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10 Anti-Aging Foods That Fuel Your Heart, Skin, And Eyes

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In the United States, cardiovascular disease — including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure — is responsible for one out of every three deaths. It is the number one killer of American women and men, and it is a leading cause of serious illness and disability.

Kaitlyn writes……..

I don’t know about you but I am a major snacker! I could sit and eat a whole bag of tortilla chips with some salsa. Snacking is the hardest part of my diet to keep in check. Junk food always seems so much more convenient and tasty. But I’ve made a goal to change up my snack habits so today I’m sharing delicious and nutritious snacks under 200 calories.

My goal with this list was to find things that are easy and convenient while also being totally satisfying and filling. You won’t find any 100 calorie packs of Oreos on this list, because let’s be honest, who in the world is full after 5 mini Oreos anyway?  😉

10 Healthy Snacks Under 200 Calories

1.   1 apple with 1 tablespoon almond butter – 170 calories

Photo: marcelstotalfitness.com

2.    1/2 cup blueberries mixed with 1/2 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt and 1/2 cup granola – 200 calories

Photo: bodyrock.tv

Photo: bodyrock.tv

3.    1 banana spread with 1 tablespoon almond butter and a sprinkled with 1/2 a tablespoon of granola – 200 calories

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Photo: The Golden Dreamcatcher

4.    3 cups air-popped popcorn and an apple – 170 calories

Photo: courtneysargent.com

Photo: courtneysargent.com

5.    1 small avocado sprinkled with salt and pepper and topped with a spoonful of salsa – 140 calories

Photo: livestrong.com

Photo: livestrong.com

6.    1 baked sweet potato with 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese and sprinkled with cinnamon – 130 calories

Photo: hip2save.com

Photo: hip2save.com

7.    1 cup cubed watermelon topped with 1/4 cup feta cheese and 1 teaspoon fresh chopped dill – 150 calories

Photo: recipeshubs.com

Photo: recipeshubs.com

8.    1 cup jicama spears with 1/4 cup guacamole for dipping – 170 calories

Photo: pinterest.com

Photo: pinterest.com

9.    Lettuce wraps made with 2 pieces of ice burg lettuce, 2 oz deli turkey meat, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and 2 teaspoons dijon mustard – 160 calories

Photo: lindonfarms.com

Photo: lindonfarms.com

10.    1 cup freeze dried fruit (apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries etc) – between 60 and 100 calories

12 Foods That Increase Magnesium and Prevent High Blood Pressure, Blood Clots and Muscle Fatigue

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Most people do not know about magnesium or how important the mineral can be for our health. You need to understand that Magnesium is involved with over 300 metabolic processes in the body, which has lead to the mineral being called the “master mineral”.  So do you know how to spot a magnesium deficiency, and what the symptoms are? Keep reading!

What Does Magnesium Do?

Magnesium is important because it’s a mineral used by every organ in your body, especially your heart, muscles, and kidneys. If you suffer from unexplained fatigue or weakness, abnormal heart rhythms or even muscle spasms and eye twitches, low levels of magnesium could be to blame.

Because Magnesium is also found in more than 300 different enzymes in the body and plays a role in your body’s detoxification processes, it is important for helping to prevent damage from environmental chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins. It is also necessary for:

  • Proper transportation of calcium, silica, vitamin D, vitamin K, and obviously magnesium.
  • Activating muscles and nerves
  • Creating energy in the body
  • Detoxification
  • Helping digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
  • Serves as building blocks for RNA and DNA synthesis
  • Acting as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin

Why Is Magnesium So Hard To Come By?

Thanks to modern farming methods that use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides that are absorbed into the soil, out topsoil has been heavily depleted of its mineral content. This mineral is now missing from most of our topsoil.

By some estimates, up to 80% of Americans are not getting enough magnesium and may be deficient. Other research shows only about 25% of US adults are getting the recommended daily amount of 310 to 320 milligrams (mg) for women and 400 to 420 for men. What is even more concerning is that consuming just this amount is only enough to ward off deficiency.

Organic foods may have more magnesium if grown in nutrient-rich soils but it is very difficult to make that determination. If you opt for a supplement, be aware that there are a wide variety of magnesium supplements on the market, because magnesium must be bound to another substance, is there’s no such thing as a 100% magnesium supplement.

The substance used can affect the absorption and bioavailability of the magnesium, and may provide more targeted health benefits. Magnesium threonate and citrate are some of the best sources, as it seems to penetrate cell membranes which results in higher energy levels.

Besides taking a supplement, another way to improve your magnesium status is to take regular Epsom salt baths or foot baths. Epsom salt is a magnesium sulfate that can absorb into your body through your skin. Magnesium oil can also be used for topical application and absorption.

Whatever supplement you choose, be sure to avoid any containing magnesium stearate, which is a common but potentially hazardous additive.

One good thing to remember is that it’s almost impossible to overdose magnesium, but consuming too much magnesium is still not a good idea. Too much of the mineral could lead to some side effects like irregular heartbeat or slowed breathing. Similar to oral ascorbic acid C, there is a bowel tolerance threshold that brings on diarrhea if exceeded.

How To Tell If You’re Getting Enough Magnesium

The best way to tell if you are getting enough magnesium is the “bowel test”. Like I mentioned above, if you have too much magnesium your stools become loose. However, this may be a blessing for people with constipation which is one of the many ways magnesium deficiency manifests.

Signs of a Magnesium Deficiency

This anti-inflammatory mineral offers protection against illnesses like arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease, magnesium has been used to aid problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, and much more.

While observing bodily signs can help you tell if you have a deficiency, you may want to have some tests administered. If you’ve recently had a blood test, you might assume it would show a magnesium deficiency. But only 1% of magnesium in your body is distributed in your blood, making a simple sample of magnesium from a serum magnesium blood test not very helpful.

This is because magnesium operates on a cellular level and accumulates in organ and nerve tissue, so even good results with blood testing are very often deceptive. Here are some telltale signs:

  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Asthma
  • Bowel Diseases
  • Blood Clots
  • Calcium Deficiency
  • Cystitis
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Difficulty Swallowing
  • Depression
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue/Weakness
  • High Blood Pressure/Heart Disease
  • Hypertension
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Insomnia
  • Liver & Kidney Disease
  • Migraine
  • Muscle Cramps
  • Nausea
  • Nerve Problems/Tremors
  • Osteoporosis
  • Personality Changes
  • PMS, Infertility & Preeclampsia)
  • Poor Heart Health
  • Poor Memory
  • Potassium Deficiency
  • Respiratory Issues
  • Raynaud’s Syndrome
  • Seizures
  • Tooth Decay
  • Type II Diabetes

How To Get More Magnesium

You can find inexpensive products that feature magnesium citrate, which is among the most readily absorbed forms of magnesium supplements.

You can also apply transdermal magnesium chloride topically to be absorbed internally through the skin. Magnesium chloride is also known as magnesium oil, though not really an oil, more of a briny solution from ancient sea beds. It is available through various online sources, so just Google magnesium oil products to locate some.

If you don’t want to supplement and simply want to acquire magnesium through food sources, here are some of the top foods that can relieve you of any magnesium deficiency symptoms:

  • Almonds & Cashews (other nuts)
  • Avocados
  • Bananas
  • Beans & Lentils (Kidney, Soy & Black Beans)
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Dried Fruit (Figs)
  • Okra
  • Pumpkin, Sesame & Sunflower Seeds
  • Soybeans
  • Spinach (Dark Leafy Greens)
  • Squash
  • Whole Grains (Brown Rice)

How To Stop A Migraine Instantly With Salt

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Photo:elementsforlife.co.uk

People that suffer from Migraine are often anxious to get rid of the terrible and annoying pain characterizing this condition. There is a common thinking that a migraine is not a big deal, but a really bad migraine can pretty much handicap and take you down for the rest of the day. In worst cases, there are some migraines that can’t be defeated with your usual pain killers. So, here is the best thing to you use in those cases! Salt.

How to get rid of the Migraine Instantly with Salt?

Having quite a past with migraines i have literally used everything i could find to stop them.  Migraines are the types of things that can simply ruin your life for the rest of the day. However, searching and trying all kind of stuff eventually, I did find a method that worked for me!  I am very happy and relieved and plus It wasn’t something from the conventional medicine.
Also, this method is very easy.

If you want to relieve migraines make sure that you use high quality salt for example the Himalayan crystal salt. That is the most complete salt in the world. Containing 84 minerals, elements and electrolytes – makes it so fascinating if we take in consideration that there are only 118 elements known to science until today. This salt will reduce the severity of your migraine headaches, it will strengthen your immune system, increase your energy levels, and balance the serotonin levels in your bloodstream, it will restore the body’s electrolyte and alkaline balance and much much more.

Simply pour lemon juice in a glass, add one teaspoon Himalayan crystal salt in it and Enjoy! If you want, you can try with a small amount: by squeezing only half a lemon first and adding 1/2 teaspoon of this salt. You will feel like magic!

Super Foods For Eye Health & Protection

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Photo:hawthorne-eyedoctors.com

Did you know that a healthy diet, rich in certain kinds of nutrients, also play an important role in improving our eye health and preventing disease?

Incorporate the following 6 eye-friendly foods into your meals and see the difference for yourself!

ALMONDS

Almonds – and indeed, many different types of nuts – are rich in vitamin E, which, as we have seen, has been proven to slow macular degeneration and protect your eyes against the formation of cataracts.

Simply indulge in a handful of almonds a day to obtain roughly half of your daily recommended dose, and supplement with berries and other vitamin E rich foods for good, all round health.

CARROTS

While carrots and other orange-pigmented produce such as pumpkin, sweet potato and mango aren’t miracle workers and won’t reverse bad eyesight, they can certainly help improve general eye health.

Indeed, these fruits and vegetables contain lutein, the nutritional powerhouse contained amongst others in egg yolks and leafy greens, and beta-carotene, a substance that is converted into vitamin A by the body once it is absorbed. As we’ve seen, vitamin A is extremely beneficial to eye health, so be sure to include various different sources of it in your diet for optimal effect.

BERRIES

Berries  – especially blueberries – are considered one of the healthiest foods for your eyes, owing to their high quantities of vitamins A, C and E, and zinc.

Let’s break it down: vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that prevents inflammation in the eyes while combating free radicals; vitamin C acts against intraocular pressure (the pressure within your eye), which if left unchecked can increase the potential for the development of glaucoma, the second most common cause of blindness in the United States; vitamin E may help prevent the formation of cataracts, while zinc is a powerful mineral that helps protect against night blindness and – you guessed it – macular degeneration.

All in all, the humble blueberry is a nutritional powerhouse that does your eyes a world of good!Citrus fruit are another ally in your fight against eye disease, as they also contain a high concentration of vitamin C. Be sure to include different kinds of berries and citrus fruits in your regular rotation in order to reap all the benefits.

SALMON/FATTY FISH

Salmon, mackerel, tuna and anchovies are not only delicious; they are also rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which is found in our retinas and is instrumental in preventing dry eye syndrome, as well as dramatically decreasing the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Two to four servings of these incredible fatty fish should be enough to ensure all round eye health; however, if you don’t eat seafood, you can get a good supply of DHA either through fish oil supplements, or by taking taking vegetarian supplements containing flaxseed oil or blackcurrant seed oil.

SPINACH/LEAFY GREENS

Whatever you do, don’t forget to eat your greens! Dark, leafy greens such as cooked spinach and kale, collards and turnip greens all contain extremely high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been proven to reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

Although the compounds found in mixed greens aren’t as easily absorbed as those found in egg yolks, these vegetables are a great option for getting the antioxidants your eyes need for better health.

Don’t forget to cook the greens in good quality olive oil or coconut oil to reap the full benefits!

EGG YOLKS

galette-egg-yolkPhoto:kitchenplatter.com

If you regularly discard egg yolks because you believe they have an adverse effect on your cholesterol levels, think again: according to Paul Dougherty, medical director of Dougherty Laser Vision in Los Angeles, the yolk is in fact a prime source of lutein, a yellow-pigmented antioxidant that acts as a blue-light filter and combats free radicals in tandem with its sister compound, zeaxanthin.

Combined with the zinc also present in egg yolks, these two compounds can help slow down age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss for people over 65 years old.

The best way to eat them? Raw! If you don’t have the stomach for it, don’t worry: while it’s true that uncooked egg yolks contain more lutein than cooked yolks, our bodies are perfectly able to absorb the antioxidant from other sources, such as leafy greens, too. Simply combine these lutein-rich ingredients with olive or coconut oil for better absorption.

This remarkable breakthrough helps slow aging of the eye and maintain your freedom and independence as you get older.

 

26 Weight Loss Tips That Are Actually Evidence-Based

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Group of people at the gym in an aerobics class

The weight loss “industry” is full of myths.

People are being advised to do all sorts of crazy things, most of which have no evidence behind them. Over the years, however, scientists have found a number of strategies that seem to be effective.

Here are 26 weight loss tips that are actually evidence-based.

1. Drink Water, Especially Before Meals

drink-waterPhoto:watchfit.com

It is often claimed that drinking water can help with weight loss, and this is true.

Drinking water can boost metabolism by 24-30% over a period of 1-1.5 hours, helping you burn off a few more calories.

One study showed that drinking a half liter (17 oz) of water about a half an hour before meals helped dieters eat fewer calories and lose 44% more weight.

2. Eat Eggs For Breakfast

Photo: wisegeek.com

Eating whole eggs can have all sorts of benefits, including helping you lose weight.

Studies show that replacing a grain-based breakfast with eggs can help you eat fewer calories for the next 36 hours, and lose more weight and more body fat.

If you can’t eat eggs for some reason, then that’s fine. Any source of quality protein for breakfast should do the trick.

3. Drink Coffee (Preferably Black)

Photo: zastavki.com

Coffee has been unfairly demonized. Quality coffee is loaded with antioxidants, and can have numerous health benefits. Studies show that the caffeine in coffee can boost metabolism by 3-11%, and increase fat burning by up to 10-29%.

Just make sure NOT to add a bunch of sugar or other high-calorie ingredients to it. That will completely negate any benefit you get from the coffee.

4. Drink Green Tea

Photo: inspiyr.com

Like coffee, green tea also has many benefits, one of them being weight loss.

Green tea contains small amounts of caffeine, but it is also loaded with powerful antioxidants called catechins, which are also believed to work synergistically with the caffeine to enhance fat burning.

Although the evidence is mixed, there are many studies showing that green tea (either as a beverage or a green tea extract supplement) can help you lose weight.

5. Cook With Coconut Oil

Photo: stylecraze.com

Coconut oil is very healthy. It is high in special fats called medium chain triglycerides, which are metabolized differently than other fats.

These fats have been shown to boost metabolism by 120 calories per day, and also reduce your appetite so that you eat up to 256 fewer calories per day.

Keep in mind that this is not about adding coconut oil on top of what you’re already eating, it is about replacing some of your current cooking fats with coconut oil.

6. Take a Glucomannan Supplement

A fiber called glucomannan has been shown to cause weight loss in several studies.

This is a type of fiber that absorbs water and “sits” in your gut for a while, making you feel more full and helping you eat fewer calories.

Studies have shown that people who supplement with glucomannan lose a bit more weight than those who don’t.

7. Cut Back on Added Sugar

Photo: thenewdaily.com.au

Added sugar is the single worst ingredient in the modern diet, and most people are eating way too much of it.

Studies show that sugar (and high fructose corn syrup) consumption is strongly associated with the risk of obesity, as well as diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and others.

If you want to lose weight, you should be cutting back on added sugars. Just make sure to read labels, because even so-called health foods can be loaded with sugar.

8. Eat Less Refined Carbs

Photo: bodyrock.tv

Refined carbohydrates are usually sugar, or grains that have been stripped of their fibrous, nutritious parts (includes white bread and pasta).

Studies show that refined carbs can spike blood sugar rapidly, leading to hunger, cravings and increased food intake a few hours later. Eating refined carbs is strongly linked to obesity.

If you’re going to eat carbs, make sure to eat them with their natural fiber.

9. Go on a Low Carb Diet

Photo: huffingtonpost.ca

If you want to get all the benefits of carb restriction, then consider taking this all the way and going on a low carb diet.

Numerous studies show that such a diet (or “way of eating”) can help you lose 2-3 times as much weight as a standard low-fat diet, while improving your health at the same time.

10. Use Smaller Plates

Using smaller plates has been shown to help people automatically eat fewer calories in some studies. Weird trick, but it seems to work.

11. Exercise Portion Control or Count Calories

Portion control (eating less) or counting calories can be very useful, for obvious reasons.

There are also studies showing that keeping a food diary and writing down what you eat, or taking pictures of all your meals, can help you lose weight.

Anything that increases your awareness of what you are eating is likely to be useful.

12. Keep Healthy Food Around in Case You Get Hungry

Photo: blog.kidville.com

Keeping healthy food close by can help prevent you from eating something unhealthy if you become excessively hungry.

A few snacks that are easily portable and simple to prepare include whole fruits, a handful of nuts, baby carrots, yogurt and a hardboiled egg (or two).

13. Brush Your Teeth After Dinner

Although I’m not aware of any studies on this, many people recommend brushing your teeth and/or flossing right after dinner. Then you won’t be as tempted to have a late-night snack.

14. Eat Spicy Foods

Spicy foods like Cayenne pepper contain Capsaicin, a compound that can boost metabolism and reduce your appetite slightly.

15. Do Aerobic Exercise

Photo: crytekindustries.com

Doing aerobic exercise (cardio) is an excellent way to burn calories and improve your physical and mental health.

It appears to be particularly effective to lose belly fat, the unhealthy fat that tends to build up around your organs and cause metabolic disease.

16. Lift Weights

Photo: huffingtonpost.co.uk

One of the worst side effects of dieting, is that it tends to cause muscle loss and metabolic slowdown, often referred to as starvation mode.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to do some sort of resistance exercise, like lifting weights. Studies show that weight lifting can help keep your metabolism high, and prevent you from losing precious muscle mass.

Of course, it’s not just important to lose fat. You also want to make sure that what is beneath looks good. Doing some sort of resistance exercise is critical for that.

17. Eat More Fiber

Photo: medcenterblog.uvmhealth.org

Fiber is often recommended for the purpose of weight loss. Although the evidence is mixed, some studies show that fiber (especially viscous fiber) can increase satiety and help you control your weight over the long term.

18. Eat More Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits have several properties that make them effective for weight loss.

They contain few calories, but a lot of fiber. They are also rich in water, which gives them a low energy density. They also take a while to chew, and are very filling.

Studies show that people who eat vegetables and fruits tend to weigh less. These foods are also super healthy and nutritious, so eating them is important for all sorts of reasons.

19. Chew More Slowly

It can take a while for the brain to “register” that you’ve had enough to eat. Some studies show that chewing more slowly can help you eat fewer calories and increase the production of hormones linked to weight loss.

20. Get Good Sleep

Photo: health.thefuntimesguide.com

Sleep is highly underrated, but it may be just as important as eating healthy and exercising.

Studies show that poor sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity, being linked to an 89% increased risk of obesity in children, and 55% in adults.

21. Beat Your Food Addiction

A recent 2014 study of 196,211 individuals found that 19.9% of people fulfil the criteria for food addiction.

If you suffer from overpowering cravings and can’t seem to get your eating under control no matter how hard you try, then you may be a food addict.

In this case, get help. Trying to lose weight without dealing with this problem first is next to impossible.

22. Eat More Protein

Photo: ultrarunners.info

Protein is the single most important nutrient when it comes to losing weight.

Eating a high protein diet has been shown to boost metabolism by 80 to 100 calories per day, while helping you feel so satiated that you eat up to 441 fewer calories per day.

One study also showed that protein at 25% of calories reduced obsessive thoughts about food by 60%, while cutting the desire for late night snacking in half.

This is the single most important tip in the article.

Simply adding protein to your diet (without restricting anything) is one of the easiest, most effective and most delicious ways to lose weight.

23. Supplement With Whey Protein

If you struggle to get enough protein in your diet, taking a supplement can help.

One study showed that replacing part of your calories with whey protein can cause weight loss of about 8 pounds, while increasing lean muscle mass.

24. Don’t Drink Calories, Including Sugary Soda and Fruit Juices

Photo: thanhniennews.com

Sugar is bad, but sugar in liquid form is even worse. Studies show that liquid sugar calories may be the single most fattening aspect of the modern diet.

For example, one study showed that sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to a 60% increased risk of obesity in children, for each daily serving.

Keep in mind that this applies to fruit juice as well, which contains a similar amount of sugar as a soft drink like coke. Eat whole fruit, but use fruit juice with caution (or avoid it altogether).

25. Eat Whole, Single Ingredient Foods (Real Food)

Photo: en.wikipedia.org

If you want to be a leaner, healthier person, then one of the best things you can do for yourself is to eat whole, single ingredient foods.

These foods are naturally filling, and it’s very difficult to gain weight if the majority of your diet is based around them.

Keep in mind that real food doesn’t need a long list of ingredients, because real food IS the ingredient.

26. Don’t “Diet”, Eat Healthy Instead

One of the biggest problems with “diets,” is that they almost never work in the long term.

If anything, people who “diet” tend to gain more weight over time, and studies show that dieting is a consistent predictor of future weight gain.

Instead of going on a diet, make it your goal to become a healthier, happier and fitter person. Focus on nourishing your body, instead of depriving it.

Weight loss should follow as a natural side effect.

The Best ANTI-Inflammatory Foods, Herbs, and Spices

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By Dr. Mercola

Herbs and cooking spices contain a wide variety of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, and help maximize the nutrient density of your meals. Every time you flavor your meals with herbs or spices you are literally “upgrading” your food without adding a single calorie.

In fact, on a per gram fresh weight basis, herbs rank even higher in antioxidant activity than fruits and vegetables, which are known to be high in antioxidants. Many studies have also shown that most spices tend to have unique medicinal qualities.

In the featured study, researchers from three Universities devised an experiment to evaluate the “true world” benefits of herbs and spices, by feeding them to people in quantities that are typically consumed simply by spicing up your meals. As noted by Dr. Michael Greger MD, who produced the video above:

“The researchers could have taken the easy route and just measured the change in antioxidant level in one’s bloodstream before and after consumption, but the assumption that the appearance of antioxidant activity in the blood is an indication of bioavailability has a weakness.

Maybe more gets absorbed than we think but doesn’t show up on antioxidant tests because it gets bound up to proteins or cells. So the researchers attempted to measure physiological changes in the blood.

They were interested in whether absorbed compounds would be able to protect white blood cells from an oxidative or inflammatory injury—whether herb and spice consumption would protect the strands of our DNA from breaking when attacked by free radicals.”

Four Spices That Pack a Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Punch

For one week, 10 to 12 subjects in each of 13 groups consumed a small amount of a particular spice each day. For example, those in the oregano group ate just half a teaspoon of oregano daily for seven days. Blood samples were drawn one hour prior to consumption, and at the very end of the experiment.

The participants’ blood was then analyzed for antioxidant capacity. The researchers also analyzed how well the blood could dampen an induced inflammatory response in white blood cells.

This was done by placing the participants’ blood onto white blood cells that had been damaged by oxidized cholesterol (commonly found in fried foods). Even at the “everyday” dosage amounts given, four spices were found to be significantly effective at quelling the inflammatory response:

1. Cloves

2. Ginger

3. Rosemary

4. Turmeric

As noted in the featured article: “[T]he results represents what might happen when cells in our body are exposed to the levels of spices that circulate in our bloodstream after normal daily consumption—not megadoses in some pill. Just the amount that makes our spaghetti sauce, pumpkin pie, or curry sauce taste good.”

Other Potent Anti-Inflammatory Spices

An earlier study published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods3 found a direct correlation between the antioxidant phenol content of spice and herb extracts and their ability to inhibit glycation and block the formation of AGE compounds (advanced glycation end products), making them potent preventers of heart disease and premature aging.

Here, cloves were ranked as the most potent of 24 common herbs and spices found in your spice rack. In all, the following were found to be the top 10 most potent anti-inflammatory herbs and spices:

1. Cloves

2. Cinnamon

3. Jamaican allspice

4. Apple pie spice mixture

5. Oregano

6. Pumpkin pie spice mixture

7. Marjoram

8. Sage

9. Thyme

10. Gourmet Italian spice

Inflammation Is at the Heart of Most Chronic Diseases

It’s important to realize that chronic inflammation is the source of many if not most diseases, including cancer, obesity, and heart disease, which essentially makes it the leading cause of death in the US.

While inflammation is a perfectly normal and beneficial process that occurs when your body’s white blood cells and chemicals protect you from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, it leads to trouble when the inflammatory response gets out of hand. Your diet has a lot to do with this chain of events.

While among the most potent, ounce for ounce, herbs and spices are certainly not the only anti-inflammatory ingredients available. A number of foods are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and making sure you’re eating a wide variety of them on a regular basis can go a long way toward preventing chronic illness.

Top Seven Anti-Inflammatory Foods

The following foods and nutrients deserve special mention for their ability to quell inflammatory responses in your body:

1.  Animal-based omega-3 fat Animal-based omega-3 fats—found in fatty fish likewild Alaskan salmon and fish- or krill oil—help fight inflammation throughout your body. It’s particularly important for brain health. Research published in theScandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology4 in 2012 confirmed that dietary supplementation with krill oil effectively reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.
2.  Leafy greens Dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collard greens and Swiss chard contain powerful antioxidants, flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamin C—all of which help protect against cellular damage. Ideally, opt for organic locally grown veggies that are in season, and consider eating a fair amount of them raw. Juicing is an excellent way to get more greens into your diet.
3.  Blueberries Blueberries rate very high in antioxidant capacity compared to other fruits and vegetables. They are also lower in sugar than many other fruits.
4.  Tea Matcha tea is the most nutrient-rich green tea and comes in the form of a stone-ground unfermented powder. The best Matcha comes from Japan and has up to 17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries, and seven times more than dark chocolate.Tulsi is another tea loaded with anti-inflammatory antioxidants and other micronutrients that support immune function and heart health.
5.  Fermented vegetables and traditionally cultured foods Optimizing your gut flora is important for a well-functioning immune system, and helps ward off chronic inflammation. In fact, the majority of inflammatory diseases start in your gut, as the result of an imbalanced microbiome. Fermented foods such as kefir, natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, olives, and other fermented vegetables, will help ‘reseed’ your gut with beneficial bacteria.Fermented foods can also help your body rid itself of harmful toxins such as heavy metals and pesticidesthat promote inflammation.
6.  Shiitake mushrooms Shiitake mushrooms contain strong compounds with the natural ability to discourage inflammation, such as Ergothioneine, which inhibits oxidative stress.They also contain a number of unique nutrients that many do not get enough of in their diet. One is copper, which is one of the few metallic elements accompanied by amino and fatty acids that are essential to human health. Since your body can’t synthesize copper, your diet must supply it regularly. Copper deficiency can be a factor in the development of coronary heart disease.
7.  Garlic Garlic has been treasured for its medicinal properties for centuries. It’s also one of the most heavily researched plant foods around. Over 170 studies5show it benefitting more than 150 different conditions. Garlic exerts its benefits on multiple levels, offering anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties.It’s thought that much of garlic’s therapeutic effect comes from its sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin. Research6 has revealed that as allicin digests in your body it produces sulfenic acid, a compound that reacts faster with dangerous free radicals than any other known compound.

Does Death Really Begin In The Colon? 80% Of Your Immune System Live Here…Take Control Today

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You are 90% bacteria.

Let that sink in for a second… Just think: for every cell in your body, you have 9 cells of bacteria living in and on your body. It can be a little creepy if you think about it too much.

Most of your bacteria is living inside your intestinal tract, otherwise known as your “gut.” The health of this organism is paramount to the health of your body. Why, you ask?

80% of your immune system spends most of its time around your gut. The health of your gut bacteria and the health of your immune system are vitally linked. When your gut bacteria is balanced, your immune system is also balanced. But when it’s out of balance, so is your immune system.

Signs that your immune system is out of balance are: food and seasonal allergies, chronic inflammation, chronic sinusitis, and colds and flus that linger for weeks.

Food sensitivities are a major sign and cause of an immune system imbalance. Food, specifically undigested protein, looks just like a virus or bacteria and our immune system creates an antibody to it. We see this in life-threatening reactions like anaphylactic shock to nuts or shellfish.

We can also have a much quieter, non-life threatening reaction to a food (undigested protein), which can over-stimulate our immune system and lead to seasonal allergies, eczema, and many inflammatory conditions.

These are usually referred to as food sensitivities. What I’ve seen over and over again in my practice is that once we discover the foods that you aren’t digesting properly you can gain control over allergies, eczema, and many inflammatory conditions.

Undigested protein gets into our blood stream through a “leaky gut.” This is when our intestinal tract is damaged and it allows undigested particles to be absorbed into the blood stream. These proteins can stimulate our immune system for up to 5 days.

This is why it’s so difficult to figure out our food sensitivities. Even a small amount of gluten, dairy, corn, or soy (our culture’s main food triggers) each week can cause our immune system to remain over-stimulated and we will feel our symptoms continuously… even if we’ve tried our best to reduce these possible triggers. 

The best way to balance our immune system is by having a healthy and strong digestive system, and this means our gut bacteria needs to be in balance. Our North American way of eating hasn’t helped to keep our gut bacteria balanced.

Most traditional cultures regularly consume fermented foods like natural yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi, which feed the beneficial bacteria in our gut. In North America, however, we tend to do the opposite. Processed food, refined sugar, chlorine, and antibiotics are major causes of a gut bacteria imbalance.

When your gut is hosting 75% beneficial bacteria, your body (digestion, immunity, brain) is able to create balance. But when the prevalent bacteria in your gut is “bad” bacteria (bacteria that doesn’t assist us), they allow for an overgrowth of yeast, molds, and fungus – as well as many digestive symptoms, like bloating, foul-smelling gas, distention, pain, constipation, diarrhea, and a “leaky gut.”

How to Keep Your Gut Bacteria Balanced:

Eat whole, unrefined foods. Remove all refined sugars and grains which feed the “bad” bacteria.

Eat naturally fermented foods daily, and take a probiotic supplement. 

Probiotic supplements contain high amounts of beneficial bacteria and “seed” the gut – an important part of finding balance.

 Understand the causes of your digestive symptoms, and re-balance them. All digestive symptoms are signs that food isn’t being properly broken down and can feed the “bad” bacteria.

Keep your digestive system and immune system working optimally by keeping your gut bacteria healthy and happy!

You can start with this FREE BOTTLE OFFER: new probiotic has 9 Superior Strains and a Patented Delivery Method…THIS Gives You Maximum Digestive Relief All Day.

 

Do You Know What Will Happen If You Drink Coconut Water For 7 Days?

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These days coconut water is used all around the world, and you can find it in many markets easily and its detoxification power and other health benefits are unquestionable.

What happens when you drink this water?

The coconut water strengthens your immune system and removes bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, gum diseases and viruses which cause cold, infection diseases and typhus.

Your energy will be boosted and the thyroid gland hormones production will be enhanced. The water acts as a natural diuretic and it is very helpful for people who have kidney diseases. It will assist in cleansing the urinary tract and the bladder channels. The toxins will be eliminated and the kidney stones will be braked down.

Photo: fertilityonline.net

The coconut water includes a high amount of fiber, which makes it very good for our digestive system. With regularly consummation the gastric acid will be eliminated.

Because of its low-level of fat, you can drink it in large amount. The coconut water will reduce your appetite and will keep you sated, which can lead to losing weight.

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Macerate a cotton ball in the coconut water and place it on the skin if you are having acne, oily or dry skin The water will make the skin cleaner and fresher, and the pores will be opened Mix this water with olive oil in order to cleans your organism and to eliminate bowel parasites.

The experts are saying that by drinking coconut water on a regular basis, you will be able to solve few health issues during pregnancy. With only one cup of coconut water, your electrolytes in your body will get balanced, imbalance of this can cause hypertension or also known as high blood pressure.

When people are over-drink through the night they often have a headache in the morning. So when you will drink more than you should, in the morning you may remember this magical drink. It will make the headache go away and will also expiate the lost fluids and help you to overcome the sickness caused from hangover.

If you like your skin to be ablaze and hydrated during the day, drink one cup of the coconut water. If you’ve lost too much energy with some exhausting physical activities, you can recover your energy with coconut water. This water will leave positive effects on every single body part.

Photo: wearandcheer.com

The coconut water will provide you stronger immune system, boost of energy, safety from bacteria and infections, weight loss and many other health benefits.

20 Reasons You Should Drink Lemon Water in the Morning.

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Adding lemon to water not only quenches thirst better than any other beverage, but it also nourishes our body with vitamins, minerals and trace elements which we absolutely need. Lemon with water can be considered the best natural energy booster. When we wake up in the morning, our bodily tissues are dehydrated and are in need of water to push out toxins and rejuvenate the cells. In other words, this homemade “lemonade” helps eliminate internal toxins, regulating proper kidney and digestive tract functions by forcing them to work as smoothly as possible.

Here are 20 reasons to drink lemon water in the morning:

1. Water with lemon provides the body with electrolytes which hydrate your body. As lemons contain good amount of electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.

2. Water with lemon is good for the joints, reducing pain in the joints and muscles.

3. Warm water with lemon helps digestion as lemon contains citric acid. It interacts with other enzymes and acids which easily stimulate the secretion of gastric juice and digestion.

4. The liver produces more enzymes from water with lemon than from any other food.

5. Water with lemon cleanses the liver. Lemon juice stimulates the liver to release toxins.

6. Water with Lemon helps fight infections of the respiratory tract, sore throats and inflammation of the tonsils. This is due to the anti-inflammatory properties of lemon.

7. Warm water with lemon helps regulate natural bowel movement.

8. Water with lemon is indispensable for the normal work of metabolism. Since lemon is a powerful antioxidant, it protects the body from free radicals and strengthens the immune system.

9. Water with lemon aids in proper functioning of the nervous system (as lemon  has a high content of potassium). Depression and anxiety are often the result of low levels of potassium in the blood. The nervous system needs a sufficient amount of potassium to ensure sustainable signals to the heart.

10. Water with lemon cleanses blood, blood vessels and arteries.

11. Water with lemon can help lower blood pressure.  A daily intake of one lemon can reduce high blood pressure by 10%.

12. Water with lemon creates an alkalizing effect in the body. Even if you drink it immediately before a meal,  it can help your body maintain a higher level of pH. The higher the pH, the more your body is able to fight diseases.

13. Water with lemon is good for the skin. Vitamin C in lemon, improves our skin by rejuvenating the body.  Drinking water with lemon regularly (every morning) will improve the condition of your skin.

14. Water with lemon  helps to dilute uric acid, the built up of which leads to pain in the joints and gout.

15. Water with lemon is beneficial for pregnant women. Since lemons are loaded with Vitamin C, it acts as an adaptogen helping the body cope with viruses such as colds.  Furthermore, vitamin C helps the formation of bone tissue of the unborn baby. At the same time, due to the high content of potassium, a mixture of water with lemon helps forming cells of the brain and nervous system of the baby.

16. Water with lemon relieves heartburn. For this, mix a teaspoon of lemon juice in half a glass of water.

17. Water with lemon helps dissolve gallstones,  kidney stones, pancreatic stones, and calcium deposits.

18. Water with lemon helps with weight loss.  Lemons contain pectin fiber, which helps suppress hunger cravings. Studies have proven  people with a better alkaline diet have lost weight faster.

19. Water with lemon helps with tooth pain and gingivitis.

20. Water with lemon prevents cancer. This is due to the fact that lemons are a highly alkaline food. Multiple studies have found that cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment.

 How and when to drink water with lemon:

For this purpose, use warm purified or spring water. Take half a Cup of warm water without sugar and squeeze in there at least half of lemon or lime. Better to use a special juicer (to get the most juice with minimal effort). You can also use lemon essential oil.

You need to drink water with lemon first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Some recommend a drink of water one hour before meals for maximum results.

So, when life gives you a bunch of lemons, make water with lemons.

VIDEO: Top 5 Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

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Healthy Holiday Eating

Did you know that on average, we eat 600 more calories per day between Thanksgiving and the New Year? Staying healthy and fit during the holiday season can be challenging for everyone and staying on track can seem daunting. However, your sensible routine doesn’t need to be tossed out of the window until the New Year. With just these 5 simple tips and a little planning, you can indulge AND have a no-gain holiday season. Check out the video below and enjoy!

 

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