Do You take Curcumin?

(NaturalNews) Curcumin, the active anti-inflammatory compound found in the Indian spice tumeric, has gained an impressive reputation in the fight against many deadly forms of cancer. New evidence released in the journal Cancer Research finds that the natural phenol can slow prostate tumor growth by blocking receptors used to propagate cell tissue growth.

Additional research published in the journal PLoS One explains the precise mechanism exerted by curcumin molecules to target the amyloid fibrils associated with the unnatural progression of protein-like plaque tangles that are characteristic in Alzheimer's disease patients. Adding curry spice to your healthy diet or supplementing daily with a standardized curcumin capsule will help win your individual war against cancerous proliferation and Alzheimer's dementia.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease, with more than 250,000 diagnoses in the US each year. Any natural compound that targets the proliferation of prostate cancer cells would provide a significant remedy compared with the allopathic methods of radiation, surgery and chemical agents. To conduct the study, researchers subjected prostate cancer cells to hormone deprivation in the presence and absence of curcumin with 'physiologically attainable' doses.

Curcumin blocks prostate cell receptors to thwart cancer progression.

The researchers found that curcumin blocked two genetic receptors necessary for prostate cancer advancement. These receptors have been shown is past studies to predict cancer incidence and rate of growth of existing tumors. They noted that the spice extract was "a potent inhibitor of both cell cycle and survival in prostate cancer cells."

The lead study author, Dr. Karen Knudsen and her team found that other cancer cell lines multiply by a similar receptor mechanism and may also be inhibited by the curry compound. She commented that curcumin "also has implications beyond prostate cancer... in other malignancies, like breast cancer. In tumors where these play an important function, curcumin may prove to be a promising therapeutic agent."

In a separate research body, scientists found that curcumin prolongs life and enhances activity of brain neurons, acting as a neuroprotective shield against Alzheimer's disease advancement. The research team determined that curcumin acted to prevent the damaging accumulation of amyloid fibrils around the nerve synapse. Amyloid tangles are known to prevent normal electrical and chemical transmissions required to form memories and maintain cognition.

Scientific research models continue to extol the virtues of natural spice and herbal extracts such as curcumin to help prevent and treat many deadly diseases that kill countless millions each year. Incorporate curry spices as part of your healthy diet or include a daily supplement (250 mg to 500 mg standardized curcumin extract) to significantly lower cancer risk and support healthy brain function.

When supplementing with curcumin you must should always choose a supplement with high bio availability. No use taking any supplement if your body can't absorb it. Click HERE to for information on Curcumin Extreme!

Have a Healthy and Successful Curcumin Filled Day!

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035076_curcumin_prostate_cancer_dementia.html#ixzz1ndT08sr3

Try this Meatless Chili Recipe!

Not sure where you are located but here in southern Ontario we had a little snow this morning and the school buses are now cancelled. If your planning on keeping the kids home here's a heart healthy chili recipe.

Contrary to what many believe, good chili doesn't require meat. The key to great chili is knowing how to harness the fiery flavor of a wide range of available chile peppers to make the dish exciting yet palatable. ("Chili" commonly refers to the dish made with "chile" peppers.) Red New Mexican chile peppers are traditionally tied in strings called ristras or are available as flakes and powder, and chipotles are ripe (red) jalapeños that have been dried and smoked. Experiment with different amounts until you find a level of heat intensity that you're comfortable with. Be aware that capsaicin, the active component in chile peppers that gives them their heat, is concentrated in the white tissue attached to the seeds. If you're using whole chiles, you may want to remove that white tissue if you don't want your chili too hot.

Food as Medicine
Some studies indicate that capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers, may enhance the metabolism of fat. Red chili peppers also have been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Here it is and enjoy!

Ingredients

7 1/2 cups cooked beans, like pintos, anasazi, adzuki or kidney (roughly four 15-ounce cans or 1 pound dried beans, cooked) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 large onions, diced 1 dried or canned chipotle pepper 1 tablespoon mild red New Mexican chile powder, or to taste 1 tablespoon dried whole oregano 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1 large can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained 5 cloves garlic, mashed Salt and pepper, to taste Garnishes: Chopped raw onion Chopped tomato Shredded lettuce Sour Cream Cheese

Instructions

1. Drain beans in a colander. 2. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or saucepan. Add the onions and sauté over medium heat until they are soft and golden. 3. Crush the chipotle pepper if using dried, or mince if using canned. 4. Add the chipotle pepper, red chile powder, oregano, cumin and allspice to the onions. Cook for 2 minutes. 5. Add the tomatoes and beans. Simmer for 45 minutes, adding liquid if the mixture gets too dry. 6. Add salt and pepper to taste, and more chile if you want a hotter dish. 7. Garnish with chopped raw onion, chopped tomato and shredded lettuce. (Cheese & sour cream optional). Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

 

Have You Tried This Bread?

Of the dozens upon dozens of choices you face in the bread aisle these days, here's a variety that just might help boost your colon's natural defense mechanisms: oat bran.

In a new study, eating four slices of oat-bran bread every day for 8 weeks was associated with higher colon levels of special gut-protective compounds.

A True Wonder Bread
These compounds -- called carboxylic acids -- help defend against diseases such as ulcerative colitis and colon cancer. The compounds form when people eat foods that have indigestible bits, like insoluble fiber. And oat bran happens to be rich in fabulous beta-glucan fiber. In the recent study, the participants ate oat-bran bread enriched with extra beta glucan, so it may be worth your while to check labels and find the highest-fiber brand of oat-bran bread that you can. (Did you know? Beta glucan helps improve cholesterol, too.)

Compounding Protection
Carboxylic acids help your colon by improving the protective mucus found there, so harmful lesions are less likely to form. And one particular form of carboxylic acid -- butyric acid -- may have souped-up inflammation- and cancer-fighting qualities as well. Are you feeling content about your colon health? If your not, I highly recommend cleansing. Not only will cleansing clean the colon but it will rid the body of many toxins. You will feel better, have more energy and for some will drop unwanted weight.

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Health Issues? Try this Natural .......

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is an effective natural bacteria-fighting agent that contains many vital minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine that are vital for a healthy body.

Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made by crushing fresh, organically grown apples and allowing them to mature in wooden barrels. This boosts the natural fermentation qualities of the crushed apples, which differs from the refined and distilled vinegars found in supermarkets. When the vinegar is mature, it contains a dark, cloudy, web-like bacterial foam called mother, which becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for making more Apple Cider Vinegar. Natural vinegars that contain the mother have enzymes and minerals that other vinegars in grocery stores may not have due to over-processing, over-heating, and filtration. For this reason, it is recommended that you purchase only unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar, with an ideal acidity (pH) level of 5 to 7, this health drink is a natural probiotic.

What are the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is a wonderful natural cure for a number of ailments which usually require antibiotics and other medications that have a number of side effects. In particular, Apple Cider Vinegar has been known to:

• Reduce sinus infections and sore throats
• Balance high cholesterol
• Cure skin conditions such as acne
• Protect against food poisoning
• Fight allergies in both humans and animals
• Prevent muscle fatigue after exercise
• Strengthen the immune system
• Increase stamina
• Increase metabolism which promotes weight loss
• Improve digestion and cure constipation
• Alleviate symptoms of arthritis and gout
• Prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections

Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar:

General Health Problems:

Weight Loss

The use of apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for weight loss is centuries old. D.C. Jarvis, M.D maintained that an overweight person could lose weight gradually by taking 2 teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water before meals.

Bad Breath

Due to its anticeptic properties, Apple Cider Vinegar makes a wonderful remedy for bad breath or halitosis. Simply add 2 teaspoons of ACV into a cup of water and gargle the mixture in your mouth for 10 seconds at a time and spit the solution out. Repeat until the cup is empty.

Body Odor

Apple Cider Vinegar is an effective body odor remedy, since it can help adjust the skin's pH level which helps to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. For armpit odor, simply wipe them once each morning with undiluted apple cider vinegar (using a cotton ball). For foot odor, fill a pan with warm water and add 1/3 cup of ACV, then let your feet soak in this mixture for 15 minutes once per week.

Skin Problems and Infections:

Acne

Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural cure for acne. Apply a solution of apple cider vinegar and water (2 tablespoons to 1 eight ounce glass of water) with a cotton ball several times a day. This will help reduce infection and dry out inflammation.

Age Spots

Apple Cider Vinegar contains sulfur that fights the effects of aging, which makes it suitable for treating age spots. Apply daily, to these darkened areas of the skin, a solution containing 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of onion juice. According to this home remedy, the spots should begin to fade within 2 weeks.

Cellulite

Many women have found that Apple Cider Vinegar can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Yeast Infection

Apple Cider Vinegar has been found to be an effective treatment for yeast infections.

Stomach Problems:

Heartburn

This usually occurs after eating, sometimes up to two hours later. This very unpleasant feeling can be alleviated by taking 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar in 8 OZ of water, taken three times a day before meals.

Constipation

Apple Cider Vinegar is frequently used as a natural cure for constipation.

Diarrhea

There are various causes for diarrhea, and although it should not be left untreated, it is often a natural way for the body to rid itself of harmful compounds and ingested materials. Apple Cider Vinegar is a fantastic natural remedy for diarrhea since the high pectin concentration acts as a protective coating which soothes the irritated lining of the colon. A suggestion is to add 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to a large glass of water, and drink this 3 times daily while the symptoms persist.

Major Illnesses:

Diabetes

Apple Cider Vinegar may help to control high blood sugar levels, which is why it is often used as a natural treatment for Diabetes.

How to take it?

For daily maintenance, weight loss and pH balancing:

• 2 teaspoons in 8 oz of water 3x a day (taken before your meals)

For treating an acute condition like acid reflux, cough, bronchitis, or sore throat:

• 2 Tablespoons in 8 OZ of water 3x a day (taken before your meals) .

To help with the taste you can always add a tablespoon of raw honey.

Have a Healthy and Successful ACV Day!

Is Sugar a Drug?

By Bonnie Rochman, Time Magazine

Sugar poses enough health risks that it should be considered a controlled substance just like alcohol and tobacco, contend a team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

In an opinion piece called “The Toxic Truth About Sugar” that was published Feb. 1 in the journal Nature, Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis argue that it’s a misnomer to consider sugar just “empty calories.” They write: “There is nothing empty about these calories. A growing body of scientific evidence is showing that fructose can trigger processes that lead to liver toxicity and a host of other chronic diseases. A little is not a problem, but a lot kills — slowly.”

Almost everyone’s heard of — or personally experienced — the proverbial sugar high, so perhaps the comparison between sugar and alcohol or tobacco shouldn’t come as a surprise. But it’s doubtful that Americans will look favorably upon regulating their favorite vice. We’re a nation that’s sweet on sugar: the average U.S. adult downs 22 teaspoons of sugar a day, according to the American Heart Association, and surveys have found that teens swallow 34 teaspoons.

To counter our consumption, the authors advocate taxing sugary foods and controlling sales to kids under 17. Already, 17% of U.S. children and teens are obese, and across the world the sugar intake has tripled in the past 50 years. The increase has helped create a global obesity pandemic that contributes to 35 million annual deaths worldwide from noninfectious diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

“There are good calories and bad calories, just as there are good fats and bad fats, good amino acids and bad amino acids, good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates,” Lustig, a professor of pediatrics and director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) program at UCSF, said in a statement. “But sugar is toxic beyond its calories.”

The food industry tries to imply that “a calorie is a calorie,” says Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. “But this and other research suggests there is something different about sugar,” says Brownell.

         (Ads Featuring Overweight Children Make Some Experts Uncomfortable)                               

The UCSF report emphasizes the metabolic effects of sugar. Excess sugar can alter metabolism, raise blood pressure, skew the signaling of hormones and damage the liver — outcomes that sound suspiciously similar to what can happen after a person drinks too much alcohol. Schmidt, co-chair of UCSF’s Community Engagement and Health Policy program, noted on CNN: “When you think about it, this actually makes a lot of sense. Alcohol, after all, is simply the distillation of sugar. Where does vodka come from? Sugar.”

But there are also other areas of impact that researchers have investigated: the effect of sugar on the brain and how liquid calories are interpreted differently by the body than solids. Research has suggested that sugar activates the same reward pathways in the brain as traditional drugs of abuse like morphine or heroin. No one is claiming the effect of sugar is quite that potent, but, says Brownell, “it helps confirm what people tell you anecdotally, that they crave sugar and have withdrawal symptoms when they stop eating it.”

There’s also something particularly insidious about sugary beverages. “When calories come in liquids, the body doesn’t feel as full,” says Brownell. “People are getting more of their calories than ever before from sugared beverages.”

Other countries, including France, Greece and Denmark, levy soda taxes, and the concept is being considered in at least 20 U.S. cities and states. Last summer, Philadelphia came close to passing a 2-cents-per-ounce soda tax. The Rudd Center has been a vocal proponent of a more modest 1-cent-per-ounce tax. But at least one study, from 2010, has raised doubts that soda taxes would result in significant weight loss: apparently people who are determined to eat — and drink — unhealthily will find ways to do it.

Ultimately, regulating sugar will prove particularly tricky because it transcends health concerns; sugar, for so many people, is love. A plate of cut-up celery just doesn’t pack the same emotional punch as a tin of homemade chocolate chip cookies, which is why I took my daughter for a cake pop and not an apple as an after-school treat today. We don’t do that regularly — it’s the first time this school year, actually — and that’s what made it special. As a society, could we ever reach the point where we’d think apples — not cake on a stick — are something to get excited over? Says Brindis, one of the report’s authors and director of UCSF’s Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies: “We recognize that there are cultural and celebratory aspects of sugar. Changing these patterns is very complicated.”

For inroads to be made, say the authors in their statement, people have to be better educated about the hazards of sugar and agree that something’s got to change:

Many of the interventions that have reduced alcohol and tobacco consumption can be models for addressing the sugar problem, such as levying special sales taxes, controlling access, and tightening licensing requirements on vending machines and snack bars that sell high sugar products in schools and workplaces.

“We’re not talking prohibition,” Schmidt said. “We’re not advocating a major imposition of the government into people’s lives. We’re talking about gentle ways to make sugar consumption slightly less convenient, thereby moving people away from the concentrated dose. What we want is to actually increase people’s choices by making foods that aren’t loaded with sugar comparatively easier and cheaper to get.”

Source: www.healthland.time.com/2012/02/02/...

Have a Healthy and Successful Sugar Free Day!

Find Your Fit and Win Cash!

The TLS® Find Your Fit Challenge (the “Challenge”) is a contest that rewards participants for both body and life transformations. The participants who not only improve their bodies the most, but also improve their lifestyles, will be the Challenge winners.  We are looking for the most inspirational and motivational stories as to how participants have made a healthy body and life transformation. No matter your size, shape, or fitness level, we invite you to participate in the 2012 TLS Find Your Fit Challenge and prove to yourself and to others that you can succeed!

TLS Weight Loss Solution isn't a diet; it is a total lifestyle approach to weight management. TLS is not about restrictions or counting calories. It's about changing the way you look at food and yourself.

Other "diet" programs can potentially help you lose weight, but are the requirements of that diet the best way to permanently keep the weight off? Is it something that you can continue to do for the rest of your life? Maintaining a healthy weight depends on eating right, exercising and making daily commitment to changing the behaviors that got you where you are today.

That's why TLS is different. Other programs tell you what they think works; TLS is all about what works for you. TLS is about education and implementation, not limitation. The only limits in TLS are those you put on yourself. Anything is possible when you live the TLS Lifestyle.

So are you ready to make a change?

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Are you ready to feel good and look GREAT?

Would you like to win $10,000?

Contact me at trevor@coach-mask.com or 1-800-691-4945 to learn more about how yOU can look and feel GREAT plus put some money if your pocket!

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Contact me today

Dark Chocolate

Naturally we'd all like to be able to trust in those dark chocolate health benefits we’ve heard so much about. But are they for real?

Is healthy dark chocolate really a dream come true or just another hype marketing fantasy?

Over the past decade we've been indoctrinated with articles singing the praises of dark chocolate health benefits. They tell us dark chocolate has special antioxidants that help prevent heart disease and more.

Of course now-a-days everything claims to have special antioxidants.

But can the proclaimed health benefits of dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol and a multitude of strange fruits really be classified as health foods? 


Research on Dark Chocolate Health Benefits 


Several years back, researchers spoke at the American Society of Hypertension’s Annual Scientific Meeting in New York, stating that dark chocolate and cocoa improves the functioning of blood vessels.

Other studies, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed dark chocolate may have antioxidant heart health benefits.


• The first study found that dark chocolate or cocoa "when added to a healthy diet" could increase the HDL (good) cholesterol in the body and stop the harmful oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol.

• The next, more recent Italian study showed that one hundred grams of dark chocolate a day, over a period of several weeks, lowered blood pressure and improved insulin sensitivity. The beneficial effects were most pronounced in people over the age of 50.

• And then a University of California research project found that dark chocolate or cocoa helped to prevent platelets from becoming sticky, (which increases the risk of dangerous blood clots).

Participants fed milk chocolate and white chocolate had no beneficial effects.

Since these studies suggest that dark chocolate is such a heart-healthy food, what could possibly be wrong with adding it to your daily health plan? Well, let’s start with a closer look at the research and who funded it.


The Dark Side of the Dark Chocolate Research

The Mars Corporation and the rest of the world’s biggest chocolate manufacturers have put millions of dollars into funding university research departments and chocolate studies over the past two decades.

And this includes the presentation and all the research referred to above.

So what’s wrong with that? If Phillip Morris had funded studies showing the health benefits of smoking cigarettes, wouldn’t you be skeptical? 

But wait, there are still a few more problems with those chocolate studies.

• They were all very small. Only 23 people were in the first study, a mere 15 participated in the Italian study and just 40 were involved in the University of California project.

• Most commercial chocolate products are high in artery-clogging saturated fats and high glycemic sugars, which have both been shown to raise harmful LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

• The studies used amounts equivalent to two or three standard dark chocolate bars a day. This would replace other nutritious food and is way more candy than a health-oriented person would normally eat. It's unknown if lower amounts offer any dark chocolate benefits.

• The Italian study group got 500 extra chocolate calories a day. These high amounts of saturated fat and sugar have been shown to lead to overweight, high triglycerides, heart disease, stroke and diabetes, counteracting any potential dark chocolate benefits.

Plus, beside the fact that there are much healthier sources of antioxidants, almost all the dark chocolate that’s commercially available has had the bitter-tasting beneficial chocolate flavone-antioxidants removed.

But there’s still hope for chocoholics and healthy chocolate solutions.

Your Best Sources for Antioxidants & Chocolate 



Without question, antioxidants benefits are vital to your well-being and a healthy heart. But you can’t beat the health benefits of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and other high fiber foods as your best sources.

They can significantly lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of many degenerative diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

And the healthiest vegetables and fruits are vitamin high and calorie low. 



Plus, here's great news for chocoholics. You can still enjoy the rich flavor of chocolate without all the unhealthy sugar, saturated fat and high calories found in candy, pastries and cocoa butter. How can you do it?



Make hot chocolate with unsweetened cocoa powder and low-fat milk. Or whip up chocolate mousse with 12 ounces of firm tofu, 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon of vanilla and a non-caloric sweetener.

Or, even better and easier, have a daily delicious, low-calorie chocolate protein shake and you can be slim, happy and healthier than ever!

But whatever you do, don’t trade the questionable health benefits of dark chocolate for the unquestionable benefits of the best antioxidant foods.

Have a Healthy and Successful Day!

Vitamin D for Your Heart

Need another reason to keep your vitamin D intake up? Research suggests that those with low levels of this essential nutrient may have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Researchers in Utah followed 27,000 men and women over the age of 50 who had no previous history of heart disease. After a year, they found those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were:

1. 77 percent more likely to die than those with adequate levels of vitamin D.
2. 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease than those with adequate levels of vitamin D.
3. 78 percent more likely to have a stroke than those with adequate levels of vitamin D.
4. Twice as likely to develop heart failure than those with normal levels of vitamin D.

The study, from the Intermountain Medical Center, was presented at the Nov. 16, 2009 session of the American Heart Association's Scientific Conference. Dr. Weil recommends prudent daily sun exposure to support the natural production of vitamin D in our skin, as well as speaking to your doctor about checking vitamin D levels and supplementing if necessary.

Don't get enough vitamin D from sun and diet? Click HERE for the supplement I recommend to my clients.

Have a Healthy and Successful Vitamin D Day!

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