Quick Tips #1
This is the first in a series of Tips that I will put out regarding foods to avoid, enjoy, or try as information is recalled from my noodle or I encounter from those who know a lot more than me, of who there are many. I will be brief in my explanations as to why. If you want more, email me. Also, please feel free to send comments, suggestions, or findings to me personally. Knowledge is a shared endeavor!
-Billy
AVOID!
CORN, WHEAT, & GLUTEN GRAINS
Even if they are organic, evidence is supporting the fact that these grains, (including barley, oats, spelt, kamut), promote inflammation at the cellular level. This could have an effect on ‘swollen’ or inflamed cartilage in joins that could lead to its breakdown and accelerate arthritis. The medical profession would have you believe that Osteoporosis is inevitable and to take calcium or prescription meds, but controlling the cause rather than treating the symptom is a much better option, don’t you agree? A larger problem is inflammation of arterial walls, the epithelial lining cells that inflame and generate an inflammatory response leading to plaque development and blockage. Hmmm, is cholesterol really the problem?
‘HYDROGENATED’ or ‘TRANS FATS’
Big news since the NY ban. These are added to so many foods in a conventional supermarket that it would be impossible to list them all. Stay clear of any processed food that has these words in it.
“Trans fats are created when hydrogen is added to liquid oils to transform them to solid fats, usually in order to increase a product’s shelf life, and are found in processed foods like pizza dough, cookies and pre-made pancake mix. According to FDA figures, the average American consumes 4.7 pounds of trans fats annually.” -Taken from About.com
“Using hydrogenated oils in foods is a strategy used by manufacturing companies to enhance the taste of their foods, add calories to their foods and extend the shelf life and shelf stability of those foods. This all adds up to higher profits for food companies. The real costs of using this ingredient, however, are shifted to consumers (a process called externalizing costs). Those include the starkly increased risk of a number of degenerative chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, birth defects, cancer, malabsorption of healthy oils and the universal breakdown of cell wall structures throughout all organs and tissues of the body, including nervous system tissues (eyes, brain, spinal cord, etc.).”
Taken from www.newstarget.com
–Mike Adams
TRY!
GREEN TEA
It has less caffeine than coffee, (20mg as opposed to 200mg), and loaded with benefits such as elevating immune function, fights the development of cancer cells, lowers cholesterol, and reduces the ability of blood to clot. Get loose leaf only and buy a basket or disposable tea bags. Most conventional tea bags/boxed teas have bleached bags and the tea is of inferior quality.
“The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots.”
–Taken from www.about.com/nutrition
“Through its bitter substances, green tea harmonizes and aids our digestion, and balances our intestines and stomach. Green tea helps destroy harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi, which keeps our immune systems toned and constantly working at an optimal level.”
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com
ALMONDS
A great and convenient snack, these protein and omega 3 loaded guys make mid-meal snacking a snap. Almonds are low in saturated fat and contain many other protective nutrients - calcium and magnesium - for strong bones, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease and even cancer
One ounce of almonds contains 12 percent of your daily allowance of protein. And absolutely no cholesterol, of course. You’ll also get 35 percent of your daily allowance of vitamin E, that valuable antioxidant with so many cancer-fighting qualities. And most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated, also known as the “good” fat.
This little nut is also loaded with minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, as well as lots of healthy fiber. And don’t forget calcium and folic acid - they’re in there too!
20-25 almonds (approximately one ounce) contain as much calcium as 1/4 cup of milk, a valuable tool in preventing osteoporosis
In addition to healthy fats and vitamin E, a quarter-cup of almonds contains almost 99 mg of magnesium (that’s 24.7% of the daily value for this important mineral), plus 257 mg of potassium.
Magnesium is Nature’s own calcium channel blocker. When there is enough magnesium around, veins and arteries breathe a sigh of relief and relax, which lessens resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Studies show that a deficiency of magnesium is not only associated with heart attack but that immediately following a heart attack, lack of sufficient magnesium promotes free radical injury to the heart.
Potassium, an important electrolyte involved in nerve transmission and the contraction of all muscles including the heart, is another mineral that is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Almonds promote your cardiovascular health by providing 257 mg of potassium and only 0.3 mg of sodium, making almonds an especially good choice to in protecting against high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.
And a second study by the same research team, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and found that, as part of the same heart healthy eating plan, almonds can reduce C-reactive protein, a marker of artery-damaging inflammation, as much as statin drugs.
Taken from www.whfoods.com (world’s healthiest foods)
A Link to an in-depth nutritional analysis: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientprofile&dbid=96