Saturday, February 28, 2015

High Fructose Corn Syrup Found More Toxic and More Deadly than Table Sugar


Reuters recently reported a significant study that compared health effects of high-fructose corn syrup compared to table sugar. Female mice were fed a diet which contained 25 percent of calories from added fructose and glucose carbohydrates known as monosaccharaides that are found in corn syrup. A second group of female mice were fed a fructose-glucose diet (regular sugar).

The high-fructose corn syrup group:
  • died at a rate 1.87 times higher than the group that was fed sucrose.
  • produced 26.4 percent fewer offspring than their the female mice on the diet containing added table sugar.
The study shows that humans, especially women are likely to suffer negative health effects from consuming too much corn syrup including early death and infertility. Furthermore, corn syrup is made mostly if not entirely from genetically modified corn. This GMO corn syrup is found in many processed foods including juices, candy, cookies, regular soda, salad dressings, and much more. It is important to read labels so you can avoid any products with corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup.
It is estimated that 13 - 25 percent of Americans eat 25 percent or more of calories from added sugars. The authors of this study report the following alarming statistics:
  • 42 percent of the added sugar found in the US diet comes from corn syrup
  • 44 percent comes from sucrose
  • The remaining 14 percent of added sugars come in the form of natural sweeteners such as honey, molasses, and fruit.
Worldwide however, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) accounts for only eight percent of added sugar consumption, so Americans are far more likely to consume excessive amounts of HFCS and our disease statistics reflect the difference.

High fructose consumption is linked to most chronic conditions and diseases

High fructose consumption is linked to most chronic conditions and diseases, starting with insulin resistance, which can later progress into related diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
If you’re insulin/leptin resistant, have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or are overweight, Dr. Mercola among many other leading experts recommend limiting your total sugar/fructose intake to 15 grams per day until your insulin/leptin resistance has resolved. This applies to at least half of all Americans. For all others, they recommend limiting your daily fructose consumption to 25 grams or less, to maintain optimal health.

The easiest way to accomplish this is by swapping processed foods for whole, ideally organic foods. This means cooking from scratch with fresh whole foods.
 



For assistance with developing dietary changes and identifying which supplements are nutrients are key for your specific health concerns, feel free to reach out to me atJulie@yourwellnesschampion.com.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Cinnamon cashew pudding
It's g
luten & dairy free, raw, sugar balancing, bone building,  immune boosting,  and packed full of nutrition!


It is hard to find yummy desserts that are gluten and dairy free unless you make them yourself, and this one is SUPER easy!  It is a delicious and satisfying dessert-like pudding without sugar, bad fats, flour, or corn syrup that most commercially available desserts contain.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of raw cashews
  • 2 pitted dates
  • 3/4 cup of water
  • Cinnamon (to taste)
  • Yacón syrup (to taste)
Directions:
  1. Blend the cashews, dates and water in a Vitamix or Nutri-Bullet.
  2. Add your desired amount of cinnamon and your favorite healthy sweetener to taste and stir.
* I used Yacón syrup and a few drops of stevia. Perfect!!

What is Yacón syrup?

Yacón syrup is a sweetening agent extracted from the tuberous roots of the yacón plant indigenous to the Andes mountains (Peru, Bolivia and Brazil). It was used by the Incas. In Peru, people eat yacón because of its nutritional properties—few calories and low sugar levels.

Yacón is one of the most preferred natural sweeteners because it is high in the prebiotic sweeteners, inulin and FOS (Fructooligosacharides), which do not in any way increase blood glucose levels (great option for diabetics).

Health Benefits of Yacón syrup (based on 1 teaspoon per meal) include the following:

  • High fiber content
  • Appetite suppression
  • Increased rate of metabolism
  • Helps feed beneficial bacteria in the colon such as Bifidus and Lactobacillus
  • Helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar Levels
  • Increases bone density by increasing absorption of dietary minerals, and making calcium more bioavailable
  • Improves immune system function and reduced incidence of allergies
  • Increased energy levels
Cashews are a nutritional powerhouse!

Raw Cashews are loaded with benefits including the following:

  • Packed with protein, soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting phyto-chemicals that help protect from diseases and cancers
  • High in heart-healthy monounsaturated-fatty acids
  • Rich source of essential minerals, especially manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium
  • Rich in many essential vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1) which are essential for metabolism of protein, fat, and carbohydrates
  • Contain a small amount of zea-xanthin, an important pigment flavonoid antioxidant, which helps to prevent age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in the elderly

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Infrared saunas - Excellent investment for better health


Saunas have provided a great method for detoxification and relaxation for many years. We live in the most toxic of times. 83,000 chemicals have been introduced into our environment since the 1930s yet only about 200 of them have been tested for human safety. We are all carrying heavy metals toxicity whether we realize it or not. It's impossible to avoid.

Are your symptoms in this list?


If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional outbursts, skin problems, brain fog, low energy, memory problems, digestive problems, weight problems, high blood pressure, or even more serious problems like autoimmune disease, cardiac disease, or cancer, you may very well be carrying too many toxins in your body. Being toxic can manifest in many ways including digestive, mood balance, immunity and/or circulatory issues.

Infrared saunas provide a superior method of eliminating toxins from the body. The sweat produced in an infrared sauna is 7 times more detoxifying than a traditional sauna.  Studies have shown that repeated infrared sauna treatments lower blood pressure1 and improve impaired blood vessel functions in patients with high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. This suggests a preventive role for infrared sauna use for arteriosclerosis.2

Why are infrared saunas better than traditional saunas?


Infrared saunas differ than traditional saunas in several key ways which make them a better choice cost-wise, and a superior choice when it comes to health benefits. One of the main differences between a traditional sauna and an infrared sauna is the heat involved while inside the unit. Infrared saunas achieve the same benefits (and more) at much lower operating temperature. The temperature for a traditional sauna typically ranges between 150 and 195º F which can overwhelm those who are more sensitive to heat. Infrared saunas use a much milder temperature environment of between 120 to 140 degrees F. With the infrared technology, you will feel hot and you will sweat profusely, but at a much lower temperature.

Traditional saunas require more power to run than an infrared sauna, costing almost three times as much to run. This can make a huge difference, depending on how often you use the unit. In a traditional dry sauna, the temperature of the air increases around you, and causes the temperature of your body to increase as well due to absorption by heat convection. This causes your body to start the cooling process by transporting blood closer to the surface of the skin and opening pores through sweating.

I
nfrared saunas also heat the surrounding air but to a lesser degree. Instead, infrared saunas use infrared heaters to emit a specific wavelength of infrared light. Your skin absorbs this wavelength, causing your body's temperature to rise. This elicits the same effects as a traditional sauna with less overall heat needed.

Benefits of far infrared saunas

1. Detoxification

Sweating is one of the body’s most natural ways to eliminate toxins, making it a crucial part of detoxification. When compared to traditional Swedish saunas, infrared saunas allow you to eliminate about seven times more toxins.

2. Relaxation
The heat generated by the sauna will also help to relax muscles and relieve tension throughout the body, allowing you to relax and de-stress.

3. Pain Relief
Infrared saunas can relieve inflammation that causes muscle aches or joint pain by increasing circulation and relaxing your muscles.

4. Weight Loss
The heat generated by an infrared sauna will cause your core temperature to increase, which can also lead to an increased heart rate; the same increase in heart rate that you experience when exercising. When your body has to work harder to lower your core temperature or keep up with an increased heart rate, your body will burn more calories, resulting in weight loss. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that a 30-minute infrared sauna session can burn roughly 600 calories.

5. Improved Circulation
As the heat from infrared saunas increases your core body temperature, your circulation will increase along with it. Consistent infrared sauna sessions, especially in the middle-infrared level, can stimulate blood flow, improve muscle recovery, and decrease pain and inflammation after intense exercise.

6. Skin Purification
Infrared sauna technology can help purify your skin by eliminating toxins from your pores and increasing circulation, resulting in clearer, softer, and healthier-looking skin.

7. Low Maintenance
One last benefit to infrared saunas is that they come primarily as pre-fabricated panels that snap together. They are a breeze to assemble.They are easy to move and reassemble in a different place, unlike large bulky traditional saunas that require special electrical work or a new gas line depending on the type. Far infrared saunas plug into a regular outlet.

Click here on on the image below to see the sauna that I have at home. i paid $187 for it and I've had it for about 4 years with no problems. It is reliable and effective. There are better models that are more expensive. I tried one at a health expo that cost $1000.00 and it was bigger and seemed more nicely built but over-priced in my opinion. My sauna fits nicely in my bedroom and I'm perfectly happy with it. The chair is small but with a towel draped over it, it's quite comfy.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Chia Seeds – One Tablespoon has more Calcium, Omega 3s, and Antioxidants than milk, salmon, and blueberries (respectively)

Chia seeds are gluten and grain free naturally. The seeds readily dissolve into water or other liquids, creating a substance that looks like gelatin. This gel-forming action is due to the soluble fiber in the Chia seed.

Their benefits include the following:

  • Five times more calcium than milk
  • Seven times more vitamin C than oranges
  • Three times more iron than spinach
  • Eight times more Omega 3 than salmon
  • Twice the potassium content of banana
  • Contains 20% protein
  • Contains 20% Omega 3 ALA, making it a super food for the brain and heart
  • Suppresses the appetite and helps with weight loss
  • Helps intestinal regularity
  • Good for healthy skin, hair and nails
  • Helps balancing blood glucose levels (good for diabetics)
  • Supports bone health due to calcium and trace mineral boron
  • Contains double the blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), both essential omega 3 fatty acids with proven heart health benefits.
Chia seeds can be used in many ways, such as breakfast cereals, puddings, infused into drinks, thickener for sauces and gravies, as an egg substitute in recipes such as meatloaf, muffins, and more. This is a great way to get nutrition into your kids. It makes them fuller longer, and feeds their brain, strengthens their bones, and protects their heart. 

Fish oil is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and source of omega  fats, but for strict vegans and vegetarians, chia seeds are a great alternative to taking fish oil. 

Chia Lemon Energy Drink

This is a refreshing light lemonade that provides you with protein, fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, and Vitamin C. It's a great way to keep your energy high during your work day.
  • Juice of 1 whole lemon
  • 16 oz of water
  • Mint leaves or peppermint drops to taste
  • 1 tsp of chia seeds
  • Few drops of stevia if desired
Give the chia a little time to soften before drinking. Enjoy cold.  

Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Magnificent Motherwort - Slows Heart Palpitations, Reduces Anxiety, and much more


Motherwort is an herb from the mint family. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. It can be taken as a liquid tincture or in capsules. 

Stress, Anxiety, Hyperactivity and Hormone Balance
Stressed out? Feeling anxiety? Take a dropperful or a capsule of motherwort. It's used by hyper kids, women with PMS or menopause. It is also used near the end of pregnancy as a natural and gentle way to induce labor because it stimulates the uterus. Note: It should not be used during pregnancy or if one is experience heavy menstrual periods. However, it can be used for the absence of menstrual periods.

Heart Tonic and Hyperthyroidism 
Motherwort can be used by men and women for heart conditions, including heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and fast heartbeat. It is also very useful for over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) which often manifests in a rapid heartbeat.

Digestion, Skin, Singles and Eyesight Benefits
Motherwort is also used for intestinal gas (flatulence) and It can be applied directly to the skin for itching and shingles. The seeds of two of the species (Leonurus artemisia or Leonurus heterophyllus) are used to improve eyesight and as a general tonic.

See herbalist Susan Weed's site for dosage details.
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/July08/wisewoman.htm


Personal Success Story

I personally started to experience a rapid heart rate at night, which is common with thyroid conditions. I took one capsule of Solaray brand Motherwort a couple hours before bed, and I slept soundly without any sign of rapid heartbeat. 
I later recommended this herb to a client who also had success with it upon the first usage.



Herb Pharm Motherwort Extract Supplement, 1 Ounce  




Solaray Motherwort Supplement, 425 mg, 100 Count

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Color Coded Food Benefits - Black Foods (often Overlooked) are Exceptional!


The colors in our foods indicate what types of benefits and nutrients they contain. Eating a wide variety of colors in your diet ensures you are getting plenty of antioxidants and preventing heart disease and cancer as well as many other health problems.



Black Foods

One color of foods missing is this chart is black. Black foods are incredible powerful. They grow in challenging environments because they are vigorous plants. The color black represents vigor, vitality and Jing energy, which is overall health. It determines your strength, healing power, reproductive potential and longevity. This is the primordial energy to get back up when you have nothing left.

Black foods include blackberries, schizandra berries, shilajit, black radish, black grapes, black maca, black beans, black rice and black apples. The following picture shows some black foods. Although the title refers to the kidneys, these foods are healing in many other aspects as well, including your overall health. Black radish juice is often used as a remedy for kidney stones. In fact, the benefits of black radish are so impressive, I plan to write a separate article about them in a future newsletter!