Not Vitamin C... A Powerful Super Antioxidant

Find out why you lose colour in your hair. Are you taking your vitamin C? Comment below.

Brain Saving Foods and Spices

The biggest fear that older people face is Alzheimer’s disease, where memory and cognition begin to fade. I recently reviewed a client’s list of medications and he was taking two drugs to preserve brain function, Aricept and Namenda. These drugs are useful to some degree, but I feel that there are foods, spices and herbs in your own kitchen that go a long way to preserve cognitive function, stabilize mood and lower levels of anxiety.

I absolutely love spices that heal, so much so that I have a free ebook “Spices that Heal” which you can download right now. This ebook talks about spices that are great to eat even if you have a variety of medical conditions. Now, here are some brain-saving foods and spices:

Put hemp seeds in your salad. Hulled hemp seeds put healthy fats into your body, and offset the bad fats typical of an American diet.  Hemp seeds have practically no THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. They have a perfect 3:1 ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids. Put a tablespoon (daily) on your salad, scrambled eggs or roasted vegetables.

Sprinkle my recipe for Brainpower Season Salt. 
Mix together the following 6 seasonings in equal amounts and put into an empty salt shaker. Sprinkle as desired: Rosemary, powdered gotu kola (get from an apothecary), himalayan salt, onion powder, powdered garlic (not garlic salt) and powdered turmeric.

Eat mushrooms.
I’m not talking Portabello’s, I’m referring to Lion’s Mane which gives us the active ingredient of Hericium erinaceus.  Lion’s Mane is sold as a dietary supplement, and known for its potent neuroregenerative powers. I buy the real mushrooms in the fresh produce section and butter saute them with Brussels sprouts and garlic. Lion’s Mane is a neurotrophic so my pick for you if you have any kind of brain damage from anything (trauma, benzos, mold exposure, etc).

Drink Juice.
We all think of antioxidants as a dietary supplement, like Vitamin C, for example. Citrus juice is a great source of natural vitamin C so a few ounces of orange juice would provide natural C which helps you make dopamine, serotonin and other neurotransmitters that a healthy brain requires.

Eat Antioxidants.
Eat plenty of brightly-colored fruits such as blueberries or figs, raspberries and black currants. Vegetables and salads contain a lot of antioxidants. These neutralize free radicals which harm neurons.



Eat Foliage.
By foilage, I mean salads and greens to give you folate, the natural form of the synthetic vitamin “folic acid.” Leafy greens like kale, spinach, broccoli, Swiss chard and lettuce have a lot of folate. Greens also provide powerful antioxidants so eat something green every day.  I recommend you cook cruciferous vegetables in order to reduce goitrogens. Obviously you don’t cook the lettuce.

Say “Yes” when they offer black pepper. 

The servers will often ask if you want black pepper on your salad at restaurants. Say yes next time because piperine, the primary component of black pepper slows the break down of serotonin and raises other feel-good endorphins. Studies are ongoing for black pepper’s role in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Source: http://suzycohen.com/articles/brain_foods_spices/

Why You Should Consider a Grain Free Diet

Do you suffer with autoimmune diseases, muscle spasms, chronic inflammation and pain, leaky gut? Are grains affecting you? Comment below.

Grainflamation, Food Toxicity, And Microbes

What you eat has a direct impact on your health. You’ve probably heard this for most of your life, but what you might not have heard is how what you eat impacts the health of your mind, too.

Just like eating the wrong foods can affect individual organs of your body, eating certain foods can have a tremendous detrimental effect on your mind. It’s vital to understand what foods have these effects and to eliminate or greatly curtail them in your life.

Don’t underestimate the power of food when it comes to your mental health.

Learn what you need to eat and what foods you should avoid to maintain a healthy mind.

Most people have heard of “leaky gut syndrome,” but have you ever heard of “leaky brain syndrome?”

Leaky brain syndrome is caused when the blood brain barrier is weakened and the elements of your bloodstream are free to wreak havoc on your brain. The result is antibodies and inflammatory compounds attacking the brain, and there is also potential for infection.

Some of the potential problems associated with leaky brain syndrome are migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, seizure disorder, neuropathy, depression, ADD/ADHD and autism and other developmental diseases.

Learn how what you are eating every day could be putting you at risk for leaky brain syndrome.

You don’t have to live with inflammation: there are functional medicine testing options and natural remedies to treat inflammation.

You can find remedies for inflammation in nature, especially in food. There are all kinds of foods that may contribute to the reduction of inflammation throughout your body.

Source: http://healthtalksonline.com/grainflamation-food-toxicity-and-microbes/

10 Signs You Need A Detox

“Detox” may have become a trendy buzzword, but it’s an absolutely necessary aspect you must add to your health regimen. If you ignore detox, you’re missing the boat and your health will suffer. Learn the signs you need a detox.With excessive toxin exposure and stress, our natural detox pathways can become compromised. In this article, I tell you how to clean up your liver and your body.

If you have a lack of energy, brain fog or are suffering from a chronic disease or condition, I guarantee you that toxin accumulation is contributing to the problem.

I learned about detox when I was planning my pregnancy many years ago.  Reading the baby books, I was shocked by all the chemicals you had to remove from the baby’s environment and realized I was completely surrounded by chemicals in the air, food and water. This education as a scary wake up call and I realized the dire importance of removing toxins from your environment and from your body.

Anyone that thinks that detox is not important or bogus – ahem, the mainstream medical community – are not serving their patients or their own bodies. It is foolish to think that you can escape the 80,000 chemicals that we have in our environment unscathed. You must be thinking about detox on a daily basis. Allow me to explain how.

10 Signs You Need a Detox

If you have 4 or more of these signs, you may have a congested liver that needs a vacation. How many of these signs you’ve seen in your body over the past 3 months?

1. Headaches
2. Increased belly or visceral fat, weight loss resistance, edema/water retention
3. Cravings and/or blood sugar issues
4. Overheating/excess sweating
5. Acne, rosacea, itchy skin
6. Fatigue unrelieved by sleep
7. Moodiness or anger
8. Nausea
9. Chemical sensitivity – smelling fragrances or chemicals makes you sick
10. Insomnia – especially waking between 2-4 a.m. That’s an angry, toxic liver.

Why Detox?

The body has a natural ability to detoxify toxins, such as heavy metals, but in today’s toxic world, this natural ability is severely compromised. Overexposure to toxins and high stress levels result in weakened digestive/detox function allowing toxins to find their way into the fat cells and brain tissue. (4)

No matter how hard you try to minimize your exposure to chemicals and toxins, they keep showing up in our bodies in increased levels simply because they are everywhere in our environment. The need for detoxification is based upon the principle that immunodeficiency, inflammatory and degenerative diseases from allergies to arthritis to Alzheimer’s result from the toxic, accumulative effects of poisonous substances and pathogens within the body.

According to reports by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the average person now has 212 environmental chemicals in their blood – things like mercury, lead, cadmium and industrial chemicals. The World Health Organization has studies that show we have over 700 chemicals on average in our bodies. No matter which study you choose, the prognosis is grim.

Mercury has found its way into organic produce from the coal mine plumes that cover most of America. And then there are all the countries in the world that do not regulate corporate dumping effectively – the rest of the world then suffers their industrial waste spewed into the atmosphere (China).

Environmental toxins such as pesticides, preservatives, heavy metals and industrial toxins are mostly fat soluble or “lipophilic” (lipo = fat, philic = like). Such lipophilic toxins have been associated with hormone disruption, immune system suppression, reproductive disorders, cancer and other diseases. (4,5,6,7)

Heavy metal and chemical toxicity, combined with nutrient depletion and stress = disease. Believe me, you need to nourish, detox and cleanse to enjoy good health.

How Your Liver Detoxes

There are three key detox pathways that your hard-working liver is organized around: phase I, phase II and phase III.

Very simply, phase I is oxidation, whereby your liver utilizes oxygen and enzymes to remove toxins by making them soluble in water, so they can be excreted in your urine and poop. Of these 100 enzymes, each has a type of chemical that it detoxifies. Phase 1 is essential to detox, but there’s some risk involved: sometimes the metabolites or broken down parts of these chemicals are worse than the parent. That’s where phase II comes in.

Phase II reactions conjugate (attach) the toxin to other water-soluble substances to increase its solubility. Each of the different types of phase II enzymes catalyzes a different type of conjugation reaction. This is necessary to remove the metabolites. Conjugation is how your liver combines oxidized metabolites with sulfur, glutathione, methylation, glucuronidation (drug detox), by adding certain amino acids or organic acids.

Phase III detoxification involves the transport of the transformed, conjugated toxin into or out of cells. Different phase III transport proteins work in concert to shuttle toxins from different parts of the body into bile or urine for excretion.

Here’s the tricky part: most environmental toxins overactivate in phase I, and then exceed the capacity of your liver to complete the detoxification in phase II. In other words, you develop excess phase I and slow phase II. When that happens, you generate signs of toxicity, such as those above.

Additionally, Phase II is impeded if you’re vegan or vegetarian or don’t eat the sulphur-containing amino acids found in meat. Ever notice how you have stinky gas after you eat red meat? Well, that’s all the sulphur your body needs to detox. You can get some sulphur-containing amino acids in cruciferous vegetables, but not enough. This is why vegans and vegetarians do still get cancer and other diseases related to toxicity. The Phase II detoxification pathway of their liver does not work very well.

Your liver needs a break! The chances are pretty good that your liver is OVERWHELMED given our levels of environmental toxin exposure and stress. We need to give it a helping hand. Here’s how:

Give your Liver a break!

Here are a few recommendations to unburden your poor liver.  It is essential to have a strong digestive system and well-functioning detox pathways – these can be achieved with intelligent cleansing techniques that are backed by science.

1. Consume Minerals and Antioxidants

Here’s why we need antioxidants. For every molecule of toxin metabolized in phase I (such as from cigarette smoke or pesticides), you generate one free radical molecule. Free radicals damage DNA and accelerate wear and tear in the body, similar to rust on a car. Taking vitamin C and E, Alpha lipoic acid, flavonoids, carotenoids, and glutathione helps neutralize the free radicals you’re making each day in phase I.

Want to get antioxidants from your food? Foods rich in flavonoids: berries, parsley, onions, green and black tea, citrus, and dark chocolate. Carotenoids? Get them from carrots, pumpkin, squash, plantains, spinach, and sweet potato. Also try green juice and wheatgrass juice.

Studies suggest that turmeric protects the body from heavy metals like mercury, as well as help the body detoxify them. Turmeric also supports optimal digestive function, healthy intestinal flora, stable moods and comfortable movement of the joints. In one study, turmeric was found to have a protective effect from the free radical damage from mercury. Turmeric was shown to boost the body’s detoxifiers, glutathione and super oxide dismutase (SOD) levels, which protect the liver from mercury. Turmeric also boosted enzymes like catalase in the liver, kidneys and brain, supporting detox. In the study, mercury concentrations were reduced as a result of turmeric supplementation before and after mercury exposure. (3)

Another favorite supplement of mine is Liver Maintenance by Physiologics. This unique formula combines the potent herb Milk Thistle, with Dandelion plus Alpha Lipoic Acid. Alpha Lipoic Acid acts as a universal antioxidant to help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals in both the water-soluble and fat-soluble compartments in the cell. Milk Thistle possesses antioxidant properties that may help neutralize cell-damaging free radicals, while stimulating nucleolar polymerase A, to support ribosomal protein synthesis within the liver. The standardized silymarin within milk thistle also helps to support the structure of the outer cell membrane of the hepatocytes while simultaneously helping to rejuvenate the liver hepatocytes.

2. Get in an Infrared Sauna

Infrared Saunas are THE most effective way of detoxing metals and chemicals from your fat. I prefer near infrared saunas over far infrared, but both are great for detoxification. Get a Near Infrared Sauna. Learn more about Infrared Saunas.

These saunas have many health benefits, including cancer treatment and prevention, detoxification, killing infections like parasites, yeast, and mold, etc.

In one study, they concluded that:

“Saunas can be used very effectively for certain cardiovascular problems and as a means to enhance the mobilization of fat-soluble xenobiotics. When saunas are used to reduce blood pressure and enhance blood flow and cardiac functioning, only short sauna (15 minutes) are necessary. When one wants to enhance the mobilization of heavy metals and chemical xenobiotics, longer sessions are needed. But, for either use, saunas are safe and effective and should be used more frequently to benefit the health of our patients and ourselves.” (1)

By sweating toxins out through your skin, they bypass the need to be detoxed by the liver and you take a large burden off of the liver. Do a daily near infrared sauna and your liver will thank you.

3. Simple Daily Detox

I have found that Zeolite is one of the easiest and best ways to detox if you cannot afford the time or expense of a rigorous detox program. Zeolite removes toxic heavy metals, chemicals, VOC’s, radioactive toxins and free radicals without removing vital nutrients. You just spray it in your mouth and let the detox begin!

The Clinoptilolite Zeolite molecule is shaped like a honeycomb, full of cavities and channels. Because zeolite carries a natural negative (-) charge, all of the positively charged (+) toxins bond with the zeolite. The zeolite particles, with the toxic materials attached are then flushed from your body with your urine within 4-6 hours. Get Zeolite.

4. Eat Your Veggies

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts contain sulphur, which help you reduce estrogen dominance and support both phase I and phase II detoxification. You also need their fiber to remove heavy metals from your colon!

5. Reduce Alcohol

Alcohol affects and harms both phase I and phase II detox pathways. Women who drink 3 to 6 servings of alcohol per week have a 15 percent greater risk of breast cancer compared to nondrinkers, according to the Nurses’ Health Study. This is because your liver metabolizes excess estrogen. And if you can’t get rid of that excess estrogen, you’re going to have weight gain and potentially even cancer. I recently found out I have a gene that interferes in my ability to metabolize excess estrogen. Luckily, I stopped drinking alcohol on a regular basis 6 years ago! Even low levels of alcohol confer risk. Alcohol should not be in your detox plan!

6. Cleanse your Liver

There are a couple ways you can actually mechanically clean out your liver. I personally LOVE coffee enemas and liver flushes and cannot recommend them highly enough! Coffee enemasprovide a means for your liver to ‘dump’ its toxic load of chemicals and heavy metals into the intestines for elimination.

Coffee enemas are superior to plain water enemas, as they provide so many more benefits. The theobromine, theophylline, palmitic acid and caffeine in the coffee travel via the rich capillary bed of the rectum into the portal vein, which leads directly to the liver. These substances dilate blood vessels and open up the bile ducts allowing the liver to release bile, which contains toxins.

Doctors at the University of Minnesota showed that coffee administered rectally also stimulates an enzyme system in the liver, which increases glutathione, the master antioxidant in the body, by 600%-700% above normal activity levels. This antioxidant reacts with free radicals (which cause cell damage) in the bloodstream and makes them inert. These neutralized substances become dissolved in the bile, are released through the bile flow from the liver and gallbladder, and are excreted through the intestinal tract.

While holding the coffee enema in the colon for 10-15 minutes, the body’s entire blood supply passes through the liver 4-5 times, carrying poisons picked up from the tissues. So the enema acts as a form of dialysis of the blood across the gut wall. It’s an amazing way to assist the body to detox in our very toxic world. Learn how to do a Coffee Enema.

Liver flushes. The liver-gall bladder flush is a great method to deeply cleanse the liver and help remove gallstones.  It can also help remove stones in the liver itself. Flush ’em with either a deep or quick liver flush! This flush can really help to give your liver a boost in detoxing your body.

7. Take Care of all These Steps in ONE program

I developed my Mineral Power program to address all the issues as to why the body is not functioning properly. It is a complete detox and healing program designed to get the body detoxing on its own by remineralizing and nourishing the body and removing your current body burden of chemicals interfering in your body’s function. When we are nutrient and mineral depleted, stressed and overwhelmed with metals and chemicals, disease eventually follows. Learn how to reverse disease, heal the adrenals and thyroid, get your libido back, improve energy and mental clarity at MineralPower.com. Get your MOJO back!

What is the Next Step?

Given the daily toxic exposures that we all encounter daily, ongoing and focused detoxification is imperative.

Start by limiting your exposure to toxins by drinking clean water. Better yet, get a whole house filter. Clean up your environment and home from chemicals and toxins. Learn how to do that by reading my article Reduce Your Daily Exposure to Cancer Causing Agents. Detox your beauty products with recommendations for my favorite beauty products. Eat organic.

Most importantly I think that people need a lifelong detoxification plan. This is why I developed my Mineral Power program. I wanted to teach people how they can detox their body with the correct supplements, proper diet, detox and stress reduction and lifestyle protocols.

You need to be thinking about detox on a daily basis – not just a spring cleaning! This is my main message on Liveto110.com. We are so bombarded every day with toxins and they have been building up in our body for decades. Everyone needs a program like Mineral Power to detox their current body burden and heal their body and liver.

References

1. Crinnion, W. “Components of Practical Clinical Detox Programs–sauna as a Therapeutic Tool.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2007. Web. 23 Feb. 2015  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17405694
2. Langford, N., and R. Ferner. “Toxicity of Mercury.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 1999. Web. 23 Feb. 2015  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10516733
3. Agarwal, R., SK Goel, and JR Behari. “Detoxification and Antioxidant Effects of Curcumin in Rats Experimentally Exposed to Mercury.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2010. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20229497
4. Herron, R., and J. Fagan. “Lipophil-mediated Reduction of Toxicants in Humans: An Evaluation of an Ayurvedic Detoxification Procedure.”Alternative Therapies 8.5 (2002): 40-51. Sept.-Oct. 2002. Web. 23 Feb. 2015 http://w.theraj.com/pregnancy/Herron.pdf
5. Guziel, PS. “New Approaches for Treatment of Humans Exposed to a Slowly Excreted Environmental Chemical (chlordecone).” Z Gastroenterol 22.1 (1984): 16-20. National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 1984. Web. 23 Feb. 2015 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6199909
6. Boylan, JJ, JL Egle, and PS Guzielian. “Cholestyramine: Use as a New Therapeutic Approach for Chlordecone (kepone) Poisoning.” Science199.4331 (1978): 893-95. National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 Feb. 1978. Web. 23 Feb. 2015 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/74852

Source: https://liveto110.com/10-signs-you-need-a-detox/

Health Benefits Of Olive Oil

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, dubbed olive oil “the great therapeutic.” The ancient Greek physician identified more than 60 medicinal uses for olive oil.

Fortunately, after two and a half millennia, modern science is beginning to catch up. Many clinical studies, including the large-scale PREDIMED trials to evaluate the effects of the Mediterranean diet, have demonstrated olive oil’s role in chronic disease prevention and other areas.

A delicious component of a nutritious diet, olive oil and its consumption may also be considered preventive healthcare—with topical therapeutic uses, too.

Important note: In order to reap the health benefits of olive oil, it is crucial that you procure extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), the only form of olive oil that retains its natural phenols (antioxidants) and other active compounds. (EVOO is minimally processed, whereas other oil grades, such as virgin, “pure,” or “light,” have been industrially refined and the healthful phenols destroyed.)

The Science of Olive Oil

EVOO contains more than 30 phenols, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties. The best-known of these phenolic compounds is oleocanthal, which acts in a manner similar to the pain reliever ibuprofen. (The name oleocanthal has very direct roots: oleo is the Greek term for “olive”; canth means “sting”; and al signifies the aldehyde chemical group.) The “sting” refers to a prickly sensation in the back of the throat, a signifier of high phenolic levels in EVOO.

The bioactive power of these precious phenols begins to degrade within six months after olive oil is pressed. The fresher the oil, the greater its therapeutic potential.

The other main bioactive components of EVOO are monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs. MUFAs exert beneficial effects on metabolism, namely cholesterol and glucose (blood sugar) levels, and can also help reduce inflammation.

Medical professionals recommend selecting EVOO from the most recent olive harvest as a strategy for obtaining the highest-quality, highest-phenolic oil. (Here is a source —the only one we know of—that procures independently lab certified EVOO according to the global harvest schedule.)

10 Proven Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

1. Can reduce the risk of heart disease

Two tablespoons of EVOO per day can reduce your risk of heart disease by improving blood cholesterol levels: lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

Heart disease can affect people of all ages, although the risk increases as you get older. Rising obesity levels in the US and around the world have lowered the average age of onset of heart disease risk factors such as atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”), which can start as early as childhood.

2. Can help prevent type 2 diabetes

Several studies have shown that EVOO as part of the Mediterranean diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes. In a PREDIMED study, the group of people who ate an olive oil–rich Mediterranean diet reported 40% fewer cases of diabetes than the control group (who did not consume olive oil). In another study, which evaluated people at risk for diabetes, two tablespoons per day of EVOO, along with fiber, reduced fasting and 2-hour glucose (blood sugar) to normal, non-diabetic levels.

3. May protect against breast cancer

A recently published, long-term PREDIMED study suggests that a Mediterranean diet enriched with EVOO (1 liter a week for participants and their families) helps protect against breast cancer. Olive oil consumption is also inversely related to breast density: women who consume greater amounts of olive oil are less likely to have high breast density, a risk factor for breast cancer.

4. Aided weight loss in breast cancer survivors

In a study of breast cancer survivors, women who ate a plant-based, olive oil enriched diet (including 3 tablespoons of EVOO per day) lost more weight than women on a low-fat diet. In addition, women in the study overwhelmingly chose to continue with the olive oil diet for 6 months of follow-up after the initial 8-week study.

5. Can reduce high blood pressure and the need for antihypertensive medication

In a year-long study of people with high blood pressure, people who consumed olive oil lowered their blood pressure significantly compared to those who consumed sunflower oil (which contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs). What’s more, a third of the people in the olive oil group experienced enough of a reduction in blood pressure that they were able to discontinue antihypertensive medication.

6. Can reduce the risk of blood clots

The monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in EVOO have been shown to reduce blood vessel inflammation and other factors that can lead to blood clots.

7. Reduces inflammation

Multiple compounds in EVOO have anti-inflammatory properties—MUFAs as well as phenols. Many medical conditions can be traced to chronic inflammation, in particular autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system attacks and damages the body’s own tissues.

8. Helps relieve rheumatoid arthritis pain

The anti-inflammatory properties of EVOO have been shown to alleviate the pain of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease affecting the joints. A diet high in EVOO may even lower the risk for developing RA.

9. Can help protect cognitive abilities

A recent PREDIMED study found that older people who ate a Mediterranean diet supplemented with EVOO experienced better brain power compared to participants on a low-fat diet. Participants in the study were given about 1 liter of olive oil a week.

10. Benefits maternal and infant health

EVOO in a breastfeeding mother’s diet helps maintain high levels in breast milk of vitamin E, which is vital to an infant’s brain and nerve development. To help nursing mothers relieve nipple soreness, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others recommend applying EVOO to the affected area. In contrast to ointments such as lanolin, EVOO does not need to be wiped off before nursing.

Bonus cosmetic benefits: Olive oil is also celebrated for making hair soft and shiny, whether as a leave-in conditioner or shampooed out after a warm oil wrap. Generations of women (and men too!) also swear by olive oil as a moisturizer, especially for hands, feet, and rough, dry elbows.

To experience these and other therapeutic effects of olive oil, remember to seek out certified extra virgin olive oil from the latest harvest . The freshest EVOO has a higher phenolic content—and can offer greater health benefits.

References

Baiano A, Gambacorta G, Terracone C, Previtali MA, Lamacchia C, La Notte E. Changes in phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Italian extra-virgin olive oils during storage. J Food Sci. 2007;74(2):177–183.

Barros CR, Cezaretto A, Curti MLR, et al. Realistic changes in monounsaturated fatty acids and soluble fibers are able to improve glucose metabolism. Diab Metab Syndr. 2014;6(136):1–8.

Covas MI, Nyyssönen K, Poulsen HE, at al. The effect of polyphenols in olive oil on heart disease risk factors: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145:333–341.

Ferrara LA, Raimondi AS, d’Episcopo L, Guida L, Dello Russo A, Marotta, T. Olive oil and reduced need for antihypertensive medications. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:837–842.

Flynn M, Reinert SE. Comparing an olive oil–enriched diet to a standard lower-fat diet in breast cancer survivors: a pilot study. J Womens Health. 2010. 19(6):1155–1161.

Flynn M, Wang S. Olive oil as medicine: the effect on blood lipids and lipoproteins. UC Davis Olive Center Report. March 2015.

Larsen LF, Jespersen J, Marckmann P. Are olive oil diets antithrombotic? Am J Clin Nutr. 1999. 70:976–982.

Linos A, Kaklamani VG, Kaklamani E, et al. Dietary factors in relation to rheumatoid arthritis: a role for olive oil and cooked vegetables. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;70(6):1077–1082.

Lovgren S. Olive oil fights heart disease, breast cancer, studies say. National Geographic News. March 21, 2005.

National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. Overcoming breastfeeding problems. August 30, 2014. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002452.htm.

Owen RW, Haubner R, Würtele G, Hull WE, Spiegelhalder B, Bartsch H. Olives and olive oil in cancer prevention. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004;13(4):319–326.

Parkinson L, Keast R. Oleocanthal, a phenolic derived from virgin olive oil: a review of the beneficial effects on inflammatory disease. In J Mol Sci. 2014;15:12323–12334.

Salas-Salvado J, Bulio M, Babio N, et al, for the PREDIMED Study Investigators. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with the Mediterranean diet. Diabetes Care. 2011;34(1):14–19.

Steinberger J, Daniels SR. Obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular resistance in children. Circulation. 2003;107:1448–1453.

Toledo E, Salas-Salvado J, Donat-Vargas C, et al. Mediterranean diet and invasive breast cancer risk among women at high cardiovascular risk in the PREDIMED trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;14:1–9.

Valls-Pedret C, Ros E, Sala-Vila A, et al, for the PREDIMED Study Investigators. Mediterranean diet and age-related cognitive decline: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(7):1094–1103.

Waterman E, Lockwood B. Active components and clinical applications of olive oil. Alt Med Rev. 2007;12(4)331–342.

Source: https://liveto110.com/health-benefits-of-olive-oil/

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Thyroid Problems in Women & Hashimoto's Tips w/ Dr. Amy Myers

Amy Myers talks about thyroid problems and how to overcome them with natural solutions. Do you suffer with thyroid disorders? Comment below.

Beating ADHD Naturally, Sample Daily Routine Checklist

Is your child smart but disorganized, excitable, scattered, and struggling? Do you long for the day when his true brilliance and talents will be revealed? Your grueling wait is over! Renowned natural health expert, Dr. Scott A. Johnson, reveals indispensable evidence-based methods to release your child from the distracting obstacles that have repressed him for too long. Retrain your child’s brain to perform optimally and inspire him to realize his fullest potential with the unique and complete strategies shared in Beating ADHD Naturally. In this revolutionary book you will explore:

• the mysteries of what causes ADHD, including brain irregularities, genetics, and environmental factors;
• dynamics driving the skyrocketing surge in ADHD frequency;
• customary treatment options, their risks, and why they are not the solution long-term;
• nutritional shifts that encourage optimal brain function and signaling;
• evidence-based dietary supplements and essential oils that balance brain neurotransmitters and reduce ADHD symptoms;
• and how music and sensory integration diminish ADHD symptoms.

Free printable Daily Sample Routine for children with ADHD.

v2_Daily check list (for website)

For more information about the power of essential oils to influence ADHD symptoms, see chapter 5 of Beating ADHD Naturally.

Source: http://authorscott.com/sampledailyroutinechecklistadhd/

How to Cure Candida in 6 Steps

In this video you will learn the exact diet, treatment, and supplements you need to take to clear candida from your body, which is all included in my “6-Step Candida Cure” protocol. Candida is the overgrowth of bad bacteria in your body and includes symptoms like fatigue, leaky gut, yeast infections, cold & flu, any digestive issues, bad breath, or a sluggish metabolism.


Have you ever experienced candida? What steps did you take? Comment below.

Why SIBO Leads to Major Health Problems (And How to Fix It)

Most of us now understand that there are thousands of bacteria living in our digestive systems. Beneficial and pathogenic bacteria co-exist in our digestive tract, and problems can occur when these get out of balance.

Research has linked many conditions like IBS, bloating, leaky gut syndrome, and even Crohn’s disease to imbalances in the gut. New evidence suggests that another, though less well-known, may contribute to these disorders: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

What is SIBO?

SIBO stands for “Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.” Anatomically, the small intestine connects the stomach with the colon.

So bacteria in the digestive tract are normal, right?

Yes and no…

The old saying that there is a time and a place for everything applies here.

Bacteria is normal in the digestive tract, but, with this infection, it isn’t the presence of bacteria which is the problem. The problem is that there is too much bacteria and/or the wrong type of bacteria. By the “wrong type of bacteria,” it doesn’t necessarily mean some weird strain of bacteria is wreaking havoc on your gut. Most often, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth occurs because bacteria which should be in your large intestine (colon) gets into your small intestine. (source)

The small intestine works to digest food and absorb nutrients into the body. If you want to get technical, it has three parts: the duodenum (food ends up here from the stomach), the jejunum and the ileum (which moves partially digested food into the colon or large intestine).

How Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Occurs

The gastrointestinal system does contain bacteria, but these should be in the highest amount in the colon. Comparatively, there should be relatively little bacteria in the small intestine. The small intestine houses different kinds of bacteria than the colon or rest of the digestive system. In fact, you’ll find only about 10,000 bacteria per milliliter of fluid in the small intestine.  The colon houses at least 1,000,000,000 bacteria per milliliter of fluid!

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (also known as small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SBBOS)) occurs when large numbers of the bacteria from the colon migrate to the small intestine and disrupt its balance.

SIBO harms the structure and function of the small bowel. Damage in the small intestine can lead to leaky gut, which occurs when the intestinal barrier is permeable and proteins from food can enter the bloodstream. This may lead to complications like immune reactions, food allergies or sensitivities, generalized inflammation, and  even contribute to autoimmune diseases.

Is SIBO Contagious?

Thankfully, no.

Though it is a nasty infection, it is not contagious so you don’t have to worry about it spreading to anyone else.

SIBO Symptoms: Understanding the Problem

The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive system and handles much of the nutrient absorption from food. Problems in the small intestine can quickly lead to nutrient deficiencies and food absorption issues.

Perhaps most problematic: these bacteria living in the small intestine can “eat” B vitamins, such as vitamin B12, before the body can absorb these important nutrients. These same bacteria, when present in the small bowel, consume vital amino acids, causing protein deficiency and an increase in ammonia production. It may also lead to fat soluble vitamin absorption issues.

Main SIBO Symptoms:

• Flatulence and/or belching
• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Cramps
• Diarrhea and/or constipation (source)

Risk Factors for SIBO:

Certain groups of people are at higher risk for SIBO, including those with an existing gastrointestinal disorder. Those with autoimmune disease, especially Celiac disease, are also at higher risk.

Other risk factors:

• Medications: Especially those that affect the immune system or digestive tract
• Celiac Disease: A study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology showed that 66% of people with celiac disease had SIBO (even when eating completely gluten free!). (source)
• Diabetes: Another study found this overgrowth in 43% of diabetes patients
• Other Autoimmune Disease: Any condition that compromises the immune system may lead to a higher rate of SIBO
• Aging: Another fun part of aging- those over age 60 have a higher risk than those under 60
• Rosacea: An Italian study found a strong correlation between those with SIBO and symptoms of Rosacea. The study also showed a recovery from Rosacea when the bacterial overgrowth was eliminated (source)

There may also be a connection between oral contraceptive use and SIBO.

Research has identified an association between oral contraceptive pills and bowel disease like IBS and Crohn’s. Of course, correlation doesn’t prove causation, but the association is strong,according to this study.

And alcohol consumption and SIBO:

There is also a clear association with heavy alcohol consumption and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

From Chris Kresser:

Heavy alcohol use has long been recognized in association with SIBO (source).This study also found an association between SIBO and moderate alcohol consumption, defined as up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Alcohol appears to have effects on several of the normal protective mechanisms, including causing injury to the small bowel mucosal cells, contributing to leaky gut, and decreasing the muscular contractions. Additionally, alcohol may “feed” a few specific types of bacteria contributing to overgrowth (source)

Personal Experience With SIBO

Years ago, my husband’s appendix ruptured, leading to a nasty secondary infection and a lot of really potent antibiotics that saved his life. Obviously, I’m forever grateful to those doctors and those antibiotics, but they did leave behind some gastrointestinal symptoms that were later identified as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.

This began my research on this tricky condition and I found that many people seem to struggle with it, even after cleaning up their diets. In fact, my friend Sylvie was diagnosed with it, even after years of clean eating. In her words:

"When I first cleaned up my diet a few years ago from the typical standard American diet to a real foods based one, I was astonished at how many health conditions seemed to just disappear week after week. I was feeling more energetic, losing weight with very little effort and even managed to get rid of a couple medications.

Unfortunately, the switch to real food didn’t solve every health issue I had… I was still dealing with histamine intolerance, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), which I later found out were both caused by SIBO, which sent me down a rabbit hole of research. The good news is that by treating SIBO I was able to eliminate the symptoms of histamine intolerance and IBS."

Unfortunately, SIBO isn’t as well-known as many other digestive conditions. It’s taken a little while for the medical community to get on board with recognizing this condition, and learning how to treat it effectively.

How do I know if I have SIBO?

This was the first question we set out to answer for my husband.

The only way to know for sure, is to get tested.

Unfortunately, you can’t order the tests yourself. You need to see a doctor or qualified practitioner to order them for you.  We saw a naturopath and a clinician who specializes in gut health.

Best Test for SIBO

The BEST test you can take is a 3 hour lactulose breath test that you can take in the comfort of your home and send back to the lab in the mail. Essentially, you consume lactulose as directed and breathe into a tube every 20 minutes for 3 hours. There’s a 24 hour diet that you have to follow the day before your test to ensure accuracy in the results.

If you have IBS, it’s a good idea to get tested for SIBO, since treating it is what will eliminate your IBS symptoms, not the other way around.

It can sometimes take more than one round of treatment to eliminate it, so the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get relief.

How Do I Get Rid of SIBO?

SIBO can be tricky to treat and sometimes takes more than 1 round of treatment or a combination of different treatments. Choosing the right treatment for you depends on:

• What type of SIBO it is (methane dominant or hydrogen dominant)
• How severe the SIBO is (determined by your breath test)
• How determined the person is to eliminate it

Seriously, that third one is important to note because some treatments, like the elemental diet (below), are more difficult and severe than others but when you’ve had enough of SIBO and are ready to eliminate it, you might just be willing to endure two miserable weeks in order to achieve it sooner.

Other treatments include traditional antibiotics, herbal antibiotics, and following a specialized diet which incorporates principles from both the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and the low FODMAP diet as well as some additional gut healing recommendations.

The best solution is likely a combination of most of these methods. Antibiotics are the most common treatment for SIBO sufferers, but studies show that about half of people will relapse within a year! (source)

The Elemental Diet for SIBO

The elemental diet is one of the most statistically effective treatments for SIBO, but perhaps the most difficult too. And the name is misleading, because it actually requires eating no food for a couple of weeks.

Essentially, the elemental diet is a protocol of no solid food and a very specialized supplement program. This protocol starves out the bacteria in the small intestine. This diet is complicated and requires specialized supplements, so it is important to work with a knowledgeable practitioner. I also found this digital guide very helpful for understanding and preparing for the elemental diet.

Long-Term Diet to Stop SIBO

SIBO’s high recurrence rate makes it difficult to stop without long-term changes. The elemental diet is typically only done for a few weeks, but some dietary changes may help keep it from coming back:

Eating Smaller Portions

When a person overeats, it takes the body longer to digest food and it sits in the stomach. This can make SIBO worse. Eating small portions that can be quickly digested and waiting a few hours between meals is a long-term way to help guard against SIBO. This is probably a good practice for most people, even those without SIBO.

Low FODMAPs

Certain types of foods are more likely to contribute to gut issues. FODMAPs are some of the most likely offenders. If you aren’t familiar with them, FODMAP stands for:

• Fermentable: the process through which gut bacteria break down undigested carbohydrate to produce gases (hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide).
• Oligo-saccharides: a) fructo-oligosaccarides found in wheat, rye, onions and garlic etc. b) galacto-oligosaccharides found in legumes/pulses.
• Disaccharides: lactose found in milk, soft cheese, yoghurts etc
• Mono-saccharide: fructose (in excess of glucose) found in honey, many fruits and vegetables, high fructose corn syrups etc.
• And
• Polyols: sugar polyols (eg. sorbitol, mannitol) found in some fruit and vegetables and used as artificial sweeteners.

My husband claims that these can be easily remembered in the general category of “everything that tastes good.”

Avoiding these foods, at least for a period of time, may help the body battle SIBO.

GAPS or SCD Diet

A long term diet like GAPS or SCD may help the body stop SIBO from coming back. These diets are less restrictive than the two listed above and more sustainable in the long term. These diets may also help eliminate SIBO but can take much longer than an elemental diet combined with natural or conventional antibiotics.

I talk about my experience with them here.

Sylvie’s Experience Getting Rid of SIBO

Sylvie McCracken, author of The SIBO Solution, was able to eliminate her SIBO using a combination of these methods:

"Believe it or not, I’ve tried every single one of those protocols, since my case of SIBO was severe to say the least.

If I had to do it again I would have gone straight to the homemade elemental diet plus herbal antibiotics. It still might have taken 2 rounds of that for my severe case but that would have saved me many months of suffering and hundreds of dollars.

The rabbit hole of research became so deep that I decided to chronicle the journey, research, recipes, and recommendations into one resource guide, so that if you’re struggling with this condition you don’t have to go through all the trial and error that I did."

Stopping SIBO Recurrence

One of the biggest (often neglected) problems with SIBO is the high recurrence rate. A person goes through all this trouble, and often expense, in treating it only to have it come back (sometimes with a vengeance) a few months later.

The biggest mistake people make when treating SIBO is not following the 3 keys to post treatment:

• Retesting (the same SIBO breath test you did prior to treatment)
• Prokinetics (as directed by your doctor)
• Following a SIBO diet for at least a few months

Anyone willing to go through the trouble of fighting SIBO should also focus on preventing recurrence for those few months post treatment.

A Helpful Resource for SIBO

The SIBO Solution is your comprehensive guide to eliminating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and most importantly, keeping it at bay for good. It has been an invaluable resource in our battle with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.

If you have a nagging case of IBS or have been diagnosed with SIBO already, this guide will help you navigate this journey from diagnosis to treatment to post treatment prevention as well as provide you with the recipes you need to navigate the somewhat restrictive diet.

Get your copy of The SIBO Solution for 30% off for a limited time with code WELLNESSMAMA at this link.

This post was co-written by Wellness Mama and Sylvie McCracken, author of The SIBO Solution.

Source: http://wellnessmama.com/128192/sibo/