Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Jenn Kosar on Unsplash Mushrooms are not just a popular pizza topping or delicious addition to a meal. They have been used as food and sometimes as medicine for centuries, especially in Asian cultures. They are exploding onto the health and beauty market …
Photo by María Victoria Heredia Reyes on Unsplash Inflammation is your body’s natural response to protect itself against harm. “Harm” can include banging your knee, cutting your finger, infections like the flu, or even the affects of smoking. It is connected to diseases of the …
A new study soon to be published in the Journal of Nutrition conducted by LA BioMed, has found that the supplement Aged Garlic Extract can “reverse the buildup of deadly plaque in arteries and help prevent the progression of heart disease.”
Aged Garlic, Allium Sativum, is an herb used in ancient medicine, a healthy vegetable and a potent superfood that has been used traditionally for its vast health benefits. This herb has been specifically used to promote a healthy immune system, heart function, blood pressure, cholesterol and circulation. When garlic is aged, some of its health-preserving constituents are augmented, making it more powerful for the immune system without the odor, stomach upset or gassiness.
There’s a link between your body’s inflammation and how much sleep you get! Click here to read more!
According to Nicole Crane, BS, NTP, garlic is rich in a sulfur-y compound called allicin that has powerful antioxidant, antibacterial and cardiovascular supporting properties. “Allicin tends to be very unstable and short-lived, quickly changing into other sulfur containing compounds. Aging garlic stabilizes the allicin and makes it more powerful. Aged Garlic in supplement form offers the most benefits in terms of allin’s bioavailability and absorption.”
The study involved 55 patients, aged 40 to 75 years old, who had been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by obesity, hypertension and other cardiac risk factors. All participants underwent screening at the beginning of the study to measure the total coronary plaque volume, as well as dense calcium, non-calcified plaque and low-attenuation plaque. The screening was conducted using Cardiac Computed Tomography Anigography (CCTA), a noninvasive imaging technology that accurately measures calcium deposits and plaque buildup in the arteries. Participants were either given a placebo or a dose of 2,400 milligrams of Aged Garlic Extract every day.
A follow-up screening conducted a year after the initial screening found that those who had taken the Aged Garlic Extract had slowed total plaque accumulation by 80%, reduced soft plaque and demonstrated regression (less plaque on follow-up) for low-attenuation plaque.
?: @culturekitty Beets are a powerful superfood. Its reddish-brown betalains are powerful antioxidants that protect the walls of arteries. Trimethylglycine detoxifies homocysteine; elevated homocysteine is implicated in clogged arteries. The natural nitrates create nitric oxide, responsible for healthy blood flow, heart and circulatory health, and …
Photo by A Fox on Unsplash Native to Southern Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia, Nigella sativa, or Black seed, has been used as a medicinal plant throughout the world, including the Middle East and South Europe. The seeds of N. sativa and their oil …
Written By Amanda Williams, MPH
How often have you had an annual physical and are told by your healthcare provider that “everything looks good”? You leave their office feeling assured that everything is okay, health wise. But what does that “okay” mean exactly?
The question that I ask my customers who tell me they have had their blood tested is, do you really know what any of the results mean? If you are not sure what tests your provider is even ordering, then how are you to know that everything is “good”? It never surprises me when someone brings their blood results to me and states, “My doctor did a complete workup and tells me everything is normal”. And after one quick glimpse of the test, I find time and time again that the only tests that were ordered are a CBC (complete blood count), Metabolic Panel, Lipid Panel, and on occasion a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test. These are the most basic tests that are ordered and do not provide you with the most important aspects of your overall health. So let us look at the tests that should be ordered to really give you a more comprehensive look into your health.
I believe it is essential to know what if any inflammation is occurring in the body. As many already know, all chronic diseases have an underlying component of inflammation. It is advisable to have the following tests run –
High sensitivity C-Reactive Protein will let you know if there is any low level of inflammation in the body. This level is not cardiac specific but can indicate an increased cardiovascular risk when elevated.
This is an assessment of blood vessel inflammation, which is a cardiovascular risk when elevated.
This test is very important, as low levels of Vitamin D are strongly linked with reduced immune system function. Nearly every autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorder is associated with low Vitamin D levels. Knowing and understanding your blood levels allow you to have a better idea of how much Vitamin D3 to supplement with daily.
Fibrinogen is a test generally utilized to assess the “stickiness” or coagulation of the blood. It can also be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease when it is elevated.
This test looks at the size and the number of cholesterol particles. This is a more comprehensive way to assess your cholesterol than just looking at the total number. The size of the particles is a better indicator of your cardiovascular risk. The smaller the cholesterol particle, the greater the risk than if your cholesterol particles are larger. Size matters! Have your cholesterol particles tested.
This test will give you an accurate depiction of how much Coenzyme Q10 is in your system. This very important antioxidant is also the energy source for the cells throughout the body. We know that this level can be lowered through medications, such as statins for cholesterol and high blood pressure medications like beta blockers. Low levels of CoQ10 are commonly found in many health conditions such as Heart disease, Diabetes, Parkinson’s, Muscular Dystrophy, and cancers. Anyone taking a stain medication should request to have their level of CoQ10 checked.
This test is a must for any pre-diabetic or diabetic. It is the best way to assess insulin resistance. Elevated fasting Insulin levels are a sign of inadequate pancreatic function.
This very important adrenal hormone is responsible not only for making testosterone and estrogen, but it is also extremely important for immune function and our stress response. As we age, our DHEA levels begin to decline which can have a negative impact on muscle mass and immune defenses. It is critical to know what your DHEA level is, because low levels are associated with increased cardiovascular events, increased risk of infections, Sarcopenia (muscle loss), and shortened life span.
There are many more tests that would be important to assess for your overall health, but it is sometimes best to start with the basics and move on from there. It is your body and you should know what your blood test mean. Be proactive, not reactive about your health!