Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Why Should You Buy Organic Food?

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What Does Organic Mean?
Agricultural products that are naturally grown and processed are termed as organic foods. The organic crops, in general, are grown without the use of chemicals, synthetic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, bioengineered genes or sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Even when it comes to dairy products, meat or eggs, the livestock will be given access to organic feed. Antibiotics, by-products, and growth hormones are rigidly not encouraged.
Why Choose Organic?
A maze of foods labeled organic will claim to be beneficial but is it really so? Does the popularity of organic food outweigh the advantages? If you've ever wondered about what is essentially good for your physical and mental health, you're on the right path. Organically grown foods often contain more nutrients in the form of antioxidants and prevent or reduce allergies when compared to conventionally grown counterparts. It is free of harmful chemicals, contains more taste and sustainable sustenance while being a great choice for personal and planetary well-being.
Why Is It Important?
Organic foods contain fewer chemicals and pesticides but consumption of organically grown food is one of the ways to avoid the chemically intoxicated foods in the current market. Over 600 active chemicals are registered with heavy pesticide exposure that can contribute to serious ailments, impairments, malfunctions and neurological issues. Organic meat and dairy contain synthetic hormones that have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Alternatively, due to zero pesticide levels, the fertilization techniques are less likely to cause toxic heavy metals that usually accumulate in the kidneys and liver.
Advantages of Organic Food
  • Organic products such as meat and milk contain 50% of omega-3 fatty acids which is a type of unsaturated healthy fat that does not increase the overall calories.
  • Sustainable practices for growing crops yield foods with more nutrients including minerals, vitamins, micro-nutrients, and enzymes.
  • Organic foods grown in a well-balanced soil automatically taste better than conventionally grown crops.
  • No synthetic hormones or antibiotics are fed to livestock making organic foods intrinsically safer to consume.
  • Organic products have higher antioxidant content and pose no risk of harmful pesticides or other potentially harmful chemicals.
  • They contain essential nutrients as soon as they are harvested and must be consumed relatively quickly
  • Lower risk of water or soil contamination brings a positive effect on human well-being as well as the environment.
  • Organic foods cannot be altered from the point of their DNA in order to be pesticide free or produce insecticides. It is free of (GMO) genetically modified organisms or in other words genetically engineered
  • Organic farming plays a positive role in the environment as it reduces pollution and soil erosion, increases the soil fertility, conserves water and uses less energy
It is hard to overlook the problems arising from toxic exposures of conventionally grown foods. The wake of factors such as birth defects, obesity, learning disabilities and water pollution is stimulating a valuable change for delivering organic labels to the market. The growth in this dynamic sector can be contributed to protecting the environment and stabilizing health living.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9810621

Keeping Your Heart And Brain Healthy

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Do you know that there is a connection between homocysteine and your heart and brain health?
Homocysteine is a type of amino acid (building block of protein) that is produced by the human body during protein metabolism. It is not obtained from the diet. The body makes homocysteine from the amino acid methionine in the diet via a multi-stage process. After that, the body uses folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 to recycle homocysteine back into methionine or convert it into another amino acid cysteine.
At normal levels, homocysteine is neither dangerous nor unhealthy. But when homocysteine is not properly metabolized, it builds up inside the body and acts like a toxin. Elevated homocysteine levels cause inflammation to rise, damage the lining of the arteries, and increase the risk of blood clot formation, resulting in blockages.
A clot inside the blood vessel is called a thrombus. A thrombus can travel in the bloodstream and get stuck in the lungs (a pulmonary embolism), in the brain (a stroke), or in the heart (a heart attack). People who have abnormally high levels of homocysteine are at an increased risk for coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Many studies have shown that raised levels of homocysteine is detrimental to the brain too. Elevated homocysteine damages DNA and induces cell death, which leads to brain atrophy or shrinkage in dementia. It increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other mental abnormalities such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
What Causes High Homocysteine
Most adults do not know that they have elevated homocysteine as there may not be any symptoms. A simple blood test can determine your status. However, doctors do not routinely order the test unless patients have a family history of heart disease. Hence, you may want to ask your doctor about it.
  • Optimal level is below 8 umo/L.
  • A reading above 10 umo/L is considered high and is associated with increased heart attack risk.
  • Above 15 umo/L, it is a medical condition called hyperhomocysteinemia. At these levels, the prevalence of dementia, along with cognitive and functional impairment is almost double.
High homocysteine may be caused by a number of factors -
Vitamin deficiencies
To maintain normal levels of homocysteine, the body requires folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 obtained from the diet. Deficiencies in these vitamins may lead to increased levels.
Genetics
People born with the MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) gene mutation produce less of the enzymes that are normally used for metabolizing homocysteine. This metabolic disorder is like an enzyme defect and is passed from parents to children. It is estimated that up to 30-50 percent of the population may carry a mutation in this MTHFR gene. The severity and type of symptoms vary from person to person depending on how much fewer enzymes a person produces as a result of the MTHFR mutation. The reduction may range from 10-30 percent to as much as 70-90 percent.
Individuals with the MTHFR mutation are likely to have higher homocysteine levels, increased inflammation and risk of heart disease, diabetes, birth defects, difficult pregnancies, anxiety and depression, fatigue, and an impaired ability to detoxify.
How to find out if you have the MTHFR mutation? These days, genetic testing can be easily done with a saliva test kit ordered from www.23andme.com. It is inexpensive and non-invasive. You collect the saliva sample at home and mail it back to the lab.
Stress
Stress-induced neurotransmitters - epinephrine and norepinephrine - are metabolized in the liver via a process that also uses folate. As a result, chronic high stress may result in a depletion of this critical B vitamin that is key to maintaining normal levels of homocysteine.
Too much animal protein
High consumption of animal protein, especially unhealthy processed red meats like cold cuts, bacon, and canned meats from factory-farmed animals, may lead to high homocysteine levels.
Excess caffeine
Drinking too much coffee and energy drinks may deplete the body of vital B vitamins, which are essential for normal homocysteine metabolism.
How To Keep Homocysteine Levels In Check
Improve Your Diet
High homocysteine not only increases inflammation, but also makes it harder for the body to detoxify the accumulated chemicals, heavy metals, and toxins. Therefore, by eating healthier foods, you can lessen the burden a bad diet imposes on your body.
  • Reduce intake of inflammatory foods such as sugar, deep-fried foods, processed meats, meats from factory-farmed animals, conventional dairy, vegetable oils, trans fats, and preservatives. Eat mostly organic, unprocessed foods.
  • Get plenty of antioxidants to combat the inflammation by having more vegetables of different colors or drinking vegetable juice daily.
  • Cut back on caffeine and alcohol. Too much caffeine increases homocysteine levels and alcohol is inflammatory.
  • Focus on healthy fats such as coconut oil and milk, olive oil, grass-fed butter and meats, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, sardines, avocado, nuts and seeds.
  • Increase consumption of fermented foods as the supply of good bacteria can help reduce inflammation in the body. Examples include fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles, unsweetened yogurt and kefir, kombucha, and tempeh.
Get Enough Folate
Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is naturally found in foods such as beans, legumes, liver, spinach, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, and beets.
Folate primarily helps the body make new cells, specifically by playing a role in copying and synthesizing DNA. It also helps the body utilize vitamin B12 and amino acids. If you do not have the habit of eating vegetables everyday, you may run the risk of a folate deficiency. Symptoms include -
  • elevated homocysteine levels
  • anemia
  • poor immune function
  • poor digestion
  • ulcers on the tongue
  • changes in hair or skin pigmentation
  • birth defects
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate found in lower quality supplements and "fortified foods" such as orange juice and refined grains.
For those individuals with the MTHFR mutation, your bodies will not be able to convert folic acid into folate. If you have been taking folic acid supplements and your homocysteine levels are still high, this may be the reason. Therefore, you should either get more folate from the diet or take the active form of folate supplements instead. Look for 5-MTHF (5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate) on the label. Avoid products that say "folic acid".
Have Adequate Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. Best food sources are turkey breast, chicken breast, grass-fed beef, pinto beans, chickpeas, avocado, pistachio, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and amaranth grain.
Vitamin B6 is needed to -
  • regulate homocysteine levels within the blood
  • maintain healthy blood vessels
  • manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels
  • support brain function and mood
  • help treat anemia
  • protect eye and skin health
  • prevent or reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
For people living in the western world, it is rather rare to have a vitamin B6 deficiency as most people consume enough calories and are not experiencing malnourishment.
Get Enough Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, also called cyanocobalamin, is found mostly in animal foods such as beef and chicken liver, seafood, and meats.
  • For this reason, vegans and plant-based eaters are more likely to develop a vitamin B12 deficiency. Unfortunately, algae foods, such as blue-green algae, which are popular among vegans are not a very absorbable source of vitamin B12.
  • Elderly people who have impaired digestion are also more susceptible for deficiency because they tend to produce less stomach acid that is needed to convert vitamin B12 properly.
  • Other high risk groups include smokers, alcoholics, those with anemia, and digestive disorders like celiac disease, Crohn's disease, gastritis, or other stomach and small intestinal disorders.
Vitamin B12 benefits your mood, energy level, memory, heart, skin, hair, digestion, hormonal balance and more. Therefore, a deficiency can show up in many different symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, mood changes, poor memory, joint pain, muscle aches, heart problems like palpitations, or feeling run down.
As a supplement, vitamin B12 can be taken in tablet form, in drops that you place under the tongue, or in oral spray form. Sometimes, seniors do better with drops and oral sprays as they have trouble absorbing the vitamin from the stomach.
All B vitamins are water-soluble, that means the body has the ability to flush out any excess through the urine. Hence, B vitamins are considered safe and non-toxic.
Maintain A High Omega-3 Status
Studies have shown that homocysteine-lowering B vitamins require healthy omega-3 blood levels to derive the cognitive benefits. When omega-3 levels are low, the B vitamins have no effect.
Therefore, to protect your brain from premature aging, make sure you have enough B vitamins and omega-3s. Eat several servings of mercury-free fish such as wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, and herrings every week, or take a high quality omega-3 supplement daily.
Exercise Regularly
Regular physical activity helps lower inflammation, manage stress levels, and improve sleep quality, immune function, hormonal balance, and body weight control. Find a type of activity you enjoy and stick with it. People who exercise into their old age tend to have better quality of life.
Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Metabolic Typing Advisor. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is the founder of CC Health Counseling, LLC. Her passion in life is to stay healthy and to help others become healthy. She believes that a key ingredient to optimal health is to eat a diet that is right for one's specific body type. Eating organic or eating healthy is not enough to guarantee good health. The truth is that there is no one diet that is right for everyone. Our metabolisms are different, so should our diets. Carol specializes in Metabolic Typing, helping her clients find the right diet for their Metabolic Type. To learn more about Metabolic Typing, her nutrition counseling practice, and how to get a complimentary phone consultation, please go to http://cchealthcounseling.com/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9852679

The Hows and Whys of Hydration

By                      Expert Author Bonnie R Giller

Water is the elixir of life. You can survive for over a month without food, but a week without water is fatal. We take water for granted in First World countries; millions of people worldwide struggle every day for access to clean, fresh water.
Funny enough, many people here in the United States struggle to meet their suggested daily water intake. With access to sweetened sodas, energy drinks, and those delicious on-the-go frappuccinos, it's understandable if you're bored with "plain" water. There's no reason not to add a little flair to your water, especially if it means you'll stay hydrated.
The formula to staying hydrated isn't a complicated equation, but it does vary from person to person. It's important to replace any fluid that's lost throughout the day and night, and those variables can change drastically day-to-day and person-to-person. If you're exercising in extreme heat or humidity, you're going to lose fluid more rapidly than if you're chilling at the movies. The color of your urine is a good way to determine your hydration status. If your urine is pale and straw-colored, you're adequately hydrated. If it's dark, like the color of apple juice, you're low on fluids.
Sweat It Out
Dehydration can occur even if you're not sweating. In extreme heat and cold, your body loses fluid very quickly without sweating at all. You may not realize it, but you even sweat when you're swimming! Spending the day frolicking in the pool isn't a preventive measure. Athletes need to be even more aware of dehydration risks. Athletes tend to sweat more overall than people who aren't as physically fit, and they may push themselves longer and harder, causing even greater fluid losses.
Drink Up
Drinking is the ONLY way to rehydrate. Pouring water over your head or showering to cool off are only superficial - you need to actually drink the water for your body to replenish its stores.
Some early signs of dehydration include:
• Thirst
• Flushed skin
• Premature fatigue
• Increased body temperature
• Faster breathing and pulse rate
Try adding some flavor to your water to get you excited to drink it! You can create an at-home version of those expensive store-bought flavored waters for almost no cost!
Add any of the following to your water:
• A twist of citrus! Try lemon or lime or even a slice of orange. Throw in a few raspberries for extra flavor and color.
• Small pieces of fruit, like honeydew or pineapple.
• A slice of cucumber with a few gently crushed mint leaves ("bruising" them releases more flavor).
In Conclusion
Don't let dehydration slow you down this summer. Be sure to drink whenever you're thirsty. If you're engaged in physical activity in the heat, be sure to hydrate adequately before starting, take frequent hydration breaks to top off your fluid reserves, and continue to keep it up after you're done. Water doesn't have to be boring. Dress it up and drink it up!
Bonnie R. Giller helps chronic dieters and people with medical conditions like diabetes take back control so they can get the healthy body and life they want. She does this by creating a tailored solution that combines three essential ingredients: a healthy mindset, caring support and nutrition education.
Bonnie is a registered and certified dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes educator and certified intuitive eating counselor. Learn more about Bonnie and her nutrition services at http://www.BRGHealth.com.
Get your Free Guide "5 Steps to a Body You Love without Dieting" at http://www.DietFreeZone.com
Author *Bonnie R Giller


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9963800

Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Eating - Are You Eating With Purpose?

By                                Expert Author Beverleigh H Piepers

In today's time and age where so many people seem to be continually dieting, it can be hard to know what to eat that is healthy. Most of us merely let our cravings guide us. What foods do we feel like eating that day? Which foods do we think will most benefit us? Which foods do we have at home? While these are all reasonable questions, they do not necessarily help you choose the best foods to nourish your body.
Eating with a purpose is all about thinking more constructively as to why you are eating a particular food and making sure all the foods you do eat have a reason for being consumed. Let us look further at this concept.
1. Identifying Your Purpose. First, you need to define your purpose for eating a particular food. You can do this in a variety of ways...
  • To start you need to consider your fitness goals. What do they tell you about the foods you should be eating?
  • Next, think about what your doctor has said to you. Has he indicated there are any main health areas you should be working on? The foods you eat will largely influence your health, so do not take this lightly. Choose the wrong foods, and you will not be following your doctor's orders and get the results you want.
  • Finally, also consider your desires. What do you want for your body? What do you hope to achieve both aesthetically and health wise? That can give you an indication of the purpose of your eating.
2. What Reasons Are There? So now you need to think about the reason you are eating. Some of the most common ones could include you are eating...
  • for more energy,
  • to burn fat,
  • to combat hunger,
  • to stabilize your blood sugar levels,
  • to increase your antioxidant intake,
  • to build stronger bones,
  • to help create larger muscles,
  • to help relax your body,
  • to help nourish your heart,
and on and on it goes. There is an unlimited number of reasons to eat different foods, but your job is to match your goal to the foods you are consuming. When you do that, then you know you are on track.
3. Choosing Foods To Match. Now, this brings us to the last step in the equation, and that is determining the foods to match your goals. Which foods will help you achieve your goals? Which foods won't?
Every time you sit down to eat, you should ask yourself, if the food you have chosen will bring you closer to reaching your goals or further away? Make sure your meal is doing you a favor, not taking away from your hard work and efforts.
Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.
For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.
The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9969688

Optimizing Nutrient Absorption

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Most people know that eating the right foods, such as pasture-raised meats, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, organic vegetables and fruits are beneficial to health. You take the time to select, purchase, and prepare the nutritious foods - you are making a major investment in your health! Yet do you ever wonder how much of these nutrients are actually being absorbed by your body?
The body uses nutrients from food for energy, growth, and cell repair, hence, you want to optimize your nutrient absorption. However, nutrient absorption can vary tremendously, depending on many factors. So how do you know if you have poor digestion or malabsorption? If you have a number of the symptoms listed below, you may have a digestion or nutrient absorption problem.
  • Bloating
  • Belching and/or flatulence
  • Feeling full hours after a meal
  • Heartburn or acid reflux
  • Constipation and/or diarrhea
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Food allergies
  • Weak, cracked finger nails
  • Iron deficiency
  • B12 deficiency
  • Skin problems, such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea
  • Parasites
  • Candida
Digestion 101
Digestion involves the disassembly of the food you eat, its movement through the digestive tract, and the chemical breakdown of the large molecules of food into smaller molecules. Digestion begins in the mouth when we chew and swallow, and ends in the small intestine.
One of the most important factors in nutrient absorption is digestive enzymes, which break the chemical bonds in proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and turn these compounds into microscopic substances that can be used at the cellular level. Without these enzymes, nutrients will never reach the cells that need them and they will merely get passed out of the body.
Chewing is stage one of proper digestion
Digestion starts in the mouth with saliva and the digestive enzyme amylase which breaks down starches into simple sugars. Coupled with the chewing action, the food is predigested into smaller pieces and a semi-liquid form, making it easier to digest when it reaches the stomach.
  • Most people do not chew their food thoroughly. When large particles of improperly chewed food enter the stomach, it may remain undigested when it enters the small intestine. There, bacteria will begin to break it down, potentially leading to gas and bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, cramping, and other digestive problems.
Stomach acid is key to stage two of good digestion
The food moves from the mouth down the esophagus, through a one-way valve called the esophageal sphincter into the stomach. When it gets there, it is the stomach's job to temporarily hold the food, churn and mix it, and begin to break it down. Depending on the contents of the meal, this process takes between 40 minutes to a few hours.
Glands in the stomach lining produce gastric juice which contains stomach acid (hydrochloric acid or HCL) and the enzyme pepsin that digests protein. Stomach acid, being extremely acidic, sterilizes the food and destroys pathogenic bacteria and parasites, as well as their eggs and larvae.
  • Aging, stress, poor diet and lifestyle habits all contribute to a decline in stomach acid production.
  • Not having enough stomach acid may allow bacteria and parasites to survive and proliferate. About two-thirds of the world's population have a type of bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) that live in their digestive tract. After a number of years, H. pylori may cause ulcers in the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine.
  • Low stomach acid gives rise to low pepsin production, which means you cannot digest protein properly. As a result, the food stagnates and ferments, setting you up for digestive problems.
  • In most cases of heartburn and acid reflux, it is the result of too little stomach acid, not too much. When the stomach is not acidic enough despite it being full of food, the esophageal sphincter may fail to stay completely closed, leading to heartburn and acid reflux.
Bile, pancreatic and small intestinal enzymes complete the last stage of digestion
The partially digested food in the stomach called chyme passes through the pyloric valve at the bottom of the stomach into the duodenum, which is at the top end of the small intestine. The muscles of the small intestine mix the chyme with digestive juices from the liver, pancreas, and small intestine.
The liver produces bile which is stored in the gallbladder between meals. When you eat, the gallbladder squeezes bile through the bile ducts which connect the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine. Bile mixes with fat and dissolves it, allowing the pancreatic and intestinal enzymes to complete its digestion.
The small intestinal enzymes combined with pancreatic enzymes and bile complete the digestion process, turning the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into usable components for the body.
Absorption of nutrients
The wall of the small intestine is covered with billions of microscopic finger-like projections called microvilli, which increase the absorptive surface by about six times. Each villi contains a lymph vessel surrounded by capillaries. It is here that nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream and brought to the individual cells in the body.
  • Hence, if the microvilli are damaged, your nutrient absorption will be immensely compromised. Much research has been done in this area. They found that inflammation in the body, either systemic or local, undermines the function of the small intestinal lining. The following are some conditions that are associated with this problem -
    • Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity
    • Autoimmune diseases
    • Food allergies and sensitivities
    • Inflammatory bowel disease
    • Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
    • Bacterial, yeast, and parasitic infections
    • Heart disease
Last but not least is the colon or the large intestine. Little nutrient absorption happens here. Its main job is to absorb the excess water and recycle it back into the bloodstream. As the waste moves along, it dries and forms stool which is then excreted.
Ways To Improve Nutrient Absorption
  • Chew your food slowly. Digestion begins in the mouth.
  • If you have some of the digestive symptoms mentioned above, take a digestive enzyme with HCL at every meal, which will help alleviate much of your discomfort. (The only exception is when you have a H. pylori infection. In this case, you want to eliminate the bacteria before starting this protocol.) Take enough enzymes and HCL until your symptoms disappear. If you take too much HCL, you will feel a warm, burning sensation in your stomach. Back down on the dosage at your next meal.
  • Drink liquids 15 minutes prior to a meal. Too much liquid with food can dilute the stomach acid especially if your production is already low.
  • If you have any of the inflammatory conditions mentioned above, restore the health of your intestinal lining by addressing the underlying causes of your inflammation. Once the intestinal lining function has been restored, many of these conditions can potentially go into remission.
  • Incorporate fermented foods (such as sauerkraut, kimchi, komucha, and kefir) into your daily diet. Or alternatively, take a probiotic supplement everyday.
  • Avoid excessive alcohol. Overconsumption can compromise nutrient absorption by decreasing the secretion of digestive enzymes and damaging the intestinal lining.
How To Get The Most Nutrition From Your Food
  • Eat locally grown produce soon after they have been picked. The longer they are separated from the soil, the more nutritional value they lose. However, do not discount frozen vegetables even though they have lost some vitamin C. It is still better than not eating vegetables at all.
  • Soak grains, beans, nuts, and seeds to reduce phytic acid which can potentially block the absorption of minerals (like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc) and inhibit essential digestive enzymes. Soak raw nuts and grains in warm, filtered water for up to 12 hours. Keep the bowl at room temperature. Drain and rinse afterwards.
  • Heat breaks down and destroys the water-soluble B and C vitamins in vegetables. Therefore, it is beneficial to incorporate some raw vegetables into your diet. However, if you do cook them, these are the best ways to preserve their nutrients -
    • blanching (cooking in boiling water for a short time, then plunging into iced water to stop the cooking process)
    • roasting
    • sautéing
    • steaming
  • Certain foods deliver more nutrients when cooked. They include -
    • tomatoes (lycopene)
    • broccoli, carrots, red bell pepper, spinach, sweet potato, tomatoes, and winter squash (beta carotene)
    • heat denatures protein in eggs and meats, making them easier to digest.
  • Some people are more prone to getting calcium-oxalate kidney stones. Oxalates are naturally-occurring substances in many foods, like black and brown millet, sesame seeds, soybeans, almonds, cashews, peanuts, spinach, Swiss chard, and beet greens. Instead of avoiding oxalate-rich foods, eat them with calcium-rich foods (not supplements). This way, the oxalate and calcium will bind in the intestine, hence, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream and getting transferred to the kidneys.
  • Fat-soluble nutrients in vegetables require fat to be properly absorbed. They are vitamins A, D, E, and K. Therefore,
Vegetables like -
    • carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash (vitamin A)
    • mushroom (vitamin D)
    • asparagus, spinach, and Swiss chard (vitamin E)
    • broccoli, kale, and spinach (vitamin K)
are much better to be eaten with healthy fats like -
    • animal fats (from pastured-raised animals)
    • avocado
    • butter
    • coconut oil
    • olive oil
    • nuts and seeds
  • Pair iron-rich plant foods with vitamin C. Iron from non-meat sources is called nonheme iron. Nonheme iron is not as well absorbed as heme iron which comes from red meats like beef, lamb or dark chicken meat. To enhance the absorption of nonheme iron, pair these iron-rich plant foods -
    • kale
    • lentils
    • soybeans
    • spinach
with vitamin C -
    • chili peppers
    • orange
    • lemon juice
    • strawberries
  • Pair foods rich in iron and zinc with sulfur. Sulfur binds with these minerals and enhances their absorption. Foods like -
    • beef, liver, and turkey (iron)
    • beef, oysters, and turkey (zinc)
will go very well with these high sulfur foods -
    • egg yolks
    • garlic
    • onion
Carol Chuang is a Certified Nutrition Specialist. She has a Masters degree in Nutrition and is a Certified Gluten Practitioner. She specializes in Metabolic Typing and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9998537

Is TRUVIA a Safe and Healthy Alternative to Sugar?

By                Expert Author Karen Bentley

Truvia is a non-caloric sweetener. It's a "blend" type product made with three ingredients: 1) erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol, 2) stevia leaf extract, which is an herb, and 3) natural flavors, more on this in later on.
Truvia is marketed as a "natural" product, but this is deceiving because anything that's derived from a plant or animal source can be called natural. That means caloric sweeteners like sugar and HFCS are natural, too. What's confusing for most consumers is the fact that the term natural has absolutely nothing to do with processing. The product can be processed to death and still be natural.
Erythritol, for example, is a chemically extracted and fermented substance derived from corn. Since erythritol comes from corn it can legally be called natural, but it's still a highly processed substance. Erythritol is about 1/2 as sweet as table sugar and belongs to a class of substances known as sugar alcohols. Most, but not all, sugar alcohols are easily identified by the "ol" at the end of the name. Erythritol is the least objectionable of all the sugar alcohols because it causes the least digestive problems. Other sugar alcohols can make you cramp, fart and poop a lot. Erythritol is different because it's made through a fermentation process rather than a hydrogenation process, and the hydrogenation process seems to be the source of the digestive problems.
Stevia leaf extract is just.05% of one serving of Truvia. That's not much, but Cargill gets to make a pretty big deal out of the fact that it's using a natural herb in it's product. The stevia plant has naturally sweet leaves that taste a bit like licorice. In the olden days, 10 or so years ago, stevia was a highly regulated substance that was mistakenly feared to be carcinogenic. You could only get it in health food stores in the form of crushed leaves (that look a bit like oregano) or as a liquid. Once Cargill and the other big food manufacturers got into the act, stevia got mainstreamed into grocery store products as a healthier and more desirable alternative to sugar.
And lastly, the term "natural flavors" is a catch-all phrase where small quantities of any substance can be included in a product without being listed as an ingredient. A non-caloric sweetening agent called Neotame is a suspicious substance that's often included as a natural flavor. Neotame is a mega powerful artificial sweetener that's in the same family as aspartame, an excitotoxin. (FYI, Excitotoxins over stimulate and kill brain cells.) In fact, Neotame is so very potent that only the tiniest bit of it needs to be included to have a sweetening effect. This is important because stevia and erythritol aren't really all that sweet.
So is Truvia a safe and reasonable choice? Sure. It's not a toxic substance, but like any sweetening agent it might be a digestive irritant. This will be immediately obvious to you right after you use it. Pregnant women, infants and young children, and any one with neurological problems should avoid Truvia and any other alternative sweetening agent. For everyone else, the best advice is to limit the daily consumption of Truvia to 2 tablespoons per day. Got it? Just 2 tablespoons.
Karen Bentley is a sugar-free lifestyle expert. Visit her SugarFreeMiracleDiet website or Facebook page for more information.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10065854

Living Healthy Lives By Choice

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How to live healthy and disease free for the rest of your life. Do you think that is pipe dream? If you think it is not possible, then you have already defeat your purpose. However, if you think it is possible, then I want to categorically tell you that it is can happen, and it is happening.
I am going to tell you and show you how to make it happen for you, as it is for me and many others.
Listen to me carefully, we are healthy by design and sick by default!
Living a healthy life is a matter of choice we make every day by the things we do, the food we eat and drink, and overall life we live. I am going to show you how to live a dynamic, vibrant healthy life. How to live your full life and never get sick, and how do do all this without drugs or surgery.
How to look like you have found the secret of the fountain of youth.
Let me ask you this all important question,
Why Are We Sick?
If we don't know the cause of something, it almost impossible to fix it. So, we have t0 first explore what is making us so sick, and I am sure some of the reasons that are making us sick might surprise you.
To put it at the very basic and say, there are only two reasons why a person become ill.
  1. You "catch" something, meaning, your body picks up a germ, generally a bacteria or a virus.
  2. Your body develop an illness or a disease. That will happen because something has gone wrong in your systems, causing some imbalance.
Something is not working as it should, and a disease or an illness develop. Examples are, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, acid reflux, arthritis, etc.
Remember that our focus is living healthy, so now, let's dig a little deeper in these two causes of all illnesses and diseases. And I'll start with the first cause of catching something.
We said before that is either a bacteria or a germ causing the problem. But look at this fact, the atmosphere is filled with these small and most times invisible creatures. Have you ever ask why some people in the same environment where others who pick up the germ and they are fine!
Don't tell me everyone is made up differently, and you will soon understand why this argument cannot stands the test of a day.
I said earlier that we are healthy by design, meaning, our bodies are designed to fight off those bacteria and germs that are bombarding us every day.
That inbuilt apparatus is called the Immune System which has two fundamental functions which are vital to the survival of the person.
  1. The Immune System is for identification of all types of micro-organisms and foreign bodies that are potentially dangerous to the individual.
  2. The Immune System is also for destruction of these micro-organisms, substances or foreign bodies.
Our Immune System can be weakened from a variety of ways, and these are some of the most common:
A. Under or malnourishment which is a lack of essential nutrients like vitamins and some trace elements.
B. Stress, can either be physical or psychological. Obesity can be a cause.
C. Chemotherapy which comes in the form of anti-cancer medication
D. Infectious diseases come from "catching" something
E. Dieting includes the foods that contribute in special ways to the correct functioning of the complex Immune
System
F. AIDS: Is the Immune System deficiency caused by a viral attacks on your body's defense mechanisms.
Let me remind you of the two reasons why people get sick:
  1. You catch something and your body cannot fight it off, as a result your body give in to the germs.
  2. Your body develops something in the genetically weak areas.
In both of the above cases the causes are the same.
A. Your Immune System is weak
B. Toxins are attacking your body

When we consider those two fundamental causes for illnesses, we can conclude that all sicknesses come from one or a combination of four things. This is what Kevin Trudeau in one of his books called: "Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know About" said about why we get sick.
These are the four basic reasons Kevin give for all sicknesses:
  1. People get sick because they have too many toxins in their bodies
  2. We are suffering from nutritional deficiencies, meaning our cells are not getting enough nutrients in their proper proportions.
  3. We are exposed to and negatively affected by Electromagnetic Chaos (EMC).
  4. You have trapped mental and emotional stress
According to Kevin, these are the only four reasons why our Immune System could be weak or why genetically weak areas in the body can break down, and thus allowing illness and diseases to develop.
Although Kevin said these are the only reasons for all illnesses, I would like to add one more reason why we get sick.
Because I want to establish this fact, or I should say this TRUTH!!
We as living creatures called human beings are different from all other living things. Only human beings are created in the image and likeness of Elohim.
As a result, only human beings are created in His image and likeness, meaning, just like how Elohim exist in three formalities as Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we also exist in three dimensions as body soul and spirit.
To state it correctly, we are first and foremost spirit, with a soul in a body.
As a result of this enlightened truth, we can also get sick from a spiritual perspective. The medical experts call this psychosomatic illnesses
Psycho in psychosomatic comes from the root word psychic, and mean among other things, the supernatural or spiritual.
There are researches surrounding psychosomatic illnesses which seems to provide sufficient scientific evidence that the mind or the intangible part of a person, or a person's beliefs and thoughts, have the ability to cause physical changes in the body.
If we are going to be Living Healthy lives, holistic healthy lives, then all three areas on man's existence must be covered. Complete health is in spirit, soul and body.
Therefore I will say people are sick because of these five reasons
  1. We allow too many toxins in our bodies for too long
  2. We are not eating properly balanced meals resulting us suffering from nutritional deficiencies,
  3. We are exposed to and negatively affected by electromagnetic chaos (emc).
  4. We do not properly manage mental and emotional stress
  5. We ignore the Spirit-man that is more real than the physical man
There are things we can, and other things we cannot control. Therefore, the only way to manage those uncontrollable things, is to ensure the cells of our body are vibrantly healthy and strong to function as they should.
One such things we cannot control is electromagnetic fields to which we are all exposed.
What is electromagnetism?
Electromagnetism is a scientific word in physics used to describe one of the fundamental forces of nature. This force is between subatomic particles such as protons and electrons. You have to have a basic knowledge of physic to appreciate these terms.
Electromagnetism helps to hold matter together. It is also used to describe how a magnetic field is created by the flowing of electric current.
Our body has electromagnetic fields and communication systems. Electromagnetic chaos come about when wireless devices like the laptops, computers, televisions and cell phones are used too frequently. And even more dangerous when we sleep with them in the bedroom.
The resulting distortion creates chaos within the body's electromagnetic fields and communication systems. This causes physical, mental and emotional imbalances.
Electromagnetic chaos is a negatively powerful force and causes disease.
When we are able to reduce, eliminate, or neutralize these powerful negative frequencies, then we can reverse the negative reactions, resulting in the "curing" of symptoms and disease.
Living Healthy Through Balanced Diet
There are areas where we have complete control. For example, in the area of nutrition to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
People suffer unnecessarily because they do not eat the right way.
The proper way to ensure you are eating a balanced diet, is to include portions in your meals every day.
The portions should be considered in colors. So, in your daily eating, make sure you consume 50% green, 35% yellow, and 15% red. In so doing, you are covering all the basic nutritional needs of your cells.
Eating like this is the natural way to live healthy life and cancel the imposition of nutritional deficiency diseases.
In other words, we will not suffer from those noncommunicable diseases (NCD), that most people develop from improper or unhealthy eating habits.
For example, we will not suffer from the disease they call cancer. If we are to reveal the truth, cancer is not a disease, but rather a nutritional deficiency.
"According to Pharmaceutical Research, 95% of the causes of cancer are rooted in our lifestyle; our habits and rituals. The result of what we eat and don't eat. Only 5% of all cancers have a genetic link in their etiology, (causes of cancer)".
The naked truth is, there is no disease called cancer. Cancer is a tumor- like growth that occurs as a result of a nutritional deficiency of vitamin B17.
Most doctors won't tell you this, but take it from me, only your body can cure itself!
There are certain things you can do to help your body heal itself better, or cure itself of illness, sickness and diseases.
I stated earlier one of the fundamental reason you are sick is because of too much toxins in your body. What that comes down to are six areas that have direct relations to toxicity in your body.
These six areas are:
1. Exercise
2. Rest
3. What goes in your body
4. What comes out of your body
5. Your thoughts
6. Words you speak
Did you know that when you are toxic your body becomes highly acidic? Good health mean your body pH should be alkaline. When your body pH is acidic, you are vulnerable to illness and disease.
If your body pH remains alkaline, you virtually cannot get sick!
Every single individual who is diagnosed with cancer, has a pH that is too acidic.
One man said it all in this way - "If man made it, don't eat it." Put another way, eat only what comes from the plant, and not what come out of a plant.
There is so much that could be said here about genetical modification by man of virtually all fruits and vegetables to make them more disease resistant.
And even worse than that, how farmers have to produce more per acre in order to make more profit, by using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. So when you eat a piece of that fruit or vegetable, it is loaded with toxic chemicals.
The bottom line is this, if you are going to be living healthy life and experience vibrancy and high energy, you must clean the accumulated toxins from your body.
Live Good Health By Eliminating Toxic Built-up
It is important to know that from a baby, you have been flooding your body with toxins.
These toxins and poisons included everything form vaccines, prescription and nonprescription drugs, from the air we breath, the water we drink, swim and shower in, and all the chemical from the food we eat.
You should learn about getting a full-body fat/lymphatic detox once per year. And in between that, do a complete colon cleanse, do a heavy metal cleans, do a liver/gallbladder cleanse, do a parasite cleanse, and a candida cleanse.
Other Measures to Good Health
You should drink eight full glasses of purified water every day. You need to drink more water, and the water must be pure. Water is necessary not only for flushing and nourishing your cells, but also for keeping them hydrated and pH balanced.
It is recommended that if you are going to be living healthy life, you should use a rebounder (mini trampoline) for at lease ten minutes a day.
By simply using this device on a daily basis, can provide more health benefits for your cells than almost any other form of exercise.
A rebounder stimulates every single cell in your body simultaneously.
It also stimulates the immune system and is amazingly effective in cleansing toxins out of the cells. The rebounder is said to be the most incredible exercise device made by man.
If you are going to be living a healthy life, you must stop putting toxins in your body!
If you stop doing the things that are causing your symptoms and disease, then you have in effect "cured" yourself.
Most medical practitioners won't tell you this, because their interest is to have you coming back to them as often as possible to sell you more drugs to suppress the symptoms.
So, in concluding this article on living a healthy lifestyle, let me summarize:
The best way to get rid of any and all illness and disease that you may be suffering from, and prevent them from recurring. Also to slow down or potentially reverse the aging process is to do the following:
  1. Get rid of all the toxins that have built up in your system.
  2. Stop, or at least reduce the toxins entering your body. It is almost impossible to totally prevent toxins from entering our bodies, but we can drastically reduce the amount.
  3. We must ensure our elimination systems are clean and not sluggish. That will make the toxins we put in and those develop in our body naturally are getting out freely and quickly.
  4. We are to make sure we are getting adequate amounts of nutrition in the various forms such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, co-factors, and life-sustaining "energy".
  5. Make an effort to reduce or neutralize the electromagnetic energy attacking our body's energy fields and cells.
  6. Do everything to reduce stress
  7. Understand that our mind, and thoughts and words can create a healthy alkaline body pH, and actually change the way out body genetically defective DNA structures into normal healthy DNA structures.
Remember, living good healthy is our responsibility.
The choices we make every day determine the quality of our health.
It is Adrian T Brown here your health enthusiast with a profound question for you: Why People Sick?. You may or may not be responsible for your present health status.
One thing is for sure, you can do something about it. What you think, say and do, believe it or not is creating or destroying your health.
Starting today, right here, right now, can be the beginning of a disease-free, pain-free life. Weight Loss Friendly Foods is where you should start, take action...


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