Nutrition

The 10 Healthiest Seeds You Can Eat

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Seeds are one of the healthiest, whole foods that you can eat regularly to support a healthy body as they are packed full of vitamins, essential oils, and proteins. They come in all shapes, colours and sizes and each seed has different health benefits for the human body.

Let’s explore the top ten healthiest seeds on the planet that you can eat on a regular basis examining the key benefits of each seed and some interesting ways to get them into your diet.

Black seeds

Black seeds come from the nigella sativa plant and are known as one of the most powerful super foods in the world. Used as far back as ancient Egypt, these seeds are still used today in Indian, Middle Eastern and North African cooking. What’s unique about the seeds is that they contain a high amount of antioxidants such as thymoquinone which protects the body against cellular damage. Consuming these seeds or black seed oil has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, kidney disease and many other health problems. Eating two to three teaspoons per day can help to lower inflammation throughout the body, ease pain, swelling and tenderness or you can take one teaspoon of black seed oil.

Chia seeds

Originally grown in Central America, cultivated all over the world and are packed full of soluble fiber, zinc, Omega-3’s, B vitamins, trace minerals and protein. They are sometimes known as “runner’s food” as they are often used by athletes to boost energy levels when exercising. The high fiber content improves gut health, and weight loss by helping to control blood sugars and feed the friendly microbes in your digestive system. Chia seeds are also packed full of antioxidants called lignans which can help to slow the aging process, protecting your skin and organs from oxidative damage. Eating just one tablespoon of chia seeds per day can help to lower blood pressure, improve bone strength, support healthy skin, control blood sugars and boost your immune system against infection. Try adding these to your smoothies, stir fries or sprinkle them over your salad.

Chili seeds

When you slice open a chili pepper you’ll find an abundance of seeds. These are actually the spiciest part of the plant and are often used to make curry’s, meat marinades and to add heat to delicious meals. These are some one of the top seeds for improving digestion as they are loaded with capsaicin, the compound that makes them spicy. Capsaicin is also one of the best natural pain relievers and can reduce headaches, sinus infections, joint pain, nerve pain, swelling, indigestion, and arthritis amongst many other problems.

Pumpkin seeds

When it comes to seeds it’s impossible to overlook the power of pumpkin seeds. Packed full of protein, B vitamins and minerals, pumpkin seeds are some of the most nutrient dense of all.  Most people throw these away after cutting into a pumpkin during Halloween, but you can also purchase these dried in health food stores. Loaded with zinc and phytosterols, pumpkin seeds help to balance hormones in both women and men and can reduce prostate enlargement in men. The high vitamin E content helps to protect against heart disease while the antioxidants. tryptophan and minerals support better sleep quality, improved bladder control, and anti aging.

Pistachios

Pistachios are often considered to be nuts, but they are seeds that come from the fruit of the pistachio vera tree which harden and split. These seeds are loaded with potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamins B1 and B6, folate, K1, E and C. Out of all the nuts and seeds, pistachios contain the lowest number of oxalates, lowering the risk of developing kidney stones. To eat these simply remove the shells and consume a small handful of them raw.

Flax seeds

To stay looking young and healthy flax seeds are some of the healthiest foods that you can consume. These are rich in alpha linolenic acid, an essential fat that’s involved with making membranes around your cells. Getting more of these into your diet helps to prevent rough, dry, and wrinkly skin with age. Flax seeds also help to support a healthy heart and cardiovascular system by lowering inflammation. To get the most benefits grind them with a coffee grinder to help your body absorb the essential fats within them.

Hemp seeds

Like flax seeds, hemp seeds are also a fantastic source of protein containing 20 amino acids including the nine essential amino acids are bodies used to build muscles, blood cells, and hormones. Eating hemp seeds has been shown to reduce problems from autoimmune diseases like arthritis, celiac disease, Graves’ disease, and type 2 diabetes. Eat one to two tablespoons per day for a super health boost.

Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds are one of the oldest crops of mankind and were farmed at least 5500 years ago in India. These are also nutritional powerhouses loaded with calcium, copper, manganese, magnesium, iron phosphorus, B Vitamins, linolenic acid, and zinc. Eating these also supplies your body with sesamin and sesamolin, two substances that have been shown to regulate cholesterol levels and control your blood pressure. Sesame seeds are also well known for improving liver function, helping to detoxify harmful chemicals from your body and making antioxidants. Sprinkle sesame seeds over your salads, use them to make tahini or simply eat a handful each day.

Sunflower seeds

Eating sunflower seeds on a regular basis helps to boost vitamin E levels in the body, the antioxidant that protects your heart, skin, and blood vessels. They’re also loaded with phytosterols which help to keep your cholesterol levels in check and fight against certain types of cancer like prostate or breast cancer. Make sure that you always purchase organic seeds as sometimes they can contain pesticides that are harmful to the body.

Cumin seeds

Not to be confused with black seeds, cumin seeds are often used as a tasty spice in Indian cuisine. They are actually the most popular spice in the world and loaded with compounds that kill harmful bacteria, microbes and pathogens before they can infect your body. In fact, cumin is often added to sausages to act as a natural preservative. The best way to use cumin is by making a homemade Curry or a stew. You can also steep the seeds in water to make a herbal tea or use it in a spice rub for grilled chicken or fish.

One problem with seeds is that they contain phytic acid. This is known as an antinutrient because it can block the absorption of certain minerals into the body. When you eat foods high in phytic acid, minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc are not digested properly and they are expelled through your waste. To overcome this problem there’s a very simple hack that you can use involving sprouting your seeds. Simply add a mixture of the seeds you want to eat into a jar and cover with cold water. Let them soak for 12 hours and then drain the water from the jar. Then simply rinse the seeds in water and drain them again twice per day for three to five days and the seeds will grow little sprouts. This removes the phytic acid from the seeds and makes the nutrients more bioavailable to improve your health.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8510241/

https://www.life.ca/naturallife/1210/soaking-sprouting-seeds-nuts-grains.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7574749/#:~:text=Thymoquinone%20(TQ)%20is%20the%20major,and%20anticancer%2C%20have%20been%20reported.

Moringa Powder – The Most Powerful Superfood You Need to Know About

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The health benefits of moringa powder also known as drumstick or malunggay. Moringa powder is made from the dried leaves of the moringa oleifera, a drought resistant tree native to warm climates like India. This has been used as a natural medicine for thousands of years and is known as the miracle tree. You can purchase organic moringa powder from health food stores and take between one to two teaspoons per day to help heal diseases and infections in the body.

Let’s us explore the many benefits of this powerful powder while first keeping in mind to consult your healthcare professional before taking any supplements.

Reduces inflammation

Moringa powder contains 46 different types of antioxidants and a wide range of anti-inflammatory compounds making it one of the most powerful super foods in the world. This helps to lower inflammation and swelling throughout the body especially for those with joint pain, osteoarthritis or even rheumatoid arthritis.

Liver cleansing

The powerful antioxidants in moringa help to cleanse the liver and help to remove fatty deposits and scar tissue. This can improve your liver function keeping your blood free of toxins and boosting your overall health.

Rich in minerals

Moringa powder contains zinc, plant-based iron, copper, beta carotene and B vitamins. These act as cofactors in the body to help grow, long, strong and healthy strands of hair. They also help to protect against hair loss with age.

Thyroid health

Moringa powder also helps your liver to make certain thyroid hormones to prevent hypo or hyperthyroidism, hot flashes, excessive sweating, and an irregular heartbeat. This helps to keep your body temperature under control and your hormones in balance.

Muscle health

Moringa contains all nine essential amino acids needed to build strong, healthy muscles. You can consume moringa powder before exercising as it boosts stamina and energy levels. It contains seven times more potassium than bananas, four times more calcium than milk and 36 times more magnesium than eggs. These electrolyte minerals help your cells to produce stable energy, maintain healthy muscle mass and prevent cramping.

Regulates your blood sugar levels

Moringa powder regulates blood sugar levels thereby reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Anti aging

Some refer to moringa as the elixir of life as it contains high concentrations of zeatin. This is a plant hormone which has been linked to slowing down the aging process of the body. As this plant is rich in antioxidants these two play a role in keeping your skin youthful and healthy by improving your antioxidant network and destroying free radicals in the blood.

Breast feeding

It’s very important to make sure that you’re getting lots of nutrients in your diet to make rich breast milk. Being nutrient rich, moringa makes a good supplement for nursing mothers.

Heals gastric ulcers

This is likely due to the chlorophyll or the green plant pigment which is very healing to the digestive system. Not only will it heal ulcers but also prevent them from occurring.

Hormone Balancing

Women who suffer with facial hair, deeper voice and irregular periods may have a hormonal imbalance and a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome. Moringa is actually one of the best supplements to reduce androgen hormones, to overcome this condition and balance the hormones.

Blood builder

Chlorophyll, plant-based iron and antioxidants found in moringa could also help your body to build robust, healthy red blood cells. These carry oxygen and nutrients to all of the organs and tissues throughout your body keeping you strong, healthy and prevent anemia.

Regulates blood pressure

By taking stress off the liver, the antioxidants help to relax the blood vessels and the arteries for better blood flow to and from the heart. It also lowers the risk of heart attacks and plaque in the arteries because it contains over 46 types of antioxidants.

Weight loss

By lowering insulin resistance, the nutrients in moringa help your body to tap into its fat stores for energy and reduce hunger levels. This naturally helps you to lose weight especially when you’re following a low carb diet like keto for example.

Healthy brain

If you want to stay sharp as you get older, the amino acids in moringa help to build hormones and neurotransmitters in your brain. These support better memory, concentration, and learning.

Protects against exposure to UV

UVB rays from the sunshine can be very damaging to the skin especially if you stay out in the sun too long. However, the antioxidants within moringa help to protect against skin cancer and premature aging.

Fights Infection

Due to its antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties, moringa can also help to fight off infections in the body and boost your immune system.

Lung health

Moringa is also very useful for those with asthma as it can help to improve breathing and airflow. It does this by improving oxygenation of the blood allowing nutrients to travel freely through your body.

Eye health

Antioxidants in moringa also help to protect the blood vessels that are connected to your eyes. This lowers the risk of vision loss and macular degeneration that comes with age, and it also helps to protect the nerves within the eye.

How to consume

Simply mix 2 teaspoons of moringa powder in a glass of water and then drink. Some of the nutrients are fat soluble so it is best to drink this after eating a meal that contains a fat like olive oil, cheese, or butter. This will help your body absorb more nutrients from the moringa. Do not add hot water to moringa because this may kill off the enzymes within which are needed to help your body absorb some of the antioxidants.

Other moringa uses

Other parts of the moringa tree are also used in traditional medicine including the bark, the seeds, pods, roots, sap, flowers, and oil. The oil, in particular, can be used topically on the skin and the scalp to prevent dandruff, irritation and to heal various skin problems.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745501/

The Best Probiotic Foods You Can Eat

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Probiotics are friendly, live bacteria and yeast naturally inside your body, especially in your gut, mostly the larger intestine, urinary tract, and on the outside of your skin. These friendly microbes have many different health benefits. One of the main benefits is that they fight off pathogens like harmful bacteria and viruses by taking up space and preventing the harmful microbes from growing and spreading in your body. Probiotics also support your digestive system in breaking down foods and absorbing nutrients whilst preventing bloating and indigestion. Probiotics also help to produce B vitamins and butyrate which can help to control your blood sugars. They make neurotransmitters for your brain which lower stress and anxiety which helps to improve your sleep and helps to regulate hormones like insulin to prevent you from gaining too much weight. Unfortunately, many people have an imbalance in their microbiome because they’re eating too many junk foods, artificial sweetness or they’re taking antibiotics and drugs which can kill off the friendly microorganisms. Fortunately, there are certain fermented foods that you can eat which contain live strains of friendly microbes to improve your overall health and your microbiome.

Kefir

One of the best natural sources of probiotics, kefir is a liquid type of yogurt made from fermented milk from cows, goats, or sheep and it’s much easier to digest than regular yogurt. For those with lactose intolerance, kefir contains up to 10 times more probiotics than Greek yogurt with over 61 different strains of friendly yeast and bacteria and between 15 to 27 billion colony forming units per serving. Kefir was used by Russian doctors in the 19th century to treat ailments like tuberculosis because of its immune boosting effects. Studies show us that the friendly microbes found in kefir helps to lower the risk of cancer cell formation by protecting your DNA from oxidative damage.

Kimchi

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish made from a mixture of fermented radishes, chili, ginger, onions and cabbage. It’s actually one of the healthiest superfoods in the world. Fermented vegetables are made in a process which is called lacto-fermentation. Basically, the vegetables and the spices are brined in salt to kill any band bacteria and then they are crushed into a jar and covered for a few days. The natural wild probiotic cultures that are already in the vegetables such as Lactobacillus starts to produce lactic acid and acetic acid. The microbes then eat any sugar present in the vegetables and start fermenting them so that they can multiply becoming a super food for your gut. This fermentation process helps to breakdown cell structures in the vegetables and spices making the existing nutrients more bioavailable and easier for your body to absorb. Kimchi is particularly special as the ingredients alone are all excellent for helping your liver to detoxify harmful substances from your body whilst the probiotics are also amazing for your digestive system and overall health. One Cup of kimchi contains an astonishing 5 billion CFU’s of probiotics

Bulgarian yogurt

Bulgarian yogurt tends to be less processed and contains higher amounts of friendly microbes than regular yogurt, between 10 to 18 billion colony forming units per cup. This type of yogurt contains a unique strain of bacteria which is called Lactobacillus bulgaricus along with streptococcus thermophilus. Both these have been shown to help people who struggle to consume dairy products like cheese, milk or yogurt due to lactose intolerance. The friendly stains that are found in Bulgarian yogurt help the body produce lactase, an enzyme that helps your body to breakdown the lactose which is milk sugar.

Kombucha tea

If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to alcohol to help you relax and release stress, Kombucha tea is a fantastic option. This is black tea and sugar that’s been fermented which removes the sugars leaving you with live, beneficial bacteria, healthy acids and trace amounts of alcohol. Make sure when you’re buying kombucha tea, that you choose a brand that doesn’t contain any more than 3 grams of sugar per serving and only drink small amounts to enjoy its anxiety-soothing properties. It’s important to note however that if you have gastritis or a stomach ulcer, please avoid this drink as its pH is a little too acidic which could aggravate pockets of damage in your stomach.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a type of fermented cabbage with many health benefits especially when it comes to healing the gut. Regular cabbage is loaded with methyl methionine also called vitamin U and it’s well known for healing stomach ulcers, improving gut health and feeding the colon cells so that they can heal from all types of damage. If you have any type of autoimmune disease, it’s recommended to start loading up on cabbage and sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is also one of the richest sources of vitamin C on the planet with over 700 milligrams per serving helping to boost your immune system and stimulate collagen production for healthier skin, nails, joints, and eyes. Try to look for sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables that are unpasteurized. This is very important as pasteurized products have been heated and cooked which destroys their beneficial live bacteria.

Natto

It is a product made by fermenting organic soybeans which was perfected in Japan over 1000 years ago. Natto has a stringy texture and a very pungent flavor however it is one of the most powerful fermented foods for improving blood flow around the body and protecting the heart. It is rich in vitamin K2, a nutrient which helps to remove a buildup of calcium that can get lodged in your arteries, pulls it out and puts it into the bones where it belongs. This can help to make your arteries more flexible. Natto also contains an enzyme called nattokinase which has been shown in studies to help thin the blood and prevent blood clots from forming preventing a stroke pulmonary embolism or heart attack.

Pickles

With between 12 to 14 billion CFU’s per cup, fermented Pickles that are made in brine not the vinegar variety are yet another amazing superfood for your gut and your entire microbiome. Pickle juice, in particular, can be consumed to relieve leg cramps, eye twitching, PMS and muscle spasms due to its high concentration of electrolytes. The healthy acids from both the pickles and pickle juice can be used to relieve heartburn and acid reflux by helping to normalize the pH of your stomach. Like all of these fermented foods please check the labels and make sure that there are no added preservatives and that they are unpasteurized.

Other Foods

Other probiotic rich foods although there’s a definite lack of data out there on fermented foods you can actually ferment any type of vegetable, herb or plant matter that you like. This means that there are a diverse range of different fermented foods in the world that you may not have even heard of or tried.

  • Saurruben – made from fermented turnips in Germany.
  • Miso – made from fermented soybeans rice or barley originating in ancient China.
  • Tempeh – is an Indonesian form of fermented soy.
  • Douchi – a culinary paste made from spices and fermented black beans in China.
  • Puto – is a steamed cake made from fermented rice in the Philippines.
  • Greek yogurt – is made from fermented cows’ milk from Greece.
  • Furundu – is made from mashed and fermented sesame seeds in West Africa.
  • Crème Fraiche – is made from fermented heavy cream in France

What about the existing microbes that already live inside you? Well that’s where prebiotics come in. Prebiotics are basically the food that will feed your existing microbes. Prebiotics mostly come in the form of soluble fiber and plant sugars from various fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. Although our own bodies can’t digest soluble fiber, the microbes that live in your gut do it for you. They ferment prebiotic fiber, and this gives them energy. As these microbes become energized, they release some very powerful healing chemicals like butyrate lactic acid and propionic acid. All of which have some amazing health properties especially in protecting the lining of your intestines preventing toxins from leading into your gut, and autoimmune diseases arising like psoriasis arthritis fibromyalgia etc. Some of the best sources of prebiotic fiber to support your existing microbes are artichokes, chia seeds, psyllium, garlic, leeks, asparagus, dandelion greens, chicory root, and avocados. Both probiotic and prebiotic foods on a daily basis will support both your physical and mental health.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372539/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8226494/

The Hidden Cause of Neck and Shoulder Pain

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gallbladder, gallbladder pain, gallbladder symptoms, gallbladder attack, gallbladder removal

Have you been experiencing a lot of shoulder and neck pain that just won’t go away.  If anyone has experienced this, you know that it affects every part of your life because that pain is always there.  Of course, there are many reasons why this could be happening, and they should all be explored but did you know that this right-sided pain in your neck and shoulder could be from eating nuts and seeds?

If you consume too many nuts or seeds or nut butter it can be severely aggravating to the gallbladder and the ducts that connect to that gallbladder.  There is a nerve called the phrenic nerve that goes right through that gallbladder to the liver and connects to the shoulder, neck and up to the head. But this little nerve can be irritated down at the gall bladder trying to process the nuts and seeds that were consumed but will refer the pain to the neck and shoulder area.  Irritation of the phrenic nerve at the right shoulder and neck can cause the vertebrae to twist because there’s a spasm in that area.  So, you keep going to the chiropractor or physiotherapist to fix your neck and shoulder pain, but the problem persists because the problem is in the liver or gall bladder.

Why does this happen?

If you have a fatty liver or cirrhosis of the liver then then it cannot function properly causing a back up, if you will.   Also, you can have bile that is very thick and sludge-like, so the concentration of bile is not there to break down cholesterol.  This can cause a back up into the liver which causes irritation because bile is like a detergent causing inflammation in the liver and will cause pain in the right neck and shoulder.

If you’ve had your gallbladder removed, then it’s more likely that you will have a problem because now you just have a little duct that’s always going to be clogged especially if you overload it with too many nuts or oils. Other symptoms of gallbladder problems would be belching, headaches, burping, acid reflux, and bloating.

One way to determine if this is the problem is to press and hold for about a minute up underneath the right rib cage right over the gallbladder and if your neck loosens up then we know this is the problem.

Solutions

One of the solutions is to take purified bile salts to loosen things up and it will start to help drain the gall bladder.  If you start to feel better, you will know that there is a connection.

Some acupressure over the gallbladder will give a lot of relief. There is also another acupressure point that you can use on the left calf down by the ankle.

Changing your diet will have the greatest affect. One major culprit is unsaturated fatty acids as in omega-6 fatty acids like corn oil, canola oil, soy, cotton seed, etc.  Chemicals in foods will also cause this problem so to try to eat as much organic, unrefined foods as possible, including lots of vegetables.  Cutting back on refined carbs and excess fats will also help.  Increasing omega 3-fatty acids and fasting is also a good idea.

If you do eat nuts, try to limit the quantity, and try to eat roasted nuts. If you eat raw nuts, you will want to germinate them first. Soak raw seeds and nuts overnight then rinse well and dry them in the oven at about 150 degrees or in a dehydrator. Eating nuts and seeds after germinating them will cause less irritation in your gall bladder because when you germinate the seeds and nuts you release certain properties called enzyme inhibitors which basically help digest the nut. These enzyme inhibitors basically block the enzyme in raw nuts which prevents digestion.

 

 

 

5 Incredible Sugar Substitutes You’ll Wish You Discovered Sooner

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If you’ve been following family health advocacy for any amount of time you know that we’ve talked a lot about sugar and its numerous negative effects on the mind and body.  But anyone who loves or is addicted to sugar knows how hard it is to quit.  So, we thought it would help a lot of people if we talked about sugar substitutes that can ease you into reducing your total sugar intake.

Raw Honey

Pure, unadulterated, raw honey is not even technically a sugar, it’s more of a whole food. It contains a lot of different beneficial compounds like powerful antioxidants that can help eradicate free radicals. If substitute your sugar with raw honey, you can dramatically reduce the impact on your blood sugar levels. This is because raw honey is a lower glycemic which means it’s going to have a lower impact on your blood sugar. In general, that means it’s going to give you more of a gentle bell curve with your blood sugar levels and insulin spike versus a big giant sharp spike and drop off. There are some other benefits of raw honey other than the fact that it’s sweet and it tastes good like the fact that it contains bee pollen which has a lot of powerful properties.  Bee pollen can prevent allergies. If you are consuming local honey, you can help your allergies out by simply just consuming that honey because, in a way, it builds up an antibody or histamine blocker, if you will, towards that allergen. Raw honey also contains some electrolytes which can help restore the energy you’re lacking later in the day or after a workout.  When you consume honey, you restore your liver glycogen at a different rate than you would if it was just a simple refined sugar. This means you get all the benefits of restoring liver glycogen without the negative side effects.  The benefits being you’re simply going to help your serotonin levels. What happens is when you consume carbs and your liver glycogen fills up, it triggers the release of tryptophan. This tryptophan cascades and helps the production of serotonin which helps you relax and go to sleep.

Dolcedi

Dolcedi is not that popular so it may be harder to find. It is an apple nectar, and it averages between seven and nine on the glycemic index scale which is very low. There is not a lot of research on the benefits, but it is definitely sweet and a good sugar substitute.

Dates

The reason that dates are so good is simply because they are super high in fiber which means that in addition to getting the carbohydrate’s sweet benefits, it negates a lot of the negative impact by having a high amount of fiber, meaning your overall amount of net carbs is much less than if you were to just have pure sugar. But additionally, dates are high in potassium so if you are trying to restore muscle glycogen or restore yourself after a workout then they are a good option. Another benefit because of it’s high fiber content is bowel regulation.

Coconut sugar

Coconut sugar contains something called inulin.  Inulin is what is called a prebiotic fiber that is essentially the fertilizer for gut bacteria. We need that fertilizer for our gut bacteria to grow, flourish and to proliferate. So, coconut sugar containing inulin gives us one of the most powerful and one of the only natural sources of fiber that we can get to help our gut biome. Coconut sugar also has a large amount of magnesium and potassium.

Agave Nectar

Agave nectar comes from cactus and its benefits include being in the sweet spot on the glycemic index meaning it’s not so low that it’s barely going to have an impact but it’s not so high that it’s going to spike your blood sugar levels. So, it’s just enough to refill your muscles and liver but without having the negative implications. Agave nectar is used in a lot of different recipes because it is very easy for the body to break down and therefore much more bioavailable.  For those with inflammatory bowel disease, agave nectar can be easier to digest.

The Vitamin Deficiency that Mimics Dementia

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You may be noticing that you or someone you know is having difficulty remembering things, or feeling confused, perhaps having difficulty solving problems.  But did you know that these signs and symptoms of dementia may be due to a vitamin deficiency?

Vitamin B12

The most important vitamin for the brain that if you’re deficient in can create all sorts of cognitive problems is vitamin B12. The best source of B12 is from animal products so if you’re not consuming animal products you will likely be deficient unless you take it as a supplement. However, B12 is also made by microbes in your stomach. But if your stomach is lacking hydrochloric acid it (which happens as we age) then this will affect the microbes in the stomach which then will cause a B12 deficiency.  Taking an antacid can also decrease the hydrochloric acid in the stomach.  But you need strong hydrochloric acid to be able to absorb B12. One symptom of low hydrochloric acid is acid reflux.  This may seem counterintuitive because a lot of people reach for the antacid tablets if they have acid reflux when in fact, they should be working towards increasing the acidity in the stomach.  The reason for this is because when the stomach is low in its natural acidity it responds by overproducing it which leads to acid reflux.  But by taking an antacid to get rid of the acidity the body responds by trying to correct this problem and produces more.

B12 deficiency can also be caused by taking metformin which also causes a vitamin B1 deficiency. Studies show that when they gave participants B12 who are already deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, the B12 didn’t seem to work. But when they had enough omega-3 fatty acids then B12 worked very well. So, in other words, you need omega-3 fatty acids to allow B12 to work.

Medications

Another common cause of dementia are the side effects from medications.  Here is a list of some medications that are commonly linked to dementia:

  • antacids
  • bladder medications
  • sleep aids
  • antidepressants
  • medication for anxiety
  • cholesterol medication
  • blood pressure medications
  • corticosteroids
  • alcohol

If you’re starting to get dementia symptoms, and you’re on some of these medications, consult with your healthcare professional about the side effects. There are many instances where people are on one medication, but they have side effects from it, so they are put on another medication just to deal with the side effects of the original medication.  Eventually some people can be on multiple medications just to deal with the side effects of the other medications they are on.

Vitamin B1

There are several other important vitamin and mineral deficiencies that are related to dementia that you should be aware of. Vitamin B1 is a very common one especially with the area of the brain that’s involved with memory loss which is the hippocampus. Its not known exactly what it does, but they do know that when the hippocampus shrinks and has neurodegeneration or atrophy then you get Alzheimer’s. A vitamin B1 deficiency can cause damage to the hippocampus, and it can cause the same damage as a lack of oxygen. Vitamin B1 is also important as a cofactor in the metabolism of the mitochondria that generates energy for the brain. So, without vitamin B1 the nerves cannot work, and you literally starve off the fuel for the brain. The number one cause of a B1 deficiency is consuming too much sugar or carbohydrates. The more carbohydrates that you give the brain to run on then the more vitamin B1 you need.  Therefore, the high carb diets increase the demand for more B1 which creates more of a deficiency. As a result, the hippocampus starts to suffer and then you’re having problems with memory, locating things, confusion, or coming up with solutions to problems.

Zinc

Zinc is another key nutrient involved with hippocampus. If there is a zinc deficiency you tend to develop amyloid plaques in the brain which you see in Alzheimer’s. How do you become zinc deficient? Probably because you’re consuming too much sugar or carbs but also because of something called Phytic acid, which is found in the grains, breads, pastas, crackers etc.  Phytic acid blocks zinc which can then cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Vitamin D

If you’re deficient vitamin D which most the population is, you can go from a mild form of dementia to a severe form of dementia a lot faster. So, vitamin D slows the process of developing damage in your brain.  Of course, vitamin D comes from the sun, it’s very difficult to get if from food but it’s found in fatty fish, dairy, cod liver oil, and mushrooms but not to a large degree.

Recommendations

So, if you have symptoms of dementia then getting on a Keto diet with fasting is one of the healthiest things you can do because running the brain on ketones will bypass the damage in the hippocampus and feed the neurons directly in a different way. This will slow down the degeneration of the brain.  Also, eating fatty fish will give you the zinc and omega-3 fatty acids that the brain needs. Eating red meat will give you the B12 that you need. As for your stomach, if it’s low in the acids it requires, then a very good remedy is betaine hydrochloride. Taking 5 right before a meal will slowly start building up the acids in the stomach as well as allow the absorption of B12.

The #1 Thing People Get Wrong About Salt

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abrasive, bad reputation, canned foods, dietary salt, electrolytes, essential oil, exercise, facial scrub, float, gentle exfoliate, healing, health, inflammation, lavender, lemon, moisturize, myth busting, natural health, nutrition, parabens, preservative, salt, saltwater, sea salt, sea water, skin, smooth

For the longest time sodium has been given a bad rap.  So many products advertise as low sodium because somewhere along the way we’ve been told that sodium is bad for us. But let’s take a deeper look at this because only one study showed any relationship between high blood pressure and consuming sodium, and it was called the dash sodium study.  This study didn’t highlight the fact that they also lowered the sugar in the participant’s diets which is what really resulted in the lower blood pressure more than the salt. Even a recent study that involved 6000 people showed that there is no strong evidence in relationship between eating salt or sodium and increasing blood pressure. Why would that be? Simply because sodium is an essential mineral which means it’s necessary for survival. But you need to have it the right amounts and we need about 1000 milligrams a day that’s probably 1/4 teaspoon a day of salt. We must understand that salt is sodium chloride not just sodium. About half of that sodium chloride is sodium so you need a little bit more salt than you do sodium. We need this sodium to regulate our heart, our fluids, it acts like an electrolyte that allows the balance of fluid and it controls the volume of fluid through our body. It works with other minerals to maintain that balance and without that essential mineral we would have all sorts of problems with our muscles, our heart,  and our brain.

Low Sodium

Low sodium in the blood leads to a condition called hyponatremia.  This is simply low sodium in the blood due to drinking lots of water and very little salt. When we don’t eat salt and drink lot of water, we are just flushing out the electrolytes. The end result is very low sodium in the blood which could lead to a lot of heart problems, swelling in the brain, or even death. So how do we know if we need sodium? Quite simply if you crave salt then you need it.

Too Much Sodium

If there is fluid retention in the legs, fingers, or body there’s probably too much sodium in the body. But instead of reducing sodium, it’s much more important to raise the other electrolyte that works with sodium and that is potassium. We need about four times the amount of potassium than we do sodium. The best source of potassium is vegetables, and you need about 7 to 9 cups of vegetables daily to get the potassium to balance out the sodium. The average person consumes about 3400 milligrams of sodium and only 1000 milligrams of potassium, so their ratios are off which leads to fluid retention.

What to Avoid

There are a lot of hidden salts like MSG – monosodium glutamate in fast foods and ready made or canned foods. These are the kind of salts to avoid.  Also, eating sugar depletes potassium and retains sodium.  That’s why you can gain a pound of water after consuming some sugar. So, again, it’s the junk food, MSG that that increases the sodium.

It’s not a good idea to consume one mineral by itself but instead you want to consume it in a complex like sea salt versus just taking sodium.

Adrenal Burn Out

If your adrenal glands are burnt out, you’re not going to have the hormones like aldosterone or the mineral corticoids which are hormones that regulate minerals, specifically, salt and potassium. When the adrenal glands are burnt out you lose salt and therefore crave it.  For example, you get home and you’re burnt out you’re tired and you’re craving salt, so you consume something salty. Then what would likely happen is that you’ll crave some sweet and some salt together because people that are low in minerals also have low blood sugar issues. The likely source of these cravings and low blood sugar problems is adrenal gland burn out.

Type of Salt

The best is Himalayan salt because its source is from a mountaintop which used to be an ocean a long time ago. It’s the most pure, unpolluted sea salt. You want to try to avoid getting the sea salt that is in the current environment because there is a lot of sewage and chemicals in it. There is also black Himalayan salt which is high in sulfur. But it tastes like eggs because of the high sulfur content so it may not appeal to everyone. However, sulfur is very good for the liver and skin because it’s a detoxifying mineral.

Detoxify Your Body Just With Food

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Let’s talk about how to detoxify thousands of toxic chemicals out of your body but doing it in a way that’s very safe. There are many chemicals in our environment like Bisphenol A, PCB’s, heavy metals, certain toxic plastics, and biosolids. What you may not realize is biosolids are treated sewage sludge. It’s very interesting how certain groups use public relations to make something that is normally harmful to the environment sound as though it’s good for you. They came up with this new term ‘biosolids’ and actually redefined treated sewage sludge as a’ nutrient rich organic by-product’. Biosolids contain over 60,000 toxic substances. This is the stuff that exits your toilet, and it goes right into a sewage treatment plant where they are processing this material and actually selling it as an ingredient in your pet food, animal feeds, and in fertilizer. There’s at least 80,000, probably hundreds of thousands of different poisons or toxins called xenobiotics that we are exposed to on a daily basis.

Our bodies have a defense mechanism for these toxins.  It is a series of detoxification pathways that will turn these poisons into harmless particles which is then eliminated through our waste and urine.  This is called biotransformation, where you have these very powerful enzymes called cytochrome P-450 enzymes that are meant to breakdown all these poisons and keep us healthy. So, what should you be doing or eating to keep these toxins from causing disease?

Cruciferous Vegetables

There is a really interesting book called The International Agency of Research on Cancer by the World Health Organization, and it talks about cruciferous vegetables and their ability to induce biotransformation. If there is one thing you should be consuming on a regular basis it’s cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, arugula, and bok choy.

Bile salts

Your body makes its own bile, but you can also take a bile supplement. This is very important because anytime you do a detox you should always start by taking bile salts for a few days and then do a detox because taking purified bile salts helps to start the flow through the liver. When you start to detoxify you start killing off certain pathogens that release endotoxins that then shut down the bile ducts. That’s why you might feel toxic from detoxifying.  So, bile salts help you eliminate xenobiotics naturally. The chemicals from your liver should be coming out with the help of bile salts. Also, the microbes in your gut help you detoxify, and they also have the ability to make this cytochrome P-450 enzyme to help you breakdown these poisons. One recommendation is to combine cruciferous vegetables with probiotics.  For example, if you were to take a prebiotic that has fiber as in cabbage and fermented it into sauerkraut then it is not just cruciferous but it’s a prebiotic and a probiotic. So, sauerkraut is a great food to help you detoxify.  The great thing about doing this with food is it happens slowly so you don’t really feel it. There’s many other different vegetables and herbs that will help you detoxify such as garlic, rosemary, thyme and clove. All of these have the enzyme cytochrome P-450.

Fasting

Another thing to make note of is that a lot of these chemicals create a lot of free radical damage in the body but the foods that you eat have antioxidants. However, your body also makes antioxidants called endogenous antioxidants. This is especially true when you fast. When you’re fasting you are putting your body into state of autophagy which not only accelerates repairing the damage in the body but also the clearing out of pathogens. Fasting will help increase your endogenous antioxidant networks so you will have a lot more antioxidants. Not to mention your immune system will be stronger and the body will resist the stress from the free radical damage.

Read labels

Certified organic foods do not contain biosolids so it would be best to try and eat as much organic food as possible.  It would also be a good idea to make sure when you buy pet food that you read the ingredients to make sure it does not have what’s called “nutrient rich organic by-products” because it sounds like it’s really healthy but it’s not because it’s just another name for biosolids.

Fake Food Secrets Exposed! Here’s the Juicy Details

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It may surprise you to know that most people live on a diet that is comprised of mostly fake foods. This could come as a surprise because the differences between real food and fake food can be very subtle, and often confusing. Knowing this, is it any wonder why there is a link between our diet and chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancer?

You may also be wondering why fake food even exists. There are many factors that contributed to the production of fake food. After World War 2 chemical agriculture grew in response to starvation and hunger, replacing natural organic methods of farming with fertilizers and pesticides. Supermarkets replaced butchers, bakers and farmers and canned and packaged foods predominated.

Farming practices changed dramatically which affected food production and now 10 companies now control the overall food supply some of which are Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Kraft, Unilever, General Mills, Nestle, Mars, Kellogg, Proctor & Gamble, and Johnson & Johnson.

In some areas of the world affected by climate, war or other factors, the consumption of fake food has increased by more than 95 percent.

Here is a list of some fake foods that might surprise you.

Fake Steak

Some restaurants and caterers used pieces of meat that have been glued together with something called meat glue. The glue is called transglutaminase. There are a couple of problems with this glue. First, they must re-handle the meat so there is increased risk of adding more bacteria to the meat. Secondly, they don’t have to actually tell you the process of how they make this glue. Originally it came from blood plasma from either a cow or pig and then they combine that with certain things like bacteria. But then they evolved to just fermenting a bacteria to make these enzymes that make this glue. But the problem in all of this is that they are not very transparent. You don’t really know how they’re making it. If you are eating anywhere where there’s bulk filet mignon, you might want to ask them if they use meat glue.

Parmesan Cheese

Unfortunately, most parmesan cheese does not come from Parma Italy. Most parmesan cheese is made with a mixture of cheap cheeses like cheddar cheese or powdered mozzarella cheese with added cellulose, and a mold inhibitor. What is even worse is the FDA makes it legal to sell this fake parmesan cheese and that is because the cellulose is from natural sources.  This source is wood pulp, and it is between 4 to 20% of the ingredients. So, one-fifth of the product is wood.

Crab sticks

Imitation crab meat has another name- surimi. They take random fish flesh or fish leftovers and add some starch whether it’s from potato, wheat, corn, tapioca and mix that with some MSG to add flavoring.  Then they have to add crab flavoring because it doesn’t taste like crab and some protein but that protein is either egg white protein or soy protein. They also put some sugar in like sorbitol and some soy oil or other vegetable oils. Then they sprinkle a little sodium benzoate as a preservative to make it last longer. Then of course they add colouring to make it look like crab.

Fake tuna

Precooked canned tuna or even packaged tuna is another to look out for. One company that did some investigation into this found that 21% of the companies they found did not contain actual tuna. It was mislabeled. Instead of having tuna they had another fish called escuela. This fish is also known as butterfish or oil fish. It was banned in Japan from 1977 because they said it was too toxic. They even have a name for it, “ex-lax fish” because of the side effects of diarrhea or anal leakage. If you see your tuna looking extremely white, almost opaque white, then it is not tuna.

Extra virgin olive oil

80% of extra virgin olive oil is not extra virgin. Extra virgin means it’s processed very quickly and cold pressed.  It’s a high-quality process so it has more antioxidants and when you consume it, it has a completely different taste and smell. It has a fresh smell and a taste that gives you a little tickle in the back of your throat. In the fake EVOO they add canola or just a blend of other oils so it is rancid, cooked, and heated.  It does not have the vital nutrients that real extra virgin olive oil has.

Maple syrup

Most maple syrups that you buy is either made from dark brown sugar or refined white sugar with maple syrup flavoring and artificial colorings. Some are even made with high fructose corn syrup. Because these ingredients don’t have the natural antioxidants as a preservative, they have to add preservatives like sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid to prevent this syrup from spoiling.

Truffle oil

Truffle oil comes from a very expensive mushroom. Instead, they use a flavoring molecule to make some other ingredients taste like truffle oil. They use this in restaurants a lot because it is a way to save money.

Powdered instant coffee

Some of the blended ingredients include cereal, caramel, starch, malt and figs. In addition, instant coffee has something called acrylamide that is a potentially very harmful chemical. This chemical is created when the beans are roasted. Instant coffee has more than double the amount as other types of coffee. It can affect the nervous system and increase the risk of cancer if you are consuming it regularly.

Wasabi

The vast majority of wasabi in the US is simply a mixture of horseradish, hot mustard, and green dye. It doesn’t actually come from the wasabi plant.  A report showed that up to 95% of the wasabi sold is not real wasabi. This is because wasabi is very difficult to grow and it’s extremely expensive. Also, when you take fresh wasabi and pulverize it, it only lasts for about 15 minutes meaning it loses its flavor. So, horseradish is used because it lasts a lot longer.

Commercial guacamole

The impostors are made with skim milk vegetable oil, water, emulsified egg yolks and a slew of gums and gels. It’s even created with isolated soy protein.  Of course, to make it look green they add food dye. Some commercial guacamole only has 2% avocado!

9 Triggers of Inflammation You Need to Know

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inflammation, foods that cause inflammation, bladder inflammation, heart inflammation, what is inflammation, how to reduce inflammation in the body fast, inflammation diet

There are many reasons why inflammation should be a concern but most importantly we should note that cancer tends to travel and migrate to areas of inflammation.  Also, if you’re in an inflammatory state you will have a histamine reaction and too much histamine in the body will cause fatigue.  Other symptoms of too much histamine are mucus build up and congestion.  Thankfully there are all sorts of things that you can do to reduce inflammation.  But first we should identify the triggers so let’s look some things that can cause inflammation.

Food allergies

The most obvious trigger is when you eat something you’re allergic to and you become inflamed which is usually in the gut.  What’s very interesting is that certain parts of your body could be allergic to certain things but not other parts. Some examples of conditions of inflammation of the gut are colitis and diverticulitis. The most common food triggers are dairy, nuts.

Insulin resistance

When you have this condition, you’re going to have higher levels of inflammation, stiffness, and pain in your body, especially in your joints.  Insulin resistance is the result of eating too much sugar which is highly inflammatory. You may say that you don’t eat sugar, but we must be aware of the hidden sugars like in juice, bread, pasta, cereal, and sweeteners. All of these can potentially cause a lot of inflammation and it’s the most common reason why people are inflamed.  In fact, as soon as they change their diet inflammation goes away.

Cortisol

Cortisol is normally an anti-inflammatory hormone produced by the outer portion of the adrenal glands.   But when you have lower amounts of cortisol, for example, cortisol resistance, and you have a situation where it’s low in certain parts but high in others or you run out of cortisol because you have adrenal fatigue you can develop inflammatory conditions. There’s a condition called Addison’s disease where the person has inflammation everywhere in their body.  People with this condition must take a steroid like Prednisone which is basically a synthetic version of cortisol.  There are so many inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune diseases, skin problems, arthritis that basically involve low cortisol. If you have low cortisol levels the goal is to strengthen the adrenals.  A natural cortisol replacement is licorice root.

Old injuries

If you have an old injury whether it’s a sprained ankle, a fall on the tailbone, breaking a bone or any other injuries it can come back to haunt you.  You may notice low grade stiffness and inflammation happening especially in the joints because it’s been damaged and potentially not a lot of circulation to the area.  However intermittent fasting can greatly reduce inflammation even from old injuries.

Infection

Inflammation will occur with infections because it’s part of the immune response. You could have an overgrowth of yeast or candida, viruses in certain parts of the body, bacterial infections, and overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria. Even an infection from a damaged tooth can leak bacteria into the body and go to the heart and settle there.  So, you can develop all sorts of inflammatory conditions in different parts of the body which is why it’s important to start clearing out the old infection from the body.  Of course, you want to avoid the sugar that feeds it. These infections are very common but it’s a low-grade infection that’s not showing up as a as a major problem but it’s a hidden infection and the major symptom you’re going to notice is fatigue.

Oxidants

These could be many things from too much sugar to junk food, or alcohol. But let’s look at free iron. Free iron is very corrosive and oxidative in the body. It can go to the brain to destroy and oxidize. It oxidizes the arteries and basically creates a rusting effect.  The body’s response is to repair it with calcium and cholesterol which is called plaque. This happens is the brain, the heart, and other places. But oxidants can create an inflammatory condition because this is the body’s immune reaction.  By the way, microbes, both good and bad, eat iron which is a good thing.  But when you have inflammation, the body starts to hide and pull the iron in for itself as a survival mechanism so the pathogens can’t eat it. As a result, you could have this sudden drop of iron that can cause even anemia. So anytime you have too much iron, you’re going to have more infection, more oxidants, and more problems. So how would you be exposed to iron?  The number one way would be to a supplement and there’s all kinds of low-quality supplements that are the wrong kind of iron.  Ideally you want to get iron from grass-fed liver extract that comes as a pill or powder or grass-fed spleen extract.  These sources have bound iron not free iron called elemental iron which you want to stay away from.  Also, elemental iron is found in wheat products because they enrich the wheat with elemental iron.

Alcohol and junk food

It goes without saying that alcohol and junk food will create damage to the body and create inflammation and damage the liver.

Omega-6 fatty Acids

Things like soy and corn oil are highly inflammatory so you want to avoid foods high in Omega-6 fatty acids.

Raw nuts and seeds

Raw nuts and raw seeds have enzyme inhibitors which tend to create a problem with digestion especially in the gallbladder.  When you consume too many nuts, especially if they’re not germinated or soaked in water overnight, cleaned up and dried out then you’re going to have more irritation and inflammation.  This is not true for everybody but for some people it can be a problem.