Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Your eyes are similar to a camera. Like any camera, if your eye becomes damaged, you do not get a clear picture. Exposed to large amounts of stimulation daily, your eyes are able to efficiently process information at the blink of an eye (pun intended!). …
? by Alexander Mils instagram.com/alexandermils on Unsplash Written By Patricia Pimentel Selassie, ND, CNS In the Standard American Diet (SAD), breakfast is typically composed of heavy, highly refined carbohydrate foods such as cereal, waffles, pancakes, toast, muffins, danishes, donuts, biscuits and orange juice. These refined …
According to research from the University of Bonn in Germany, eating fast food is like giving your body a bacterial infection.
The obesity rate in the U.S. is a major health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity. This is largely due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles; the Standard American Diet (SAD) is typically composed of heavy, highly-refined carbohydrates and sugar.
Numerous studies have shown that the rise in obesity rates could be attributed to an increase in calorie intake, coupled with a lack of adequate physical activity.
The Institute of Innate Immunity at the University of Bonn in Germany reports that the immune system reacts similarly to a high-fat and high-calorie diet as to bacterial infection. Unhealthy food seems to make the body’s defenses more aggressive in the long term; even after switching to a healthy diet, “inflammation towards innate immune stimulation is more pronounced.”
Scientists placed mice on a “western diet” for a month – high in fat, high in sugar, and low in fiber. The animals developed a strong inflammatory response throughout the body, almost like after an infection. Anette Christ posdoctoral lead in the study reports, “The unhealthy diet led to an unexpected increase in the number of certain immune cells in the blood of the mice. This was an indication for an involvement of immune cell progenitors in the bone marrow.” When researchers offered the rodents their typical cereal diet for another four weeks, the acute inflammation disappeared. What did not disappear was the genetic reprogramming of the immune cells and their precursors – “even after these four weeks, many of the genes that had been switched on during the fast food phase were still active.”
Director of the Institute, Prof. Dr. Eicke Latz, explains, “After an infection, the body’s defenses remain in a kind of alarm state, so they can respond more quickly to a new attack.”
Inflammatory responses can accelerate the development of vascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Researchers report that individuals born today will live on average, shorter lives than their parents – “Unhealthy diets and too little exercise likely play a decisive role in this.”
According to the Food Institute’s analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, millennial’s alone spend 44% of their budget’s food dollars on eating out. In comparison to 40 years ago, the average American family now spend half their food budget on restaurant food.
While the occasional night out won’t hurt, a habit of eating fast food can do a number on your health, according to Healthline. –
Some studies have shown that you can reverse the damage brought on by too much fast food by changing your diet and getting more exercise. Make healthier substitutes slowly; think: sweet potato fries instead of french fries or having 2% milk instead of whole milk. Be sure to have your cholesterol checked by your doctor. If it is high, follow a high-fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week. You should also get your BMI checked. If it is above 25 and you’re overweight, speak with your doctor on your weight loss options. Joyce Lee, M.D., MPH, says losing even 5% of your body weight can lower your risk of diabetes.
We live in an increasingly polluted environment, loaded with toxins; the soil we grow our food in is often nutrient-depleted and many consume processed, factory-made foods supplying scant nutrients. Ironically, our bodies wind up requiring even more vitamins and minerals to effectively metabolize nutrient-depleted foods. …
When you think of your bones, it is common to think of them as rigid, static and never changing. But, despite being a hard substance, your bones are very much alive, growing and changing throughout your life. This means, if our bones are nourished correctly, …
Feeling run down, tired, bloated or depressed? If you’re lacking energy, it may be time to cleanse your body from the inside-out! Whether you choose to try a full body cleanse or just want to detox a certain part of your body, it is important to do your research beforehand to make sure you are making the right choices for your health concerns. Here, Millie Lytle, ND, MPH, CNS former Director of Nutrition for InVite® Health, highlights five major organs you should target in your cleanse to help you reap the benefits of a strong body with glowing skin and more energy.
The major organs that eliminate waste and toxins from the body are called emunctories. Emunctories are excreting organs or ducts that serve to carry waste out of the body. Here is how to improve the function of your emunctories via regular detoxification.
The liver is the workhorse of the body. It performs over 500 vital functions and creates about 1000 different enzymes. It serves a crucial role, acting as the body’s main filter and detoxifier. If the liver is not functioning properly, the entire body suffers.
There are several key nutrients that have been shown in clinical trials to support liver health, specifically neutralizing and expelling harmful toxins such as tobacco, pesticides, some prescription drugs, chemicals and damage brought on by alcohol, before they are able to cause the body harm.
NAC, or N-Acetyl-Cysteine, is a nutrient that helps your body produce Glutathione, an amino acid which acts as a detoxifying agent to most organs, helping to remove harmful, toxic, heavy metals that inhibit proper organ function. Alpha-Lipoic Acid, or ALA, is known for its ability to target water and lipid-soluble chemicals. Together, these nutrients help improve detoxification in the body, especially the liver.†
Once the liver’s efforts have been facilitated, it is crucial to maintain healthy elimination. Having regular bowel movements – 2-3 times per day – is necessary to remove old waste material from the body, including cholesterol, and prevent them from re-circulating in the blood stream.
Psyllium husk is a carbohydrate that supplies fiber in order to clean the intestines and form bulk in stool. Bitter berries, called Triphala, act as a tonic for the liver and intestines, further promoting healthy digestion. Cruciferous vegetables, like cabbage, can help the liver and colon safely eliminate hazardous waste material, sealing toxic waste to the stool and preventing its absorption.†
Much of the waste that doesn’t get formed in the stool is eliminated through the urine. About 8 cups of water per day is necessary when cleansing to help the body dilute water-soluble waste products and carry out them out through the urine.
Cranberries offer a variety of health benefits, as they contain a wide range of antioxidants. Cranberries have been known for their ability to support urinary tract health issues, such as mild frequency, urgency or irritation. Due to it’s acid level, it has been shown in some clinical trials to inhibit bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract wall. Chlorophyll, from dark, leafy greens is a natural diuretic shown to have protective benefit for the kidneys and other organs of detoxification exposure to pollutants, toxins and heavy metals.†
The skin is the largest organ, covering the entire body and measuring 14-18 square feet. The skin ‘breathes’ via sweat production. Drinking 8 cups of water per day and inducing sweating through exercise and saunas are the best way to improve skin detoxification. When the liver and colon are functioning better, the skin benefits by revealing a radiant, healthy glow.
To further promote clear, healthy skin, choose products – cleansers, toners, and moisturizers – that contain green tea extract, witch hazel, shea butters and aloe vera. Products containing these natural ingredients contain powerful antioxidants that lift away impurities and maintain the skin’s natural moisture balance, deeply cleaning and moisturizing the skin.
The best way detox the lungs is to breathe! If you are a shallow breather, your lungs are not functioning to their maximum potential. Count to five while inhaling for oxygen and exhale on 5 to eliminate carbon dioxide.
If your lungs require extra cleansing, a nutrient like NAC, has been shown to support lung health as it helps to breakdown the immune system’s “chemical messengers” known as leukotrienes and to break up mucus, supporting nasal and respiratory health.†
A healthy detoxification diet consists of mostly fresh fruits and vegetables, gluten-free whole grains, lentils and raw seeds. Eating a ‘clean’ diet for a couple of weeks give the body an opportunity get a break from stimulants, inflammatory foods and alcohol, as well as other sugary and processed foods. You’ll be on a fast track to healthier organ function, energy, restful sleep, shining skin and maybe even weight loss.
Consult a health practitioner prior to a cleanse; especially consult a physician if taking prescription medications.
Have your tried any cleanses or detox options? Share your story and join the conversation in the comments below!