Thursday, December 6, 2012
More than a Safe Sleep Aid: Melatonin Every Night Could Save Your Brain
Evidence shows that melatonin is extremely safe when taken in the correct form, dose, and at the right time.
Sleep is a more active process than you may think. It’s a time for the brain—as well as the rest of the body—to repair, grow, and develop. Sleep disturbances can lead to poor sleep quality and ultimately accelerated aging of your organs, including the brain. With one in three Americans suffering from sleep related problems, many people are supplementing with melatonin—a hormone naturally produced by the tiny pineal gland in the brain to induce and sustain sleep—to get that much-needed shuteye. But is it safe to use every night?
Based on numerous studies and clinical use, melatonin is extremely safe when taken in the correct form, dose, and at the right time. Since the ability to make melatonin declines with age—with levels dropping below a maximal level by about age 35—many suffer from poor sleep. Evidence supports melatonin’s ability to help people fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and enables those who wake too early to fall back asleep (1). Contrary to what many believe, if melatonin is taken properly it does not act as a pharmaceutical sedative and will not induce a “hangover” effect in the morning. Moreover, if taken correctly (prior to bedtime) it will not affect your libido, as some media sources claim. Rather, it helps to reset the body’s sleep-wake cycle and improve the overall quality of sleep.
In a combined analysis of controlled clinical trials (2), researchers examined the efficacy and safety of melatonin supplementation in middle-aged and elderly patients with insomnia and hypertension—commonly found in people with insomnia. Scientists found those taking melatonin had significantly improved sleep quality and next-day alertness. Long-term benefits were also identified with significantly greater improvements in sleep duration. Additionally, there were no significant complications in vital signs of those taking melatonin, and those taking the supplement had a lower rate of adverse events compared to the placebo group!
Melatonin is not just a sleep aid. In fact, it plays a large role in maintaining the brain. Neurogenesis—the growth of brain cells or neurons—occurs during sleep and dramatically decreases with sleep deprivation. Studies show that melatonin supplementation can re-establish an optimal sleep-wake cycle and increase neurogenesis in the hippocampus—the area of the brain that forms memories (3,4).
Melatonin also acts as a powerful antioxidant, with a particular role in supporting several intracellular antioxidants including glutathione. According to studies, melatonin is superior in comparison to other antioxidants for limiting the consequences of oxidative stress in the body (5). When taken by athletes, for example, melatonin has shown to ameliorate oxidative stress and improve immune defense that can improve fitness (6). To maximally protect cells, including brain cells, and support the body’s immune function, it’s recommended that people supplement every night.
With Isagenix Sleep Support & Renewal you can be sure you are getting safe and effective amounts of for your brain by increasing natural sleep time, resetting the body’s sleep-wake cycle, and promoting healthy aging. The fast-acting, spearmint-flavored spray contains additional ingredients such as theanine and chamomile that have shown to promote a calm and relaxed state, making this product unique to any other product on the market. To reap the benefits of Sleep Support & Renewal, first start with the recommended dose of one spray and increase only as needed to a maximum of three sprays per use. You can rest easy knowing that Isagenix always puts your health and safety first and foremost.
References
- Lemoine et al. Prolonged-release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 and older and has no withdrawal effects.European Sleep Research Study, 2001;16:372-380.
- Lemoine et al. Efficacy and safety of prolonged-release melatonin for insomnia in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension: a combined analysis of controlled clinical trials. Integr Blood Press Control 2012;5:9-17.
- Oxidative damage in the central nervous system: protection by melatonin. Prog Neurobiol 1998;56:359–384.
- Ramirez-Rodriguez G, Ortíz-López L, Domínguez-Alonso A, Benítez-King GA, Kempermann G. Chronic treatment with melatonin stimulates dendrite maturation and complexity in adult hippocampal neurogenesis of mice. J Pineal Res. 2011 Jan;50(1):29-37.
- Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Rosales-Corral S, Manchester LC. The universal nature, unequal distribution and antioxidant functions of melatonin and its derivatives. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2012 Nov 23. [Epub ahead of print]
- Maldonado MD, Manfredi M, Ribas-Serna J, et al. Melatonin administrated immediately before an intense exercise reverses oxidative stress, improves immunological defenses and lipid metabolism in football players. Physiol Behav.2012 Mar 20;105(5):1099-103. Epub 2011 Dec 22.
Related Posts:
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Bad things happen when Telomeres shorten
Short Telomeres tied to aging and risk of death
#Nutritional #Health #Isagenix #Product B #Telomeres ... Yet another article indicating that short Telomeres
are the root cause to aging, illness, and death. We can no longer ignore the fact that we MUST support our telomeres if we are to live a long, healthy life.
Product B Antioxidants plus Telomere Support is helping us all to live long and live healthy. Bad things happen when Telomeres get short. Protect yours today!
Product B Antioxidants plus Telomere Support is helping us all to live long and live healthy. Bad things happen when Telomeres get short. Protect yours today!
www.fatbgone.org
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Grain fed cows are sick
Why Use New Zealand Whey? Grain-Fed Cows Are Sick
Which whey protein is right for you? With Isagenix, the answer is easy. See our “Which Whey Protein is Right for You?” PDF flyer by clicking here or on the image to the left.
If the old saying, “you are what you eat,” is right, you will rethink consuming products from grain-fed cows. A new study shows that cows fed high-grain diets have a higher incidence of metabolic disorders related to the build-up of several toxic and inflammatory compounds as well as changes in amino acid profiles in their digestive fluids compared to cows on low-grain diets. Having these metabolic complications (and the need for antibiotic use) negatively affects the quality of dairy products produced, including the whey protein found in milk.
In the study, cows were fed diets consisting of 0-, 15-, 30-, or 45-percent barley grain. Scientists used a combination of measuring techniques to identify 93 metabolites in digestive fluid samples taken from the cows. What they found was shocking. The cows that were fed the high-grain diets (>30 percent) had significantly increased amounts of toxic and inflammatory compounds in their digestive fluids including:
- Putrescine—a foul-smelling organic chemical compound that is produced in the breakdown of amino acids in living and dead organisms. It is responsible for the odor produced during flesh decomposition and contributes to “bad breath.” It is toxic in large amounts.
- Methylamine—organic compound with a strong odor similar to fish that is used to make agricultural chemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.
- Ethanolamine—a toxic, flammable, corrosive liquid used in the production of detergents, polishes, and pharmaceuticals.
The anatomy of cows was built to live off a diet of grass and shrubbery. However, due to high market demands, farmers have turned to grains such as corn for feed because of convenience and money. It is a lot more economically sound to confine cows to feedlots and feed them grain, which can be digested faster allowing them to “fatten up” quickly. In the eyes of a businessman, this is advantageous; however, science is showing that high-grain diets promote the development of disease and illness because cows are not built to digest grains.
The several perturbed amino acid profiles in the digestive fluids of cows fed high-grain diets included phenylalanine, ornthithine, lysine, leucine, arginine, valine, and phenylacetylglycine. While microbial protein in the rumen (main digestive organ of cows) is an excellent source of high-quality protein, it is not sufficient enough to meet the requirements for high levels of milk production. If amino acids are disrupted in the rumen, their ability to be absorbed is severely reduced.
Unfortunately, it is not just high-grain diets that are of concern here. Byproduct “feedstuffs” are used as cheap fillers in feed for cows and include poultry feather pellets, animal fat, potato waste, soy cakes, poultry carcass, and meat processing waste.
Dairy cows have been turned into machines with the goal of pumping out large amounts of milk at the expense of their health, and consequently, the quality of dairy products. You can trust that Isagenix is not one to choose convenience over quality. Isagenix uses an undenatured whey protein blend sourced exclusively from grass-fed dairy cows raised on the pristine pastures of New Zealand. The “Cheerful Cow Certified” label onIsaLean, IsaLean Pro, and IsaPro shakes is a reminder of the unbeatable quality you receive from Isagenix. Go to www.fatbgone.org
Reference
Saleem F, Ametaj BN, Bouatra S et al. A metabolomics approach to uncover the effects of grain diets on rumen health in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2012.
Related Posts
Largest HMO advises against GMOs
It has come to our attention that Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed healthcare organization in the United States, has advised its members against GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in food.
In its Northwest Fall 2012 newsletter, Kaiser suggested membership limit exposure to genetically modified organisms.
“GMOs have been added to our food supply since 1994, but most people don’t know it because the United States does not require labeling of GMOs,” according to the newsletter.
Sounding like a radical organic health proponent, the huge corporate Kaiser continued, “Despite what the biotech industry might say, there is little research on the long-term effects of GMOs on human health.”
Independent studies have shown GMOs to cause organ damage in rats and the inability to reproduce. Kaiser gave tips on how its members can avoid GMOs, including buying organic, looking for the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal and to download the “ShopNoGMO” app.
Since corporations are required, by definition, to augment their bottom line, we think Kaiser’s efforts to encourage GMO avoidance for the members for whose health costs they must (sometimes!) pay – is telling.
What you need to know about GMOs
“GMOs have been added to our food supply since 1994, but most people don’t know
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs
1. GMOs are unhealthy.
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems. Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems. Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.
Numerous health problems increased after GMOs were introduced in 1996. The percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped from 7% to 13% in just 9 years; food allergies skyrocketed, and disorders such as autism, reproductive disorders, digestive problems, and others are on the rise. Although there is not sufficient research to confirm that GMOs are a contributing factor, doctors groups such as the AAEM tell us not to wait before we start protecting ourselves, and especially our children who are most at risk.
The American Public Health Association and American Nurses Association are among many medical groups that condemn the use of GM bovine growth hormone, because the milk from treated cows has more of the hormone IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)―which is linked to cancer.
2. GMOs contaminate―forever.
GMOs cross pollinate and their seeds can travel. It is impossible to fully clean up our contaminated gene pool. Self-propagating GMO pollution will outlast the effects of global warming and nuclear waste. The potential impact is huge, threatening the health of future generations. GMO contamination has also caused economic losses for organic and non-GMO farmers who often struggle to keep their crops pure.
3. GMOs increase herbicide use.
Most GM crops are engineered to be "herbicide tolerant"―they deadly weed killer. Monsanto, for example, sells Roundup Ready crops, designed to survive applications of their Roundup herbicide.
Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million pounds of herbicide on GMOs. Overuse of Roundup results in "superweeds," resistant to the herbicide. This is causing farmers to use even more toxic herbicides every year. Not only does this create environmental harm, GM foods contain higher residues of toxic herbicides. Roundup, for example, is linked with sterility, hormone disruption, birth defects, and cancer.
4. Genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects.
By mixing genes from totally unrelated species, genetic engineering unleashes a host of unpredictable side effects. Moreover, irrespective of the type of genes that are inserted, the very process of creating a GM plant can result in massive collateral damage that produces new toxins, allergens, carcinogens, and nutritional deficiencies.
5. Government oversight is dangerously lax.
Most of the health and environmental risks of GMOs are ignored by governments' superficial regulations and safety assessments. The reason for this tragedy is largely political. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for example, doesn't require a single safety study, does not mandate labeling of GMOs, and allows companies to put their GM foods onto the market without even notifying the agency. Their justification was the claim that they had no information showing that GM foods were substantially different. But this was a lie. Secret agency memos made public by a lawsuit show that the overwhelming consensus even among the FDA's own scientists was that GMOs can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects. They urged long-term safety studies. But the White House had instructed the FDA to promote biotechnology, and the agency official in charge of policy was Michael Taylor, Monsanto's former attorney, later their vice president. He's now the US Food Safety Czar.
6. The biotech industry uses "tobacco science" to claim product safety.
Biotech companies like Monsanto told us that Agent Orange, PCBs, and DDT were safe. They are now using the same type of superficial, rigged research to try and convince us that GMOs are safe. Independent scientists, however, have caught the spin-masters red-handed, demonstrating without doubt how industry-funded research is designed to avoid finding problems, and how adverse findings are distorted or denied.
7. Independent research and reporting is attacked and suppressed.
Scientists who discover problems with GMOs have been attacked, gagged, fired, threatened, and denied funding. The journal Nature acknowledged that a "large block of scientists . . . denigrate research by other legitimate scientists in a knee-jerk, partisan, emotional way that is not helpful in advancing knowledge." Attempts by media to expose problems are also often censored.
8. GMOs harm the environment.
GM crops and their associated herbicides can harm birds, insects, amphibians, marine ecosystems, and soil organisms. They reduce bio-diversity, pollute water resources, and are unsustainable. For example, GM crops are eliminating habitat for monarch butterflies, whose populations are down 50% in the US. Roundup herbicide has been shown to cause birth defects in amphibians, embryonic deaths and endocrine disruptions, and organ damage in animals even at very low doses. GM canola has been found growing wild in North Dakota and California, threatening to pass on its herbicide tolerant genes on to weeds.
9. GMOs do not increase yields, and work against feeding a hungry world.
Whereas sustainable non-GMO agricultural methods used in developing countries have conclusively resulted in yield increases of 79% and higher, GMOs do not, on average, increase yields at all. This was evident in the Union of Concerned Scientists' 2009 report Failure to Yield―the definitive study to date on GM crops and yield.
The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report, authored by more than 400 scientists and backed by 58 governments, stated that GM crop yields were "highly variable" and in some cases, "yields declined." The report noted, "Assessment of the technology lags behind its development, information is anecdotal and contradictory, and uncertainty about possible benefits and damage is unavoidable." They determined that the current GMOs have nothing to offer the goals of reducing hunger and poverty, improving nutrition, health and rural livelihoods, and facilitating social and environmental sustainability.
On the contrary, GMOs divert money and resources that would otherwise be spent on more safe, reliable, and appropriate technologies.
10. By avoiding GMOs, you contribute to the coming tipping point of consumer rejection, forcing them out of our food supply.
Because GMOs give no consumer benefits, if even a small percentage of us start rejecting brands that contain them, GM ingredients will become a marketing liability. Food companies will kick them out. In Europe, for example, the tipping point was achieved in 1999, just after a high profile GMO safety scandal hit the papers and alerted citizens to the potential dangers. In the US, a consumer rebellion against GM bovine growth hormone has also reached a tipping point, kicked the cow drug out of dairy products by Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Dannon, Yoplait, and most of America's dairies.
The Campaign for Healthier Eating in America is designed to achieve a tipping point against GMOs in the US. The number of non-GMO shoppers needed is probably just 5% of the population. The key is to educate consumers about the documented health dangers and provide a Non-GMO Shopping Guideto make avoiding GMOs much easier.
Please choose healthier non-GMO brands, tell others about GMOs so they can do the same, and join the Non-GMO Tipping Point Network. Together we can quickly reclaim a non-GMO food supply.
2. GMOs contaminate―forever.
GMOs cross pollinate and their seeds can travel. It is impossible to fully clean up our contaminated gene pool. Self-propagating GMO pollution will outlast the effects of global warming and nuclear waste. The potential impact is huge, threatening the health of future generations. GMO contamination has also caused economic losses for organic and non-GMO farmers who often struggle to keep their crops pure.
3. GMOs increase herbicide use.
Most GM crops are engineered to be "herbicide tolerant"―they deadly weed killer. Monsanto, for example, sells Roundup Ready crops, designed to survive applications of their Roundup herbicide.
Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million pounds of herbicide on GMOs. Overuse of Roundup results in "superweeds," resistant to the herbicide. This is causing farmers to use even more toxic herbicides every year. Not only does this create environmental harm, GM foods contain higher residues of toxic herbicides. Roundup, for example, is linked with sterility, hormone disruption, birth defects, and cancer.
4. Genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects.
By mixing genes from totally unrelated species, genetic engineering unleashes a host of unpredictable side effects. Moreover, irrespective of the type of genes that are inserted, the very process of creating a GM plant can result in massive collateral damage that produces new toxins, allergens, carcinogens, and nutritional deficiencies.
5. Government oversight is dangerously lax.
Most of the health and environmental risks of GMOs are ignored by governments' superficial regulations and safety assessments. The reason for this tragedy is largely political. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for example, doesn't require a single safety study, does not mandate labeling of GMOs, and allows companies to put their GM foods onto the market without even notifying the agency. Their justification was the claim that they had no information showing that GM foods were substantially different. But this was a lie. Secret agency memos made public by a lawsuit show that the overwhelming consensus even among the FDA's own scientists was that GMOs can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects. They urged long-term safety studies. But the White House had instructed the FDA to promote biotechnology, and the agency official in charge of policy was Michael Taylor, Monsanto's former attorney, later their vice president. He's now the US Food Safety Czar.
6. The biotech industry uses "tobacco science" to claim product safety.
Biotech companies like Monsanto told us that Agent Orange, PCBs, and DDT were safe. They are now using the same type of superficial, rigged research to try and convince us that GMOs are safe. Independent scientists, however, have caught the spin-masters red-handed, demonstrating without doubt how industry-funded research is designed to avoid finding problems, and how adverse findings are distorted or denied.
7. Independent research and reporting is attacked and suppressed.
Scientists who discover problems with GMOs have been attacked, gagged, fired, threatened, and denied funding. The journal Nature acknowledged that a "large block of scientists . . . denigrate research by other legitimate scientists in a knee-jerk, partisan, emotional way that is not helpful in advancing knowledge." Attempts by media to expose problems are also often censored.
8. GMOs harm the environment.
GM crops and their associated herbicides can harm birds, insects, amphibians, marine ecosystems, and soil organisms. They reduce bio-diversity, pollute water resources, and are unsustainable. For example, GM crops are eliminating habitat for monarch butterflies, whose populations are down 50% in the US. Roundup herbicide has been shown to cause birth defects in amphibians, embryonic deaths and endocrine disruptions, and organ damage in animals even at very low doses. GM canola has been found growing wild in North Dakota and California, threatening to pass on its herbicide tolerant genes on to weeds.
9. GMOs do not increase yields, and work against feeding a hungry world.
Whereas sustainable non-GMO agricultural methods used in developing countries have conclusively resulted in yield increases of 79% and higher, GMOs do not, on average, increase yields at all. This was evident in the Union of Concerned Scientists' 2009 report Failure to Yield―the definitive study to date on GM crops and yield.
The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report, authored by more than 400 scientists and backed by 58 governments, stated that GM crop yields were "highly variable" and in some cases, "yields declined." The report noted, "Assessment of the technology lags behind its development, information is anecdotal and contradictory, and uncertainty about possible benefits and damage is unavoidable." They determined that the current GMOs have nothing to offer the goals of reducing hunger and poverty, improving nutrition, health and rural livelihoods, and facilitating social and environmental sustainability.
On the contrary, GMOs divert money and resources that would otherwise be spent on more safe, reliable, and appropriate technologies.
10. By avoiding GMOs, you contribute to the coming tipping point of consumer rejection, forcing them out of our food supply.
Because GMOs give no consumer benefits, if even a small percentage of us start rejecting brands that contain them, GM ingredients will become a marketing liability. Food companies will kick them out. In Europe, for example, the tipping point was achieved in 1999, just after a high profile GMO safety scandal hit the papers and alerted citizens to the potential dangers. In the US, a consumer rebellion against GM bovine growth hormone has also reached a tipping point, kicked the cow drug out of dairy products by Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Dannon, Yoplait, and most of America's dairies.
The Campaign for Healthier Eating in America is designed to achieve a tipping point against GMOs in the US. The number of non-GMO shoppers needed is probably just 5% of the population. The key is to educate consumers about the documented health dangers and provide a Non-GMO Shopping Guideto make avoiding GMOs much easier.
Please choose healthier non-GMO brands, tell others about GMOs so they can do the same, and join the Non-GMO Tipping Point Network. Together we can quickly reclaim a non-GMO food supply.
Check out the Organic companies that don't want food labeling
http://www.naturalnews.com/Infographic-Natural-Brands-Betray-Consumers.html
Prop 37 didn't pass this time due to the $46 million dollars of misinformation fed to the public during the election campain of big corporations led by Mosanto and even the Organic food companies listed above...I wonder what they have to hide??
LA and SFran did vote over 50% but it was the uninformed and misinformed outlying areas that did not so they need to be educated. The battle was lost but the war is not over!
Prop 37 didn't pass this time due to the $46 million dollars of misinformation fed to the public during the election campain of big corporations led by Mosanto and even the Organic food companies listed above...I wonder what they have to hide??
LA and SFran did vote over 50% but it was the uninformed and misinformed outlying areas that did not so they need to be educated. The battle was lost but the war is not over!
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Movie Monsanto does not want you to see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lni6OAJz3sk
Copy and paste these links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaQ_oDXWWmQ&feature=youtu.be
Copy and paste these links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaQ_oDXWWmQ&feature=youtu.be
Toxic Alert
- Last year, Bt toxin originating from genetically engineered Bt crops were found in 93 percent of pregnant women tested and 80 percent of umbilical blood in their babies. Now, results from a German study shows that people who have no direct contact with agriculture have significant concentrations of glyphosate in their urine. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many broad-spectrum herbicides, including Roundup
- Urine samples collected from city dwellers in Berlin all tested positive for glyphosate, with values ranging from 0.5 to 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml), which is five to 20 times the permissible upper limit for glyphosate in German drinking water
- Research published in 2010 showed that the chemical causes birth defects in frogs and chicken embryos at far lower levels than used in agricultural and garden applications
- Glyphosate has also been linked to decimation of intestinal probiotics, endocrine disruption, DNA damage, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and more
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Homemade coconut milk
A simple method using organic dried coconut, this homemade coconut milk is perfect in traditional Asian recipes and also as a base for smoothies and hot beverages.
Ingredients:
2 cups organic finely desiccated coconut; no sulfur / 202 / 200 added
Ingredients:
2 cups organic finely desiccated coconut; no sulfur / 202 / 200 added
3 cups warm filtered water (makes it easier to blend together)
Tools you'll need:
Fine muslin cloth, nut milk bag or a thin kitchen towel
Blender
Method:
1. Place the coconut in a blender with the 3 cups of water. Blend 2-3 minutes on high and pour out the mixture into a bowl lined with the cloth.
2. Bring the cloth edges together. Gently strain and squeeze through your 'milk'. Keep gently squeezing the pulp until it's dry.
3. Use milk straight away or keep sealed in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 days. It will separate: just shake it back together.
4. Reserve left-over pulp; keep in kip-lock bag in fridge or freezer.
Coconut oil and coconut milk supports healthy metabolic function and is a revered anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agent. Pacific Islanders deem coconut oil to be the cure-all gift from nature for an illness. You can always use canned coconut milk, however we do recommend finding a brand that contains no preservatives (sulfur / 220 / 202) or stabilisers (guar gum), mineral added water, and ideally in BPA-free cans.
Coconut milk works great as an alternative to milk in chai tea and cold or hot chocolate. Great as a base for smoothies: blend with ice and fresh pineapple for a healthy Pina Colada!
Tools you'll need:
Fine muslin cloth, nut milk bag or a thin kitchen towel
Blender
Method:
1. Place the coconut in a blender with the 3 cups of water. Blend 2-3 minutes on high and pour out the mixture into a bowl lined with the cloth.
2. Bring the cloth edges together. Gently strain and squeeze through your 'milk'. Keep gently squeezing the pulp until it's dry.
3. Use milk straight away or keep sealed in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 days. It will separate: just shake it back together.
4. Reserve left-over pulp; keep in kip-lock bag in fridge or freezer.
Coconut oil and coconut milk supports healthy metabolic function and is a revered anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal agent. Pacific Islanders deem coconut oil to be the cure-all gift from nature for an illness. You can always use canned coconut milk, however we do recommend finding a brand that contains no preservatives (sulfur / 220 / 202) or stabilisers (guar gum), mineral added water, and ideally in BPA-free cans.
Coconut milk works great as an alternative to milk in chai tea and cold or hot chocolate. Great as a base for smoothies: blend with ice and fresh pineapple for a healthy Pina Colada!
More GMOs on the way
The consumer advocacy organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) has put out a new paper that estimates the average person's yearly consumption of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). And based on the figures, which EWG admits are very likely understated, the average person consumes more than their own body weight's worth of GMOs every single year, a shocking reality with unknown, long-term health consequences.
For their study, EWG researchers compiled data from 2011 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data sheets on average per capita consumption of various GM foods, including corn-based sweeteners like corn syrup, salad oils, and various other "corn products" like corn oil and corn meal. They then analyzed these figures based on the percentages of each of the crops used to make these products that are genetically engineered in the U.S.
The average adult in America, it turns out, weighs 179 pounds, and consumes an average of 193 pounds of GM corn-based products and salad oils every year. And when various other GMOs are added into the mix that were not included as part of the original study -- in addition to corn and sugar beets, soybean oil and other soy-based products, conventional papaya, and canola oil are all widely consumed foods of GM origin as well -- the contrast between body weight and GMO consumption widens even more significantly.
"From these figures, EWG calculated that the average American annually consumes genetically engineered foods in these quantities: 68 pounds of beet sugar, 58 pounds of corn syrup, 38 pounds of soybean oil and 29 pounds of corn-based products, for a total of 193 pounds," says EWG.
And the really bad news is that, unless GMO labeling laws like Proposition 37 in California are passed in the very near future, the biotechnology industry will continue to secretly release evermore GMOs into the food supply. In the next few decades, in fact, Americans will very likely be subjected to a whole host of new, undisclosed GMOs if mandatory GMO labeling does not become a national standard.
"EWG considered only three genetically engineered crops (for its study), but more than 30 others are currently being tested in field trials, including apples, barley, bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, chili peppers, coffee, cranberries, cucumber, flax, grapefruit, kiwi, lentils, lettuce, melons, mustard, oats, olives, onions, peanuts, pears, peas, persimmons, pineapple, radishes, strawberries, sugar cane, sunflower, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, walnuts and watercress," adds EWG.
"While it is unclear how long it may take for these new genetically engineered crops to reach the market, this long list makes it likely that people could be eating two or three times their weight in GE food annually within the next decade."
To learn more about California's efforts to become the first U.S. state to mandate GMO labeling at the retail level, visit: http://www.carighttoknow.org/
Also, be sure to check out the hard-hitting new documentary Genetic Roulette by award-winning author, filmmaker, and Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), Jeffrey Smith: http://geneticroulettemovie.com/
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037590_GMOs_Americans_consumption.html#ixzz29iKL4SiH
For their study, EWG researchers compiled data from 2011 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data sheets on average per capita consumption of various GM foods, including corn-based sweeteners like corn syrup, salad oils, and various other "corn products" like corn oil and corn meal. They then analyzed these figures based on the percentages of each of the crops used to make these products that are genetically engineered in the U.S.
The average adult in America, it turns out, weighs 179 pounds, and consumes an average of 193 pounds of GM corn-based products and salad oils every year. And when various other GMOs are added into the mix that were not included as part of the original study -- in addition to corn and sugar beets, soybean oil and other soy-based products, conventional papaya, and canola oil are all widely consumed foods of GM origin as well -- the contrast between body weight and GMO consumption widens even more significantly.
"From these figures, EWG calculated that the average American annually consumes genetically engineered foods in these quantities: 68 pounds of beet sugar, 58 pounds of corn syrup, 38 pounds of soybean oil and 29 pounds of corn-based products, for a total of 193 pounds," says EWG.
With more new GMOs on the way, consumption patterns expected to increase dramatically
These figures are only estimates, of course, as some Americans are health savvy enough to avoid many of the common GMO ingredients and additives used in conventional foods, while others chug down excess amounts of corn syrup-laden sodas and soy-glutted condiments and sauces like it is nobody's business. But the fact of the matter is that Americans as a whole are being used as human guinea pigs in a massive biotechnology experiment with uncharted ramifications.And the really bad news is that, unless GMO labeling laws like Proposition 37 in California are passed in the very near future, the biotechnology industry will continue to secretly release evermore GMOs into the food supply. In the next few decades, in fact, Americans will very likely be subjected to a whole host of new, undisclosed GMOs if mandatory GMO labeling does not become a national standard.
"EWG considered only three genetically engineered crops (for its study), but more than 30 others are currently being tested in field trials, including apples, barley, bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cherries, chili peppers, coffee, cranberries, cucumber, flax, grapefruit, kiwi, lentils, lettuce, melons, mustard, oats, olives, onions, peanuts, pears, peas, persimmons, pineapple, radishes, strawberries, sugar cane, sunflower, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, walnuts and watercress," adds EWG.
"While it is unclear how long it may take for these new genetically engineered crops to reach the market, this long list makes it likely that people could be eating two or three times their weight in GE food annually within the next decade."
To learn more about California's efforts to become the first U.S. state to mandate GMO labeling at the retail level, visit: http://www.carighttoknow.org/
Also, be sure to check out the hard-hitting new documentary Genetic Roulette by award-winning author, filmmaker, and Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), Jeffrey Smith: http://geneticroulettemovie.com/
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037590_GMOs_Americans_consumption.html#ixzz29iKL4SiH
Herbs ease the burden of diabetes
The following herbs and natural remedies may help, thanks to research demonstrating their natural proclivity for easing the burden of diabetes management.
Other nutritive solutions for managing diabetes include eating more onions and garlic, whose sulfur-containing allyl propyl disulfide (APDS) helps the body to make better use of insulin (which is also a disulfide) by competing with it for insulin-inactivating sites in the liver. The result is that the body has more free insulin available for use in the glucose-to-energy conversion process, and blood sugar levels decrease.
Carefully supervised food-based magnesium and chromium supplementation may also prove beneficial, as deficiencies of both minerals are common in people with diabetes. Studies suggest that appropriate levels of these minerals may help to improve insulin and overall metabolic function.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037585_blood_sugar_diabetes_herbs.html#ixzz29hebsIy5
Gymnema Sylvestre
Known by its Hindi name as the "sugar destroyer," this plant is regarded as one of the most powerful herbs for the regulation of diabetes, Types 1 and 2. Besides reducing cravings for sweets, studies show Gymnema can actually stimulate the body to produce more of its own insulin, by regenerating insulin-making beta cells in the pancreas. Though more extensive studies are pending, the herb has demonstrated no side effects and assumes its sugar-lowering role only in cases of diabetes, at a typical dosage of 200-250 milligrams twice daily.Ginseng
Chinese medicine has made regular use of Asian ginseng for thousands of years, thanks to its demonstrated ability both to amplify the release of insulin from the pancreas and to elevate the number of insulin receptors present. One study indicated that 200 milligrams of ginseng extract per day over an eight-week period improved mood, blood sugar control, body weight and energy levels in Type 2 diabetics. A separate study on the North American variety indicates the herb significantly prevented oxidative stress and may even help diabetics to protect against kidney disease.Gingko biloba
Because of its effective increase of blood flow to areas such as the brain, the limbs and the extremities, ginkgo is regarded as an important element in the treatment of vascular insufficiency - especially as it relates to diabetes, where poor circulation can have severe consequences. Clinical studies have shown the herb can prevent diabetic retinopathy in diabetic rats and may, therefore, be similarly effective in humans. For these purposes, a typical dosage of Ginkgo extract is 40-80 milligrams (at a concentration of 24 percent ginkgo flavoglycoside) three times daily.Nopal leaves
Studies show the profound effects of this Mexican herbal remedy on everything from improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels, to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Traditionally served with eggs, in salads or as part of a stir-fry dish, the nutritive richness of this otherwise unusual morsel is earning it greater recognition as a "functional food" by health enthusiasts. Just a one cup serving is packed with fiber, pectin, antioxidant vitamins A and C, trace amounts of vitamin K and folate as well as several essential minerals, like calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous.Other nutritive solutions for managing diabetes include eating more onions and garlic, whose sulfur-containing allyl propyl disulfide (APDS) helps the body to make better use of insulin (which is also a disulfide) by competing with it for insulin-inactivating sites in the liver. The result is that the body has more free insulin available for use in the glucose-to-energy conversion process, and blood sugar levels decrease.
Carefully supervised food-based magnesium and chromium supplementation may also prove beneficial, as deficiencies of both minerals are common in people with diabetes. Studies suggest that appropriate levels of these minerals may help to improve insulin and overall metabolic function.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037585_blood_sugar_diabetes_herbs.html#ixzz29hebsIy5
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Fall gardening
The best part of fall gardening is planting greens.
Besides wearing long sleeves and farming under the Harvest Moon, growing greens is my favorite part of fall gardening. I think it is absolutely brilliant how, with a small bit of work and some simple protection, you can grow greens and radishes deep into the winter months.
We start reseeding greens in late August and continue until the middle of October. Right now, we’re planting tons of mustard greens, arugula, and radishes, all of which taste so different after they get hit with cool nighttime temperatures, you will not even recognize them from their summertime counterparts.
All you need to have a successful fall/winter garden are some row covers, which are made from a very thin material that covers the crops, keeping out any late-season bugs, as well as protecting them from an early frost. You may have to take the cover off during the day, since we can still get into the 80s, but it’s worth it to be able to eat fresh greens in December. As the temperatures get close to freezing you may have to add another layer to protect them, but these crops love the cold and will live so much longer than you could ever imagine.
Happy fall gardening!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
All about Fish Oil
Fish Oil Supplementation May Slow Telomere Shortening
Fish Oil Supplementation May Slow Telomere Shortening
A new study shows that people who take fish oil supplements slow down telomere shortening.
As Isagenix customers taking Ageless Essentials with Product B have heard time and again, “Bad things happen when telomeres get short.” Now, a new study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity has found that people who take a regular fish oil-derived long-chain omega-3 supplement slow down their telomere shortening and may even lengthen telomeres.
The study included 106 subjects with an average age of 51 who were relatively healthy despite being overweight/obese and sedentary. Subjects received one of three interventions: 2.5 grams of long-chain omega-3s per day, 1.25 grams of long-chain omega-3s per day, or placebo capsules that mirrored the proportions of fatty acids seen in the typical American diet. After just four months, telomere length significantly increased and biomarkers for oxidative stress decreased in groups that received the omega-3 supplements.
Shorter telomeres have been linked to age-related conditions and accelerated aging. Telomeres, which are found at the end of chromosomes, have been likened to the plastic caps on the ends of shoelaces; they help preserve the integrity of chromosomal DNA. “If that plastic comes off, the shoelace unravels and it doesn’t work anymore,” said study co-author Ron Glaser in a press release. “In the same way, every time a cell divides, it loses a little bit of its DNA at the ends, and over time, that can cause significant problems.”
The scientists attributed the lengthening of telomeres in this study to the decreased ratioof omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids consumed by the subjects. Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients and compete for key enzymatic pathways, which is why their relative balance is important. The study’s results showed a 15 percent decrease in oxidative stress biomarkers, which may explain the mechanism behind how the altered fatty acid ratio could have affected telomere length.
A second paper published about this study found there was also a 10 percent and 12 percent reduction of the cardiovascular risk factor interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the low- and high-dose groups, respectively, compared to the placebo group. These data provide additional insight into the ways in which the omega profile may make an impact on health.
Long-chain omega-3 fats are fundamental for cell membranes and assist in important biological processes such as blood clotting, immune function, and cell growth. There are few sources of long-chain omega-3 fats in the typical modern diet. The two main types of long-chain omega-3 fats—EPA and DHA—are primarily derived from fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a short-chain omega-3 fatty acid, is a precursor that can be converted to EPA and DHA and is found in walnuts and flaxseeds. Unfortunately, salmon and walnuts are not staple items of most people’s diets.
In contrast, modern diets have numerous sources of omega-6 fats. The typical American diet consists of a 15:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids; however, science shows people need a balance ratio closer to 4-2:1.
Omega-6 fats are found in seeds, nuts, and the oils extracted from them—such as soybean oil, which is used to a greater degree in processed foods. Omega-6 fatty acids play an important role in the construction of eicosanoids (inflammatory signaling molecules); however, too much intake of them has been shown to be detrimental to health. In the case of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, balance is key.
Because the subjects in this study had fairly low omega-6 to omega-3 ratios at baseline, the results indicate an even greater health benefit for the general population. Those with poorer diets may see an even greater change in the measured biomarkers, including telomeres, and consequently, a greater positive influence on their health.
Isagenix IsaOmega Supreme contains purified fish oil with highly concentrated amounts of DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. Age right with the help of IsaOmega Supreme as an integral component of Ageless Essentials Daily Pack with Product B!
As telomere biologist Bill Andrews, Ph.D., says, “This remarkable research may one day reveal the secret of living a longer, healthier life.”
Learn more about what happens when telomeres get short by clicking the “play” button below.
References
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Epel ES, Belury MA et al. Omega-3 fatty acids, oxidative stress, and leukocyte telomere length: A randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav Immun 2012.
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Andridge R, Malarkey WB, Hwang BS, Glaser R. Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation in healthy middle-aged and older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav Immun 2012;26:988-95.
Small choices can affect your brain: another study on sodas
Diet Sodas: Changing Your Brain And Your Waistline
Diet sodas may not be helping you lose weight—in fact, these and other artificially sweetened foods may sabotage your diet by confusing and rewiring your brain’s reward centers. This study from the journal Physiology & Behavior is yet another example of how lifestyle choices can alter your brain—negatively or positively.
Scanning diet soda drinkers' brains
The University of San Diego study followed 24 young adults: half the group drank at least one serving of diet soda every day, while the other half avoided the artificially sweetened drinks. These adults were then hooked up to brain scanning equipmentwhile scientists fed them water alternately flavored by natural and artificial sweeteners—then the researchers sat back and watched what unfolded in the brain.
The results, according to University of California San Diego researchers Green and Murphy, were pronounced: “[Diet soda drinkers] who consumed a greater number of diet sodas had reduced caudate head activation. These findings may provide some insight into the link between diet soda consumption and obesity.”
Artificial sweeteners confuse reward
A little bit of background: the caudate head is a part of the brain involved in signaling reward and controlling food intake—and its decreased activity in the brains of diet soda drinkers has substantial implications.
Researchers posit that consumption of diet soda had confused the reward loops normally processed by the caudate head: because sweetness was no longer a reliable indicator of incoming calories, the brain had trained itself to respond less in the face of sweet flavors. Unreliable sweet tastes threw off normal predictions about calories and energy in the changed brains of diet soda drinkers—making it more likely that these people would consume additional calories later in the day.
Small choices can affect your brain
This newest study is pretty preliminary; it’s difficult to say how drastically diet sodas can affect bigger questions of lifestyle and health based on such short-term brain activation patterns. Still, this recent investigation provides an interesting reflection on how choices and actions made in everyday life can powerfully influence the way your brain is wired—in other words, the concept of neuroplasticity.
We can’t always foresee the unintended negative responses our brain makes—who would have thought diet coke might do quite the opposite of what its name suggests?—but there are positive ways to harness your brain’s ability to change. Just a little Lumosity training every day, for example, can change your brain for the better: instead of confused reward signals, you could experience faster processing speed, quicker flexibility, and improved problem solving. Unlock full access today and harness that power to change!
Breast Cancer awareness month
One in eight women are getting breast cancer.... Milk Duct Breast cancer is the worst kind of breast cancer, and most deadly! It is linked to Bovine growth hormone (rBGH); rBGH is created by injecting Ecoli into cows to create more milk. (Make sure your milk doesn't contain this).
So how does this affect the cow?
The cows end up with more puss and infection in the milk, so then the cow needs antibiotics. Over 80% of all antibiotics sold are for animals. We eat the animals and become antibiotic resistant. The drug/pharmaceutical companies are not working on making any new antibiotics...so guess the future?
Also feeding cows corn make beef & milk acidic, cuts down on the omega 3s found in grassfed organic cows and increases the omega 6. Cows were meant to eat grass.
GMO is the most frightening poison in our foods including SOY protein (97% of soy is GMO)....and they don't label it on our food and fed to cows along with GMO corn, so if your meat is not grass fed and organic, you are eating traces of the pesticides the cow ate with the GMO feed...it follows up the food chain to produce havoc with our immune system, digestive system (causing leaky gut) and endocrine system (it's a known endocrine disruptor). The pharmaceutical companies are now working on GMO vaccines for all of us.
Read my other blogs regarding GMOs
So what is the solution? Nutritional cleansing, not a colon cleanse...
www.isamovies.com
Then ask me about nutritional cleansing...
www.fatbgone.org
So how does this affect the cow?
The cows end up with more puss and infection in the milk, so then the cow needs antibiotics. Over 80% of all antibiotics sold are for animals. We eat the animals and become antibiotic resistant. The drug/pharmaceutical companies are not working on making any new antibiotics...so guess the future?
Also feeding cows corn make beef & milk acidic, cuts down on the omega 3s found in grassfed organic cows and increases the omega 6. Cows were meant to eat grass.
GMO is the most frightening poison in our foods including SOY protein (97% of soy is GMO)....and they don't label it on our food and fed to cows along with GMO corn, so if your meat is not grass fed and organic, you are eating traces of the pesticides the cow ate with the GMO feed...it follows up the food chain to produce havoc with our immune system, digestive system (causing leaky gut) and endocrine system (it's a known endocrine disruptor). The pharmaceutical companies are now working on GMO vaccines for all of us.
Read my other blogs regarding GMOs
So what is the solution? Nutritional cleansing, not a colon cleanse...
www.isamovies.com
Then ask me about nutritional cleansing...
www.fatbgone.org
Another reason to cleanse!
araSENIC?
Think Again.
ARSENIC FACTS
People are exposed toTRACE AMOUNTS OF ARSENIC EVERY DAY.
Arsenic is one of the many naturally occurring elements found in:
THE MAKINGS OF A HEALTHY PLATE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that total FOOD ARSENIC EXPOSURE THROUGH DIET IS 80% LOWER than that determined to be safe in drinking water. (Source: US EPA)
Diets rich in fruits,
vegetables and whole grains are highly beneficial to theHEALTH OF CONSUMERS.
vegetables and whole grains are highly beneficial to theHEALTH OF CONSUMERS.
- Under FDA's ongoing monitoring programs, it is made aware of the level of naturally occurring substance, including arsenic, in foods.
- Sampling to date has not indicated a health or safety concern at these low levels.
PLANTS & SOIL
Trace amounts of arsenic are unavoidably present in a variety of foods and beverages, whether grown using conventional or organic farming methods.
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