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Research has shown that probiotics are beneficial in maintaining intestinal health, boosting your immune system and even aid mental health.
This is what Dr. Michael Klaper has to say about probiotics: “Keeping the resident population of bacteria in the intestinal tract healthy is essential, especially after taking a course of antibiotics. A population of “friendly” bacteria is required not only for the health of the intestines, but also to inhibit overgrowth with yeast and “unfriendly,” pathogenic bacteria. Normal bacterial flora also help to prevent increased intestinal permeability (“leaky-gut syndrome”), which can lead to joint inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, ingesting a preparation containing health-enhancing bacteria is often a very good idea.”
The most health-promoting organisms in our intestines are the family of Lactobacillus bacteria, especially Lactobacillus acidophilus, along with its friendly cousins, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. bifidus, and others.
The beneficial organisms must be put into the gut in substantial numbers. A good probiotic product has between 3 and 15 BILLION organisms per dose. (This is often expressed as colony forming units or cfu’s.) For severe derangements of the intestinal flora, this dose may need to be doubled. This is why I think eating yogurt as a probiotic is pointless. Standard, commercial yogurt is pasteurized to kill bacteria before it is sold, so it is useless as a probiotic source. The “cultured” or “bacteria-fortified” yogurt products have a few million organisms, at best. Thus, you would need to consume dozens of tubs of yogurt to produce any beneficial effect. Why consume all the dairy protein and sugar inherent in these products when all you really want is the beneficial organisms you can purchase purely in a good probiotic product?
To choose the perfect Probiotic Supplement the following will help you choose wisely:
Key Features To Look For:
- 7 to 12 strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria. Diversity is Key!
- Should always include a Prebiotic such as Inulin
- Should contain at least 100mg or more per serving
- Should have at least an “Acid Protection System” built in
- Preferably not a synthetic enteric coating system laiden with pthallates
What is a Prebiotic?
It is food for the probiotics. These prebiotics actually help the probiotics grow and flourish. They are extremely important in supporting the survival of probiotics.
Prebiotics important properties include:
Healthy bacteria- building potential
They are actually fiber
They are indigestible by bad bacteria
They are food for the probiotics
Eat healthy and you will thrive. Remember quality nutrition is the competitive edge!
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Start your day off moving in a healthier direction! Power up and have energy to spare.
What is Amaranth?
Amaranth is often lumped into the “grains” category, but it is in fact the seed of a cereal-like herb. It’s amazingly versatile and deserves its place as a highly regarded “superfood.”
Amaranth has an extremely high protein complex, with unusually concentrated amounts of lysine, an amino acid rarely found in plants. A combination of amaranth and other low-lysine grain, such as wheat, creates a very high amino acid profile, even higher than those found in meats and other animal products.
Amaranth contains more calcium, and the supporting calcium cofactors (magnesium and silicon) than milk. The calcium found in amaranth is therefore highly absorbable and easily utilized by the body.
A gluten free food, amaranth is also easily digested, making it especially useful for very active people, vegetarians, and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
How to use Amaranth-
Amaranth can be cooked in the same way as rice. This is a good way to try amaranth, if you’ve not eaten it before. To obtain optimum nutrients from this grain, it is recommended that amaranth be soaked for 8 -10 hours.
Cooked Amaranth has a slightly sticky texture. Be careful not to overcook it, as it can become gummy.
Amaranth Breakfast Porridge-
Ingredients:
•1 cup amaranth
•3 cups water
•1-2 Tbsp lemon juice (optional)
•Toppings of your choice: ground flax seeds, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, chopped raw nuts, fresh fruit, unsweetened coconut flakes, goji berries, nut butter, non-dairy milk, cinnamon
Directions:
In a medium bowl, place water, lemon juice, and amaranth and soak overnight (on countertop or fridge) After amaranth has soaked, rinse under cold water and drain. In a small pot, add soaked amaranth and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in your favorite toppings.
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The American Heart Association estimates that 102.2 million (almost 50%) of adults in the United States have total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL, placing them at risk for cardiovascular disease – elevated cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for heart disease.
In the Framingham Heart Study, deaths due to heart disease were absent in subjects with total cholesterol levels below 150 mg/dL, but as cholesterol increased above 150 mg/dL, heart disease rates began to increase.
A high nutrient diet is by far the most effective method of reducing cholesterol while avoiding side effects. And should be your front line of defense, rather than reaching for a pill bottle. Drugs are not as effective for reducing cholesterol as a high nutrient diet. After six weeks of taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications, cholesterol levels decreased by 26% compared to a 33% with a high nutrient diet. Statins have many side effects and are associated with liver dysfunction, acute renal failure, cataracts, diabetes, and impaired muscle function.
Not only will a high nutrient diet lower cholesterol, it will also decrease heart disease risk by improving other factors such glucose levels, blood pressure, and body weight.
The safest and healthiest strategy for reducing cholesterol:
•Eat a high nutrient, vegetable-based diet with plenty of raw vegetables and cooked greens.
•Eat berries and pomegranates. The antioxidants in berries and pomegranates, such as anthocyanin and punicalagin, are especially effective in improving both LDL and HDL cholesterol.
•Avoid trans fats and minimize saturated fats. High cholesterol and heart disease deaths are more closely associated with saturated fat intake than any other part of the American diet.
•Avoid refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates have been found to be just as damaging to the cardiovascular system as saturated fats.
•Eat at least one ounce of raw nuts and seeds daily. The phytosterols found in nuts and seeds lower blood cholesterol by blocking both cholesterol absorption during digestion and the re-absorption of cholesterol produced by the liver.
•Limit your intake of animal protein to at most 6 ounces per week. If you have heart disease or significantly high cholesterol, avoid animal products altogether. Animal protein consumption directly increases heart disease risk.
•Eat beans daily. Beans are packed with resistant starch, soluble fiber, and phytochemicals which help to lower cholesterol. A 19-year study found that people who eat beans at least four times a week have a 21% lower risk of heart disease than those who eat them less than once a week.
•Have 1 Tbsp. of ground flaxseed each day. Flaxseeds contain beneficial omega-3 fats, lignans, flavonoids, sterols, and fiber. Clinical trials show that daily flaxseed consumption reduces total cholesterol by 6-11%. Try adding ground flaxseeds to smoothies or sprinkling them on salads.
EAT HEALTHY AND THRIVE! Remember quality nutrition is your competitive edge!
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This holiday season, boost your immune system and ward off cravings and hunger at the same time.
Here are a few tips:
1. Juice or blend veggies every day. Drink at least 2 8oz. glasses of veggie juice a day for all the great antioxidants that will feed your immune system. Focus on dark leafy greens. Fresh vegetable juices are so nutrient dense, they keep you satisfied and help curb your cravings.
2. Eat a raw garlic clove a day. Garlic contains allicin–a sulphur compound, and many other health-boosters, which have potent antiviral and antibacterial qualities. *Make sure it’s raw – cooking destroys allicin’s potent effects.
3. Take care of your gut. Over 60% of your immune system is contained in your gut. Boost your immune system by taking probiotics.
4. Get plenty of vitamin C. Juice/Blend up fruits and veggies that are rich in vitamin C. And take supplemental C with flavonoids. They work together to make each more effective.
Here are few foods that are high in Vitamin C:
Strawberries Citrus Fruits Broccoli Bell peppers Papaya Guava Brussell Sprouts Kale Cantaloupe Red cabbage Spinach Pineapple
5. Avoid sweets. Sugar beats out vitamin C in the immune cells and weakens them. I realize it’s the holidays, but it’s well worth it to pass up all the treats.
6. Get extra sleep. A well-rested body has a higher capability to fight off infections and viruses. Go to bed early. Sleep in on the weekend. Powerful healing hormones are released during your deepest sleep. Also hormones that control your appetite get out of whack when you don’t sleep enough, making you crave carbs in particular.
Eat Healthy and Thrive! Remember quality nutrition is you competitive edge. Good health is a choice you can make today.
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Eat your vegetables! Our mom’s have been telling us that for years, right? But lets face it, most Americans are not eating near the amount of veggies that they should be. Blending up a healthy, delicious smoothie is a great way to pack greens and other nutritious vegetables and fruits into your diet (especially those that you may not enjoy eating on a regular basis). Smoothies also a great way to sneak veggies into your kids’ diet – we all know how picky kids can be when it comes to veggies!
Eating a well balanced, plant based diet is definitely one the most powerful things you can do for your health (and athletic performance). Research has shown that people who eat plant-based diets have lower weight, reduced risk of chronic diseases, better nutrient intake, and better management of chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
By taking simple steps, like consuming more fresh vegetables you can start to experience those benefits.
Blending up a green smoothie for your breakfast every morning is a great way to start you day. Think about it – you’re giving your body a blast of phytonutrients, antioxidants and fiber. I promise, that green smoothie is going to keep you energized and full til lunchtime. It’s the perfect “grab & go” breakfast.
Without a doubt the healthiest smoothies are the ones that contain greens.
I recommend making smoothies that are loaded with leafy greens and only a small amount of fruit. The biggest mistake that people make when making smoothies, is using too much fruit. Too much fruit can cause spikes in your blood sugar. A good rule of thumb is no more than one serving of fruit in your smoothie. For example, 1 serving of berries is 1 cup. A serving a pineapple is 1/2 cup, due to it’s higher sugar content.
b
Blueberry Almond Spinach
2 tablespoons almond butter
1/2 banana (preferably frozen)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
3 cups spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Add all ingredients to your Vitamix and blend til smooth. Enjoy!
Eat Healthy and Thrive! Remember quality nutrition is your competitive edge! /br