» Supplements

Fish Oil May Help you Burn Fat.

Karen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:10:31 +0000

The biologically active ingredients that seem to make fatty fish so beneficial are are the long chain omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, EPA and DHA. At least a half a dozen human studies and more than two dozen animal studies have been completed in the last 10 years which suggest that these omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may help you lose more fat. However, the fat loss benefit is not as much as some people want you to believe…

The results of two new studies on fish oil and fat loss were just released earlier this year. In one study published by the International Journal of Obesity, researchers from Reykjavik Iceland tested the effects of fish or fish oil consumption equivalent to 1.5 grams of combined EPA/DHA on body weight and body composition as part of a calorie restricted diet. (1)

The subjects were 324 young overweight men and women who followed one of four experimental protocols for 8 weeks:

(1) sunflower oil capsules (control)

(2) lean fish

(3) fatty fish (salmon)

(4) fish oil capsules

The researchers reported the following results:

“In young, overweight men, the inclusion of either lean or fatty fish, or fish oil as part of a hypoenergetic diet resulted in 1 kilogram more weight loss after 4 weeks than a similar diet without seafood or supplement of marine origin. The addition of seafood to a nutritionally balanced energy-restricted diet may boost weight loss.”

It should be noted that the study was supported by the Seafood Plus organization and there were some limitations in the design that could have influenced the subject’s compliance.

The second study, conducted at the University of South Australia and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2) investigated the effect of combining fish oil supplements with regular aerobic exercise.

In a 12-week, placebo-controlled study, the subjects were divided into four groups:

(1) sunflower oil

(2) sunflower oil plus exercise

(3) fish oil

(4) fish oil plus exercise.

The fish oil groups were given 6 grams of high DHA fish oil per day, which contained a total of 1.9 grams of long chain omega-3 fatty acids. The exercising groups performed aerobic exercise three days per week for 45 minutes.

As you might expect, the fish oil plus exercise group came out with the best results:

* minus 1.2% body fat (compared to no decrease in the other groups)

* minus 2 kilograms/4.4 lbs (compared to no decrease in the non exercise group).

Unfortunately, there was a limitation in this study as well: The food intake of the subjects was self reported, which is known to be notoriously inaccurate.

There have been several other human studies on fish oil and fat loss in the last ten years or so and the majority of the findings have been positive. The research is compelling and there have been numerous, and very plausible mechanisms of action proposed.

However, more and more often, I am hearing people in the health, fitness and nutrition industries making some pretty bold and I daresay, premature and outrageous claims about what fish oil can do for fat loss; claims which are not supported by the research.

The studies on fish oil and fat loss are encouraging, but the vast majority of research has been on animals (rats, mice and hamsters) and there have been limitations in nearly all the human studies so far, including:

Small sample sizes, short study durations, statistically insignificant results, lack of randomization, no control groups, imprecise body composition testing, measurement errors, self-reporting of food intake, low compliance control and fish industry or supplement industry-sponsored bias.

Even if you take the results of the existing research at face value, the fat loss really isn’t all that impressive – an extra pound here, an extra kilo there.

Many of the research results barely reach statistical significance, and you even have to wonder if these small improvements in fat loss are simply correcting omega-3 deficiency or fixing omega-3 and omega-6 imbalance… therefore, will they continue over a longer time period or is this a one time improvement?

One of the earlier studies showed the same kind of measurable but modest results: The fish oil group that took 1.8 grams of combined EPA/DHA daily lost 2 pounds and the non fish oil group lost only 0.7 pounds after 3 weeks (3).

Of course, you’ll probably take all the fat loss help that you can get, and since there are already enough good reasons to eat fatty fish for cardiovascular disease prevention and other health benefits, it’s really a no brainer to eat fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel or sardines at least twice a week. (By the way, with the exception of King Mackerel, these are species which have not been reported as having problems with mercury contamination).

Alternately, you can use a fish oil supplement to get the equivalent in omega-3 fatty acids as found in the fish. Non fish eaters or vegetarians can use flaxseed oil, a plant-based source of Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) which converts in the body to EPA and DHA (the efficiency and amount of conversion has been a subject of controversy, however).

Based on the three studies cited above, it looks like 1.5 to 2.0 grams per day of combined DHA/EPA is the right dose when fat loss is the goal (although some suggest you should consider body weight when choosing the dosage, i.e., 1 gram total fish oil for each 20 lbs body weight, so a big guy might go with as much as 3.0 grams)

Most fish oil capsules come in 1,000 mg size at a 30% concentration, so if you took five 1000mg capsules a day, that would give you 1.5 grams of EPA/DHA; about the same as you’d get in 3 ounces (85 g) of salmon.

Note: other studies on fish oil and fat loss tested 3.0 to 4.0 g/day of EPA/DHA, but the American Heart Association has warned against taking more than 3 g EPA/DHA per day without a physicians supervision, as there may be potential contraindications and side effects such as increased bleeding time. Based on the research, more fish oil will NOT burn more fat, so be wary of the “mega dose gurus.”

Another tip: Don’t fall for the “premium price” necessarily means better quality party line. Quality and purity are important, but you can get molecularly-distilled, mercury, PCB, Dioxin, Organochlorine-free, 3rd party tested-to-meet-label-claims fish oil for less than ten bucks per bottle of 400 (one gram) capsules… yet I have seen “fish oil gurus” selling the exact same thing for $50 to $60 claiming that everyone else’s products are “contaminated” and “inferior” in quality. If that’s true, then I’d like to see those products submitted to consumer lab for voluntary 3rd party independent analysis and head to head comparison on purity AND cost effectiveness. If they come out superior and cost effective, I will gladly publicize the results myself.

The bottom line is it looks like fish oil may be a legitimate help to your fat loss efforts, especially when combined with exercise, as there may be an important synergy there. However, the idea that fish oil is some kind of miracle fat burner is just not true.

Like Mulder on the X-files, “I want to believe”… but we need much, much more research before we can say for certain exactly how much body composition improvement you can really expect from eating fatty fish or taking fish oil supplements.

Resveratrol Supplements? Or Just Polish Off the Merlot?

Tony H. — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:24:23 +0000

The popularity of the Mediterranean Diet and it’s apparent impact on longevity has led to research into the substance resveratrol, an ingredient found in red wine and a diet staple in the Mediterranean culture.

After extensive experimentation, doctors have concluded that resveratrol demonstrates the ability to reverse the effects of obesity in mice. In addition, they observed that mice placed on a diet of resveratrol supplements also exhibited higher endurance levels and longer lifespans than mice on a non-supplemented diet.

In a controlled test environment, ordinary mice will normally run approximately one kilometer on a treadmill before collapsing in exhaustion. However, mice that have been given a resveratrol supplement will run twice as far before showing evidence of tiring. In addition, subsequent tests also show that the mice on the resveratrol program demonstrate heightened muscle control and strength and have a significantly reduced resting heart rate when compared to the ordinary mice.

After the success of resveratrol supplement testing on mice and other animals, doctors at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology in Illkirch, France have now completed initial human experiments that demonstrate that similar results can be obtained in human test subjects that are placed on a program of high quality resveratrol supplementation.

The key to resveratrol’s effects on the body are in the substance’s ability to work at a cellular level to increase the production of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the organisms in the body that generate energy. The extra mitochondria in the treated mice resulted in the ability to burn more fat and to optimize muscle functions.

Dr. Ronald M. Evans, a scientist at the Salk Institute and an expert on the hormonal control of metabolic functions, stated that the report by the French genetics team had “shown very convincingly that resveratrol improves mitochondrial function” and wards off metabolic disease. Evans characterized described the study as “very important, because it is rare that we identify orally active molecules, especially natural molecules, that have such a broad-based, positive effect on a problem which is as widespread in society as metabolic disease.”

A drug that can prevent degenerative disease, promote weight loss, prolong life, and reshape an individual into a highly trained athlete sounds like the stuff of science fiction. But doctors are convinced that their work into the effects of resveratrol and resveratrol synergy have led to some surprising advancements in the area of anti-aging. They now believe that the body’s ability to utilize sirtuins, enzymes that protect and energize our systems, declines with age. This is the process that is reversed by resveratrol.

The growing evidence supporting the benefits of resveratrol has enthused scientists who do research on the aging process, several of whom are already taking resveratrol supplements. Dr. David Sinclair, a scientist at the anti-aging drug research company Sirtris, has been taking resveratrol supplements in liquid and capsule form for over three years. He claims that half the members of his laboratory do the same and that he is encouraging use of the supplements to family and friends. There are a range of views on appropriate resveratrol dosages, but this involves detailed debate around ingredient purity and potency.

Quality resveratrol supplements are designed to maximize the efficicencies of formula and dosage.

Hemp Protein – Can This Whole-Food Protein Source Match Or Exceed The “Star-Power” of Whey?

Adam — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:31:55 +0000

by Nick Nilsson

When you hear the word “hemp,” generally the last thing that comes to mind is protein and bodybuilding. Without going into detail on the other “psychoactive” strains of hemp, it’s time you learned more about what hemp can do for you from a nutritional point of view. I know I was very surprised to learn how complete a food hemp is!

I personally tested a hemp protein supplement for a period of 2 months, using NO other supplemental protein source. It was tough to give up the whey that had I been using for many years but, to give hemp a fair trial, I needed to be sure that the results wouldn’t be affected by other supplemental protein sources.

So for 2 months, it was just hemp protein…

Now, hemp is one of the most versatile plants in the world – it can be used for anything from making clothes to fuel and even autoparts (all Mercedes/Chrysler models use hemp-composite side panels because they’re more dent-resistant). For our purposes, we will focus entirely on its nutritional/protein content.

Hemp protein, while being a plant source, is actually a surprisingly complete protein. Hemp protein contains all 20 known amino acids including the 10 essential amino acids (8 in adults – 2 more are considered essential in children and seniors) our bodies cannot produce. Proteins are considered complete when they contain all 10 essential amino acids in a sufficient quantity and ratio to meet the body’s needs.

Hemp also has an extremely good essential fatty acid profile – it contains the fatty acids in perfect balance to each other (Omega 3 and 6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), in the near perfect ratio of 1:3 respectively).

One of the other major benefits of hemp protein supplementation is the very high insoluble fiber content of the powder. Fiber helps keep your blood sugar stable (ideal for fat loss), not to mention helping to keep you “regular.” On the ingredient label, you’ll see just how much fiber is in hemp…ALL the carb content is fiber, making it an excellent protein for low-carb diets.

So what does all this mean for you? Here are the main benefits of hemp protein supplementation that I discovered in my 2 month trial:

1. First and foremost – no loss of muscle mass or decline in muscle growth

One of the main things I worried about when switching to a plant-based protein would be loss of muscle mass. Could a plant protein really provide a complete protein and in substantial enough quantities to keep muscle AND help support muscle growth? The answer is “absolutely!” In using the hemp protein, muscle building was just as good, if not better, than with whey protein or protein blends. No problems at all there.

2. Excellent protein quality and usability

A better quality protein is more bioavailble in terms of digestibility and ability to be used in the body. When you’re training with weights, you want a protein that is going to be well-absorbed and easily utilized by the body. Hemp fits the bill here. Being a “whole-food” supplement means it already contains many of the enzymes necessary for optimal digestion.

3. No protein-bloating

If you’ve ever taken a big protein shake (like whey or milk protein), you’re most likely familiar with that “expanding” feeling that happens soon after. This does NOT happen with hemp protein. Whatever the reason, be it no milk-based ingredients or that it’s a plant protein, taking hemp didn’t cause any bloating at all.

4. No protein breath

Those who take milk-based proteins like whey or casein can definitely understand this one. Your mouth tastes and smells like rotten milk soon after you drink it. Hemp protein, however, doesn’t leave a sour aftertaste. I know my wife was very appreciative of this fact and insisted I get more hemp protein based solely on that!

5. No unnecessary ingredients

The hemp protein product that I used in my test had only one single ingredient: hemp meal – no artificial sweeteners, flavors or anything not found in the hemp plant itself. To be honest, adding any other nutrients in would be totally unnecessary due to the nutritional completeness of the hemp. So if you’re concerned about getting artificial sweeteners in your protein powder (especially when on lower-carb diets), hemp is an excellent way to go.

6. High Fiber = Cleaner Insides

One of the least talked-about aspects of health is intestinal health. But it’s EXTREMELY important to mention because a cleaner intestinal tract makes for improved nutrient absorption. The better you absorb nutrients from the foods you eat, the healthier overall you will be. Plus, the better your nutrient absorption, the more efficient your body will be both in fat loss and muscle building. The high amounts of insoluble fiber found in hemp protein really help keep your digestive tract moving along and functioning well.

These are the major benefits of hemp supplementation that I experienced during my 2 month test. What about downsides? There are a few, but in my experience, they were relatively minor compared to the major benefits of the hemp.

1. Taste

Because there are no other ingredients, what you see is what you get. It’s a plant-based protein and if you take it straight, it’s going to taste like a plant. If you’re used to oversweetened protein powders, it’s going to come as a bit of a shock to you.

To me, however, this natural taste was actually a very positive thing (I was getting a bit sick of those oversweet protein drinks). I quite enjoyed the nutty flavor of the hemp and would drink it straight with water. I also tried mixing it with orange juice and it tasted quite good. Bottom line: don’t come in expecting a strawberry shortcake flavor when you drink it but if you like natural flavor, you’ll love this.

2. Cost

Hemp protein is not a “bargain-basement, 10 pounds for 20 bucks” type of protein powder. It is relatively expensive because it must be processed carefully to maintain its high nutritional content (especially the Essential Fatty Acids). Being extremely fresh and containing no preservatives, it’s also extremely oxidative, meaning it’ll go bad much faster than regular protein. This is why it’s generally sold only in 1 or 2 lb containers. Personally, I used 1 lb containers, each of which lasted me about 8 to 10 days (and I was taking it fairly frequently throughout the day).

But here’s the upside…you don’t need to use as much of it to get the benefits! Rather than slugging down 40 to 60 gram+ whey protein shakes, I found myself taking only 10 to 30 grams of hemp at a time (the higher dose was post-workout). The body processes it very efficiently and I found I did just fine on the relatively lower dose in terms of muscle maintenance and muscle building.

Overall, as far as cost goes, to me it was well worth the price.

3. Tidiness

This was a very minor drawback that I found – because the containers are small (1 lb) and the scoop has a long handle in order to reach the bottom, I found every time I pulled the scoop out of the container, I spilled a little powder on the counter. But if that’s the worst thing that happens to you in a day, count your blessings. Like I said, it’s a VERY minor thing.

Conclusion:

When I first decided to give the hemp protein a try, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The information I read on it was very positive but I had always used whey or egg-based protein supplements. Would hemp do the job?

Hemp passed the test with flying colors. If you’re looking for a high-quality protein that has the potential to really improve your health, I HIGHLY recommend hemp protein as an excellent addition to your supplement regimen.

As far as where to get hemp protein to try for yourself, you can find hemp at Whole Foods stores or at any number of online retailers.

Let me put it this way…it’s not often that I include a new supplement in my core supplement regimen and I’m CONSTANTLY testing new supplements to see how well they work. In the past 6 months, I’ve tried 11 new supplements. The ONLY one to make the cut is hemp protein.

The Benefits of Resveratrol in Fighting the Aging Process

Tony H. — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:11:34 +0000

Most resveratrol supplements are not worth the investment. While researchers have shown many resveratrol benefits in the laboratory, the nutrient must reach your bloodstream in order to perform its magic. The latest research indicates that it does not usually make it to the bloodstream.

They have tested people’s blood after drinking wine on an empty stomach, drinking it with food and taking uncoated resveratrol supplements. None of these caused a significant increase in the levels of trans-resveratrol in the bloodstream.

All of the studies concerning resveratrol benefits were conducted using trans-resveratrol. The supplement with the highest trans-resveratrol content is standardized to a 50% concentration. If an enteric coating is applied, this type of supplement can increase the blood level of trans-resveratrol, but most companies don’t use the right form and they don’t include an enteric coating.

You won’t get any resveratrol benefits from a powder or liquid form. You might get some by drinking red wine, but researchers believe that the benefit of red wine is not due to its trans-resveratrol content. The amount that you would have to drink to significantly affect circulating blood levels would be damaging to the liver.

So, resveratrol supplements are a good idea, as long as the manufacturer uses the right form, combines it with other important nutrients and wraps the whole thing up in an enteric coating, to insure that it reaches the upper intestine, where it can pass through to the bloodstream.

Some of the resveratrol benefits include a healthier heart, a reduced risk of cancer, better functioning metabolism and possibly an extension of your lifespan, if the results of the laboratory studies can be transferred to humans.

No one is sure how or why it works in the ways that it does. There are only theories.

One of the most convincing is that trans-resveratrol increases the activity of a gene that can reduce a free radical known as superoxide. Superoxide molecules are not highly toxic, but they can, over time, cause DNA degeneration.

If this theory is correct, resveratrol supplements should include vitamin C, enzymes and glutathione. The gene reduces superoxide to hydrogen peroxide, which is also a free radical. Vitamin C and other ascorbates, reduce hydrogen peroxide to water. If glutathione and enzymes are also present, vitamin C remains more active for a longer period of time.

Some of the better supplement manufacturers include the right combination of antioxidants and other nutrients to provide the greatest effect. Resveratrol benefits are included among them.

There are hundreds of different nutrients and plant extracts that are known to be beneficial to human health. It would be nearly impossible to include all of them in your diet. Some of them are not plants that we normally eat. Extracts from marigold, for example, are known to protect the eyes from oxidative damage. When was the last time that you ate a marigold?

So, supplementation is important and necessary, if you want to live the longest, healthiest life possible. But, single-ingredient resveratrol supplements are not your best choice for supplementation.

Does Resveratrol Extend Lifespan?

Tony H. — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:43:44 +0000

Resveratrol is a phytonutrient molecule whose time has come. It is a polyphenolic phytoalexin present in grape skins and red wine that has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol has potent antioxidant and anti-tumorigenic activities as well as important protective effects on the nervous system and more.

This component of red wine has been found to inhibit the proliferation of a variety of human cancer cell lines, including those from breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreatic, and thyroid cancers. More recently, reports on the potential for resveratrol to inhibit the development of cancer and extend lifespan in cell culture and animal models have continued to generate scientific interest.

Clinical trials are currently underway to address this question and to also determine whether resveratrol might be beneficial in cancer treatment. There is an extensive and growing amount of work devoted to the possible links between diet and a reduction in the risk of breast cancer as well as other forms of cancer. Recently, reports have come in that resveratrol could inhibit a number of cellular events associated with the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer.

Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging report that a natural substance found in red wine, known as resveratrol, offsets the bad effects of a high-calorie diet in mice and significantly extends their lifespan. Research at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Ohio State University indicates that resveratrol has direct inhibitory action on cardiac fibroblasts and may inhibit the progression of cardiac fibrosis. Furthermore, researchers discovered that the liver and other systems in obese mice remained healthy (when they should not have) and fat related deaths dropped thirty one percent for those mice given a resveratrol supplement.

Research by Harvard Medical School Professor of Pathology David Sinclair, MD has shown that resveratrol extends the life span of mice by up to twenty four percent and the life span of other animals by as much as fifty nine percent. Another way this research differs from earlier work is that it looks specifically at the expression of genes known to be affected by aging in several important tissue types. The group explored the influence of the agent on heart, muscle and brain by looking for changes in gene expression in those tissues.

Insulin and glucose levels in mice on the high fat plus resveratrol diet were closer to the mice on standard diet than to the mice on the high fat diet. Resveratrol again demonstrated changes associated with longer lifespan, including increased insulin sensitivity, reduced insulin like growth factor-1 levels, increased AMP activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha activity, increased mitochondrial number, and improved motor function. But, in contrast resveratrol treatment had no significant effect on body weight, serum cholesterol, radial bone growth, epithelial cell height, or messenger RNA levels for insulin-like growth factor I.

Resveratrol supplements on the market today may contain anywhere from 10 to 150 mg of resveratrol per pill, but the effective doses for chronic disease prevention in humans are not known. Resveratrol is not known to be toxic or cause adverse effects in humans, but there have been only a few controlled clinical trials to date. However since there aren’t studies in humans, it’s impossible to say how much resveratrol is needed to create health benefits.

The amount of resveratrol in food varies greatly. Of course, understanding exactly how procyanidins work in the human body remains to be investigated, and the researchers plan to dose people with the compound in a future clinical trial. Resveratrol is a good antioxidant in any potency to help reduce oxidative stress, improving the immune system, cardiovascular system, and all other parts of the body that benefit from antioxidants.

Fish Oil – Living Healthy With Fish Oil Benefits

Tony H. — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:14:30 +0000

by Oktay Ozadam

You will be in for a surprise when you get to know all about fish oil benefits. The host of health benefits that can be got are much more impressive than you may have imagined. Everyone seems to be aware of some of the benefits of fish oil. However, you should also get to know there are a number of other ways you can benefit by taking supplements that contain fish oil. While not all people are quite at ease with the idea of taking any other kind of supplement, most of these people are more open to trying fish oil health products.

Do You Know the Benefits of Fish Oil

There are some however are wary of taking fish oil supplements because they are anxious that their bodies may smell fishy. It could be that they have tried supplements of garlic that release an unpleasant odor. The truth however is, very few people have ever complained about an odor that is due to any supplement that contains fish oil. If you look carefully you will realize that the health benefits of fish oil supplements are often focused only on the omega 3 fatty acids that are found in a fish oil supplement. Omega 3 fatty acids are play a crucial role for their antioxidant properties, however, there is more.

The most common benefits that is got from fish oil is that it can reduce the risk of conditions such as stroke and heart attack. This can be attributed to the antioxidant properties of omega 3 fatty acids. What you should be aware of is that another one of the fish oil health benefits is it is capable of reducing blood pressure. Fish oil has also been linked to keeping at bay the incidence of a range of illnesses such as cancer or depression.

Is there any Difference Between Fish Oil Supplements?

There are variations between different makes of fish oil. Mostly the difference is in the percentage of fish oil available in the supplement. Ensure that you check out all the details that you can find on the leaflet that accompanies the bottle so you can determine which is the best fish oil supplement for your requirements. Fish oil should be obtained from fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna. If the supplement fails to list where the fish oil was sourced from, the most sensible thing to do is avoid using that particular brand.

What is Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil?

Yu are sure to see that there are many brands that advertise that the supplements that they offer are made up of pharmaceutical grade fish oil. If you have heard of this, you may be unsure what it could be. The truth is, pharmaceutical grade fish oil is nothing but a myth yet because of its selling point many manufacturers utilize the term when marketing their supplement.

Health and More with Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil benefits are more than you thought. If you abide by the dosage suggested for taking this supplement, you will soon see a huge change in different areas of your health. As you would do with any other supplement, it is absolutely essential that you get the advice of your doctor before you start taking fish oil supplements. Nowadays, several health practitioners tell their patients to take fish oil supplements regularly for the most health benefits.

Make This Energy Packed, Healing Fruit Smoothie Your Everyday Morning Drink

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:55:49 +0000

by Paul Blake

Slows down aging process while helping you fight disease and lose weight

When I had cancer I made a very carefully thought out decision to put a strong effort into using natural healing before I turned myself over to modern medicine. I put in a great deal of time studying Chinese, Ayurvedic, European Herbal medicine, herbal healing and many other styles of natural healing. I finally decided to follow the advice of a Thompsonian Naturopathic Doctor. His was the first advice that made it real clear, how I got sick and how I would get well.

The very first thing he told me was “make a fruit smoothie every morning for breakfast for the rest of your life.” That was twenty years ago and I have not varied from that advice and it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made.

You might be asking yourself, like I did, “why do I need to make a fruit smoothie for breakfast, what good will that do me?” Here is why. In America, the average person eats a diet composed of mostly acid foods (meat, dairy, grains, legumes, etc.). Eating a diet composed mostly of these types of foods encourages an acid environment to exist in your body. The majority of American’s ph runs at about 5.5, which is far too acidic. A healthy human body has a ph of between 6.5 to 7.5 ph. Allowing this acidic environment to exist in your body is one of the greatest threats known to the health of human beings. An acidic environment leads to heart disease, cancer, disease from viruses and germs, arthritis, allergies, metabolism problems, weight gains, psychological problems, hormone imbalances, etc. The fruit smoothie he suggested I use to help me fight the cancer is made up entirely of fruit and a few natural healing herbs which are alkaline (vegetables are also alkaline). This smoothie helped me to neutralize the acid environment in my body.

When I started making this drink I had been sick for some time. My energy was low; I had gained a lot of weight, I had digestion problems, acid reflux, felt bloated, a lot of gas, spastic bowel, blood in stool and no appetite. I also had low back pain, knee and ankle problems and stiffness all over. To sum it up I was a physical wreck, which was very depressing because I had a second degree black belt in Kempo Karate and only a few years before I was in peak physical condition.

So, I started making and drinking, The Morning Drink every morning. Right away I liked it because I could put in my favorite seasonal fruit and so the taste was great. It was not long before I noticed that my energy was coming back. Then my stomach problems started to go away and it was not long before my appetite came back and my weight went down. The weight change was dramatic. In about three months I was down to what my weight was when I earned my Black Belt, one hundred and seventy pounds. I was overjoyed about that and it has stayed the same ever since. But, just to let you know; I did a lot more than just The Morning Drink to beat the cancer I had.

Benefits of the Morning Drink

What did the morning drink bring to my body that encouraged a natural herbal healing effect? As we discussed at the beginning of this article The Morning Drink brings alkaline into the body to neutralize the ph and bring balance to the body’s environment. This alone increases oxygen, cleanses tissues and heals inflammation. It also helps to destroy cancer cells because cancer dies in an environment where there is oxygen. This new environment also encourages a stronger immune system. This drink has a cleansing and detoxing effect, removing toxins that can distract the immune system from its primary work, defending the body. Lastly The Morning Drink brings in vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and protein in a very easily digestible food form.

Next, because the drink is fresh and raw it brings with it lots of enzymes. Enzymes are the great mystery of nutrition. Without them we are dead, there is no digestion and absorption, no cleaning, no movement, no thoughts, no energy. This drink brings an abundance of enzymes with it to start your day. Enzymes are the ultimate anti-inflammatory, easing the inflammation and repairing the injury. You can take the best, most expensive multivitamin in the world and you will not get a thing from it without enzymes. They are the great catalyst for the body. Like spark plugs for your car, without them there is no energy, nothing.

The Morning Drink Rules

OK let’s get started! It is easy to make and you will love this natural healing remedy. There are some rules listed below but they are easy to follow.

Rule one: I am going to tell you just exactly what I was told. You have this drink every morning for breakfast for the rest of your life!

The morning drink will help to quickly bring balance to your body’s ph (the acid alkaline balance); fruits and vegetables are alkaline everything else is acid. Balancing your body’s ph is one of the top keys to health and healing.

Rule two: This is an alkali drink do not add any acid ingredients to it.

I do not see much protein in there; could I add some protein powder? DO NOT add protein powders or protein containing foods like eggs, dairy, yogurt or tofu to this drink! Some of them are good for you but they are acidic for one thing. For another it is a problem for your liver and gall bladder to process fruit that digests in one hour with protein that digests in two to three hours. But guess what; this drink with its mix of fruit contains all the basic building blocks of protein called amino acids. So your body can create protein from this drink if it needs to. One more time, fruit is a food that does not mix with any other foods.

But what about my regular breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and coffee? If you have a life threatening disease see my article “I am Sick, Where Do I Start”. If you do not have a life threatening disease, have your regular breakfast one hour or more, later. But speaking from experience, I would drop that stuff and use the drink as your breakfast or have a modified high alkaline breakfast with a lot of vegetables an hour later. Whatever you eat later will be easier to digest because this drink is loaded with digestive enzymes.

The Morning Drink Recipe

Fifteen minutes before you make this drink, have at least 12 to 16 ounces of water (distilled is best) to start the cleansing process of this drink.

Ingredients: (make fresh every day and vary the amounts to suit your taste and appetite)

-8 ounces (plus or minus) of pure water (distilled is best) and 8 ounces of organic juice (apple, grape, etc.)

-1 banana.

-Pinch of cayenne pepper more or less to taste (a natural healing herb).

-A chunk of ginger; thumb size (a natural healing herb).

-Fresh seasonal fruit; pear, grapes, peach, (organic if you can get it).

-A quarter to a half a lemon, include a small amount of peel if you like, very good for both the liver and gallbladder.

-Add a tablespoon of coconut, olive or peanut oil (cold pressed) for your skin and joints.

-A scoop of super green foods (blast every cell in your body with nutrient-rich organic vitamins and minerals to give you more energy than ever before).

-Put the above in a blender, liquefy and drink.

*Adjust the above to suit your taste and the amount you make.

Questions You May Have About the Drink

What about the sugar content of this Drink? These are whole fruits that your digestive system and pancreas must process just like any other food. This is not like eating refined sugar or the refined fruit juices from the grocery store. If you are a diabetic, take a small amount, monitor your blood sugar and use accordingly. By all means check with your physician.

I had my blood sugar checked recently and the Doctor remarked that he was surprised at how balanced my blood sugar was considering my age which is sixty four. As I said before, I have been drinking this drink every morning for the last twenty years.

What about this drink feeding my Candida and making it worse? This drink will help heal your gastrointestinal track. Candida is a sign of a leaky gut. Take some intestinal flora via a probiotic supplement; this will bring you a lot of relief while your gastrointestinal tract heals. Take the probiotics on an empty stomach, when you eat, before you go to bed and every time you think of it until you feel the problem is solved. To learn about intestinal flora read my article on Acidophilus.

My bowels are loose sometimes; won’t this drink make that worse? Loose bowels are a sign of a lack of balance in the intestinal flora in your gut. Take some of this flora via a probiotic supplement; this will bring you a lot of relief while your gastrointestinal tract heals. Take the probiotics on an empty stomach, when you eat, before you go to bed and every time you think of it until you feel the problem is solved.

Can I make this drink in large amounts in advance and save in the refrigerator? It should be made fresh each day because to save it for the next day will lose you a lot of nutrition. You can do what I did to have more of the same batch of drink later in the day. When you make the breakfast drink make extra for the afternoon. To save that amount for the afternoon put a freshly cleaned wet glass or jar in the freezer so it is frosted. Pour the afternoon amount in that glass or jar and save in the refrigerator.

What about making ice cream out of the drink? Yes you can; during the summer I make plenty of ice cream using the Morning Drink. Add more bananas to change the texture. Another idea is to add mango as it will also change the texture. But do not expect it to be just like ice cream it will be more like an Italian Ice, which I love.

Super Green Foods for Energy, Fighting Cancer and Dieting:

If you want to add more nutrition to this drink to help you increase energy, slow aging process, lose weight or fight cancer I suggest super green foods. Super green foods are a combination of foods like wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, spinach, spirulina blue green algae, chlorella, kelp, etc. These super green foods boost the nutritional content and alkalinity of this drink, as it will any food you add them to. You will notice, as I did a very subtle strong energy as you add this super green combination to your diet. When I had cancer I was advised to consume as much as I could each day.

The Doctor said “Super green foods are like a high-octane fuel” that they would instantly bring nutrient-rich, organic, whole food vitamins and minerals to every cell in my body. The doctor also told me that they would protect and defend all my body’s cells from free radical damage while I fought the cancer. Even now I still take 2 or more scoops depending on how I feel that day.

I have been drinking this Morning Drink for twenty years now; just recently I took a test called “Real Age” online. I suggest you try taking this test yourself. Based on questions about your health assembled by medical doctors such as diet, exercise, blood pressure and etc. you are assigned an age. I am sixty four years old my score based on the answers I gave said “I was forty seven years old”. They suggested that I would have been given a score 2 years younger if I would take an over the counter medication every day (I wrote back and told them to keep their 2 years and their medication and I will keep my health). See the Nutrition section of my web site to learn how to change your nutritional life style.

Caution: Consult with your physician when starting any nutrition program, especially if you are on medications.

Note: Remember when it comes to your health, you are the boss, all final decisions are yours.

Fish Oil Side Effects and Their Solutions

Tony H. — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:56:35 +0000

by John Robinson

Of late, more and more people have come to know about the benefits of fish oil on their overall health. But, there are very few people who are curious to know about the side effects of fish oil. All the hype about the benefits of the fish oil and fish oil supplements have build up a favorable notion about the dietary supplements and hence, a few people discuss about its adverse effect on our health.

One of the reasons that repel most people from taking fish oil is its fishy smell. However, looking at the numerous benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids that are present in fish oil, the odor can be ignored. Alternatively, there are many pharmaceutical companies manufacturing fish oil supplements that lack the fishy odor. Apart from the odor, there are some serious side effects of this beneficial dietary supplement. Let’s discuss about the negative effects of fish oil.

Effect of Pollution on Fish

The most striking feature of fish oil is the affect of pollution on the water and fish as well. The increase in the mercury level and other problems related to pollution has intoxicated the fish. Consumption of such fish is a sure-fire way to experience the side effects of fish oil. The Environmental Defense Network has warned against intake of some kinds of fish more than once or twice in a week.

Solution: There is an effective alternative to direct intake of fish oil- fish oil supplements. The manufacturing companies of fish oil capsules take necessary steps to purify the fish and fish oil to diminish the noxious elements. Health experts are of the view that regular intake of fish oil supplements are the best way to get all the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids and do away with the side effects of fish oil.

Confusion about the Dosage of Fish Oil

Most people think that as fish oil are beneficial for health and should be consumed much to get more benefits. But the fact is there is a limit to the dosage of fish oil intake. It is generally advised not to take more than 200 gm of fish oil in a week in a normal health condition. When the Omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for a specific health requirement, there are different doses for different diseases. If you are taking the fish directly to get that benefit, it is nearly impossible to know the exact amount that you are taking in your diet. In some cases, taking fish oil more than the required amount can cause different fish oil side effects.

Solution: There is a simple solution to this problem- fish oil supplements. Apart from being purified, the fish oil capsules are prepared with specific amount of Omega-3 fatty acids and other required ingredients. The supplements can save you from the side effects of fish oils.

Some people complain of diarrhoea, upset stomach, nausea and belching problems due to fish oil supplements. Hence, it is crucial to take advice of health experts before consumption of any fish oil supplements to avoid the side effects of fish oil and fish oil supplements.

When Buying Health Drinks, Alkaline Drinks Are the Better Choice

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:45:43 +0000

by Cliff Smith

With so many health drinks on the market, it can be difficult to know the difference between alkaline drinks and other unhealthy choices. While many of the health drinks you find are useful in some ways, alkaline drinks have added benefits that their counterparts do not.

Alkaline drinks are special health drinks that utilize natural ingredients registering a pH higher than 7.0, after consumption. The various benefits in these alkaline drinks are reached through the inclusion of specific ingredients that are processed very carefully. Ingredients may include real fruits and herbs, which are naturally alkaline. These ingredients must not be overheated in the packaging process, thereby maintaining the completely natural structure of the plants.

Because there are so many health drinks available, it can be helpful to determine just what effect you’re looking for with your purchase. For example, some health drinks are high in antioxidants and Vitamin C and are therefore geared toward improving the immune system. Other health drinks contain a high protein content in an effort to help an individual build lean muscle mass. Unfortunately, most protein drinks are highly acidic.

Why Choose Alkaline Drinks?

The importance of maintaining an alkaline state in the body is becoming more widely accepted as research points to the benefits. Generally speaking, the body has a pH of about 7.4, or slightly alkaline. Many of the bacteria and other organisms that would harm the body are unable to survive in this alkaline environment. This is why health drinks with naturally alkaline ingredients are helpful in assisting the body to maintain that delicate pH balance. If human blood changes just two tenths in pH level, death is imminent. The body will do whatever is necessary to stay in balance, even if that means extracting calcium from bones to alkalize the acid forming foods and drinks consumed.

Unfortunately, much of the typical twenty-first century diet is made up of acid forming foods. By utilizing alkaline drinks, we are able to help the body maintain its natural balance. The result is better overall health, as well as more energy. With the consumption of alkaline health drinks, the body won’t have to work as hard in order to manage a proper pH balance.

Alkaline drinks are almost always made with whole food ingredients. Fruits, such as lemons and peaches and herbs like jasmine or cinnamon are alkaline ingredients that you might find in these types of health drinks. Keep in mind that many convenience store sport drinks and enhanced waters are made with acid forming ingredients, which are just the opposite.

In most cases, alkaline health drinks also offer a more natural energy boost without a sugar crash or a caffeine buzz. This is because the whole food ingredients provide elements such as antioxidants, live enzymes, and chlorophyll for enhanced oxygen flow.

When you take the time to find out how your health drinks are processed and what they are made with you can make a huge difference in how effective they are for your body. By shopping for naturally alkaline drinks, you are able to support your life support systems in a way that most so-called health drinks can’t possibly equal.

How Resveratrol Packs Red Wine With Health

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:54:25 +0000

Resveratrol has recently attracted great interest in connection with the the so-called “French Paradox” which has long puzzled medical science. As a polyphenol type flavonoid it is in any case a very useful anti-oxidant, but many now believe it also to be the explanation of the relatively low rates of cardiovascular disease enjoyed in France despite a national diet traditionally rich in cholesterol and saturated fat. The French, of course, are also known as high per capita consumers of alcohol, particularly in the form of red wine. Recent research appears to have established that the consumption of alcohol in moderation offers significant protection for the cardiovascular system, and may even reduce the incidence of related diseases by as much as 30%. There is good evidence, however, that the resveratrol which is almost unique to red wine may provide benefits which go far beyond those which can be explained by the effects of the alcohol alone

This is not surprising in so far as fat-soluble anti-oxidants are known to be important protectors of the circulatory system against damaging attack from free radicals, and the resveratrol and other polyphenols found in red wine are likely to be highly beneficial in this context. Laboratory research, moreover, has revealed significant anti-inflammatory and blood anti-coagulant effects arising from the action of resveratrol.

But there’s still more to resveratrol than this. It’s known that some potentially harmful compounds in the body do not become carcinogenic unless and until they are metabolised by particular enzymes. Resveratrol has been shown in some laboratory research to help inhibit the activity of these enzymes and it seems possible that resveratrol may therefore have some protective effect against certain cancers. Resveratrol has also been shown in the laboratory to slow the proliferation of DNA damaged cells, which have the potential to become cancerous, and to allow time for the repair or removal of DNA damaged cells before rapid and harmful proliferation can occur. Invasive cancer tumours depend on specialised enzymes to allow them to take over healthy tissue and also need to establish their own blood supply if they are to develop. Resveratrol has been found in the laboratory to have inhibiting effects on both these processes, perhaps principally because of its anti-inflammatory qualities.

Orthodox opinion, however, currently maintains that more large scale trials are required outside the laboratory before any protective effects of resveratrol against cancer can be definitively established.

But the anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol may also have a significant protective effect in the battle against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a significant precursor of serious cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol has also been shown to play an important role in preventing the formation of the blood clots which if they obstruct a coronary or cerebral artery may lead to a heart attack or stroke, two of the leading causes of premature death or disability in the affluent Western world.

And amazingly enough it appears that resveratrol may also have a more direct effect in terms of increasing longevity. A good deal of research has shown that reduced calorie intake may increase lifespans, including those of certain mammalian species, apparently by increasing the activity of specific enzymes. Resveratrol has also been shown to stimulate these enzymes and to enhance the life spans of worms and fruit flies. It is not known whether these findings would be replicated in higher life forms, humans included, but there seems no logical reason why they should not.

To obtain a significant intake of this potentially highly beneficial compound from wine you need to concentrate on red wine, because only this is produced by a pulp fermentation including the red or black grape skins where most of the resveratrol is found. As a rule of thumb, the richer and darker the colour of the wine, the longer the pulp fermentation will have lasted, and the more resveratrol and other polyphenols the wine will contain. Generally speaking it is those produced in the sunnier latitudes which will have the highest concentration.

No toxicity issues have been reported from the intake of resveratrol, as such, although problems of course may arise if red wine is used to excess to achieve a desired high intake. Supplements of resveratrol providing up to 50 mg are now readily available, however; whilst moderate consumption of alcohol is now generally recognised as potential boon to health, and to be particularly protective of the cardiovascular system. So there seems to be every reason to continue to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine of an evening. And your enjoyment can only be increased by the awareness that the resveratrol it contains may well be doing your health a power of good.