Most people truly do not understand the concept of nutritional medicine and fewer yet understand the concept of cellular nutrition.
This article will give you a better understanding of how I approach my patients as a specialist in Nutritional Medicine. Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding of how and why you can better protect your health or even regain your health by applying these concepts to your own life.
Concept of Oxidative Stress
Even though oxygen is necessary for life itself, it is inherently dangerous for our existence. In the process of utilizing oxygen within your cells to create energy, you also create a by-product referred to as free radicals. Free radicals are charged oxygen molecules that are missing at least one electron and desire to get an electron from the surrounding area. If it is not readily neutralized by an antioxidant, which has the ability to give this free radical the electron it desires, it can go on to create more volatile free radicals, damage the cell wall, vessel wall, proteins, fats, and even the DNA nucleus of the cell. So the same process that turns a cut apple brown or rusts metal is causing you to rust inside. In fact, the medical literature now shows us that over 70 chronic degenerative diseases are the result of this process. Diseases like coronary artery disease, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, arthritis, macular degeneration, MS, lupus, among others are the result of small oxidative changes that occur over a long period of time.
It is all about Balance
The number of free radicals you produce is not steady. In other words, some days you produce more than others. Because of our stressful lifestyles, polluted environment, and over-medicated society, this generation must deal with more free radicals than any previous generation that has ever walked the face of the earth. If you want to prevent oxidative stress, you need to have more antioxidants available along with their supporting nutrients than the number of free radicals you produce. You see, we are not defenseless against this process. Antioxidants are the answer. The question is whether or not we are able to get all the antioxidants we need from our food. This was the question I had to answer for myself and the reason that I wrote my book What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know about Nutritional Medicine. After spending over 2 years reviewing the medical literature, I concluded that the only way you have a chance of preventing oxidative stress is by taking high quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements that provide, what I refer to as, cellular nutrition. If you have not read my book or listened to any of my CD’s on this subject, I would certainly encourage you to do just that. The medical references are detailed in my books and provide the medical evidence that demands a verdict—should you be taking nutritional supplements?
History of Nutritional Medicine
Over the past half century, nutritional medicine has been practiced with the belief that you had to determine what nutrients in which you were deficient and then supplement that particular nutrient. It became very obvious to me early on in my research that the underlying problem most of us are facing is not a nutritional deficiency, but instead, the result of oxidative stress. It was also apparent to me that medication, which actually increases the production of free radicals, would never be the answer to preventing any of these diseases. Also if this was the case, the goal had to be to provide the nutrients that were necessary to build up our body’s natural antioxidant defense system so that you did not develop oxidative stress. It became so apparent to me that our bodies, not the drugs I could prescribe, were the best defense against developing any of these diseases. The problem is NOT a nutritional deficiency. The problem is oxidative stress.
Modern Nutritional Research
Today’s research is focused on trying to find the magic bullet in regards to a particular disease. For example, there were many studies that showed that those smokers who had the highest antioxidant levels in their blood stream had a significantly lower risk of developing lung cancer than those smokers who had the lowest level of antioxidants. Most of the researchers felt that it was primarily due to the high levels of beta carotene. So they decided to do a study and supplement a large number of smokers with just beta carotene. They were dismayed when they found that the group that received the beta carotene alone actually had a higher incidence of lung cancer than the control group. This led researchers and the media to actually claim that beta carotene was dangerous and should not be taken in supplementation in smokers. A review of the same data reported a couple of years later showed that those smokers who had the highest levels of total antioxidants in their blood stream had a significantly decreased risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who had the lowest levels of antioxidants.
Beta carotene is NOT a drug. It is merely a nutrient that we get from our food; however, because of supplementation we are now able to get it at levels you cannot obtain from your food. Beta carotene works in only certain parts of the body and against only certain kinds of free radicals. Beta carotene needs the other antioxidants along with the antioxidant minerals and B cofactors in order to do its job effectively. However, researchers are focused on trying to find the magic bullet instead of stepping back and understanding the basic principles and concepts of cellular nutrition. The amazing thing is how so many of these studies that look at just one or possibly two nutrients actually show a health benefit. What would the health benefit be if you would put all of these nutrients together at these optimal levels? Enter in the concept of cellular nutrition.
Concept of Cellular Nutrition
There are over 180 epidemiologic studies (studies that involve a very large number of people) that all show the very same thing. Those individuals who have the highest levels of total antioxidants in their body compared with those who have the lowest levels have a 2- to 3-fold decrease risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s dementia. Obviously, those individuals who consume more of the fresh fruits and vegetables, which contain a large amount of these antioxidants, had the highest levels of antioxidants in their body. This only makes logical sense when you understand the concept of oxidative stress as being the root cause of over 70 of these chronic degenerative diseases. Therefore, a physician would conclude the best thing that they could advise their patients to do is to be consuming at least 8 to 12 servings of fresh whole fruits and vegetables each and every day. The second best thing would be to recommend high quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements that provided cellular nutrition.
Cellular nutrition would be defined as providing ALL of the micronutrients to the cell at these optimal or advanced levels that have been shown to provide a health benefit in our medical literature. In other words, you would want your supplementation to be balanced and complete, much like a healthy diet is. The only difference is the fact that, unlike today’s food supply, supplementation can provide all of these nutrients at optimal levels. We all need to be supplementing a healthy diet; however, because of our stressful lifestyles, polluted environment, and over-medicated society we do need to be supplementing.
Cellular nutrition has been shown in our medical literature to build up our body’s natural immune system, antioxidant system, and repair system. You not only replenish any nutritional deficiency within 6 months of supplementation, but you also optimize all of the body’s micronutrients. You are given the absolute best chance to reverse or prevent any oxidative stress and protect your health. You see, nutritional supplementation is really about health—not disease. Nutritional supplements are natural to the body and the nutrients the body requires to function at its optimal level.
Every man, woman, and child needs to be supplementing a healthy diet and be involved in a modest exercise program. This is the key to protecting and maintaining your health. However, what if you have already lost your health and have developed one of these chronic degenerative diseases? Does supplementation provide any hope? This is the question that I had to answer for myself and for my patients. This has been the focus of my practice for the past 11 years and why I have developed my online practice located at http://www.drraystrand.com/.
The Concept of Synergy
The medical literature had showed me over and over again that those patients who were already suffering from a chronic degenerative disease like rheumatoid arthritis, MS, or diabetes actually had significantly more oxidative stress than the normal, healthy patient. Cellular nutrition is generally adequate to help someone who is in excellent health; however, it would not be enough supplementation to bring oxidative stress under control in someone who is already suffering from a major disease.
It became very apparent to me early on that if you were going to be able to have any effect on improving the health of someone who was already suffering from cancer, heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, macular degeneration, and the like that you would have to truly optimize every aspect of the body’s natural defense systems. I quickly began to realize that by placing all of my patients on basic cellular nutrition, I was able to create a synergistic effect. Vitamin E is a great antioxidant within the cell membrane. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant within the plasma. Glutathione is the best intracellular antioxidant. However, all of these antioxidants needed the antioxidant minerals and B cofactors to do their job well. Also, vitamin C was able to replenish vitamin E so it could be used over and over again. Alpha lipoic acid, another great antioxidant, was able to regenerate both vitamin E and glutathione. I found that 1 plus 1 was no longer 2, but instead, 8 or 10. This powerful approach allowed me a much better chance of bringing oxidative stress back under control.
Once my patients were consuming my recommendations of cellular nutrition, I simply began adding enhancers to their nutritional supplement regime. I began looking for the most potent antioxidants that were available. Grape seed extract was found to be 50 times more potent than vitamin E and 20 times more potent than vitamin C at handling oxidative stress. CoQ10 was not only a very important antioxidant but has been found to significantly boost our natural immune system and help provide increased energy for the cell to function at its optimal level. Other nutrients like glucosamine sulfate, saw palmetto, phytonutrients, additional vitamin E, calcium, magnesium in various illnesses produced amazing results.
Over the past 12 years, I have learned how to best support my patients’ natural defenses and allow them the best chance to take back control of their health. Again, it is all about balance. I want my patients who are already suffering from an illness to also bring oxidative stress back under control. This is my entire goal. Then and only then do they have a chance to see their health improve. By combining cellular nutrition with specific enhancers, I give all my patients the best chance of bringing oxidative stress back under control. The results that I have seen in my medical practice using these principles have been nothing short of amazing and something that I had never witnessed in my first 20 plus years of medical practice.
Now, I want to share a couple of precautions that I have learned along the way. First, nutritional medicine is not like taking drugs. It takes a minimum of 6 months to build up the body’s natural defenses and many of my patients did not even begin to see any improvements in their health until after 6 months. Not everyone responds to my recommendations; however, I feel the majority of my patients have had significant health improvements when they followed these recommendations. None of my patients were cured of their underlying illness. Nutritional supplementation is not an alternative or substitute for traditional medical care. You should never quit taking any medication prescribed by your doctor without his or her consent and direction. Many of my patients have been able to decrease their dependence of medication and in some cases even discontinue some of their medication. However, this is always because of a significant positive improvement in their health and under the direction of their personal physician.
It is my mission in life to spread these health concepts and help as many people as I can. This is why I have developed my online medical practice at http://www.drraystrand.com/. I would encourage you to take advantage of this website and share the potential health benefits of following my recommendations either to protect your health or possibly even to regain your health if you have already lost it.
RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine
Have you ever wonder why the Italians are proud of their pizzas or spaghetti which is synonymous to their identity? Well, without going deep into it, let me say, it is simply due to the fact they, apart from being tasty, are indeed very nutritious. What is that which constitute nutritious? Hey, it is the tomatoes that comes along as the main ingredients in those foods.
Tomatoes, as we all know is a fruit that is of bright red color known to be of great antioxidants source . Lycopene, being the bright red carotenoid pigment, is a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits. As the most potent carotenoid antioxidants, lycopene is the most common carotenoid in the human body.
Carotenoids which are the red, orange and yellow coloring substances found in plants and animals, make up approximately seven hundred different categories with about fifty to sixty of these are present in a typical diet. The human body is said to contain some of the major carotenoids in the forms of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene. Various studies show that lycopene makes up at least 50 percent of the caroteniods in the human body, accentuating its importance. These carotenoids are specifically broken down by the body, often during the process of absorption into the bloodstream from the small intestine. They make their way to specific tissues and organs where they have been shown to protect against the type of oxygen damage that can cancer, cardiovascular disease, and macular degeneration is notably significant. However, estimates of lycopene consumption have only been based; not on the use of lycopene supplements but on reported tomato intake which is the source of other nutrients including vitamin C, folate, and potassium.
The benefits derivable from tomato-based lycopene can be seen from the many scientific literature published over time. So feel free to grab on to your dear pizzas and spaghetti to be partly on the way to healthy living.
I had previously in November 2008 posted an article pertaining to the marvel of broccoli. It has now been confirmed by a recent John Hopkins School Of Medicine study that supports my earlier revelation on the great health effects broccoli has on human health.
The deadly Helicobacter Pylori (H Pylori) , a widespread type of bacterial infection and a major cause of stomach cancer, can indeed be defeated with, amongst some of the cheapest methods, the continued consumption of three-day old broccoli sprouts. This is primarily due to broccoli having that special cancer preventive phytochemical called sulforaphane.
It is important to realize that H Pylori has taken lives away and many at times its eradication may pose other health problems to humans such as increasing the occurrence of esophageous cancer. It is a choice of one or the other.
Certain compounds, one of which is the yoghurt lacobacilli, are used as natural therapies to suppress but not cure Helicobacter pylori. No vaccines at present is available yet to prevent H Pylori but current antibiotic treatments have many side effects.
Well, if there are other inexpensive and yet without side effects avenues, I would not hesitate to consume them so long as they are from natural forms. It is nature’s intention that anything that is derived from nature shall be of less harm to the human body.
It’s that H Factor Diet that most of you would be waiting eagerly. Simply put, the H Factor Diet is as follows:-
Less Meat, More Fish And Vegetable Protein Consumption
Consume no more than four servings of lean meat per week. Eat unfried fish at least three times a week and if you are not allergic or intolerant, a serving of at least five times per week of a soy-based food such as tofu, soy sausages, tempeh or beans such as chickpea hummus , kidney beans, lentils or bakes beans.
Consume More Greens
Ensure at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. It also means eating two pieces of fruits every single day or three servings of vegetables. You need to vary your selections from day to day and ensure half of what is on your plate for each main meal is vegetables.
Have A Garlic Clove Each Day
Garlic, known for its medicinal and health benefits, is essential. Consume either a clove of garlic a day or a garlic supplement (garlic oil capsules or powdered garlic) every day.
Avoid Salt On Your Food
Do not add salt while you are cooking or to the food on your plate. This as the saying goes, is like “rubbing rub to your wounds”. Use Solo salt instead or soy-sauce for flavoring.
Cut Back On Tea & Coffee
Avoid more than one cup of caffeinated or non-caffeinated coffee or two cups of tea per day. Instead choose from the variety of other herbal teas for detoxification and grain coffees that are available.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Limit to not more than a pint of beer or one glass of red wine. Ideally, limit your intake to two pints of beer or four glasses of red wine each week.
Reduce Your Stress
If you are under tremendous stress or reacting stressfully much of the time, adopt the decision to de-stress by changing the circumstances that you are giving you the stress or alter your attitude towards the way you have been doing things in the past. Simple additions to your life such as going for yoga or meditation classes or exercise or resolve to evening-stroll your way away can make the difference. This is to avoid upsetting your body chemical and hormonal imbalances.
Stop Smoking
Seek help to terminate smoking. There is simply no safe homocysteine or health levels for smoking as far as your health is concerned. Smoking is nothing less than slow suicide. The sooner you do so, the longer you will live.
Correct Estrogen Deficiency>
For those postmenopausal or having menopausal symptoms or other menstrual irregularities, check your estrogen or progesterone levels with a hormone saliva test. Where the case of estrogen or progesterone-deficiencies, you can correct them with natural progesterone HRT in the form of a trans-dermal skin cream. Natural progesterone has none of the risks associated with HRT and your body can make its own estrogen or progesterone.
Supplement With A High-Strength Multivitamins Everyday
Take a high-strength multivitamin and mineral supplement regime; providing at least 25mg of the main B vitamins, 200 mcg of folate, 10 mcg of vitamins B12 & B6 plus A, D and E and the minerals magnesium, selenium, chromium and zinc. Include 1 g of vitamin C for general health as well as the specific homocysteine-lowering nutrients listed below.
Homocysteine-Lowering Nutrients
The most powerful and easiest cum quickest way to restore to a normal H Score of 6 units and below is to supplement yourself with specific homocysteine-lowering nutrients which include vitamins B2, B6, B12, folic acid and trimethylglycine (TMG) and zinc. The combination works extremely well. The guidelines are as as follows:-
Much has been said about diets being used to control diseases. It is indeed not something new. For years, researchers had been initially stumped with conflicting results on various diets being tested. It is such a complicated area of research that more focused studies need to be extensively done to be sure what exactly causes what types of diseases.
However, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) project, has shown that eating the right foods also works. It can lower blood pressure as much as taking a drug. The results also showed that supplements derived from the right foods can not be done away by just supplementing one’s needs with pure supplements. It has been noted in that study that a vegetable diet achieved such success when supplements of calcium, magnesium, and other individual nutrients flopped in earlier studies. The lowering of the blood pressure in the same study could also be possibly due to that something else in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products but it can’t say for sure which particular attribute nor can it say which nutrients made the difference.
Leicester researchers had found that changing lifestyles in switching to a healthier diet and increasing exercise can be at least as effective as taking prescription drugs. On average, lifestyle changes helped to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by around half. Lifestyle changes were also less likely to have adverse side-effects.
Because of the many researches being carried out in the past, more and more attention have been put into trying to pinpoint the effects of various diets on your health. Vigorous researches on fitting foods as the right diet to manage diseases with ketogenic diets appearing to be the conduit to treat various other neurological disorders including ALS, brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease autism, narcolepsy, and migraines. many of such conditions respond to anti-convulsant medications. Diets low in simple carbohydrates for people with diabetes, low-fat diets high in fruits, vegetables and nuts for cardiovascular conditions, phenylalamine-free diets for genetic disorders, low-sodium diets for hypertension, low-fat diets for gallstones and gluten-casein free diets for autistics are just about the many diets advocated. There are now the DASH diets, the Mediterranean diet, and of course the much acclaimed very specific diets for various diseases such as diets for people suffering from multiple sclerosis, anti-inflammation diet, mood diet……and so on and so forth. Errh…..too much to comprehend for you, I suppose.
Lydia Beckett’s epilepsy seizures continued despite ingesting the same drugs that brought about relief to many other children having epilepsy. Her case is a typical example of the fitting food to healthy living. She did not respond well to the drugs but instead to one well documented ketogenic (high fat, low carb) diet that she detailed all in a film about “Childhood Epilepsy - What You Need to Know, A Parents’ Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Care of a Child with a Seizure Disorder”.
All in all, all such proclaimed diets are basically meant for good healthy living but no matter what, the vegetarian diet remains the panacea for modern lifestyle diseases. Many studies have shown that a vegetarian diet has always come as top billings. It has been shown that there are inverse associations with the occurrence of diseases with the increase intakes of fiber-based vegetables and fruits.
So, again it is your commitment towards adopting a choice of fitting foods towards achieving ultimate healthy lifestyles and living.
Another great discovery on the usefulness of blueberry fruit has just been found and added on to its greatness discovered in the past. It has been ascertained that blueberry flavonoids activates the parts of the human brain that control memory and learning and this discovery has opened new avenues of research into the ability of blueberries to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Its proven capabilities includes:-
lowering LDL cholesterol better than and without the dangers of statin drugs,
its richness in disease-fighting phytochemicals that prevent and even reverse serious diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stomach ulcers and even help lower cholesterol levels,
ability to control high cholesterol and prevent colon cancer
and these add feathers in its hat in asserting its usefulness in modern day nutritional health.
In fact, when I was young, I have a dog much to my liking. There were certain things I noticed whenever my dog fell sick. It naturally goes out into the open to look for grasses. That goes the same for some stray cats in the vicinity. What exactly were these animals doing? They bit chunks of grasses or other plant leaves and chewed them, nimbled over these “natural” sources of “remedies” to get over their sickness. That is the clue Mother Nature has provided. On many such occasions, these dogs and cats had their natural instincts to look to Mother Nature to provide direction to better health. So is, here the berry family, in the same way as Mother Nature by being plant-based products, with blueberry leading the way on others in the family such as elderberry, acai berry, raspberry, cranberry, strayberry and promegranate.
The antioxidant properties of these berries, with their natural occurring chemical compounds, are best obtained in its raw form rather than be processed form unless strict processing were adopted to maintain these properties to be effective for optimum health functionality. Folks, it is easier said than done to eat fresh and raw. Yes, it is really not complicated like what your ancestors did. This is what your body was designed to eat. However, how many of you are that “fortunate” to be in North America to be able to “enjoy” eating these native berries fresh. Even if you did, how long can you be there to consume sufficient antioxidants to ensure your healthy living? It is just impracticable for many of you. It is not like just grabbing some fresh roots like carrots and radishes to munch raw. Perhaps, get yourself to pay a fairly big sum for such fresh berries sent to your doorstep or you may have to go down to the fresh market for some shopping.
And if you do all this on a daily basis without consuming the processed foods common to western societies, you would likely find that you do not need any prescription drugs whatsoever. Miraculously, you would be a perfectly healthy human being if you have supplemented yourself with superfoods like spirulina, chlorella, broccoli sprouts and other similar concentrate nutrient sources. You would find your cholesterol achieving perfect balance and your nervous system to be in perfect health and you would experience accelerated healing at every level. These berries are that powerful. They are the ultimate medicine. Let us be honest about it. You have to be ethically informed as an individual to grasp the idea about the healing foods nature has provided.
What is so interesting about these berries is why are they such powerful disease fighters. Berries contain a variety of phytonutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants which many of these are exhibited in their colors and flavors. These phytonutrients are extremely powerful compounds for supporting optimum human health and in fact they are far more powerful than any pharmaceutical in terms of providing healthy benefits without dangerous side effects. Unlike human-built pharmaceutical factories, plants are natural pharmaceutical factories where edible plants create healing phytochemicals that are precisely the compounds that your body needs to be healthy. The marvelous thing about these are they are available without the negative side effects that are frequently associated with prescription drugs. Compared to other fruit sources, berries offer the highest content of antioxidants and phytochemicals for fighting disease. Berries are also rich in many vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium and zinc which are all minerals that are frequently deficient in the diets of most of you including Americans.
Take a closer look at the different berries and discuss what’s so good about them.
Blueberry
Blueberries are perhaps the most powerful berries in terms of antioxidant content. Much research has been conducted recently on the purported health benefits of blueberries. The berries are known to be high in anthocynins and other phytochemicals known to reduce the risk of some cancers. The berries are also a good source of ellagic acid, which blocks metabolic pathways that can lead to cancer. Laboratory research has supported this hypothesis, as have some animal studies. In addition, animal studies have suggested that dietary consumption of blueberries helps reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and heart disease, decrease the damage caused by strokes, and helps to stave off Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related conditions. Blueberries contain pterostilbene, a naturally occurring compound which is thought to be one of the primary chemicals that contribute to these effects and which is able to lessen pre-cancerous lesions and inhibited genes involved in inflammation. Animal studies have linked the chemicals to decreased cognitive impairment due to age, reduction in blood cholesterol and fat levels, and even reductions in blood glucose levels.High in flavonoids that are known to help protect against prostate cancer, urinary tract infections and cataracts apart from being known to protect against brain damage from strokes and heart disease.
Cranberry
Cranberries are perhaps best known for preventing urinary tract infections, but they have also been shown to prevent breast cancer and reduce stomach ulcers. Cranberries can also be used to help decrease LDL cholesterol levels.
Strawberry
Strawberries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. They are known to fight heart disease and provide a number of vitamins and minerals that support overall human health.
Raspberry
Raspberries are known for their ability to fight cancer thanks to the phytochemical content and abundant supply of vitamins and minerals.
Acai Berry
Acai berry is known to be the most powerful antioxidant ever found in fighting Alzeihmer’s Disease, cancer, diabetes, heart problems etc to name a few. Do you know of the 39 Reasons Why You Need To Consume Acai?
The bottom line is that berries can be an extremely powerful disease-fighting part of your daily diet. Simply choose a variety of berries which can be blue, red, and purple and be sure to consume them into your body on a frequent basis. Remember, nature provides everything that your body needs in order to be healthy and prevent chronic disease and that leaves you with no other choice but to trust nature in order to experience a disease-free life. To do that it is important to nourish your body with the optimum nutrition of berries apart from those provided by fruits and vegetables found in nature.
Well, it looks like you cannot forgo your berries if you want to live healthily!
Have you ever wondered why so many people, especially cancer strickened patients are now having broccoli in their daily healthy diet?
Broccoli is a form of cruciferous vegetable that is part of the cabbage plant family. High in Vitamin C, low in carbohydrates, broccoli is said to be without fat content and is known widely for its protective and fighting properties in cancer prevention because they contain plant compounds called glucosinolates.
As the next best source of vitamin C next to citrus fruits, broccoli takes the pride as the most nutritious vegetable with health benefits as a bonus. Along with many other green leafy vegetables, it has added qualities of cancer prevention properties. It alone supplies a large variety of nutrients needed for healthy living and maintaining good health but what sets it apart from all other vegetables is its distinct taste. Broccoli can be sautéed, stir-fried, added to soups and sauces, or even be the main ingredients in many dishes. These are many great ways to consume broccoli, but it is most nutritious when eaten raw. Just as with Brussel sprouts, two or three day old broccoli have been found to provide 20 times the concentration of sulphoraphane glucosinolate as found in adult broccoli.
The variety of benefits that broccoli provides in its raw form include:-
Rich in vitamins A, C, E, B3, B5, folate, phosphorus, folic acid, calcium, iron and zinc,
Contributes to keep blood pressure low,
Enhances prevention of certain types of cancer, immune disorders, digestion and heart disease,
Possess stress-relieving properties as well as strengthens and boosts energy levels.
Broccoli sprouts contain substantive amounts of a precursor called sulphoraphane glucosinolate (SGS), which is readily broken down into sulphoraphane by the body. Sulphoraphane, a naturally occurring phytochemical compound found particularly in broccoli has been particularly researched for its ability to increase tissue antioxidant defense mechanisms, lowered inflammatory response and improved cardiovascular health which eventually reduces high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke risks. Working as an indirect helper antioxidant, sulphoraphane has been identified as helping to boost the body’s natural Phase 2 enzyme antioxidant defense systems and detoxifying carcinogens before they can damage cells. Vitamins C and E, being the typical antioxidant molecules, would scavenge for free radical or other oxidant molecule at a time and bind themselves to a free radical molecule; thus rendering the latter harmless while the typical antioxidants are being consumed and would be no longer active although they can be regenerated. Sulphoraphane does not act directly on free radicals but up-regulates the immune defence system, allowing the body itself to fight free radicals. The anti-cancer properties of sulphoraphane are attributed to its remarkable ability to protect cells against oxidants that can damage cell DNA and kill cells.
There are imminent good news for individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) due to improved disposal of hepatic fat. Studies have now been made by the University of Texas South-Western Medical Centre and they have revealed that a low carbohydrate diet can alter glucose formation by the liver.
It is now know that a low-carbohydrate diet changes hepatic (liver) energy metabolism. The liver, when subjected to a restricted carbohydrate regime, and at the expense of glycerol, relies more on substances like lactate and amino acids to form glucose instead.
With the gradual change in eating habits of Americans over the last 30 years, migrating from a reduction in fats intake to a carbohydrate diet, obesity has increasingly crept in with sharp prevalence of metabolic liver disease where fatty deposits increases in the liver give rise to inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis.
A low-carb diet could also cut inflammation and blood saturated fat in metabolic syndrome patients. Studies have shown that a diet low in carbohydrates is more effective than a diet low in fat in reducing saturated fatty acids in the blood and reducing markers of inflammation. Reduction in inflammation factors are key in treating metabolic syndrome related diseases. This discovery leads to the need for general health improvement beyond simple weight loss in keeping blood glucose and insulin under control. The study is currently under review and shows that lowering total and saturated fat only had a small effect on circulating inflammatory markers whereas reducing carbohydrate led to considerably greater reductions in a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. These data implicate dietary carbohydrate rather than fat as a more significant nutritional factor contributing to inflammatory processes.
Scientist have also claimed that a low-carb diets thwart diabetes better than low-fat diets. In the study, the researchers found that a diet low in carbohydrates but high in animal fat and protein doesn’t seem to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. The results was a surprise to many researchers as most doctors and nutritionists suggest a low-fat diet to prevent type 2 diabetes. In contrast, total carbohydrate consumption was associated with type 2 diabetes, and that the relative risk for the glycemic load was extremely high. However, the long-term effects of such a regimen are yet to be known. People who lower their carbohydrate consumption generally take in more total and saturated fat and less whole grains, cereal fibre, fruit and vegetables, which can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Thus, is there any link between low-carb diets and the risk of diabetes? No, absolutely did not have a heightened risk of diabetes. In fact, there is lower decreased risk when fat and protein consumption is from vegetable rather than from animal sources.
It was also found by researchers that a low-carb diets may prevent prostate cancer progression. Eating foods that contain fewer amounts of carbohydrates would give rise to a decline in insulin production, which may be helpful in stunting tumour growth.
A new study has claimed that a diet low in carbohydrates is better than a diet low in fat at preventing diabetes. In the study, the researchers found that a diet low in carbohydrates but high in animal fat and protein doesn’t seem to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. However, the study is interesting in that it shows that a low-fat diet is no better than a low-carbohydrate diet in preventing type 2 diabetes. A vegetable-based, low-carb diet which consisted of higher amounts of vegetable fat and vegetable protein, and lower amounts of carbohydrate is one diet that seem to show positive results as opposed to the generally accepted version of a low-fat diet in preventing type 2 diabetes. The study showed that a low-fat diet didn’t really prevent type 2 diabetes in our cohort when compared to a low-carb diet. Nevertheless, while low fat, high-carb diets are often suggested, the long-term effects of such a regimen are not known. People who lower their carbohydrate consumption generally take in more total and saturated fat and less whole grains, cereal fibre, fruit and vegetables, which can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Well, more of these results need to be further investigated with human clinical trials to be followed up before it is certain. It only shows how complex your body is.
Hello readers. Welcome back again. It has just struck my mind about enlightening you all about the reality on nutrients and detoxification.
Hey, have you seen people who still look haggard despite having proclaimed they are on a well-balanced diet? Many people like you and me (okay, it was those days when I thought as you are now) keep thinking that so long as we consume a well-balanced diet, we should be benefiting from its nourishing ingredients. This may not be thoroughly true. Why? Many at times, putting good stuffs into your body is just not enough. It may comfort you that your body is being pulverised with the good nutrients but what is more important is at times, or rather most of the times, there is a need to take out the bad stuff. By this, we are talking about how the body digests and eliminates the bad stuffs.
A well working digestive and elimination system would ensure absorption of nutrients and supplements with ease and you will be more healthier, energetic and resistant to flu. As one ages, it is undoubted that the body has to work harder; resulting from the slower pace it goes about working. The enzyme production, for example, diminishes and affect all other systems in the body where digestion takes longer with longer intestinal transit time; thus affecting the nutrient absorption rate and its quantity. Alarming indeed as this results in the difficult and inconsistent bowel movements
The marvel of the body is seen in its ability in breaking down complex food molecules into smaller digestible nutrient molecules that can absorbed into the blood stream to nourish the 6 trillion body cells. Nourishment depends on the availability and ability of enzyme production level within the body which in general slows down with age.
To live healthily, the body relies on at least 40 nutrients found in food. Different nutrients need different conditions to be properly absorbed.
The problem commences here. The human body is exposed to the many toxins in the environment, ranging from the air one breathes, the water being drank to the tainted foods eaten. It is all being accumulated in the body and pose a threat to the natural functioning of the digestive and elimination systems at their optimum efficiencies. When these toxins are not properly neutralised and eliminated and excreted, they end up being in the body; stored within the cells, tissues and organs. This is the process of detoxification. Chronic fatigue, indigestion, bloating and building up of disease threatening substances are commonly experienced which further compromised the ability of the body in nutrient absorption.
Detoxification is a natural process that the body does automatically. Being a marvelous body by itself, the various body organs can function specifically for certain processes. The liver in particular is the most important organ that detoxifies. Glutathione, synthesized by our bodies from amino acids, scavenges free radicals, detoxifies heavy metals, helps ferry amino acids into the cells, helps in bile production, and much more. Armed with all its capacities, glutathione, known to be crucial in maintaining immunity, is found in the liver where it detoxifies many harmful compounds to be excreted through the bile.
Similarly, in many schools of alternative medicine, including Ayurveda, naturopathy and chiropractic, the detoxification concept plays a significant role. In this context, detoxification refers to a belief that toxins accumulated in the body are a major cause of disease, and that health can be promoted by removing them through various means. Alternative practitioners use various detoxification methods with the intention of removing the toxins. One such conventional recommendation is drinking at least a quart of water daily, fasting (on juice, water, fruit, or brown rice), using “cleansing” herbs and supplements (such as olive oil and lemon juice to flush the liver, dandelion root to purge the gallbladder, psyllium seed to cleanse the colon), taking high colonics, receiving intravenous vitamin C, and/or removing mercury fillings.
Your kids today love fast food. Let us face it. The bright and cheerful atmosphere, the toys and collectibles enticing them that come with every order and the awesome “cool” feeling over a food that has ever come out of their generation spiced up all the need to throng and grab hold of one.
Are you, as parents, to be blamed for taking your children there? For Americans, fast foods have been a regular grab for a quick bite. But many of you do not know, behind that delightful packaging of fast foods, is the misinformed dangers. While these conveniently packed burgers and fries can be a tasty meal, they are low in fibre but high in saturated fats, sodium and additives-laden with flavour enhancers to spice up your child’s taste buds.
Correspondingly, researches had attributed the high fast foods calories to obesity with increasing rise in children having previous adult diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The alarming hype of fast foods is the result of aggressive advertisements and promotions in the past. Though this may be banned in some countries where there are mandatory labeling of specific nutrients to be stated, the many outlets sprucing up in shopping malls is sufficient enough to nullify it; thus it can be seen even at gas stations nowadays with drive through lanes to accommodate this.
With this in the background, how then would you deal with your children in curbing their craze over fast foods? Do you always say no or at times say yes? How do you manage this tricky path yet able to maintain their healthy living? I have seen many parents who gave in to their children demand every time they throw a tantrum but sadly, these parents failed in their parenting skills.
Never say no and ban fast foods from your children’s life but instead teach him the principles of healthy eating and manage your child’s diet by setting reasonable limits. Refer them to the Food Guide Pyramid if they are old enough to understand. Practise what is termed as the “balance, moderation and variety” model. In the balancing part, if there has been a high calorie, low nutrient and low fibre fast food meal previously, avoid further calories in the next meal by adding on fruits,wholegrains and vegetables. In general, lighten the meal and get rid of the excess calories via physical exercise. Meanwhile, it is definitely not wrong to eat fattening foods but it should not be in excess. It is how much and how often that matters. Moderately limited to once a month, in the context of the moderation aspect, is advisable. Introduce a rotation of food variety over the week so that your children get the entire range nutrients to enable them to grow up strong and healthy. This variety module is the most difficult to handle especially with certain children who nowadays are choosy about what to eat and what not to. I have seen some of my friends’ children who do not eat any greens at all!
There are healthier options in fast food to pick from ranging from porridge, fruit juices, soya bean milk, grilled chicken, and salads. Giving your children an option with the opportunity to teach them about nutritious foods is a better gamble than to control them as such unhealthy foods can always find their way behind parents into their eating habits.
With these in mind, perhaps, a few tips on how to manage their limits would do them a world of a difference in their healthy lifestyles:-
Scrutinse before leaping
Look out for the nutritional content of the item before ordering since it now mandatory to label all foods. Notice the calories and the sodium content as both are detrimental to their health. Calories intake determines what type of food will be eaten next and whether your children need to do more exercise and activities after consumption. Sodium content is harmful and is a cause of hypertension.
Avoid patronising when the children are dead hungry
Choose a time when they are not hungry to avoid them overeating fast foods. Perhaps drink a large glass of fruit juice or water or have a light wholesome snack prior to making a beeline to the fast food restaurant.
Alternatives
If your children must have fries, advise for mashed potatoes instead or down-size the order instead.
Go for a “Small” package size
Since they had some prior food or drinks which have a dulling effect on their appetite, order only single pattied ones over the supersized value meals. Order thin crusted pizzas rather than the cheese-engorged larger ones.
Savour every bite
Advise them to enjoy their food with each bite and chew slowly. Eating slowly enables the stomachs to psychologically tell their brains it is full.
Limit salad dressing
Avoid over-dressed salads. Make it a habit to have thin dressing.
Discard chicken skin
Layer of fats under the chicken skin, if consumed is detrimental to their health.
It is matter of good over evil. Educating your children about healthy eating is undoubtedly good for them in the long run. On the contrary, avoiding fast foods would invite undue sneaks behind parents. Children should be taught that fast foods are prepared using trans fats in deep frying which undoubtedly gives a desired taste and texture but it also raise their bad cholesterol (LDL) levels while lowering the good ones (HDL). Children should be educated and reminded regularly that trans fats dramatically increases their chances of heart diseases and stroke in the later part of their lives. Accompanying them on a visit to the hospital or a cared home to allow them to see for themselves the effects of people suffering from various diseases. This will etched in them they should not fall into such situations and be mindful of their diet intakes. Leave them with a choice but as parents, you should also keep your own distance in patronising fast food outlets. Leading by example while our children are young is the best path to manage your dietary health of your children.
