Metabolism Is As Metabolism Does

The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the rate at which energy is released from food when an individual is awake but resting. As food is broken down by each chemical process of digestion, heat is released. This heat is what allows our bodies to remain at a comfortable temperature in order to keep us alive. The BMR is different for everyone and will require a different amount of food for each person.

The Total Metabolic Rate (TMR) is the total amount of energy used by the body per day. When the body begins to move, more energy is used and will thus require more food. So the BMR is basically the base rate at which your TMR starts from. Your BMR is what you wake up with when you first open your eyes and your TMR is what you go to sleep with. People with a high BMR will likely have a high TMR and require more food just to stay alive than people with a low BMR.

These two rates determine your ability to lose weight, gain weight or remain the same based on your food intake and physical activity throughout the day.

There are calculators on the internet that can help you to determine a rough estimate of your metabolic rate but they are calculated in a very generalized manner so don’t rely on them to be exact.
Calories Burned, BMI, BMR & RMR Calculator

What affects your metabolism?

1. The amount of Food you eat. If the number of calories that you take in is more than what your body requires in order to sustain life and the amount of activity you do in a day then you are likely to gain weight and vice versa.

2. Amount of activity. The more active you are throughout the day, the higher your metabolism will be. Someone who works as a waiter, for example, will burn more calories in a day than someone who sits in front of a computer all day.

3. Exercise, and by exercise I mean activity beyond your normal day to day routine, raises your metabolism immediately following the activity and up to 24 hours after, depending on the exercise. Weight lifting, in particular, causes a more permanent rise in your metabolic rate because it increases your muscle mass and muscle uses more calories than fat.

4. Sleep deprivation. It has been shown that people who sleep less than seven hours per night have a lower BMI than people who sleep more so not getting enough sleep lowers your metabolism and you should thus take in less food if you are looking to lose weight.

5. Hormones. Insulin in particular. When you eat sweet foods and candy, your insulin levels rise thus signaling your body that you have an excess of sugar in your blood. In response to this excess sugar, your body begins using sugar for its primary energy source rather than fat. If your body is constantly burning sugar then you will not be able to lose weight because fat stores remain the same or even increase depending on how much sugar you are taking in.

6. Age. As you age, you tend to lose muscle mass and this slows down your metabolism.

7. Climate. Warmer temperatures tend to decrease metabolism. It has been shown that glycogen stores are used up to five times more quickly in cold weather thus switching the body into fat burning mode.

8. The types of food you eat. High protein diets have been shown to raise your metabolism. This may be due to the fact that you are taking in less sugar and your insulin levels are thus lower.

9. Skipping Meals. If you constantly skip meals then your body goes into starvation mode and tries to conserve its fat stores for later energy needs thus lowering your metabolism. Try to eat small frequent meals so that your body knows that it is not in famine and you should never skip breakfast.

10. The Nervous System. Disorders of the nervous system can affect the output of adrenalin, insulin, Leptin and other hormones that affect the metabolism.

11. Hydration. Water is needed by every cell in your body and they will not function optimally if you do not take in enough water.

12. Gut bacteria. It has been shown that obese people have a different makeup of bacteria in their gut and that those bacteria are more efficient at extracting calories from food. Eating fermented foods or taking probiotics can help to balance out the gut flora with more healthful varieties and thus require fewer calories that need to be burned.

13. The thyroid. The thyroid ultimately controls metabolism so anything you can do to support and nourish the thyroid can be helpful to your metabolism. You can read about the thyroid in my previous blog: Thyroid Blog

There are many foods and herbs that can help to boost your metabolism including: Hot peppers, Grapefruit, Apples, Cayenne pepper, Chives, Curry, Garlic, Tomatoes, Kelp, Celery, Broccoli, Beans, Fish, Green leafy vegetables, Blueberries, Hot mustard, Flaxseed, Cinnamon, Strawberries, Cranberries, Extra virgin olive oil, Kola Nut, Burdock Root and Ginseng.

Green tea has been shown to raise your metabolism but you will need about five cups a day to accomplish this. Calcium deficiency has also been shown to slow down your metabolism but this doesn’t necessarily mean that excess calcium will raise your metabolism so don’t go guzzling gallons of milk and eating tons of cheese and yogurt thinking that you’ll lose weight.

There are also a few essential oils that can help to effect your metabolism. Lemon Essential oil helps to increase metabolism and stimulate blood flow. Nutmeg essential oil stimulates the adrenal glands which can help to increase energy. Grapefruit essential oil has also been shown to stimulate your metabolism and reduces cravings. Fennel Essential oil and Geranium Essential oil are both helpful in balancing the hormones which can effect metabolism and weight loss.

When it comes down to it though, eating a balanced diet and keeping an active lifestyle are always your best bet when it comes to maintaining a healthy physique.

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

Resources:
1. Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, p.428-431
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/11/21/the-10-things-that-will-cause-you-to-be-fat.aspx
Accessed: 07/02/09
3. http://www.naturalnews.com/022921_metabolism_foods_water.html
Accessed: 07/02/09, Author: Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS
4. http://www.naturalnews.com/007963.html
Accessed: 07/02/09, Author: Mike Adams
5. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080115085347.htm
Accessed: 07/02/09
6. http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/abstract/s1-20/5/669
Accessed: 07/02/09
7. http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Ce-Do/Cold-Weather-Exercise.html
Accessed: 07/02/09
8. http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_metabolism.php
Accessed: 07/02/09
9. http://www.quick-weight-loss-methods.com/foods-that-increase-metabolism.html
Accessed:07/02/09
10. http://ezinearticles.com/?Herbs-That-Increase-Metabolism—Boost-Your-Body-Naturally&id=1910866
Accessed; 07/02/09
11. http://ezinearticles.com/?Healthy-Weight-Loss—Pure-Essential-Oils-to-Increase-Fat-Burning-and-Metabolism&id=811013
Accessed 07/23/09
12. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/408091/Essential-Oils-and-Nutritional-Supplements-for-Weight-Loss
13. http://antiagingchoices.com/Aromatherapy/about_aromatherapy/weight_loss_eo.htm

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Healthy Bacteria Make For A Healthy Body

Having a good balance of healthy bacteria in the large intestine of the body is extremely important because they not only aid the digestive process but they also support your immune system and provide many other benefits. The large intestine is home to about three pounds worth of bacteria, both good and bad, all working together and competing for nutrients and space. Balancing out the ratio of good to bad bacteria is key to being truly healthy. If the ratio of good to bad bacteria is out of balance then you are said to be in dysbiosis, which unfortunately, most people are.

The small intestine absorbs most of the nutrients from our food but any food that the small intestine is unable to utilize enters the large intestine where bacteria is able to break it down further. In doing this, the bacteria help to release more nutrients for absorption that would have otherwise been unavailable and they also synthesize and release vitamins themselves into our system for absorption. Vitamin K is a well known vitamin that is needed for blood clotting of which bacteria help to produce your daily supply of.

Good bacteria are also known to help prevent general food allergies, allergic inflammation and they help to heal the intestines. They also decrease Gas, Bloating, Indigestion, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Diarrhea, Constipation, Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, Bad Breath, Body Odor, Candida Yeast Infections, Colds, Flu, Chronic Fatigue and high cholesterol levels.

The balance of good and bad bacteria can influence your body weight too. Studies have shown that slim people have a different mix of bacteria in their gut than obese people. This mix of bacteria proved important because the bacteria found in obese people was more efficient at extracting calories from food and depositing them into fat.

Studies have also shown that athletes can benefit greatly from having the correct balance of healthy bacteria in their gut. Not only do they help to reduce the incidence of infections like colds and flu but they also help the athlete to recover faster. Less sick days and faster recovery times mean more time to train and improve performance.

If you have a baby or are expecting one then it is important to breast feed because breast milk naturally contains healthy bacteria that establish in your baby’s gut and help to boost it’s immune system for a healthy start to life. It is also important to have a healthy balance of good bacteria when giving birth as the vaginal canal is the baby’s first introduction to bacteria which colonizes on the skin and helps to protect the baby from other, more harmful, bacteria.

The methods by which the good bacteria is able to assist the body in all of the above functions is varied. Some bacteria help to stimulate the body’s production of a natural immune system enhancer and virus inhibitor called alpha-interferon while other bacteria help the body to fend off disease by producing a protein that gives the immune system a boost. Some also help the body to detoxify by dislodging accumulated decay from the walls of your intestine so that it can be eliminated while other bacteria produce vitamins that your body needs for overall health.

How you eat has a huge impact on the balance of bacteria in your gut. Sugar and grains tend to feed the bad bacteria which gives them an advantage over the good bacteria. Chemicals in the air and water can also throw off the balance of good to bad bacteria. All packaged and processed foods contain chemicals, some of which are listed on the ingredients label and some that do not have to be, which are very effective at throwing your system out of balance. Even if the packaged food does not contain chemicals, it is likely to be highly refined and contain unnatural amounts of sugar that allow bad bacteria to thrive so make sure to eat plenty of whole raw fruits and vegetables rather than bags and boxes of pre-made junk.

Stress can also wreak havoc on your gut bacteria so doing as much as you can to alleviate stress can help the good guys to survive. Yoga, meditation, EFT; whatever helps to relax you should be in your weekly, if not daily, routine.

Garlic, Green Tea, onions, apples, berries and Ginseng can also help to support the healthy bacteria in your gut due to their high polyphenol content.

Antibiotics play a very large part in disrupting the balance of bacteria in the gut because they tend to kill everything in their path whether it be good or bad so avoiding the use of antibiotics except in emergency situations can do wonders for your health. If you do have to take antibiotics then following them with a strong course of probiotics is highly recommended. Using filtered water is also important as traces of antibiotics have been found in our water supply. Eating organic or pasture raised meat is also important as conventionally raised animals are often fed mass amounts of antibiotics which not only throws off their bacterial balance but also results in traces of antibiotic medication in the food supply.

Probiotic supplements work by establishing colonies of the good bacteria in your intestine which literally crowd out the bad bacteria leaving them little to no room to flourish themselves. It is a competition for living space within your gut and you want to help the good guys win. When you purchase a probiotic you should make sure that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated because the bacteria need to be strong enough to survive your stomach acid…. which is not refrigerated in case you didn’t already know that. Probiotic pearls are usually very small so even people who have trouble swallowing pills should be able to get these down with little effort. Some good probiotics include:

Mercola Complete Probiotics
Renew Life Ultimate Flora
Vitacost Search

You can also eat fermented foods which naturally contain good bacteria and help to give the good guys reinforcements. Fermented foods include: Fermented milk, Kefir, Yogurt, Natto, Miso, Kimchee, Tempeh, Olives, Sauerkraut and Pickles.

Foods high in soluble fiber also help good gut bacteria to thrive. Soluable fiber is found in foods like plums, lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits, pears, prunes, psyllium seeds, oatmeal, broccoli, carrots, lentils, brussel sprouts, chickpeas, lima beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans; to name just a few.

Fructooligosaccharides and inulin are natural sugars found in certain foods and herbs that are known as Prebiotics. These prebiotics help the probiotics to survive the journey of digestion so that they can reach the large intestine. Some Prebiotics include bananas, chicory root, onions, leeks, fruit, sweet potatoes and asparagus. You can also purchase inulin powder if you feel you would like to supplement:
Now Foods Inulin Powder

One great way to support the healthy bacteria while kicking a bad habit is to substitute your coffee use with an herbal coffee which taste like coffee but are actually very healthy and cleansing for your liver while also having prebiotic properties. You can find herbal coffee here:
Mountain Rose Herbal Coffee
Dandy Blend Herbal Coffee

It is said that 80% of our immune system relies on healthy bacteria in the gut so taking whatever precautions you can to care for them and protect them can go a long way in resisting illness and disease.

Resources:

1) Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, p.406-407
2) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/10/18/bacteria-gut.aspx
Accessed: 06/16/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola, Rachael Droege
3) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/01/06/how-the-bacteria-in-your-gut-can-make-you-fat.aspx
Accessed: 06/16/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
4) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/02/18/good-bacteria-part-two.aspx
Accessed: 06/16/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola, Rachael Droege
5) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/18/probiotics-the-case-for-healthy-bowels.aspx
Accessed: 06/16/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
6) http://cholesterol.about.com/od/cholesterolloweringfoods/qt/solublfiberlist.htm
Accessed: 06/16/09
7) http://www.naturalnews.com/023934_probiotics_probiotic_infections.html
Accessed: 06/17/09, Author: David Gutierrez
8) http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/probiotics.aspx?id=1&campaignno=probiotics&adgroup=ag3pre&keywords=prebiotic
Accessed: 06/17/09, Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

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Surprise! Your Food Contains MSG!!

If you think this article doesn’t concern you because you don’t eat foods that contain MSG then you should think again because MSG is disguised under many names on ingredient lists and should be avoided at all costs if you value your brain. It can be considered more toxic to your long term health than cigarettes, alcohol and most drugs.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer in many foods. It is believed that it stimulates glutamate receptors in the tongue which mimics meat-like flavors making a meal more “savory”. It also deceives your brain into craving more food that contains the substance even if you are already full. It is added to canned soups, crackers, meats, snack foods, salad dressings, infant formulas, frozen dinners and MANY, MANY other processed and packaged foods that you find in your local supermarket and even health food stores. It is added to food at restaurants, fast food chains and even school cafeterias.

So What is MSG?

MSG is an Excitotoxin which means that it is an amino acid that also serves as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals used by your nervous system to communicate messages throughout the body. Excitotoxins, in excessive quantities, over-excite the neurons in your brain to the point of exhaustion which leads to cellular damage and eventually to the cell’s death. Excitotoxins, like MSG and Aspartame, have been linked to learning disabilities, Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Obesity, Eye Damage, Headaches, Fatigue, Disorientation, Depression and Cancer, just to name a few. Excitotoxins are known to not only promote cancer growth but they also make cancer cells more mobile which allows cancer to metastasize (spread) more easily and quickly throughout your body.

The link between MSG and obesity lies in the fact that MSG not only makes you eat more food than you are actually hungry for but it also reduces the thermogenicity of brown fat which can make people gain weight even when they decrease their caloric intake.

Chemically, MSG is the sodium salt of an amino acid called glutamic acid and is about 78 percent free glutamic acid, 21 percent sodium, and up to 1 percent contaminants. The problem with MSG actually lies in the FREE GLUTAMIC ACID. The fact is that many natural foods contain Glutamatic acid but it is most often bound to other amino acids which helps to slow down the absorption of Glutamate into your blood stream. FREE GLUTIMIC ACID, on the other hand, is absorbed very rapidly and thus travels through your blood stream in dangerously high concentrations that your body is not able to handle.

Almost every organ in the body contains glutamate receptors, which means that as you eat MSG, there are numerous pathways for it to be absorbed and to enter your bloodstream in large quantities. Once it enters your bloodstream, it travels to your brain where there are glutamate receptors on both sides of the blood brain barrier thus allowing glutamate to freely cross the blood-brain barrier and damage your brain.

In addition to the excitotoxic effects of MSG and Aspartame, the metabolization of these substances also produces formaldehyde in the body. This formaldehyde creates a very strong bond with cellular DNA and takes a very long time to remove. As the formaldehyde accumulates, it causes irreparable damage to the cell allowing disease to manifest more easily.

MSG Symptom Complex is an immediate reaction to the ingestion of free glutamatic acid which can initially cause:

1) A burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest
2) Numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back
3) Tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms
4) Facial pressure or tightness
5) Chest pain
6) Headache
7) Nausea
8) Rapid heartbeat
9) Bronchospasm (difficulty breathing) in MSG-intolerant people with asthma
10) Drowsiness
11) Weakness.

Soy has one of the highest levels of glutamate known in the plant kingdom making it particularly dangerous to ingest. Hydrolyzing soy releases this glutamate so make sure to avoid anything with hydrolyzed Soy anything. A 25 year study even revealed that people who eat the most soy in their diet tend to have the highest percentages of Dementia and brain atrophy. You can read about the others dangers of soy here:

Put The Fork Down And Step Away From The Tofu

There are over 40 labeled ingredients that contain glutamic acid and some foods tend to form glutamic acid during processing (hydrolyzing, Autolyzing, Yeast Enzymes, Etc.). The following list was taken from Dr. Mercola’s article on MSG.

Ingredients that ALWAYS contain MSG:

Autolyzed Yeast
Calcium Caseinate
Gelatin Glutamate
Glutamic Acid
Hydrolyzed Protein
Monopotassium Glutamate
Monosodium Glutamate
Sodium Caseinate
Textured Protein
Yeast Extract
Yeast Food
Yeast Nutrient

Ingredients that OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:

Flavors and Flavorings
Seasonings
Natural Flavors and Flavorings
Natural Pork Flavoring
Natural Beef Flavoring
Natural Chicken Flavoring
Soy Sauce
Soy Protein Isolate
Soy Protein
Bouillon Stock
Broth
Malt Extract
Malt Flavoring
Barley Malt
Whey Protein
Carrageenan
Maltodextrin
Pectin
Enzymes Protease
Corn Starch
Citric Acid
Powdered Milk
Anything Protein Fortified
Anything Enzyme Modified
Anything Ultra-Pasteurized

Food Additives that contain Excitotoxins other than just MSG include:

Aspartame
Autolyzed anything
Barley malt
Beef base
Beef flavoring
Beef stock
Broth of any kind
Carrageenan
Caseinate
Chicken base
Chicken broth
Chicken flavoring
Chicken stock
Disodium anything
Dough conditioner
Gelatin
Gelatinized anything
Glutamate
Gaur gum
Hydrolyzed anything
Kombu extract
L-cysteine
Malt or malted anything
Milk solids
Natural flavor
Nutrasweet
Pork base
Pork flavoring
Protein concentrate
Protein extract
Seasoned salt
Seasoning
Smoke flavoring
Solids of any kind
Soup base
Soy extract
Soy protein anything
Soy sauce
Spice
Stock
Textured protein
Textured vegetable protein
Umami
Vegetable gum
Whey anything
Yeast extract

If that wasn’t bad enough, Emerald BioAgriculture manufactures a “Crop Growth Enhancer” called Auxigrow, which is tainted with MSG. So even if you are miraculously able to avoid MSG in the ingredients of your food, you still wont know if the crop was sprayed with MSG during growth.

So What Can You Do To Protect Yourself From MSG?

Well short of avoiding all processed foods and never eating food that you have not meticulously cooked yourself there are a few herbs and minerals that can help to protect you from excitotoxins like MSG.

Magnesium helps to slow down glutamates from overloading glutamate receptors. Magnesium deficient people are most prone to MSG Symptom Complex and Cardiac Death due to MSG. You can find Magnesium in green, leafy vegetables, whole grains and many beans and nuts. You can also find supplements on the internet or in your local health food store.

Curcumin (found in Turmeric) and the herb Ginko Biloba also help to block glutamate receptors. Turmeric is a spice that you can add to your food and Gingko Biloba can be found in supplement form or as a fresh or dried herb to make teas and tinctures from.

Omega 3 fatty acids also block excitoxins and help to repair cellular damage. You can find Omega 3 Fats in Krill Oil Supplements, Green Lipped Muscle Supplements, Flax Seeds and a few other plant and animal sources.

Zinc and Selenium are also helpful at blocking glutamate receptors. They can both be found in supplement form and in many foods. Brazil Nuts are particularly high in Selenium.

Red Clover Essential Oil has been shown to produce a significant decline in brain cell neuron damage.

While eating out, try to avoid white sauces or Gravy on your food and creamy salad dressings as they tend to contain the most Glutamate. Opt instead for salad dressings that have an oil base or better yet just use olive oil and lemon.

This blog, in no way, covers all the dangers of MSG and other Excitotoxins but you can read the following book for a more detailed account of these poisens.

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by Dr. Russell Blaylock

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

Resources:
1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/MSG-Is-This-Silent-Killer-Lurking-in-Your-Kitchen-Cabinets.aspx
Accessed: 04/21/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
2. http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17608.cfm
Accessed: 04/22/09,
3. http://www.naturalnews.com/026157.html
Accessed: 04/30/09, Author: Paul Louis Fassa
4. http://www.naturalnews.com/026216.html
Accessed: 05/07/09, Author: Paul Fassa
5. http://www.naturalnews.com/026244.html
Accessed: 05/14/09, Author: Barbara Minton
6. The Truth About Aspartame, MSG and Excitotoxins, An Interview With Dr. Russell Blaylock
Author: Mike Adams, Truth Publishing International
7. http://www.foodsafety.gov/~lrd/msg.html
Accessed: 05/21/09

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Dark Chocolate, Red Wine… that Resveratrol is oh so Devine

Any discussion on an antioxidant should begin with explaining why they are important so if you already know about free radicals then skip to the next paragraph or you can continue on here for a refresher. Oxygen is necessary for life but, unfortunately, oxygen also causes chemical reactions within the body that generate free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are missing electrons and are therefore unstable. In order to stabilize themselves, they must steal electrons from other molecules in the body which causes something called oxidative stress. Oxidative Stress is very damaging to the bodily tissues and causes wrinkles, muscle loss and a whole host of degenerative diseases. Oxidative stress is an ongoing process that cannot be stopped (because we need oxygen in order to live) and if left unchecked, it will eventually cause the tissues to breakdown so much that death will ensue. Luckily for us, we have discovered that antioxidants help to slow this process and that is why antioxidants are praised so highly and are considered so important.

Resveratrol or trans-resveratrol is in the polyphenol category of antioxidants and is produced in the skin and seeds of purple or red grapes as their natural means of inhibiting mold growth. It has also been found in Cocoa Powder, baking chocolate and Dark Chocolate products with cocoa powder containing the highest of those three but not more than red wine. Resveratrol is also produced by raspberries, mulberries and peanuts but at lower levels. Muscadine Grapes are known to have the highest levels of Resveratrol because their skins are thicker than most grapes and they also contain more seeds than most other varieties.

Resveratrol is an alcohol soluble compound which explains why Red Wine is known for its antioxidant power. Red wine contains anywhere from 1.5 to 3 milligrams (1500-3000 micrograms) of Resveratrol per liter while grape skins and seeds can yield 50 to 100 micrograms per gram making red wine a much more concentrated form of Resveratrol. Unfortunately for most of us, drinking any more than one glass of red wine per day actually offsets the benefits of Resveratrol and increases your risk of disease. Also, some red wine may not contain any Resveratrol at all unless the grapes were grown in damp/moldy areas or the grower refused to use fungicides since Resveratrol is the plant’s defense against fungus and mold.

So what is so special about Resveratrol?

This powerful antioxidant is thought to fight Alzheimer’s Disease and other brain disorders due to its very special ability to cross the blood brain barrier. Because it can cross this barrier, it is able to protect the brain and nervous system from oxidative stress and the diseases that come from it.

Resveratrol is also know to switch on a gene called SIRT1 within our bodies that can increase longevity or lifespan up to 70% (about 50 years) and is known to fight the signs of aging along with increasing your fat burning potential. It has been shown to help your liver metabolize fat and then helps to break down stored fat contained in your white adipose tissue.

It can also help to fight Cancer and Heart Disease while lowering blood pressure, raising good cholesterol, preserving red blood cells, protecting your body against fungal infections, assisting your anti-inflammatory response and helping to prevent blood clots that lead to stroke. In addition to all that, it has also been shown to protect the liver and pancreas, reduce cataracts, improve coordination, encourage bone health, reduce disk deterioration, protect joints, guard against Parkinson’s disease, improve erectile performance and help to regulate cell health while protecting against adverse cell changes.

Recent studies have even shown that Resveratrol can help to reduce and possibly even reverse the effects of alcohol induced fatty liver disease. Alcohol induced fatty liver disease occurs when the liver becomes damaged from alcohol abuse and cannot break down fat efficiently. Since the liver is unable to break down fat, the fat starts to build up within the liver eventually causing liver diseases like cirrhosis or fibrosis which can lead to total liver failure if left untreated. Our livers contain two proteins called SIRT1 and AMPK which are vital for breaking down fat in the liver but alcohol abuse tends to inhibit the ability of these proteins to do their job. Resveratrol has been shown to increase levels of these two proteins and their ability to breakdown fat. In addition to this, the higher levels and increased activity of SIRT1 and AMPK helped to decrease levels of proteins that are involved with the build up of liver fat and also increased levels of a hormone called adiponectin which metabolizes fat so not only does it help to break down exisiting fat but it also helps to metabolize fat more efficiently.

Growers have even found that coating their crops with trans-resveratrol can help to prevent mold, yeast, aging and microbial related spoilage.

If you chose to eat dark chocolate for the antioxidant benefits of Resveratrol then choosing a chocolate with the highest percentage of cacao will usually reap more benefits since it is the cocoa powder which contains the compound. 6.7 grams of chocolate a day, which is less than half a candy bar a week, provides the most benefit so don’t think this gives you free reign to gorge yourself on chocolate. A healthier option for eating chocolate is to buy Organic Cocoa powder and make your own by mixing it with honey, which is what I do. I add peppermint essential oil if I want the chocolate to be minty and you can also add different dried fruits, coconut, nuts or anything else you like in your chocolate. All you have to do is mix the ingredients to your taste preference and stick it in the fridge to harden and voila, a healthy chocolate that costs less and you know all the ingredients are safe and natural. Here are just a few sources for the ingredients:

Navitas Organic Cacao Powder

Mountain Rose Organic Cacao Powder

Organic Raw Honey From Vitacost

Tropical Traditions Raw Honey

Vitacost Search Peppermint Essential Oil

If you want the full daily benefits of Resveratrol you should consider taking a supplement that contains whole grape seeds and skins or the roots of the Japanese knotwood but don’t think that the more you take, the better the effects. We don’t know for sure what the effects of high doses may be so stick to the dosage guidelines and try to factor in your other dietary intakes of Resveratrol. Some sources for Resveratrol supplements include but are not limited to:

Purple Defense

NSI Muscadine Grape Seed

Vitacost Search Resveratrol

Vitaminlife Search Resveratrol

05/18/09 Updated to Include Information on Alcohol Induced Fatty Liver Disease

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

References:
1. http://www.naturalnews.com/024930.html
Accessed: 05/06/09, Author: Byron Richards
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/01/15/resveratrol.aspx
Accessed: 05/06/09
3. http://www.nutrientreference.com/resveratrol.html
Accessed: 05/06/09
4. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/28/resveratrol-also-found-in-dark-chocolate-and-cocoa.aspx
Accessed: 05/06/09
5. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/06/09/grape-skin.aspx
Accessed: 05/06/09
6. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/10/01/longevity-gene.aspx
Accessed: 05/06/09
7. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/resveratrol.html
Accessed: 05/06/09
8. http://www.naturalnews.com/026274.html
Accessed: 05/18/09, Author: David Gutierrez

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Virgin Coconut Oil: Healthy To Eat, Healthy To Wear, Healthy For You

Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the absolute best oils you can possibly use for cooking and baking and it has so many benefits that I just had to devote a blog to it.

The first thing that you should know is that not all saturated fats are bad for you. The saturated fat in coconut oil is actually very good for you and can even help you to lose weight. Saturated fats were vilified a couple decades ago when some very flawed studies emerged which actually used hydrogenated coconut oil rather than virgin coconut oil. Hydrogenating oil turns it into a trans fat with very detrimental effects to your health, like promoting heart disease. Other industries jumped on the opportunity to denounce saturated fats and started to heavily promote their “heart healthy” oils like soy, canola and corn oils. What they didn’t tell you is how easily these oils go rancid and promote free radical damage and inflammation in your body. You can read about the dangers of soy here:

https://wisdomthatheals.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/put-the-fork-down-and-step-away-from-the-tofu/

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAT IN YOUR DIET………………

The importance of saturated fat in the diet cannot be overemphasized. For one, the membranes of every single cell in our bodies are 50% saturated fat and this is necessary in order to protect the contents of the cell. Without saturated fat, the cell membranes would lose their structural integrity and allow the contents of the cell to get crushed. Because of this fact, our brains are actually 60% fat so a low fat diet can in fact affect brain function.

Avoiding fat in your meals is NOT the way to lose weight and can have a negative impact on your body. Many vitamins like A, D, E and K are all fat soluble and therefore need fat in order for your body to be able to use them. Also, the mineral Calcium needs dietary fat in order for it to be absorbed and utilized by our bones and teeth in helping to prevent osteoporosis and tooth decay. Having fat in a meal also helps to slow down food’s absorption so that you feel fuller and more satisfied for longer and tend to eat less in the long run. It has also been shown that adding coconut fat to your diet actually helps to normalize body fat. It stimulates your metabolism thus increasing your fat burning potential and also signals your body to release white fat stores since you are giving it a normal supply of healthy fat and it doesn’t need to keep it in storage. So avoiding all fat is not the answer to weight loss, avoiding the WRONG types of fat is the answer.

Most of the saturated fat in coconut oil is in the form of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) which your body converts into energy almost immediately rather than being stored as fat. MCTs are well known by athletes to increase athletic performance and they are also antimicrobial so they benefit the immune system by helping to improve its anti-inflammatory response. Coconut oil is so easily digested that even people who have had their gallbladder removed can still consume it. The gallbladder is a key player in digesting fats so having it removed can make fatty meals very difficult to digest…. Unless the fat is from coconut that is.

If you want to know one of the causative factors behind the obesity epidemic then you should look to soy and corn oils (vegetable oils) in the diet rather than saturated fats. In the 1940s ranchers tried to fatten up their animals using coconut oil only to find that a high coconut oil diet made their animals lean, active and full of energy. They did find, however, that using soy and corn oils fattened the animals right up so they decided to use those oils instead.

SO LETS TALK ABOUT THE FAT IN COCONUT OIL………

About 2/3rds of the white fruit (copra) of a coconut is oil and from this copra is where the coconut oil is extracted. The oil can either be extracted from dried copra or from fresh wet copra but wet extraction is more expensive and time consuming so the final product will cost more.

The primary fat in coconut oil Lauric Acid which is a medium chain fatty acid and accounts for about 49% of the fat in coconut. Lauric acid can also be found in breast milk and is vital to an infant’s immune system so they also add it to formulas. When eaten, lauric acid turns into Monolaurin which the body uses to destroy viruses, bacteria and protozoa like HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza, listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, helicobacter pylori and giardia lamblia. It is able to destroy viruses by dissolving their protective envelope (think of this as their body armor) thus exposing them to the chemicals in our bodies and killing them. Monolaurin has also been shown to inactivate fungi and the yeast known as Candida albicans which can cause a whole host of bodily disorders if allowed to multiply in excess. Even one course of antibiotics can throw off the bodily balance and allow a Candida overgrowth.

The second highest fat content in Coconut is in the form of Myristic Acid and accounts for approximately 18% of the fat content. Myrsitic Acid is another MCT and helps to promote a healthy metabolism and to stabilize cellular proteins.

Another eight percent of coconut oil is Palmitic acid which the heart uses as one of its preferred energy sources. The surfactant in our lungs, which helps to keep the walls of the lungs from sticking together, is about 68 percent palmitic acid so this fat also helps to support lung health.

About seven percent of the coconut fat is another MCT known as capric acid which has also been shown to have antiviral effects against HIV and possibly the herpes simplex virus and the sexually transmitted disease known as Chlamydia.

Because Coconut Oil is such an effective anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, it also helps to improve overall digestion of foods and to maintain the healthy bacteria in the digestive tract along with reducing the burden on your immune system. There was actually a study done on AIDS patients where their viral load dropped to almost undetectable levels when they ate a half coconut or 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil per day… that is how effective of an antiviral this stuff is. Just imagine if your immune system wasn’t burdened with all these random virus, bacteria and fungi the work it could do to promote your overall well being.

The remaining fatty acids in coconut oil include about eight percent as an MCT called caprylic acid, six percent as oleic acid which is an Omega 9 fat also found in olive oil, two percent as stearic acid and another two percent as linoleic acid which is an Omega 6 fat.

Coconut oil does not contain any trans fat and since it is stable at high temperatures, it does not turn into a trans fat during cooking like olive oil has a tendency to do. Coconut Oil has an impressive shelf life compared to other oils and does not turn rancid very easily unlike most of the oils you buy at the grocery store which are unsaturated and therefore unstable so they have probably already turned rancid before you buy them due to the light and heat exposure they experience.

One of the most important things to realize is that Saturated fat and Trans fats are NOT the same. Good saturated fats have many beneficial attributes like raising “good” cholesterol and lowering blood levels of heart disease causing (atherogenic) lipoproteins. Trans fats, on the other hand, have been shown to lower “good” cholesterol, raise atherogenic lipoproteins, cause a tissue loss of beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, inhibit insulin binding, interfere with enzyme functions and interfere with immune system function.

SO WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DOES COCONUT OIL PROVIDE…………..

Since coconut oil provides the cells with a quick energy source without raising blood sugar levels and without inhibiting insulin binding, it is also a great food for diabetics and those worried about diabetes.

Coconut oil has also been shown to preserve tissues stores of omega 3 fatty acids and can therefore help to balance the omega 3 to omega 6 ratio in your body which is very important considering how many omega 6 fats are in the typical American diet compared to omega 3 fats.

Another reason to replace your vegetable oil in cooking with coconut oil is because unsaturated fats like vegetable oils tend to impair thyroid function which can affect your metabolism, cholesterol levels and many more bodily functions. The saturated fats in coconut, on the other hand, have been shown to be supportive of healthy thyroid function. To find out how important the thyroid gland is you can go here:
https://wisdomthatheals.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/how-important-is-the-thyroid-gland/

Coconut Oil has also been shown to protect against alcohol damage to the liver.

The small structure of the saturated fat in coconut oil makes it one of the best oils to use on your skin. Not only does it make your skin very soft since it is absorbed quickly and easily but it also protects your cells against the aging and carcinogenic effects of UVA light from the sun. It is also 100% natural, unlike most lotions, creams and oils sold in stores which contain many toxic chemicals that absorb directly into your bloodstream. A motto to live by is that you should never put anything on your skin that you would not put into your mouth. Besides, think of how much money you will save on all those expensive creams and lotions that are loaded with toxic chemicals. If you want scent then you can always add essential oils of your choosing or cocoa butter to the coconut oil.

Using coconut oil on wounds can also help to soften scabs and reduce scarring.

Always buy VIRGIN Coconut Oil rather than the Bleached, Deodorized or Refined Oils as many of the health benefits are stripped from the oil during these processes. You can also reap the benefits of coconut fat by eating fresh or dried coconut and by using coconut milk in your cooking or smoothies. Make sure to buy the full fat versions of anything coconut as the fat is what makes the product healthy.

Coconut oil is solid up to 76 degrees Fahrenheit where it will then turn liquid so it will often be a solid white creamy mass during the winter and melt to clear liquid during the summer. You can buy it in most health food stores or online. I usually buy mine in bulk (five gallon bucket which lasts me about a year) because I use it for cooking, baking and on my skin as a daily moisturizer and mixed with Aloe vera gel as a sun protectant.

Here are a few of the online merchants that sell high quality Virgin Coconut Oil:

Mountain Rose Herbs

Vitacost Search Coconut Oil

Tropical Traditions

Now Foods Coconut Oil at Vitaminlife

Wilderness Family Naturals

There are some great books on the benefits of coconut oil if you are interested in finding out more detail but I have hopefully inspired you to at least try out some coconut oil and experience the benefits for yourself.

The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife

Eat Fat Lose Fat by Mary Enig & Sally Fallon

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

References:
1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/09/13/coconut-oil-part-three.aspx
Accessed: 04/06/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/08/17/saturated-fat1.aspx
Accessed: 04/07/09, Author: Mary Enig, PhD, and Sally Fallon
3. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/07/28/coconut-health.aspx
Accessed: 04/09/09, Author: Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.
4. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/07/28/coconut-health3.aspx
Accessed: 04/09/09, Author: Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.
5. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/03/24/coconut-oil-part-one.aspx
Accessed: 04/09/09, Author: Ray Peat
6. http://www.naturalnews.com/022313.html
Accessed: 04/09/09, Author: Teya Skae
7. http://www.naturalnews.com/025388.html
Accessed: 04/09/09, Author: Sheryl Walters
8. http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html
Accessed: 04/09/09
9. Enig & Fallon, Eat Fat Lose Fat, 2005, Pg. 44
10. Enig, Know Your Fats, 2000, Pgs 114-115, 241, 256, 261, 264

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Would A Stone By Any Other Name Be This Painful?

What Is A Kidney Stone

In medical terms, a kidney stone is called renal calculi and the condition of having kidney stones is called nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis. Every 1 in 1000 people will experience a Kidney Stone at least once in their life. It used to be the case that Kidney Stones were considered to be a problem for older adults but recently, children as young as five or six have been experiencing them.

What Do They Feel Like

A sudden feeling of excruciating pain in your side, groin or abdomen that is not relieved by movement along with blood in the urine are both common symptoms of kidney stones. Nausea and vomiting can occur if the pain is severe enough or fever and chills can be experienced if there is also an infection present.

Why Do They Form

Each person’s urine contains crystals from different minerals and chemicals in their bodies. Normally, your urine also contains chemicals that prevent these crystals from bonding but if these chemicals are not present or not functioning properly then the crystals can bond together to form a hard mass known as a kidney stone. Small stones can be passed during urination unnoticed but if the stones become too large then they can have trouble moving through the urinary tract and travel very slowly.

Types of Kidney Stones include:

1) Calcium Oxalate Stones which are one of the most common occurrences and develop in acidic urine with a PH of less than 6. These stones usually form when the diet includes foods that are rich in oxalate such as Black Tea, Soft Drinks, Soy, Coffee, Chocolate, Peanuts, Rhubarb, Swiss Chard, Spinich, Tomatoes and Strawberries. Excessive amounts of Vitamin C can also be metabolized to oxalate in the body.
2) Calcium Phosphate Stones is another common occurrence and they develop in alkaline urine with a PH greater than 7.2. These types of stones are often associated with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Gout, Renal Tubular Acidosis or Hyperparathyroidism.
3) Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate or Struvite/Infection Stones which develop when there is ammonia present and the urine is alkaline with a PH greater than 7.2. These type of stones are more common in females than in males due to the female’s susceptibility to UTIs which you can read about here: https://wisdomthatheals.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/bladder-infection-uti-cystitis-they-all-spell-p-a-i-n/
4) Uric Acid Stones which are formed from a diet high in purine meats like dark chicken, fish and red meat.
5) Cystine Stones which are caused when there is impaired renal tubular reabsorption of cystine, ornithine, lysine, and arginine.

Dehydration can increase the risk of Kidney Stones because the urine becomes very concentrated allowing more of the minerals to come into contact with each other and bind together. Kidney Stones are so common in the Southeast United States that it has actually been dubbed the “Stone Belt” with a theory that the warm weather there makes people sweat faster than they are able to hydrate. Making sure to hydrate with plenty of pure water is extremely important especially during strenuous exercise.

There was a recent report from China that children developed kidney stones when they drank milk tainted with melamine, a toxic chemical illegally added to milk. It has also been found that the more overweight a person is, the more likely it is that they will develop Kidney Stones but this may be due to their increased consumption of soft drinks and other unhealthy foods. A high intake of caffeine has also been linked to a higher risk of Kidney Stones due to the increased excretion of calcium into the urine that caffeine is known to cause.

Cancer can also cause the body to produce an abnormally large amount of parathyroid hormone which can break down bone and release too much calcium into the blood which in turn excretes it into the urine.

What Do You Do About Them?

If the person is unable to pass the stone naturally then a procedure called lithotripsy is often used. In this procedure, shock waves are used to break up a large stone into smaller pieces that can pass through the urinary system more easily.

There are also natural methods for helping to dissolve the stones so they can pass more easily. It is said that Basil juice, taken regularly for six months can help kidney stones to move more easily through the urinary tract. You can also try the following recipe which can be found in the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, by D. Gary Young, N.D.

Kidney stone blend #1:

• 5 drops Rosemary CT cineol
• 5 drops Geranium
• 5 drops Juniper
• 1 Tablespoon agave or maple syrup
• 1/2 lemon
• 8 oz. distilled water

Emulsify oils in one tablespoon agave or maple syrup, add the juice from one-half a lemon, and 8 ounces of warm water and drink on empty stomach. Do this 2-3 times daily until stone passes.

Some herbs are considered to be Antilithic which means that they help to prevent stone formation and can also help the stone to pass once it has formed. These herbs include Bearberry, Buchu leaves, Corn Silk, Couchgrass, Gravel Root, Hydrangea, Parsley, Sea Holly, Stone Root, Uva Ursi leaves and Wild Carrot.

As Always, Prevention is Key

There are many natural ways to help prevent the formation of Kidney Stones. Silicon rich foods support bone health so eating foods rich in silicon is thought to help prevent excessive calcium excretion into the urinary system. Silicon rich foods include organically grown grains, fruits and vegetables, particularly oats, radishes, onions, garlic, seaweeds and bee pollen.

Lemons and other citrus fruits contain citrate which helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Researchers have found that the components that accompany the citrate can alter the effectiveness of the juice in decreasing the risk of developing new kidney stones though and have found that orange juice is actually better than lemonade in preventing stone formation. Aloe Vera gel is also very high in both citrate and tartrate which makes it a good addition to the diet if you wish to prevent kidney stone formation.

Another option is Evening Primrose oil which helps to decrease the amount of calcium excreted into the urine and so might be helpful in preventing stones which form from calcium.

It has also been found that a particular bacteria in the gut called Oxalobacter formigenes helps to break down calcium oxalate so taking a high quality probiotic or eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, Natto or Kefir can be beneficial.

Other foods that are considered to be healing sources for kidney stones include Green Beans, Rice, Almonds, Cranberries, Celery, Radishes and Kiwi.

There are also herbs that are considered to be Lithotriptic which means that they help to dissolve and discharge urinary stones once they have formed. These herbs include Alfalfa, Buchu Leaf, Barberry, Cascara, Sagrada, Chaparral, Cornsilk, Dandelion, Devil’s Claw, Gravel Root, Horsetail, Hydrangea Root, Juniper Berry, Lovage, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Nettle, Oregon Grape Root, Parsley, Tormentil, Uva Ursi and White Oak Bark.

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

References:

1. Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, pg. 452
2. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/#what
Accessed: 04/14/09
3. http://www.urostonecenter.com/anatomy.asp
Accessed: 04/14/09
4. http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/kidneystones/ks_form.html
Accessed: 04/14/09
5. http://www.healingfoodreference.com/kidney_stones.html
Accessed: 04/14/09
6. http://www.naturalnews.com/025041.html
Accessed: 04/14/09, Author: David Gutierrez
7. http://www.naturalnews.com/024720.html
Accessed: 04/14/09, Author: David Gutierrez
8. http://www.naturalnews.com/020818.html
Accessed: 04/14/09
9. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/10/27/soy-kidney-stones.aspx
Accessed:04/14/09,
10. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/09/22/kidney-stones-coffee.aspx
Accessed: 04/14/09
11. http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/Ailmentsnew/kidneystones.html
Accessed: 04/14/09
12. http://www.natural-homeremedies.org/blog/the-power-of-basil/
Accessed: 04/14/09
13. Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, by D. Gary Young, N.D.
14. http://www.zimbio.com/Natural+Hair+and+Skin+Care/articles/624/Health+Care+Tips+Benefits+Kidney+Stones
Accessed: 04/14/09
15. http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2001/jul/jul2001q.htm
Accessed: 04/14/09
16. http://www.infertilityworkshop.com/articles/gettingstarted/glossary.htm
Accessed:04/14/09
17. http://www.herbs2000.com/h_menu/1_actions.htm
Accessed: 04/14/09
18. http://www.naturalnews.com/026038.html
Accessed: 04/14/09, Author: Deanna Dean

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Exercise Practice Makes Exercise Perfect

Physically fit people will return to normal breathing and heart rate levels more quickly than unfit people. Why is this? Well it is partly because their bodies have been stressed more often and are more “used to” inducing a quick response to bring the body back into homeostasis. Practice makes perfect, as they say, so someone who exercises a couple times a week has given their body more “practice” in returning the body to homeostasis than someone who sat on the couch watching TV all week.

In order to understand why we breathe more heavily when exercising, you must understand the concept of an oxygen debt. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is what our cells use for energy. As ATP is depleted during exercise, the muscles use increased amounts of oxygen and nutrients to replenish ATP energy. When the blood cannot supply this oxygen and nutrients quickly enough, the muscle cells switch to a method that does not require oxygen. This method, however, also results in the production of lactic acid or Lactate, which we are now understanding to be another form of energy rather than just a waste product but if the muscles do not use it fast enough then the lactate builds up. Oxygen debt is the term we use to refer to the removal of this lactate.

It is commonly believed that lactic acid is the reason you are sore after a workout but this is a myth. Soreness is actually due to muscle damage and the breakdown of connective tissue. After a workout, lactic acid is completely washed out of the muscles within 30 to 60 minutes but over the next 24 hours, damaged muscle becomes swollen and releases chemicals that tend to irritate pain receptors which then causes you to feel sore.

Lactate is now understood to be an important fuel that is used by the muscles during prolonged exercise in order to maintain endurance. Lactate released from the muscle is converted in the liver to glucose, which is then used as an energy source.

But I have gone off on a tangent… back on course…

To understand labored breathing, we will think of oxygen as money and your muscle as a bank account. When you exercise passed a certain point, you “overdraw” your oxygen funds and are in debt. Labored breathing during exercise is the body’s way of trying to reduce the (oxygen) debt incurred by switching to this anaerobic (oxygen-less) source of energy. Labored breathing after exercise works to “repay” the oxygen debt and reduce the lactic acid buildup that was created when the breathing “during” exercise failed to meet the muscle’s needs.

Since muscle is more efficient at oxygenation then fat, a physically fit person will be able to oxygenate their cells more efficiently and pay the oxygen debt faster. The more efficient our muscles are at oxygenating themselves, the less time our breathing needs to be heavier than normal in order to pay the debt. If someone hasn’t exercised their muscles, they will be less efficient at oxygenation and the person will need to breathe heavier for a longer period of time just to get the necessary oxygen to all the muscles.

Exercise also tends to enlarge the ventricles of the heart which allows more blood to be pumped than someone whose ventricles have not been enlarged through exercise. More blood being pumped means that more oxygen will reach the muscles more quickly and they can thus pay the oxygen debt more quickly than someone who pumps less blood per second. Our heart rate will decrease when signals filter back that the debt is being repaid and the demand for oxygen and nutrients has decreased.

Doing different types of exercise can also have different effects on the size and shape of your heart. Endurance exercise tends to increase the size of both the left and the right ventricles of the heart while strength training only tends to enlarge the left ventricles. In addition, the ability of the left ventricle to fully relax between beats (diastolic function) is enhanced in endurance athletes and worsened in strength trainers. It is important to practice both strength training and endurance cardio so that they can balance each other out. Muscle gained during strength training will oxygenate more quickly and larger ventricles from endurance training will allow blood to reach the muscles more quickly.

The entire system revolves around maintaining homeostasis. When we exercise, we throw our bodies out of homeostasis

1. We breathe harder in order to oxygenate the blood faster
2. Our heart rate increases in order to pump blood faster to carry more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles
3. Our body temperature rises due to the increased blood flow and muscle movement

So, it is only natural that, after we stop exercising, our bodies work as quickly as possible to restore homeostasis. A physically fit person will have a body that is more efficient at returning to homeostasis than an unfit person.

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/31/workouts-sculpt-heart-as-well-as-muscles.aspx
Accessed: 03/30/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
2. Thibodeau & Patton, Structure and Function of the Body, 13th Edition, 2008, p.160
3. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/biology/atp.html
Accessed: 03/30/09
4. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/health/nutrition/16run.html
Accessed: 03/30/09, Author: GINA KOLATA
5. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/exercisephysiology/a/aa053101a.htm
Accessed: 03/30/09, Author: Elizabeth Quinn
6. http://www.time-to-run.com/theabc/lactic.htm
Accessed: 03/30/09, Author: Andrew Bosch
7. http://www.time-to-run.com/theabc/postrun.htm
Accessed: 03/30/09, Author: Andrew Bosch
8. http://www.active.com/story.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&STORY_ID=6468
Accessed: 03/30/09, Author: Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D.

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High Fructose Corn Syrup Is NOT Fine In Moderation

The corn refiners Association would love for you to believe that it is perfectly okay to consume High Fructose Syrup (HFCS) “in moderation” but we run into a problem when you realize that HFCS is in almost every processed food, candy and soda that you can buy. What exactly is moderation when every aspect of your diet contains HFCS? Ketchup, Bread, Tortillas, Mustard, Soda, Juice, Teas, Sports Drinks, Candy Bars…. Read the label and you’ll be surprised where you find it. The average American consumes around 142 POUNDS of HFCS a year… this is NOT moderation.

The Corn Refiners Association would also love you to believe that HFCS is natural. The fact is…
“High-fructose corn syrup could be all-natural, if cornstarch happened to fall into a vat of alpha-amylase, soak there for a while, then trickle into another vat of glucoamylase, get strained to remove the Aspergillus fungus likely growing on top, and then find its way into some industrial-grade D-xylose isomerase.” (5)

I find it interesting that http://www.sweetsurprise.com, which is the website that the corn refiners want you to go to in order to see how “harmless” their product is, says that honey, sugar and HFCS are all considered “Natural” by the FDA but the reference they quote is from a 1993 Federal Register. In January of 2009, the FDA ruled that HFCS can NOT be considered “Natural”. Why are they still being allowed to deceive the public?

Don’t believe for a second that this product is anywhere close to something you could find in nature. Even if you want to argue that HFCS comes from corn, you should know that corn is not a vegetable. Corn is a grain and it metabolizes like sugar in your body which makes your blood sugar spike and puts added burden on your pancreas to produce insulin to counteract the corn sugar’s effects.

The bottom line that I want to convey is that HFCS is dangerous and you should avoid consuming it as much as possible, if you must consume it at all that is. Even the amount in ONE single soda a day elevates your risk for diabetes and obesity…. And that doesn’t even factor in the HFCS you get from all the other sources.

Which brings me to the first danger; HFCS makes you fat and is one of the main factors behind the rapidly rising obesity epidemic. To understand how HFCS makes you fat, you must understand that the liver is responsible for the decision of whether to burn food for energy or to convert it to fat for future use. Fructose, specifically, bypasses the liver and is stored as fat immediately. Not only does HFCS turn into fat immediately but there is another prong in its assault on your weight… HFCS also decreases your central nervous system’s ability to receive messages from insulin and Leptin which are two key hormones that control the amount of food we eat, i.e. our hunger or satiety. This means that the signals that are supposed to go to your brain to tell it that you are full will not be sent and you will continue to eat more and more food.

HFCS can also cause Diabetes. The fact that Fructose has the ability to bypass the liver means that it can lead to something called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which causes insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

Not only that but HFCS does not contain any enzymes, vitamins or minerals of its own so it must take these nutrients from your body in order to be assimilated.

If you aren’t convinced yet then you should also know that the majority of HFCS is made from Genetically Modified Corn Crops. Genetic Modification of our food crops is extremely dangerous and will have consequences that we cannot even comprehend yet because we are the lab rats for this experiment in altering the DNA of the food supply. Scientists are splicing genes together and we have no idea what the future consequences will actually be when those genes start mingling with our own DNA. It is scary and it is dangerous.

HFCS has also been shown to be contaminated with mercury due to the manufacturing process. Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that has been linked with many diseases and neurological disorders.

It has also been shown that HFCS contributes to heart disease because it scars your arteries. You need to understand that cholesterol is necessary; your body produces it because it is vital to your survival. When arterial walls are smooth, the cholesterol will travel through them with no problems but when the arteries get scarred, it provides a tacky surface which allows the perfectly healthy cholesterol traveling in your blood to get stuck on the artery wall. The cholesterol then starts to build up and constricts blood flow which overburdens the heart to work harder to pump your blood. HFCS scars your arteries and allows this to happen.

You may want to argue that Fructose is the same sugar found in fruits so it can’t be bad for you. You are right on the first part and misinformed on the second part. Fructose is the sugar in fruit and if you were to isolate that sugar and just eat that instead of the whole fruit, it would be unhealthy. A whole fruit contains many other nutrients, fibers and chemical bonds that slow down the absorption of fructose and make it safer to consume. The synergy of nutrients working together that you find in whole foods is indescribably valuable. When you start isolating molecules and transforming them into something else is when you start to experience major health problems.

The subject goes far deeper than just what I have explained here but I hope that you now have an answer when the commercials ask “What do they say about it” and the actress stands there like a deer in the headlights.

Links of Interest:
Natural News High Fructose Corn Syrup Articles

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

References:
1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/24/Why-HighFructose-Corn-Syrup-Causes-Insulin-Resistance.aspx
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author Dr. Joseph Mercola
2. http://blogs.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/14/most-common-source-of-calories-in-us-is-loaded-with-mercury.aspx
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
3. http://www.naturalnews.com/025442.html
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author: Mike Adams
4. http://www.naturalnews.com/003002.html
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author: Mike Adams
5. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/13/corn-syrup-s-new-disguise.aspx
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola”
6. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB33/EIB33.pdf
Accessed:03/26/09, Author: USDA
7. http://www.naturalnews.com/024466.html
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author: Richard Stacel
8. http://www.naturalnews.com/025292.html
Accessed: 03/26/09, Author: David Gutierrez
9. http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html
Accessed: 03/27/09, Author: Bill Sanda, BS, MBA

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Isn’t There A Happy Pill That Will Make Everything Better?

Depression is something that many people in our society face. Especially now days when people are unhappy with their weight, unhappy with their jobs, unhappy with their relationships and are losing all their savings in the stock market. Many people think that getting a prescription for an anti-depressant will make everything better but I think you should understand how they work before you decide to put a “happy pill band-aid” on your life.

The first thing you need to know is that Neurotransmitters are chemicals that our cells use to communicate with one another. Serotonin is a specific neurotransmitter that is involved in mental states such as aggression, pain, sleep, appetite, anxiety, depression and migraines.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are one class of anti-depressants that include such medications as Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft just to name a few of the most popular.

Understanding how SSRIs work will be easier if you can understand the process by which messages are communicated in the Central Nervous System: (I have put emphasis on “PRE” and “POST” just to make it easier to read)

a. PREsynaptic cells (the cells that SEND messages) release serotonin (their message to be communicated) into a small gap called a synapse that lies between the PREsynaptic and the POSTsynaptic nerve cells (the cells that RECEIVE the message and pass it along).
b. The Serotonin binds with the POSTsynaptic cell which stimulates that cell to relay the message (i.e. to be happy).

If the POSTsynaptic cell does not bind and become stimulated by the serotonin then it will not relay the necessary messages and the serotonin will be reabsorbed by the PREsynaptic nerve cell. SSRIs prevent the reuptake or re-absorption of serotonin into the PREsynaptic cell thereby allowing more serotonin to remain in the synapse for longer. This gives the Seratonin more time to bind with and stimulate the POSTsynaptic cell so that the message to “be happy” is more likely to work.

SSRIs are prescribed to people that have been diagnosed with depression but can have many side effects such as:
Anhedonia, Apathy, Nausea, Drowsiness, Headache, Clenching of teeth, Extremely vivid and strange dreams, Dizziness, Changes in appetite, Weight loss/gain, Higher risk of bone fractures and injuries, Changes in sexual behaviour, Increased feelings of depression and anxiety (which may sometimes provoke panic attacks), Tremors, Autonomic dysfunction, Akathisia, Liver or renal impairment, Thoughts of suicide, Photosensitivity and Sexual Dysfunction.

The other type of Antidepressant is a Monamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI).

Monoamine Oxidase is an enzyme in our brains which helps to break down the serotonin that is not being used. MAOIs work by preventing this enzyme from breaking down the serotonin at the synaptic cleft. They essentially serve the same function as an SSRI but just go about it in a different way.

SSRIs are usually not prescribed alongside MAOIs due to the possibility of ‘Serotonin Sydrome’ which can be described as an overabundance of serotonin in the Central Nervous System. You are effectively poisoned by too much serotonin. An increase in the availability of serotonin due to SSRIs along with the inability to break down the existing serotonin due to MAOIs can result in symptoms as mild as shivering to severe symptoms such as hypertension and tachycardia that can lead to shock. Diagnosing Serotonin Syndrome can only be done through observation of symptoms and the patient’s history as there are no lab tests that can be performed.

Something to consider before taking anti-depressants is that they have been linked to accelerated aging and wrinkles.

There are also herbs that work in a similar manner as anti-depressants but with less side affects usually. St. Johns Wort is probably one of the most popular of these herbs and operates much like an SSRI but is known for having far fewer dangerous side effects. Vitamin D has also been linked to depression and most commonly with Seasonal Affective Disorder so optimizing your Vitamin D levels can make a huge difference. Read how important Vitamin D is here:
https://wisdomthatheals.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/vitamin-d-a-true-hero-in-the-nutrition-world/

Exercise also helps to release endorphins which can be mood elevators not to mention it could help to solve the possible cause of your depression rather than just putting a bandaid on the symptom if you are depressed due to your weight. There are also essential oils that can be uplifting such as Bergamont, Clary Sage, Jasmine, Patchouli, Rose and Ylang Ylang among others. You can read about how aromatherapy works here:
https://wisdomthatheals.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/an-introduction-to-smell-and-why-aromatherapy-works/

The most important thing that you have to remember is that your diet has an extreme influence on your body physiology. The bottom line is that if you eat crap then you will feel like crap. Supplying your body with plenty of healthy, high quality food and nutrients will allow your body to function at its optimum. I highly recommend that you take a good look at your diet and lifestyle before you decide to run to your doctor and demand a prescription.

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor
Accessed 12/02/2008
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome
Accessed 12/02/2008
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor
Accessed 12/02/08
4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Johns_Wort
Accessed 12/02/08
5)
Accessed: 03/24/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
6)
Accessed: 03/24/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
7) http://www.naturalnews.com/025840.html
Accessed: 03/24/09, Author: Dr. Julian Whitaker, MD
8) http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/essential_oils.html
Accessed 03/24/09
9)

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Put The Fork Down And Step Away From The Tofu

For everyone who thinks soy is a harmless food or even a healthy food, you may want to do some research. The first thing I would like to state is that fermented soy foods are, in fact, healthy but it is the processed soy foods where you are being deceived.

Fermented (Healthy) Soy foods include Natto, Miso, Tempeh, Soy Sauce, Fermented Tofu and Fermented Soymilk

Unfermented Soy Foods include Tofu, Soy Milk, Soy Flour, Soy Sprouts, Soy Nuts, Soy Vegetable Oil, Soy Protein Isolate and Fresh Green Soybeans

The next thing you need to know is that the reason soy is touted as such a health food is because the soy industry has done an amazing job at marketing their product and the waste from their product. When butter and saturated fats were vilified and vegetable oil became the new craze, the soy industry grew a lot of soy in order to extract the oil from it. Once the oil was extracted, they had tons and tons of leftover soy waste that they decided to try and profit from. Profiting they did. They engineered a few studies, spent millions in advertising, did some aggressive lobbying with the FDA and voila, unfermented, processed soy is the new “Health Food”…. And that is how easily we fall victim to corporate greed.

It’s not just the vegetarian world that needs to worry about this, if you eat a lot of processed foods (meaning anything that comes in a bag, box or packaging) then you are eating a lot of soy. Pretty much any label that says Vegetable Oil (in any form), soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, texturized vegetable protein or hydrolyzed vegetable protein is a soy product. Check the labels, you’ll soon see there’s very few that don’t contain soy in some form.

One reason that nonfermented soy products are unhealthful is because they contain phytic acid which binds with certain nutrients like calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc, among others, and inhibits your body’s ability to absorb them. Fermenting soy, on the other hand, decreases the effects of phytic acid and encourages growth of the healthy bacteria that you hear about in yogurts and probiotic supplements, which help to improve digestion along with numerous other health benefits.

One of the most important minerals that soy blocks is iodine, which is used by the thyroid gland in the production of thyroid hormones. To find out how important the thyroid gland is to our growth and metabolism please see my previous post:
https://wisdomthatheals.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/how-important-is-the-thyroid-gland/

In addition, all soy foods, fermented or nonfermented, contain Phytoestrogens (also known as isoflavones) which can either mimic or block the hormone estrogen. Soy contains such a large quantity of phytoestrogens that drinking as little as two glasses of soymilk a day for one month has been shown to alter a woman’s menstrual cycle and that doesn’t even include all the soy you find in processed foods. This is the reason it’s so dangerous to give babies an infant formula that contains soy or to feed your growing children a high soy diet. Soy has been shown to impede the sexual maturation of boys and accelerate the sexual maturation of girls. Ever wonder why girls are maturing sexually at younger and younger ages? Could it possibly be all the processed foods we are feeding them or the high soy diet we’ve been told is so healthy?

Soy has also been proven to promote the formation of kidney stones, weaken your immune system and contribute to food allergies and digestive disorders. The Trypsin inhibitors in soy can interfere with protein digestion and may cause pancreatic disorders. The phytoestrogens can cause hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer while soy foods, in general, contain high levels of aluminum which is toxic to the nervous system and kidneys. You get enough aluminum from your antiperspirant, you don’t need any more of it in your diet. If you eat soy based veggie burgers you should also know that most of them are processed using hexane which is a neurotoxin and EPA registered air pollutant… Yum.

Another problem with all this soy is that over 75% of our soy crops are now Genetically Modified (GM). Genetic Modification of our food supply has detrimental effects that we are not even aware of yet. No one knows what the long term effects of GM foods will actually be and we are serving as the guinea pigs of this experiment. One caution I remember hearing in an audio lecture with Jeffrey Smith (Author of Genetic Roulette) regarding GM foods is that the gene that is spliced into the plants DNA doesn’t stay where it has been inserted. It essentially jumps around, turning genes on and off with no predictability. This could potentially cause mutations, disorders or even latent prehistoric viruses in our gut that we no longer have defenses against to come to life. Pretty scary stuff if you ask me. If you must consume soy I would definitely opt for organic varieties.

Next you are going to ask “what about all the Asian cultures that eat a lot of soy and remain healthy?” This is a fallacy. “The soy industry’s own figures show that soy consumption in China, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Taiwan ranges from 10 to 90 grams per day. That is grams of soy FOOD, not grams of soy PROTEIN alone. Compare this with a cup of tofu (250 grams) or soy milk (240 grams).” (1) You can surely see that they do NOT have the high soy diet that we have been led to believe.

I can certainly give a big kudos to the soy industry for turning their waste products into a billion dollar business but I can’t say that I recommend soy as a healthy addition to your diet. As always, the choice is yours though and you should listen to your body.

Other Alternatives to Milk: Almond Milk, Hemp Milk, RAW Milk, Hazelnut Milk, Coconut Milk, etc…

Recommended Reading: The Whole Soy Story by Kaayla T. Daniel

– For Educational Purposes Only
– Not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition
-These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA
– These statements are my opinions and conclusion from the knowledge I have thus far

Updated 04/30/10 to include Veggie Burger Hexane Info

References:
1. http://www.naturalnews.com/022630.html
Accessed: 03/19/09, Author: Teya Skae
2. http://uwstudentweb.uwyo.edu/L/LPETER11/Factsheet%20Genetically%20Modified%20Crops%20in%20the%20United%20States.htm
Accessed: 03/19/09,
3. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/08/04/fermented-soy.aspx
Accessed: 03/19/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
4. http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/thyroidproblems.html
Accessed: 03/19/09
5. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/02/26/soy-myths.aspx
Accessed: 03/19/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
6. http://www.naturalnews.com/025513.html
Accessed: 03/19/09, Author: Barbara Minton
7. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/03/23/soy-part-ten.aspx
Accessed: 03/19/09, Author: Dr. Joseph Mercola
8. http://www.naturalnews.com/028683_soy_burgers_hexane.html
Accessed: 04/30/10, Author: Ethan Huff

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