Hi Friends!
In the last post about A-nutrients, I talked briefly about a book called The Optimal Health Revolution. If you haven't read my last post, this book is about the underlying cause of all of our major diseases today- persistent inflammation- and how we can prevent it. The author, Dr. Duke Johnson, also made a 25-step plan to take us on the road to Optimal Health. Every so often, I'll discuss some of these steps. Today, I'm going to talk about the 1st step.
So, the first step to Optimal Health is.... drum roll please......
1. Eat more fruits and vegetables! 7-9 servings is optimal!
Sound familiar? You betcha! This has come up time and time again in my previous blog posts. No one can stress the important of eating your fruits and veggies enough- you simply must have them in order to be healthy. Try to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your lifestyle- no amount is too much. Plant a garden, take your family grocery shopping, research about fruits and veggies (or simply read this blog!), have your family help you plan meals..... there's endless possiblities to how you can teach yourself and the people around you the importance of fruits and vegetables and add more into your daily diet.
For more information, here's a link to a video with Dr. Johnson as he explains his book: http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/50237297.html
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns on this post or on the video, please email me or comment on this blog. I'll be more than happy (more like euphoric!) to answer/respond.
Thanks for reading! See you all again soon!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Letter A!
Letter A!
Hi Everybody! It's time to start on our road to the Daily 26 with the letter A- this post is all about vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and minerals that start with the letter A.
Ready? Let's go!
We'll start with vitamin A. It's a fat-soluble vitamin that's known to destroy carcinogens and prevent some forms of cancer. Essential for good eye, skin, and bone health, it counteracts night blindness and other eye disorders, including weak eyesight. This vitamin also strengthens the immune systems and gives it more resistance to infections and disease. One of the best souces of vitamin A is in beta-carotene, which is found in dark green and orange-yellow vegetables: spinach, broccoli, green peppers, carrots, squash and apricots.
Alpha-carotenes are antioxidants in the same family as beta-carotene, and also provide the body with vitamin A. As mentioned before, they protect your cells from free radical damage and strengthen the immune system. Deficiency of alpha-carotenes in your body can cause symptoms associated with vitamin A deficiency, and increase risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. In addition to the ones listed in the previous paragraph, eat foods such as collard greens, thyme, cantaloupe, tomatoes, green beans, apples, and avocados to prevent deficiency.
Astaxanthin (pronounced azz-tuck-ZAN-thin) is another antioxidant in the carotene family. Unlike some of the other carotenes, astaxanthin doesn't convert into vitamin A in the body. It's also not made in our bodies, so it must be provided in the diet. But before I get to the sources of astaxanthin, let me tell you about its benefits. It protects cells from oxidative damage, decreases DNA damage, and stimulates the immune system. It also prevents various cancers and tumors. Moroever, it increases strength and endurance, and this benefit is vividly illustrated by salmon swimming upstream to spawn-astaxanthin is what enables them to do so. Obviously, salmon is a source of astaxanthin, along with other pinkish aquatic creatures higher up in the food chain. Astaxanthin-rich red algae is eaten by smaller aquatic creatures such as krill and plankton, which are in turn eaten by the aforementioned higher animals.
You're probably getting tired of reading about all these nutrients, so let's take a quick break. I wanted to tell you about a book called The Optimal Health Revolution by Dr. Duke Johnson. It's a great read, about how there is one root cause to most/all of today's biggest diseases- persistent inflammation. Through the book, the author explains how many of today's diseases are caused, and how you can prevent them. He offers a 25-step plan that can lead you on your way to optimal health, with witty wisecracks and pieces of wisdom along the way. I really learned a lot from reading this book, and I encourage you to read this book. Really. Read it. READ IT!
OK. Back to our wonderful A-nutrients! There's just one more left.
Allyl sulfides are nutrients which block the growth of tumor cells, and also bring about the natural death of cells. They also help get cancer-causing chemicals out of your body, and so it's obvious that they lessen some types of cancer- namely, colon and stomach cancers. They help treat colds, blood circulation, and diabetes and also help reduce inflammation. (Optimal Health Revolution!) Allyl sulfides are found in garlic, onions, and shallots.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about all these wonderful nutrients that start with the letter A. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, or if I missed something/need to clarify something, please do email me. I'll be so glad to fix/answer/do whatever needs to be done.
See you next time, when we do the letter B!
Hi Everybody! It's time to start on our road to the Daily 26 with the letter A- this post is all about vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and minerals that start with the letter A.
Ready? Let's go!
We'll start with vitamin A. It's a fat-soluble vitamin that's known to destroy carcinogens and prevent some forms of cancer. Essential for good eye, skin, and bone health, it counteracts night blindness and other eye disorders, including weak eyesight. This vitamin also strengthens the immune systems and gives it more resistance to infections and disease. One of the best souces of vitamin A is in beta-carotene, which is found in dark green and orange-yellow vegetables: spinach, broccoli, green peppers, carrots, squash and apricots.
Alpha-carotenes are antioxidants in the same family as beta-carotene, and also provide the body with vitamin A. As mentioned before, they protect your cells from free radical damage and strengthen the immune system. Deficiency of alpha-carotenes in your body can cause symptoms associated with vitamin A deficiency, and increase risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. In addition to the ones listed in the previous paragraph, eat foods such as collard greens, thyme, cantaloupe, tomatoes, green beans, apples, and avocados to prevent deficiency.
Astaxanthin (pronounced azz-tuck-ZAN-thin) is another antioxidant in the carotene family. Unlike some of the other carotenes, astaxanthin doesn't convert into vitamin A in the body. It's also not made in our bodies, so it must be provided in the diet. But before I get to the sources of astaxanthin, let me tell you about its benefits. It protects cells from oxidative damage, decreases DNA damage, and stimulates the immune system. It also prevents various cancers and tumors. Moroever, it increases strength and endurance, and this benefit is vividly illustrated by salmon swimming upstream to spawn-astaxanthin is what enables them to do so. Obviously, salmon is a source of astaxanthin, along with other pinkish aquatic creatures higher up in the food chain. Astaxanthin-rich red algae is eaten by smaller aquatic creatures such as krill and plankton, which are in turn eaten by the aforementioned higher animals.
You're probably getting tired of reading about all these nutrients, so let's take a quick break. I wanted to tell you about a book called The Optimal Health Revolution by Dr. Duke Johnson. It's a great read, about how there is one root cause to most/all of today's biggest diseases- persistent inflammation. Through the book, the author explains how many of today's diseases are caused, and how you can prevent them. He offers a 25-step plan that can lead you on your way to optimal health, with witty wisecracks and pieces of wisdom along the way. I really learned a lot from reading this book, and I encourage you to read this book. Really. Read it. READ IT!
OK. Back to our wonderful A-nutrients! There's just one more left.
Allyl sulfides are nutrients which block the growth of tumor cells, and also bring about the natural death of cells. They also help get cancer-causing chemicals out of your body, and so it's obvious that they lessen some types of cancer- namely, colon and stomach cancers. They help treat colds, blood circulation, and diabetes and also help reduce inflammation. (Optimal Health Revolution!) Allyl sulfides are found in garlic, onions, and shallots.
I hope you've enjoyed reading about all these wonderful nutrients that start with the letter A. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, or if I missed something/need to clarify something, please do email me. I'll be so glad to fix/answer/do whatever needs to be done.
See you next time, when we do the letter B!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Introduction
Everywhere we go, we are constantly bombarded with words such as phytonutrient, antioxidant, vitamin, mineral, and many others. But really, what are these and why do we need them?
Before I explain what these are, let me ask you a few questions.
Do you....
Phytonutrients are nutrients found in plants, namely fruits and vegetables. They're the plant's defense and protection for the environment, and stimulate the plant to make healthy cells. They respond the same way in the human body which makes them useful in preventing and/or treating cancers and other diseases. Phytonutrients are necessary for survival, and are crucial to maintaining good health and overall wellness. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds they contain are also useful in many other ways.
There are many different classes of phytonutrients, but the three that you've probably heard of are carotenoids, flavonoids, and sulfides. As you may know, carotenoids give plants their red, orange, and yellow colors, and different phytonutrients give plants different colors. The easy way to ensure that you get all or most of the phytonutrients you need is to simply eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day.
Webster's Dictionary defines antioxidant as "a substance that inhibits oxidation. What does this mean really? Due to factors such as smoking, alcohol, radiation, and environmental pollutants, some molecules in our body become unstable by having fewer electrons than needed to be stable. These are called free radicals. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals be neutralizing their electrical charge. These are extremely important because the damage that free radicals cause in their search for an extra electron can and may be irreversible. The effects of rogue free radicals are seen in various cancers, strokes, and heart disease- some of today's most common killers. In order to get antioxidants into your body, simply eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
Vitamins and minerals are known collectively as micronutrients, which are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. Some vitamins are water soluble, which means that they aren't stored in the body (they go out with urine), and others are fat soluble, which means that your body stores them in you liver and fatty tissue. Vitamins are organic substances, produced by plants or animals. Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic substances; they're produced soil and water and are eaten or absorbed by animals and plants. Your body needs different amounts of minerals to stay healthy. Calcium, for example, is needed in larger amounts to keep your bones healthy, and other minerals, known as trace minerals, are only needed in small amounts daily. Once again, to provide your body with these essential vitamins and minerals, you need to eat plenty of different fruits and vegetables every day.
Did you notice a common theme here? All of these essential types of nutrients can be found in fruits and vegetables! However, most of us don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to sufficiently provide our body with the nutrients that it needs. That's where dietary supplements come in. They can help you get the required amounts of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals that you need to achieve great health.
Remember: The choice is yours- say YES to great health!
* NOTE: all the posts after this one will be in alphabetical order, and will explain different antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. All the way from A to Z. Enjoy!
Before I explain what these are, let me ask you a few questions.
Do you....
- have a hectic day, everyday?
- usually not have time to eat three sit-down meals a day?
- chauffeur your kids around to their many activities?
- eat many meals at or from fast-food restaurants?
- buy snacks and sodas from vending machines often?
Phytonutrients are nutrients found in plants, namely fruits and vegetables. They're the plant's defense and protection for the environment, and stimulate the plant to make healthy cells. They respond the same way in the human body which makes them useful in preventing and/or treating cancers and other diseases. Phytonutrients are necessary for survival, and are crucial to maintaining good health and overall wellness. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds they contain are also useful in many other ways.
There are many different classes of phytonutrients, but the three that you've probably heard of are carotenoids, flavonoids, and sulfides. As you may know, carotenoids give plants their red, orange, and yellow colors, and different phytonutrients give plants different colors. The easy way to ensure that you get all or most of the phytonutrients you need is to simply eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day.
Webster's Dictionary defines antioxidant as "a substance that inhibits oxidation. What does this mean really? Due to factors such as smoking, alcohol, radiation, and environmental pollutants, some molecules in our body become unstable by having fewer electrons than needed to be stable. These are called free radicals. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals be neutralizing their electrical charge. These are extremely important because the damage that free radicals cause in their search for an extra electron can and may be irreversible. The effects of rogue free radicals are seen in various cancers, strokes, and heart disease- some of today's most common killers. In order to get antioxidants into your body, simply eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
Vitamins and minerals are known collectively as micronutrients, which are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. Some vitamins are water soluble, which means that they aren't stored in the body (they go out with urine), and others are fat soluble, which means that your body stores them in you liver and fatty tissue. Vitamins are organic substances, produced by plants or animals. Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic substances; they're produced soil and water and are eaten or absorbed by animals and plants. Your body needs different amounts of minerals to stay healthy. Calcium, for example, is needed in larger amounts to keep your bones healthy, and other minerals, known as trace minerals, are only needed in small amounts daily. Once again, to provide your body with these essential vitamins and minerals, you need to eat plenty of different fruits and vegetables every day.
Did you notice a common theme here? All of these essential types of nutrients can be found in fruits and vegetables! However, most of us don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to sufficiently provide our body with the nutrients that it needs. That's where dietary supplements come in. They can help you get the required amounts of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals that you need to achieve great health.
Remember: The choice is yours- say YES to great health!
* NOTE: all the posts after this one will be in alphabetical order, and will explain different antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. All the way from A to Z. Enjoy!
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