SIX FOODS TO SEND NITRIC OXIDE LEVELS SOARING!

How many molecules can say their discovery won a Nobel Prize? The mighty nitric oxide can claim this honor. It plays such an important role in cardiovascular health, it was at the heart of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

While the award recognized the role of nitric oxide as a signaling molecule for the cardiovascular system (1), nitric oxide has been at the center of over 160,000 scientific articles showing its many remarkable health benefits (2).

Because nitric oxide (N.O.) is a vasodilator, it helps your blood vessels expand and relaxes your arteries. Nitric oxide also plays an essential role in:

• Healthy blood pressure
• Improved blood flow throughout the body
• Higher energy levels (thanks to better oxygen flow)
• Better athletic performance and recovery
• Healthy brain function (where it acts as a neurotransmitter)

So if you want to protect your heart, advance your athletic performance or have more natural energy, then you need to increase your nitric oxide levels. Especially since our nitric oxide production declines as we age.

The best way to boost your nitric oxide levels is through nitrate-rich plants and plant protein. You need both for optimal nitric oxide production. Here are some of the amazing foods that boost your N.O. levels naturally.

6 Foods that can Skyrocket Your Nitric Oxide Levels

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1. Leafy Greens

The path to heart health is paved with leafy greens. The number one food by weight for nitrates is arugula (480 mg per 100 grams). In fact, of the 10 most nitrate-rich foods on the planet, leafy greens hold six of those top spots.

What should you add to your salad or smoothie? Aside from arugula, spring greens (188 mg per 100 g) and butterleaf lettuce (200 mg per 100 g) give you the most heart-healthy nitrates.

Whichever way you choose to consume leafy greens, be sure to buy it organic. Otherwise, it could contain harmful pesticides.

Arugula and leafy greens are nitrate-rich to boost nitric oxide levels.

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2. Beets

Getting beets in your diet is another great way to increase your nitric oxide levels. Regular beets come in after leafy greens for nitrate levels, and may not be everyone’s favorite for taste, but they can mix well in a salad.

Beet juice meanwhile has been getting a lot of attention among athletes and bodybuilders for its ability to spike nitric oxide levels. And beet juice does come in second after arugula for nitrate content (279 mg per 100 g).

If you go the juice route for beets just watch out for the sugar content and make sure there are no artificial additives.

Add beets to your favorite salad to increase your body’s nitric oxide.

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3. Green Herbs

Cilantro is an often underrated (and tasty) herb that contains powerful antioxidants like quercetin, helps to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, can stimulate digestion, and it even supports detox. Aside from its long list of health benefits, cilantro is also a rich source of nitrates (247 mg per 100 g).

Another tasty green herb that boosts nitric oxide is basil. This fragrant herb packs 183 mg of nitrates per 100 g of leafy goodness.

The #herbs cilantro & basil are a rich source of nitrates for heart health.

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4. Rhubarb

This stem vegetable is packed with healthy nitrates (281 mg per 100 g). It’s important to note that only the stem is edible, as rhubarb leaves are toxic.

Since it comes with a really tart taste, rhubarb is usually cooked and at least mildly sweetened. Try it stewed with some organic honey or maple syrup. Or make a healthy pie filling (it goes really well with strawberries) for a sweet-sour combination.

In addition to nitrates, rhubarb is full of fiber and plant-based calcium for heart health. It’s also a good source of vitamin C which is a potent antioxidant to help protect nitric oxide against free radical damage.

Instead of beets to boost nitric oxide, try tasty rhubarb.

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5. Spirulina

The superfood algae spirulina is full of vitamins and minerals, cell-protective chlorophyll and can improve nitric oxide levels.

Spirulina does this thanks to its high levels of plant protein. It’s 70% protein by weight, and that includes the amino acid L-arginine, which your body uses to make nitric oxide.

Getting spirulina in your diet can be somewhat of a challenge. The best way is to seek out a quality organic green juice powder that includes spirulina and several nitrate-rich foods too.

Packed with #protein, spirulina can increase nitric oxide in the body.

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6. Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is a delicious way to boost your nitric oxide levels. And this was by no means a stretch of the truth just to include chocolate in this list.

In fact, a recent article in the US National Library of Medicine published evidence that suggests the flavanols in cocoa can help your body establish optimal nitric oxide levels (3).

Another study found that the flavanols in dark chocolate can directly increase nitric oxide mediated vasodilation (4). This in turn, can benefit the circulatory system and blood pressure.

Just remember that to get the benefits you need to get at least 70-80% dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more flavanols and nitric oxide boost your body will get.

Studies suggest the flavanols in dark #chocolate can increase nitric oxide production.

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For Nitric Oxide Production, Pick Plants

Plant nitrates are not to be confused with animal nitrates. Animal nitrates are found in processed meats and when eaten they convert into harmful nitrosamines, which are linked to an increased risk of cancer.

One more way to boost N.O.? Get moving! Evidence suggests that regular exercise can significantly increase your body’s production of nitric oxide (5). And when you combine exercise with nitrate-rich foods, you’ll also be able to perform better at the gym and recover faster.

By increasing your body’s nitric oxide levels, you may be able to significantly improve the health of your cardiovascular system, boost your workouts, and get the nutrition you need for a long and healthy life.

Nutritional Data Source: NutritionFacts.org

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7 Surefire Ways to Beat Stress!

These days, stress is a fact of life. Work follows you everywhere on your smartphone; expectations seem higher than ever thanks to social media, and there’s always something that doesn’t go according to plan. The good news is there are simple strategies you can follow to beat stress and start feeling more fulfilled and joyful each day.

Everyone has stress. And some stress is even normal or helpful. Like the kind that instills the ‘fight-or-flight’ response when confronted with a truly dangerous situation.

For most people, however, stress is not the life-saving kind and negatively affects our lives. You might have chronic stress if…

• your day goes from zero to 60 the moment you wake up
• you feel overwhelmed by all the meetings, email, and expectations
• there’s a lack of joy as you go about getting everything done
• it’s hard to unwind even after an exhausting day
• you look forward to the weekend a little too much

With chronic stress linked to numerous health issues, here are seven surefire ways you can reduce your stress level and restore some sanity to your days.

7 surefire ways to beat #stress and savor each day.

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1. Meditation

Meditation doesn’t have to take long. The simple act of closing your eyes and taking 10 deep breaths only takes a few minutes and can help you refocus at any point during the day.

Whenever possible, start off your day with a few moments of mindfulness before you get up. Focus on your breath and center in on what you are grateful for, whether that is your family, faith, or health.

Forming a mind-body connection goes beyond stress reduction. One study, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, shows mindfulness results in molecular changes that can help reduce damaging inflammation.

Mindful meditation can help reduce stress and instill calm focus.

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2. Exercise

It might seem hard to make time for exercise when you’re overwhelmed. However a short walk, bike ride, or yoga class offers lasting benefits.

Even small amounts of exercise increase blood flow to the brain, which can support the growth of new blood vessels. As you exercise, feel-good chemicals such as serotonin are released in the brain, so you feel better.

When possible, exercise outside in nature. Researchers in Japan have studied how walking in nature, a practice called shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing” can cause the stress hormone cortisol to fall, and also lower blood pressure.

A short nature walk or #shinrin-yoku is a proven way to reduce stress hormones.

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3. Vitamin D

If you find yourself lacking motivation or just feeling low, it could be that you’re deficient in vitamin D. Studies shows around 40% of people are deficient in this essential vitamin, and it often goes undiagnosed since the symptoms resemble feeling stressed.

Get your vitamin D levels checked, and if you can’t get 10-20 minutes of full summertime sun to make enough vitamin D, consider supplementing with a quality source.

Getting enough #VitaminD is important for stress management.

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4. Cut Back on Caffeine

If you normally reach for caffeine to kick start your day, it could be contributing to your stress levels. That’s because high doses of morning caffeine can interfere with your body’s production of cortisol, your stress hormone.

This is especially worrisome if you consume energy drinks, due to the astronomically high levels of sugar, synthetic caffeine, and other additives.

Instead, reach for a cup of tea in the morning. Research shows tea is protective of the brain and comes with compounds that promote calm focus.

Energy drinks drive up blood pressure. Try drinking green tea instead.

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5. Nutrition

Getting the right nutrition is essential to being able to combat stress, whether it’s to support your immune health or bolster your natural energy.

Research shows consuming more fruits and veggies can have positive changes in as little as two weeks, with a big boost in energy, motivation, and vitality.

Adaptogen herbs are another nutrition strategy to use against stress. They work by strengthening your body’s response to stress, promoting faster recovery.

These herbs include eleuthero root, ginseng, and Rhodiola Rosea. If taking adaptogens individually is a hassle, opt for an all-in-one green juice so you get all your healthy superfoods at once.

Fruits & veggies can boost health and well-being in just 2 weeks.

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6. Get More Sleep

Think about how you feel after one night of bad sleep—not only is it hard to get started, you may be cranky and lethargic throughout the whole day.

Repeatedly losing out on sleep has dire health consequences, from worsening short-term memory, hormone disruption, weight gain, and reduced immunity.

Aim for 7 to 9 hours of shuteye each night. If you struggle to fall asleep, shut off screens an hour before bed, and try mindful meditation to relax.

Make sure to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep to reduce your stress levels.

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7. Chocolate

It might sound too good to be true, but eating a small amount of chocolate each day is a delicious and healthy way to beat stress.

That doesn’t mean regular chocolate though; the health benefits come with dark chocolate, about 70% cacao or higher.

Dark chocolate has antioxidants that support healthy blood pressure, and comes with two compounds (resveratrol and anandamide) that positively affect mood and feelings of well-being.

Dark #chocolate contains healthy compounds to help manage stress.

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From mindful meditation to delicious chocolate every day, you can start to manage the effects of stress. Adapt these seven strategies and you may be surprised at how quickly stress can start to disappear.

 

List of top 10 toxic chemicals, preservatives and harmful additives in supplements and foods!

Did you know GMO ingredients, harmful chemicals, and toxic additives are hidden in

many food items as well as a large number of multivitamins and supplement products?

Although the vitamin and food industry have learned to label their foods as “natural”,

the truth is that more and more consumers are becoming aware that the word natural

doesn’t mean anything.

Here are also the lists of top toxic ingredients that you should avoid in both processed

foods and supplements:

1. Invisible GMO ingredients:

With the anti-GMO labeling policies in the US, it’s very challenging to know if what you are buying is made from GM ingredients. According to Non-GMO project, here are the lists ingredients (in foods or supplements) that more likely made from GMOs: Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid (also called vitamin C, but it’s not real vitamin C and it is driven from GM corn), Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C (usually derived from corn), Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ethanol, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins (unless it says non-GMO, all Maltodextrins come from GM sources —

corn derivative), Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose (mostly seen in children’s

supplements), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Textured

Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products.

2. Hydrogenated Oils:

Did you know that besides medications, big pharma manufactures vitamins and

supplements? So it’s very likely that your supplements are not real and contain toxic

chemicals and harmful ingredients such as hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated oils are also used in many processed foods and baking products. Hydrogenated vegetable oil is made by reacting vegetable oil with hydrogen. When this occurs, the level of polyunsaturated oils (good fat) is reduced and trans fats are created. For example, Hydrogenated soy bean oil is used in many vitamin products as filler. Hydrogenated oils can cause cardiovascular problems, nervous system problems, and diabetes and can block absorption of essential fatty acids.

3. Artificial colors:

Artificial colors are added to supplements and foods to make the appearance of processed foods or supplements more appealing for consumers. Some of the artificial

colorings are driven from toxic coal tar that is also used in the exterior paints and

roofing. Artificial colors have been linked to many health problems such as autism, ADHD, and cancer.

4. Magnesium Stearate:

You probably are wondering what Magnesium Stearate is doing in your supplement?

Well, Magnesium Stearate is used as a lubricant in vitamins to prevent pills and capsules from sticking into the machinery. Stearic acid is also used to stick the pill or capsules together. Both Magnesium Stearate and stearic acid have been linked to many health problems including lower immune system.

5. Titanium oxide:

Titanium oxide is widely used in vitamins as well as cosmetics as filler. Titanium oxide

has been classified in the list of carcinogens that can cause cancer, allergies, auto-immune disorder and organ toxicity.

6. Carrageenan:

Carrageenan is another toxic filler found in many supplements and food products including milk chocolate, milk products, frozen dinner, soups, yogurt and ice cream.

Carrageenan is driven from red seaweed and have been linked to cancer, gastrointestinal problems, inflammation and leaky gut.

7. Heavy metals like lead, fluoride, and arsenic:

You will be surprised to know that many detox products, protein shake, cosmetics,

processed foods, conventional foods, and supplements contain toxins and heavy metals. As a matter of fact, high levels of aluminum even exist in detox products (especially the products that offer magical results in a short period of time). Many herbs imported from China have also high levels of aluminum, lead, and arsenic. Even green tea (not real ones) with so many health benefits are known to be contaminated with high levels of fluoride.

As a matter of fact, many protein shakes and cosmetics are filled with heavy metals and toxins and you should know that arsenic is added on purpose to the diet of conventionally grown chickens to make the chicken’s meat look more appealing.

8. Acrylamides:

Acrylamides are created when foods high in carbohydrate are cooked, roasted, grilled or

fried in high temperatures. Your favorite potato chips or fries (cooked or fried) above

250 F/120 C can contain acrylamide. Acrylamides mainly found in plant-based foods

(like grains and potatoes) is a cancerous neurotoxic chemical that has been linked to

ovarian and breast cancer. Research studies show that real vitamin C (not the ones

driven from GM corn ) can block harmful effects of acrylamide on the body. Keep in

mind that a bag of organic potato chips has as much as acrylamide as the conventional

ones so add green detox superfoods such as chlorella, kale, and spirulina to your diet. If

you eat fries or potato chips, having servings of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C

(before or after eating fried foods) can help to reduce the harmful effects of acrylamide.

9. Sodium benzoate and BHT:

Sodium benzoate and BHT are cancerous preservatives added to soft drinks, processed

foods or many supplements in order to keep them fresh and prevent harmful bacteria

from growing. Both Sodium benzoate and BHT can damage human DNA and cause gastric and bladder cancer, DNA damage and liver problems. Milk Thistle is known to

be a great herb for detoxing the body from harmful ingredients in sodas.

10. Cupric sulfate and boric acid:

Both Cupric sulfate and boric acid can be present in many best selling supplements

and they can cause DNA damage and birth defects. They can also cause inflammation,

headaches, and depression.

Common synthetic vitamins to avoid:

One of the best ways to know if your supplements are real or not is to read the

products’ label very carefully, avoid the 9 items above and find if the ingredients in

supplements are synthetic or made from real foods and herbs.

According to foodmatters.tv here are the common synthetic vitamins to avoid:

• Vitamin A: Acetate and Palmitate

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Thiamine Mononitrate, Thiamine Hydrochloride

• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin

• Pantothenic Acid: Calcium D-Pantothenate

• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Pyridoxine Hydrochloride

• Vitamin B12: Cobalamin

• PABA (Para-aminobenzoic Acid): Aminobenzoic Acid

• Folic Acid: Pteroylglutamic Acid

• Choline: Choline Chloride, Choline Bitartrate

• Biotin: d-Biotin

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Ascorbic Acid

• Vitamin D: Irradiated Ergosterol Calciferol

• Vitamin E: dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate (The “dl”

a form of any vitamin is synthetic.)

What are excipients? Excipients are binders, fillers and “glues” that are typically non-nutritive substances in nutritional products. These substances often test toxic.

Please note: tablets ALWAYS contain excipients (that is how they are made; they

cannot be made without them); therefore, it is wisest to especially avoid nutritional

products as tablets.

Just a few examples of questionable excipients commonly found in nutritional products:

Magnesium stearate – a cheap lubricating agent; research shows it to be immune compromising

Methyl paraben – a benzoate family member; a known cancer causing agent.

Microcrystalline cellulose – a cheap filler Silicon dioxide – a cheap flowing agent (common sand) Natural flavors – an AKA for MSG (monosodium glutamate), a well known neurotoxic agent.

Methacrylic copolymer – methacrylic acid, a component of the methacrylic acid

copolymer has been reported to act as a teratogen in rat embryo cultures.

Triethyl citrate – a plasticizer

Titanium dioxide – used for color; liver toxic corn starch

Corn starch – typically from cheap GMO corn; can invoke allergic responses

Talcum Powder – a common excipient rarely not listed on product labels; a suspected

carcinogen.

Other Questionable But Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents:

D&C red #33 Propylparaben Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Hydroxypropyl cellulose Polyethylene glycol Red ferric oxide-orange shade

Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate Sodium acetate

Methylparaben Sodium meta bisulfite Eudragit.

Would you want to consume anything that is not nutritive?

We believe it is unnecessary to take nutritional products, which have questionable, potentially toxic, non-nutritive excipients.

Are You Really Eating These In Your Supplements?

Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents:

Povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone or PVP): PVP is a synthetic polymer used as a dispersing and suspending agent in virtually all encapsulated nutritional supplements; considered to be a potential carcinogen.

Magnesium Stearate: This commonly used excipient can be made from animal or

vegetable sources. It is used as a flowing agent and lubricant. It is insoluble in water

and may hinder the absorption of nutrients. Research shows it suppresses the

immune system.

Maltodextrin: A refined sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of cornstarch. It is used for

flavor, as a texturizer and bulking agent. Maltodextrin may contain free glutamate (MSG), which occurs as a result of processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.

Cellulose Starch: A starch made from plant material that is used as filler, binder, and

disintegrant. Starches processed from corn contain free glutamate (MSG), resulting

from processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.

Silicon Dioxide: Silica is a transparent, tasteless, powder that is practically insoluble in

water. It is the main component of beach sand and is used as an absorbent and flow

agent in supplements. It may hinder digestion or the uptake of other nutrients and

deplete HCL.

Resin: Resins are used as binders and aid in water resistance. They may be of plant

or synthetic origin and are used in lacquers, varnishes, inks, adhesives, synthetic

plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Synthetic forms include polyvinyl, polystyrene, and

polyethylene. Toxicity is dependent on the ingredients used in the manufacture of the

resin.

Dicalcium Phosphate: A mineral complex of calcium and phosphorous that is

commonly used as a tableting aid, filler or bulking agent. Phosphates can induce

the same symptoms as MSG in those who are extremely sensitive to MSG.

Polysorbate 80: A non-ionic surfactant that is a polymer containing oleic acid, palmitic

acid, sorbitol, and ethylene oxide and is formed by microbial fermentation. It is used as

an emulsifier, dispersant, or stabilizer in foods, cosmetics, supplements, and pharmaceuticals.

Titanium Dioxide: This is an inorganic, white, opaque pigment made from anatase

(metallic mineral) that is often used in supplements as a whitening agent. Titanium

dioxide is a pro-oxidant. It is also used in paints and coatings, plastics, paper, inks,

fibers, food, and cosmetics.

Polyethylene Glycol 3350: This excipient is used as an emulsifier, binder, and

surfactant. It improves resistance to moisture and oxidation. Polyethylene is a

polymerized ethylene resin and glycol is a dihydric alcohol.

Pharmaceutical Glaze: This is actually shellac used to coat vitamin tablets. Shellac is

insoluble in stomach acid and supplements coated with shellac are difficult for the

body to break down and assimilate.

3 Steps to Overcoming Self doubt!

Every person has a list of habits and routines they trust themselves to accomplish each day. But when it comes to achieving the goals we say we really want, there’s often a lack of self-trust that they will ever be accomplished. Doubt is right under the surface.

How can you overcome self-doubt and get on track to achieve the big goals you have in mind?

It comes down to putting the proper habits in place, and creating self-discipline that drives you in the right direction.

Bestselling author H. Jackson Brown Jr. described the need for discipline this way: “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”

Here are three steps you can take to get unstuck and start seeing success.

3 Steps to get unstuck and start seeing #success.

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Step 1: Start Small

It might seem counterintuitive that small steps will help you to achieve big goals, but it works.

That’s because making big, monumental changes all at once can seem overwhelming. Quitting cold turkey, completely changing your diet, or reorganizing your finances overnight can seem impossible.

As a result, most people don’t even start.

Small changes are easier to achieve. And each time you accomplish a small step you gain self-confidence. That confidence then empowers you to take another step. Repeated small steps create good habits that become routine.

Want to start working out? Start small. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car further away to add walking time. Or download an exercise app that gradually builds your strength.

Want healthier eating habits? Take one step by starting your day with a green juice. If the idea of a juicer and prepping all those veggies seems too much, get an organic green juice powder. In 30 seconds you’ll have taken a significant step to nourish your body.

By taking small steps in the right direction, you’ll start creating the momentum you need to see real change in your life.

Small steps in the right direction add up to big changes.

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Step 2: Increase Mindfulness

With everything you have to do each day, it’s easy to go on autopilot as the time passes in a blur.

It’s important to accept where you are in order to get where you want to be.

Increasing your mindfulness can help. When you focus on what you’re actually doing, you’re setting the stage to make conscious choices.

Acceptance does not mean you should judge yourself harshly. It simply means consciously observing what you are doing, and how you are feeling in the moment.

Adding in just 10 minutes a day of meditation can help to focus your conscious and unconscious brain on what you really want, and make those goals easier to achieve.

Mindfulness helps you focus on the moment and make good #choices.

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Step 3: Practice

Discipline is not achieved by flipping a switch. It’s a practice that you engage in every day.

Don’t expect perfection as you start making positive changes. If you find yourself getting sidetracked, take a deep breath and start fresh the next day.

As author Carl Bard said, “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

Your ability to pick yourself up after you fall down will train you in the art of discipline and build your self-confidence. Over time, that discipline will become an automatic habit.

With practice you’ll find yourself making real progress toward your goals.

With these three steps you can effectively venture outside your comfort zone and experience meaningful success. Start today and soon you’ll be on track to conquer self-doubt.

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5 Toxins hiding in your water!

While essential for life, your water could be silently destroying your health, one sip at a time. Between industrial dumping in waterways, pesticide runoff, prescription drug residues, and heavy metals, water is more contaminated than ever.

These toxins in water pose a serious long term risk to your health. So it’s essential to learn what chemicals are lurking in water so you can stay hydrated without shortening your lifespan.

Here are 5 of the worst types of toxins hiding in water supplies today.

Are These 5 #Toxins Hiding in Your Drinking Water?

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1. Lead

Lead-contaminated water isn’t just a thing of the past. It’s a very real problem today in cities and towns across the country.

The infrastructure that carries our drinking water is old, and old pipes were made from lead. These pipes can corrode, releasing up to ten times the allowable amount of lead into drinking water.

Lead is toxic to nearly every organ in the body and is particularly damaging to children. Exposure to lead can cause developmental issues, stunted growth, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and even brain damage.

Studies have even suggested that lead is linked to autism, prostate cancer, and reproductive issues (for men and women).

Living in an old house means you could have #toxic lead pipes.

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2. Pesticides, Herbicides & Insecticides

When agricultural farms spray their crops, or companies spray insecticides to combat insect-borne diseases, these chemicals don’t just degrade into harmless particles. Instead, these chemicals infiltrate the water supply, and remain there for an alarming amount of time.

DDT, for example, was an insecticide widely used in the United States until it was banned in 1972 due to its negative environmental impact. Some countries, however, still use DDT to this day and it’s a big cause for concern.

DDT lasts for decades in the soil where it can continuously leech into the water supply. It can also travel the atmosphere to contaminate the water supply of regions thousands of miles away.

Among other things, DDT can cause reproductive and liver damage, and it is identified as a probable cancer causing substance.

Other harmful chemicals used in agriculture such as dacthal, HCB, and glyphosate, can be found in our drinking water as well.

Genetically modified corn and soy are typically heavily sprayed with glyphosate. Recent animal studies showed that chronic low levels of glyphosate caused fatty liver disease.

Even if you buy #organic food, you could be ingesting #pesticides through your water.

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3. Chlorine

Chlorine is used as a disinfectant for cleaning products or keeping public pools sanitary. That’s why it’s commonly used to sanitize sewage.

But there’s no place for chlorine in our drinking water.

That’s because chlorine can react with dissolved organic materials in the water, creating chemicals called DBPs (disinfection by products) that are much more toxic than chlorine itself.

Since it can react with the water in your gut it can impact healthy bacteria, which are essential for a healthy digestive and immune system.

Adding chlorine to water creates toxic DBPs affecting your health.

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4. PCBs

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are industrial chemicals that were used in paints, electronics, fluorescent lights, and insulation.

And even though PCBs were banned almost 40 years ago, they are still harming our health to this day. That’s because PCBs are present in landfills where they slowly break down and release into the environment.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PCBs can cause significant damage to your health.

Animal studies have shown that PCBs can cause cancer, and result in substantial damage to the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine (hormone) system.

In other words, PCBs can wreak havoc on your body.

While banned for decades, PCBs are still found in some drinking water.

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5. Mercury

If you have a “silver” filling in your mouth, you already have mercury exposure. However, this toxic heavy metal also makes its way into the food and water supply.

Today over half of all mercury released into the atmosphere comes from industrial activities such as burning fossil fuels like coal. Once mercury gets into the atmosphere, it contaminates rivers, lakes, drinking water, and oceans.

Since the ocean is contaminated with mercury, large fish such as tuna or swordfish are riddled with it. Much like the fish, when we drink mercury-contaminated water, it accumulates in the body where it can cause significant harm.

Mercury has toxic effects on the brain, digestive, and immune system. It can also damage the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

The World Health Organization has even identified mercury as one of the top ten chemicals that are a major public health concern.

#Mercury isn’t only in fish, it can also be in drinking water.

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Tips to Protect Yourself

These five types of toxins are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to water contamination.

There’s a long list of other harmful chemicals that are hidden in our water such as arsenic, perchlorate, dioxins, and pharmaceutical drug residues.

But water is essential for health. So how you stay hydrated without harming your health?

Get a good quality water filter

Get an under-the-sink or countertop quality filter that removes heavy metals, pharmaceutical resides, pesticides, chlorine and more.

Once you have a quality filter in place, fill a glass or stainless steel water bottle and bring it with you wherever you go. That way you won’t be forced to drink questionable restaurant water, or hormone-disrupting bottled water.

You may also want to consider a shower filter since chlorine can dry out your skin and it is inhaled through water vapor—which can lead to health issues.

Detox chemical buildup from the body

It’s very likely heavy metals and other toxins have already accumulated in your body. So while you prevent additional exposure from contaminated water, you also should take measures to remove these toxins from your body.

Many natural health experts recommend hydrated zeolite as the most effective way to remove these toxins.

Zeolite is a natural mineral that—when cleansed and sized properly—can bond to toxins throughout the body before passing through.

By taking a hydrated zeolite supplement and properly filtering your water, you will be a big step closer to living a healthy life.

Cheers to 5 Years, Our Birthday Gift to You!

We sprouted onto the health and wellness scene in 2012 with a vision of organic goodness accessible to everyone. To celebrate our fifth birthday we’re giving the gift of savings. Enjoy the good of nature, delivered right to your door.

It’s Sale Prices, Every Day

Our birthday gift to you is a FREE one-year Member pass.

Members are in a special club that gives access to sale prices, every day, on every order. With Membership you get savings of 20% to 25% or more off our everyday rates, instantly.

That means no waiting for a promotion or special offer. You automatically get our great value at the lowest price.

To redeem your gift, simply select Join Now & Save in the top right corner of the page, pick your products and use the promo code BIRTHDAY on checkout.

We’re celebrating our 5th #health & wellness birthday with a gift for you!

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The Perks of a Member Pass

• Everyday lowest prices, guaranteed!
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• Get the latest health news, recipes and more in your inbox.
• Receive 25% on referrals you make (learn more).
• Earn on a lifetime of reorders placed by people you refer.
• Backed by our 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Best of all, with our birthday celebration, your one-year Member pass is free with any purchase of our pure, wholesome supplements!

All you have to do is select Join and use the promo code: BIRTHDAY

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Plus, a Bonus Birthday Gift!

While every Member can earn fast cash for referrals (learn more), during our birthday month we’ve got an extra bonus for those who share the goodness.

And we make it easy to share. All it takes is a smartphone and a passion for healthy living. That’s because as a Member you get your own free TheGoodInside website.

Step 1: Visit your personal site (the site name you selected when joining)
Step 2: Share this blog post to social media from your site

 

Anyone who then joins as a Member (remember, they can also join free with promo code BIRTHDAY) is counted as a birthday bonus enrollment, and you earn extra cash.

This bonus is in addition to our regular 25% referral bonus.

How much extra cash can you get? It depends on how much goodness you share.

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To qualify, the new Member enrollment must be in the month of March with a product purchase. The bonus calculation will be based on total number of personal enrollments in March. And the enrolling Member must be active with 100 in personal points in March to be eligible for the bonus.

So if you have a passion for healthy living, like telling others about good deals, and enjoy getting extra money—start sharing the good inside today. With our birthday gift program, one small step today can make a big difference for your tomorrows.

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A Healthy Gut = A Happy Child

Did you know that we are all super-organisms? We share our bodies with several hundred microbial species and you and your family each have about 100 trillion bacteria currently lurking in your gut, on your tongue and on your skin. This is called your microbiome.

It turns out that we are only 10 percent human: for every human cell that is inherent to our body, there are about 10 microbes living in residence. These microbes are generally beneficial or harmless and usually only a tiny number of them are unwanted pathogenic bacteria. However, when this delicate microbiome goes out of balance, this is when poor health kicks in.

A healthy microbiome is vital to protect our overall health and brain health. There is a growing belief and important research within the medical community that supports the theory that an unhealthy gut microbiome can affect the brain and neurological development of a child.

When the microbiome is out of balance, poor health kicks in.

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For instance, the intestinal microbiome can prompt immune cells to produce cytokines (substances that signal inflammation) that influence the neurological system. Our gut microbes also produce metabolites such as butyrate which can alter activity of the cells in the blood-brain barrier and allow infections and toxins to reach the brain.

More and more research is now linking a poorly functioning gut microbiome to incidences of:

• autism
• ADHD
• anxiety
• depression
• bipolar disorders
• schizophrenia
• dyslexia
• learning and behavioral difficulties
• mood disorders

Since these problems are on the rise in children, I want to share with you how you can keep your child’s microbiome in tip-top condition.

A healthy microbiome is also important for mood regulation. Although serotonin is well known as a brain neurotransmitter, it is estimated that 90 percent of the body’s serotonin is made in the gut.

A healthy microbiome is important for mood regulation.

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It has been found that certain bacteria in the digestive tract are important for the production of peripheral serotonin. Therefore, enhancing the beneficial microbes in the gut that feed the serotonin receptors may well be the key to preventing depression and anxiety.

The friendly (good) bacteria that live in our microbiome is also vital in supporting our immune system, to trigger our immune cells to divide and multiply, ensuring there are enough to successfully create antibodies that fight disease-causing microbes.

The greater and more diverse amount of healthy bacteria we have; the more power our immune system has to fight off the harmful bacteria. This fine balance of bacteria also prevents our system from wrongly identifying harmless substances as a threat.

When a microbiome is out of sync this can lead to the creation of allergies and auto-immune disease. There is also quite a bit of research that links obesity with a less diverse microbiome, so this is an added reason to take this seriously.

So as you can see, the cultivation and maintenance of our children’s microbiome is not only a priority in fixing existing health concerns, but also in ensuring their future health and development.

What’s Good for Your Child’s Microbiome?

Real Food

Never more so is the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ more pertinent than when we look at gut health. Fill children with fresh veggies, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds and spices to feed a healthy microbiome.

Ideally choose organic produce and meat that’s from an animal that lived a happy life outside. Antibiotics, and harmful bacteria can be passed through the meat that we eat if it’s been pumped full of antibiotics, steroids and a bad diet.

The more variety of foods your child eats (raw and cooked) the more diverse and skilled their microbiome will be. For children, I recommend at least 20 types of plant foods per week. This is why I am always talking about supercharging meals, giving your family the most diverse diet possible.

Growing your own veggies is a superb way of feeding the whole families microbiome (that glorious mud), as well as being fun and teaching your children about sustainability and the environment.

A healthy microbiome thrives on prebiotic foods and probiotic (fermented foods) and fiber, so ensure your child consumes a combination of both every day.

Outdoor Play & Fresh Air

Encouraging your children to play outdoors encourages natural exercise and connecting with the wider ecosystem. Playing with soil, getting muddy or planting your own veggies and fruit also has a positive influence on your microbiome as soil and plants house trillions of microorganisms.

Opening a window and allowing fresh air flow within the home has also been shown to benefit the diversity and health of the microbes within the house, and those living in it.

Good Oral Hygiene

Keeping a clean and healthy mouth by ensuring your child brushes their teeth twice daily, morning and night is super important. The mouth houses 700 species of bacteria.

An overgrowth of bad bacteria will result in continuous swallowing of bad bacteria into the rest of our system. Be mindful that sugar residues linger in the mouth and can ferment into bad bacteria so this is partly why sugar is not good for our little ones in large quantities.

Breast is Best

Breastfeed for as long as possible. It is very difficult to replicate the same beneficial bacteria that a child gets directly through its mother’s milk and supplementing can be expensive.

However, if it is not possible to breastfeed, talk to a qualified health practitioner that is informed and passionate about infant gut health and can advise you on the best strains of probiotics for your baby.

Look After your own Microbiome

Research shows that children inherit our microbiome, so I recommend that you and your partner take all of the steps I suggest above both prior to conception, during pregnancy and in the longer term.

(I recommend adults eat 40 different types of plant-based foods per week to support and build a healthy, happy gut.)

Not only will this help you address any underlying health issues, but it will help you build your health and immune system making you happier and stronger parent.

Children also learn best through example, so if they see you eating a wide variety of delicious and nutritious food stuff they will be more likely to do the same.

What’s NOT Good for Your Child’s Microbiome?

Antibiotics

Antibiotics cannot differentiate between good bacteria and bad and simply wipes out all gut bacteria, so it is best to keep their use to an absolute minimum.

If antibiotics are necessary, ensure you seek advice from a practitioner about immediately supplementing with probiotics after the course of antibiotics is finished.

Sugar

Diets high in refined sugar have been shown to harmfully impact the function of the microbiome as bad bacteria feeds off sugar allowing them to increase in numbers and strength within the gut.

Look to minimize the amount of sugar your little one eats. Instead, seek out foods that use naturally occurring sugars such as fruit or honey and replace refined sugar with these natural sugars in your own cooking.

Processed Food

Sulfites, preservatives and food colorings commonly found in processed food can also harmfully impact the microbiome. Try and reduce or eliminate these foods from your child’s diet.

Read food labels and particularly try and avoid anything containing sulfur dioxide and sodium sulfate such as some dried fruits, processed meats and soft drinks.

Allergies & Food Sensitivities

If your child has a food allergy or food sensitivity such as gluten, dairy, soy and eggs then these foods will be harmful to their microbiome and may cause additional gut reactions, such as wind, bloating, pain, constipation or diarrhea.

This is why it is important to identify any food reactions and to restrict those foods until the gut has had time to heal and repopulate its microbiome.

Stress & Anxiety

Heightened stress and anxiety are known to have a detrimental effect on gut health, and one can lead to the other creating a vicious circle.

Try and spend time with your child in a relaxing environment, playing outdoors, reading stories, sharing experiences from your day, and openly communicating about any worries or fear they might have.

There are many mindfulness activities for children that might help support your child’s well-being as well: children’s yoga, painting, arts and crafts courses.

Participating in a fun activity such as cooking or gardening together may all help reduce stress and anxiety. If you have a genuine concern for your child’s mental well-being, always seek specific advice and support from a health practitioner.

The Good News

The great news is that the global medical community is learning more and more about how and what impacts gut health and how the microbiome is such a vital building block to our immune system and overall health.

Children are very resilient, and their gut microbiome reacts quickly and can heal faster than adults. You can restore a microbiome pretty quickly if you use the right tools.

The key is to keep their diet diverse with lots of prebiotic and probiotic building foods and to allow your kids to get dirty and muddy!

 

Lucinda Miller, MH MRNI MGNI
Lucinda Miller is TheNatureDoc. She is one of the UK’s leading Naturopaths and specializes in children’s health. Lucinda is a full member of the Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists and the British Herbal Medicine Association, Association of Master Herbalists, and Treating Autism. She also has a diploma in Functional Medicine and combines lab testing with natural interventions to provide holistic solutions.

This article was originally posted on Lucinda’s website The Nature Doc and is published here with permission. The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare practitioner.

Whey versus Plant Based Protein-Is there really a difference?

Survival Proteins

Your body needs protein for survival. Amino acids — the building blocks of protein — are necessary for everything from immune function, metabolism and weight management to muscle repair, growth, development and performance. There’s also research that shows protein helps you feel alert, as well as more satiated for a longer period of time.  The common types of protein powders fall into two categories: animal-based protein (casein, whey and egg) and plant-based protein (hemp, rice, pea, sacha inchi, potato, etc.).

What are the differences between traditional whey protein and plant-based protein?

Whey protein is a by-product of the cheese manufacturing process and is the liquid that is left behind after milk is curdled and strained.   Since whey protein is derived from milk, lactose intolerance is one of the most common side effects from consuming whey protein.

Whey protein is a common allergen and can affect the immune system of individuals who may be allergic to it.  Whey proteins are also notorious for causing bloating which is a symptom of the body’s inability to digest it.  Symptoms related to digestive issues include abdominal pain, gas, bloating and diarrhea.

Whey protein is high in sulfur-based amino acids.  This means that whey protein is acid forming which can cause significant calcium loss and weakening of the bones known as osteoporosis.  Since over-consumption of whey protein leads to increased acidity and lowered pH of the blood, it is believed that this may give rise to various kidney disorders.

Plant-based protein, on the other hand, is a much easier digestible source of protein for humans without the side effects associated with whey protein.

Plant protein is perfectly packaged along with an abundance of phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber—all critical components for optimal health and disease prevention.  Blended plant-based protein provides a full spectrum of amino acids through complementary sources and is alkaline forming in the body.

What’s your favorite version of a protein shake? Let us know below!

 

References: http://www.ground-based.com/blogs/daily-health/whey-versus-plant-based-protein

 

How to Support your Local Farmers in the Winter Months

Think local. Shop Local.

As great as it is to eat local, in most of the United States there are certain months of the year when it is difficult, if not impossible, to eat local food fresh from the field. Thankfully, a new crop of local food hub entrepreneurs is thinking beyond the growing season by freezing fresh summer produce to sell locally in the winter.

According to a 2010 report by the Institute of Food Research, fresh vegetables can lose up to 45 percent of their nutrients by the time they reach consumers. However, vegetables frozen immediately after picking retain more nutrients than vegetables that took days or weeks to travel from farm to table. So instead of buying tomatoes from South America to make a sauce in January, a bag of frozen tomatoes from a local farm is nutritionally superior and tastes as fresh as the day they were picked.

 

Agencies Ahead of Their Time

One of the companies that will start freezing local tomatoes this year is Maine Harvest Company (MHC), a new food aggregation and light processing facility for Maine-grown produce. According to the Portland Press Herald, MHC will begin this year with a 12,000-square-foot facility housed in an empty Navy commissary. Kathy Karonis of Fairwinds Farm told the Press Herald that she anticipates sending 10,000 pounds of plum tomatoes to MHC this year. MHC hopes to process 500,000 pounds of produce in their first year and grow to 1.3 million pounds by year three.

Part of the growth potential for food processing hubs like MHC is the ability to market blemished produce that would otherwise end up wasted or in compost to budget-conscious institutions like schools and hospitals. After all, a blemished frozen strawberry can still be used in a smoothie. This opens new markets for farmers, decreases food waste, and brings the price of food down for institutions. According to Food Tank, a food think tank, “Freezing produce in school kitchen facilities, for example, instead of buying fresh produce in the winter can save schools as much as 50 percent; however, not all schools have the proper equipment or enough staff to make this cost effective.” That’s where food processing centers and food hubs come in, offering local fresh-frozen produce that is in many cases cheaper than the fresh produce schools could buy in the winter.

In New York state, Farm to Table Co-Packers has taken over 29,000 square feet of unused kitchen space in TechCity, the former IBM-Kingston facility. They processed and froze over 800,000 pounds of produce last year and worked with over 60 farms. The business helps farmers reduce their costs for packing and distribution, and much like the other food hubs mentioned, opens new markets for farms like schools, markets, and other institutions. Farm to Table Co-Packers were able to expand their business with the help of a $775,000 grant from the Empire State Development Corporation and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Husk in Indiana is a much smaller food-processing facility — less than 5,000 feet and working with just three farms — but they’ve got big ideas about helping Indiana’s farmers feed their local communities. Part of Husk’s mission is to bring income opportunity back to rural communities by growing, harvesting, processing, and selling their frozen sweet corn locally, and they think the demand is there. “The consumer demand for locally-grown food and local, independent grocers and knowing who you’re doing business with — no longer walking into big box stores — is not a trend that’s going away,” Nick Carter, co-founder and president of Husk, told WISH, an Indiana television station.

These food hub entrepreneurs are filling a gap in the system and helping to strengthen local food systems. With more consumers, schools, and institutions enthusiastically embracing the financial and nutritional benefits of local food, the future looks bright for local food hubs and local food processors. These new businesses create local jobs, reduce food waste and food miles, and support local farmers and the food security of the community at large.

Join the Movement!

One of Sustainable America’s goals is to triple local food production by 2035, and developing more sustainable methods for processing and selling food locally is a big step in that direction. We encourage you to freeze your own fresh fruits and vegetables to prepare for winter, but also look for fresh-frozen local produce at your grocery store. You might be surprised at what you find!

 

 

 

This entry was originally posted in Food & Farms and tagged community agriculture, community assisted agriculture, community farm, community share, community shared agriculture, community sustained agriculture, food hubs, food security, food supply, food waste, frozen produce, small farms, sustainable agriculture, the cost of food, the cost of food in america, what is food waste, what is sustainable agriculture. Bookmark the permalink. Re-blogged by @CoachAlanNewell

Recipe: Potato, Squash & Goat Cheese Gratin

Looking for a new idea to bring to your Thanksgiving gathering this year?

Check out this decadent potato, squash & goat cheese gratin to impress your friends and family!