THE COFFEE ISSUE

Take note that although coffee is listed here with very small amounts of acrylamides (due to the roasting process of the beans), it is theorized that the high antioxidant levels in coffee counteracts any negative effects of this small amount of acrylamides.

Are there substances that protect your body from acrylamides?
Considering that acrylamides are found in the highest amounts in foods you should be avoiding anyway, here is yet another big reason to avoid those foods. It's particularly important to stay away from the biggest offenders as much as possible: French fries, potato chips, corn chips and cereals.

But let's be real... although they should be limited as much as possible, not many people want to fully give up these foods! So with that said, how do we protect ourselves from possible harmful effects of acrylamides when we do choose to indulge?
The answer lies in antioxidants!
Researchers found that three types of antioxidants in particular -- tea polyphenols, resveratrol, and a substance found in garlic, slow down or counteract the damage that acrylamides can do to our bodiesCheck It Out Here!

Polyphenols are found in all types of teas -- black tea, green tea, white tea, red tea, etc., but it is green tea and white tea that contain the highest levels of healthy polyphenols. With that it mind, it might be a good idea to drink high antioxidant teas on the occasions that you are eating high Acrylamide foods.
Resveratrol is the famed antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine. It is also found in peanuts that have red skins, like Spanish peanuts. Again, you might hypothesize that a glass of red wine and the antioxidants within can help protect against the effects of foods with AcrylamidesCheck It Out Here!

Diallyl trisulfide is a compound found in fresh garlic that has been roasted, smashed or minced. Besides fighting off the bad effects of acrylamides, it is also a potent immune system booster. All three of these compounds are also extremely effective antioxidants.
Although these particular types of antioxidants were pointed out by researchers as potentially helping to inhibit negative effects of acrylamides, I wouldn't assume that other powerful antioxidants don't help too. As you know, cinnamoncurcumin- and other herbs such as basil and oregano, as well as all berries are extremely potent sources of antioxidants that could potentially be protective as well.

The bottom line: As much as you can -- avoid fried, roasted or baked starchy foods... especially french fries, potato chips, and corn chips; as well as processed cereals, breads, and crackers.
Not only are these specific foods empty calories with very little micro-nutrition density, they are also insulin increasing (can pack on belly fat), and potentially cancer-causing foods. Acrylamides are simply one more reason to avoid themCheck It Out Here!
On your "cheat meals" when you choose to eat starchy foods that may be high in acrylamides, make sure to wash it down with some high-antioxidant green tea, oolong tea, white tea, rooibos tea, or another great source of antioxidants. is another great source of potent synergistic antioxidants that can also help to protect your body when you eat these foods.
If you don't already have a copy, make sure to check out our Fat Burning Kitchen programfor our fully comprehensive system to transform your kitchen.

Enjoy your stay.
Pls. Check out my other blog
http://wwwpregnancysolution.blogspot.com

Bernard C Gakwe.

DESIRED PAIN RELIEVERS

The 12 Safest And Most Effective Pain Relievers

These anti-inflammatories are some of the most powerful, safest, and most effective pain relievers in the world. By feeding your body with the following ingredients, you'll give your body a powerful and proven one-two punch against inflammation and pain. Proteolytic Enzymes
Research indicates these enzymes work throughout your entire body to help it fight inflammation... dissolve scar tissue... cleanse and thin the blood... plus even boost cardiovascular, respiratory and immune function.
In other words, proteolytic enzymes are the final line of defense against disease, illnesses, pain and everything else that happens inside your body.
And unfortunately with the nutrient-deficient food we're eating today, the vast majority of adults today have dangerously low levels of these enzymes!
The easiest and most affordable way to get them in your body is by taking Heal-n-Soothe on a regular basis. Bromelain
This special natural compound which is extracted from pineapple contains several proteolytic enzymes that have been shown to short-circuit multiple pain pathways in the body.
It has been studied extensively since it's discovery in 1957 and hundreds of studies have shown it to reduce inflammation, reduce and prevent swelling and remove waste and toxins from the blood.
For example, in one study, 77 patients taking Bromelain experienced significant reduction in pain and swelling.Turmeric Extract
Turmeric has the unique ability of using its antioxidant powers to seek out and destroy free radicals in the body which contribute to pain and swelling
A recent study done at the prestigous Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center in New York.
In this study they found that Turmeric was more safe and precise than asprin in stopping inflammation by shutting down the COX2 enzyme responsible for pain.
And Turmeric caused none of asprin's typical gastrointestinal irritation! Papain
Papain is unique in that it's been shown to actually attack tumor cells and boost the immune system!Check it Out Here!
It also contains a widerange of proteolytic enzymes and works by breaking down proteins.
In studies it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of numerous conditions such as diabetes, herpes, cancer and digestion issues like bloating and chronic indigestion.
It's an enzyme very few people have enough of, yet if they did, would reduce the frequency of a lot of common diseases and disorders!Devil's Claw
Numerous studies have proven it's effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation.
In fact, one study found that Devil's Claw was as effective in treating arthritis pain as common drug, phenylbutazone... which is so strong it's even used to treat pain in horses!
There have also been several studies on humans which show that Devil's Claw is as effective as COX-2 inhibitors... without the deadly side effects!
A series of studies completed in Germany found that the main ingredient in Devil's Claw was indistinguishable from Vioxx in the treatment of chronic low back pain! Boswellia Extract
One of the most widely used herbs in Indian medicine, it has been used for centuries by traditional Indian healers to reduce pain and inflammation.
Hundreds of studies have been done proving it's effectiveness and in addition to being a powerful and safe, natural anti-inflammatory, Boswellia has also been shown to support healthy blood circulation.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, 30 patients received 333mg, 3x a day of Boswelia.
The group who received the Boswelia had a significant reduction in pain and swelling and experienced an increase in joint mobility and flexibility as compared to the placebo group.Vitamin E
This fat-soluble vitamin is an essential nutrient for humans and is known for it's powerful anti-oxidant properties.
Vitamin E has been shown to be beneficial in numerous situations and conditions such as controlling high blood pressure, maintaining healthy and balanced cholesterol levels and boosting immune system function.
Plus... it has also been shown to improve circulatory conditions, skin health, memory and more.
In short, it benefits virtually your entire body! Ginger Extract
Used for over 2,500 years in Asia, Ginger has been used to treat nausea and to reduce pain and inflammation.
It works by decreasing the amount of prostaglandins, which are what cause you to feel pain. In other words, it does what NSAID's and prescription pain meds do, but in the way nature intended it to do so... instead of forcing it and causing side effects!Rutin
Found naturally in a variety of plants and fruits, this flavanoid has been shown to have a strong anti-inflammatory effect due to it's powerful anti-oxidant activity.
Reducing your inflammation leads to changes throughout your entire body.
Changes such as ... a reduction of pain... increased circulation and dozens of other health benefits which ramp up your energy! Citrus Bioflavanoids
Citrus bioflavanoids aid in the absorption of vitamins and act as important anti-oxidants.
They also inhibit collagenase and elastase, the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of connective tissue.
That way your joints and ligaments stay as healthy as when you were a teenager!

In addition to protecting connective tissues, they also protect against free radical damage.L-glutathione
There are literally over 20,000 research studies available on how glutathione can help your body in everything from cancer prevention to more supple skin.
Glutathione is quite literally THE most important antioxidant in your body.
The benefits of increased glutathione are virtually endless, since glutathione is the antioxidant that controls ALL other antioxidants in your body.
It is the ONLY antioxidant in your body that has the ability to eliminate ALL free radicals, not just specific types! Mojave Yucca (root)
The Mojave Yucca root has more benefits than you could shake a stick at!
These improvements in your health include migraine relief... decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides...better digestion... reduction of muscle spasms... improved blood circulation... treating various skin conditions... healing wounds... and it even promotes shiny and healthy hair.
The problem is, food alone can't give you the amount of these ingredients that you need. Even if you ate PERFECTLY healthy at every single meal, you still wouldn't come close because of the way your body breaks down these ingredients through food.
And that's exactly why we created...An All-Natural, 100% Safe, Pain-Relieving Supplement Which HEALS Your Body As It Soothes Away Your Pain...... And It's Yours Today... FREE!
It’s called "Heal-n-Soothe" and it not only gives you the healing power of proteolytic enzymes in a convenient capsule but it also goes where no other proteolytic supplement has or will with…
Today’s Most Powerful Proteloytic Enzyme Combination: We've combined the incredible systemic enzymes Protease AM, Protease 6.0 and Alkaline Protease... Bromelain and Papain to give you the most powerful pain-fighting effects!
No Label ‘Slight of Hand’: Most supplements don't list the exact concentrations on their labels... because they want to hide the fact that they're RIPPING YOU OFF! As you'll see below... you get to see the entire label... with ALL ingredients and ALL concentrations of each ingredient - because we have nothing to hideCheck It Out Here!
The Only Truly All-Natural Proteolytic Enzyme Formulation - Available with no dangerous fillers or preservatives! This pain-reducing miracle was made for the pain sufferer who wants to get rid of their pain without adding mystery chemicals into their body.
What makes Heal-n-Soothe better than NSAID's and other pain-relieving formulas?

Here are 7 great reasons you should ditch your prescription pain medication and test out our 100% natural solution instead...
Reduces pain, inflammation and swelling WHILE healing the source of the pain. NSAID's harm your body instead of heal them.
Dissolves pain in minutes with 12, 100% natural, inflamation-fighting ingredients. Other's don't.
100% safe / no side effects unlike NSAID's which put over 100,000+ people in the hospital each year and kill over 16,000+ people!
Boosts your immune system by cleansing your blood and killing viruses and bacteria so you get sick less often!
Improves joint mobility and flexibility by reducing stiffness-causing fibrin. Other's don't.
Scientifically proven to work through medical research studies (76 of them are listed)

Keep Reading For More Information...
Mother Nature's Answer ForSafely Fighting Inflammation...
It's called Systemic Enzyme Therapy and it has been used in numerous countries throughout the world for over 50 years.
The word systemic means whole body and systemic enzymes operate throughout your body in every system and organ. Enzymes, which are known as biocatalysts - something that makes something else work or work faster.
Enzymes are basically the main line of defense against inflammation. Enzymes are not anti-inflammatory drugs but rather reduce inflammation by neutralizing the bio-chemicals of inflammation to levels where the creation, repair and regeneration of injured tissues can take placeCheck It Out Here!
Reducing inflammation can have immediate impact on improved heart health, cancer prevention and recovery, and Alzheimer's prevention. It also helps speed up recovery from sprains, strains, fractures, bruises, contusions, surgery -- and arthritis.
Unlike NSAID's which may give only temporary relief and do not fix the underlying cause of the problem, systemic enzymes work to reduce the inflammation and promote healing without any side effects.

Here are just a few examples…
A study published in the Journal of Medicine, Science, Sports and Exercise found that "proteolytic enzymes have therapeutic effects in the treatment of inflammation and soft tissue injuries."
Another study done by the Institute of Cancer Research in Vienna found that "a combination of proteolytic enzymes and herbs were effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis and reducing TGF-b which is known to be present in the blood when there is cancer."
And in a study done by Dr. Nicholas Gonzales, which was published in the medical journal, Nutrition and Cancer, Dr. Gonzales compared systemic enzyme therapy against a new cancer drug, Gemcitabine. He found that 5 out of 11 patients treated with systemic enzymes lived two years or longer and not a single patient of the 129 treated with the drug lived more than 19 months!
So, as you can see, not only is systemic enzyme therapy safe and effective, but also it's often more effective than the drugs.

In Addition To Reducing Inflammationand Eliminating Pain, Enzymes Also...
Break down scar tissue and fibrosis – Fibrosis is scar tissue that builds up in our bodies and over time creates some much restriction and strain on our organs that they can no longer function.
Well, systemic enzymes eat away that excess build up of fibrin and scar tissue. Doctors throughout Europe and Asia have been using them for over 50 years to remove scar tissue from surgical wounds, kidney fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis and in numerous other scenarios.
Cleanse the blood – systemic enzymes also clean the blood of excess fibrin that causes the blood to thicken, which sets you up for clots, which can cause heart attack or stroke. Enzymes also help take some of the strain off of the liver by keeping the blood clean and not allowing it to thicken beyond normal.

WARNING: If you are a hemophiliac or are taking prescription blood thinners, it's strongly recommended that you consult with your healthcare professional before considering systemic enzyme therapy.
Maintain a healthy immune system – enzymes are adaptogenic and they work to restore the body's balance. When the immune system is low and we become more susceptible to infections, the enzymes clean the blood to help fight off infection. And if the immune system is too ramped up, as with auto-immune diseases, the enzymes work to tone down the immune system and eat the antibodies that are attacking the healthy tissue.
Red Blood Cells getting stuck in and amongst fibrin. This happens when there aren't sufficient proteolytic enzymes in the blood stream.
Fight and kill viruses – another amazing and powerful effect enzymes have is that they seek out and kill proteins that have viruses attached to them. Systemic enzymes have shown to be very effective in treating and preventing viral infections.
Systemic enzymes truly are one of nature's most powerful natural remediesCheck It Out Here!

If you suffer from any sort of ache or pain, or if you just want to get and stay as healthy as possible, I urge you to consider systemic enzymes. They have been used to safely and effectively eliminate pain and inflammation from all sorts of conditions like arthritis, colitis, back pain, sciatica, joint pain, heart disease, cancer and more.
After years of research and testing, we have created the most powerful systemic enzyme formulation in the world. But we didn't stop there, we also added numerous other herbs, vitamins and nutrients that have been proven to have anti-inflammatory effects and together, they make one extremely effective combination calledHeal-n-Soothe.This powerful inflammation fighting formula includes:
Proteolytic Systemic Enzymes - Research indicates these enzymes work throughout your entire body to help it fight inflammation, breakdown scar tissue, cleanse the blood and also boost cardiovascular, respiratory and immune function.
Bromelain - This special natural compound, which is extracted from pineapple, contains several proteolytic enzymes that have been shown to short-circuit multiple pain pathways in the body.

It has been studied extensively since it's discovery in 1957 and hundreds of studies have shown it to reduce inflammation, reduce and prevent swelling and remove waste and toxins from the blood Check It Out Here!
Turmeric Extract - is taken from the dried root of the plant and it has been used to treat a wide range of ailments for thousands of years.

Studies have shown that it reduces inflammation by blocking both the COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes which create pain. In addition, Turmeric's antioxidant powers work to seek out and destroy free radicals in the body which contribute to pain and swelling.
Papain - contains a wide range of proteolytic enzymes and works by breaking down proteins. In studies it has been shown to be effective in the treatment of numerous conditions such as diabetes, herpes, cancer and digestion issues like bloating and chronic indigestion. Papain has also been shown to attack tumor cells and boost the immune system.
Boswellia Extract - One of the most widely used herbs in Indian medicine, it has been used for centuries by traditional Indian healers to reduce pain and inflammation. Hundreds of studies have been done proving it's effectiveness and in addition to being a powerful and safe, natural anti-inflammatory, Boswellia has also been shown to support healthy blood circulation.
Scientifically Proven Relief!
The pain reducing powers of Heal-n-Soothe have been proven to be highly effective in numerous clinical studies.
For example, in one study, 77 patients taking 400mg/day of Bromelain experienced significant reduction in pain and swelling.
A recent study done at the prestigous Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center in New York found that Turmeric was more safe and precise than asprin in stopping inflammation by shutting down the COX2 enzyme responsible for pain. But Turmeric caused none of asprin's typical gastrointestinal irritation.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study, 30 patients received 333mg, 3x a day of Boswelia. The group who received the Boswelia had a significant reduction in pain and swelling and experienced an increase in joint mobility and flexibility as compared to the placebo group.
And these are just a few of the hundreds of studies that have been done to prove the effectiveness of these ingredients.


Rutin - Found naturally in a variety of plants and fruits, this flavanoid has been shown to have a strong anti-inflammatory effect due to it's powerful anti-oxidant activity.
Mojave Yucca (root) - contains yuccaols and resveratrol which have been studied to potentially reduce inflammation. Additionally, yucca may have antioxidant activity. Yucca may be beneficial for anti-inflammatory support, immune support, as well as digestive support.
Ginger Extract - Used for over 2,500 years in Asia, Ginger has been used to treat nausea and to reduce pain and inflammation. It works by decreasing the amount of prostaglandins, which are what cause you to feel pain.
Devil's Claw - another time-tested natural pain reliever, Devil's Claw has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years in Africa. Numerous studies have proven it's effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation. In fact, one study found that Devil's Claw was as effective in treating arthritis pain as common drug, phenylbutazone.
L-gluathione - a compound found in nearly all forms of life, L-gluathione protects the body from oxidative damage by acting as a buffer.
Vitamin E - This fat-soluble vitamin is an essential nutrient for humans and is known for it's powerful anti-oxidant properties. Vitamin E has been shown to be beneficial in numerous situations and conditions such as controlling high blood pressure, maintaining healthy and balanced cholesterol levels, boost immune system function and improving circulatory conditions, skin health, memory and more.
Citrus Bioflavanoids - aid in the absorption of vitamins and act as important anti-oxidants. Citrus Bioflavanoids inhibit collagenase and elastase, the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of connective tissue. In addition to protecting connective tissues, they also protect against free radical damage.

This is your safety report I told you about in the first article!

Enjoy your stay and watch out for more reasonable tips.

Bernard C Gakwe.

THE MOST DANGEROUS PAIN KILLERS

Attention pain sufferers...The 5 Most Dangerous Pain Medications...Advil... Aleve... Bayer... Celebrex... Demerol... Motrin... Naproxen... Oxycontin... Percocet... Tylenol... Ultram... Vicodin...
Find Out Which Are Safe and Which Can Be Deadly...
When you think of dangerous drugs, what comes to mind first? Heroin?... Cocaine?... LSD?...
... How about pain pills?
Pain medications and adverse drug reactions are the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S.... only behind heart disease, cancer and strokes!
What does this mean to you?
It means your risk of dying from that pain medicine in your cabinet could be higher than your chance of dying from diabetes, lung disease, or even an accident – Check It Out Here! to see more of this special report.

The results of our investigation are shocking... But they could save your life.Dangerous Pain Meds : Salicylates (Aspirin)
Common names: aspirin, acetylsalicylate
Think aspirin is safe? Think again!
Higher doses or prolonged use at the lower dose – even in buffered or coated form – can double your likelihood of perforated ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Research shows 90-95% of Reye’s Syndrome cases were preceded by taking aspirin. The disease devastates internal organs, particularly the brain and liver, and at least 10% of those affected will die even with early treatment.

Dangerous Pain Meds: Acetaminophen
Common names: Tylenol, acetaminophen
Even the "doctor's choice" is disturbingly dangerous to take! Just check out these stats if you don't believe meCheck It Out Here!Every year, more than 56,000 people will visit the emergency room due to acetaminophen overdoses. It’s the leading cause of calls to Poison Control Centers.
It’s the leading cause of acute liver failure, causing nearly half of all cases!Dangerous Pain Meds :

Opiate-Based Pain Meds
Common names: Vicodin, Lorcet, Norco, Percocet, Percodan, hydrocodone, oxycodone
If you've ever had surgery, a major accident, or any other major trauma to your body... you were likely given an opiate-based pain med to knock out the pain.
Unfortunately, knocking out the pain has it's consequences!
16,000 - That’s the number of people who died in the United States in one year from drug overdoses. Most were caused by opiates.
In 2002... deaths from prescription opiate overdoses had nearly doubled.

Dangerous Pain Medicine : NSAIDs
Common names: Advil, Aleve, ibuprofen, naproxen
Do you have some kind of chronic pain? Arthritis... back pain... neck pain... something else?
Chances are you’ve been taking one of the common NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen to deal with the pain.
And speaking of chances...
The odds of dying from taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug after just two months is around 1 in 1,200
Roughly 16,685 people die each year from NSAID related complications... making them just as dangerous as AIDS!Check It Out Here!
The biggest known risk of NSAIDs is from gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding.
We’re not talking about a little tummy ache here, but severe bleeding and possibly death after the medicine destroys your gut. And that’s not the only known risk.
Dangerous Pain Medicine #1: Cox-2 Inhibitors
Common names: Celebrex, celecoxib
How would you like to triple your risk of heart attack?
Just pick up a prescription of Celebrex.
While studying the drug’s potential as an anti-cancer drug, the National Cancer Institute discovered that...
Those taking 400mg doses had 250% greater risk of dying from heart attack or stroke... and those taking the 800mg doses has 340% times the risk!If you found this article informative please share it with others...


Scary, isn't it?
The good news is, there are many pain relievers that are just as effective, but don't come with the harsh side-effects and dangers.
After 7 years of research and development, we have uncovered 12 of the most potent and natural pain relievers in the world.
We've combined them into the most effective anti-inflammatory and natural pain reliever.
The 12 Safest And Most Effective Pain Relievers. Please stay tuned you will read about the full details after this report.

Enjoy your reading
Bernard C Gakwe

But Take Note:
All material herein is provided for information only and may not be construed as personal medical advice. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The publisher is not a licensed medical care provider. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with its readers. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

7 TIPS to NEVER GET SICK AGAIN

Hello my Ardent reader,

Understand the REAL cause of sickness, and strengthen your immune system with these tips
by a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition SpecialistAuthor -

Note: The tips in this article can work anytime of the year to keep you healthy and prevent you from getting sick...not just in the winter!

First of all, let's clear up a BIG misconception about why more people get sick in the winters compared to warmer times of the year. I always have to bit my tongue when I hear well intentioned mothers and grandmothers tell their kids to "bundle up" before going outside so that they don't "catch a cold". So many people still have this huge misconception that cold temperatures can make you sick...
However... This is blatantly false!

In fact, did you know that there are multiple studies that actually show that cold exposure increases your immunity? It's true! One study I read recently even showed that cold therapy such as ice water baths or other cold water exposure stimulates an improvement in your immune system.

So are there really more germs and cold & flu viruses floating around in the winter? No, of course not! In fact, some studies I've read have indicated that there might actually be a slightly larger amount of cold and flu viruses all around us in the summer due to more favorable conditions for their survival on surfaces.
So then why do more people get sick in the winter? Well, I'll give you a hint... it's not the temperature, but rather the strength of the suns rays... In winter in the northern hemisphere (Canada, US, Europe, etc) sicknesses spike, but at the same time, it's summer in the southern hemisphere (South America, Australia, New Zealand, etc), and while sicknesses are spiking in the northern hemisphere, sicknesses are at their lowest point in the southern hemisphere since it's their summer.
And then when we're in summer in the northern hemisphere and most sicknesses go away, it's winter in the southern hemisphere, so colds, flu, and other sicknesses spike in the southern hemisphere.
So is it the warm temperatures that decreases sickness? Nope... It's actually all about the strength of the suns rays, and how much vitamin D your body produces due to the UV rays on your skin!Check it out Here!

There are 2 theories that many people pass around as to why more colds, flu, and sickness occur in the winter depending on which part of the world you're in...
Theory 1. It may have to do with people generally spending more time indoors in the winter and thereby being exposed to more germs in enclosed buildings. It's a nice theory, but people are generally still in offices from 9-5 all week long whether it's summer or winter. As you'll see, theory 2 is the REAL culprit!
Theory 2. The reason people get sick more in the winter is mostly due to a drastic reduction in their body's production of Vitamin D, which is directly responsible for how strong their immune system is.
The suns rays are too weak in the winter generally, and therefore, Vitamin D levels in the body drop significantly, which reduces immunity. Most people don't realize how important sunlight and Vitamin D levels really are towards so many functions inside their body, including immune system and hormone production and balance.
Even for people that get outdoors in the winter often, if you live in the northern hemisphere to the North of an imaginary line from approximately Atlanta to Los Angeles, the suns rays are not strong enough in the winter months (approximately November through end of February) to stimulate any significant Vitamin D production inside your body.
This aspect of lack of Vitamin D production and lowered immune strength in the winter months is what is actually the REAL reason why more sickness goes around in the winter. So you can silently chuckle to yourself the next time someone tells you to "bundle up" so you don't catch a cold.
So how can we bolster your immune system so that your body can fight off sickness before it gets a hold of you?
So here is my little ritual that I've been using for a few years now and really seems to keep me from getting any colds, flu, or any sickness at all.
As a matter of fact, I can't remember the last time I was legitimately sick. I think it's been 6 or 7 years since I've actually been sick.
Every time I feel a cold or something starting to come on, I do this ritual, strengthen my immune system, and my body always fights it off before I actually get full-blown sick.
1. Focus on Vitamin D (but NOT in pill form or "fortified" foods)
You need to be careful about artificial forms of vitamin D in many vitamin pills, as artificial vitamin forms are almost always either ineffective or possibly even detrimental compared to natural forms.
For this reason, you need to get your vitamin D naturally. The sun is the best source, and leads to a powerful strengthening of your immune system when your body can naturally produce Vitamin D from moderate sun exposure. Here is a previous article I did on how to get sun exposure in a healthy way without damaging your skinI know not everybody can take a tropical vacation every winter, but if you can, it's best to try to take it right smack dab in the middle of the winter (when your vitamin D levels have dropped to their lowest)... getting even a few days of good sun closer to the equator in the middle of winter can really help increase your vitamin D and strengthen your immune system.
Remember that this does NOT mean getting burned in the sun... it means getting a moderate amount of sun on large portions of your body (not just your face) for approx 15-40 minutes per day WITHOUT sunscreen on (since sunscreen blocks the UV rays that directly stimulate the vitamin D increase in your body).
Everybody is different based on their skin tone... very pale skin tones may only need 10 minutes or so in full sun in the middle of the day to get adequate vitamin D before any skin damage occurs, but darker skin tones may need a slightly longer time (sometimes 30-40 minutes) in the sun to produce adequate vitamin D. To protect your skin, it's essential to get enough sun without sunscreen on, but NOT get burned.
But, I understand that a tropical vacation in the winter is not possible for everybody's schedule based on either work or finances, so...
Since you may not be going on a tropical vacation this winter, how can you still keep Vitamin D levels from falling dangerously low in your body?Check it out Here!
Well, the best food sources of natural Vitamin D are egg yolks, fatty fish, organ meats and some mushrooms (some portobella mushrooms and maitake mushroom are fairly good sources of vitamin D).
But what I do to make sure I'm at least getting a decent amount of the best absorbed vitamin D is to take a SMALL dose of cod liver oil daily in the deepest months of winter to make sure my vitamin D levels don't fall too low. Make sure to take only small doses of cod liver oil (enough for 50% to 100% DV of vitamin D), as large doses can give you an overdose of Vitamin A. I take about half to 2/3rds of the recommended dose on the bottle.
I'm also a big fan of Prograde Nutrition's natural VGF-25 multi-vitamin, which derives it's vitamin D from natural fish liver oil instead of a synthetic form of vitamin D. All of the other vitamins in VGF-25 (which stands for "25 veggies, greens, and fruits") are naturally derived too instead of most multi-vitamins that you find at your corner store that are synthetic.
FYI - The synthetic version of Vitamin D is ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), while the natural form is cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). By the way, fortified milk has added D2, not D3... so that's NOT a good source. In fact, I don't trust any "fortified" foods at all, including crappy breakfast cereals which claim to be good sources of vitamin D... not so!
2. Garlic to strengthen your immune system!
Garlic is one of the most potent of all superfoods! Not only does high dose garlic go back thousands of years for treatment of sickness, but recent studies back up the legendary claims for boosting your immune system.
What's best though -- "aged" garlic pills, whole garlic in foods, capsules, etc? I can't seem to find a consensus on this one, so what I simply try to do is use a variety of sources, including garlic powder on a lot of my foods, fresh chopped garlic in meals, and also a garlic capsule or two each day.
If I feel a possible cold or sickness coming on, I really start loading garlic into my foods heavily and I take a few extra garlic capsules that day too.
3. Kombucha tea strengthens immune system
Kombucha tea is a fermented tea (naturally effervescent) that contains billions of friendly gut organisms (probiotics) that help to strengthen your immune system by bolstering your levels of good organisms in your gut.
Remember that 70% of your immune system lies in your gut and the health of the friendly organisms in there to protect you against pathogens and sickness.
You can find bottles of Kombucha tea at health food stores such as Whole Foods.
When I feel any sickness coming on, I start loading up on Kombucha tea, drinking it throughout the day. It has a strong taste, so I mix it with my normal iced teas at 1/3 Kombucha and 2/3 regular iced tea. I've started seeing other probiotic drinks on the market recently too, so just make sure to look for one that has very minimal sugar per serving (3-6 grams per 8 oz serving is acceptable, but much more than that is too sugary).
4. Green tea, Chamomile Tea, and other teas
There is evidence that green tea and chamomile tea can help aid in strengthening the immune system.
Even if the effect is small, you can't go wrong because both are loaded with powerful antioxidants unique to each tea.
For that reason, I try to drink a couple cups of green tea with a small bit of raw honey early in the day, and then at night, I have a couple cups of chamomile tea.
This isn't a bad idea even for a regular habit, but it's even more important when you feel a sickness possibly coming on. I also drink a lot of other teas too such as Rooibos tea, which is thought to be even higher in antioxidants than green tea.
5. Loading up on antioxidants
We already know how important antioxidants are to overall health as well as immune system support.
For this reason, I make sure to really load up on antioxidant-rich fruits, berries, unsweetened cocoa (in smoothies, etc), and veggies to help prevent sickness.Check it out Here!
I also make sure to take my daily Longevity Antioxidant blend from my friends at Prograde, which is a powerful synergistic antioxidant mixture of green tea, wolfberry, acai berry, Biovin grape, coffeeberry, and pomegranate.
I get that here: Prograde Longevity Synergistic Antioxidant blend
6. Light exercise (yes - light exercise, not hard)
When you feel a sickness coming on, a super-high intensity workout is not a good idea, as hard training forces the body to do a lot of recovery, this at a time when your body needs all of it's efforts on trying to fight off the oncoming sickness.
Although I usually recommend high intensity training, when sickness might be coming on, it's just a good idea to get some light exercise instead.
Personally, I like to get outside for some fresh air and go for a hike or go snowshoeing. These aren't very strenuous for me, so they won't cause my body to be forced to do a lot of recovery... but just getting out in the fresh air and getting the circulation going I feel is good to help the body fight off the sickness.
7. Avoid ALL processed foods and sweetened soft drinks
If you're serious about your health and getting lean for life, this should be an everyday rule for you anyway (except maybe for cheat meals)...
However, when you might have a sickness coming on, this is no time to bombard your body with processed foods, inflammatory omega-6 oils (soybean oil, corn oil, etc), fried foods, high fructose corn syrup, refined sugars, and chemical additives.
All of these force your body to do extra work to deal with all of this junk and the internal inflammation that they cause in your body.
Instead, this is a time that you need to give your body only wholesome unprocessed foods that are only 1 ingredient...fruits, berries, veggies, eggs, nuts, seeds, grass-fed meats, etc.
These 7 tips will go a LONG way to helping to ward off that sickness that is trying to get a hold of you... Here's to a healthy strong body!

Note: I'm not a doctor, and none of these tips are prescriptions for any individual person... they are simply the steps I've personally used over the years to successfully fight off sickness pretty much every single time. Again, I haven't been legitimately sick in at LEAST 6 or 7 years now that I use these steps!

Enjoy your reading. Kindly check out my other blogs:

http://www.buttmakeover4elegantwomen.blogspot.com/

http://www.pregnancysolution.blogspot.com/

Bernard C Gakwe.

LOW-CARB DIETS vs CONTROLLED-CARBOHYDRATE MEALS

The Truth about Low-Carb Diets vs Controlled-Carbohydrate Meals is created by a Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition SpecialistAuthor of the best seller: you may know him...

Please read on.

One of the problems I see with "diet talk" is that nobody seems to agree what "low carb" really means... One person may think of "low carb" as an Atkins style diet with as much fatty sausages, hotdogs, and nitrate processed meats as you want and virtually no carbohydrate based foods at all.
Another person may view "low carb" as 40% of daily calories coming from carbs instead of the traditionally recommended 55% to 60%.
If you think about it, in a 40/30/30 type of diet, the majority of the calories are coming from carbs, so that obviously can't be called "low carb"...yet some people do call it that.
Because of these drastic differences in how different people view the term "low carb", sometimes my clients are confused as to what I recommend.
First of all, I don't recommend "low carb" or "high carb" per se... I don't think it's vitally important to have any sort of exact ratio. I think everyone needs to explore for themselves how they feel at different ratios of fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
After all, the most important aspect to your success is your total caloric intake vs your caloric expenditure over a given time period.Check it out Here!

But where carbohydrate intake becomes important is in how it can affect your hormones and blood sugar in your body and stimulate cravings. You could tell someone to eat 2500 calories/day of a higher fat and higher protein content combined with reduced carbs and they may actually finish the day at 2500 calories because their appetite is satisfied.
However, tell that same person to eat 2500 calories per day in a high carb fashion, and they may end up eating 3000 or more calories per day because the higher carbohydrate diet stimulated their cravings and they ended up overeating.
I know personally, if you throw a big steak in front of me and a big pile of vegetables, my appetite will be satisfied when I'm done that meal and for hours afterward. However, you throw a big plate of pasta in front of me, and I'm gonna devour the entire plate, and then head back for seconds and maybe even thirds.
This is what happens for a lot of people... once you start eating large portions of carbs like pasta or rice or cereals, it becomes hard to stop and then you're craving more carbs an hour later too!
So what I've found to work best for me, and a large % of my clients in the past is to eat in a "controlled carbs" manner... this doesn't mean atkins style... it means very reduced grains, zero refined sugars (to the best of ability of avoiding), and instead, getting almost all of your healthy carbs from vegetables, fruits, and maybe beans on occasion.
This ends up being very similar to the hunter-gatherer type of diet of meats, eggs, nuts, seeds, fruits, and veggies, which I believe is the healthiest way to eat.Check it out Here!
Sometimes it just takes thinking a little differently about the way you eat and what's considered "normal" in order to get rid of some of the useless grains and sugars in your diet.
For example, why do we need to eat a burger on a bun? Most people don't even think of doing it any other way because that's what's "normal".
One of my favorite lunch meals lately has been cooking up a grass-fed bison burger,with no bun, and then I top it with grass-fed cheese, sliced avocados, diced onions, and salsa. I have a big side of sliced fresh veggies like carrots and red peppers (with hummus sometimes), and then maybe have a little bit of fruit or berries on the side too.
What you end up with is a meal that's pretty well balanced between protein, healthy fats, and healthy carbs instead of overloaded with the refined grains from the typical hamburger bun.


Think about breakfast too...

do you really "need" the toast with your eggs, or can you do much better with loads of veggies with your eggs instead?
That's what I like to do for breakfast... whole eggs with cheese and loads of veggies, avocado (yeah, avo's are one of my favorite foods), and some green or white tea (or lately I've been really digging this mango yerba mate tea...mmm) with a little raw honey. So I get my carbs from the veggies and the little bit of raw honey instead of from the typical toast and orange juice that loads you up with extra carbs.Check it out Here!
...Just some ideas in case it helps you to think differently about where you get your carbs from.

You have all the links above.

Enjoy your reading.

Bernard C Gakwe.

AN IMPORTANT NUTRIENT THAT PREVENTS DIABETES AND FAT GAIN

This unique marine antioxidant can help prevent diabetes and fight fat gain.

Can Astaxanthin Help Prevent Weight Gain?

By Cassandra Forsythe-Pribanic, PhD, RD, CSCS
Astaxanthin - although it sounds like one of those molecules in your chemistry class that haunted you while studying for final exams, it’s actually a very powerful antioxidant with several health-promoting properties.
One health benefit in particular is its ability to protect your body against diabetes.Check it out Here! It does this by fighting oxidative stress and preventing insulin resistance – two of the underlying causes of this common disease.

Oxidative De-Stressing

Oxidative stress refers to oxidative damage in a cell, tissue or organ, caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are unstable free radical molecules containing oxygen that steal electrons from other molecules. This then makes the newly damaged molecule another free radical.
ROS are often dangerous because they’re linked to many negative effects in the body such as increased inflammation, permanent cell damage and even cell death.Antioxidants come to our rescue against ROS because they stabilize the free radical molecule and prevent it from causing any destruction.

Diabetes and Oxidative Stress

Diabetes is strongly linked to oxidative stress as either a consequence of increased ROS production, reduced antioxidant status, or both.
Oxidative stress in diabetes is brought on by consistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) from a very high carbohydrate diet, reduced cell carbohydrate uptake, and/or low insulin output from the pancreas.
People who have pre-diabetes, or full diabetes, are wise to follow a diet much lower in carbohydrate than they usually eat, and increasing their physical activity. These changes will help reduce blood sugar concentrations and in turn, reduce levels of oxidative stress.
However, these changes take time and a lot of discipline (especially if you’re a carbohydrate addict). Thankfully there are ways to reduce oxidative stress until these beneficial changes have become new, good habits.
Astaxanthin Reduces ROS and Improves ImmunityCheck it out Here!
Japanese researchers found that astaxanthin could lessen oxidative stress in pancreatic beta cells (the cells in your body that produce insulin) caused by chronic high blood sugar levels. In turn, this improves the body’s ability to manage blood glucose levels by allowing the pancreatic cells to make the right amount of insulin when needed.
Astaxanthin was found to improve pancreatic beta cell function and protect these cells from glucose toxicity which leads to progressive cell breakdown and death (Uchiyama K et al, 2007). It did this by battling the damaging ROS molecules through increased antioxidant levels (via astaxanthin).
Another group of researchers also found that astaxanthin treatment improved immunoprotective properties of lymphocytes (special white blood cells that are part of a normal immune response) (Otton R, 2010).
In diabetes there is a strong correlation between oxidative stress and poor immune function. Astaxanthin helped the lymphocytes do their job more effectively and fight off foreign objects such as bacteria, viruses, and pathogen-infected cells so that persons with diabetes would not be sick as often.

Prevention of Fat Gain
Recently, a group of researchers from India (Bhuvaneswari S et al, 2010) showed that increased blood glucose and excessive insulin levels brought on by a high processed fat and high sugar diet could be deterred with astaxanthin treatment.
What this means is that astaxanthin prevents insulin resistance and improves glucose handling. As a result of this, a long term high processed fat and sugar diet was not able to cause a significant increase in body fat, fatty liver, or suppress immunity.
Although this is good news for those of us that may not always eat well every day, it definitely does not condone a constant diet rich in French fries, doughnuts, cookies, Pop Tarts or artificial Cheese Twists.Check it out Here!

Where Do You Get Astaxanthin?
This brightly red-colored antioxidant is found in the lipid compartments of several species of microalgae that feed the millions of crustaceans and fish found in our oceans. Astaxanthin is one of the major reasons salmon is tinted pink and krill are deep red. The krill eat these microalgae first and accumulate them in a greater concentration than the salmon who eat fish who eat the krill.
Your best source of astaxanthin is therefore high healthy fat, red-colored marine animals such as krill and salmon. EFA icon is one of the most concentrated sources of astaxanthan.

Stop Diabetes Now
According to our most recent statistics from 2007, 57 million people have pre-diabetes, and 23.6 million children and adults have full-blown diabetes; don’t let yourself become the next statistic.In order to help protect your body against the development of diabetes, which is a disease that affects more people in the US than need be, make sure you’re including astaxanthin in your diet and keeping sugar and processed fat low.

ReferencesUchiyama, K., Naito, Y., Hasegawa, G., Nakamura, N. et al., Astaxanthin protects b-cells against glucose toxicity in diabetic db/db mice. Redox Rep. 2002, 7, 290–293.Otton, R., Marin, D. P., Bolin, A. P., Santos, R. D. et al., Astaxanthin ameliorates the redox imbalance in lymphocytes of experimental diabetic rats. Chem. Biol. Interact. 2010, 186, 306–315.Bhuvaneswari, S., Arunkumar, E., Viswanathan, P., Anuradha, C. V., Astaxanthin restricts weight gain, promotes insulin sensitivity and curtails fatty liver disease in mice fed an obesity-promoting diet. Process Biochem. 2010, 45, 1406–1414.
Enjoy your reading.

Bernard C Gakwe