We should avoid cholesterol if we want to be healthy and avoid heart disease, right? Not necessarily. You see, concerning the cholesterol and heart disease, there are thousands of HEALTHY 80+ year old folks with cholesterol levels in the 200’s!
There are many “myths” associated with cholesterol, including:
• High-fat foods and cholesterol cause atherosclerosis leading to the obstruction of blood vessels in the heart
• Lowering your cholesterol will lengthen your life
• Polyunsatured oils are good for your health
• All scientists and doctors support the idea that high cholesterol causes heart disease
• Statin drugs are essential in controlling cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease
Believing all of these cholesterol myths, Americans decreased their intake of good fats and oils (like coconut oil, fish oil, olive oil) and started consuming more vegetable oils and margarine (a trans fat). This diet has CAUSED thousands of deaths from heart disease, as have the statin drugs which supposedly prevent heart disease, but in reality have numerous deleterious effects.
Statins are “HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors”, that is, they act by blocking the enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) in your liver that is responsible for making cholesterol. There are over 900 studies proving the adverse effects of statin drugs, including anemia, cancer, chronic fatigue, acidosis, liver dysfunction, thyroid disruption, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and even diabetes! Statins have been shown to increase your risk of diabetes through a few different mechanisms. The most important one is that they increase insulin resistance, which contributes to chronic inflammation (the common element of most diseases) and actually *RESULTS* in heart disease, which, ironically, is the primary reason for taking a cholesterol-reducing drug in the first place!
Perhaps most importantly, cholesterol is *NOT* the cause of heart disease. Your body NEEDS cholesterol. What Is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells of our body. It has a hormone-like structure that behaves like a fat in that it is insoluble in water and in blood. Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream in small packages called “lipoproteins” which are made of lipids (fats) on the inside and proteins on the outside.
Cholesterol plays a critical role in body chemistry. It is ESSENTIAL to our health. When we lower cholesterol, we actually CREATE sickness and disease!
Every cell of the body needs cholesterol to maintain the integrity of its cell membrane. Cholesterol makes the cell membrane more rigid but prevents it from crystallizing. Cholesterol is needed for the liver to make bile; it is the precursor for steroidal hormones (estrogen and testosterone), and in the presence of sunlight, the body can use the photolytic action of UV light on the cholesterol in the skin cells to make Vitamin D, which is essential for our immune system and also maintains the balance of calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth.
Perhaps most importantly, cholesterol is an essential component in the machinery that triggers the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. Mother’s milk is especially rich in cholesterol and contains a special enzyme that helps the baby utilize it. Babies and children need cholesterol-rich foods throughout their growing years to ensure proper development of the brain and nervous system. Cholesterol is very concentrated in the brain, where it contributes to the functioning of “synapses” (tiny gaps between cells which allow nerves to communicate with each other). There is also strong evidence that having too little cholesterol INCREASES your risk for cancer, memory loss, Parkinson's disease, hormonal imbalances, stroke, depression, suicide, and violent behavior.
According to recent research at Harvard, the primary causes of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries which leads to heart disease) are lesions and plaque in the arteries caused by SUGAR which causes insulin to be released. Insulin causes lesions in the endothelium of the arteries that become clogged with cholesterol. So, cholesterol gets the blame, but the real culprit is sugar. So, if you avoid sugar and simple carbs, cholesterol is not an issue.
SOURCE: CancerTruth
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Friday, October 5, 2012
Cherries Benefits
While sweet cherries may be more fun to eat, the most potent inflammation-fighting cherries are the tart variety. “Anthocyanins” (the phytochemicals which give cherries their vibrant red color) have powerful anti-inflammatory properties since they shut down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation and pain. (Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, Sept.-Oct. 2006).
In a recent study, University of Michigan researchers found that giving whole tart cherries to lab rats reduced two common markers of blood vessel inflammation by up to 50%. This not only helps reduce the pain associated with arthritis but also lowers the risk of type-2 diabetes and heart dis
ease. Studies also suggest antioxidant-rich foods (like cherries) may help reduce levels of nitric oxide, a compound associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Cherries have a unique antioxidant profile that works similar to some types of pain medication.
Cherries are also one of the only natural sources of melatonin, a potent antioxidant which helps regulate the immune system and prevents cancer. And if that’s not enough reasons to have a bowl of cherries, they are also well known to help reverse gout (a condition caused by too much uric acid circulating in the blood), reduce body fat, and lower cholesterol.
According to these recent studies, perhaps the old saying, “life is like a bowl of cherries” should be changed to “a healthy life depends upon a bowl of cherries.”
SOURCE: CancerTruth
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Top 10 GMO Foods to Avoid
1. Zucchini: It goes without saying that many biotech companies say genetically modified foods are safe for you, but as GMO science expands, reseachers are finding more evidence that such foo
ds can harm your health. One of those is zucchini. While not as potentially harmful as other GM foods, zucchini is nonetheless “engineered” to resist some strains of virus.
2. Cotton: Considered a food item because its oil can be consumed, cotton – in particular, genetically modified Bt cotton, common to India and China – has damaging consequences. According to recent Chinese research, while Bt cotton is capable of killing bollworms without the use of insecticides, its decreased use has increased the presence of other crop-harming pests. Also, Bt cotton production has been linked to drastic depletion of soil nutrients and lower crop yields, as well as much higher water requirements.
3. Canola: This is probably one of the most misunderstood, misguided “healthy” food choices out there right now, but there is little about canola – and similar oils – that is good for you. Extracted from rapeseed, canola oil and others must be chemically removed from the seeds, then deodorized and altered, in order to be utilized in foods. They are among the most chemically altered foods in our diets.
4. Aspartame: An artificial sweetener found in a number of products, aspartame – discovered by accident in 1965 by a chemist testing an anti-ulcer drug – accounts for as many as 75 percent of adverse reactions to food additives reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to some reports. Some seizures and even some deaths have been blamed on aspartame.
5. Dairy: A disturbingly high number – as many as one-fifth – of dairy cows in the U.S. today are given growth hormones to increase milk production, a figure that has been rising since the FDA approved a genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone known as rbGH or rbST for use in dairy cows in 1993. While said to boost production by 5-15 percent, scientists have expressed concern that the increased levels of IGF-1 (insulin growth factors-1) from hormone-treated cows may boost the risks of colon and breast cancer. Since 2008, Hiland Dairy has stopped using milk from dairy farmers who inject their cows with growth hormone.
6. Corn: Modified now to create its own insecticide, as many as half of all U.S. farms growing corn for Monsanto are using genetically modified corn, with tons of it now being introduced for human consumption, according to the FDA. Doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec recently found Bt toxin from modified corn in the blood of pregnant women and their babies, as well as in non-pregnant women.
7. Papayas: Genetically modified papayas have been grown in Hawaii commercially since 1999, designed to combat the Papaya Ringspot Virus. Approved for sale and consumption in the U.S. and Canada, GM papayas cannot be imported or sold in the European Union.
8. Sugar: Sugar from genetically modified sugar beets hit the market in the U.S. in 2009. They were modified by the Monsanto Corporation to be resistant to the company’s Roundup herbicide. In 2010 a group of Oregon farmers sued to stop planting that year of Monsanto’s genetically altered sugar beets over fears the crops could cross-contaminate other nearby fields.
9. Soy: Like other foods, soy, too, has been genetically modified to resist herbicides. Soy is included in soy flour, tofu, soy beverages, soybean oil and scores of other products, especially baked goods and pastries. According to one report, “[a]fter feeding hamsters for two years over three generations, those on the GM diet, and especially the group on the maximum GM soy diet, showed devastating results. By the third generation, most GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to have babies. They also suffered slower growth, and a high mortality rate among the pups.”
10. Yellow squash Like zucchini, yellow squash is also a fast-rising GMO crop in the U.S., and as such, should cause you concern. If you like squash – and scores of Americans do – check out a farmer’s market that doesn’t sell GMO squash or grow your own using non-modified seed.”
Source: Rawforbeauty
Dave Sommers
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Health Benefits of Blood Oranges
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the main reason (apart from the fact that blood oranges are just so damn tasty!) that you will want to eat blood oranges. Since blood oranges are citrus fruits, they are a very good source of Vitamin C, also recognized as ascorbic acid. In the past, sailors who had the disease known as scurvy were cured by eating lots of oranges. In terms of health benefits, vitamin C is an antioxidant required for a large number of metabolic functions in the human body, and can aid in repairing tissues and ensuring healthy gums. Another one of the health benefits of Vitamin C is that it aids in healing wounds and shows benefits on the adrenal gland function. Vitamin C is not produced by the human body and therefore must be produced by our diet. Two blood oranges are more than enough to comply with the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
Folic Acid
This is also known as Vitamin B9. Studies show that folic acid helps against some cancers and heart disease. It is generally recommended for pregnant women before conception as folic acid is vital for forming red blood cells in the body, and thus prevents birth defects. Experts also claim that it helps to lower blood vessels. Through blood oranges alone, eating just one or two will not be enough to reach the recommended daily amount of folic acid. Either eat other fruits, or you will need to eat around five to six blood oranges.
Anthocyanins
Blood oranges’ red pigmentation contains anthocyanins, which are basic natural compounds that give color to fruits, plants and vegetables. Nutrition experts believe that anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory properties that affect the collagen, and are also good for preventing cancer, diabetes and bacterial infections, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease. Studies show that they also help against illnesses that come with age. Another one of the health benefits of blood oranges is that they help to defend blood vessels from oxidative damage. In addition, they help prevent LDL cholesterol accumulation. In general, the anthocyanin in blood oranges will help the body heal itself.
Calcium
Calcium helps with bones and teeth. It gives bones strength. Since most of our bodies stand in place due to our bones, calcium is an absolutely vital mineral. Blood Oranges contain some calcium and are thus a good source of this mineral.
Vitamin A
This is another absolutely necessary vitamin for the body. One of the main health benefits of Vitamin A is that it maintains health of certain tissues like the retina. It helps in growth and keeps the skin healthy and promotes regular development of skeletal tissue and teeth.
In short: It really is the crimson tint that really makes blood oranges healthy. Just think about it, these fruits are grown in the volcanic atmosphere of Mount Etna in Sicily. This is what has given them such high levels of antioxidants, which gives them these unique health benefits that are simply not found in normal oranges.
Benefits of Nopal Cactus
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| Photo Credit prickly pear cactus image by Jan Ebling from Fotolia.com |
Nopal cactus, also known as Opuntia ficus-indica or more commonly, prickly pear, is found along U.S. roadsides in the desert southwest and throughout its native Mexico. It's used in Mexican cuisine, it's added to plaster as a hardener and it has long been regarded as a medicinal plant among the indigenous people of the Americas. Nopal is also gaining popularity in the U.S. for its health benefits, including the promise for treating inflammation and disease.
Antioxidant
The stems and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica contain eight flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. They're also high in vitamin C, and a study in the August 2004 "Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reported on a comparison between vitamin C and prickly pear fruit to see if there were differences in antioxidant potency. Although both decreased oxidative damage to lipids and improved antioxidant status in healthy humans, only the prickly pear fruit significantly affected body oxidative stress.
Inflammation
Ethanol extracts from prickly pear cactus fruit and stems were prepared and used to evaluate the pharmacological activities of the plant. The Korean study found that both extracts suppressed paw edema in laboratory animals and had a potent inhibitory effect against leukocyte migration, which is an important mechanism in the development of inflammatory diseases.
Cholesterol
In studies led by Dr. Maria L. Fernandez in California and published in the "Journal of Nutrition," prickly pear pectin decreased LDL concentrations and led to a 28 percent drop in total cholesterol levels. Furthermore, Mexican researchers found that animals fed raw nopal had lower weight gains and a 34 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol levels.
Diabetes
Nopal has been studied for its effects on blood sugar levels, with one study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in 1995 finding the cactus extracts caused a significant decrease in blood glucose values by almost 18 percent. The Calzada Tecnologico in Baja California also discovered that adding nopal to traditional high-carbohydrate Mexican meals among patients with Type 2 diabetes induced a reduction in glucose concentration after the meal.
Ulcers
The Opuntia ficus indica (nopal) cactus has been used in Sicily folk medicine for years to treat gastric ulcers. Italian scientists pre-treated laboratory animals with nopal before inducing gastric ulcers and found that the pre-treatment provided a protective action against the ulcers, most likely from the mucilage present in the plant.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/115063-nopal-cactus-health-benefits/#ixzz284NUDHe5
Benefits of Celery
s in this magical juice effectively balance the body's blood pH, neutralizing acidity.
Athletes: Celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich alkalizing minerals.
Cancer: Celery is known to contain at least eight families of anti-cancer or anti-acid compounds. Among them are the acetylenics that have been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells. Phenolic which block the action of prostaglandins that encourage the growth of tumor cells. And coumarins which help buffers dietary and metabolic acids from damaging cells.
Cholesterol: This humble pale juice has been shown to effectively and significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol by lowering dietary and metabolic acids.
Colon and stomach cancer: The phytochemical coumarins prevent the formation and development of the colon and stomach cancers.
Constipation: The natural laxative effect of celery helps to relieve constipation. It also helps relax nerves that have been overworked by man-made laxatives.
Cooling: During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of celery juice two or three times a day, between meals. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature by reducing dietary and metabolic acids.
Diuretic: The potassium and sodium in celery juice helps to regulate body fluid and stimulate urine production, making it an important help to rid the body of excess acidic fluid.
Inflammation: The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all the acids that cause inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.
Kidney function: Celery promotes healthy and normal kidney function by aiding elimination of acidic toxins from the body. While eliminating acidic toxins, it also prevents formation of kidney stones.
Lower blood pressure: Drinking celery juice every day for a week significantly helps lower blood pressure by lowering dietary and metabolic acids. A compound called phtalides help relax the muscle around arteries, dilating the vessels and allowing blood to flow normally. To be effective, drink the juice for one week, stop for three weeks, and start over.
Nervous system: The organic alkaline minerals in celery juice has a calming effect on the nervous system, making it a wonderful drink for insomniacs.
Weight loss: Drink celery juice frequently throughout the day. It helps curb your cravings for sweets and rich food.
Urinary stones, breaking of: The diuretic effect of celery juice also aids the breaking and elimination of acidic urinary and gallbladder stones.
You can expect many more healing benefits from celery juice as you consume its natural alkalizing sodium.
By: Dave Sommers
170 reason to NEVER eat SOY
With all the loads of scientific data available that soy is not a healthy part of anyone’s diet, it shocks me how many folks are still on the “soy is good for you” bandwagon – even people who should know better like your doctor!
I just got an email from a reader the other day who had been to multiple doctors, both holistic and conventional, and all but one of them were telling her that plenty of soy in her diet would help her menopause symptoms.
Be careful folks. It’s dangerous out there! You really need to do your research and be on your toes at all times when it comes to nutritional advice even from someone in a white coat!
For those of you who just sat down because you are so taken aback by the notion that soy is not actually the healthfood you thought it was, here are 170 scientific reasons to back up this assertion.
Please note that fermented soy in small, condimental amounts as practiced in traditional Asian cultures is fine for those who have healthy thyroid function. Only miso, tempeh, natto and soy sauce (IF traditionally brewed) fall under this category. In addition, if you want to sprinkle a few edamame on your salad or have a few small cubes of tofu in your miso soup from time to time, that is fine too. Just don’t make it a regular part of your diet!
If you have any sort of thyroid issues going on, however, it is really the best policy to avoid all soy all the time as soy is a potent goitrogen (thyroid suppressor) even if fermented.
Soy Wake Up Call #1
A 1991 study found that eating only 2 TBL/day of roasted and pickled soybeans for 3 months to healthy adults who were receiving adequate iodine in their diet caused thyroid suppression with symptoms of malaise, constipation, sleepiness, and goiters (Nippon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 1991, 767: 622-629)!
Still think munching on edamame instead of popcorn is a healthy habit?
Soy Wake Up Call #2
Six premenopausal women with normal menstrual cycles were given 45 mg of soy isoflavones per day. This is equivalent to only 1-2 cups of soy milk or 1/2 cup of soy flour! After only one month, all of the women experienced delayed menstruation with the effects similar to tamoxifen, the anti-estrogen drug given to women with breast cancer (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1994 Sep;60(3):333-340).
Soy Wake Up Call #3
Dietary estrogens in the form of soy foods were found to have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system with the effects in women similar to taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen (Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 1995 Jan;208(1):51-9).
Soy Wake Up Call #4
Estrogens consumed in the diet at low concentrations were found to stimulate breast cells much like DDT to increase enzymatic activity which leads to breast cancer (Environmental Health Perspectives 1997 Apr;105 (Suppl 3):633-636).
Soy Wake Up Call #5
The soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein appear to stimulate existing breast cancer growth indicating risk in consuming soy products if a woman has breast cancer. (Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001 Sep;35(9):118-21).
Soy Wake Up Call #6
Direct evidence that soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein suppress the pituitary-thyroid axis in middle-aged rats fed 10 mg soy isoflavones per kilo after only 3 weeks as compared with rats eating regular rat chow (Experimental Biology and Medicine 2010 May;235(5):590-8).
Soy Wake Up Call #7
Don’t eat soy when you are pregnant ladies! Scientific research has shown that the developing male fetus which is exposed to soy phytoestrogens may suffer from higher susceptibility to prostate cancer later in life (Prostate 1994;24(2):67-78).
Soy Wake Up Call #8
Keep that soy away from your daughters! Dietary genistein (soy phytoestrogen) in developing female rats had the effect of significantly accelerated puberty (Toxicol Sci 1999 Oct;51(2):236-44).
Soy Wake Up Call #9
Hey guys! Soy protein powder strips your masculinity! A study of 12 men aged 18 years and older experienced a 19% drop in serum testosterone in only 28 days when supplemented with 56 grams of soy protein powder over that same time period (Prev 2007;16:829–33).
Soy Wake Up Call #10
Do NOT feed soy formula to your babies! Female newborns who are orally exposed to genisin, the glycosylated form of genistein (soy phytoestrogen) experienced harm to the reproductive system in the form of “delayed vaginal opening… abnormal estrous cycles, decreased fertility, and delayed parturition.” (Environmental Health Perspective 2009 Dec;117(12):1883-9).
Convinced yet? I don’t know about you, but ten reasons is plenty for me! Still interested to see the remaining 160 reasons? My friend Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of the must read The Whole Soy Story, has compiled the rest of the list for you if you click here. http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/studies-showing-adverse-effects-of-isoflavones
Source article: http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/170-scientific-reasons-to-lose-the-soy-in-your-diet/
by SARAH, THE HEALTHY HOME ECONOMIST on SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
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