physiologic changes that induce the body to store calories as fat. Foods scoring higher than 60 (on a scale of 100) are considered high glycemic index foods. These include potatoes as well as most pastries and snack foods, most bread (both white and whole wheat), raisins and watermelon. Regular consumption of high glycemic index foods increases your risk of developing insulin resistance, an underlying cause of obesity, high cholesterol and adult-onset diabetes. In that respect, high glycemic index foods - including potatoes - can be considered "bad carbs."
(NaturalNews) A new study conducted by researchers from Chieti-Pescara University in Italy has revealed that taking pine bark extract in conjunction with Coenzyme Q10 helps improve heart health in heart failure patients by bolstering blood pressure regulation, strengthening endothelial function, reducing hypertension, and improving overall physical ability.
For their single-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers tested the effects of Pycnogenol, a branded version of pine bark extract, and Kaneka CoQ10, which are sold in a combined form as PycnoQ10. The 53 study participants, which were between the ages of 54 and 68, all had mild to moderate hypertension, and stable congestive heart failure. They also had heart ejection fractions lower than 40 percent of their original capacity, which indicates very poor heart function.
When given PycnoQ10 as part of their regular treatment regimens, heart failure patients experienced significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lowered heart rates, decreased respiratory rates, and improved heart ejection fractions, compared to others taking a placebo. The PycnoQ10 group was also able to walk 3.3 miles longer than the placebo group, and experienced an impressive improvement in fitness levels.
"Coenzyme Q10 has been extensively researched for its ability to strengthen the heart muscle, specifically in patients with heart failure. Preclinical trials have suggested that Pycnogenol strengthens heart chamber walls and dilates arteries," said Dr. Belcaro, one of the study authors. "These preliminary observations suggest that the respective contributions of Coenzyme Q10 and Pycnogenol in PycnoQ10 may significantly improve heart health."
And because both pine bark extract and CoQ10 are not patented pharmaceutical drugs, they are widely available from a variety of supplement manufacturers. They also cost far less than prescription drugs, and do not carry with them any dangerous side effects.
(NaturalNews) Ask somebody about sunscreen and you're likely to receive an earful of disinformation from a person who has been repeatedly misinformed by health authorities and the mainstream media. Almost nothing you hear about sunscreen from traditional media channels is accurate. So here's a quick guide to the 7 most important things you need to know about sunscreen, sunlight and vitamin D:
#1) The FDA refuses to allow natural sunscreen ingredients to be used in sunblock / sunscreen products
It's true: If you create a truly natural sunscreen product using exotic botanicals with powerful sunscreen properties, you will never be able to market it as a "sunscreen" product. That's because the FDA decides what can be used as sunscreen and what can't, regardless of what really works in the real world. And there are really only two natural ingredients the FDA has allowed to be sold as sunscreen: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Any other non-chemical sunscreen ingredients, if sold as "sunscreen," would be considered mislabeled by the FDA and result in your products being confiscated... even if they offer fantastic sunscreen protection!
Not surprisingly, this whole monopoly over sunscreen chemicals is designed to protect the profits of the chemical companies while marginalizing the natural product companies which could easily formulate far better solutions. I have personally spoken to the founders of several health product companies who have figured out amazing sunscreen formulations using nothing but natural botanicals, but the FDA won't let them market their products as sunscreen products!
It's just another example of the FDA standing in the way of health innovation.
#2) Nearly all conventional sunscreen products contain cancer-causing chemicals
Read the ingredients list of any sunscreen product sold at Wal-Mart, or Walgreens, or any other mainstream store. I dare ya!
You will not be able to pronounce most of the chemicals found in the ingredients list. That's because most sunscreen products are formulated with cancer-causing fragrance chemicals, parabens, harsh alcohols, toxic chemical solvents and petroleum oils. A typical sunscreen product is actually a chemical assault on your body. That's why research shows that using sunscreen actually causes more cancer than it prevents (http://www.naturalnews.com/023317_s...).
#3) In a nation where over 70% of the population is vitamin D deficiency, sunscreen actually blocks vitamin D production Vitamin D deficiency is perhaps the most widespread vitamin deficiency in North America. According to the research, 70 percent of whites are deficient in vitamin D, and up to 97 percent of blacks are deficient (http://www.naturalnews.com/030598_v...).
Chronic vitamin D deficiency promotes cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/031560_v...), winter flu and infections, depression, osteoporosis and hormonal imbalances. Depending on whom you believe, vitamin D alone can prevent anywhere from 50% to nearly 80% of all cancers (http://www.naturalnews.com/021892.html).
By blocking vitamin D production in the skin, sunscreen products actually contribute to cancer-promoting nutritional deficiencies.
This doesn't mean you should never wear a sunscreen product, of course. If your skin is really pale and you're planning a day on the beach in Hawaii, you will obviously benefit from some level of sun protection using a truly natural sunscreen product. But an informed health-conscious person would try to allow their skin to achieve a natural, healthy tan (yes, a tan truly is healthy if it's combined with good nutrition, see below) through sensible exposure levels that activate vitamin D production in the skin.
#4) You can boost your internal sun resistance by changing what you eat
Here's the real secret about sun exposure that no one in conventional medicine is talking about (because, as usual, they are woefully ignorant about nutrition): You can boost your internal sunscreen by eating antioxidant-rich foods and superfoods.
The supplement astaxanthin, for example, is very well known for boosting your skin's natural resistance to sunburn. Its fat-soluble carotenoids are actually transported to skin cells where they protect those cells from UV exposure.
The more natural antioxidants you have in your diet, the more sunlight your skin will be able to handle without burning. Nearly everyone mistakenly believes that a person's sunlight burn response is purely a genetic factor. They're wrong. You can radically improve your resistance to UV exposure through radical dietary changes.
I'm a great example of this, actually, as I used to burn in just 20 - 30 minutes of sunlight when I was on a junk food diet years ago. But now, as someone who eats superfoods and high-end nutritional supplements every day, I can spend hours in the sun and will only turn slightly red (which fades a few hours later and does not result in a burn or skin peeling).
Except for one time on an all-day visit to a water park, I have not worn sunscreen in over 8 years. I spend a large amount of time in the sun, and I have absolutely no concerns whatsoever about skin cancer. My skin, most people tell me, looks significantly younger than my biological age. That's not from sunscreen; it's from nutrition. Sun exposure does not make your skin "age" if you follow a high-nutritional density diet.
#5) UV exposure alone does not cause skin cancer
It is a complete medical myth that "UV exposure causes skin cancer." This false idea is a total fabrication by the ignorant medical community (dermatologists) and the profit-driven sunscreen companies.
The truth is actually more complicated: Skin cancer can only be caused when UV exposure is combined with chronic nutritional deficiencies that create skin vulnerabilities.
To create skin cancer, in other words, you have to eat a junk food diet, avoid protective antioxidants, and then also experience excessive UV exposure. All three of those elements are required. Conventional medicine completely ignores the dietary influences and focuses entirely on just one factor: Sunscreen vs. no sunscreen. This is a one-dimensional approach to the issue that's grossly oversimplified to the point of being misleading.
The medical industry, it seems, does not want people to figure out they can literally eat their way to healthier skin. It's amazing, actually: Your skin is made entirely out of the food you eat, so how could your diet not affect your skin health? Yet no one in conventional medicine -- not the dermatologists, not the doctors and not the health regulators -- has the intellectual honesty to admit that what you eat largely determines how your skin reacts to UV exposure.
#6) Not all "natural" sunscreen products are really natural
Be careful when shopping for so-called "natural" sunscreen products. While there are some good ones out there, many are just examples of greenwashing, where they use terms like "natural" or "organic" but still contain loads of synthetic chemicals anyway.
A good guide for checking on sunscreen products is the Environmental Working Group guide (EWG) at:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Some of the products that are truly natural include Loving Naturals sunscreen and Badger All Natural Sunscreen. Read the ingredients labels to see for yourself. Don't use any sunscreen product containing ingredients that sound like chemicals:
Always buy unscented sunscreen unless for some reason you just enjoy coating your skin with artificial perfume chemicals. A typical sunscreen product is made with over a dozen cancer-causing fragrance chemicals, and they're absorbed right through your skin. Most sunscreens, when applied as directed, are really just toxic chemical baths that heavily burden your liver and can give you cancer.
#7) Many "chemical free" sunscreens are loaded with chemicals
Search Amazon.com for "chemical free natural sunscreen" and you'll see a listing for:
Jason Natural Cosmetics - Earth's Best Sun Block Chemical Free, 4 oz cream
Click on the product and you'll find a listing of its ingredients which includes: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Calcium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Stearalkonium Hectorite
So how are those not chemicals? Ethylhexyl Palmitate is NOT a chemical? Who are these people kidding? The Amazon.com description (title) of this product is false and misleading. In all fairness, however, this product title looks like it was added into the Amazon.com system by the vendor and not the Jason company itself. But it's an example of how the information you see from online vendors can often be misleading.
Always read the ingredients of any sunscreen product before using it. Don't poison yourself with sunscreen!
Beware the disinfo minefield surrounding sunscreen products
Perhaps more with sunscreen than any other personal care product, the "official" information distributed through the mainstream media is hopelessly misleading (if not downright false). Remarkably, no one in the media or the government is even willing to admit that fragrance chemicals are bad for your health. Similarly, no one is willing to admit that the chemicals you put on your skin get ABSORBED by your skin.
Without those two truths being acknowledged right up front, the rest of whatever they say about sunscreen is worthless babble. Any honest talk about sunscreen must acknowledge the simple truth that the chemicals you put on your skin get absorbed into your skin, and that most sunscreen products are made out of a chemical cocktail of cancer-causing substances.
This is the truth about sunscreen that both the sunscreen industry and the cancer industry doesn't want you to hear. It's the dirty little secret of sunscreen: The more you use, the more you CAUSE cancer in your body! (And the more money the cancer centers make "treating" your cancer with yet more deadly chemicals known as chemotherapy.)
So buyer beware. Sunscreen products are a minefield of lies, fraud and disinformation designed to keep you ignorant of the importance of sun exposure as well as the health risks associated with using cancer-causing chemicals on your skin.
Stick with truly natural sunscreen products (when needed) and try to build up a healthy tan while consuming large quantities of superfoods and antioxidants in your diet. Consider taking astaxanthin or other fat-soluble nutrients on a regular basis. Engage in daily juicing of fresh fruits and vegetables which are loaded with living nutrients. Time your sun exposure to build up a healthy tan so that you don't need sunscreen at all. Contrary to all the misinformation we've all been fed, a healthy tan is actually a good sign that you're achieving adequate vitamin D synthesis in your own skin.
Learn more about sunlight and vitamin D with these two resources:
FREE report: The truth about sunlight and vitamin D (http://www.naturalnews.com/rr-sunli...).
FREE video: The Truth About Sunlight, Cancer and Vitamin D
http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=5A62F...
Learn more: Vitamin D the MIRACLE vitamin? Click here for the best vitamin D on the market
