Wednesday, August 31, 2011

This One Nutrient could change your LIFE!

The website Green Med Info has assembled a list of studies that found evidence of over 40 conditions that chlorella can help to prevent or ease.

The conditions include:
•Hypertension
•Anemia
•Diabetes
•Acute Stress
•Fibromyalgia
•Liver Cancer

According to one of the studies on the subject:

“Chlorella vulgaris (CV) has been reported to have antioxidant and anticancer properties ... Our study shows that CV has definite chemopreventive effect by inducing apoptosis ... in hepatocarcinogenesis [liver cancer] induced rats”.

Sources:Green Med Info

Chlorella, a single-celled fresh-water algae, is one of the most heavily researched algae in the world. It's often referred to as a near-perfect food as research through the years have identified an astounding range of health benefits. While being well known for its ability to detoxify your body by binding to toxins and carrying them out of your system, that's certainly not all it's good for.

Chlorella's Impressive Range of Health Benefits

As you will see, chlorella seems to fit the description of a "wonder nutrient" that serves far more than just one function. Here's a sampling of some of the health benefits associated with this green algae:

Repairing nerve tissues

Increasing your energy levels

Enhancing your immune system

Normalizing your blood sugar

Improving digestion

Normalizing your blood pressure

Promoting healthy pH levels in your gut, which in turn helps good bacteria to thrive

Removing potentially toxic metals from your body

Enhancing your ability to focus and concentrate

Eliminating bad breath

Not interested in eating algae try this to get your chlorella


Chlorella can also be of benefit to vegetarians and vegans looking for proteins and B vitamins from a non-animal source. About 60 percent of it is protein, and because it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs, it's considered to be a "complete protein."

Chlorella also rich in:
•GABA
•Folate
•Vitamin B12
•Iron

Six Health Conditions Chlorella May Help Prevent or Treat


As mentioned earlier, chlorella has and still is being researched for a number of health conditions. Here's a list of six common health problems and diseases where chlorella may be of particular benefit:
•Insulin resistance—Earlier this year, researchers discovered that chlorella has the ability to improve fructose-induced insulin sensitivity. As I’ve discussed on numerous occasions, excessive fructose consumption is the number one cause of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In this animal study, after being fed fructose-rich chow for four weeks, the rats were then given chlorella three times a day for five days, which brought their elevated glucose-insulin values back to normal.

The authors concluded that: “Oral administration of chlorella has the ability to improve insulin sensitivity, which may be used as an adjuvant therapy for patients with insulin resistance.”
•Detoxification. Is particularly helpful when used in conjunction with an infrared sauna and taken two hours before you go in the sauna. This way the chlorella will be in your intestine and read to bind to the toxins that are released when you are in the sauna. It will bind irreversibly to the toxins and be safely excreted when you have your bowel movement.
•Diabetes—Additional evidence supporting the theory that chlorella can improve insulin sensitivity can be found in an earlier study. Here, the algae was found to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in the liver in type 1 diabetic rats. The authors suggest chlorella’s hypoglycemic effects may be due to improved glucose uptake in the liver and the soleus muscles. Another mechanism may be related to decreased levels of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), since insulin sensitivity is usually blunted by elevated NEFA in type 1 diabetes.
•Hypertension—The results from a placebo-controlled, double-blind study published two years ago suggest that chlorella can significantly decrease high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension. The authors proposed that it may be a beneficial dietary supplement for preventing hypertension, with no apparent adverse side effects.
•Anemia, proteinuria and edema in pregnant women—Pregnancy-induced hypertension and anemia are common, and potentially dangerous. One of the primary causes for these conditions is the woman’s nutritional status. A study published last year found that chlorella may help improve both of these conditions in pregnant women, likely due to its high folate, B12 and iron content.

Subjects took six grams of chlorella per day, starting somewhere between the 12th to the 18th week of gestation, until delivery. The chlorella group had significantly lower rates of anemia compared to the control group. They also had fewer incidences of proteinuria and edema; two symptoms associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Here too, the authors concluded that: “Chlorella supplement may be useful as a resource of natural folate, vitamin B-12 and iron for pregnant women.”
•Fibromyalgia—Although the individual results were varied, it may be worth considering chlorella if you suffer with fibromyalgia. A study published in 2000 tested the effectiveness of two commercially available chlorella-based products on patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and the overall results showed a 22 percent decrease in pain intensity. However, while seven patients reported improvement in their fibromyalgia symptoms, six reported no effect at all, and five claimed their symptoms had worsened during the trial... So keep that in mind if you decide to try it. While it may help some, it might not work at all for others.
•Liver cancer—A study published in 2009 discovered that chlorella triggers cell death (apoptosis) in rat liver cancer cells, which suggests it may be useful in the prevention of liver cancer. The authors concluded that: “Our study shows that chlorella has definite chemopreventive effect by inducing apoptosis via decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 and increasing the expression of caspase 8 in hepatocarcinogenesis-induced rats.”

To get your chlorella click here

Have a Healthy and Successful Chlorella Enriched Day!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Migraines Making Your Life Miserable? STOP the Pain!

Don’t know what to do?


You are not alone. There are many types of migraine headaches. If you suffer from migraines, then you probably know they all share one thing in common – they cause pain, a lot of pain. They also create other unwanted symptoms.

Migraine pain usually appears on one side of the head, 30-40% of migraines occur on both sides. Throbbing pain is usually present. More than 80% of people will feel nauseated and have some vomiting. About 70% become sensitive to light and sound. This phase may last 4-72 hours.

Unfortunately, the exact cause of migraine headaches is not clearly understood, this is why it is so difficult to cure them. It is believed to be due to the constriction of blood vessels located in the brain.

Migraines can start to occur for no apparent reason and at any age.

You may feel indicators known as auras coming on before a migraine hits. These auras can take the shape of broken lines, flashing lights, blurry vision or spots. It’s important for you to understand how auras feel. Once you become aware of these indicators, they will help you avoid or minimize the pain in the future.

Various triggers are thought to bring on headaches in certain people such as:

Certain foods, especially chocolate, dairy products, nuts, alcohol, fried foods, diet sodas (aspartame) and MSG
Missing meals
Increased emotional and physical stress and tension
Smoking
Excess caffeine
Inadequate sleep
Jet lag
Changes in the weather
Hormonal imbalances
Lack of food
Birth control pills
Side effects from medications

Prevention is the best cure

Migraine triggers should be identified and avoided when possible. Making individual lifestyle changes is very important, as well as being aware of the warning signs. When you notice the warning signs, stop what you are doing, relax, do some deep breathing and hydrate with plenty of water. The earlier you catch a migraine, the easier it will be to reduce the symptoms.

Tips to help prevent a migraine:

Drink plenty of quality alkaline water
Eliminate caffeine intake
Keep organized and reduce stress
Exercise regularly
Incorporate Magnesium for brain health, other helpful supplements that have been known to give relief are Feverfew Leaf Extract, Butterbur Root Extract, Ginkgo, OPCs and B12
Sleep consistently
Eat a balanced diet incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole rains
Eliminate diet sodas (aspartame)
Increase oxygen to the brain- google deep breathing to learn ways to implement deep breathing into your life.

In clinical trials in both Germany and the United States, butterbur reduces the incidence of head cavity discomfort by up to 61%.

Magnesium deficiency is also very common among migraine suffers.

I have many testimonials from migraine sufferers who have implemented magnesium, butterbur, OPC’s and B12 into their diets and have had great results.

The first step is to determine the reason for the migraine. Then you can narrow down treatments potions. Whether it is stress, diet, medications, hormones or sleep, start eliminating the reasons and you will be closer to finding some answers.

I will only recommend products that are pharmaceutical grade and have been proven to work. To find out more about how you can find these quality supplements, CLICK HERE.

Have a Healthy and Successful Migraine Free Day!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Vitamin B Complex


6 Great Reasons Why You Need Them In Your Diet

Can you relate to ever being tired or scatter-brained? Stressed or irritable? Feeling old or unattractive? Welcome to the real world! We all have felt one, if not all, these feelings at some point in our lives. Now don’t get too depressed, there is help. It may be easier than you think. Giving your body the proper nutrients it needs can make all the difference in the world. Think about this: would your car go very far if it didn’t have gas in it? Well your body works the same way. We often overlook the most obvious solutions, thinking, “that would be too easy.” When, in reality, we just need to fill up with premium or change the batteries. Do something good for your body everyday and do it consistently- you just may be surprised.

Have you heard about B vitamins? B-Complex is a combination of the essential B vitamins with magnesium and potassium, which work synergistically to promote a myriad of health benefits and biological processes in the body. B-Complex works to promote healthy red blood cell formation, increase energy, promote normal cognitive performance, promote cardiovascular health, help maintain healthy levels of serotonin, decrease stress and improve mood. B vitamins are necessary for proper functioning of the nervous system, bone marrow and intestinal tract. Vitamin B12 and folic acid facilitate steps required for cell division. Vitamin B5 is involved in the Krebs cycle of energy production. It is needed to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, as well as producing, transporting, and releasing energy from fats. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and biotin participate in different aspects of energy production. Because many vegetarian diets are lacking in the essential B-vitamins, B-Complex meets the need for B-vitamins for vegetarians.

This is a lot to take in. So, in a nut shell, you NEED the B vitamins to maintain health so you can function with a good quality of life.



A B-complex vitamin is a mixture of the eight essential B-vitamins, including thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), pantothenic acid (B5), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12) and biotin. B-vitamins are needed for the proper functioning of almost every process in the body.

Primary Benefits of a B-Complex Vitamin:

Promotes normal red blood cell formation

Essential for many key functions in the body

Helps decrease stress and improve mood

Helps maintain healthy levels of serotonin

Increases energy

Involved in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates

Meets need for B-vitamins in a vegetarian diet

Necessary for proper functioning of the nervous system, bone marrow and intestinal tract

Promotes cardiovascular health

Promotes healthy levels of homocysteine and supports normal endothelial function

Promotes normal cognitive performance.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid facilitate steps required for cell division.

Vitamin B5 is involved in the Krebs cycle of energy production.

Vitamin B5 also essential in producing, transporting and releasing energy from fats.

Vitamin B6 is essential for amino acid metabolism.

Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and biotin help give you more energy.



A deficiency in folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 or biotin may result in feelings of fatigue.

The B Vitamins work so closely with one another that a deficiency in any one B Vitamin can lead to poor functioning of any, or all, of the others even if they are in good supply.

Deficiencies of any of these B Vitamins can lead to dry, grey skin, dermatitis, wrinkles, acne, rashes, falling hair, weak and splitting nails, feeling depressed, anxious or stressed, impaired digestion, lethargy, fatigue, irritability, lack of focus and ambition.



Extra Tip

B Vitamins are water-soluble, which means any excess will be excreted through the urine. This also means that B Vitamins need to be taken on a daily basis, as the only one we can store is Vitamin B12. Taking a high dose of Vitamin B Complex (50mg - 100mg) daily can turn urine a bright fluorescent, this is perfectly safe and normal. So don't be alarmed!



Why are B-vitamins so important in the aging process?

The ability to absorb B Vitamins naturally decreases with age. Various indicators of cognitive impairment are associated with reduced B Vitamin levels. The elderly, in general, suffer from a reduction in sense of taste and thus appetite. They may use many acid reducing medicines that predispose them to B12 deficiency. According to Robert M. Russell, of the U.S. RDA’s Human Nutrition Center on Aging at Tufts University, vitamin B12 is probably the single most important nutrient adversely affected by aging.



I am young and healthy. Why should I take B-Complex?

Health experts estimate that one in five adults is deficient in one of the B Vitamins. Absorption of vitamin B12 is a complex process, which can lead to B12 deficiency. Keep in mind that even in a healthy person’s gastrointestinal tract, there are always other proteins and vitamins competing for absorption alongside vitamin B12. B12 is so large and complex that it very often must struggle for entrance into the bloodstream. Specifically at risk for deficiency are vegetarians, heavy alcohol drinkers, those who take a lot of prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs, those with digestive disorders, pernicious anemia, recipients of gastric bypass surgery, and those with poor diets. A vitamin B-complex is great for athletes, especially endurance athletes, needing a natural boost of energy before a workout, due to its beneficial effects promoting the oxygenation of red blood cells.

After reading this article you now know that getting enough vitamin B is vital to good health. Now you need to take this information and utilize it. For a high quality B-Complex vitamin that offers maximum benefit click here.

If you want a complete wellness solution click here

Have a Healthy and Successful Vitamin B Filled Day!

Benefit from Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting, Part II

(NaturalNews) Part I reviewed the latest findings in longevity research. In a word, dietary restriction (DR) creates physiological changes that slow down aging and protects against age-related diseases. It is now known that these effects are related to insulin and that reducing insulin secretion plays a major role in extending life.

Therefore, one must learn to efficiently burn foods that do not provoke insulin secretion - fats. Fats are stable, slow burning sources of energy that do not create advanced glycation end-products and that naturally satiate. They have many roles in the body and are the only macromolecules that can carry the fat-soluble vitamins that build healthy bone, teeth, and nervous system. Some fats are essential and therefore must be supplied by the diet regularly.

On the other hand, carbohydrates provoke insulin secretion, have a very limited structural role, are glycating, and can only briefly satisfy the appetite. The body has multiple ways to manufacture them from amino acids and parts of fat (gluconeogenesis).

It is also important to consume enough high-quality, complete protein to meet the body's daily requirements. Amino acids are required to make enzymes, antibodies, clotting proteins, hormones, transport proteins, muscle, hemoglobin, and other cellular components. However, protein intake beyond the amount required for cellular building, repair, and maintenance up-regulates an important kinase called mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). mTOR is a highly conserved enzyme that synthesizes the messages from various pathways that feed into it to regulate cellular growth, proliferation, survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis.

The signaling pathways upstream of mTOR send activating or inhibitory signals based on the presence or absence of nutrients, growth factors, hormones, and oxygen. When protein (and insulin) is in high supply, mTOR is up-regulated, which may accelerate aging and cancer development. mTOR signaling is the focus of current longevity and cancer research.

So how many calories should one consume to reap the benefits of DR? It depends. Age, level of activity, sex, BMI, quality of diet, and level of health will determine what one's body is able to tolerate. As a general rule, adjust the caloric intake to meet the body's most basal needs. Calorie restricted (CR) diets usually reduce calories by about 30%.

Here are some guidelines:

- There are multiple permutations of intermittent fasting (IF). For instance, every other day (EOD) fasting is a cycle of 24 hours of fasting followed by 24 hours of not fasting. Eating only one meal a day is another form of IF.

- Carbohydrate-laden foods, like bread, pasta, grains, and sugar, provide very little nutrition, are poorly sustaining, and provoke the secretion of insulin. Cut out the calories from easily digestible carbohydrates because humans have no dietary requirement for them. Moreover, a carbohydrate-based diet drives obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

- Replace the carbohydrates with enough fats in the diet to provide fat-soluble nutrients and long-term satiety.

- Eat nutrient dense foods such as grass-fed/wild organ meats, wild fish, seaweeds, wild foods, dark green vegetable juices, grass-fed butter, etc.

- Include plenty of antioxidants in the diet. Antioxidants have been shown to enhance the anti-aging effects of DR.

- Eat just enough high-quality protein to meet your daily needs (usually about 50-60 grams a day according to the DRI).

- Supplement with anti-glycating nutrients (Vitamin B6, R-alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-carnitine, L-carnosine).

Combining DR with optimal nutrition can be very powerful. By consuming a nutrient dense diet and learning to burn fats instead of carbohydrates (ketosis), one can obtain maximum benefits from DR without much will or suffering.


Have a Healthy and Successful Fasting Day!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Benefit from Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting, Part I

(NaturalNews) Seventy-five years of research shows that dietary restriction (DR) is the one tried and tested means to extend lifespan and to improve many markers of health.

One form of DR is a calorie-restricted (CR) diet with optimal nutrition. The idea is to provide adequate nutrition with the least amount of calories (in other words, under-nutrition without mal-nutrition). Intermittent fasting (IF) is another form of DR. Intermediate fasters eat about the same amount of calories as non-fasters on a carefully restricted schedule. This implies that the episodic deprivation, irrespective of the caloric count, produces the physiological effects of IF.

In almost every species studied, including yeast, fish, rodents, dogs, and primates, DR seems to mysteriously slow aging, extend youth, and postpone diseases associated with old age. In laboratory experiments, some animals have been able to expand their healthy life spans by up to 400% with optimal DR.

The rationale behind the DR theory of longevity is that organisms become stronger and more resistant to diseases in response to the stress of a continual state of mild hunger. Some scientists believe that this could have been an evolutionary adaptation, which allowed our ancestors to survive periods of food scarcity.

The physiological effects of IF and CR are similar. Both CR and IF prompt cells to set up defenses against stress, which protect against aging and degenerative diseases. However, since IF fasters are allowed to eat as much as they want when given access to food, IF is usually more appealing than the continual self-denial of CR.

Many mechanisms of DR induced life extension have been proposed. One of the most prominent is the discovery that DR up-regulates autophagy, or what is called the repair mechanism of the cell. This effect is related to the down regulation of insulin and insulin-related molecules.

Studies indicate that insulin's role as the body's blood sugar regulator is simply a consequence of its major role of regulating cellular reproduction, and therefore lifespan. Insulin -predominantly secreted in response to dietary carbohydrates- signals to the body that it is well nourished and conditions are prime for cellular reproduction. On the other hand, when insulin level is low, the body senses famine, down-regulating reproductive pathways and up-regulating cellular maintenance and repair.

The beneficial effects of DR are plenty. They include:

-Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease
-Improved learning and memory (via increased brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF)
-Insulin sensitivity
-Lowers body mass index (BMI)
-Cardio-protective effect (protects heart and brain cells against injury and improves outcomes in stroke and myocardial infarctions; increase levels of circulating adiponectin).
-Less expression of age markers in the liver and brain
-More youthful appearance
-Less inflammation
-Resistance of neurons in the brain against excito-toxins
-Prevention of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation under stress
-Reduced vascular endothelial (inner lining of blood vessel) damage
-Reduce oxidative stress
-Less chance of developing/improvement of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, brain degeneration

Part 2 will discuss practical ways to take advantage of the latest findings in DR/longevity research


Have a Healthy and Successful Fasting Day!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

6 Ways to Help Prevent Alzheimer's

While the exact cause of Alzheimer's remains unclear, the greatest known risk factor is increasing age: the chance of developing Alzheimer's seems to double every five years after age 65. After age 85, the risk of developing Alzheimer's is about 50 percent. While you can't do anything about getting older, there are some simple measures that can help:
•Challenge yourself. A growing body of medical evidence suggests that lifelong stimulation is the key to building and maintaining brain cells, staving off memory loss and maybe even preventing Alzheimer's disease. Try doing interesting work (paid or volunteer), pursuing hobbies, engaging in an active social life, taking music or language lessons, or learning a new computer program.
•Take a daily anti-oxidant like OPC's. OPC's are a natural anti-inflammatory which studies show a reduced risk of Alzheimer's when taken daily.
•Use healing spices in your cooking. Turmeric, ginger and red pepper can add zing to meals and are all natural anti-inflammatories.
•Eat a diet rich in omega-3s, including wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, freshly ground flaxseed and walnuts.
•Incorporate plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables in your meals.
•Reduce your intake of polyunsaturated vegetable oils (such as sunflower, corn and safflower oils), replacing them instead with extra virgin olive oil.

Have a Healthy and Successful Forgetful Free Day!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Beat hypothyroidism naturally

(NaturalNews) One of the fastest growing health conditions in the US is hypothyroidism. The most common symptoms experienced are lethargy, depression and weight gain. Some of the newest reports are estimating that 15-30% of the population may have thyroid problems. An anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle provide natural solutions to boost thyroid function.

The thyroid gland is one of the most sensitive regions of the body to environmental toxins. The most common environmental toxins affecting thyroid function include:

Industrial Pollutants in Air & Water
Ionizing Radiation from medical devices and microwaves
Heavy Metals such as Mercury, Lead, & Aluminum
Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and other chemicals in non-stick pans
Fluoride in water, toothpaste, & many processed foods
Inflammatory foods and food allergens

Whole house air & water purification devices should be used in home and work settings. Microwaves should not be used to avoid the potential effects of ionizing radiation and irradiated foods. Silver (mercury) filling removal is critically important and should only be done by a biologically certified dentist who is trained in safe amalgam filling removal. Provoked metal challenges can be used to assess heavy metal toxicities, and oral chelation strategies can effectively remove these particles. All non-stick pans should be replaced with high quality ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron cookware.

Certain foods must be avoided or prepared properly in order to minimize exposure to potential thyroid toxins. One of the major thyroid toxins is gluten. Gluten is a naturally occurring protein found in wheat, barley, rye, kamut & spelt. Nearly all processed foods contain gluten. Other foods such as oatmeal are often contaminated with gluten.

The gluten molecule closely resembles that of the thyroid gland. Individuals with dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome and gluten intolerances are at risk for an auto-immune reaction to gluten that triggers inflammation into the thyroid gland.

Goitrogens are naturally occurring anti-nutrients in certain foods that interfere with the production of thyroid hormones. Unfermented soy products contain a tremendous amount of goitrogens. The only process that has been shown to remove these thyroid toxic components is a deep fermentation cycle that produces products such as miso, tempeh, and natto. All other soy should be avoided. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale also contain goitrogens although in smaller quantities. Cooking these vegetables has been shown to effectively remove goitrogenic compounds. Lightly steaming is the most effective way to consume cooked vegetables as it maintains a large quantity of the nutrients. Anyone with a thyroid disorder should eat the majority of their cruciferous vegetables lightly steamed.

People with thyroid issues commonly have food intolerances. Different nuts (especially peanuts), eggs, and heavy proteins are often not tolerated well. All processed and man-made foods need to be avoided at all costs. Other common allergens include those of the nightshade family such as eggplant, tomatoes, & potatoes. Specific blood work and/or elimination diets can more accurately assess these intolerances.

An anti-inflammatory lifestyle is critical for full recovery from hypothyroidism. Anti-inflammatory foods help to modulate the immune system and give it a more accurate pair of eyes so as to not over-inflame when stimulated. To effectively de-inflame one must completely avoid man-made foods, sugars, and food allergens as listed above.

This nutrition plan is rich in phytonutrient dense vegetables, healthy fat and clean protein sources. Non-starchy vegetables, herbs, & teas are great sources of anti-oxidants. Healthy fat sources include coconut products, avocados, olive oil, nuts, seeds, & purified omega-3 fish oil supplements. Healthy protein includes wild-caught fish, grass-fed red meat and free range chicken, turkey, and eggs. Be careful to watch for any hidden food intolerances.

Have a Healthy and Successful Monday!