Prosperity Abounds Blog

The X Factor in Health: Are You Missing Colors in Your Diet?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 14:59:00 +0000

Take a look in your closet at all the different colors you put on the outside of your body. Chances are you have a lot of different colors there and not just one or two. Did you know that putting a wide variety of colors on your inside can help you take your health to the next level? For many people a variety of colors of food is the X factor that is missing from their diets. Too many people stick with brownish and tannish colors on their plates as in meats, potatoes and simple grains. If your plate isn't as colorful as your wardrobe it's time to make a change by adding a wide variety of colorful vegetables and fruits to your meals.

It may help you to know why creating a rainbow on your plate is beneficial to your health and the most simple answer is phytochemicals, but Creative Nutrition Solutions owner, Molly Morgan, RD, CDN, warns that you don't need to get caught up in all the scientific data about what colors give you what types of nutrition. Instead just go for a wide variety of colors. For example if you are partial to fruits and veggies of a particular color, shake it up a bit. If your shopping cart is full of lettuce, spinach and kale, that's great, but add in some carrots, beets, squash, and as many other colored foods as you can. The X factor and the next level to strive for erasing it is to start trying new foods and go for many different bright colors.

Fruits and Veggies in Your Diet
There are so many advantages to adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. They are low calorie, have only natural sugars, don't have much fat or salt if any and give you complex carbs, fiber and lots of other healthy nutrients. Fruits and vegetables get their colors from the group of phytochemicals known as flavonoids. Flavonoids have been found to decrease risks of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer as well as being good for protecting the lungs. There are several different varieties of flavonoids including flavonols such as myricetin that you find in berries, grapes, and spinach, and quercetin found in onions, apples, and broccoli; flavones such as apigenin found in lettuce and parsley and luteolin found in beets and Brussels sprouts; flavanones such as hesperetin and naringenin found in citrus; flavan-3-ols such as catcehin found in tea and dark chocolate and epicatechin found in teas and legumes; and anthocyanidins found in blue, purple and red veggies and fruits. The main thing to remember about this, as many experts including the Produce for Better Health Foundation will tell you, is that these types of phytochemicals have antioxidant properties to protect the body from free radical damage and oxidative stress. If you already eat a lot of fruits and vegetables then you are of course getting phytochemicals in your diet and some antioxidant protection. But experts such as Kathy Hoy, EdD, RD advise using color as a guide to getting a variety of phytochemicals as many of them work together to provide us ultimate protection.

Creating a Rainbow on Your Plate
David Heber, MD, PhD and Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD are among the nutritional experts that divide plant based foods into groups according to color and the phytochemicals they provide. Instead of getting too caught up in the various color and color mixes though, the main thing to remember is to go for a wide variety of colored fruits and veggies on your plate. Just so that you know what different colors of foods are best for, here is a short list of some colors to consider, what they are helpful with and what foods fall in each category.

Blue and Purple – Color comes from the anthocyanin pigments they have. Rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, ellagic acid, and particularly good for heart, blood pressure, memory, reducing inflammation, and according to Gloria Tsang, RD, can help reduce chance of blood clots forming and reduce risk of some cancers. Foods in this group include blueberries, grapes, purple potatoes, prunes, plums, eggplant and pomegranate.

Green – The green color comes from chlorophyll and these foods are full of phytochemicals called isothiocyanates that help promote enzymes produced in the liver. This phytochemical and one called indoles also found especially in green cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage have been reported to help protect against cancer. Clinical dietician Susan Kasik-Miller, MS, RD, CNSC also applauds green veggies for their vitamin K, folic acid, potassium, carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. Your eyes also get benefit from green foods that have lutein and zeaxanthin and you get vitamin C and vitamin E. Other particularly good green foods include Brussels sprouts, spinach, avocado, kiwi, pistachio nuts, asparagus, arugala, artichoke, honeydew melon, celery, kale, and bok choy.

Red – Red fruits and vegetables get their color from the pigment lycopene which is a carotenoid antioxidant known to be good for lowering the risk of cancer and for heart health. They also have flavonoids giving you antioxidant protection and that help reduce inflammation as well as anthocyanins, vitamin C and folate. Foods in this group include tomatoes, cranberries, watermelon, guava, pink grapefruit, red cabbage, cherries, strawberries, beets, red peppers, apples, red onion, and kidney beans.

Yellow and Orange – Rich sources of beta-carotene antioxidants, beta-cryptoxanthin, omega-3's, folate, and vitamin C that have been found to be helpful with immunity, eye health, skin, regulating blood sugar, and bone health. Foods in this group include carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apricot, cantaloupe, mango, oranges, lemons, papaya, and pineapple.

Other Phytochemicals – Not all your good phytochemicals have bright showy colors. There are many flavonoids that are considered colorless or white fruits and vegetables, but that have lots of antioxidant properties to help fight off damage from free radicals. Some may have an outer peeling only with a brighter color and then be white inside like apples, pears, and bananas. Don't discount these though because of their white coloring. They are good for dietary fiber that can reduce the risk of stroke and lower cholesterol levels. In fact one study in 2011 done in conjunction with the American Heart Association and Dutch scientists reported a 52% reduction in risk of stroke for people eating large amounts of these white fruits and vegetables. Also in this group is cauliflower, onion, potatoes, parsnips, garlic and mushrooms.

The Color of Algae
When it comes to color, AFA bluegreen algae can give you a rainbow in itself as algae is known to have some of the most effective antioxidants in the plant world. Microalgae contains a rainbow of antioxidant pigments including cholorophyll that provides the green color and has been found to stimulate liver function and excretion of bile, strengthen immunity, and detoxify chemical pollutants. Studies indicate that chlorophyll has anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties as well as antioxidant effects that combat damage from carcinogens. Phycocyanin, the blue pigment in blue green algae, provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and is particularly effective working with chlorophyll. Phenylethylamine, or PEA, comes from the deep blue pigment in algae and has been shown to elevate the mood, decrease appetite, act as a natural mental energy activator and help biomodulate emotions and mood swings. Bluegreen algae is reported to have a wider variety of antioxidant pigments and carotenoids than most other plant based foods and than just green algae.

Next time you go grocery shopping, think colors. Start filling your basket with as much variety to put inside your body as your closet has in clothes for the outside of your body. It's time to up your health game to the next level and get rid of those drab colors. Get creative and try new foods by adding a rainbow to your plate and it will pay off in taking your health to the next level.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/110308p34.shtml
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-eating-multiple-colored-fruits-vegetables-4676.html
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/phytonutrients-paint-your-plate-with-the-colors-of-the-rainbow-2019042516501
Bruno, PhD, Jeffrey, Eat Light to Feel Bright

Weight Loss for Busy People

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 18:28:00 +0000

So much to do and so little time to get it all in, so one of the last things that gets done is exercising or getting to the gym to help lose weight. For busy people, this is truly a dilemma, so what to do? There are some ways to help in weight loss that you can incorporate into your day easily without adding one more thing to your to-do list.

Probiotics
You probably know that probiotics are the friendly bacteria in your intestines, but you may not know there are two main types of these bacteria. These are bacteroidetes and firmicutes and studies have found that the balance of these is related to your weight. Some of these bacteria block fat absorption and allow for more fat to be released from the body in waste. Research has found that overweight or obese people have more of the firmicutes type of probiotics and less of the bacteroidetes type. The bacteria in the Lactobacillus family allow for less calories to be absorbed from food you eat. The Lactobacillus gasseri bacteria was found to be the most effective in providing weight loss results. Probiotics also aid in releasing the hormone that affects appetite which helps in burning calories and fat and aids in boosting protein ANGPTL4 levels that helps reduced fat being stored. One study reported women who took probiotics showed 50% more weight loss than those that didn't. Based on research such as this, adding high quality probiotic supplements such as acidophilus, bifidus, or a full-spectrum probiotic supplement to your diet is a quick and easy resource to compliment your weight loss plan.

Enzymes
All living things have the large protein molecules known as enzymes that are essential to the digestive system and immune system. Enzymes are necessary for the breakdown of food so the body can use the proteins, fats, carbs, fibers and sugars we get from foods. Enzymes fall into three categories: digestive enzymes that break food down, plant enzymes that work on digestion in the pre-digestive stage, and metabolic enzymes that clean foreign invaders and substances out of the blood. We don't produce many enzymes naturally and depend on our food sources for our enzyme supply. The problem is that many of our food sources don't have the enzymes we need due to cooking and processing. Supplementing your diet with a high quality digestive enzyme supplement can help give your body the extra enzymes it needs to breakdown foods. If you are especially concerned about weight loss, make sure your enzyme supplement has lipase which is the enzyme that breaks down fats, helps in fat burning, and dissolves fat keeping it from building up in your organs, arteries and capillaries.

Bluegreen Algae
You may be aware that organic bluegreen algae is one of the most nutrient filled foods available as it is high in protein, minerals, enzymes, has over 65 vitamins including antioxidants, 8 essential amino acids, 10 non-essential amino acids and is loaded with chlorophyll. What you may not know is that research on AFA bluegreen algae shows the positive effects it can have for a variety of conditions such as allergies, diabetes, high cholesterol and weight loss. Research on how bluegreen algae aids in weight loss ranges from showing the alkalizing effect it provides on the body which can help with a reduction in gaining weight to how it helps suppress appetite to the nutrients it contains that help reduce stress which can lead to weight gain. It has also been found useful in helping to keep the enzymes found in the body active longer and has the antioxidant properties to fight off the destruction caused by free radicals that damage our cells and stress the body. AFA bluegreen algae is another easy addition to your diet available in capsules, tablets, and powder form, or for really busy people, you can get these algae packets that each contain two forms of algae capsules, probiotics and enzyme ready to take anywhere to tear open and pop in your mouth.

Other Weight Loss Tips for Busy People
Besides supplementing your diet with enzymes, probiotics, and AFA, one of the best weight loss tips for busy people is to drink water to increase metabolism and burn off extra calories. This tip was shown effective in one research study as participants lost 44% more weight by drinking 17 ounces of water 30 minutes before eating. You also know that eating breakfast is important for setting your metabolism for the day, but include eggs and coffee in the meal and you get an extra metabolism boost. If coffee leaves you too jittery, opt for green tea as it has less caffeine, but has the catechins that help burn fat. And replacing oil you use already for cooking with coconut oil that has medium chain triglycerides can help your metabolism burn off around an extra 120 calories daily plus suppress appetite so that you eat around 250 less calories daily

These are just a few really easy tips to add or replace things you do already that can make a difference in your weight loss plan. Use these to get you started while you look for other ways to add more movement and less calories into your day and you'll find that no matter how hectic your schedule is, there's always time for weight loss.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-and-weight-loss

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/26-evidence-based-weight-loss-tips
http://www.wellnesswithangela.com/stopsugarcravings/2012/enzymes-impact-your-body%E2%80%99s-ability-to-lose-weight-and-much-more
http://www.mensanswer.com/articles/nutrition/best-blue-green-algae-supplements/
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-blue-green-algae/

5 Simple Ways to Shake Up Your Dieting Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 14:30:00 +0000

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, two-thirds of the adults in this country are overweight and the other one-third are constantly dieting and trying to find ways to lose up to five or ten pounds of weight. If you fall into that second category and find you just can't get those last few pounds off, here's some tips for you.

1. Hydrate
Research has found that drinking water during the day can cause your metabolism rate to go up by as much as 30% according to Keri Glassman, RD, CDN, author of Slim Calm Sexy Diet. She advises drinking two liters of cold water throughout the day to burn off 95 calories. Part of those calories burn off with the body using energy to bring the cold water to body temperature. Drinking water during the day also keeps you from snacking as the water makes you feel full and reduces the desire to snack between meals. And best of all water doesn't add any extra calories to your diet.

2. Refuel After Exercise
Just after you finish an exercise workout is the perfect time to eat a snack that has protein and carbohydrates. Up to 45 minutes after exercising your metabolism rate is higher and the protein/carb snack will help repair muscle tissue damaged by exercise. Protein also helps build muscle and muscle uses more energy and burns more calories than fat. Right after exercise is not a time many people want to eat or have the time to eat though. That's when I reach for a smoothie preferably with whey protein or a healthy snack bar.

3. Walk
According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, those people that engage in regular walks increase the likelihood of losing weight compared to those who don't use walking as a form of exercise. He also has tips to include in your walking to burn off more calories:

Walk your normal pace for two minutes then speed up your walking or jog for one minute.
Walk somewhere that includes an incline to walk up. You can burn 30% more calories with just a 10% incline.
Walk places that have varying surfaces. This will challenge your muscles and provide a more interesting walk.

Another Dr. Oz tip is to set a goal to incorporate 10,000 steps throughout your day. Use a pedometer to get a baseline of how many steps you currently walk throughout your day now and look for ways to add in more until you get up to 10,000. Not only will this strategy help you become more aware of walking which adds to weight loss, but it can reduce your risk of diabetes significantly. Vonda Wright, MD, advises taking small fast steps as a way to burn off more calories. If you walk the same distance and for the same amount of time that you usually do, taking smaller strides makes you increase the number of steps you take. She also recommends alternating these small steps with skipping to get some additional calorie burn.

4. Changing Lifestyle Habits
Janis Jibrin, Best Life's lead nutritionist, has a simple tip to burn 40% more calories – stand while you eat. She also reports that eating while sitting at your desk or computer has been shown to increase the amount you eat and advises finding a location away from your desk to eat. Keri Glassman, RD, CDN, suggests that cutting back on the amount of breakfast cereal you eat from two cups to one and a half cups can save you 100 calories. Eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 larger meals daily will also give your metabolism a boost and help burn off extra calories.

5. Change Your Thinking
Research reports that 95% of dieters gain back the weight they had lost. With this statistic in mind, researchers have performed studies looking for commonalities between successful dieters who don't gain the weight back over an extended period of time. One of the findings reported by Inga Treitler, PhD, a cultural anthropologist, has to do with how we think. Findings indicated that a dieter that uses the properties attributed to the lower left brain quadrant was found most successful in maintaining weight loss. This type of people exhibit characteristics of being controlled, methodical and disciplined and do well with routine and structure. It was also found that each dieter in this category went through a transformation that changed their lives sometimes in ways other than how they viewed weight loss. They also all were found to have begun some type of meditation component such as yoga or walking that allowed them to take time for themselves and separate from their old behaviors. If you are not this type of person, the good news is that you can learn other thinking modes and learn to engage other quadrants of the brain according to Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, CEO of Herrmann International.

There are so many health benefits to losing that extra weight from increased energy levels to reducing the risk of diseases that can be life threatening. Just because you haven't been able to drop those last 5 or 10 pounds so far, don't give up. Give some of these tips a try and see if they can help you finally achieve the weight that will make you feel better, look better and be healthier.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:
http://www.sharecare.com/video/diet-and-fitness/walking/3-ways-to-get-more-out-of-your-walking-workout?eid=1010716744&memberid=54397827&_sid=null&#cmpid=sceml00

http://www.oprah.com/health/Calorie-Cutting-Tricks-Eliminate-100-Calories-from-Your-Day

http://www.oprah.com/health/Easy-Health-Tweaks-That-Make-a-Big-Difference-When-to-Snack

http://www.oprah.com/health/Inside-the-Minds-of-Successful-Dieters-How-to-Think-Thin

Life Hacks to Avoid Diabetes

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:31:00 +0000

by guest contributor Barb Swanson

We Know It's a Problem
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a national epidemic. 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, and another 3 of every 10 are prediabetic. This means close to 40% of our population is at risk for a largely preventative killing disease, since 95% of diabetics have T2D. There is evidence that T2D may, in some people, have hereditary factors. However, everyone has lifestyle choices they can control, which are proven to help prevent the development of T2D, even in hereditary cases. Here is a short list of easy-to-follow lifestyle hacks to cut your risk of developing T2D.

Lifestyle Hacks

Watch your weight. 85% of those with T2D are overweight. Maintaining normal weight can protect against T2D, and losing weight often brings blood sugars back into normal ranges.

Exercise daily. Physical activity, even just walking, decreases insulin resistance in the muscles. Your body has better blood sugar control with even minimal daily exercise.

Drink less alcohol. It is loaded with sugars and has a negative effect on the liver, which can affect blood sugar levels.

Think twice about statins for high cholesterol. Studies show they can cause insulin resistance and ultimately T2D.

Dietary Hacks

Eat enough Omega 3 fatty acids. A deficiency in this EFA group is associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Find omega 3 healthy fats in freshwater algae, cold water fish like salmon and sardines, and/or eating a variety of seeds and nuts. Other benefits include better heart health and brain function.

Get enough Vitamin D. Studies show that taking vitamin D3 to normalize levels decreases the likelihood of developing the disease despite any genetic predisposition. Vt. D also reduces many other disease processes.

Eat enough dietary fiber. Fiber decreases the risk of T2D. Find soluble fiber in bananas, oatmeal, apples and beans. Insoluble fiber sources include beans, bran and vegetables like celery and cauliflower.

Eat antioxidant-rich foods. They decrease oxidation of blood sugar and help support healthy pancreatic function. These foods include microalgae, berries, and actually, all brightly colored edible raw fruits and vegetables.

Bottom Line...
T2D is a killer that you have the power to avoid!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

How to Skip Allergies This Year

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 15:30:00 +0000

"If you are sitting on a tack, it takes a lot of aspirin to make it feel good. If you are sitting on two tacks, removing just one does not result in a 50 percent improvement." – Baker S, 1997

"The lung, as the interface between the atmosphere and the rest of the body, is particularly vulnerable to oxidative injury. In addition, the lung shares with other organs the risk of injury due to infections, inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion, and other insults. Lungs therefore require potent defense mechanisms, and in fact have higher levels of antioxidant enzymes than almost any other organ." – Morse D, Choi A, 2005

Allergy Statistics
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website, allergic rhinitis, which is also known as hay fever, affects around 50 million people in the U.S. that results in over 13.4 million visits to various health professionals. That's a cost of around $7.9 billion. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology estimates around 7.8% of American adults and from 10 to 30% of the population across the globe suffer from symptoms of allergic rhinitis. It is also estimated that one out of every five people in the United States show symptoms of either allergy or asthma and allergy testing shows 55% are positive for at least one allergen. Allergies are listed as number 5 on the list of chronic diseases.

Antioxidants and Allergies
When you come into contact with an allergen, your immune system treats it as a foreign invader and creates antibodies to fight it off. With continued exposure to the allergen, the antibodies then react, triggering the release of histamine which creates inflammation causing tissues around blood vessels to tighten and fluid to escape. The escaping fluid causes the symptoms you experience such as a runny nose, itchy watery eyes, and sneezing. This cycle and the resulting inflammation has lead experts to research the role that free radical damage may have in allergic reactions and the role antioxidants could play in reducing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by fighting off damaging free radicals. Among the primary antioxidants undergoing research for allergy relief are beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, flavonoids, zinc, quercetin, and selenium. This research stems from the thinking that antioxidants can help control histamine release and is supported by studies such as the ones done with the flavonoid quercetin, found in red wine and red grapes, grapefruit, red and yellow onions, raspberries, cranberries, apples, and black tea, reporting it may work similar to the drug cromolyn for reducing allergy symptoms and cited as having anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties. In general, brightly colored vegetables and fruits are a good source for a variety of antioxidants. If you aren't able to get enough antioxidants from your diet alone, whole food supplements are another alternative. AFA bluegreen algae is a great source by itself for many antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione and for even more antioxidant power this antioxidant algae supplement, that is rich in chlorophyll, glutathione, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients from its combination of kale sprouts, red clover sprouts, concentrated wheat sprouts, and Dunaliella salina algae can provide an extra antioxidant boost. Research from Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, reports that algal oils administered to rats were able to significantly reduce arachidonic acid known to produce leukotrienes that trigger allergic reactions and that contribute more to constricting bronchial tubes in asthma than histamine. Another study reported beta-carotene from algae extract every day reduced symptoms of exercise-induced asthma in 53% of the participants. Allergy relief can also come from herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, lemon balm, sage, marjoram, peppermint, and thyme that contain rosmarinic acid which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Research on rosmarinic acid reports that it can reduce reactions to allergens by stopping immune responder cells from being activated.

Essential Fatty Acids and Allergies
Omega-3 essential fatty acids and omega-6 essential fatty acids are both needed for the body to perform well. The balance of these two EFA's is critical however. The difference between them is how many carbons away the double bond is from the nonpolar tail in the molecule. This is where the number 3 or 6 comes in. Omega-3 is three carbons away and omega-6 is six carbons away. Most experts agree that we need twice as many omega-3 fatty acids as omega-6 and research indicates that a diet with a lot of omega-3 fatty acids can help reduced the risk of allergies as it has anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-6 fatty acids are known to contribute to inflammation however and a diet high in these can increase allergy symptoms. That makes getting the right ratio of these two essential fatty acids important, especially for allergy sufferers. To get less omega-6 in your diet, you can avoid vegetable oils, fast food and junk food and increase your diet in omega-3 fatty acids by adding foods such as fish like salmon, cod, halibut and mackerel, flaxseeds, walnuts, soybeans, and oils such as olive and flaxseed. You'll also find the right ratio in AFA bluegreen algae which is rich in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) omega-3 fatty acids, none of which our bodies can make on their own and must be obtained from foods or supplements. A study using a survey from the National Center for Health Statistics (1996) reported those surveyed who used algae supplementation showed less allergies, skin conditions, and asthma.

Don't be one of the millions that suffer from hay fever symptoms. Using natural solutions with some simple dietary changes can give you the edge to help deal with your allergy symptoms.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:
http://acaai.org/news/facts-statistics/allergies
http://www.aaaai.org/about-aaaai/newsroom/allergy-statistics
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-statistics
http://www.foundhealth.com/allergic-rhinitis/allergic-rhinitis-and-antioxidant
http://www.allergy-details.com/allergy-c/antioxidants-and-allergies/
http://www.healwithfood.org/allergies/diet.php
Bruno, Jeffrey PhD, Eat Light & Feel Bright
Bruno, Jeffrey PhD, Edible Microalgae
Abrams, Karl J, Algae to the Rescue!

Healthy Tips: 6 Empowering Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:50:00 +0000

by guest contributor Barbara Swanson

"...Food is not just calories; it's information. It actually contains messages that communicate to every cell in the body." ~Dr. Mark Hyman

What you eat once a week isn't the problem – it's what you eat every day that counts.
Listen to your "inner voice" – you know more than any "expert" about what is right for you.
If you can't hear your inner voice or don't trust it, use the best common sense you have and learn by your own mistakes. Take guidance from others but make your own decisions and take responsibility for them.
Don't focus on the health problems. Focus on supporting your body's natural healing process.
Know that your body has enormous resources to be healthy given the proper resources of nutrition, hydration, exercise, and rest. The natural tendency is to health, not disease.
Think about disease as a process that needs correcting. This more empowering than thinking of it as an enemy outside ourselves. Removing diseased tissue usually does not remove the disease. The process that created the disease needs to be reversed.

Bottom Line: You'll begin to notice over time that it's a bit easier to think of your health as your friend, as something you enjoy and work with every day.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Ways to Stay Youthful

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 15:30:00 +0000

Staying youthful and healthy aging go together and while our appearance plays a part in this, it's not the whole picture. Other pieces in the process of the remaining young puzzle have to do with how we feel, our energy level, our activity level, general health, our mental status, and our attitudes. Founder of the Biocognitive Science Institute, neuropsychologist, and author of The Mind-Body Code, Mario E. Martinez, PhD, has found in studies of elders around the world that people defining middle age as 15 years later look younger than their age in comparison to those who define middle age as 15 years earlier. He has also found that the younger looking group embraces behaviors and beliefs such as continuing to learn new things, coping with stress through activities they enjoy, and that they find it easier to forgive. Continuing to remain active and involved also seems to play a role in staying youthful as found in a study from the University of Maryland that reported retirees who worked part-time had less chronic diseases and were able to stay more physically active. All this serves as a reminder that there are things you can do to stay youthful as you enter your senior years that have nothing to do with visiting a plastic surgeon or trying out the latest wrinkle cream.

Reducing Free Radicals for Healthy Aging
Free radicals are molecules in our body cells that become weakened to the point that they lose an electron. This weakness is caused by such things as toxins in the body, eating too much sugar and starchy carbs, exposure to UV rays, chlorinated water, pollution, and eating overcooked, fried and processed foods. These free radicals then go around taking electrons from other molecules and creating more free radicals. Free radicals damage the body, including cells, enzymes, and DNA, causing negative effects such as pain, inflammation, immune deficiencies, atherosclerosis, cataracts, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and other chronic diseases. Eating sugar also can create AGE or advanced glycation end-products molecules that hurt collagen and elastin your skin needs to stay youthful looking and according to associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, Mona Gohara, M.D., leaves your skin wrinkled and saggy. By switching from sugar filled foods and snacks to foods with fatty acids, vitamin E, and vitamin C, you will be feeding your skin and body cells with nutrients that will help them keep a youthful appearance and maintain their health.

Antioxidants for Healthy Aging By Protecting Cells
The best thing you can do to fight off damage from free radicals is to increase your antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables are a large part of this as they are loaded with antioxidant protection and a study from Rush University supports this with reported findings of eating at least 6 servings of leafy greens along with a type of diet following the Mediterranean diet regimen as being able to lower the risk of Alzheimer's by half. Neurologist Fiona Gupta, M.D. from New Jersey's Hackensack University Medical Center explains this by crediting the antioxidants in leafy greens as cleaning toxins and free radicals out of the brain. There is much research supporting the claim that antioxidant protection increases the life of any cell by protecting them from the damage free radicals can cause. Adding antioxidant foods to your daily diet can help preserve the elasticity of skin, muscle and connective tissues, strengthen heart muscles, and strengthen the immune system among other benefits. Eating AFA bluegreen algae is a particularly good way to insure more antioxidants are being provided as it has a wide array of antioxidant enzymes and vitamins. Cell health also depends on Coenzyme Q10, a specialized antioxidant needed for energy in every normal cell of the human body. Ubiquinol is the active and bioavailable form of Coenzyme Q10 and can be found along with AFA in this energy support algae supplement. Cell damage can also be repaired by our own natural adult stem cells that have the ability to travel anywhere in the body and morph into any other type of cell. Research has shown that certain nutrients such as are present in this stem cell support supplement can help promote the renewal of stem cells. It provides nutrition that supports the growth of stem cells and provides antioxidants that protect existing stem cells from free radical damage. One of the ingredients, carnosine, is an antioxidant amino acid naturally present in the human body that may delay the natural aging of cells and extend the lifespan of adult stem cells.

Stress Reduction
According to Robert Greenfield, M.D., at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center's Memorial Care Heart and Vascular Institute in Fountain Valley, California, stress is a huge contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Being overly stressed can cause you to produce more cortisol which can make you irritable, cause you to have trouble sleeping, cause you to gain weight, decrease your libido, increase blood sugar levels and high blood pressure, and make you moody. Cortisol can also affect bone density, and lead to reduction of lean body mass as well as lead to a variety of diseases linked to aging such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. Stress also reduces your level of IgA, a protein that is part of the immune system and helps fight off infections by preventing invaders from getting into the body. According to Dr. Jennifer Landa, MD, Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, eating healthy and avoiding foods with sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods can help reduce your body's response to stress by supporting the adrenal glands that secrete cortisol as well as help with your metabolism. She also recommends getting B and C vitamins and magnesium to support the adrenal glands and the herbs Ashwagandha and Rhodiola for adrenal support and fighting off stress. Meditation, deep breathing and yoga are all other ways of helping you lower your stress levels.

Keep It Moving
Exercise is not only a way to reduce stress, but helps keep your weight down which gives relief to joints, slows down muscle decline, increases balance and coordination, improves circulation, reduces inflammation, increases bone density, keeps energy levels up, and improves flexibility. Exercise that increases your heart rate also helps your mood and in coping with stress by producing endorphins, the hormone that makes us feel good. Cardio and resistance type exercise are the best ones to get going with to stay youthful. Start with however much you can do and look for ways to increase the amount you can do. At the very least get out and walk for 30 minutes three times weekly.

Protect Against Sun Damage
Aging and how we feel about getting older has a lot to do with our perceptions, attitudes, general health and stress levels, but appearance also does play a role. The skin is the largest organ our bodies have and it is what we see when we look in the mirror and what others see when they look at us. For many people, looking old can cause them to feel old. One study in 2013 reported that 80% of the aging on our faces is due to being exposed to the sun and that people spending lots of time outside in the sun looked up to 5 years older than those that avoid sun exposure. Sun damage can cause the skin to wrinkle, have brown spots, and dilated pores according to dermatologist Whitney Bowe, MD from New York, not to mention putting you at risk for skin cancer. Even if you don't spend a lot of time outside, you can be exposed to damaging UV rays through windows in your car, home or office. Besides adding antioxidants to protect skin cells, it is also important to protect skin from the damage the sun can cause. Wearing sunscreen during all seasons can help give you this protection to a large extent. Pick one that is broad-spectrum so that you get protection from a variety of UV rays like UVA and UVB, and that is at least SPF 15. In cooler months, putting sunscreen on your face each morning is probably enough for the day, but if you are going to be outside most of the day then you may need to put it on again every 2 hours especially in the summer. Be sure you also put it on the top of your hands as Dr. Bowe also cites this as a common area for skin cancer to develop.

You don't have to find the Fountain of Youth to keep feeling and looking younger as you age. Just pick up on some of the tips we've included here and help your body maintain its youth.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:
http://parade.com/408406/mtaylor-2/6-simple-ways-to-stay-young-and-healthy/
http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/forever-young-5-ways-beat-clock-life
https://www.yahoo.com/health/science-backed-ways-to-stay-young-forever-or-as-105392279772.html
Abrams, Karl J., Algae to the Rescue

The Mind-Body Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:26:00 +0000

by guest contributor Barbara Swanson

"To me, good health is more than just exercise and diet. It's really a point of view and a mental attitude you have about yourself." ~Albert Schweitzer

The Attitude Connection
For thousands of years, the state of your mind has been linked to the health of your body. In one way or another, all major religions and ancient health practices address the importance of this link. Today, a new branch of science called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) studies this link. PNI describes ways in which our emotions and attitude, both positive and negative, can affect our health.

"Your outlook--having a sense of optimism and purpose--seems to be predictive of health outcomes."
~Dr. Laura Kubzansky, professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Science on the Mind-Body Link
The actual mechanisms involved with the connection between health and positivity remain unclear. What is clear is that there is definitely a strong link between "positivity" and health. Researchers suspect that people who are more positive may be better protected against the inflammatory damage of stress. Another possibility is that hope and positivity help people make better health and life decisions and focus more on long-term goals.

Specific Studies on the Mind-Body Link

Heart Health
Dr. Kubzansky (referenced in the above quote) has studied the health effects of several forms of psychological well-being. She has found that emotional vitality--characterized by enthusiasm, hopefulness, engagement in life, and the ability to face life's stresses with emotional balance--is associated with a substantially reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.

At Johns Hopkin University, Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H., and her team determined "positive" versus "negative" outlook using a survey tool that assesses a person's cheerfulness, energy level, anxiety levels and satisfaction with health and overall life. They discovered that people with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event, than those with a more negative outlook.

Healthy Aging
The Women's Health and Aging Study involves more than 1,000 women, 65 or older, who have varying levels of disability but still live on their own. Using two tests designed to measure loss of function, women with greater emotional vitality performed significantly better than their less-positive counterparts who had similar levels of disability.

Breast Cancer
In a study of women with breast cancer. Dr. Sandra Levy at the University of Pittsburgh's Cancer Institute found that women who were more depressed had lower natural killer cell activity than those with a hopeful, positive outlook. It was also noted that the women who had experienced a great deal of joy and happiness in their lives also had a higher survival rate.

Miscellaneous Health Issues
Studies have found that a positive attitude improves outcomes and life satisfaction across a spectrum of conditions--including traumatic brain injury, stroke and brain tumors. Multiple studies find that negative emotions can weaken immune response.

The Health Benefits of Positive Thinking
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

Increased life span
Lower rates of depression
Lower levels of distress
Greater resistance to the common cold
Better psychological and physical well-being
Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

(Dr. T.V. Rao, MD)

Bottom Line
Feel Better Now

SMILE
A University of Kansas study found that smiling--even fake smiling--reduces heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations.

Choose how you respond
Unpleasant situations and people are a part of being human. However, we can choose how we handle them. For example, during a traffic jam, accept that there is absolutely nothing you can do about the traffic. Then appreciate the fact that you can afford a car and get to spend a few extra minutes listening to music.

Be true to your heart
When in doubt, listen to your feelings. When we feel forced into actions that do not reflect our beliefs, we can become angry, resentful or depressed.

Commit to yourself
No one else is responsible for your choices. Therefore, commit yourself to remembering, then acting on, the best of who you are and want to be.

Forgive
In a landmark study, people who were asked to count their blessings felt happier, exercised more, had fewer physical complaints, and slept better than those who created lists of hassles.

New Year, New You, New Body and Mind!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 15:30:00 +0000

Do you make a new year resolution every year? Have you got a new year resolution ready for the coming year? If you are like most people, a resolution is made and then within a few months forgotten or given up on. Research shows that about 40% of us actually do make a new year resolution and according to a Harris Interactive poll, that 21% of those resolutions involve losing weight, 14% involve exercising and 7% resolve to eat a more healthy diet. The good news is that people are at least thinking about and making an attempt to improve their health. The bad news is that according to John C. Norcross, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Scranton and author of Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions, 60% of people who made resolutions in January have given up on them by July. Norcross cites a study from the Journal of Clinical Psychology as showing that people who make a new year resolution are 10 times more likely to be successful in making the change they desire than those who may want change but don't put it into a formal resolution. This is encouraging for those who do make resolutions, but there are still a lot of people wanting change and not getting results quickly enough to encourage them to keep at it. This is where some planning and gaining a new perspective on issues can help make your resolution more successful.

Change Your Way of Thinking
Heidi Reeder, PhD, author of Commit to Win: How to Harness the Four Elements of Commitment to Reach Your Goals, says most people think they need willpower and motivation to achieve their goals, but that actually what is needed is commitment to accomplish a long term goal. She suggests breaking long term goals down into smaller goals and rewarding yourself for each step along the way. When making your goal plan, look for the things that prevent you from achieving your goal and have a back-up plan for when those things come up. If your goal has to do with losing weight, David Grotto, RD, author of The Best Things You Can Eat, suggests that you make your resolution about eating healthier and not saying that you are going on a diet. Eating healthier is a lifelong commitment and lifestyle change whereas being on a diet implies that there is a start and a finish to it. When it comes to losing weight psychologist Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD has a good tip of rating how hungry you are from 1 to 10 and eat if you are in the middle of this range. This will prevent eating when bored or from habit when you aren't really hungry and help avoid overeating when you've gone too long and are really, really hungry.

It may just be that you need to change the way you look at your body and make sure you are setting realistic goals for your body type. This is an especially good concept to pass on to young girls and teens. People who have a positive body image are happier, more comfortable with themselves and more realistic about themselves. Those with a negative body image are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even eating disorders. The main thing is that your body is healthy no matter what size you are. Sure, it doesn't pay off in health benefits to be over flabby and severely overweight, but this doesn't mean that we all have to be a size 3 either. Healthy bodies can be a variety of sizes and shapes. Rather than concentrating on the parts of your body that you don't like, begin looking for things you can appreciate about your body. This might be gaining appreciation for what an intricate and complex system the body is or the various functions and sensations it provides for us. Adequate rest, exercise and a healthy diet can also help raise self-esteem, energy levels, and give you a better body image perspective.

Boosting Self Image
Alice Domar, PhD, director of the Mind/Body Center for Women's Health at Boston IVF, suggests one way to change your body image is to start with making a list of alternative statements to the negative ones you usually make about your body or that others may throw at you. Become aware of the words you use when describing your own looks and others' looks. Also stay realistic about your body type and other factors. For example, it is not realistic to think that a 60 year old body can look the same as it did in its 20's. Studies show that practicing good posture can help improve body image and confidence so start being aware of sitting and standing up straight. There is also research that supports keeping track of your goal progress as you are more likely to be successful if there is a system of accountability or monitoring in place. Susan B. Roberts, PhD, professor of nutrition and of psychiatry at Tufts University suggests making substitutions for unhealthy snacks with a healthier option and that doing this 10 times consecutively will start your body craving the healthier snack. Managing stress is also an important part of boosting self image. Make it a priority this new year to find a way to deal with stress. Be sure to take vacation days that you have coming to you as we all need a break and the time to relax. For those with an active and stressful lifestyle there are whole food supplements that can help provide supportive nutrition to keep the body running at its peak. This supplement combines vegetable-based glucosamine, chondroitin, UC-II® undenatured collagen and AFA bluegreen algae to help the body keep up with all you do. This supplement combines a proprietary blend of plant-based proteolytic enzymes--bromelain, papain, protease, lipase, and serratiopeptidase, and organic AFA bluegreen algae to provide the nutrition necessary for the body to reduce the risks of inflammation and recover from physical exertion.

Even if you don't have a resolution ready to start on New Year's Day, it's not too late. Make your resolution today to change your attitude about your body and work towards a healthier body and a healthier lifestyle. Learning to love yourself and your body could be the best gift you ever give yourself.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-for-good?ecd=wnl_wlw_081314&ctr=wnl-wlw-081314_nsl-ld-stry&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3D
http://www.webmd.com/women/features/set-reach-goals?ecd=wnl_wlw_081314&ctr=wnl-wlw-081314_nsl-ld-stry_1&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3D
http://www.webmd.com/beauty/style/love_your_body_inside_and_out?ecd=wnl_day_073114&ctr=wnl-day-073114_nsl-ld-stry_2&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3D
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Self-Esteem-Body-Image-and-Confidence-Lluminari
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Quick-Confidence-How-to-Boost-Self-Esteem
http://www.oprah.com/health/Commonly-Broken-New-Years-Resolutions

Holiday Feasting? Go For It!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:30:00 +0000

If you just can't say "No" to all the holiday feasting that's going on this season, don't bother. Just go for it. Eat, drink, and be merry ... just be sure to pack some extra probiotics and enzymes in your pocket. Having some extra acidophilus, bifidus, and a full spectrum probiotic and enzymes on board will ensure that you don't suffer too many "Pepto Bismol" moments during the next few weeks.

Probiotics (this literally means "for life") are the good bacteria that live in your gut. These "good bugs" do a lot for you, including:

1. keeping your digestion going
2. producing B-12 vitamins to keep you calm and happy during the holidays
3. acting as a first line of defense against illness

Whenever you stress your body (like overeating at the buffet) or drink too much coffee or chlorinated water, you kill off the probiotics in your gut. Lack of probiotics means that your body won't get the benefit of all those actions listed above. You'll have indigestion, you won't feel calm and collected, and you're more likely to get sick. So yes, you definitely need to keep those probiotics healthy and lively in your gut. Taking extra probiotics during the holidays will keep the population of beneficial bacteria in your gut at healthy levels.

Enzymes are also key in keeping your holidays happier. Before you dive headlong into that holiday buffet, take the time to swallow 2 to 4 enzymes ... then eat. The enzymes will ensure that all the extra food and rich desserts you eat will be properly digested, preventing digestive side effects like bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation.

One simple regimen to follow during the holidays is as follows:

2 to 4 acidophilus in the morning before breakfast
2 to 4 bifidus in the evening before bed
2 to 4 enzymes before each meal
2 to 4 of the full spectrum probiotic in the evening when all else fails!

Most of all, enjoy the holidays ... eat, drink, and be merry, and rest assured that the probiotics and enzymes will help you have a merry and healthy holiday season.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Healthy Happy Digestion During the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 15:30:00 +0000

Holiday time is great isn't it? With all the colorful decorations, extra time off work, gift giving, family and friends around, and of course all the great food. But holiday time can also mean a lot of extra work and stress preparing for them, traveling in stressful weather conditions, and that great food isn't always in the healthy food category which can mean digestion problems like gas, bloating, diarrhea, heartburn and constipation. Between the types of food we indulge in and the amount of overeating we do, our digestive systems can't always keep up. As you are getting ready for your holiday fun, add taking probiotics and digestive enzymes to your list to help you get extra digestive support.

Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes work in your digestive system in conjunction with hydrochloric acid and bile salts to break down the foods you eat in order for the body to use the nutrients from them. Without enzymes doing the job of breaking foods down, the food would sit in the digestive tract which would negatively affect the immune system, create toxicity in the body, and cause digestion issues. There are particular enzymes that work to break down fats, proteins, sugar, starch, and other carbohydrates. Raw foods contain their own digestive enzymes, but these enzymes are destroyed by cooking foods at over 108 degrees. Your pancreas produces many of the enzymes the digestive system uses to break down foods, but we often overtax this organ and don't give it the nourishment it needs to keep up. When we eat a lot more than usual and especially eating foods that are cooked or that are not particularly healthy, we can give our digestive system some help by taking digestive enzyme supplements.

When selecting a digestive enzyme supplement you want to make sure it is plant based and will work under a variety of pH levels since the acidity and alkalinity differs so radically between the stomach and intestines. The primary enzymes to look for on the label when choosing a supplement include:

Amylase – used to break down starch and carbohydrates for energy and to relieve mental fatigue.

Protease – used to break down proteins into amino acid peptides needed for healthy cells, muscle tissue, skin, hair and energy.

Lipase – used to break down fat in the small intestine to retrieve vitamins from foods, support cellular structure, and for healthy skin and hair. A shortage of lipase can compromise the circulation and contribute to high blood pressure and high cholesterol and degrade the immune system.

Lactase – used to break down lactose and milk sugars to get nutrients from dairy for energy.

Glucoamylase – a different type of amylase that works on breaking down starches and carbohydrates.

Cellulase – used to break down the indigestible fiber, cellulose, in fruits and vegetables.

Taking enzyme supplements can help remove toxins, increase energy, aid in weight loss, decrease the possibility of allergy reactions, and help your body extract the nutrients it can use from foods. When you know you are going to be eating rich holiday foods, taking a high quality enzyme supplement just before meals and in between meals can help you avoid digestive discomforts and is a much better alternative than using antacids. Antacids neutralize stomach acid which the digestive system needs to break down food. Taking enzyme supplements in between meals gives you the added bonus of letting any not needed for digestion directly to help clean up any undigested food in your gut and to enter the bloodstream to clean up residual food particles that might be identified as foreign invaders by the immune system.

Probiotics
Having a good supply of healthy probiotics, the friendly bacteria that live in your intestines, in your system is another way to get the most out of the food you eat, keep your digestive system in good working order, and help out with the extra eating during holiday meals. They also help produce the B vitamins that we use up in times of extra stress and we know the holidays are full of that. Lactobacillus probiotics also help in the body's production of digestive enzymes. There has additionally been research indicating that probiotics can lower the risk of coronary disease by absorbing cholesterol. They also help combat those unfriendly bacteria that can make us sick including those that act on the nitrates found in some of our food sources converting them to nitroso-compounds that can lead to cancers. Overeating, especially of meat, together with too many bad bacteria in the intestines can produce an excess in ammonia gas that stresses the liver. Using a bifidobacteria supplement can help take some of that stress off. There are fermented foods that can help you build up your supply of probiotics, but high quality probiotic supplements can insure that you are getting the strains of bacteria you need without the extra calories or extra eating in the holidays. Acidophilus and bifidus are the most common probiotics to make sure you are adding to your system, but a full spectrum probiotic may also be needed especially if you have ongoing digestive problems.

Don't let your holidays be ruined by digestive problems. Go ahead and enjoy some of your favorite holiday foods, in moderation of course. Just take along your enzyme and probiotic supplements to give your digestive system a holiday too by not letting it get overworked.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Sources:
http://www.needs.com/product/NDNL-0812-01/a_Digestive_Enzymes
http://althealthworks.com/288/how-to-support-your-digestion-with-plant-based-enzymes-this-holiday-season/
http://treelite.com/articles/nf/digestive-enzymes-rapid-relief-for-indigestion-from-holiday-feasting.html
Abrams, Karl J., Algae to the Rescue!

The Truth About Diets

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 14:20:00 +0000

by guest contributor Barb Swanson

Trying to figure out what a healthy diet consists of is hard. This article gives you a snap-shot on the Functional Nutrition viewpoint of truth vs. fiction in diets and supplements.

There are a dozen celebrities touting a dozen different "best" diets and weight loss programs. We have internet health gurus and social media influencers. Many have tens--or even hundreds--of thousands of followers. Each touts their philosophy (with matching product lines), always with claims of the best science, best ingredients, best results. Education on nutrition is equally complex! There are hundreds of studies, many of which seem to contradict the others. Finding your way to any single "truth" is nearly impossible.

False: Any diet advising you to eat mostly one or two macronutrient groups, or to completely stop eating any of them, has already missed the point of what your body needs for long-term good health.
Examples: The Keto diet, no-fat diets, high-protein diets.
Fact: We need all the forms of macronutrients--fats, proteins and carbs. Each type of food offers specific micronutrients, found mostly or even exclusively in that food group, upon which our bodies depend for good health. What matters most is that you choose healthy, whole foods instead of processed, nutrient-empty foods.

False: As long as you use the recommended multivitamin pills or drink, the diet you use will be fine.
Examples: Vitamin/mineral or vitamin/antioxidant tablets or drinks. Often, these are sold by the promoters of the diet you are doing.
Fact: It is micronutrients--elements we need in very small amounts--that determine whether the fats are good fats, if proteins are complete, and whether carbs build health or destroy health. We need approximately 50 essential micronutrients on a daily basis. No multi-vitamin or drink can begin to replace the healthy balances found in whole foods.

False: You get better health benefits using "proven" isolated nutrients.
Examples: Lab-created antioxidants like glutathione and NAD, or MCT, a type of highly-processed triglycerides.
Fact: Your body doesn't use isolated nutrients. We use whole suites of nutrients together, each building a part of our complex cells and systems. No lab-created formula or isolated nutrient can begin to mimic the hundreds of co-factors, intrinsic factors and nutrient interactions found in whole foods. No study on a single nutrient can answer to the myriad other health interactions whole foods support.

False: Foods that have studies proving their benefits are better than other foods.
Examples: Soybeans, corn oil, milk.
Fact: It is estimated that science has only discovered and examined 5% of the total number of nutrients found in whole foods.

Indeed, the very nature of a scientific test, with built-in narrow parameters, encourages single nutrient studies. This means not that whole foods are less effective than the nutrients isolated out and studied; but rather, that scientific studies, as they are practiced today, can't easily quantify the benefits of a whole food or whole food formula, which will contain dozens or even hundreds of nutrients, nutrient interactions and nutrient benefits.

These four facts point to one conclusion: The best way to support your entire body--cells, systems and all--is by eating the whole foods, or whole-food supplements, that are loaded with micronutrients.

It isn't that all diets are wrong. Certainly, learning the reasons a diet is effective may teach you better diet options. It isn't that you should never use a supplement. What is important is to understand that whole-food based supplements are going to offer dramatically more potential benefits than any lab-created or isolated nutrient. It isn't that all studies are wrong or bad. In fact, they offer important information for us all. However, remember that any isolated nutrient benefit is likely to be only enhanced by eating the whole food that has that nutrient (such as using coconut oil instead of buying MCT), or a whole food that helps your body to create that nutrient (like glutathione and NAD).

Bottom Line: Find foods that are fresh, local & organic. Look to history for foods that have a rich history of human usage. Current scientific proof or not, foods that have been eaten for hundreds, or even thousands, of years, are the most likely to give you dietary support for good health.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Simple Ways to Eat Healthy During the Holiday Rush

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 16:00:00 +0000

To many people the holidays mean food and to eat healthy is often a challenge. It's estimated that on the average most of us gain a pound over the holidays. I'm pretty sure in my case that is a low estimate. While that pound may not sound too bad, if you eat that way regularly those pounds add up. According to Dr. Oz, instead of paying attention to your waist size over the holidays it's better to concentrate on building muscle so that losing that weight afterwards is not as hard. Here are some holiday tips on eating to build up muscle, eat healthy and incorporate some fat burning foods into your diet.

Getting enough sleep helps curb craving for comfort foods and snacks and supports building muscle.

Use spices, herbs, fruits and nuts to flavor dishes instead of butter and other fats. Garlic mashed potatoes are a great example and replace fatty sour cream dips with hummus.

Eat a healthy protein or healthy fat snack before going to holiday parties so you are not as likely to overeat, especially if the party includes a buffet table.

Substitute healthier snack choices that meet your food cravings. For example, if you crave a creamy sweet like ice cream have a cup of yogurt with fruit instead or at least go for a smaller amount of slow churned ice cream that doesn't have as much fat and can be half the amount of calories. If your food craving leans more towards the chips category because of the salt and crunch you get, you can easily rack up 1230 calories by eating an eight ounce bag. Carrots, celery, or baked whole grain crackers with a hummus dip can give you the crunch in a more healthy way without sacrificing flavor.

Protein foods satisfy hunger longer and burn up more calories in digesting them than other types of foods. Quinoa makes a great side dish with a cup having 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber and fish is a good protein that is also low fat and gives you omega-3 fatty acids. Most adults need 45 – 56 grams of protein daily and more if they get regular exercise so food sources are usually adequate to provide the protein needed. If you have a really strenuous or active lifestyle or just don't take the time to eat right, protein drinks can help. To lose fat the best are the ones with not many carbs and mostly protein with only a touch of fat. Jose Antonio, chief executive officer and co-founder of the International Society of Sports Nutrition advises having a drink that is over 50% protein to lose body fat.

Traditional holiday fare is always a temptation. We all have family favorites that maybe we've had since childhood bringing up fond memories. Instead of depriving yourself of these type goodies, limit the amount you'll eat. One bite of that chocolate fudge savored slowly can satisfy the craving so that you don't have to gobble up several pieces.

Nuts are a food often served at parties and just sitting around as a snack food during the holidays. While nuts are a healthy snack, they also are a fatty snack so too much can put on the weight. A single cup of mixed nuts can be over 800 calories. Get nuts with shells that have to be cracked. That will take longer to eat than already shelled nuts that you can wolf down by the handful.

Many people get a blood sugar drop in the middle of the afternoon and reach for a carb filled or sugary snack to regain energy. That adds on calories and the body burns those types of calories quicker. A snack with protein and complex carb will stabilize blood sugar and last longer. Healthy snacks to have around are ones that have less than 200 calories like yogurt with fruit, boiled eggs, and veggies with bean dip or hummus.

Stress is abundant during the holidays so be careful of emotional or stress eating. Try going for a walk, meditation or a relaxing soak in the tub before turning to food to relieve stress.

A study in Appetite reported workers taking a 15 minute walk were 50% less likely to eat chocolate back at their desks than those that rested for those 15 minutes. So getting some exercise not only burns off some of those extra calories, but also can curb your craving for sweets.

When snacking on yogurt, pick Greek yogurt as it has double the protein of regular yogurts to help build muscle and keep you full longer. Your body also burns more calories digesting protein than it does digesting carbohydrates.

Foods that have a high water content are great for curbing appetite as they make you feel fuller, are full of nutrients and are low calorie. Raw veggies and fruits fit in this category and also provide you with antioxidants and fiber. Oatmeal not only has a high water content, but is also rich in fiber, filling, and hot. Hot foods take a longer time to eat. Filling up on salad before a meal can also help you avoid overeating more fatty foods with the main meal.

Here's to healthier eating over the holidays this year! Just being aware of ways to cut down your calorie intake can help you avoid overeating and make it easier to burn off those extra calories after the holidays.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/food-cravings-diet-wreckers?ecd=wnl_lbt_091014&ctr=wnl-lbt-091014_nsl-ld-stry&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3D
http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-fat-fighting-foods?ecd=wnl_wmhA_082614&ctr=wnl-wmh-082614_nsl-ld-stry&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3D
http://www.webmd.com/diet/protein-shakes?ecd=wnl_day_072814&ctr=wnl-day-072814_nsl-ld-stry_2&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3D
http://www.oprah.com/health/Dr-Ozs-Holiday-Secrets_1
http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/foods-weight-loss-and-prevent-cold-and-flu

Your Immune System: 7 Ways to Avoid Putting it at Risk with the Flu

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 14:30:00 +0000

Flu season is upon us again and the best way to avoid getting sick with the flu is to strengthen your immune system. If you already eat healthy, take probiotics, get enough sleep and exercise, then chances are your immune system is in pretty good shape. The trick now is to keep it strong especially during flu season. Let's look at a few things you can do to avoid putting your immune system at risk and keep it strong to help you fight off flu.

What is the Flu?
The flu is caused by a virus just as a cold is. But flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms. You generally start seeing relief from cold symptoms within a week whereas flu symptoms can last a bit longer and you don't bounce back as fast. The worst flu symptoms may show relief after a week, but you can still be lacking energy and have milder symptoms for weeks. Symptoms of flu can include a high grade fever, achy muscles, headache, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue and possibly vomiting or diarrhea.

Keeping Your Immune System Strong
1. Get Rest
Not getting enough sleep reduces immune cell function and impairs the ability of your immune system to protect you from illness such as the flu. If you are feeling sick, then getting more sleep helps increase your immune system's fever response to fight off invaders. Getting extra rest also helps immune cells regenerate. Adults need to get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night. This is especially important to make a priority during flu season to keep your immune system healthy.

2. Avoid Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect your immune system function. Drinking too much alcohol can reduce white blood cells and prevent your body's absorption of nutrients. One study performed with mice reported those given large amounts of alcohol showed signs of the immune system being weaker. Flu season is an especially good time to hit the sack early instead of staying up late at parties or out drinking with friends.

3. Hand Washing
One of your best lines of defense against getting the flu is to wash your hands. Use soap and warm water to wash throughout the day and particularly after being out in public places where you have been touching things that could have picked up germs from others, after coughing or sneezing into your hand, after using the restroom, or touching your face. When you wash, make sure you wash thoroughly and for at least 20 seconds, then be sure to dry your hands completely. Using paper towels is also better for cutting down on germ exposure than using a cloth towel, especially if multiple people are using the cloth towel.

4. Immune Support Supplement
One way I have found to support the immune system is this supplement containing reishi, cordyceps, maitake, shiitake, Turkey Tail, and Agaricus blazei mushrooms with astragalus, beta glucan and bluegreen algae. Pure, whole particle beta glucan helps with inflammation by mobilizing white blood cells to areas of injury or inflammation. These white blood cells (macrophages) remove damaged tissue quickly before it has time to trigger more inflammation. Beta glucan from yeast has been known to help fight off bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics, release chemicals that support immune cells, reduce cold symptoms, and help regulate the immune system. Beta glucans are not something the body produces naturally so we have to get them from food or supplement sources. Adding a single capsule of this immune support supplement each day to your diet can help give your body the nutritional elements shown to actively defend against invading germs, viruses and antigens by stimulating the macrophages into action, which in turn triggers an entire chain reaction of defense mechanisms in the body. Shiitake and reishi mushrooms have been found to have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties as well as being rich in beta glucans. Maitake, cordyceps and Turkey Tail mushrooms have also been found to contain a variety of substances that benefit your immune system.

5. Precautions Around Other People
Since the flu is contagious, there are certain precautions to take when around other people that will help reduce your risk of getting it. Even if you are around people that don't appear sick, they can have the virus and begin spreading it. Washing your hands after coming into physical contact with another (ie. – shaking hands with them) is one way you can cut down on your chances of getting the virus. If you can't immediately wash your hands then at least be sure to not touch your mouth, nose or eyes until you can wash. I know mom told us to cover our mouths when we cough and most people cover their noses when they sneeze, but sneezing or coughing into your sleeve instead of your hand can help cut down on the spreading of flu germs. Encourage those around you to do the same. During the peak of flu season, the safest course is to avoid crowded public places since the virus can be spread over quite a distance through the air. If that is not possible, some people wear filtering masks to reduce their risk of being affected. Others just stick with being contentious about washing their hands extra and avoid anyone that is showing symptoms of the flu.

6. Drink Water
Keeping your body hydrated helps keep all the systems including your immune system functioning at their peak capacity. Not drinking enough water also distracts your immune system as it deals with toxins in the body that are not being released from the body through urination. Drinking the right amount of water for you will leave your urine a pale yellow color. If your urine is darker yellow, then you are probably not drinking enough water daily. Drinking lots of water is also important if you get the flu as it helps flush the flu out of your system.

7. Don't Worry
Anxiety and stress can also reduce the function of your immune system. Stress reduces your levels of IgA, a protein that is part of the immune system and helps fight off infections by preventing invaders from getting into the body, leaving the immune system more vulnerable. Reducing stress or learning methods of coping with stress can go a long way towards strengthening your immune system. On a spiritual or energetic level, according to the Law of Attraction, worrying about getting the flu can actually cause you to manifest it or draw it into your reality. Take the precautions listed in this article and go on about your everyday life without worrying that you might get the flu. If you do get the flu, then you'll deal with it, but worrying about getting it will definitely not keep it away. Cut down on other life stressors or find ways to cope with them during the flu season too so that your immune system has the best chance of helping you avoid the flu.

The flu is nothing to fool around with. In some cases it can lead to hospitalization and even death. At best, it means time missed from work or school, family and feeling miserable. Give some or all these tips a try and get your immune system in top working order to help you fight off illness this flu season.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20311978,00.html?xid=healthforwomen12092013

Good Digestion for Even the Worst Junk Food Junky

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 14:30:00 +0000

I know and I'm sure you do too what is involved in healthy eating, but sometimes situations come up that get us off this track and we end up eating some kind of junk food. It may be a really hectic day where we drive through a junk food or fast food restaurant or a special family event or a party with lots of sweets, unhealthy fats and simple carbs. Whatever the reason, we can still balance out those times when we splurge. Extra calories in means taking the time to get in a little extra exercise to burn them off. The bigger problem is what junk food does to the digestive tract and the friendly bacteria that supports good digestion, immune system functioning, and helps us handle stress.

Digestion
Our digestive system is responsible for taking the foods we eat and breaking them down into forms the body can absorb and use to fuel itself and stay healthy. It starts in the mouth with enzymes in saliva that start breaking foods down in the chewing process and lubricating it for swallowing. The esophagus then takes the food you swallow and passes it on to the stomach where more enzymes help break down foods over about an hour. At that time hydrochloric acid comes into play in the stomach for more break down. The small intestine comes next and the pancreas supplies alkaline to neutralize the acid and digestive enzymes protease, lipase and amylase. In the small intestine nutrients are extracted, absorbed and passed on through the blood stream to various parts of the body. The food has now been broken down with proteins becoming amino acids, fats becoming fatty acids and carbs becoming glucose. The large intestine then absorbs water from food and passes out any remaining waste products.

Junk Food and Digestion
Junk food not only interferes with this digestion process with its extra fat, salt and sugar, but also doesn't give you the necessary digestive enzymes to help breakdown foods. It also doesn't have the nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy and according to the Mayo Clinic can leave you feeling bloated, slow the digestion process down and contribute to gaining too much weight which is definitely unhealthy. The extra salt in these types of food are damaging to kidneys and increase the risk of high blood pressure. One study reported by ABC News found participants developed liver damage eating fast food two times a day for a month. Junk food and fast foods are also damaging to the friendly bacteria that live in the intestines and fight off disease as well as supply B vitamins that help us with stress. In addition to the bad things that junk food does to the body, it also doesn't do much good. The vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients the body needs to perform well just aren't available from junk food.

Supporting Digestion Through a Junk Food Binge
Even if we eat healthy most of the time, there are always times when we are likely to slip. Eating out with friends or family, stress eating, parties or family get-togethers are all places where it's hard to avoid some type of junk foods that don't have the good nutrition of your normal meals. A good way to help counteract those times when you know you will be attending a function where you are likely to encounter less than healthy foods is to stock up on digestive enzymes. This means eating a lot of raw foods before and after the event and possibly taking a digestive enzyme supplement. You can also make sure that beforehand you are extra conscientious about the other types of foods you eat and stick with a wholefoods healthy diet with lots of fruits and veggies, lean protein, whole grains and healthy fats. Plan to continue this after the event too. According to San Francisco nutritionist, Michelle Davenport, junk food is addictive and once you start indulging it's hard to beat the cravings for more. To stick with your good nutrition diet, develop the mindset that junk food is merely a treat to indulge in occasionally sort of like Christmas. Most of us love Christmas but we can't have it all year round. We have to wait for it to come around again next year. To help ward off the junk food cravings you can also make sure you have lean protein and fiber with meals to slow digestion down in a healthy way and stabilize insulin, increase exercise to reduce stress hormones that increase cravings, and get enough good quality sleep which also reduces production of hormones that contribute to cravings. You can also support your body's nutritional needs during these times by taking these convenient packets of daily supplements that give you the all the necessary amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements from AFA bluegreen algae, probiotics for healthy digestive support and digestive enzyme.

Don't spend time beating yourself up when you slip off your healthy eating diet. Life is meant to be enjoyed and sometimes that means eating a little junk food with family or friends. Just don't make it an everyday habit and use some of these tips to help your body still get what it needs to function at its best.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/166549-fast-food-digestion/
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/counteracting-the-effects-of-junk-food/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/self/diet-and-nutrition_b_4683091.html

The Importance of Hydration

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 14:44:00 +0000

by guest contributor Barb Swanson

We Know We Need It...
For years, people have heard they need to get enough water. It is an accepted fact that 64 ounces, or 1/2 gallon, daily, is a good amount for most people. And people are now drinking bottled water in record-setting quantities. So why are 75 million of us still dehydrated?

Some say they simply can't handle drinking that much water a day. They simply had to urinate too much. And this can be true. Most work places frown on being in the restroom more than a couple of times a day or even at breaks only. And even when you do drink your 1/2 a gallon a day, you could still be dehydrated. Turns out, many dietary and lifestyle factors (examples include processed foods and heated homes) can interfere with water absorption.

I'd learned from my own experiments that using unsweetened green or white teas, or herbal teas, seemed to offer the benefit of less bathroom trips. I theorized that the minerals and nutrients in those teas would actually make the water better for your cells. Now, science is proving this is true. In fact, studies are showing that adding raw fruits and vegetables to your diet can be a superior way to get effective cellular hydration.

What is Gel Water?
Most water is H2O -- or so we thought.

Groundbreaking research from Harvard and Cornell has found that the water in our cells and in plant cells is actually H3O2. It's gel-like water that's been charged by electrolytes. This gel water acts as fuel "for every action of every cell," notes Gerald Pollack, PhD, head of the University of Washington's Pollack Water Lab.

The science is complicated, but it boils down to this: Minerals help to structure water so it is more bio-available for your cells. Water in our cells is crucial for metabolism and countless other functions. Gel water in particular, primes our cells to function optimally.

Eat Your Water!
European research shows that consuming plants rich in gel water -- including most raw fruit and veggies -- "is up to twice as hydrating as drinking water," says Dr. Dana Cohen. Gel water from plants passes more readily into our cells -- and it's denser and less likely to leak out of damaged or aging cells.

Tips to Get Your Gel On

Eat six servings of gel-water-rich foods--i.e., raw fruits and veggies--daily.
Add an extra serving for every dehydrating grain-based or meat-based food you eat.
Avoid processed foods, which siphon off fluid during digestion.
There's evidence that ghee and clarified butter are extremely high in gel water.
Eat healthy fat. "Water enters cells through an oil-guarded membrane," Cohen says. "Good fats, especially omega-3s, keep membranes supple, increasing absorption."

Bottom Line...
Fresh fruits and vegetables offer us big benefits when eaten daily.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Natural Solutions for Longevity

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Throughout history mankind has longed for and searched for a fountain of youth valuing longevity as a treasure. It could be that you need look no further than your kitchen for lots of natural solutions as your own fountain of youth. Researchers studying populations around the world find that there are groups of people that seem to live longer on the average and much of this is attributed to their healthy eating habits. For example, compare the life expectancy in Okinawa found to be 81 years to the worldwide average of 67 years or the group Seventh Day Adventists studied showing a longevity of 4 to 7 years more than other populations in the U.S. or the people of San Blas islands where high blood pressure and heart disease are almost non-existent. When groups such as these are studied, their diet seems to be a major factor that researchers give credit for these longevity statistics. Diets with lots of low calorie, high fiber vegetables and low in saturated fats seem to be something they all have in common.

Healthy Food and Healthy Eating Habits
What else do you need on your plate besides fruits and vegetables to establish healthy eating habits that can add to your longevity? An equally important question is what you should not be eating that decreases your longevity. If your meals consist of lots of fast food, junk food, processed meals, high sugar, trans fat and simple carb filled foods, then you are taking a big risk with your health as this type of eating leads to creating an inflammatory state in the body which can result in many diseases including heart disease and diabetes. This type of eating increases free radicals in the body which damage cells and doesn't give you the antioxidants you need to help combat these damaging molecules or to repair the damage they do. Fruits and veggies are loaded with antioxidant protection making them the number one food items to include at mealtimes. Dark chocolate also has lots of antioxidants and researchers attribute the longevity of the San Blas islands group in part to the amount of it they consume. In fact, antioxidants have been extensively researched and found to help with everything from supporting heart health to brain health. The Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University has long been doing research on antioxidants concluding that they protect the brain from changes that can come with age that can result in memory loss and dementia. When looking to get more antioxidant foods in your diet, look for bright colored fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, pomegranates, tomatoes, carrots, squash, broccoli, grapes, sweet potatoes, and Bell peppers. When you can't get all the antioxidant protection you need from your diet, you can still get an antioxidant boost from a wholefood supplement such as this one.

Another consideration in looking at a longevity diet is how much salt you consume. Even if you don't use the salt shaker much, many processed foods contain high amounts of salt. Read labels and look for products low in salt or salt-free and use herbs or spices to flavor foods instead of salt. This will help you combat high blood pressure and new research indicates that it could help protect brain cells and lower the risk of memory loss as you age. As neuroscientist Aron Troen, PhD at Tufts University explains, the vasculature that sends oxygen and nutrients to the brain can sustain damage from high blood pressure and thus increase the chance of cognitive problems as we age.

For healthy eating habits that increase longevity, nutritional researcher Joel Fuhrman, M.D. encourages a diet of foods that have a high vitamin, mineral, phytochemical content and includes allium compounds, glucosinolates, aromatase inhibitors, flavonoids and lignans. That means eating healthy food like green leafy and cruciferous veggies such as kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, spinach, lettuce, and cauliflower, berries, beans mushrooms, onions, seeds such as flax, chia, and sunflower, and nuts. He also advises avoiding foods that are processed and have refined white sugar and flour, and high fat dairy and other high fat animal protein foods. His list of foods to avoid for healthy eating includes foods with trans fats, processed meats like sausage, hot dogs and lunch meats, fried foods, and foods with lots of refined white sugar, white flour, and that are high in salt.

Go With the Grain
Other important components to establishing healthy eating habits include adding whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins to your plate. Whole grains have been found to help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, stabilize blood sugar levels giving you more energy, help keep you feeling full longer and are slower to digest so they help keep weight down. They also help boost serotonin levels in the brain that help maintain feelings of calmness and happiness, can help you reduce your cravings for less healthy foods, help you get a better night's sleep, and help keep your mood stable.

Fatten Up Your Diet the Right Way
The right way to fatten up your diet is not by gorging on cookies, cakes, and chips. These are all full of trans-fats which increase free radicals in the body, increase LDL cholesterol levels, reduce HDL cholesterol levels, increase triglycerides, add to belly fat, and contribute to inflammation, cardiovascular disease and other unhealthy conditions. On the other hand there are healthy fats that the body and in particular the brain need to function. These types of fats include essential fatty acids, monounsaturated , and other unsaturated fats. Eating fatty fish such as salmon and tuna will help you add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet that research shows is particularly good for heart health, fighting depression and memory loss as you get older. Nuts, dark-green leafy vegetables, various seeds such as chia and flax, and oils such as flax or olive as well as AFA bluegreen algae are other good sources for omega-3's. For a cost-effective, convenient and easy way to not only get the powerhouse nutrition of AFA bluegreen algae, but also the probiotics and digestive enzymes to help your body absorb nutrients, these supplement packets offer a great natural solution.

Now that you know what healthy eating habits can add to your longevity and which foods to definitely avoid, you'll see why your own fountain of youth is right in your own kitchen. Making some dietary changes and including wholefood supplements to fill in the nutritional gaps can help you "live long and prosper" and there's no time like the present to get started on adding some of these natural solutions to your regimen.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/eating-longevity
https://www.drfuhrman.com/library/article13.aspx

Best Healthy Foods for High Energy Workouts

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Exercise is a key ingredient for a healthy lifestyle for everything from weight loss to aging gracefully, but did you know there are healthy foods that can help your high energy exercise workouts before and after? Whether you exercise a lot or a little, your body needs the right healthy foods to give it the energy to perform. For those who are really into doing high energy workouts or sports, this is even more vital. Here are some of the food categories to make sure you include in your diet to support your body for intense, high energy exercise.

Protein
You need protein to build strong muscle and maintain muscle integrity and strength. Protein also keeps blood cells healthy which is important for getting nutrients and oxygen to the muscles. Good proteins come from lean sources such as beans, soy, and dairy, whole grains, sprouts, nuts, leafy greens and if you need a meat fix then opt for white meat chicken, turkey, seafood or lean cuts of beef. Be sure to take the skin off the chicken before cooking as it contains lots of saturated fat. Whole grain rice combined with beans makes a tasty complete protein. The whole algae cell form of AFA bluegreen algae gives your body access to proteins necessary for physical energy. AFA bluegreen algae is not only a rich source of protein, but also contains all eight of the essential amino acids in perfect balance recommended for people. According to Christine Rosenbloom, PhD, RD, sports nutrition expert, author and nutrition professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta, consuming protein after exercise is best so that it can repair and build muscle.

Carbohydrates
Your body can only easily digest a certain amount of carbohydrates before it then converts those carbs to fat to store away so it’s important to eat the right kinds of carbs and limit them according to your activity level. Eating carbohydrates after a workout helps your body produce insulin which is needed for muscle building. They also help replenish your energy after an extreme workout by replacing glycogen and glucose. Many experts also recommend adding a lean source of protein such as chicken or dairy to your after exercise complex carb grain snack. Eating foods with carbohydrates from whole grains such as wheat bread, brown rice, and cereals can help increase levels of serotonin and are absorbed slowly by the body which means they help keep blood sugar levels stable and keep your energy level stable. Eating bread, cereals, rice, fruits or vegetables before exercise gives your body the carbs it needs for the energy to do a workout.

Fluids
Drinking lots of pure water helps flush toxins out of the body, replaces the fluid lost from sweating during exercise, and keeps the circulation and body organs working efficiently. Water is essential to every function in your body, and the more stressed your body is, the more water you need. So the more high energy your workout is, the more hydration you need. Since extreme physical activity can increase your body temperature, water is needed to keep your body temperature down to safe levels. Whenever possible, avoid chlorine and other additives to your water. Chlorine tends to kill the beneficial bacteria in the gut, your first line of defense against illness. Stay away from tap water and drink plenty of spring or filtered water to keep your body pure and detoxified. Drinking water during the day and then drinking extra 2 hours before a high energy workout will help your performance. Christine Rosenbloom, PhD, RD recommends sports drinks with carbohydrates and sodium for exercise or sports activities lasting over an hour in a hot and humid environment or for people who sweat excessively.

Good fats
Eating foods with monounsaturated fatty acid helps give you the energy needed for exercising, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps muscle strong. This is the type of good fats found in foods like peanut butter, olive oil, nuts, olives, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil and avocados. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are also in the "good" fats category and our bodies do need some fat in order to function properly. Fat is needed to dissolve certain vitamins that are vital for a healthy body. Research has found that eating MUFAS helps keep blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels stable, reduce buildup of plaque, support healthy blood circulation, reduce the risk of heart disease and help burn off belly fat. They are also more filling so you don't have to eat as much as with other foods to satisfy hunger. And really who wants to exercise when you are stuffed and bloated? PUFAS can help release fat, increase metabolism and the body burns them faster than saturated types of fat. PUFAS are found in fish and fish oils, bluegreen alage, nuts and seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of PUFAS and have many benefits for physical and mental health

Supplements
In addition to eating healthy foods for high energy workouts, we have a natural supplement solution that supports the body engaged in an active lifestyle, that exercises regularly, that participates in sports or that is prone to overdoing it physically. This set of products is combined to give you supplements to take before a workout and supplements to take after a workout. The capsules in these packets have a variety of ingredients already measured out for you that:

provide a nutrient rich, whole food source the body needs for physical energy
have amino acids found to reduce muscle damage
have anti-inflammatory properties
provide nutrition found to support joints and cartilage
have antioxidants to aid against damage from free radicals
provide protein rich plant sterols known to support sports performance
provide cellular nutrition
nourish and protect the body from tissue breakdown resulting from the intensity of post-workout

Since this supplement is already measured and packaged for you, it’s easy to take with you to the gym, up a mountain, or anywhere you go. These capsules contain ingredients such as bluegreen algae, wheatgrass juice, cordyceps and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, bee pollen, turmeric, noni, vegetable-based glucosamine, chondroitin, bromelain, papain, protease, lipase, and serratiopeptidase. Individually these each have their own benefits to support mental concentration needed during sports and extreme workouts, joint and cartilage support, and anti-inflammatory properties. Collectively they add up to a great whole food source for physical energy to prepare your body for a high energy workout and to support its recovery after a high energy workout.

Now that you have some ideas of what healthy foods your body needs before and after a high energy workout, get going! Eat well, hydrate appropriately and support your body so that whatever sport, exercise or activity you enjoy, you perform at your peak level.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Source:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/what-eat-before-during-after-exercise?ecd=wnl_wlw_071313&ctr=wnl-wlw-071313_ld-stry&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3d

Easy Joint Health to Keep You Active

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 15:00:00 +0000

How often do you really think about your joints? If you aren't having problems with them, the chances are you don't think about them often and take for granted all the things they allow your body to do. But if you suffer with joint stiffness, achy joints, or the pain of arthritis, you may think about your joints a lot.

Importance of Joint Health
A joint is the place where two bones meet. They get support to keep the bones from rubbing against each other from cartilage and synovium which are smooth tissues and synovial fluid. Movable joints also use cartilage to help you move by allowing the bones to glide over each other. Taking care of your cartilage, ligaments, muscles and bones is important to keep your joints healthy and avoiding joint stiffness and achy joints. Aging, injury and being overweight can cause damage and wear on the cartilage and joints and can lead to arthritis. Arthritis isn't just for the elderly. Younger people can also be at risk for it. Osteoarthritis is the most common form and affects around 21 million adults. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout and Juvenile arthritis are some of the other forms that make up the conditions affecting over 50 million Americans. According to Sharon Kolasinski, M.D., an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, one-third to one-half of doctor visits are attributed to musculosketal problems.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis begins when the support around the joints is no longer providing the cushioning needed for protection. This occurs because of cartilage wearing down from things like aging, any type of injury whether big or little that has occurred to a joint, inflammation that damages cartilage, loss of muscle mass that happens as we age and the strain joints and cartilage endure from carrying around too much excess body weight.

You don't have to settle for joint pain and stiffness no matter what age you are. There are natural solutions you can use to help support joint health. Here are a few to consider.

Keep Those Joints Moving
To maintain good joint health and prevent achy joints and joint stiffness, the key is to continue moving them. Exercise is a big part of that, but also just not staying in one position for too long can help. If you work a lot at a desk, get up and move periodically. If you are sitting for a long period of time at least shift your position from time to time. Since extra weight puts a strain on joints and cartilage, weight loss exercise can also be important. Did you realize that studies show you put four times more stress on your knees for every extra pound you are carrying around? That's a lot of potential damage to your knee joints, not to mention the strain on hips and your back!

Stretching exercises are recommended by experts for keeping joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles fit. They do however warn that stretching should be done after some warmup exercise instead of on cold muscles. Low-impact exercises are preferable to high-impact to lower the risk of joint damage. Walking, bike riding and swimming are examples of low-impact exercise. Other helpful exercise includes strength training exercise since having strong muscles can relieve some of the stress to joints. Doing range of motion exercises can help keep joints flexible and lessen the chance for joint stiffness. Be sure to check with your health care provider before taking on any type of exercise program to make sure it is safe for you.

Nutrition to Support Joint Health
Eating a well-balanced healthy diet is important for building strong muscle and bone which in turn supports joint health. In particular, make sure you are getting omega-3 fatty acids into your diet as it adds a lot of benefits for your health. For joints studies have found that omega-3's can help reduce inflammation that can lead to joint pain. Omega-3 is found in foods such as coldwater fish like cod, mackerel and salmon, fresh fruit, dark-green leafy greens, AFA blue-green algae, seeds and nuts, and flax and olive oil. Your diet also needs to include those foods that will give you strong bones. That means making sure you are getting the right amount of calcium. Good food sources for calcium include milk products, broccoli, kale, figs, and fortified cereals. The calcium won't help you though if you don't get the right amount of Vitamin D to help your body absorb it. Some research has also shown that Vitamin D supports joint health by helping to reduce inflammation in joints. Our bodies create Vitamin D mainly from our exposure to sunshine so getting outdoors a little bit every day is important. If you are unable to do this, a Vitamin D supplement may be required. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider to see if this type of supplement is right for you. You can get Vitamin D from some foods such as dairy products, and fortified cereals or soy and almond milk. Muscles need protein to stay strong which means making sure you have lean protein foods such as white meat chicken, beans, legumes, soy, seafood and nuts in your diet. Your healthcare provider may need to be consulted if you are not sure what the right amount of protein is for your age and sex. Antioxidants are another important part of a healthy diet that can help with joint health as they help repair the damage done to the body by free radicals. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are the best way to get antioxidants into your diet.

Supplements to Support Joint Health
If you know you are not getting the right type of nutrition to support healthy bones, muscles, cartilage and joints, there are supplements that can help. Glucosamine is probably one of the best known. While more research is needed, there have been studies reporting glucosamine and chondroitin being used successfully to relieve joint pain. One study at the University of Utah School of Medicine reported glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate being able to give pain relief to those suffering with pain from moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally occurring in our cartilage. Check with your healthcare provider however before using supplements of this type as they may interfere or be harmful to take in conjunction with other medications you may be on such as blood thinners.

SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), is another well-known supplement that has been found useful in coping with joint pain. SAMe is produced naturally by the body, but production decreases as we get older. There have been studies showing that supplementing with SAMe can work on joint pain much like anti-inflammatory drugs do. Turmeric, ginger and boswellia have also been reported to work as well as some anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce joint pain from osteoarthritis. Ginger in particular may thin blood so be sure to check with your healthcare provider to see if this is safe for you especially if you are on any blood thinner medications.

One way to add glucosamine and chondroitin along with undenatured collagen, and organic AFA bluegreen algae is with this supplement. The same type of nutrition needed for the body to recover from heavy activity or exercise is also the same type that supports joint health. This supplement combines a proprietary blend of plant-based proteolytic enzymes--bromelain, papain, protease, lipase, and serratiopeptidase, and organic AFA bluegreen algae to provide the nutrition necessary for the body to reduce the risks of inflammation and recover from physical exertion.

Laugh Your Way to Better Joint Health
According to Sebastien Gendry, director of the American School of Laughter Yoga in Pasadena, laughter can be used for managing pain. Research has shown that laughter has many health benefits and one of those benefits is giving a boost to the immune system. Laughing can also increase the blood circulation and reduce stress. Hasya, or laughter yoga, incorporates activities and breathing that promote laughing which causes a release of endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that give us a lift and make us feel better that Gendry believes can work like a natural painkiller.

Try out the natural solution tips that will work and be safe for your situation to relieve your achy joints and joint stiffness. Joint pain can be very restrictive for everyday life so taking care of your joints now will pay off as you get older. If you already suffer from joint pain or arthritis use some of these tips to get relief and if you don't have joint pain now, get a jump on it and don't wait until it sets in. Life can be more enjoyable and productive when pain-free.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/ss/slideshow-keep-joints-healthy?print=true
https://office.newearth.com/ProductDetail.aspx?item=21601
http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/caring-your-joints?print=true
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02862/supplements-for-bone-and-joint-health.html
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Kids/healthy_joints.asp
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/27/CL.joint.health/index.html?iref=newssearch
http://www.arthritis.org/programs-events/joints-in-motion/

Chocolate Heaven: Good and Good for You

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Next time you reach for a chocolate bar when you're stressed forget about the guilt and enjoy it. It turns out that chocolate is actually good for you. That doesn't mean you can eat chocolate to your heart's content since it does have extra calories, but eating equal to one square of a dark healthy chocolate bar daily can give you a lot of benefits.

How Chocolate is Good For You
PEA
Cocoa beans and some cocoa powder has Phenylethylamine or PEA which comes from the amino acid phenylalanine. PEA occurs naturally in the body and aids with energy, mood, feelings of well-being and pleasure, attention, and mental acuity. PEA triggers hormones like dopamine and norepinephrine that elevate feelings of pleasure. Some research indicates that PEA stimulates the same feelings we get from falling in love. PEA can also be found in cheddar cheese and AFA bluegreen algae or in supplement form. Getting Phenylethylamine from supplements has been reported to have more consistent benefits and can help lower stress, boost mood and boost metabolism for fat burning.

Antioxidants
According to experts like Mauro Serafini, PhD, from the National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, dark chocolate has antioxidants that help fight free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules in cells that weaken to the point that they lose an electron. This weakness results from things such as toxins in the body, exposure to UV rays, chlorinated water, pollution, and overcooked, fried and processed foods. These free radicals then take electrons from other molecules and create more free radicals causing damage in the body, including cells, enzymes, and DNA. This shows up in the body in ways like pain, inflammation, and chronic diseases such as heart disease. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals before they cause cell damage by replacing the missing electron of free radicals. Dark chocolate has flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, that helps fight off free radicals and the effects of inflammation and the resulting diseases. These antioxidants also help protect skin and give protection from skin damaging UV rays from the sun.

Fiber
Dark chocolate is also a rich source of fiber which according to Yale University's Prevention Research Center's director, Dr. David Katz, can help make you feel full and not eat as much. So while you may think chocolate should be banned from your weight loss plan, it actually may help you lose weight by keeping you from seeking out less healthy snacks between meals.

Heart Healthy Chocolate
Antioxidants help fight off the damage from free radicals that can lead to heart disease, but there are other benefits for the cardiovascular system that healthy chocolate can provide. Research from 2011 done in Sweden found that women eating more than 45 grams a week were at 20 percent less risk of stroke, than those eating less than 9 grams. Eating chocolate with its cocoa phenols regularly has also been found to reduce blood pressure levels and LDL cholesterol levels. And according to Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald cocoa works much like aspirin in thinning blood and protecting from blood clots.

Alternative to the Chocolate Bar
If you have a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder you can also get your chocolate benefits from drinking chocolate like they do in Europe. Just add nonfat milk, sugar or natural sweetener and cornstarch together in a pan and cook while stirring with a whisk until it boils.

Forget the bad things you've heard over the years about chocolate and let yourself enjoy a square daily. About 6 grams of chocolate a day on a regular basis will lift you up, and give you all the health benefits we've talked about here. The darker the chocolate the better and 70% or more cocoa content is optimal. What a great way to treat yourself and get an extra nutritional bang.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/raising-fit-kids/food/thick-rich-drinking-chocolate?ecd=wnl_dab_122814&ctr=wnl-dab-122814_ld-stry&mb=Xenvmz6dAtHtkRjp7Is6CeHnVev1imbCfXusP2Lh3sM%3d
http://racetams.net/2014/07/23/phenylethylamine-chocolate-benefits/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/chocolate-health-benefits_n_1383372.html
http://www.webmd.com/diet/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Healthy Food Affects Your Brain's Reactions

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 14:30:00 +0000

You can probably see how eating healthy food makes for a healthy body which includes making a healthy brain, but there may be more of a connection between what goes on in your gut and your brain. Recent studies have been showing that probiotics in the gut have an affect on brain activity when we are anxious, stressed, depressed or afraid. These studies indicate that there could be a reduction of these types of behaviors through the types of foods we eat that keep the probiotics in our intestinal system healthy. The other indication is that this communication between gut and brain goes the other way and that brain reactions can affect the population of microflora in the gut.

These studies indicate that one way of supporting brain health is to also support intestinal health. This makes sense if you think about there being two nervous systems in the body. There is the central nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord and there is the enteric nervous system that is involved with the gastrointestinal tract. Both of these contain the same type of tissues and are connected by the vagus nerve. It is this nerve that facilitates the communication between gut and brain. Specific probiotics in the gut have actually been identified as being able to perform functions that affect regulation of neurotransmitters in the brain and that affect the corticosterone hormone which is responsible for reducing anxiety and depression type behaviors. Studies have also led to the discovery that serotonin such is found in the brain and controls mood, depression and aggression, is found in even greater amounts in the gut.

Studies have also found that an imbalance of gut flora can affect brain development and that low levels of these gut flora have a connection to symptoms associated with autism, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, and other conditions. While all these studies are relatively new and more research is needed, preliminary results are promising that increasing the friendly bacteria in the gut can be beneficial for brain health.

There are many foods that have been shown to not only increase general body health, but are particularly good for brain health. These include foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids such as berries, nuts, olive oil, vegetables and coldwater fish.

I know you've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is absolutely true. Here's some high powered breakfast ideas that can help kick start your brain at the beginning of the day.

--Yogurt that has live active cultures is a good source of probiotics and protein and if you add some walnuts and berries to it, you get some omega-3 and antioxidants as well. Add in some whole grain cereal and you've got a breakfast that is also high in fiber which makes for slower digestion thus improving concentration.

--Make an omelet using olive oil instead of butter to get some extra omega-3s. The eggs will give you some protein as would adding some cheese. Put spinach and tomatoes on top before you fold the omelet over so that they end up in the middle and you'll be adding some good antioxidants. Get your fiber by putting the whole thing on a piece of whole grain toast.

--Make a breakfast shake for a breakfast-to-go by blending yogurt, berries, a little milk and some flax or chia seeds. For an extra nutritional shake, you can add in this powered algae blend or a powdered algae blend with probiotics, enzymes, and sprouts.

--Cereal is always a good quick breakfast standby if you don't have time to cook in the mornings. Mix a high fiber cereal with a whole grain cereal, add some walnuts, almonds or pecans, fruit and seeds, then get some probiotics added in by using keifer instead of milk. If you've got a little more time, oatmeal is also a good breakfast for brain health.

--When you've got a little more cooking time, whole grain waffles or pancakes topped with fruit and yogurt makes a healthy filling breakfast. For an extra boost, stir some nuts like walnuts into the batter.

Basically anytime you take some whole grains, add in berries and walnuts along with keifer, you are getting antioxidants, fiber, probiotics, omega-3, polyunsaturated fat, and protein all in one meal. Stir in some powdered blue green algae and you've really got a power breakfast or lunch going. Of course other nuts can be used and flax or chia seeds stirred in also, but the Journal of Alzheimer's Diesease has cited walnuts as contributing to better memory and increased brain functioning. They also attribute the antioxidants in walnuts as being helpful in reducing the chance of cognitive decline as we age.

We've talked about how probiotics in the gut are associated with brain health, but digestive enzymes are another gut aspect to consider when thinking about brain functioning. Digestion requires a lot of energy and the more energy it takes to digest food, the less there is available for other physical and mental activities. We've all experienced that afternoon slump especially after eating lunch. Taking high quality digestive enzymes can help support the digestive process. Enzymes are present in every cell, tissue and organ in the body and responsible for every chemical reaction associated with the metabolism of the body. Enzymes are critical to the proper functioning of everything from breathing to thinking to circulating the blood. .

Now you know how your brain and gut are connected and how adding healthy food and some of the natural solutions discussed can give you a boost for your brain. Giving your brain the support it needs to stay healthy no matter what age you are now will pay off in keeping you mentally sharp into your elder years.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20120524/probiotics-exploring-the-gut-mind-connection?print=true
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201206/do-probiotics-help-anxiety
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/03/probiotics-impact-brain-performance.aspx
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/DDW/32944
http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/breakfasts-jump-start-your-brain
http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/nuts-and-health-how-walnuts-can-improve-your-memory

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products at wholesale prices on our website.

Mushrooms: Our Superfood Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 16:35:00 +0000

by guest author Barb Swanson

Mushrooms & Optimum Health
Did you know that all mushrooms have powerful immune-system strengthening qualities, improving the ability of immune cells to kill invaders? Even ordinary mushrooms are highly nutritious, low-calorie food with immune health qualities.

Mice given a diet with a lot of Portobello mushrooms got a strong immune-system boost--just adding in culinary mushrooms.

One reason for mushroom's immune power are their complex sugars, called beta glucans (ß-glucans). ß-glucans turn on our immune cells in skin and our gut. In fact, studies show that our innate immune system doesn't operate at peak function unless there are beta glucans present.

Based on their effects on the immune system, mushroom ß-glucans have been proposed to act as "biological response modifiers" (BRM), enhancing the body's own use of macrophages and T-lymphocytes.

Certain mushrooms, especially reishi, maitake and multi-mushroom blends, can also dramatically increase the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and facilitate apoptosis of cancer cells.

NK cells are important components of the innate immune system, and are responsible for antiviral and antitumor defense.

Mushrooms can benefit gastrointestinal tract healing through their action as prebiotics.

Mushrooms also have the potential to improve a healthy immune response after initial exposure to an antigen or pathogen.

TONIC Mushrooms are also called medicinal mushrooms. Some culinary mushrooms are also tonic, but many tonic mushrooms are used primarily in supplement form. When buying a mushroom supplement, it is important to pay attention to quality control. Mushrooms are bio-accumulators. This means they will concentrate any toxins in their environment, making them unsafe for human use.

Best is to use an organic supplement such as this one or this one. If it has other 3rd party certifications, such as GMP for example, this is even better.

Tonic Mushrooms
Key Features & Benefits
Cordyceps was discovered in the mountainous regions of China and Tibet about 1,500 years ago. It was prized in the Emperor's palace in China. It is rich in proteins, plant sterols, polysaccharides, antioxidants, and nucleoside derivatives. Promotes longevity and decreases fatigue. It helps support healthy lung function & kidney function, a healthy heart, improves immune function and is particularly beneficial for use after chemotherapy.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is perhaps the most famous of all the scientifically researched mushrooms. Its wide-ranging health benefits stem from its high levels of beta glucans and its more than 130 identified triterpenoid compounds. These compounds are anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive. The science on reishi is some of the most extensive in the mushroom literature, with many promising avenues of research and potential benefits. Reishi is a complete whole food, rich in amino acids, enzymes, minerals, and complex polysaccharides. Contains complex sugars that fight viral, strengthen immune, organic germanium for healthy immune. Lowers high cholesterol & blood pressure. May help maintain positive moods.

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is a highly prized culinary mushroom that grows throughout the temperate forests of North America, China and Europe. Maitake contains a variety of beneficial phospholipids, unsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, antioxidants, beta glucans, and plant sterols, such as the potent ergosterol. This adaptogenic mushroom promote wellness & vitality and helps your body cope with stressors. Benefits include helping maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It helps with losing weight. It promotes cardiovascular health.

Poria Cocos has been a traditional ingredient in Chinese medicine for over 5,000 years and was harvested by Native Americans as a source of food. It is a mind tonic, considered to prolong life because it keeps you calm. It is an anti-tumor, antiviral food.

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a powerful tonic food. The compounds of this mushroom enhance our immune function. Shiitake is rich in cellulase and hemicellulose enzymes which destroy the cell membranes of opportunistic fungus. The antibacterial properties of Lentinula edodes are shown to be helpful in controlling other opportunistic bacteria.

Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) has the ability to protect and regenerate the intestinal epithelium, which is great help to repair the damaged intestinal walls (possible Leaky Gut Syndrome).

Bottom Line: Tonic mushrooms offer us big benefits for even just a little bit of use.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Five Simple and Cheap Ways to Recover from Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 14:00:00 +0000

We live in a stressed out society. According to an annual "Attitudes In The American Workplace VI" Gallup Poll, 80% of workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress. Stress has become one the largest problems in our society, and regularly costs US industries more than $300 billion per year.

With today's uncertain economy, more and more people are feeling stress, even if they don't acknowledge it. The good news is that you don't have to be stressed out, even if everyone else is. Here are five simple and cheap ways to recover from stress:

Move Your Body
Taking a brisk 5 minute walk outside can release endorphins (those make you feel happy), increase circulation to the brain so you can think more clearly, and reduce the adrenalin and cortisol produced by stress (adrenalin and cortisol cause your body to store lots of fat). Moving your body also tends to move your mind, according to the spiritual principle of "as above, so below," so you tend to feel more relaxed and creative afterward. Taking a quick walk could result in some unexpected inspiration!

Vent for Five Minutes
If you're really stressed and you need to vent your frustration or anger, set aside five minutes and write everything down. Set a timer for five minutes and go. Write down everything you're angry, sad, frustrated, grieving, or generally stressed about. This is your five minutes to cut loose. When the timer goes off, you'll feel better and be able to think more clearly. The key to making this technique work is to stay disciplined. Don't allow yourself to get frustrated outside of those 5 minutes, and don't let yourself vent for more than 5 minutes.

Feed Your Brain and Body
When you're under stress, your brain and body need more nutrients to function. Taking in whole food nutrients can actually get rid of stress. Try blue-green algae, chlorella, or another chlorophyll-rich source. Fruits and vegetables, especially if freshly-juiced, also make a great source of nutrient-dense food that your body can use without a lot of digestive effort.

Breathe
When you're under stress, you stop breathing deeply and regularly. Studies show that when you take conscious control of your breathing, your level of stress decreases. If you're breathing consciously, you won't be stressed. Take three minutes and just breathe. You'll be glad you did!

Take Action
If you're stressed because you've been procrastinating about something, get moving and take some action. Procrastination is one of the biggest sources of stress--and it's also one of the easiest to take care of. Taking action and completing tasks can radically reduce stress!

The last thing you need to do when you're stressed is add more items to your to-do list. Instead, make stress relief simple. Take 5 minutes out of your day, here and there, to de-stress your life. You don't need to pay for an expensive gym membership or visit a shrink. Just take a little time to decompress and you'll be surprised at the positive results.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sighing, Groaning, and Yelling Your Way Out of Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:30:00 +0000

Are you stressed! If so, I have good news for you! Did you know that you can sigh and groan your way out of stress? Really. Sighing is a way of vocalizing the stress we feel, and releasing the pent up energies of the heart. Contrary to popular opinion, sighing is not always the sound of self-pity. Sighing actually releases excess energies and can be very uplifting.

Groaning is the primary sound of the kidneys, so groaning releases the pent up energies of the kidneys. Keeping the kidneys free of excess energies actually prevents kidney problems such as kidney stones, since the kidney reflects fear and the wrong use of will in our lives. An example of the wrong use of will is pushing yourself to do something even if it doesn't feel right.

The primary sound of the liver is shouting. Vocalizing by shouting in an upbeat sound like "Haazzaaa" (pronounced with the same intonation as Hooray) can release the pent up energies of the liver. Excess liver energy is the primary cause of infections as well as a source of anger, so releasing liver energies promotes peace. Wheat sprouts are also beneficial in releasing excess liver energies, and can promote the rapid healing of infections.

Generally these sounds also clear the lungs because of the expelling of the air from the lungs and movement of sound through the lungs. So, you can really sigh and groan your way out of stress right now!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Healthy Aging and Brain Health

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Joel) — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Healthy aging is not just about taking care of our physical bodies as we get older. Healthy aging can be starting to develop lifestyle changes when we are young that will insure we reach old age with our bodies, minds and spirits being at their optimally healthy level. We all know that as we age our bodies can't do the same things as when we were younger. We have all also experienced the memory lapses and changes related to cognitive functioning. Just as there are natural solutions to keep our bodies supported through healthy aging, there are also natural solutions that can help with brain health as we age.

We start noticing many of our physical and mental limitations in midlife, but studies have shown that many of the memory problems we start experiencing in midlife are due more to distraction and interrupted attention. This is due to changes in the frontal lobe that start in midlife. This is also the time of life when we start experiencing the mind only being able to handle so much information before it becomes overwhelmed and blocks out anything new trying to come in, trouble remembering things that have to be done at specific times, and a decline in being able to retrieve information as fast as we once could. In fact there is a study that shows elderly people are more able to remember to take medications on time than middle aged people because middle aged people are more likely to get distracted by other life factors. Cognitive dysfunctions don't just happen all of a sudden when we reach old age, so the time to start improving brain health is as early as possible.

Natural Solutions for Healthy Aging and Brain Health
It's hard when you start realizing your mind and body can't perform they way they once could. There are natural solutions you can use to support brain health and cognitive functioning and as aids to coping with memory problems. You can be creative when coming up with things that will spark the memory. Here are some basics that can work.

Challenge your brain by learning new things, use the internet to search for information on things you've always wanted to learn about, do mental puzzles and games. An active brain continues to develop. Studies at UCLA have shown that internet searching uses neural circuitry that is different from that used in reading.

Write notes to yourself not just at home or your desk, but for in the car when doing errands or anytime. Don't tell yourself you'll write the note later; get in the habit of writing things down as soon as you think of them.

Use index cards with key phrases as reminders during meetings or social functions.

Find time to relax as stress can be counterproductive to brain health. Meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga are all good for stress management. Meditation has also been shown to create growth in the cortex area of the brain which is responsible for memory.

Use a calendar, write specific information about appointments in it, always put appointments in immediately and don't agree to anything without being able to schedule it in your calendar.

Use alarms as reminders.

Aerobic exercise can keep the mind sharp and has also been shown to increase brain tissue.

Some new studies are starting to indicate that taking probiotics to support gut health can have an effect on brain health. These studies indicate there may be a connection between the health of the friendly bacteria in the gut and a reduction of brain activity associated with stress, anxiety and depression.

Assign a particular place for needed items such as keys, wallet, and glasses and ALWAYS put them there. Avoid going on auto pilot when dealing with items and consciously put them in their assigned place.

A new study shows cocoa drinks with antioxidant flavanols may help boost brain health in older people.

Create a list of stalling tactics or phrases you can use in situations to give you time to think of the word you want to say or to retrieve information not coming to mind immediately.

Another supplement to the diet that can be supportive of brain health is a blue green algae supplement that also supports an active lifestyle. Besides the blue green algae that is a good source of whole food nutrition, it has the added ingredients of bee pollen, vitamin A, enzymes, antioxidants, gluten-free wheatgrass juice, Hawaiin noni, eleuthero, ginkgo, and turmeric. Bee pollen is reported to have a high amino acid content useful for stimulating memory and concentration. Wheatgrass juice has been found to provide nutrients that support brain health and clearer thinking. Gingko has been used for a long time to promote increased memory and mental concentration by increasing circulation and providing increased oxygenation of brain cells. Curcumin, found in turmeric, has been the basis of much research and found to have benefit for enhancing memory, as an anti-inflammatory, for enhancing nerve growth in areas of the brain and as an antidepressant. It is also being studied and used in relation to treating Alzheimer's.

Start a Brain Health Program Early
New studies show that healthy aging in the brain could be tied to blood pressure levels. In midlife those with higher blood pressure levels are found to have cognitive and memory problems as they get older. The bad news is that elevated blood pressure levels occur in around 50 million Americans and less than 60% of them know that they do and get treatment. (http://ow.ly/jpayq) The good news is that this information indicates that using natural solutions for balancing blood pressure is also a natural solution for brain health. The first step is knowing what your blood pressure is. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg. If you find you have blood pressure higher than normal, your brain health and physical health could benefit from treatment to lower the blood pressure. Natural solutions could include reducing saturated fat and sugar from the diet, taking supplements with coenzyme Q10, garlic, hawthorn and folic acid.

Research also shows that those who stay active and socially connected are emotionally and mentally healthy which has an effect on physical health too. Being active physically produces body chemicals that promote positive emotions whereas inactivity can lead to depression, anxiety and stress. Sure there will be activities our bodies just won't still do as we get older, but finding alternative activities to replace them are important. If you can no longer run, then walk.

Don't wait to start practicing some of the healthy aging tips mentioned here to support brain health. Whatever age you are, now is the time to start working towards being a mentally sharp elder.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Also, check out the free health resources or order blue-green algae products on our website.

Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20121101/elevated-blood-pressure-age-brain#1
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091019134707.htm
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/#4d063b751465
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gut-brain-connection
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130807204447.htm