February 13, 2012

Did You Know...

Caramel color in soda is found to be carcinogenic

(This excerpt taken from www.eatthisnotthat.com)

"In 2011, the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the artificial caramel coloring used to make Coke, Pepsi, and other colas brown. The reason: Two contaminants in the coloring, 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, have been found to cause cancer in animals, a threat the group says is unnecessary, considering that the coloring is purely cosmetic. According to California's strict Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer, just 16 micrograms per person per day of 4-methylimidazole is enough to pose a cancer threat, and most popular brown colas, both diet and regular, contain 200 micrograms per 20-ounce bottle"

Nutrition  

Mesquite

How about a little information from the Native American side of me.  Mesquite is a traditional Native American food used for its mineral (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium & sulfer) and protein content.  The seed pods from the mesquite tree are ground up into a fine powder and can be added to many foods/shakes to boost nutritional content. 

Mesquite is a superfood, wonderful for bone health.  The powder smell has a sweet, nutty, caramel combination.  Can't quite put my finger on the exact aroma, but I love it in chocolate protein shakes.  Almost resembles a mild almond extract. 

Uses:  Great in shakes, sprinkled for extra flavor, added to creamy textured foods, cereals & oatmeal.

Homemade Almond Milk:

1 Tbsp Organic Mesquite powder

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups soaked almonds (recommend soaking for about 5-6 hours)

2 1/2 cups water

pinch of sea salt

Put all ingredients in a blender until creamy.  Ready to consume right away.  Store in the refrigerator.

Natural Health 

Elderberry 

I would like to thank elderberry and ecinachea personally for not having missed a day of work in over 5 years.  Honestly, it's probably way more but my memory is on vacation from my reflexology treatment. 

The berries of this shrub are used medicinally for colds, flu, bacterial & viral infections. Elderberry tincture is taken by adding the drops to water.  Elderberry juice was the remedy used to treat the flu epidemic in Panama in 1995.  Way to go Panama.

" Elderberries were listed in the CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs as early as 1985, and are listed in the 2000 Mosby's Nursing Drug reference for colds, flu, yeast infections, nasal and chest congestion, and hay fever. In Israel, Hasassah's Oncology Lab has determined that elderberry stimulates the body's immune system and they are treating cancer and AIDS patients with it. The wide range of medical benefits (from flu and colds to debilitating asthma, diabetes, and weight loss) is probably due to the enhancement of each individual's immune system."

Bottom line is elderberry is a powerful adjunct to your natural medicine cabinet.  Be ready to attack at any time! 

Lynn has plenty of elderberry tincture from her farm, which I will be picking up within the next week.  If you would like some, feel free to send me an email.  We have more than enough to go around.  1oz bottle $7.40, 2oz bottle $13.80. 

Exercise

Exercise, Inflammation, Sleep & Diet

Common question, "what is more important, diet or exercise?".  Think of it as a bike...if you blow a tire, doesn't matter which one, you're still going nowhere fast.  Well I'd like to throw in sleep as the 3rd wheel and make a little tricycle here.  Not one factor takes precendence over the other, you need all 3 components to get where you're headed. 

I could be getting myself into an endless topic here, but would like to focus on how we can control inflammation with the other factors mentioned above.  Even though exercise has endless benefits, it still causes a certain amount of inflammation in the body.  Recurring struggles like workout related injuries, aches & pains, hitting a plateau with health goals, and getting sick.  Why does this happen exactly?  

With increased exercise, possibility of inflammation in the body is going to increase.  In order to fight this inflammation, it is important to let the body heal itself.  This healing, or repairing process is done at night while we are sleeping.  This is the time when our hormones regulate, tissue is rebuilt and the body is trying to return back to the balanced state it runs best in.  Lack of sleep leaves us in a more constant inflammatory, self destruction mode.  Think about someone getting ready for a tropical vacation.  They start working out harder and more frequently.  Sleep decreases, fatigue sets in, they get sick or notice aching joints, and fat loss slows down.  It is very possible that the body is in a constant state of inflammation and thus giving less results with more effort.

Controlling inflammation with diet, starts with avoiding the inflammation promoting foods.  Added sugar and processed "whites" should be the first to go.  Eat a clean diet, void of  trans/saturated fats, chemicals and preservatives.  Especially artificial sweeteners like Splena.  Make sure to get plenty of hydration and increase the amount of inflammation fighting foods like fruits, vegetables and omega fats (walnuts, fatty fish, flax, chia, fish oil). 

Beware of overtraining and listen to your body.  Stay active, train smart & consult a professional for a personalized plan.