Category Archives: anti-aging

Brown Bread – Is It Really Healthy?

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bread

Did you know that one of the major contributors to a SLOW metabolism is the overconsumption of whole grains, even foods praised as being “high in fiber” such as:

1. 100% Whole Wheat or Brown Bread
2. Whole Grain Pasta
3. Bran flakes and other Wheat-based “Fiber” Cereals, and…
4. Whole Wheat Tortillas and Wraps

Despite having more fiber than their “white” counterparts, these 4 high-fiber foods destroy our blood sugar and give rapid rise to the fat-storing hormone insulin.  In fact, believe it or not, two slices of whole wheat bread raise blood sugar far higher than a can of sugar-sweetened soda or even a sugary candy bar.  This is because the wheat of today is nothing like the wheat of generations ago, having been genetically modified by the food industry, mutated, and exposed to  industrial toxins and radiation to force an unnatural higher yield at the expense of our health.

These harmful wheat products, although praised by food manufacturers as healthy for their fiber and “whole grain” content, are a major cause of the raging obesity epidemic today.  Even more, because they are so rapidly digested, these foods provide virtually no metabolic benefit during digestion. Even if the loaf claims to be ‘multigrain’. Because it usually is just a few grains of oats and seeds sprinkled on top, not really altering the nutritional profile.

In fact, often the ‘Brown Bread’ is nothing but white bread colored brown with molasses or, even worse, chemical colors!

On the other hand, protein boosts metabolism and burns up to 30% of the calories we eat just during the digestion process, not to mention the fat-burning hormonal benefits of eating less wheat and more protein.  So by swapping toxic wheat for fat-burning protein starting today, we can do wonders for our metabolism and our waistline to boot!

Be Informed. Be Healthy.

Dental Health – No More Cavities

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The Complete Guide to Perfect Teeth

We often don’t relate the health of our teeth to the health of our body, but the reality is, we build up hundreds of bacteria on our teeth and gums on a daily basis simply by what we eat and drink. By not caring for this regularly, infection can occur, causing your immune system to go to work and attack the infection.

Our diet plays a vital role in our overall health, especially our teeth and gums. Our mouth is the first contact we have with our food, so it’s important that we choose to eat clean, whole foods.

Carbohydrates are part of the problem. It’s really the type of carbohydrates we choose to eat, like cereal, bagels, cakes, candies, crackers, cookies pasta, bread; you get the idea. All the processed refined sugars and foods that strip us of essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, zinc and magnesium which are important for immunity and bone health.

Avoiding these types of food will have the greatest impact on dental health and overall health. It is believed that it is our ineffective diet, not bacteria, which is responsible for tooth decay. Because if it were due to bacteria, then why should only a few teeth be affected? Visit this website for further information on this topic.

So what should you eat to prevent cavities and have the most perfect teeth ever? Follow the dental diet, which consists of delicious, whole foods, such as:

  • Organic fruits and vegetables grown in mineral rich soils
  • Fresh or dried spices and herbs that contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, such as turmeric, cinnamon, thyme, clove and mint
  • High quality fats such as, ghee, coconut oil or grass fed butter. These contain higher amounts of vitamin K2, a fat soluble vitamin that is essential for strong bones and teeth
  • Pasture raised, grass fed meats and dairy which contain higher amounts on anti-inflammatory omega 3’s
  • Vitamin C rich foods help to maintain healthy gums.
  • Vitamin D is another fat-soluble vitamin that is important for strong bones and teeth
  • Spinach, kale, almonds and shrimp are great sources of calcium which is also needed for bone health
  • Consume phosphorus rich foods such as organic eggs, sunflower seeds, poultry, etc. Phosphorus helps to nourish the teeth and protect the roots.
  • Opt for mineral rich and quality carbohydrates such as pumpkin, plantain and berries, all of which contain fiber and high amounts of vitamin C.

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    Consuming the foods above and focusing on quality will ensure you supply your body with vital nutrients that not only protect your teeth, but help to prevent disease overall.

    teeth

    Here’s what your daily dental routine should look like:

  • Start with a salt rinse – grab a mason jar, fill it with warm water and drop in a chunk of Himalayan sea salt. Let it dissolve and viola! You’ve got yourself a simple homemade mouth rinse without any chemicals or alcohol.
  • Move on to tongue scraping – you can do this first thing when you wake up or after breakfast. Either way, get into the habit of doing it daily.
  • Brush
  • Floss – Carefully, deliberately and really focus on the gum line. Be gentle.

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    Oil pulling

    This is a great addition you can add to the 4 steps above. This age old remedy is helpful for whitening teeth and improving gum health by removing harmful bacteria.

    Here’s how you do it:

  • Start with 2 teaspoons a high quality coconut oil. Feel free to add any antibacterial oils to the coconut oil, such as clove or cinnamon.
  • Swish the oil around your mouth for a good 20 minutes. It may take time to work up to a full 20 minutes, but timing is key! To fully reap the benefits, fend off plaque and fight bacteria, a full 20 minutes will do the trick!
  • Spit the oil into the toilet or garbage bin. Do not swallow it as it does contain bacteria.
  • Rinse with your homemade sea salt rinse to get out any remaining oil
  • Brush your teeth as you regularly would.

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    Commit to these steps daily and ensure your diet is full of organic, whole foods and you’ll be on your way to the most perfect teeth ever!

    Be Healthy!

    Carotenoids May Prevent Not Just Macular Degeneration But Also Dementia

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    Daily supplementation with plant-derived carotenoids can reduce the risk of age-associated macular degeneration, and may also have a role in prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, according to James Stringham, PhD, of the Nutritional Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Georgia, Atlanta.

    kale-sm

    Leafy green vegetables like this curly kale are the primary sources of carotenoids essential for retinal health.

    Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin—three carotenoids that cannot be produced by the human body have, none the less, “a conspicuous concentration” in the eyes, said Dr. Stringham, speaking at SupplySide West, a nutrition industry conference.Dr. Stringham is among the nation’s leading carotenoid researchers, with a particular interest in the role of these molecules in visual function and cognitive function.

    The retina is unbelievably carotenoid-hungry.

    “If you don’t get a lot of lutein, zeaxanthin, and mesoxanthin in your diet, you are at increased risk of macular degeneration by age 60-65,” he said, citing several studies demonstrating a clear correlation. “Long-term oxidative damage catches up. Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in people over 60, and it is a bad disease.”
    Neural processing speed, it turns out, shows a direct relationship with levels of lutein and zeaxanthin. Dr. Stringham went as far as saying that neural processing is actually mediated by these two carotenoids. People with the most macular pigment (carotenoids) are most able to adapt to shifts between light and darkness much more quickly than those with the lowest levels.

    Daily dosing with 15 mg of meso-zeaxanthin and 12 mg per day of a combination of lutein and zeaxanthin produces an almost immediate increase in MPOD measurements that continues to rise steadily with continued supplementation, peaking out after about 180 days, reported Dr. Stringham.

    Long term supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin gives myriad improvements in visual function, including faster performance and better acuity ; reduced glare sensitivity; enhanced contrast sensitivity, improved vision in dim light, and reduced chromatic blur.

    There’s very little downside to lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation. It is extremely safe even at high doses.

    Improved Cognitive Function

    The eyes and the brain are intimately connected, so it should be no surprise that what’s good for the eyes is probably also good for the brain. That’s certainly the case with carotenoids.

    In one study, 49 women aged 60-80 years, were randomized to receive DHA (800 mg/day), lutein (12 mg/day), a combination of DHA and lutein or a placebo for a total of 4 months. Investigators measured verbal fluency, memory, processing speed and accuracy, and self-reports of mood.

    Those with the highest macular pigment densities had the best cognitive function; those with the lowest pigment levels had diminished cognitive function.

    “Macular degeneration is an excellent model for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Stringham. ”
    People with chronic inflammatory conditions should probably be on the high side of the dosing spectrum because dietary antioxidants will be preferentially shunted toward quelling inflammation, so there will be less available to reach the eyes.

    Heavier people with more adipose tissue may also need higher doses than lean people, as they will tend to store these pigments in the adipose tissue.

    Supplementation is certainly expedient, but getting people to eat more leafy greens is also important. “It is always preferable to get nutrients from food,” said Dr. Stringham. “Kale is the champion. You can’t get lutein and zeaxanthin from carrots.”

    Stay Healthy!

     

    HbA1C – More than Just Diabetes Control

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    The British Journal of Cancer published an incredibly important report that found a strong relationship between a simple blood test and the risk for various forms of cancer. The study found that the common blood test used by diabetics to measure their average blood sugar, A1c, was strongly predictive in terms of cancer development.

    It’s a way to judge how high the blood sugar has been over a 3-4 month period of time, and this is why it’s so helpful for diabetics.

    But with this new report, we now understand that having elevated A1c translates to risk for cancer, and it is also a powerful indicator of risk for developing dementia.  A1c is also directly related to the rate at which the brain shrinks on an annual basis.

    A1c-Graph

    Think of it, this one simple blood test can give you incredibly important information about cancer risk, risk for dementia, and even risk for shrinkage of your brain!

    Most commonly people are told that having an A1c of 5.6 – 5.8 should be considered normal, but when you look at the graph above, these levels already put you in the second highest category for brain shrinkage! Based on this information, we should strive to keep our A1c at 5.2 or even lower. The way to accomplish this is simply by reducing your consumption of carbohydrates and sugar. Who knew!

    Stay Healthy.

    Drink up!

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    We’re talking of water here, obviously!

     

    Woman Drinking Water

    Water Helps to Maximize Physical Performance

    Losing as little as 2% of your body’s water content can significantly impair physical performance and staying hydrated can help maintain function.

    Hydration Has a Major Effect on Brain Function!

    Studies show that even mild dehydration (1-3% of body weight) can impair many aspects of brain function.

    Girl Leaning on Table With Glass of Water

    Isn’t it simple? Any time you feel mentally exhausted, drink up!

    Drinking Water May Help to Prevent and Treat Headaches

    Several studies have shown that water can relieve headaches in those who are dehydrated .

    Drinking More Water May Help Relieve Constipation

    Carbonated water shows particularly promising results for constipation relief, for reasons not yet entirely understood.

    Drinking Water May Help with Kidney Stones

    Bottle of Water
    Higher fluid intake increases the volume of urine passing through the kidneys, which dilutes the concentration of minerals, so they are less likely to crystallize and form clumps.

    Also, a small stone can get flushed out without resorting to a surgical option.

    Drinking More Water Can Help With Weight Loss

    Weight Scale

    Drinking plenty of water can help you lose weight.

    This is due to the fact that water can increase satiety and boost your metabolic rate.

    In two studies, drinking half a liter of water was shown to increase metabolism by 24-30% for up to 1.5 hours.

    This means that drinking 2 liters of water every day can increase your total energy expenditure by up to 96 calories per day.

    The timing is important too, and drinking water half an hour before meals is the most effective. It can make you feel more full, so that you eat fewer calories .

    In one study, dieters who drank half a liter of water before meals lost 44% more weight, over a period of 12 weeks.

    It is actually best to drink water cold, because then the body will use additional calories to heat the water to body temperature.

    Simple. Stay Healthy!