Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition that is characterized by the extent of an excess of body fat that negatively affects a persons health. An obese person will have a BMI of more than 30kg/m2, whereas someone who is overweight but not obese will have a BMI of 25kg/m2 but less than 30kg/m2

Obesity increases the risk of contracting degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease and the obese individual is also more likely to fall victim to type 2 diabetes.

Obesity has now been described by the World Health organization as a “world wide” epidemic. It’s estimated that around 250 million people worldwide are obese. This is particularly prevalent in the US where over one third of the adult population are obese and one in seven children and adolescents are obese.

According to Dr Jaap Seidell of the International Obesity Task force, the incidence of obesity is on the rise throughout the world making it one of the fastest developing public health concerns.

So what can be done about this ever increasing epidemic that is putting untold pressure on the world’s health resources. Basically calorie controlled diets don’t work. Restricting calories doesn’t necessarily equate to a well balanced nutritious diet. There is also the possibility that the body will go into starvation mode and lower its metabolic rate in order to cope with the sudden lack of food.

In order to tackle obesity successfully it is important to find a diet that is right for you and one that you can stick to for the rest of your life. No matter how you try to package the truth, at the end of the day if you are overweight you are either eating too much or you are eating the wrong foods for your body. Your aim should be to lose weight for life not to lose weight for a special occasion.

A diagnosis of obesity is a final wake up call to take care of your health. You may already have been diagnosed with a chronic health problem, so it is in your own interest to do the appropriate research and find a diet that suits your body type and not only helps you to lose weight but also ensures that you achieve and maintain optimal health.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

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Healthy Choices

The term Nutritional Health, implies that our health status is in someway reliant on our nutritional intake. There is a very well known saying “you are what you eat”. In other words if you eat healthy nourishing food you will heave a healthy well nourished body, but if you eat junk food then your health will in someway be compromised.

This statement is broadly true, although in reality nutritional health is a far more complex issue. I am sure you will also have heard the saying “one man’s meat is another man’s poison” implying that one person may eat a particular diet and feel fit and well, whereas another person can eat the same food and react negatively to that food, resulting in some unpleasant symptoms.. Our biochemical individuality means that nutritional health is very different for different people.

Apparently our bodies were designed to live until 120 years of age. Most people live just over half of that age or less and die from the effects of our civilized world rather than from natural causes of aging. In the 21st century we may feel qualified to applaud some of the advances of modern medicine regarding treatment of infections, but we have also to accept that the causes of the majority of present day illnesses and diseases are due to lifestyle factors. This may include lack of exercise, poor nutritional health or the effects of an accumulation of factors such as alcohol abuse, heavy smoking or recreational drug use.

Of course there are also other factors that are out of our hands such as the deterioration of the nutritional state of our food, drink and air that we breathe. Processed and fast foods have become more and more popular, locally grown seasonal fruit and vegetables have been superseded by food that is shipped thousands of mils and is available to us all year round. Fresh free range meat is a thing of the past. Chemical fertilizers have become the norm and poor farming habits are affecting the mineral status of the soil and consequently the nutritional value of our crops.

Finding a way to ensure good nutritional health has become more and more difficult, and many people are resorting to supplementing their diets with good quality nutritional products. Multivitamins and antioxidants are a top priority for many people as they try to protect their bodies from the onslaught of poor quality water supplies, often contaminated with chemical additives such as fluoride; polluted air and light.

Dr Paulus Lining two times Nobel Prize winner said

“You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency”

Nutritional health is totally reliant on the best quality foods. So apart from supplementing your diet with multivitamins and antioxidants, the first thing to do is to find ways of ensuring that you feed your body with good quality, fresh, organic food where ever possible. Find out if there are any foods that are detrimental to your health and avoid them until your body learns to tolerate them. If your body is reacting by displaying the symptoms of a disease state, then you are not eating the right foods for your body type and you need to take the appropriate steps to find out what foods you can eat that will keep you healthy.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Nopalea is derived from the commonly known desert plant called the prickly pear cactus or Nopal. It produces purple flowers in the winter and is pollinated by hummingbirds. The plant thrives in subtropical and tropical regions and can be found in the south-western desert regions of the United States and Mexico. This amazing Nopal Cactus is also known and grown for its beautiful bloom, bright red fruit and paddle-like leaves.

Sonoran Bloom Nopalea

Nopalea is also plentiful in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. The Sonoran Desert is the most fruitful desert in the world and is visited by millions of people yearly. It is one of the least polluted areas on this planet and Nopalea plants that originate from the Sonoran Desert are organic. The Nopal cactus or prickly pear cactus is found in many arid and semi-arid environments around the world. The people from some countries of North Africa call cactus pear “the bridge of life”, because it is the only feeding and watering resource for animals during drought seasons.

Sonoran Desert dwellers have enjoyed the nutritional benefits of the Nopal cactus for centuries. When the spines are removed from the cactus pads they can be used as a vegetable in a salad or as a tasty treat on the barbeque. The fruit of the Nopal cactus is a naturally sweet, succulent fruit that is enjoyed by both desert dwelling people and animals.

The Nopal fruit contains 18 amino acids, all of the B vitamins as well as minerals and bioactive phytonutrients. It is undoubtedly a super food that has been found to have a whole range of health benefits.

The scientific community has been interested in the potential health promoting benefits of the Nopal cactus for decades. Scientific studies have increased interest in cactus-pear cultivation and the number of possible uses and application of cactus-pear fruits. Anecdotal testimonials from people who have enjoyed Nopalea, a health promoting nutritional juice, is mounting.

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Ref:

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We hear on a daily basis through media advertising, that probiotics are necessary to build a strong immune system, but what does this mean and how can we ensure that we don’t get caught up in media hype?

Most people are totally unaware that there are 100 trillion bacteria, weighing a total of 3 pounds (approx 1.5 kg) lining their intestinal tracts. This complex system of beneficial bacteria is a crucial part of the immune system. The primary function of the beneficial bacteria is to protect the body from invasion, but this can only happen successfully if we ensure that our diets are such that the beneficial bacteria are nurtured and encouraged with probiotics and not bombarded with unhealthy foods such as sugar, processed foods and toxic chemicals.

In a healthy individual, the good bacteria in the gut, represents about 80% of the total bacteria present, the other 20% being of the pathogenic variety. However when the ratio is 80:20 the good bacteria keep the pathogenic bacteria in check and the good bacteria are able to continue their job of producing a strong immune army. If we eat a diet of sugar and processed foods, what happens is that these foods “feed” the pathogenic bacteria and they become more prolific and can ultimately impair your immune system.

To maintain the good bacteria it is vital to adopt a diet that not only feed the good bacteria with probiotics but also avoids the foods that feeds the pathogenic bacteria. A two pronged attack. To provide the body with probiotic enhancing foods our diet should contain foods that have been fermented eg. kefir, sauerkraut etc If you are not eating these foods then you should consider supplementing your diet with a good quality probiotic supplement. A good probiotic supplement will contain bacterial cultures such as lactobacillus, acidophilus and bifidus. If the probiotic supplement is a good one these cultures will be highly concentrated forms of the particular bacteria. Unfortunately many of the gimmicky probiotic foods that promise to feed your gut with good bacteria, have been found to contain very little if any living bacteria, and many of them are sugar laden which rather defeats the object of the exercise.

Probiotics should ideally be taken with food as part of your daily routine. They are also an excellent companion if you are traveling abroad. Many people experience infectious traveler’s diarrhea while visiting foreign countries and a bottle of probiotics can help to clear up the infection in record time.

Probiotics tend to be viewed as something to take when on a course of antibiotics. This of course is vital, but they should really be given a little more credence for the wonderful job they do supporting the immune system, which after all is the most important contributor to our overall health.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Vitamin C – otherwise known as Ascorbic Acid is an essential nutrient for human beings. A lack of vitamin C can cause a deficiency disease called scurvy, which is characterized by pale skin, sunken eyes, tender gums, muscle pain, loss of teeth, and internal bleeding.

Vitamin C is water soluble and is not stored by the body. Consequently we need to have a daily dose to ensure that we are not deficient. Vitamin C is found in fresh fruit and vegetables and in particular, peppers, watercress, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, lemons, kiwi fruit, oranges, grapefruit, limes and tomatoes.

Vitamin C has many uses within the human body including:-

• It is an antioxidant
• It strengthens the immune system and fights infection
• It lessens oxidative stress
• It is required for 8 different enzymes
• It is required for the integrity of the artery walls
• It enhances the absorption of iron

Most animals and plants have the ability to synthesize their own vitamin C by utilizing 4 enzymes to convert glucose to vitamin C. Humans do not have the ability to do this and instead they rely on a daily intake of vitamin C from their food sources. It is also possible to ensure that adequate vitamin C is absorbed on a daily basis by taking a supplement. This can be taken in the form of ascorbic acid, but as this can be mildly acidic it is often preferable to take it in the form of calcium or magnesium ascorbate. A therapeutic dose for an adult can be anything from 1000mg to 10,000mg. This may cause diarrhea if taken in excess of the bodies needs, but this soon subsides as the dose is reduced.

Because vitamin C is water soluble it is very easily lost from food when it dissolves into the cooking water. Vitamin C is leached from some foods more than others, but one way of ensuring you get the best from your fruit and vegetables is to eat it raw, preferably juiced to release the enzymes.

Over the years there has been much speculation about the therapeutic effects of Vitamin C ranging from curing the common cold to curing diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Although we can be sure that Vitamin C prevents scurvy the other claims on its efficacy are inconclusive and rely on anecdotal evidence. Many people find Vitamin C is helpful for a range of conditions and its ability to enhance the immune system would appear to be a likely fact. Despite the efforts of the renowned scientists such as Linus Pauling two times Nobel Prize winner, who wrote the book called “Vitamin C and the Common Cold” there will always be skepticism on behalf of the medical profession who seem reluctant to accept the validity of most natural remedies.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

The human body is reliant on a certain level of nutrients for optimal health. Vitamins, minerals and other trace elements in the right proportions can help to keep disease at bay and ensure that the body is functioning optimally.

Ideally we should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals our bodies need from the food we eat, unfortunately this is not always possible. In this modern day and age not only do we consume processed foods that are devoid of any natural nutrients, but even our fresh food is grown or reared on soil that is mineral deficient.

So why is it so important to ensure we have our optimal intake of vitamins and minerals? Each of these nutrients has a specific role to play in the body.

• Vitamin A is needed for eye health and skin health. It is an antioxidant vitamin that is used for protein synthesis and is also important for the healthy function of lung tissue.
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is needed for the production of HCl (hydrochloric Acid) blood formation, and carbohydrate metabolism. It is also needed fore normal muscle tone of the intestines, stomach and heart.
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is needed for red blood cell formation, antibody production, cell respiration and growth and it facilitates O2 (oxygen) use in the body
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) is needed for the correct function of the nervous system, the metabolism of carbohydrates and the production of HCl. It is also needed for the synthesis of sex hormones.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is involved in almost all body systems and organ functions, including activating many enzymes. It aids B12 absorption, immune function and antibody production and also helps to regulate oestrogen and inhibits homocysteine
• Vitamin B12 aids in cell formation and cellular longevity. It prevents anaemia, aids digestion and absorption of food. It is essential for a healthy nervous system and also maintains fertility and promotes normal growth and development
• Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Its primary role is the formation of collagen. It is also important for growth and repair of body tissue cells, gums, blood vessels, bones and teeth. It aids in the absorption of iron and helps reduce LDL’s ( bad cholesterol) It is also a natural anti inflammatory and anti histamine.
• Vitamin D also known as the sunshine vitamin protects bones and preserves muscle tone. It is essential for calcium and phosphorus metabolism and regulates cell growth, immunity and energy metabolism
• Vitamin E is fat a soluble antioxidant with particular affinity to the cardiovascular system. It is involved in helping maintain normal cholesterol levels, the integrity of the cell wall, the health of capillary walls, the integrity of red blood cells as well as controlling the clotting of blood. It is also responsible for healthy skin and a healthy reproductive system.

So as you can see vitamins are essential for our health and well being and it is vital that we get an optimal amount of each of these vitamins on a daily basis

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

It is not unusual for people who are overweight to make the excuse that they can’t lose weight so there is no point trying. Losing weight is not for the feint hearted. It demands life style changes and discipline and can take many months to achieve your goal.

However if you are serious about wanting to lose weight it is worth making sure that you are properly organized before you begin. Being well organized will get you off to a good start as will my list of tips and hints to make your weight loss journey a little less stressful

1. Get rid of any foods that may tempt you to return to your old ways and instead fill your cupboards with healthy foods that will help you to lose weight

2. Buy fresh foods on the day you want to eat them. This will help to ensure that they have the maximum nutritional value.

3. Make sure you have some healthy snacks at hand in the fridge, like carrot sticks and hummus.

4. You will need to have plenty of high quality protein in your weight loss diet. Protein is necessary to convert fat into lean muscle and subsequently to speed up your metabolism.

5. Most of us suffer from a sweet tooth on occasions so it is sensible to keep a store of fruit such as bananas, apples and oranges that will offer a healthier alternative. Pure sugar causes insulin levels to rise too quickly leading to a condition known as hyper-insulinism. Fruit contains fiber which has to be broken down and results in a slower absorption of sugar and a more gradual rise in insulin levels.

6. You should aim to stick to your diet at least for 95% of the time and don’t be too hard on yourself if you have a bad day or feel the need for a treat. It is always better to have a treat and get back to your diet rather than feel deprived and ending up binging

7. Start thinking like a slim person and imagining yourself as slim. If you think like a slim person you will act like a slim person and consequently you will begin to eat like as a slim person. The power of though can help you to lose weight more effectively and maintain that weight loss in the future.

8. Don’t be tempted to give up. There will always be times when sticking to your diet will prove to be more than you can cope with, but the most important thing is to get back on the diet as soon as things get back to normal.

9. Trying to lose weight on your own can be a lonely business. Either join a class or maybe form a weight loss group of your own amongst your friends, colleagues or family members. The benefits of group therapy and a good support system can make all the difference to your ultimate successful weight loss

10. Determination and a resolve to do it to the best of your ability will certainly help you to lose weight. Many people have lost vast amounts of weight and have kept it off successfully it just takes a bit of will power and an understanding that this is an eating plan for life and not just for the duration of your weight loss regime

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

An antioxidant is basically something that reverses the effects of oxidation. Although oxygen is a vital nutrient needed by every cell in the body every second of the day, it is also chemically reactive and highly dangerous. In normal biochemical reactions oxygen can become unstable and capable of oxidizing neighboring molecules. This can lead to cellular damage which in turn triggers cancer, inflammation, arterial damage and aging. Any chemical that is capable of disarming these free radicals is termed an antioxidant.

The main antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E, beta carotene, selenium, glutathione and bioflavanoids. These vitamins and minerals tend to work synergistically in the body and are best taken as an antioxidant supplement for the best result.

The balance between your intake of antioxidants and your free radical damage can be crucial. You can make some significant changes to your dietary habits to reduce the oxidation as well as eating natural foods with high antioxidant properties.

A diet high in fruit and vegetables is very important as this will provide plenty of vitamin C and beta carotene. Vitamin C is water soluble and acts as a roaming scavenger and occurs in high concentrations in the brain, lungs and adrenal glands. Vitamins A and E are fat soluble and provide the main antioxidant protection within the cell wall. Vitamin A is found in organ meats, fish, eggs and dairy products, whereas vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds and unrefined vegetable oils.

Glutathione has been termed the body’s master antioxidant and detoxifier. It is manufactured inside the cell from its precursor amino acids, glycine, glutamate and cystine. Natural foods that boost glutathione levels include asparagus, broccoli, avocado and spinach. Raw eggs, garlic and fresh unprocessed meats contain high levels of sulphur containing amino acids that help to maintain optimal glutathione levels

Selenium is a trace mineral and is found mainly in plant foods and also in some meats and seafood. It is required in small amounts to enhance antioxidant activity and prevent cellular damage from free radicals. The selenium content of foods is wholly dependent on the selenium content of the soil in which the plant was grown. Or where the animals where raised. In the UK the soil in Norfolk is know to be rich in selenium whereas in the USA northern Nebraska and the Dakotas have a high level of selenium.

Bioflavanoids belong to the polyphenol family. They are the antioxidants that are found in foods such as fruit, vegetables, soy products, green tea and red wine. They are thought to be responsible for the antioxidant protection of body fluids and they may be able to help to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Including these antioxidant rich foods in your dietary regime is a wonderful way of ensuring that your body has the protection it needs from the daily attacks that can result in free oxidizing radical damage. Because of the modern ways of living it is virtually impossible to avoid the causes of oxidative damage, but we can take steps to ensure that the damage is limited.

Ref
The Glutathione Report –Priya Shah – July 2004

Patrick Holford’s 100% Health 7DD

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Joint health is something we all become acutely aware of as we get older. Morning stiffness, rheumatic-type aches and pains, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow and arthritis are just a few of the conditions that we may encounter. Most people will see these conditions as a “to be expected” part of aging. They will more than likely resort to painkillers and other anti-inflammatory drugs and maybe some massage or other manipulative therapy. Very few people will consider the role of nutrition or nutritional supplementation as a way of easing their symptoms, let alone treating the root cause.

Joints comprise of bone with a layer of smooth less brittle cartilage known as the articular cartilage, which is separated from the opposite bone and cartilage by a lubricating synovial fluid contained within the synovial membrane.. The bone consists of a matrix of collagen, a form of protein, which binds together calcium, the main constituent of bone, and phosphorus. The cartilage protects the bone ends and is composed of a substance which is made from protein and carbohydrate.

The most common joint problem, where joint health is seen to be compromised, is arthritis. There are basically two types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects the articular cartilage. This cartilage is mainly made up of water and its job is to reduce friction that might be caused by the two bones rubbing together. It acts like a sponge which soaks up the synovial fluid, which fills the cavity between and around the bone joints. It is continually released and absorbed as you move. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to dry out over time, thus compromising joint health.

The other form of arthritis that affects joint health is rheumatoid arthritis. It is thought to be an auto immune disease where the body reacts against itself. It affects one or a number of joints. The first sign of this condition is when the synovial membrane lining the joints becomes inflamed and attracts more joint fluid to ease the inflammation. The joint eventually becomes swollen, stiff and warm because of the increased blood flow. This can eventually leads to a wasting of the muscles.

Many arthritis sufferers have been able to control or even improve their joint health by making some dietary changes. There are certain foods that are known to make arthritis worse, for example foods from the deadly nightshade family, sugar and sugar substitutes, trans-fatty acids, grains- especially wheat, and meats such as pork, ham and bacon. This can be a very daunting prospect for many people with arthritis, as their first reaction is that there is nothing left to eat. However if they make a list of the foods that they can eat, then they will soon realize that the changes are no so difficult after all. At the end of the day it is up to each individual to decide if they want to improve their joint health or not.

As well as making dietary changes, many people have also been helped by the numerous supplements that are available to support joint health. Products such as fish oil, glucosamine and antioxidant vitamins all have a part to play in improving the health of the joint. It is always wise to approach joint health with a complimentary regime that encompasses both lifestyle changes and supplementation, and if necessary this can be supported with controlled pain relief, especially in the early days before the new regime starts to take effect

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

The question of when nutritional supplementation is necessary for optimal wellness is a difficult one, not simply whether the person needs nutritional supplements, but what supplements would help their condition and aid their recovery. In order be certain what supplements are required it is often a good idea to book a session with a nutritional therapist. This may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it can in fact save you money in the long run, as your therapist will be able to tell you which nutritional supplements are best for your needs. This will remove the guess work and the possibility of taking supplements that you don’t really need.

Dr Mark Draper, medical nutritionist to Cytoplan, a Nutritional company in the UK, has chosen to include nutritional supplementation as part of his practice. This was prompted initially by his experience in the West Indies, where he was treating children with advancing infections in the upper respiratory fact. These children were requiring antibiotics until it was discovered they were suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Supplementation program of iron resulted in a rapid cure of these conditions.

On other occasions Dr Mark Draper experienced dramatic responses in the condition of his patients with eczema and psoriasis after supplementation with zinc and selenium. Dr Draper is quoted as saying

“I strongly believe that the body is programmed to succeed and not to fail given the right building blocks. It appears that there is a commonality of cause in many acute recurrent or chronic diseases….which can be classified as type B malnutrition. This can be defined as a shortage of one or more micro nutrients”

He goes on to say that pharmaceutical treatment regimes set out to control the symptoms rather than address the cause, leaving it to go unchecked, and resulting in an even greater need for nutritional supplementation to support the body. He feels that nutritional supplementation will either prevent the worsening of the disease or may even cause a regression.

Basically the body is a self healing entity, but it can only operate efficiently if provided with all the nutrients needed for optimal health. Type B malnutrition can often be due to poor dietary habits, but it can also be due to the poor nutritional status of many of the foods we buy at the present time. Many foods now lack minerals and trace elements due to the way we produce, farm and transport food. We no longer eat food in season. We expect all fresh foods to be available all year round. But at what cost to the consumer? If we wish to ensure that our nutritional needs are met then it is important to take appropriate nutritional supplements. By doing this we are giving our bodies the best support and the best opportunity to deal with any underlying deficiencies that may be contributing to our overall health.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

It is estimated that that there are at least 6 million people in the UK alone, who suffer from chronic pain on a daily basis. The most prevalent causes are arthritis, neck shoulder and back pain and recurrent headaches. These conditions are now so common that they are seen as an inevitable part of life. People with chronic pain often endure considerable suffering and distress as well as impaired mobility, sleep disturbances and reduced confidence.

In fact chronic pain has become one of the major health and social challenges of our time, with over £400 million being spent on over the counter painkillers. There is no doubt that painkillers can be very effective in relieving pain, but they are not without there side effects and other serious concerns.

• Some over the counter pain killers are addictive
• Others are thought to be linked to suicides
• NSAIDs are thought to cause kidney damage and intestinal bleeding
• Far too many people are admitted to hospital to be treated for the side affects of NSAIDs

Unfortunately when it comes to treating people with chronic pain, the pharmaceutical options are limited. So what is the answer? Are there any natural approaches that can help to alleviate pain levels?

The good news is that in recent years there have been considerable improvements in the quality of life that can be achieved using natural and holistic methods. For example.

• Resolving the underlying cause of pain
• Eating a whole food diet relatively free from sugar, processed foods, caffeine and alcohol
• The use of visualization and meditation
• Remedial exercise
• Stress management and relaxation
• Manipulative therapies
• Acupuncture
• Nutritional and naturopathic therapies and supplementation
• Hydration

Chronic pain rarely has a simple diagnosis. Back pain may be caused by a pulled muscle or a bulging disc, but if it is a recurring problem it is nearly always related to emotional and nutritional factors as well. For lasting improvement and effective healing these factors need to be addresses as well.

Chronic pain may also be due to factors such as excessive weight, posture, poor core muscle development, an inflamed gut, or possible foods that are causing an allergic response that is weakening the muscles around the injury.

The holistic treatment approach for chronic pain must be multifaceted if it is to be successful. But unfortunately, although chronic pain may be alleviated temporarily, it cannot be cured by taking painkillers.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

The term “super fruits” is basically commercial terminology for a range of the more rare fruits deemed to have a particularly high nutritional value, especially their antioxidant value. Their perceived health benefits would seem to be the main reason for their popularity.

Some of the more popular superfruits include: acai, blueberry, cranberry, gogi, red grape, guarana, mango, mangosteen, noni and pomegranate. Fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are not included here even though they have many of the qualities of superfruits, mainly due to the fact that they are commonly known and have not attracted that novelty value of the other fruits.
One of the main features of the super fruits is the presence of antioxidant phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are thought to have potent antioxidant qualities that are thought to be particularly helpful in many serious diseases such as leukemia, cancer and neurological diseases, as well as conditions such as mental fatigue and inflammation.

The antioxidants that are provided by these superfruits play an important part as free radical scavengers. Free radical damage can occur at cellular level due to pollution, toxins and the stresses of daily life. Free radicals become unstable and attack healthy molecules, this is where the antioxidants provided by the superfruits really come into their own. The more powerful the antioxidant the more protection they offer.

Very often these superfruit antioxidants are taken as a nutritional supplement. It is not unusual to find that they are a combination of superfruits to enable them to offer the best antioxidant activity. These supplements are also often a more concentrated form of the superfruits, to ensure that the highest possible dose is made available.

The capacity of the superfruit supplement is measured in ORACs – Oxygen Radical Absorbence Capacity. This enables the consumer to have an understanding of the potency of the product they are purchasing to ensure that it is offering good value for money. As an example, mangosteen juice has an ORAC value of 15 – 17 thousand whereas cranberry juice has a value of 8 – 10 thousand.

Although it is generally agreed that all fruits are good for our health superfruits do seem to contain more complex substances that help to maintain good health and keep certain diseases and illnesses at bay

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

In recent years Aloe Vera has become a popular health promoting product, both in its topical gel form and also as a therapeutic drink. Although there are 200 species of Aloe Vera, the variety used for therapeutic purposes is Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller.

The healing powers of the Aloe plant have been known for nearly 3000 years and it was used in the past to heal the wounds of the troops. The Aloe is a member of the lily family and is often referred to as “the healing plant” mainly because it can heal itself very quickly if its flesh is cut.

The Aloe consists of two parts, the whole leaf extract and the inner leaf gel. The whole leaf need to be processed so that the Aloin can be extracted. This is usually sold as a concentrate and contains a powerful source of immune regulating sugars known as glucomannans. The inner leaf gel requires little in the way of processing and contains salicylates which have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. The inner leaf gel is also thought to have antibacterial, antiviral, anti fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

It is possible to buy an Aloe Vera plant to keep in your home, and this is certainly a very valuable addition to the first aid kit especially if you have a burn. Just remove one of the succulent leaves and remove some of the gel from the center. If this is put on a burn immediately after it happens it can reduce the possibility of blistering, it takes away the pain and enables the burnt skin to heal more quickly. Of course most people would probably prefer to buy the gel in a tube.

When purchasing Aloe Vera products it is important to ensure that you are buying a good quality product that has bee given a kite mark by the Health Food Manufacturers Association (in the UK). The kite mark is a guarantee that the “active” ingredients are present.

Aloe Vera can be used topically on radiotherapy burns / reddening, sunscreen, leg ulcers, and other minor burns. The Aloe Vera inner leaf gel and the whole leaf concentrate can be used to treat bowel conditions such as irritable bowel and Crohn’s disease; and arthritic conditions. Aloe Vera has the ability to stimulate the healing process while also reducing the body’s inflammatory response.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a member of the vitamin B complex group, all of which are vital for mental health. Deficiency in any of the 8 B vitamins will very quickly affect the way you feel and think. These B vitamins are water soluble and rapidly pass out of the body and so we need to replenish them on a daily basis. The B vitamin group tend to work synergistically so it is advisable to take them in a complex. If you feel you need an extra amount of any of the B vitamin group then make sure you take it in conjunction with a B Complex formula.


Vitamin B 12 is one such vitamin that is often supplemented alongside a B complex supplement. Vitamin B12’s primary functions include the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of a healthy nervous system. It is also necessary for the synthesis of DNA during cell division.

Vitamin B12 is found primarily in meat, eggs and diary products. It has been suggested that B12 is also found in fermented soy and seaweed products, however, although this may be the case, it is unclear as to how available this plant source is to the human body. Those on a vegetarian diet may well find that their diets are deficient in this essential vitamin and may need to consider supplementation,

Vegans need to make sure that the foods in their diet are fortified with vitamin B12. For example foods such as marmite, or other yeast extracts, breakfast cereals and textured vegetable protein are fortified with vitamin B12

If you are experiencing lack of energy, exhaustion, irritability, forgetfulness or brain fog, you could be suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency. This deficiency may be caused by a lack of B12 in your diet, however it could be caused by stress, which increases our demand for B12. In addition our ability to absorb B vitamins in general declines after the age of 40, so supplementation may be advisable once you have reached this age.

Occasionally B12 deficiency can be caused by digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis or gastric reflux, all of which inhibit the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the foods they eat.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Stevia is an extremely sweet, non calorific herb that has been used as a sweetener and flavour enhancer for centuries. Unfortunately its use within the USA has been virtually impossible in recent years due to the fact that it has been handled as if it were an illegal drug. However more recently it has been decided that it can now be sold legally in the USA provided it is called a dietary supplement.

With obesity reaching epidemic proportions, alternatives to sugar have been very high profile. Artificial sweeteners have been deemed detrimental to health and have even been cited as a causal factor of weight gain. Many people who have a weight problem also have a sweet tooth and find giving up sweet foods very difficult. Stevia, unlike the artificial sweeteners on the market does not mimic sugar in the same way and so has a very beneficial part to play in the diets of many obese individuals. Stevia has actually been used in South America for centuries to treat Type 2 Diabetes.

Stevia is in fact commonly known as sweetleaf or sugarleaf. Its extracts are 300 times the sweetness of sugar and amazingly has a zero calorific value. It will come as no surprise therefore to know that cooking with stevia can take a little getting used to. The most important thing to remember is not to use too much as this can result in excessive sweetness and an after taste. One suggestion is to start using stevia with other natural sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup.

Recipes for beverages sweetened with stevia will often be measured as a liquid concentrate. Stevia is sold as a white powder or as dried or powdered leaves. In order to make the stevia liquid concentrate you must purchase the white stevia powder.

Stevia is sold in 4 different varieties:-

• fresh leaves – the most natural unrefined state
• dried, crushed leaves – this variety released more sweetness and flavour
• stevia extracts – this is the white powdered extract that is approximately 200-300 times sweeter than sugar(by weight)
• liquid concentrates – this can be made from the white powder and preserved with grapefruit seed extract or may be a syrupy black liquid made by boiling the leaves in water

ref – Wikededia
— Stevia.net

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Since Stevia is much sweeter than sugar we recommend to get it in liquid form, where you are able to add a drop up to a few drops depending on your taste.

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Encouraging people to eat more fruit and vegetables is seen a top priority by the organizations around the world who are promoting a healthier diet. Many serious illnesses are caused by nutritional deficiency due to a diet made up of poor quality food.

Research indicates that nine or ten servings of fruits and vegetables a day is optimal, whereas dietary guidelines tend to recommend a minimum of five servings a day. However it would appear that most populations are consistently not reaching even half this goal. Attempts to increase the intake of fruit and vegetables is proving to be a major public health challenge.

It is a well documented fact that people who eat a diet rich in plant foods have a reduced incidence of heart disease and cancer, but despite this fact the message doesn’t seem to be getting through to certain sectors of the community.

So why are vegetables so beneficial to our health?

Apart from the obvious fiber content in fruit and vegetables, which ultimately aids the digestive process, they contain many vitamins and minerals .

Vitamins

Vitamin C and the B complex vitamins are found in all fruit and vegetables whereas vitamin A is found in read yellow and orange fruit and vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes.

Minerals

The minerals copper, iron, zinc, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and potassium are found in certain fruit and vegetables

Phytonutrients

More recently research has been focusing on a different set of nutrients called phytonutrients. These bioactive substances are found in all plants – not just fruit and vegetables but also in flowers, herbs spices, seeds, nuts, oils, cereals, pulses, chocolate as well as beverages such as tea and coffee. Many but not all of these nutrients are highly coloured. There are 20 top phytonutrients each with their own special name and properties

Professor Heber, the director of the University of California Los Angeles Center for Human Nutrition, divides foods into 7 colour groups: red, red/purple, orange, orange/yellow, yellow/green, green, white/green.

• The red group eg tomatoes, provide lycopene; believed to have anti cancer properties
• the red/purple group eg grapes, provide anthocyanins; believed to have antioxidant and protective effects on the brain and heart functioning
• the orange group eg carrots, provide alpha and beta-carotenes; believed to help against lung cancer and support the immune system
• the orange/yellow group eg tangerines provide cryptoxanthins; believed to help with the maintenance of healthy vision, reproduction and body tissues
• the yellow/green group eg avocado provide lutein and zeaxanthin; believed to reduce the risk of macular degeneration
• the green group eg broccoli provide isothiocyanates and indoles; believed they may have anti cancer properties
• the white/green group eg celery provide allicin; believed to act as an antibiotic in the body and have anti cholesterol benefits

A diet rich in fruit and vegetables can provide the body with all these phytonutrients provided they are consumed on a daily basis.

Ref “The Optimum Nutrition Magazine” Winter 2007

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

The term “probiotic” comes from the Greek word meaning “for life”. Antibiotic therefore means the opposite and although as a drug they can literally save lives by killing of bacteria that is making the body unwell, they can also devastate the good bacteria living happily inside our guts.

Good intestinal health is one of the critical factors determining optimal health. 80% of your immune system lives in your gastrointestinal tract. Approximately one hundred trillion bacteria live inside us, weighing approximately 2 – 3 pounds. Some of these bacteria are referred to as “good” bacteria the others offer no benefit and live undisturbed inside us being kept in check by the large number of good bacteria present.

However, this is the crucial point. If the ratio of good to other bacteria is about 80% to 20% then all is well. Once this starts to deteriorate then the body starts to have problems and ill health is likely to ensue. The immune system will become impaired and it will become increasingly difficult to improve the numbers of good bacteria. This is where probiotic supplements can be invaluable.

In the case of antibiotic treatment, as I said earlier, the good bacteria are killed off with the invading bacteria, it is therefore vital that the body is replenished with good bacteria either in the form of probiotic supplements or probiotic foods such as live unsweetened yoghurt. The main benefit if the probiotic supplement is that the live bacteria are present in their millions. It is a much more concentrated form of live bacteria than the yoghurt and will repopulate the gut far more effectively.

Probiotic supplements come in many shapes and sizes and as with all nutritional supplements it is wise to purchase from a reputable company. Probiotics are only as effective as the method used for making them and storing them. So make sure you know as much as possible about the way they are manufactured before you purchase them.

If you decide to stick with the yoghurt, then make sure again that the yoghurt is live and if possible made with organic milk.

Probiotic supplements can also be useful for anybody suffering from the symptoms of Candida Albicans. This is a condition where the gut has been over populated with this particular fungus and therefore is very lacking in good bacteria. This condition is also known as dysbiosis, which means that the 80 % to 20% I mentioned earlier has not been maintained and the position may even be a complete reversal of 20% good to 80% other/candida albicans. In this scenario the probiotics will help to replenish the good bacteria in the gut.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Natural Health

With so much information in the media about junk food and drink that is detrimental to our health, many people are starting to realize that natural health is the only way forward if we are to be fit and healthy into our 3rd age. With so many baby boomers currently becoming OAPs there has been an upsurge of interest in how to reach and maintain optimal health through natural means.

Natural health implies that we want to become healthy using the tools that nature provided us with. Natural food as opposed to processed food, natural medicine instead of drugs, natural skin care instead of chemically laden products, and natural cleaning agents instead of chemical cocktails.

There is no wonder we are breeding nations of sick individual when you start to look seriously at the way we treat our bodies. The natural health approach has the ability to change all of that and enables us to live life according to the laws of nature.

If we would only stop and think for ourselves we would realize that nature provides it all. Everything we need is there for us in abundance. Of course the big issue for most people is that nature doesn’t provide in such a convenient time effective manner as many of the products that are available to us. Gone are the days when women made their own face creams and cosmetics from natural ingredients. Only a small percentage of us grow our own vegetables, even fewer enjoy cooking a meal from scratch. Despite the many side effects related to prescription drugs most people would prefer to have a quick fix from the doctor than take time to convalesce or even concoct an herbal brew using herbs from the garden.

So is natural health a thing of the past? For many people, sadly, I think that may be true. However there is quite definitely an active body of people both young and old that want to integrate some of the “old fashioned” ways into their modern lives. More and more people are taking on allotments and choosing to have organic vegetables delivered to their doors. Organic chemical free skin care products are becoming more popular as concerns for the numbers of chemicals in many commercial brands are being highlighted. There are websites online that sell the raw ingredients for those who would like to make their own face creams. More people are turning to more gentle cleaning products and even good old white spirit vinegar and basic lemon juice are being used for cleaning and stain removal.

One of the biggest increases in the area of natural health can be seen in the purchase of nutritional supplements as an alternative to drugs. More and more people are realizing that they can get the same benefit from supplements without the unpleasant side effects.

So it would appear that natural health has come back in a slightly different guise, but is never-the-less a valuable alternative to the processed, chemical laden industries that bombard us as consumers on a day to day to basis.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

If we were to believe all that we read in the press, we could be forgiven for accepting that buying supplements is tantamount to throwing our money down the drain. Supplements are held in such little regard by the medical profession that many people truly believe that we have no need for them. Many consumers believe that if they already have a balanced healthy diet then why would they need a supplement?

In an ideal world this would of course be true, but unfortunately very few people really understand what a well balanced healthy meal is – let alone have one on a regular basis. In addition the quality of our food is far from perfect and is lacking in many of the essential nutrients needed for our bodies to be working optimally. It is also a fact that due to our poor digestive systems, many of us are not able to absorb the nutrients from our food.

There have been many clinical trials over the years that have attempted to discredit the use of supplementation, but on closer inspection it has been found that the trials have been set up for that express purpose rather than to ascertain the truth. On the other hand there have also been other trials that have proved that if we take dietary supplements containing the optimal levels of nutrients great improvements have been shown to have taken place

There is no doubt that many people are suffering from vitamin deficiencies that may or may not manifest in particular symptoms. Simple tests can now be taken to ascertain the levels of nutrients in an individual and careful supplementation can make a huge difference to their wellbeing. However these cases are not valid as clinical trials and will do little to persuade the skeptics that dietary supplements have any value.

At the end of the day it is up to each individual to make up their own minds. If taking particular dietary supplements helps you to feel better or gives you more energy, then it is likely that you will continue to take it.

There are more and more people today who would rather be taking dietary supplements than taking a prescription drug. However, our approach to health should be about more than taking a pill to make us better whether that pill is a supplement or a drug. Perhaps first and foremost we should be looking to change our dietary and lifestyle habits and view the need to take dietary supplements as a way of supporting that change rather than seeing it is a miracle cure.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

There has long been a belief that to detox naturally means to allow our bodies to detox as a matter of course. In an ideal world where we are eating a healthy diet and leading a healthy lifestyle as our ancestors did then that might be a true statement. Our bodies do indeed have their own detox mechanisms. The gut is designed to prevent bacteria and many toxins from entering the body. When harmful chemicals do enter the body the liver acts as an extraordinary chemical factory to make a water soluble compound that can be excreted by the kidneys. This the body detoxes naturally. The body should be able to be re-hydrated with ordinary tap water and be refreshed with a good nights sleep.

Unfortunately in our present day and age the health of the gut cannot be taken for granted as a protector. More and more we are seeing health problems caused by increased permeability of the gut wall, which means it is not as capable of preventing toxins from entering the body. It is also unlikely that our liver is working at 100% efficiency as the excesses of our current lifestyles put an increasing burden upon it.

Understanding Fasting as a Method of Allowing the Body to Detox Naturally

Some people are of the opinion that to detox naturally requires a period of fasting and abstinence. Fasting for a short period of time on a regular basis has been a way of allowing the body to recover and replenish for many years, especially where this has been part of a religious practice. However for somebody who leads quite an unhealthy life, who wants to embark on a once or twice a year detox, this would not be the most advisable detox for them.

The body enters into a state of fasting approximately 8 hours after the last meal. During a fast, the body glucose that is stored in the liver and the muscles is used up first to provide energy. The body will then use up fat stores as its source of energy and during that phase, toxins that are stored in the body fat will be removed from the body. Thus allowing the body to detox naturally during the fast

However the problems arise when the period of fasting continues and the body is then required to breakdown muscle as protein as a source of energy. It is therefore probably wise to ensure that you not only concentrate on the foods you won’t be eating during your detox period, but that you also give some serious consideration to foods that you do need to eat.

It is vital, when aiming to detox naturally, to ensure that you drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of filtered water per day, to enable the body to keep the electrolyte balance relatively constant. It is also important to include some gentle exercise to keep the lymph moving during your detox regime and aim for at least 7-8 hours sleep a night.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Embarking on a detox is usually our attempt to make up for the times when we have abused our bodies with fast foods, alcohol, too many chocolates or simply not enough health promoting foods. And so we detox for health!!

Although this is very commendable, many people fall into the trap of believing that their detox for health will automatically result in them feeling fit and healthy and ready to take on the world once again. This is always the case. It is important to be aware that as the body is working hard to detox you may be feeling decidedly unwell and unhealthy. Remember that toxins are being transferred to your various organs of elimination and the presence of them can make you feel very ill indeed.

The type of unpleasant symptoms that you may experience during your detox for health, are:-

• Frequent headaches – often due to dehydration
• Hunger
• Low blood sugar
• Withdrawal symptoms from caffeine or alcohol
• Constipation due to a lack of fluids and fibre

Dehydration is a common occurrence during a detox and care must be taken to ensure that this doesn’t happen as it can lead to very unpleasant symptoms caused by a disturbance of your electrolyte balance.

People who Should not Detox for Health

It is not a foregone conclusion that a detox for health is in everyone’s best interest and certainly there are many categories of people who either shouldn’t embark on a detox or who should only attempt it with the backing and support of their medical practitioner

So who would not be advised to detox?

• Anybody who has any form of acute illness
• Immediately prior to or post surgery
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, as detoxification will potentially result in the toxins passing through the unborn or newly born child.
• Anybody with an eating disorder – such as anorexia.

People who should seek medical advice before detoxing are those with:-

• Diabetes
• Other chronic illnesses
• On prescription medication

An unsupervised detox for health is essentially for people who are already relatively fit and healthy, but even so, it should not be undertaken lightly. Remember that regular meals are essential to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Suitable snacks such as fruit, raw vegetables, nuts and seeds are ideal to maintain balance and in order to avoid the unpleasant effects of dehydration at least 1.5 to 2 litres of filtered water should be drunk each day

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

We live in a polluted society, where exposure to toxins is inevitable. Our food is sprayed with toxic chemicals and we breathe in toxic fumes as we walk or drive along our busy roads. This is just an example of two of the many ways in which our bodies are dealing with pollution on a daily basis. In addition to this we have mercury fillings, pharmaceutical drugs, tobacco smoke, alcohol and numerous chemicals in our water supplies.

Over the years our bodies have made some adjustments to deal with these pollutants but at a cost to our overall health. We now accept ill health in old age as an inevitability, despite the fact that we know more about health and wellness than ever before.

Every so often it is advisable to give our bodies a helping hand and provide an opportunity for us to get rid of the toxins that are actually making us ill.

The main organs of elimination of toxic substances are the liver, the kidneys, the gut, the skin, the lymphatic system and the lungs

The Liver

It is important to ensure that the liver is well supported as this is the main processing organ. It is the job of the liver to detoxify all potentially harmful substances. Once disarmed, these substances can then be eliminated via the kidneys, lungs and the bowel. This work is carried out by thousands of enzymes that require certain nutrients to help them to do their job.

Foods that can help the liver to detoxify are cruciferous vegetables ( broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower); brightly colored fruit and vegetables (tomatoes, apricots, peppers, berries); sulphur containing foods (onions, garlic) and lemons

The Kidneys

The job of the kidneys is to filter the blood, removing excess water and water soluble toxins that are then passed out in the urine. The kidneys require plenty of water to dilute the toxins and to help them to carry out their job more efficiently.

Foods that help the kidneys to detoxify are water; all fruit and vegetables; parsley leaf; herbal teas

The Gut

Harmful ingredients from the stomach are filtered out here and sent to the liver to be processed. Fibre helps to mop up some of the toxins, stopping them getting absorbed into your body and carrying them to the bowel. The main function of the bowel is to excrete processed toxins in the faeces. If the bowels function is sluggish the faeces linger there and the toxins can actually be reabsorbed into the blood stream

Foods that help the gut to detoxify are all fibre rich foods; fruit (especially apples, prunes, berries, dried fruit); vegetables (especially carrots, broccoli, cabbage) flaxseeds(linseed); beans; lentils; oats; and barley

Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the body and plays a big part in getting rid of toxins. Some toxins are eliminated in your sweat, others in your skin oils and others via the shedding of dead skin cells.

Foods that help the skin to detoxify are water; fruit and vegetables; flaxseeds; essential oils (flax, walnut, pumpkin seed) or pumpkinseeds

The Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is like the drainage system. It is a series of tiny vessels that run into all areas of the body and transport nutrients in a fluid known as lymph. The lymphatic system also helps to detoxify by removing waste products from the body. toxins that are too large to enter the bloodstream are processed in the in the lymph nodes and then passed back into the blood stream where they are taken to the liver to be detoxified

The main food that helps the lymphatic system to detoxify is water. Lymphatic drainage, dry skin brushing and Epsom salt baths are also know to help

Lungs

The lungs remove carbon dioxide from the body as well as other toxic gases that you breathe in.

Foods that help the lungs detoxify are fruit and vegetables (especially apples, onions, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries)

Detoxification is a complex process and needs to utilise its natural detox system to avoid being poisoned not only by the chemical toxins mentioned above, but also the natural toxins, including waste products from food, dead bacteria and debris from the millions of new cells produced each day.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

What we can Understand from the Inflammatory Response

According to Wikipedia, the word inflammation comes from the Latin word inflammation meaning to set on fire, (anti-inflammatory meaning to put out the fire) Inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process without which wounds and infections would never heal. It is, in simple terms, a response of the bodily tissues to a pathogen, damaged cells or an irritant.

However, although that is a “simple” definition, the word simple can rarely be applied to any process within the human body. The sign that an acute inflammatory response is taking place on the surface of the skin is normally characterized by a reddening of the skin, heat, swelling, pain and even loss of function. These signs are less obvious when the internal organs are inflamed during an acute phase.

The majority of the inflammatory responses of an acute nature are usually short lived. The tissues are gradually repaired by the body itself and normal cellular function is resumed.

However this is not the so straight forward in the chronic inflammatory condition. Chronic inflammation is generally an immune response that can last for weeks, maybe even years if the cause of the inflammation isn’t treated and dealt with. Chronic inflammatory conditions are usually systemic rather than localized and result in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or hypersensitivities caused by an inappropriate immune response resulting in inflammation. Because the body’s response to chronic inflammation is to release toxins to attack the invading agent, it then inadvertently attacks its own tissues causing permanent destruction. Thus we get the term autoimmune disease which is basically describing the fact that the body is attacking its own cells.

In most cases of chronic inflammation the person is treated with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However as with all prescription drugs there are some unpleasant long term side effects, including stomach ulcers and kidney problems. There are in fact several natural alternatives to prescription drugs which should be explored first and preferably early in the condition.

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Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Fats and Oils – Omega 3 essential fatty acids are very powerful anti-inflammatory agents. They are converted into hormone like substances called prostaglandins. They are found in cold water oily fish such as salmon, mackerel or herring, flaxseed (sometimes called linseed) and their oil. Omega 6 fats are also responsible for reducing inflammation and pain and they can be found in pumpkin, sunflower, safflower and sesame seed oils.

Fruit and Vegetables – Green and brightly coloured vegetables and fruits can help the inflammatory process. The pigment in brightly coloured fruit, vegetables and in particular berries, contain many phytochemicals and anti-oxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties. For example quercetin which can be found in the skins of red apples and re onions is a natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory.

Pro-inflammatory Foods

If you are suffering from an inflammatory disease, it would also be wise to avoid pro-inflammatory foods that might increase your pain and inflammation.

Foods to avoid include any junk food and fast food, especially trans-fats and saturated fats. Too much saturated fat means too much arachidonic acid which although essential in the right amounts can be responsible for making your inflammation worse if you consume too much.

Diets high in sugar have also been associated with inflammation and so should be avoided. Another possible cause for concern is foods that come from the deadly nightshade family. Foods such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant have been known to aggravate the pain of inflammation.

Adjusting your diet in this way is the first line of defense for any anti-inflammatory regime. Such dietary changes ideally, need to be initiated early on in the disease if they are to have any noticeable effect.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews

Oxygen is the basis of all plant and animal life. It is a vital nutrient for our bodies and is used by every cell every second of every day. Oxygen is needed to release the energy in the foods we eat so that we can perform our bodily functions and go about our everyday work. However, oxygen is also chemically reactive and highly dangerous as it can be come unstable and can cause oxidation, which in turn can cause cellular damage. This can lead to a myriad of illnesses such as cancer, inflammation, arterial damage and aging.

In order to counteract the effects of oxidation, it is necessary to utilize substances called anti-oxidants, which can literally disarm the oxidants and render them harmless. The balance of oxidants to antioxidants is crucial if we are to protect our bodies from long term damage and serious illness.

The main antioxidants

Vitamins A.C and E (easily remembered as ACE).

Vitamin A comes in 2 forms, retinol and beta carotene. Retinol is the animal version and whereas beta carotene is found in plants usually re/orange/yellow vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes. Beta carotene is the more powerful antioxidant of the two.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and can be found in most fruit and vegetables. However it is very easily destroyed by heat and so as it is also water soluble it is best eaten raw.

Vitamin E is fat soluble and is found in seeds including nuts, seeds and their oils. It can also be found in some vegetables like peas broad beans, corn and whole grains all of which are classified as seed foods

Vitamins C and E work synergistically together to protect the tissues and the fluids in the body. Combining all three has been shown to half the risk of cancer and protect against many other degenerative illnesses.

Zinc and Selenium

Zinc and selenium have a very important antioxidant role to play, as they are responsible for activating two very important antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase, which is selenium dependent and superoxide dismutase, which is dependent on zinc. Seeds and sea-foods are the best all round dietary sources of selenium and zinc.

Anthocyanidins

Anthocyanidins are powerful antioxidants that come from the flavonoid family. They are found in plants that have colors such as purple, red, orange, yellow and green. A diet that is rich in colorful fruits and vegetables is likely to deliver a goodly amount of these important nutrients. Other colors that will provide anthocyanidins are the blacks and deep purples and reds found in grapes, bilberries and cranberries.

Glutathione

Glutathione is the main ingredient of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. It is probably the most important antioxidant offering protection against the harmful effects of carcinogens. It also helps to detoxify the body and helps to protect it from the negative effects of excessive alcohol, tobacco smoke and infections. It can be found in whit meat, tuna, lentils, beans, nuts and seeds.

CoQ 10

CoQ10 is a vital antioxidant in that it helps to improve the cells ability to utilize oxygen. It is able to control the flow of oxygen, improve the production of energy and thereby prevent cellular oxidation. CoQ10 is found in meat, fish, nuts and seeds

Lipoic Acid

Lipoic Acid is a sulphur-containing vitamin-like substance which has very effective antioxidant properties. It is one of the few antioxidants that is both water and fat soluble which enables it to protect a wider range of molecules. It is found in liver and yeast.

Antioxidants have a vital role to play in protecting our bodies. As you can see each antioxidant has its own role to play. However if we wish to protect our bodies from all kinds of oxidation then it is important to ensure that we include all of these antioxidant foods in our diets on a daily basis.

Janet L. Matthews
Skype ID: lindajanetmatthews