You feel  like healthy eating gets more complicated every day? I hear you. Paleo, vegan, keto, low-carb, high-fat, organic, and the endless list of dietary terms can make it very difficult. The article below lays the basis of the worst foods for your health, along with the foundational principles of a healing diet to support optimal wellness in the body.  Some of these worst foods may come as a surprise because they are marketed by the media as healthy, but you will come to find out why you will want to avoid them!

Quick Note: While it is important to know which of the worst foods to avoid, it is never a good idea to be fixated on what you cannot eat. Once you understand the foods to avoid, keep a mental note. Take to heart the healing diet nutrition principles and begin incorporating them into your life.
By doing so, you will begin to naturally avoid the worst foods for your health. Instead of feeling limited to a narrow selection of foods, you will experience liberation knowing that the foods that you are eating are adding to your vitality every day!

If you need any help with these suggestions or if you'd like to review your current lifestyle, please reach out. We can help you modify and adjust in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle - nothing cooky-cutter here.

Source & research - click here.

5 Body Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies left undetected or without cause for alarm over long periods can lead to life altering health problems. Different areas of your body can signal that something is physiologically wrong. Being in tune with your body's needs and being aware of these signs of nutritional deficiencies are critical to whole body wellness.
Optimal vitamins and minerals are required by the body to properly eliminate toxins from the body, promote the health needs of your digestive system, cardiovascular system, metabolism and total body strength. Signs can be both external and internal and can be caused by the over consumption of one vitamin or mineral which can leave your body out of balance and deficient in other minerals.
Learn the 5 body signs of nutritional deficiencies below so that you can better detect how your body is functioning. Learn how to enable you to heal faster if you notice something is wrong. These small signs are fixable today and they can prevent you from long term health problems.

Sign #1: Hair Loss and Skin Rash
Nutritional deficiencies affect a person's entire life. Not only do these nutritional deficiencies lead to a decline in physical health but many problems can influence work and social life.
Hair loss and face rashes may impact one's desire to feel comfortable in public settings and may be the first indicator that there is a hormonal imbalance or other physiological concern stemming from inadequate nutrient intake.

Supplements
When biotin levels are low, many times other B vitamins are low as well. Such as B2, B6, folate and often B12. For general maintenance a supplement with 300-400 mcg (100-133% of RDA) of biotin daily is a good option.

Sign #2: Oral Health Problems
Oral health reflects the relationship you have with consuming proper nutrients in your diet. Please consider that many vitamins and minerals are responsible to protect the oral cavity.  Nutritional deficiencies can manifest in various ways in the oral cavity and develop into more severe health challenges down the road. For instance, consider the following nutrients and there effects on supporting structures in the oral cavity:

These symptoms of nutritional deficiencies are often associated with vegetarians who do not consume enough essential nutrients through diet because animal products contain many of the fat soluble vitamins needed to maintain oral health.
Individuals also susceptible to nutritional deficiencies in which symptoms manifest in the oral cavity include people with gastrointestinal diseases, thyroiditis, autoimmune disorders, and people who consume proton inhibitor medications

Related Deficiencies
Common vitamin and minerals associated with poor oral health include a complex of B vitamins including riboflavin (B2), B12 and niacin (B3) as well as minerals like iron and zinc. The effects of nutritional deficiencies for each nutrient listed above can result in the following problems:

Remedy
Nutritional deficiencies in any of these nutrients can result in weakened immunity and a higher risk for infection. Unless you have specific dietary restraints, excellent protein sources containing iron, zinc and B vitamins are found in wild caught salmon, free-range poultry and organic and free range sourced eggs.
Watch out for phytate containing foods such as grains, legumes and nuts. These phytic acids bind to minerals like zinc and iron and reduce our ability to absorb them. Always soaking and sprouting nuts and seeds removes the phytic acids and enhances the bioavailability of the nutrients in the nut or seed. Additionally, be sure to use fermented foods which have a higher amount of B vitamins and good bacteria and enzymes to enhance the digestive process.
Add more vegetables to your diet high in vitamin C to boost the availability of iron into the body. Foods include kale, cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli, tomatoes, red bell peppers and citrus fruits like lemons and limes. Especially if you follow a specific diet, it is crucial to receive B vitamins from foods like avocados and dark leafy green vegetables.

Sign #3: Muscular Cramps in Legs
Frequent muscle cramping in the calves, arches of the feet and a stabbing sensation in your toes may be a sign that you are deficient in one of the critical nutrients that work in balance to control other ions.
You may just be working up a sweat more often than before which increases your loss of electrolytes. However, whether your cramps occur over short or long term periods this symptom should be treated accordingly.

Remedy
Excellent sources of magnesium in foods are found in avocados, pumpkin seeds and unsweetened cacao while Brazil nuts and almonds contain high amounts of both magnesium and potassium. Both calcium and magnesium can be received in combination with a healthy ratio of vitamin D3 to regulate calcium absorption in fermented foods like kefir, yogurt and milk from 100% grass-fed animals. Coconut water and coconut water kefir are great sources of potassium.

A good and effective combination includes doing 3 Epsom salt baths each week, 3 days of sunbathing at least 30 minutes with 40% or more of the body getting high quality sun exposure, using fermented foods and drinks like coconut water kefir and an avocado daily. In addition, I recommend using generous amounts of Real Salt on food and hydrating well throughout the day. Consume some dark green leafy veggies each day for calcium and anti-oxidants.

Many essential oils have natural antispasmodic qualities, which help inhibit problems associated with spasms, cramps and muscle pulls. Some good ones include lavender, chamomile, rosemary or cypress. You can massage these onto your legs, diffuse them in your home and put them into your Epsom salt bath.

Sign #4: Itchy Red Rashes, Acne & Blemishes
Several skin problems are associated with nutritional deficiencies. Skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, severe acne and even skin pigmentation disorders may have you trying to alleviate the problem with skin moisturizers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Related Deficiencies
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that vitamin A deficiency is a public health concern affecting more than half of the globe and vitamin D is virtually an epidemic considering 90% of the population is deficient in this critical nutrient.
Most people are also deficient in the long chain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA as well and this can result in more inflammation in the skin and sebum glands and the development of acne.

Remedy
Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, organic eggs from pastured chickens, dark green vegetables, carotenoid containing produce like carrots and sweet potato as well as milk from 100% grass-fed cows. One of my favorite sources of vitamin A is organic, grass-fed butter or ghee. I use these generously each day. I love butter!

A great source of the long-chain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA is through a purified fish oil.  I personally recommend and use Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil because it has high amounts of fat soluble vitamin A, 1000 IU of vitamin D and a healthy dose of EPA and DHA.

#5: Abnormal Sensations in Hands or Feet
Have you ever experienced a tingling in your toes? How about a numbness in your hands or the sensation of pins and needles in your feet? These minor and seemingly insignificant symptoms can be a sign of a serious health problem. Symptoms may be slow to develop but become more severe and lead to serious health consequences over time.

Related Deficiencies
Vitamin B12 & Folate (Vitamin B9): Since the intrinsic relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and disease was first recognized in 1849, researchers have fought to understand the many metabolic roles this vital nutrient plays in maintaining health. Vitamin B12 is involved in a key reaction that regulates nerve function, supports DNA synthesis and helps regulate specific amino acid levels like homocysteine from becoming toxic.
Folate is another B vitamin involved in similar neurological pathways. A deficiency in vitamin B12 and folate are associated with inflammatory conditions throughout the body. However, severe problems that can arise from a vitamin B deficiency like Crohn's Disease may be masked by less problematic symptoms early on. One of these early body signs is neurological damage manifested as numbness or tingling in areas of the body such as hands and feet.

Remedy
Foods containing a complex of B vitamins are primarily of animal origin such as meat, eggs, dairy and poultry. This is why vegans and vegetarians are at an increased risk of vitamin B deficiency. Although vitamin B12 is bound in protein in animal products, vitamin B6 can be obtained from meat as well as green leafy vegetables.
Some individuals have genetic issues such as pyroluria that cause them to need much higher B6 levels.  Other people have a dysbiotic gut and the bacteria are unable to produce adequate B6 levels.  This is where fermented foods can be especially helpful sources of highly absorbable B6.

Reasons for Nutritional Deficiencies
There are several reasons why someone may have nutritional deficiencies. These include a diet that is low in micronutrients and high in sugar and processed foods. The lesser known reasons include low stomach acid and leaky gut syndrome which cause poor nutrient absorption.
Additionally, poor blood sugar balance and chronic stress deplete key nutrients and lead to nutritional deficiencies.  All of us have had one or more of these factors for a period of time in our life and it is quite possible you are struggling with one right now that is contributing to nutritional deficiencies in your body.

Key Nutritional Tips:
Above all, consuming a wide variety of nutritional antioxidants sourced from all the colors of the rainbow in fruits in vegetables can help prevent nutritional deficiencies. Consider eating a superfood every day and choose to have a salad as one of your meals. Be sure to choose organic produce to consume foods with the highest nutritional density.

Click here for the entire article, with references and additional info.

Coronavirus: Symptoms & Natural Solutions
The coronavirus, aka COVID-19,  is all over the news and social media. It is a new strain of coronaviruses that first started in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It causes fever, coughs, shortness of breath, and upper-respiratory symptoms.

In this article (original source link below), you will learn what the coronavirus is, how it spreads, what are its symptoms, and who is at risk of the infection. You will learn about some major lifestyle factors that can cripple your immune system and put you at greater risk of any virus or respiratory infection. This article will also show some natural solutions that can help to prevent viruses, respiratory infections, and illness this season and help you recover quickly if you do get sick.
 
What Is the Coronavirus
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large group of viruses. Different strains may cause different illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV, or SARS) or the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV, or MERS). Coronaviruses tend to be zoonotic viruses, which means that they can be transmitted between people and animals. For example, SARS was transmitted from civet cats to humans, whereas the MERS originally spread from camels to humans. There are various strains of coronaviruses that are circulating between animals but have not infected humans so far.
If you check the news and read about the coronavirus, they are referring to the novel coronavirus (nCoV) or Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a new strain of coronaviruses that haven't been previously seen in humans and has been spreading since late 2019.

Symptoms
Symptoms are similar to the flu and the common cold, however, may become severe and lead to complications in those with chronic health issues or in older people. The mortality rate is at 2 percent in Hubei providence in China where the outbreak started and less elsewhere. This is much better than SARS, which had an over 10 percent mortality rate or MERS which killed about 35 percent of those infected.

The CDC currently believes that the incubation period of the virus can be up to 2 weeks, and symptoms may appear within as few as 2 and as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. This is very similar to what we’ve seen in the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) back in 2012.

Symptoms of the coronavirus infection are very similar to symptoms of the flu (influenza) virus. Based on what we know, symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Not feeling well

Symptoms may range from mild symptoms to severe. In some cases, people may develop a more severe illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, and in severe situations, it may result in death.

Who Needs to Watch Out?
According to the current understanding, the coronavirus spreads very similarly to other coronaviruses and other upper-respiratory infections. The virus mainly spreads person to person between people who are in close contact, or within 6 feet, of each other.
It spread via respiratory droplets coming from an infected individual's coughs or sneezes. When a healthy person nearby inhales these droplets into their lungs, they may get infected. While this is not the main way to get sick, the virus may also spread by touching one's own mouth, nose, or eyes after touching an object or surface with the virus on it.
Based on what we know, the coronavirus is the most contagious when someone is the most symptomatic, however, it may also spread before someone shows any symptoms. However, at this point, we don't know enough how contagious the coronavirus is.
 
How Do You Get Infected by Coronavirus?
What we know for certain is that in order to get infected by the coronavirus, you have to be in contact with someone who is sick or perhaps with an object a sick person has touched recently. According to February 26, 2020, there are 14 confirmed cases in the United States, 12 of these are travel-related and 2 are person-to-person spread. Out of the 80,239 cases, 77,780 are in China and most other cases are in the Western Pacific Region of Asia, including South-Korea and Japan, as well as Italy.
If you are in the United States, at this point, there is little reason for you to be worried. However, since the virus is spreading, experts speculate that we may be facing a pandemic situation soon, it is important to be up to date and educated.
For up-to-date information, including travel warnings, you can check the CDC's and the WHO's website.

 
The BIG questions....So What Can I Do?

 
5 Lifestyle Activities That Cripple the Immune System
Your immune system's job is to protect you from infections and illnesses. Your immune system is the one that helps you recover if you get sick. Having a strong immune system is absolutely critical to protect your body against viral infections, including the coronavirus.

The problem is that there are several lifestyle activities that many people engage in that can cripple your immune system and make you more vulnerable to illness.

The top 5 lifestyle factors that may prevent your immune system from functioning optimally.

Here the short list - details below:

1. Too Much Sugar & Carbs
2. Sleep Deprivation or Poor Quality Sleep
3. Drinking Unfiltered Tap Water
4. Staying Indoors All Day
5. Chronic Dehydration

 

1. Sugar and Your Immune System
   It's not the first time you've heard about the negative effects of sugar on your health. Sugar not only causes blood sugar fluctuations and weight gain, but it can also cripple your immune system. Sugar can deplete your body from critical immune-supporting nutrients, such as zinc, vitamin C, and glutathione. It also feeds parasites in your body and may lead to abnormal tissue and cancerous growth.
   
   When we are talking about sugar and your immune system, we must discuss the link between sugar, vitamin C, and immune function. In the 1970s, Dr. John Ely discovered the Glucose-Ascorbate-Antagonism (GAA) theory, which found that glucose (sugar) and ascorbate (vitamin C) have a very similar chemical make-up. The problem is that both of them depend on the pancreatic hormone, insulin's signaling to get into your cells. Sugar and vitamin C basically end up competing for the same spot in your immune system.
   
   If there is too much sugar, vitamin C will likely lose this race as too much sugar can restrict vitamin C from entering your cells. When this happens, your body needs to pump more insulin to get enough oxygen to your cells. Vitamin C is critical to handle oxidative stress and fight pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms in your body. If sugar prohibits vitamin C to support your body, your system weakens and becomes more vulnerable to illness and disease, including the coronavirus infection.
   
   
2. Sleep Deprivation
   Your body needs regular sleep to rest, repair, and rejuvenate. Regular sleep deprivation will surely lead to fatigue, exhaustion, and low concentration. However, sleep deprivation also leads to heightened stress response, reduced immune coordination, and increased inflammatory processes. This can lead to compromised immune function and higher vulnerability to infections and illness, including the coronavirus. 
   
   
3. Chronic Dehydration
   Drinking plenty of water and proper hydration is critical for your immune system, circulation, nervous system, and all organ function. Chronic dehydration can result in too much histamine in your body.
   All that histamine will aim to ensure that your organs get enough fluids even when you are dehydrated, however, elevated histamine may also increase inflammation, allergies, headaches, chronic pain, digestive issues, and immune system problems. The consequence of chronic dehydration may also increase your risk of infections, illness, and disease.
   
   
4. Drinking Tap Water
   You already know how critical hydration and water is to your immune system. However, it is crucial that instead of simply tracking your water intake, you also pay attention to the kind of water you are drinking.
   Municipal water can be toxic loaded with environmental chemicals, such as chlorine, DBP's, arsenic, fluoride, and heavy metals. These toxins can destroy your immune system. Drinking clean water using a high-quality reverse osmosis system or high-quality mineral or spring water is much better for your immune health. 
   
   
5. Staying Indoors
   Historically, our ancestors spent most of their lives outdoors. We do the exact opposite by spending 90 percent of our time inside. Our jobs and schools are indoors. We go to indoor grocery stores and shopping malls or shop online from our couch. We attend indoor events or simply hang out inside of our homes. Of course, staying indoors protects us from certain weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or even heat. However, unfortunately, too much indoor time also increases your exposure to indoor pollutants.
   By spending so much time indoors, you are also missing out on the protective factors you may receive in nature, including vitamin D from the sun, fresh air, and electrons from the ground when walking or standing barefoot from on the ground. To protect your immune system, it is critical to find balance and create some time to be outdoors regularly.

 
Top 10 Natural Solutions For Coronavirus
There are currently no vaccines to prevent the coronavirus and there are no anti-viral or other medications to treat the illness.
Supporting your immune system is absolutely critical when it comes to the prevention and treatment of the coronavirus and other respiratory viral infections.
Below are 10 natural solutions to boost your immune system and protect your body from illness and infections.

Remember, these are great tips not only when it comes to the coronavirus, but for the common cold and the flu as well.
 
1. Eight Foods to Support Immune Health
Eating a nutrient-dense diet is one of the best and non-negotiable ways to support your immune health. It is important that you eliminate refined sugar, refined oils, artificial ingredients, processed foods, and junk food, and instead, focus on a diet that’s rich in greens, vegetables, herbs, spices, fermented foods, fruits, and healthy fats.
Certain foods are particularly beneficial for your immune health because they have higher immune-boosting properties than others. It is important that you add them to your nutrient-dense diet.

These foods include:

• Lemons and limes: Lemons and limes are some of the best sources of vitamin C and antioxidants, and help to alkalize and cleanse your body
• Bone broth: Bone broth is rich in vitamins and minerals and is soothing for respiratory conditions
• Garlic: Garlic may reduce inflammation, support your immune system, and effectively fight infections
• Onions: Similarly to garlic, onions are powerful infection fighters that boost your immune system and reduce inflammation
• Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar provides great disinfectant support against even the most resistant bacterial strains and viruses and offers antioxidant support
• Olive oil: Olive oil is a great source of monosaturated healthy fats which is incredible for your immune system
  
• Ginger: Ginger is one of the most potent medicinal spices that help to reduce inflammation, boost your immune health, improve sore throat, and lower pain levels
• Mushrooms: Medicinal mushrooms are fantastic immune-boosting and inflammation-fighting superfoods 

2. Good Hydration
If any way possible drink half of your body weight in ounces of clean water minimum a day. For example, if you're 200lbs you should drink 100 ounces of clean water every day! If you are exercising or doing physical labor, spending time out on the hot sun, sweating a lot in a sauna or hot tub, recovering from an illness or infection, or otherwise feeling dehydrated, make sure to drink more.
To ensure that you drink high-quality, clean water, use a high-quality reverse osmosis system that purifies your water by removing all the toxins.
Make sure to use a stainless steel or glass bottle to avoid toxic chemical residue from plastic bottles. It is also important that you eat plenty of hydrating vegetables and fruits and drink green juices, bone broth, or herbal teas in addition to your water intake. Avoid sugar, sugary drinks, energy drinks, and too much coffee that may dehydrate your body. 


3. Good Sleep, Fresh Air & Daily Movement
Keeping your body healthy is more than just food and water. Getting good sleep, fresh air, and daily movement are all crucial for a healthy immune system. Get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep on a regular basis. If you are feeling sick, make sure to honor your body, and rest plenty. Get some fresh air on a daily basis.
Go for a walk, do some grounding by standing or walking barefoot on grass or dirt, or just simply open your windows and air out the rooms. Do some daily movement. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes 5 days a week, and keep an active lifestyle through nature walks, stretching, yoga, dancing, walking your dog, and playing with your kids. Even if you are feeling sick, it is important to stretch or do some small movement as much as you can handle. 


4. Keep Stress Down & Practice Gratitude
Keeping your stress levels down is key to your immune health. Practice gratitude daily. Upon waking, think about the things that you are grateful for. Stop and appreciate the small things throughout the day. Keep an evening gratitude journal. Say a daily prayer or engage in the spiritual practices that uplift you.  Journal regularly.
Try meditation and breathwork. Say daily affirmations. Practice positive thinking. Talk things out with your friends, family, or therapist. Make sure to have some 'me-time' regularly. Surround yourself with positive people and uplifting activities as much as possible.

 
5. Diffuse Essential Oils
Diffusing essential oils may be beneficial for both the prevention and treatment of infections. They may help to open up your airways, reduce mucous, improve coughs, calm sore throats, and reduce sinus issues. Essential oils that may benefit coronavirus, cold, and flu symptoms include eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, frankincense, oregano, thyme, geranium, cinnamon, nutmeg, bergamot, cypress, and tea tree essential oil. These essential oils may offer antioxidants and immune-protective qualities.
It is important to mention that some people may be sensitive to certain essential oils. Start out with a small amount, preferably, when you are feeling well. Pay attention to your body and reactions.
 

6. Garlic Salve For Coronavirus
Whether you have the coronavirus, the flu, the common cold, or other upper-respiratory issues, if you are symptomatic, try homemade garlic salve for coughs and colds. It's simple to make and easy to use.
Use:

• 8 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 10 drops lavender oil (it’s incredibly calming and soothing)

How to use it:

• Rub it onto the soles of feet. Apply generously. Put socks on to help hold the salve in place
• Rub it on your chest
• Repeat every 2 to 3 hours until your condition improves

 

7. Take Vitamin C for Coronavirus
There is a reason mothers give vitamin C supplements and orange juice when you were sick as a child. Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins when it comes to illness. Research has shown that it has incredible benefits for lung infections and it is one of the most important vitamins for your immune system.
Vitamin C rich foods include lemon, lime, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, guava, strawberries, papaya, pineapples, kiwi, sweet green pepper, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Remember that sugar is the enemy of vitamin C, so make sure to eliminate any food with refined sugar and reduce your overall natural sugar (carb) intake as well.
Try Thorne's "Buffered Vitamin C" supplement (Amazon link).
 

8. Optimize Vitamin D & Zinc
Vitamin C is awesome, but let's not forget about Vitamin D and zinc either. They are both essential to support your immune system, yet most people are not getting enough. Sunshine is the best way to improve your vitamin D needs, however, with our indoor lifestyle or colder seasons, it is impossible to meet all your needs. To boost your vitamin D levels, try a daily Vitamin D/K2 supplement for both prevention and treatment.
Zinc is another nutrient that people seem to not get enough through diet alone, especially when not eating a nutrient-dense, immune-boosting diet. This can lead to immune dysfunction and more infections and illness. To improve your zinc levels and keep illness way, eat lots of zinc-rich foods, including pumpkin seeds, asparagus, chicken, salmon, and grass-fed beef regularly.

 
9. Use Elderberry & Astragalus
Elderberry and astragalus are fantastic for coughs, congestion, and other respiratory illness symptoms. Use them to strengthen immune defenses that defend against colds, the flu, the coronavirus, and other infections and to aid recovery if you get sick

 
10. Use Specific Herbal Support Formula
Herbs are the best friends of your immune system. However, it is important that you are strategic when you are using herbal support and use a specific herbal support formula that’s created to support your immune system, lungs, and respiratory tracts.
Find natural respiratory support formulas that use powerful blends of herbs and essential oils, including lovage root, eucalyptus leaf, peppermint left, lemon balm leaf, lungwort leaf, orange leaf, plantain leaf, chapparal leaf, menthol, elecampane root, lobelia flower, and peppermint essential oil, to encourage lung, sinus, and respiratory tract health.
 
Source - click here.

Avoid These Top 10 Inflammatory Foods
 
Inflammatory foods can be major players in the development of the suffering in our society.  This is because the process of inflammation is at the root cause of most chronic health issues. Learn what foods you should eliminate and what diet to follow to reduce inflammation, pain, and disease. With so many dietary advice out there, it can feel confusing to find the right one. 
 
The truth is that eating healthy is actually rather simple. Once you understand what foods may damage and what foods may protect your health, you can finally eat a nutrient-dense diet with a worry healing your body with every bite.

 
What Is Inflammation
Inflammation is your body's natural defense mechanism to fight against potential harm, such as infections, injuries, and toxins. It is part of your body's inherent immune response that promotes healing an recovery. Inflammation itself is not bad. Acute inflammation helps you to repair tissue damage when you have an injury and help you recover from colds, illness, or exposure to allergens.
The problem is chronic inflammation, which is the result of an excessive stress load on your body, including physical, emotional, and chemical stress. Being exposed to constant stressors, your immune system becomes overwhelmed and increases the inflammation response.
This can lead to more white blood cells, cell changes, and eventually tissue and organ damage. Chronic inflammation plays a role in a variety of chronic pain symptoms and health issues, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and autoimmune conditions.

 
The Role of Diet & Inflammation
Diet plays a major role when it comes to inflammation. An inflammatory diet that is low in nutrients is one of the main causes of modern-day inflammation. Cytokines are proteins secreted by your immune system to regulate your immune response. Certain foods can trigger your immune system and lead to the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the underproduction of anti-inflammatory cytokines
The good news is that your diet also plays a role in preventing and reducing inflammation. While, inflammatory foods, such as sugar, refined oils, and gluten may increase the risk of inflammation, eating an anti-inflammatory diet may help you to overcome chronic inflammation and improve your health.

 
Major Nutritional Factors for Inflammatory Foods
Several major factors that play a role in chronic inflammation.   When we consume food it will have an impact on our physiology and these 3 factors are key considerations when it comes to the foods we choose:

1. Blood Sugar Impact
2. Damaged Fats
3. Chemical Toxins

 

Blood Sugar Impact
An inflammatory diet with too much sugar may lead to blood sugar imbalances in your body. This may cause inflammation and the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines increasing your risk of insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels leading to further inflammation, pain, and disease.
 
Damaged Fats in Foods
Your body needs fats for fuel, but not all fats are created equal. Polyunsaturated fats, such as corn, soybean, safflower, and other vegetable oils are highly unstable and prone to oxidation when exposed to heat, light, or air. During the cooking processed they also become damaged or oxidized making them even more inflammatory and destructive to your health. These oils are particularly bad for the endothelial lining of your blood vessels and for your skin and greatly contribute to the formation of acne, aged spots and wrinkles. 
 
Chemical Toxins in Foods
Environmental toxins are everywhere, in our air, food, water, and products. Long-term exposure to environmental toxins may overwhelm your immune system and increase chronic inflammation. An inflammatory diet with lots of processed, refined, and non-organic foods are high in toxins. Choosing and anti-inflammatory, organic, and healing diet, however, may lower inflammation.

 
Top 10 Inflammatory Food List

1. Gluten
2. Sugar
3. Refined Carbs
4. Conventionally Raised Meat & Dairy
5. Farm-Raised Fish & Seafood
6. Processed Conventional Meat
7. Trans Fats (Partially Hydrogenated Oils)
8. Food Additives & Preservatives
9. Highly Processed Vegetable & Seed Oils
10. Artificial Sweeteners

 

Top 10 Inflammatory Food List Details

1. Gluten
   Gluten is a protein found in a variety of grains, including wheat, rye, and barley. It's found in bread, pizza, pasta, cereal, and other food. Gluten is particularly dangerous for and must be completely eliminated by individuals with Celiac disease or gluten allergy. What is more common, however, is gluten sensitivity that may cause a low-level chronic inflammation, a variety of symptoms, and leaky gut. Eliminating gluten may lower inflammation levels and improve your health.
   
   Alternatives: Gluten-free Alternatives
   Choose gluten-free flours, including almond, coconut, quinoa, and amaranth flour. Use lettuce for burgers and sandwiches, collard green for wraps, cauliflower for pizza crust, toasted sweet potato for avocado toasts, portabella mushrooms instead of buns, zucchini or cucumber noodles instead of pasta, and veggie sticks instead of crackers.
   
   
2. Sugar
   Probably not surprising to see sugar on this list. Sugar is one of the most inflammatory foods, yet, refined sugar is lurking everywhere from candy, snack bars, baked goods, pastries, sodas, sugary drinks, sweetened coffee and tea, pasta sauces, condiments, and more. When you eat too much sugar, your body simply cannot process it quick enough. As a result, it releases pro-inflammatory messengers called cytokines. It may damage your immune system and lead to blood sugar issues.
   
   Alternatives: Low-GI Whole Fruits, Vegetables, and Natural Sweeteners
   If you are looking for something sweet, low-glycemic index fruits, such as berries and green apples, and sweet vegetables, such as beets and carrots provide plenty of sweetness with lots of nutrient and fiber to help to slow the break down of sugar. Natural sweeteners, such as monk fruit and stevia may also sweeten your teas and baked good without disrupting your blood sugar balance and resulting in inflammation.
   
   
3. Refined Carbs
   Refined carbs and refined flour are found in most baked goods and other foods in your grocery stores, including white bread, bagels, crackers, pasta, flour tortillas, and breakfast cereal. Besides possible being full of gluten, they are inflammatory and low in nutrients. Refined wheat flours are high in sugar. They are stripped of nutrients and slow-digesting fiber. Hence, your body breaks them down way too quickly leading blood sugar spikes, pro-inflammatory response, inflammation, and health issues.
   
   Alternatives: Unrefined Flours and Creative Options
   Look for gluten-free and unrefined flours. Get creative by eating kale chips or sweet potato chips cooked in coconut oil instead of potato chips. Use veggies sticks instead of wheat crackers, collard greens and lettuce instead of bread and tortilla, coconut wraps instead of flour wraps, cauliflower rice instead of white rice, baked sweet potato fries instead of French fries, and zucchini noodles instead of pasta. 
   
   
4. Conventional Raised Meat & Dairy
   I'm a big fan of meat and I think it is extremely important for your health. BUT, the kind of meat you eat matters. Any meat that is not organic and animals are not treated by the highest standards is full of hormones and not the best option. Hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs coming from grain-fed animals are highly inflammatory. Historically, dairy has been part of a healthy human diet. Unfortunately, in recent decades, man-made refineries manipulated the dairy-creation process turning these once-superfoods into inflammatory foods. Conventional dairy is not organic and not obtained from pasture-raised animals. It's full of growth hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, and toxic pesticides making them highly inflammatory and disruptive to your gut microbiome.
   
   Alternatives: Grass-fed, Raw Dairy, and Non-Dairy Options
   It is important that you make sure that the meat you eat comes from animals that were raised humanely and fed a diet that is meant for them to keep them healthy and are not treated with hormones. Make sure to eat pasture-raised poultry, grass-fed beef, pork, and lamb, and wild-caught fish. Grass-fed raw dairy, including raw milk, grass-fed butter and ghee, and fermented yogurt or kefir are generally healthy for most. People with mild to serious inflammatory conditions and immune dysregulation may have a difficult time tolerating even raw dairy. Try taking out dairy for 90 days, then add it back to see how you tolerate raw and fermented dairy in small amounts. Non-dairy alternatives include coconut milk, coconut yogurt, coconut kefir, and macadamia nut milk.
   
   
5. Farm-Raised Fish & Seafood
   Fish and seafood are healthy sources of anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids and protein. However, as always, it's important that you know your source and chooses seafood that supports your health. In most cases, farm-raised fish are raised under crowded conditions, often given antibiotics, and fed a less than optimal diet. Farm-raised fish and seafood generally have more inflammatory Omega 6 fatty acids, higher chemical exposure, and less protein than wild-caught counterparts.
   
   Alternatives: Wild-caught Fish
   If you want to eat fish, go for wild-caught fish. Choose fish that is low in mercury, such as salmon, cod, tilapia, chunk light tuna, mullet, herring, anchovies, and sardines.
   
   
6. Processed Conventional Meat
   I believe eating meat is extremely important for your health. However, it's crucial that you eat healthy meat. Processed meat, such as deli meat and cured meat are not organic, highly processed, full of hormones, additives, and other unhealthy ingredients. No wonder, they are highly inflammatory.
   
   Alternatives: Pasture-Raised and Wild-Caught Options
   Try to choose pasture-raised poultry, grass-fed beef, pork, and lamb, and wild-caught fish. If you have trouble finding these at your local grocery store or health food store than you can order virtually any type of meat and various cuts through US Wellness Meats and they will deliver right to your door.
   
   
7. Trans Fats
   We all know the news: trans fats are bad. There are two types of trans fats you may encounter in foods: naturally-occurring and artificial trans fats. Naturally occurring trans fats are made in the gut of some animals and they may make in small quantities to milk and meat products. The real problem though is with artificial trans fats that are produced in an industrial process by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to solidify them. Partially hydrogenated oils are the primary dietary source of trans fatty acids in processed foods. Even the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't recognize them as safe. They are highly inflammatory and may raise your risk of high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and strokes.
   
   Alternatives: Grass-Fed Butter and Healthy Oils
   Try grass-fed butter or ghee, coconut oil, or avocado oil.
   
   
8. Food Additives & Preservatives
   If you carefully look at the ingredients of some processed foods at the grocery store or even in your own pantry, you will spot several food additives and preservatives. These ingredients are used to enhance flavor, texture, or color, or to extend shelf life. They have no nutritional value and are often inflammatory and harmful to your health. Monosodium glutamate is used to enhance the flavor of some savory dishes at fast food restaurants. It has been associated with metabolic syndrome, weight gain, and other health complaints. Artificial coloring, such as Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6 have been associated with allergic reactions, inflammation, and some cancers. Sodium nitrate found in processed meats may lead to inflammation and cancer. Other food additives and preservatives you should avoid include high fructose corn syrup, guar gum, sodium benzoate, trans fats, and any artificial flavoring.
   
   Alternative: Organic Whole Foods
   Choose organic whole foods and organic natural products without additives and preservatives.
   
   
9. Highly Processed Vegetable & Seed Oils
   When it comes to fat consumption, it is important that you understand the importance of a healthy Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio to control inflammation. A diet too high in Omega 6 fatty acids is highly inflammatory and may contribute to the development of pain and disease. Omega 3, on the other hand, is anti-inflammatory. While it is impossible to avoid omega 6 fatty acids, and some nutrient-dense foods, such as almonds, and other nuts have some in them, it's important to make sure that omega 3s dominate your ratio. Vegetable oils, such as corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, and peanut oil are high in omega 6 fatty acids. They are also damaged during processing and are highly inflammatory.
   
   Alternative: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
   As a healthy source of fat and oil, try organic virgin coconut oil. It's rich in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) that may be converted into ketones to further benefit your health.
   
   
10. Artificial Sweeteners
    You already know that refined sugar is not good for you. However, you need to watch out for artificial sweeteners and flavor enhancers as well.  Although not technically foods these ingredients can be used to create inflammatory foods. Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, monosodium glutamate, sucralose, and other artificial sweeteners may add a sweet flavor to your food, but they are not healthy. They are highly inflammatory. They have a neurotoxic effect on your brain and may lead to mood disorders and brain-related cancer. 
    
    Alternative: Natural Sweeteners
    Don't ban sweetness from your life. Monk fruit and stevia are natural, low-calorie sweet alternatives that don't raise your blood sugar. You may add them to your tea, coffee, and healthy baked goods without adverse health effects.

 

What To Do? - Healing Diet
Follow a healing diet to reduce inflammation, lower risk of developing chronic disease and improving your overall health. Eating a healing diet can reduce inflammation in your body, stabilize your blood sugar, reduce toxic load, fuel your body with foundational nutrients, and support your healthy blood pH.

Try these steps:

1. Eliminate sugar and grains such as:
   - white pasta
   - bread
   - rice
   - pizza
   - crackers
   - cereals
   - canned goods
   - ketchup
   - fruit drinks
   - deli meat
   - candy
    They are full of sugar and carbs and highly inflammatory.
   
   You need vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants from:
   - greens
   - vegetables
   - herbs
   - sprouts
   - fruits
   
   
2. Get rid of bad fats. Remove the following:
   - hydrogenated soybean oil
   - hydrogenated corn oil
   - hydrogenated palm oils
   - vegetable oil
   - canola oil
   - safflower oil
   - peanut oil
   
   Instead, focus on these healthy fats
   - coconut oil
   - avocado oil
   - pasture-raised poultry
   - ghee
   - nuts & seeds
   
   
3. Change the meat you eat.
   Eliminate all processed and conventional meat. Go all organic, grass-fed/finished beef, pasture-raised poultry, wild-caught fish, and pasture-raised eggs.

 

Top 12 Best Foods to Reduce Inflammation

To prevent, improve, or heal from an autoimmune condition, it is critical to reduce the inflammation in your body. Choosing the right foods to nourish your body is one of the most critical factors for reducing inflammation and preventing or improving autoimmune conditions. The foods you consume every day have the power to heal your body or to harm and inflame your body. To lower inflammation and improve autoimmunity, you should eliminate pro-inflammatory foods that may be triggering an immune response. Replace those foods with the 12 best foods to reduce inflammation. See list below.

What is an Autoimmune Condition?
Your immune system is your body’s defense mechanism. It is designed to protect you from disease and other potentially harmful foreign invaders. When functioning properly, the immune system identifies and destroys threats such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. An autoimmune condition occurs when the body’s immune system turns on its own cells and tissues. The immune system mistakenly identifies the healthy cells and tissues as foreign invaders and mounts an attack to destroy them. This can happen in almost any part of the body, including the brain, muscles, skin, and other organs.

Food Sensitivities and Autoimmunity
The gut is critically important with autoimmune conditions because gut bacteria heavily regulate your immune system. In fact, 70% of your immune system resides in your gut. One of the main ways that the factors above lead to autoimmunity is by inflaming and damaging the gut and destroying the beneficial bacteria. When the gut lining is damaged, it can become porous. Foods and other things that you are consuming pass through these holes in the gut lining and into your bloodstream. Your immune system is exposed to these foods and reacts to the foods as a threat, amplifying the immune response.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Autoimmune Conditions
A major contributor to autoimmune conditions is inflammation. One of the leading causes of inflammation is a poor diet such as the Standard American Diet (SAD).
The foods included in the Standard American Diet (SAD) diet are extremely inflammatory. They contain high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), or glycotoxins. These compounds cause inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging tissue throughout the body.
 
Top 12 AutoImmune Diet Foods to Reduce Inflammation
The autoimmune diet focuses on real whole foods that are the least likely to trigger an immune reaction.  Deficiencies in antioxidants, vitamins, and micronutrients can affect the body’s ability to resolve inflammation. Consuming micronutrient rich foods can help to reduce inflammation, support your immune system, and improve autoimmune conditions.  It is also important to make sure these foods are organic because pesticides have been linked to autoimmune conditions

Here the list of the top 12 foods:

1. Fatty Fish (Salmons, Sardines, Herring, Mackerel, Anchovies)
2. Olives & Olive Oil
3. Turmeric
4. Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries)
5. Avocados
6. Leafy Greens (spinach, kale, chard, arugula, Swiss chard, collards, bok choy)
7. Green Tea
8. Cruciferous Vegetables (brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and mustard greens)
9. Coconut Oil
10. Mushrooms
11. Carminative Herbs (arugula, basil, black pepper, cilantro, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, peppermint, rosemary, sage, fennel, thyme, and turmeric)
12. Bone Broth and Collagen

Full details and references - click here.

Healthy fats are essential for good health.  However, some fats can be extremely unhealthy. When using fats, it is important to differentiate between healing fats and toxic fats. Healing fats are nutritious fats that are anti-inflammatory and supply the body with energy and building blocks for different tissues.

On the other hand, toxic fats are highly inflammatory and can contribute to a series of health problems. Learning which fats to stay away from and what healthy fats to incorporate in your diet may be one of the most important dietary strategies you implement into your life.

Fat research is clear: Two recent studies completely debunked the arguments for a low-fat, high-carb diet. In an August 2017 study published in the Lancet, scientists concluded "a high carbohydrate intake was associated with an adverse impact on total mortality, whereas fats including saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were associated with lower risk of total mortality and stroke. We did not observe any detrimental effect of fat intakes on cardiovascular disease events". And, a September 5, 2017 study agreed, finding that a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet extends longevity and promotes health.

Now here is the KEY: For fats to provide these health benefits, you must incorporate healing fats, rather than bad fats, into the diet. To do this you must first be able to identify healing fats and bad fats. It is also important to distinguish saturated and unsaturated fats, non-animal fats and animal fats, and fats for hot uses and fats for cold uses.

Below is a simple list of some of the best healing fats.

Healing non-animal fats:

• Avocados
• Avocado oil
• Nuts and nut butters
• Coconut
• Coconut milk and coconut oil
• Olives and olive oil

Healing animal fats:

• Grass-fed butter
• Ghee
• Dairy
• Grass-fed meats
• Organic, pastured chicken
• Egg yolks

Healing fats provide building blocks for cell membranes and hormones. They also function as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K and aid in the absorption of minerals. Healing fats are essential for a healthy body and lifestyle. Let’s look more closely at several healing fats.
 
A Few Words About Omega 3 & 6
In short, boost 3 reduce 6! Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats found in fatty fish such as salmon and sardines. They are also found in walnuts and some seeds, such as chia seeds. They are liquid at room temperature. They reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower triglycerides and apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and raise HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels.  Omega-3 fats are also essential for brain and eye health.

When in the correct balance with omega-3 fats, omega-6 fats are healing fats. Like omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats. There are healthy and unhealthy sources of omega-6 fats. Healthy sources include sunflower seeds, wheat germ, sesame seeds, and walnuts. When eaten in the ideal ratio with omega-3 fats (between 4:1 and 1:1), these omega-6 fats promote health.

NOTE: Unfortunately, most Americans follow the Standard American Diet (SAD) and consume a much larger amount of oxidized omega-6 fatty acids found in corn and soybeans.


How To Cook With Oils

Healthy Fat Bonus
Another excellent way to add healing fats to your diet is to include them in smoothies. Healing fats that are delicious in smoothies include:

• avocados
• flax and chia seeds
• coconut or MCT oil
• nuts or nut butters

You can also use full-fat coconut milk as a great base for smoothies.

 
Worst Fats
The most common sources of unhealthy fats are man-made saturated fats and highly processed unsaturated fats. Man-made saturated fats, including trans fats, are extremely harmful. Unsaturated processed oils, such as vegetable oil, canola oil and corn oil, oxidize easily and are never healthy.

Article Source & References - click here.

Want to Balance Your Blood Sugar?

Below are 12 great foods to help you balance your blood sugar levels naturally. Carbs, processed foods, and many sugars throw off our ability to have stable blood sugar levels which can drive up inflammation, throws off hormones, and reduces our health and vitality overall. It is highly suggested to take steps to balance your blood sugar so you can improve your health.

For more details regarding these 12 foods, scroll down. Here is the list:

1. Coconut
2. Turmeric
3. Cinnamon
4. Raw Chocolate
5. Organic Coffee
6. Green Tea
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
8. Lemons & Limes
9. Avocados
10. Olives & Olive Oil
11. Grass-Fed Butter
12. Pasture-Raised Eggs

1. Coconut
Coconut is an all-around superfood and probably one of the best things to eat regularly. Try coconut oils, coconut butter, coconut flakes, coconut milk and even coconut flour. Coconut is an excellent source of healthy fats, especially MCT (medium chain triglycerides). Coconut also contains healthy fiber which is excellent for stabilizing blood sugar when combined with other sources of carbs.

2. Turmeric
The compounds in turmeric have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity which allows the body to deliver glucose to cells more effectively and prevent massive fluctuations in the blood. Try to make Turmeric a stable of your diet. Furthermore, turmeric has been shown to act on the liver to regulate epigenetic (activation of genes) and enzymatic factors that all work together to stabilize blood sugar and triglyceride levels in people with diabetes.

3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an underrated superfood. Not only is it one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet, but it tastes amazing and is excellent for stabilizing blood sugar. Cinnamon may also be helpful for fighting candida, which can be another consequence of a high sugar intake. Cinnamon improves insulin sensitivity and allows glucose to be transported from the blood and into the cells much more efficiently. There are generally two types of cinnamon that can be found in stores; cassia and Ceylon. Ceylon is considered to be more effective for stabilizing blood sugar. Additionally, Ceylon contains drastically lower amounts of a compound called coumarin, which is suspected to have undesirable effects on the liver when consumed in large amounts on a regular basis.

4. Raw Chocolate
Chocolate in its raw form is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. It is packed with antioxidants, minerals like magnesium and chromium, and can even be a decent source of vitamin C. Chromium helps to improve the function of insulin to stabilize blood sugar and can also help reduce sugar cravings. The key here is to only buy raw chocolate or “cacao” as it would be written on the label. We need to ensure the highest nutrient density and therefore greatest potential for beneficial effects.

5. Organic Coffee
Coffee contains an impressive array of antioxidant compounds and nutrients that help to boost brain function, increase fat burning, and protect the body from a whole list of chronic diseases from heart disease to cancer. But, it must be high-quality organic coffee in moderate amount, 1-3 cups a day, preferably in the AM.

6. Green Tea
Don't like coffee? Try organic green tea. Green tea is loaded with its own array of powerful antioxidants that help to fight inflammation, cancer, and all-cause mortality. The primary active component that is thought to be responsible for these benefits is the compound call Epigallocatechin gallate. It can also improve fat burning and helps to stabilize blood sugar and can protect you from diabetes and heart disease. For the most concentrated benefits from green tea try matcha green tea.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a fairly cheap way of balancing blood sugar that can be used in many ways. It contains acetic acid which helps to control fluctuations in blood sugar when combined with meals. Additionally, using apple cider vinegar may improve fat burning, improve digestion, and reduce carbohydrate cravings. Try consuming a small amount of apple cider vinegar before meals or find ways to incorporate it into meals.

8. Lemons & Limes
Lemons and limes provide a blood sugar stabilizing effect due to their naturally occurring citric acid. Citric acid behaves similarly to acetic acid by helping to lower the glycemic load of meals.

9. Avocados
They are loaded with minerals, fiber, and healthy fats that all help to stabilize blood sugar levels. Avocados are also a significant source of B vitamins which are important for energy production. They contain a special type of sugar molecule called D-mannoheptulose. In fact, this type of sugar may actually have the ability to lower insulin levels.

10. Olives & Olive Oil
Olives and olive oil are an underestimated source of antioxidants that have been shown to protect the body from the damaging effects of diabetes such as neuropathy and heart disease. Additionally, olive oil contains oleocanthal which is a powerful anti-inflammatory that acts on the COX enzyme system that has been associated with helping to reduce cancer risk, heart disease, and many other chronic diseases.

11. Grass-Fed Butter
Not only does it provide many fat soluble nutrients and healthy fats, but it also contains powerful metabolism boosting nutrients, namely conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a long-chain fatty acid that is much more concentrated in grass-fed dairy products. CLA has been found to improve insulin sensitivity and balance blood sugar.

12. Pasture-Raised Eggs
One of the most complete nutrient-dense foods you can eat. Additionally, eggs are a low-carb food so they have minimal impact on blood sugar. Pasture-raised eggs are also a good source of CLA, making them great for blood sugar control. Note: Some people can have sensitivities to eggs, which could cause a spike in blood sugar due to the release of cortisol.

It's important to control your blood sugar. Try to incorporate some of these foods into your daily diet.

Article source & references - click here.

Foods that naturally remove toxins from your body

Eliminating or removing toxins from the body is an important thing to do to maintain your body to stay healthy. The body is often conceded toxins as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle or unhealthy food consumed. Or via bad habits such as alcohol consumption and smoking habits. These toxic substances can harm the soft organs in the body if left unchecked. Also, the toxins can weaken the immune system. By removing the toxins the body will become fresher and healthier as well as the immune system will be stronger.
 
5 great ways to remove toxins from your body naturally:

1. Avoid Processed Food Consumption
   Organic fruits, vegetables, lean & organic, clean meats along with whole grains that are not processed should be the food you consume. These foods should help the body recover from the situation in the body that is carried by the junk food you consume. By avoiding processed foods is synonymous to cutting your excess bad fats and process & refined sugar content as well as materials such as fructose corn syrup. Clean, unprocessed foods can cleanse your body and make you feel more awake and alert.
   
   
2. Green Tea Consumption Green tea contains antioxidants that help speed up and facilitate the body's metabolism. In addition, green tea is also able to effectively hydrate the body and can help prevent diseases such as the flu. To that end, rather than soft drinks or consume unhealthy beverages, it may be better to switch  and start  consuming green tea daily.
   
   
3. Sweating Everyone probably already knows that sport is healthy for the body, but why? Intense exercise can help remove toxins from the body. With intense exercise, the body sweats and  some of the harmful toxins in the body will be excreted through your skin. Therefore, no more excuse for not exercising and sweat toxins from your body.
   
   
4. Enough of Water Consumption Water can flush unwanted toxins out of your body. By drinking a lot of water you can speed up the process of excretion of toxins from the body. In addition, water provides other benefits, such as cleaner skin and eventually a slimmer waist line.
   
   
5. Stop Smoking and Reduce Alcohol Consumption Stopping a habit that has been ingrained for a long time is not easy. Smoking and alcohol consumption can worsen the performance of the heart and lungs because they're getting contaminated by hazardous substances. If any way possible, you should immediately reduce and stop these bad habits.
   

 
14 foods that naturally Remove toxins from body

1. Cucumber: on average around 95% water, this veggie helps flush out toxins and alkalize the body while delivering a powerful nutrient punch.
   
2. Garlic: stimulates the liver to encourage production of detoxification enzymes.
   
3. Broccoli: delivers a large dose of vitamins while neutralizing and eliminating toxins.
   
4. Lentils: extremely fiber-rich (1 cup cooked has 62.5% of your RDA!), lentils aids in toxin elimination, lower cholesterol, and balance blood sugar. Make sure to soak lentils overnight before you cook them!
   
5. Turnip greens: loaded with antioxidants and sulfur-containing nutrients (without sulfur, the body cannot properly detoxify substances such as pharmaceuticals, environmental toxins and heavy metals), turnip greens also contain phytonutrients called glucosinolates that help activate and regulate detoxification enzymes.
   
6. Sunflower seeds: these little slivers of sunshine are not only high selenium and Vitamin E, but also assist liver's detoxing capabilities and prevent cholesterol build up in the blood and arteries. Be sure to choose organic as their high fat and oil allows them to easily soak up chemicals used in the production process.
   
7. Walnuts: infuse the body with healthy omega-3 oils to assist detoxification.
   
8. Turmeric: stimulates liver function. Also a great addition to your diet for all-around health.
   
9. Yellow & Red pepper: when it comes to cleansing, vitamin C is one of the cream of the vitamin crop because it transforms toxins into digestible material. One red pepper contains about 3 times more vitamin C than an orange.
   
10. Citrus fruits. Any are great!
    
11. Grapefruit: a class of its own, grapefruit lowers cholesterol, prevents kidney stones and aids the digestive system, which set it apart from the other citrus fruits.
    
12. Watercress: keeps free radicals away from cells, energizes cleaning enzymes in the liver and is a natural diuretic.
    
13. Mung beans: used by Ayurvedic doctors for thousands of years, this easily digestible bean absorbs toxic residue from the intestinal walls. Same here, please soak overnight before cooking.
    
14. Artichokes: chock-full of cynarin, which increases bile production and promotes healthy digestion.
    

As always, these are just suggestions. Please use your own good judgement when trying these out. Always listen to your body and stop immediately if you don't feel well.

Contact us if you have any health related questions.

Do you have constant pain or do you know someone who does? Are you fatigue all over your body for months at a time? Do you lose sleep because of this feeling of exhaustion? Are you developing headaches? Do you suffer from cognitive problems such as forgetting names or mixing them up? These could be symptoms of fibromyalgia.

So what is fibromyalgia really?
It's a chronic pain condition that is said to be caused by an abnormal response to stress. It's a muscoskeletal pain and tenderness all over the body. The common signs of fibromyalgia are overall pain & tiredness, restless sleep, numbness, higher sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and muscle spasms, not being able of focusing on mental tasks, disorientation and short-term memory loss. Many have difficulty or are completely unable to perform daily tasks.

There is no particular test for this condition and symptoms may be similar to other ailments. There is no known cure but there might be ways to reduce the symptoms and manage the flare-ups. And all that without dangerous pharma drugs. Making lifestyle changes to control fibromyalgia is HUGE. Once a person is diagnosed, unfortunately, most conventional doctors will most likely prescribe pain meds, antidepressants and muscle relaxants. But be careful with these drugs as we all know they come with a plethora of side effects. Just to name a few: antidepressants could increase your risk of developing mania and bipolar disorder.

Here a few holistic methods to help alleviate fibromyalgia pain:

1. Acupuncture - This helps to restore your normal balance of life force.
   
2. Massage Therapy - A gentle massage helps move and stimulate the body's muscles and soft tissues
   
3. Yoga & Tai Chi - Mediation, slow movements, deep breathing and relaxation have been found to help.
   
4. Essential Oils - Lavender, chamomile, lemongrass, ginger and black pepper to alleviate pain | Sage, frankincense, sweet orange, grapefruit and jasmine to relief stress | Neroli and roman chamomile to sleep peacefully | Peppermint and marjoram for headaches
   
5. Taking Supplements - Get enough magnesium (muscle pain), fish oil (anti-inflammatory), melatonin (sleep)
   
6. K-Laser Therapy - Stimulates red blood cell flow to affected areas, which helps reduce pain & inflammation. Also helps to enhance venous and lymphatic return by oxygenating tissues
   
7. Mild Exercise - Get some movement into your daily routine. Walking can help bring oxygen to joints and decrease pain & stiffness
   
8. Get Plenty of Vitamin D - This nutrient  can help hinder the production of cytokine, which is an inflammation-causing protein. The best way to get vitamin D is via save sun exposure. Get sunlight onto your skin! If that's not possible, look for a high-grade vitamin D3 supplement
   

 
Diet for Fibromyalgia
Remember that fibromyalgia is not a specific illness. It's more like a symptom complex. Everybody is not the same. What works for one person might not work for another. The best thing to do is to keep a food log or diary. Write down everything you eat and how you feel a few hours later. That way you can differentiate foods that have different effects on your body.

Some general tips are listed here:

1. Well-Balanced Diet - Include fresh organic fruits and veggies, healthy fats (coconut & avocado to name a few), only eat grass-fed, pasture-raised dairy and meats
   
2. NO Processed Foods - Try to avoid any and all processed foods. If it has more than a few ingredients, don't eat it. Processed foods are loaded with sugar, bad fats (trans fats) and a whole bunch of synthetic additives that are horrible for humans
   
3. Omega 3s - Load up on these! Get wild Alaskan salmon, flaxseeds (oil or ground seeds) and walnuts
   
4. NO Artificial Sweeteners - Say no to aspartame and any other artificial sweetener
   
5. NO MSG - Monosodium glutamate is an excitotoxin that may trigger or worsen pain symptoms
   
6. Minimize or avoid Yeast & Gluten - No breads and baked goods. Yeast can foster overgrowth of yeast fungus in the body
   
7. NO Nightshade Plants - Stay away from eggplants, tomatoes, chili and bell peppers. They can trigger flare-ups. Unless you can tolerate these. Use your food log to analyze how you feel after eating nightshades
   
8. NO Caffeine - Don't combat fatigue with caffeine. This only makes the problem worse. It can lead to poor sleep and trigger headaches
   

If you need help figuring out what you could do, contact us today.

I don't know about you, but I love a fresh ground organic cup of black coffee in the morning.

Did you know that coffee has multiple potential anti-cancer pathways? Caffeine is one of them, as it has been shown to both stimulate and suppress tumors depending on the cancer and when it is administered. Polyphenols in coffee, such as lignan phytoestrogens, flavonoids, and polyphenols are also known to have anti-cancer properties, as does caffeic acid, which inactivates several pathways involved in the development of tumors – including cell cycle regulation, inflammatory and stress response, and apoptosis.

Another reason why coffee may have a positive effect on our health is because it is the number one source of antioxidants (coffee include significant amounts of hydrocinnamic acid and polyphenols).

Free radicals are a type of a highly reactive metabolite that is naturally produced by the body as a result of normal metabolism and energy production. They are the natural biological response to environmental toxins like cigarette smoke, sunlight, chemicals, cosmic, and man-made radiation, and are even a key feature of pharmaceutical drugs.

Important Notes: Make sure to drink you coffee black, without sugar, without creamer, without flavorings. If any way possible, buy your coffee certified organic as the coffee beans are one of the most heavily pesticides-sprayed crops. Do the smell test: If your coffee doesn't smell and taste fresh, it most likely is rancid. Don't overdo it. Two to four cups of high-quality, organic coffee should do the trick.

Enjoy.

Great weekend harvest. All organic and home-grown. Grapefruit is a mouth-wateringly tart tasting citrus fruit with a hint of sweetness, somewhere between a lemon and an orange. A glass of grapefruit juice helps boost your levels of vitamin C and makes the grapefruit one of the most nutritious fruit amongst citrus fruits. Grapefruits are packed with the benefits derived from various nutrients and vitamins. This powerful nutrient combination of fiber, potassium (which is important for the make-up of cell and body fluids and in controlling the heart rate and blood pressure), lycopene, vitamin A & C, choline, folate, thiamin, vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium, as well as lesser amounts of many more phytonutrients all here to help maintaining a healthy heart.

Some studies show that eating this amazing citrus fruit can lower the risk of developing kidney stones. Limonin, which is another phytonutrient, showed to suppress cancerous cell and tumor growth. The pectin in grapefruits inhibits hardening of the arteries and lowers the LDL or "bad" cholesterol.

NOTE: Please consume grapefruit in moderation because they do contain fructose, which may be harmful to your health in excessive amounts.

CAUTION: Drinking grapefruit juice together with certain medicines may, in certain cases, increase blood levels of the drug to harmful levels. Please discuss with your doctor if you're on medication. Grapefruit juice inhibits a chemical in the intestine needed to break down many drugs in the body.

A good advice is to incorporate lots of antioxidant-containing foods into the daily diet to ensure adequate intake of a vast variety of antioxidants and other nutrients. The chart below lists all the vitamins and their respective functions, including those with antioxidant properties. If you need help contact us for a consultation.

If you would like to know more about where to find which vitamin, please contact us via email, call or the online form below.
Stay healthy, eat real foods.

Super healthy smoothie anybody? Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This makes for a great quick lunch on the go or a healthy meal when you do not have much time to sit down and eat a regular meal. Here the ingredients for this October 2017 Super Shake. All ingredients are organic. Some are even grown locally:

• Blueberries (1/2 cup)
  
• Mango (1/4)
  
• Strawberries (1/2 cup)
  
• Apple (1/4)
  
• Pear (1/4)
• Banana (1/2)
  
• Lemon Juice (1/2)
  
• Dino Kale (4 leaves)
  
• Spinach (10 leaves)
• Swiss Chard (3 leaves)
  
• Avocado (1/4)
• Cacao Powder (1 tbl spoon)
  
• Moringa Powder (1 teaspoon)
  
• Walnuts (1/2 handful)
• Sea Salt (a pinch)
  
• Water (8 oz.)
  
• Ice cubes (2)
  

This smoothie recipe yields about 24 oz (3 large glasses). Contact us if you have questions.

A lack of one vitamin could cause a barrage of symptoms. What are these vitamins? There are two types of vitamins:
Water-Soluble Vitamins

• B Vitamins include: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin
• Vitamin C

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin A, D, E and K

Vitamins are potent, indispensable compounds that perform various bodily functions that promote growth and reproduction and maintain health. Vitamins are essential nutrients required in minute amounts. Vitamins do not supply calories.
A list of all Vitamins and where they can be found will be posted next.

I always feel good and energized after I get some sun exposure. It seems like the sunlight has a powerful affect on me. On the other hand, when I don’t get sun on my skin for a few weeks, I feel down, grumpy and a bit moody. I wouldn’t call it depressed, but it’s just not a happy feeling. There is evidence that sunlight does more than just make you happy! This article – click here – explains how sunlight and vitamin D help your bones and prevents autoimmune diseases, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It states that, “Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risks of deadly cancers, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.” It further describes how, “Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized epidemic among both children and adults in the United States.” The article is very detailed and offers amazing information.
I also found this amazing research. The “Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health” article explains how “vitamin D can be synthesized in the skin through a photosynthetic reaction triggered by exposure to UVB radiation.” For most Caucasians, about 30 min in the sun can release as much as 50'000 IU of vitamin D. The same amount of exposure yields 20'000 in tanned people and about 8'000 in dark-skinned folks. There is so much more great info - click here to read the entire article.