Yerba Mate

Yerba mate tea kills colon cancer cells

A recent scientific study found that yerba mate tea induces death in human colon cancer cells. Scientists discovered that in vitro cancer cells died when exposed to the bioactive compounds present in one cup of the beverage long valued for its medicinal properties by South American traditional healers.

Caffeine compounds cause cell death

University of Illinois associate professor of food chemical and toxicology Elvira de Mejia stated "The caffeine derivatives in mate tea not only induced death in human colon cancer cells, they also reduced important markers of inflammation." Mejia observed that this is important since inflammation can lead to cancer progression. Her study was published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research in latter part of 2011.

In the in vitro study, de Mejia and former graduate student Sirima Puangpraphant first isolated, and purified, then treated human colon cancer cells with caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives from mate tea. As the scientists increased the CQA concentration, cancer cells died. "Put simply, the cancer cell self-destructs because its DNA has been damaged," de Mejia said.

Inducing apoptosis, or cell death, is one of the tactics medical researchers have been trying to create through pharmaceutical anti-cancer drugs. However research has also discovered that natural medicines also possess this capability. The new University of Illinois study now demonstrates that yerba mate is one of those substances with this cancer-fighting power.

Yerba mate stops inflammation

The study suggests that the mate tea compounds not only have potential as anti-cancer agents but may also be effective against other diseases associated with inflammation. However, since the colon and its microflora play a major role in the absorption and metabolism of caffeine-related compounds, the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of mate tea may be most potent against bowel cancer. "We believe there's ample evidence to support drinking mate tea for its bioactive benefits, especially if you have reason to be concerned about colon cancer," de Mejia noted.

The scientists will also soon publish the results of a further study on yerba mate and colon cancer. The new study compares the development of colon cancer in rats that drank only mate tea against a control group that drank only water.

Wheat Grass

Scientists prove the healing effects of wheat grass juice and wheat grass extract

Wheat grass is composed of the young shoots of wheat before stalks form a head with grain. It contains no wheat gluten, and is considered by many natural health professionals to possess healing properties. Wheat grass is, by composition, a superfood. This is due to wheat grass's heavy concentration of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Wheat grass is usually consumed either as wheat grass powder or juice. It can be taken orally, or as an effective enema implant for detoxification. Clinical studies have confirmed that wheat grass juice and wheat grass extract do have healing properties. Wheat grass juice has been used clinically to treat ulcerative colitis, aid breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and act as a potent antioxidant.

Wheat grass juice has been clinically proven to heal ulcerative colitis and offers hope to breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

While natural health advocates have been lauding the healing properties of wheat grass for over sixty years, it is only fairly recently that a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study has been done to scientifically "prove" the effectiveness of wheat grass juice. The April 2002 issue of Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology reports that patients who were clinically diagnosed with active distal ulcerative colitis were given either 100cc wheat grass juice or a placebo for a month. Participants kept a diary, while clinicians examined the patients for any changes. Of the patients who fully completed the study, all of them showed a significant reduction in disease activity. Researchers surmised that this was due to the antioxidant properties contained in wheat grass juice.

Breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were given wheat grass juice to observe if wheat grass juice might inhibit myelotoxicity. Myelotoxicity is bone marrow suppression, where the cells which are responsible for immunity, blood clotting, and delivering oxygen are decreased. Myelotoxicity is life-threatening. The breast cancer patients were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 60cc wheat grass juice daily, while the control group did not. A full 50% of the control group was not able to complete the study due to "censoring events." Only 16.67% of the wheat grass juice group was not able to complete the study. While the control group patients were "censored" largely due to white blood cell counts, the wheat grass juice patients were "censored" due to an increase in nausea. These results were enough for the researchers to suggest that wheat grass juice may be able to reduce myelotoxicity, even during chemotherapy.

Wheat grass extract absorbs free radicals and inhibits fat cells in rats

A second clinical study confirms the antioxidant properties contained in wheat grass extracts. The capacity to absorb free radicals (ORAC) was observed, using both aqueous (water-based) and ethanol (alcohol-based) extracts. The most potent wheat grass extracts were those which were 1) alcohol-based, 2) the wheat grass had grown for fifteen days before harvesting, and 3) the wheat grass had grown in soil with nutrients. Not only did this type of wheat grass extract have impressive antioxidant properties, it also significantly reduced fat (lipid) cells in rat liver mitochondria. The ORAC value for both alcohol and water-based wheat grass extract was found to be higher than that of many other vegetables or extracts

About Raw food

Health Basics: What is dead food, and how much are you eating daily?

You can eat food that is organic every day, but if most of it is cooked on high heat then it is void of nutrition. Just about everyone has heard of the benefits of eating raw "live" food, but what ratio of your total food intake is actually raw (or not heated over 120 degrees)? When you add up everything you put in your mouth, from baked, boiled, broiled, and fried, you may find you're eating a majority of "dead food." If you have a "cooked food" profile above 70%, you need to flip that ratio and become at least 70% raw, and it may take awhile to adjust.

Cooking food chemically changes additives into acid-forming toxins, free radicals and poisons that make you lethargic, depressed, tired, inflamed, achy, weak, sick and in need of relief from a general numb feeling that keeps you performing at your best. Baking, boiling, broiling and frying, destroys essential nutrients. Vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, probiotics and enzymes are the foundation of good health. (http://www.rawfoodlife.com/)

Flash frying is a good compromise if you're missing that "heat" in the kitchen. Also, try heating soups, stews, and casseroles at 120 degrees or lower. This will retain many more of the nutrients your body needs. Use avocado to substitute for deli meats, you won't even notice the difference after a few sandwiches. Say goodbye to nitrates, hormones, antibiotics and MSG in meats. Make sprouted grain sandwiches with fresh spinach and some olive oil, and always avoid the cooked, processed wheat bread, white bread and buns.

Dispelling the protein myth and more

Most "raw foodists" are not as extreme as they are often labeled, and they usually consume about 75% organic, uncooked, unprocessed foods and live spring water. If you want to morph yourself into this highly beneficial and intelligent regimen, the best way to begin is to only shop around the edges of a store, where there are fresh fruits and vegetables, especially greens like kale, lettuce, parsley and cilantro.

Remember, your body is like an alkaline battery, running on the electrons. Cooking and processing food eliminates these electrons, the exact source of energy your body requires to perform at top notch. Too much acid causing food (more than 30% daily) makes your body break down and decay. Alcohol, prescription drugs, meat, dairy, starch foods, cooked food, salt, and sugar all produce acid. (http://www.alissacohen.com/)

In other words, just as fish needs certain pH levels in water to flourish, if the pH of your blood becomes more acidic than alkaline, it quickly reduces the oxygen levels in your blood, so you simply lose energy, immunity, and brain power!

Let's dispel the three most common myths about eating raw:

• Raw food doesn't deliver enough protein. Wrong! Fresh vegetables deliver amino acids, your direct link to protein. Meat and eggs are only the "middle man" that requires too much energy to digest.

• Eating raw is too expensive. Wrong. Many local farmers markets and co-ops have amazing prices, especially if you watch out for what's in season for your region. Find the closest ones to you and go visit or take advantage of fresh local food, even in the winter.

• Raw food takes too long to prepare (not convenient). Wrong again. Organic vegetables and fruits are more accessible than ever, and so are simple recipes for making it tasty every time.

Put the following on your next list: Green leafy vegetables, wild dandelion, fresh herbs, garlic, basil, sprouts, sea veggies, and don't forget avocado for your chocolate mousse! The best part is that these alkalizing foods are all around you, just like the junk food, so there's really no excuse. Make sure you're prepared for each meal, so when you get hungry, you always choose the right balance of alkalizing foods and drinks (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-dlHOmwk4).

High fructose corn syrup

High fructose corn syrup linked to cardiovascular disease in children, teens

Adolescents who consume foods and beverages containing high fructose corn syrup already have, present in their blood, evidence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes according to a recent study. The results of the new study, to be published in February 2012 in The Journal of Nutrition, provide strong scientific evidence of the negative health consequences of fructose on the human body.

Health consequences of HCFS show up early

An investigation by scientists from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU) followed 559 children ages 14-18. The study subjects' dietary habits were measured; their blood analyzed and blood pressure, body fat and other health measurements taken. The researchers found a correlation between high-fructose diets and markers for heart and vascular disease such as higher blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin resistance, levels of C - reactive protein, related to inflammation.

Teens whose diets included more HFCS also had lower levels of HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) and of the fat burning hormone adiponectin. In addition, study subjects who often consumed the industrial sweetener were more likely to have midsection fat, referred to as visceral adiposity, another known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. More generalized fat distribution does not appear to have a link to HFCS or the other health risk factors.

Norman Pollock, assistant professor of pediatrics at GHSU and co-lead author of the study said that "There is not much data in children and adolescents," although "adolescents consume the most fructose so it's really important to not only measure the levels of fructose but to look at what it might be doing to their bodies currently and, hopefully, to look at cardiovascular disease outcomes as they grow."

Re-shaping teen diets

Dr. Vanessa Bundy, a pediatric resident at MCG as well as co-lead author of the study, stated "It is so very important to provide a healthy balance of high-quality food to our children and to really pay close attention to the fructose and sucrose they are consuming at their home or anyone else's. The nutrition that caregivers provide their children will either contribute to their overall health and development or potentially contribute to cardiovascular disease at an early age," Bundy also pointed out that parents can help their teens by modeling good health habits, including both nutritious dietary choices and regular exercise.

Bundy also remarked on a truth that alternative health experts have long known but official medical science and health regulatory agencies have been slow to acknowledge: "Fructose itself is metabolized differently than other sugars and has some byproducts that are believed to be bad for us. The overall amount of fructose that is in high fructose corn syrup is not much different than the amount in table sugar but it's believed there's something in the syrup processing that plays a role in the bad byproducts of metabolism."

Previous studies involving animals have had similar results to the Georgia study, but evidence of a direct health link among children between HCFS and health problems may finally spur action to limit adolescent consumption of the sweetener. Pollock noted "Ultimately we want to use this paper and other papers to kind of change politically how food is distributed into the schools, and the types of foods, to cut down on these specific types of foods with high fructose corn syrup in them."

Pollock also pointed out that the study he and his team conducted was unusual in its focus on the total amount of fructose consumed in the diet. "A unique aspect of our study design is that we took into account the fructose released from sucrose during digestion along with the fructose found in foods and beverages. Because sucrose is broken down into fructose and glucose before it arrives at the liver for metabolism, it is important to consider the additional fructose from sucrose when determining the overall health effect of fructose."

Amaranth Raw Chocolate balls

After popping some amaranth for my niece it gave me the idea to add it to my raw chocolate dessert I often make.  These raw super powder chocolate balls are one of my favorite healthy desserts/food.  

I made a few alterations and additions from my usual recipe. 

You can find the recipe by clicking my previous blog with photos here~~~> Coconutty-frozen-banana-chocolate-balls

Here are the ingredients I used for this recipe:

• 1/2 cup of raw cocoa powder 
• 1/2 cup carob powder
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/4 cup Pecans
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 heap tsp organic raw Lucuma powder
• 2 heap tsp organic raw Maca powder
• 1 tsp dear antler powder 
• 1 heap tsp Mucuna powder
• 1/2 tsp Shilajit powder
• Himalayan salt (a pinch in 3tbs of warm water...to use a tbs of the water)
• 9 dates
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 1 raw vanilla bean
• 1 frozen bananas chopped up into bite size pieces
• amaranth (if you haven't tasted popped amaranth...it tastes like popcorn!)

Recipe:

The recipe remained the same as the previous blog.  Blended all the nuts, and mixed in all the powders. I blended the almond milk and the vanilla bean seeds with the dates into sweet paste. I then added it to the dry ingredients, along with the coconut oil and mixed it well with my hand. Because the mix was a little sticky, I let it sit in the fridge for half an hour.  It firmed up a bit because of the coconut oil that is a solid at temps under 75 degrees F. Being winter, my coconut oil remains a solid in the kitchen, so I put the glass container in a bowl of hot water to slowly melt as much as I need. At that point it was easy to mold into the balls, and sticky enough to roll in the amaranth and coconut flakes. 
I made 4 variates. One plain, just rolled in coconut flakes. One plain rolled in popped amaranth (see blog about it here~~~> amaranth), one first rolled in amaranth then coconut flakes (I gave them one more roll to make sure the coating stays, and the last with frozen banana pieces inside rolled in coconut flakes (I didn't re-roll them which is why they appear whiter).

 The chocolate balls covered in amaranth on top half and the ones with both amaranth and coconut on the bottom half

 

The plain chocolate balls on the left side, and the banana filled ones on the right side

 An amaranth coated one

 One coated in both amaranth and coconut flakes

           The banana center chocolate ball...looks much like the plain ones but bigger

Anti-Aging

Anti-Aging Miracle Supplements

I found this article very interesting.  As we get older, we all want to age gracefully.  This article mentioned some basic health tips and shares supplements that help boost the anti-aging process.

By Pina LoGiudice ND, LAc and Peter Bongiorno ND, LAc
Directors of Inner Source Health

As naturopathic physicians, we always tell our patients that no one product in a bottle will, by itself, ever reverse the signs of aging. Healthy aging is a function of adequate water intake, eating healthy foods (eating “the colors of the rainbow” and limiting calories), not smoking, daily exercise, keeping positive relationships in your life, doing what you love, and avoiding environmental toxins.

The Naturopathic Pillars for Healthful Aging:

• adequate water intake
• eating healthy foods
• limiting calories
• not smoking
• daily exercise
• healthy relationships
• doing things you love
• avoiding toxins

While aging affects us all, how we age is different for everyone. In our practice, some of the most common aesthetic concerns tend to center around wrinkles, varicose veins, as well as weak and thinning hair.

With the aforementioned pillars of good health in place, some supplements can play a strong role by helping to tip the odds in your favor. Here, we’ll discuss three conditions of normal aging, and the supplements you can use to minimize them.

Wrinkles? Try GTF Chromium.

GTF stands for glucose tolerance factor, a complex molecule that has the mineral chromium. GTF chromium is found naturally in the body and works by making insulin more efficient. Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar move into the cells from the blood stream. GTF chromium helps insulin work its best and may aide in fighting wrinkles by controlling blood sugar.

How Aging Can Make You "Crusty"

Blood sugar in the body can damage body tissues and contribute to aging. Blood sugar crystals are involved in glycation reactions: glycation reactions are basically reactions where the sugar melds with protein in our body tissues (like in blood vessels, for example) and breaks them down. This reaction creates Advanced Glycation Endproducts (aptly called “AGES”) and is a major player in the aging of our tissues – and ages your body the way bread gets crusty. The more AGES you have, the more you get “crusty” and age.

GTF chromium helps control the sugar spikes that can damage the vessels that keep your skin looking young and vital.  GTF chromium is naturally found in the food Brewers yeast. An optimal dose of GTF chromium is 500mcg (micrograms) once or twice a day. As a side note, more women tend to stop smoking when they learn smoking greatly increase wrinkles.

Hesperidin for Varicose Veins

Veins are the vessels in our body that carry blood away from tissues, and back to the heart and lungs. Varicose veins happen when this natural piping loses its strength and becomes bent and out of shape. Varicose veins usually look like dark purple, worm-like bumps under skin. While genetics can play some role in how severe these can show up for us as we age, we also know that excessive constipation, poor nutrition and being overweight can also play a role.

Flavonoids are natural plant pigments with amazing healthful properties. Hesperidin is a specific bioflavonoid found in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, and is found particularly in the peel as well as the white stringy area. In essence, the parts we tend to throw away are chock full of this bioflavonoid.  Hesperidin helps your veins by increasing venous tone (tightness) and reducing stasis, which is the pooling of poorly moving blood in the veins. Hesperidin also seems to lower inflammation in the vein as well.  

To work most effectively, we recommend our patients take 50mg hesperidin per day. It seems to work even more effectively in combination with another flavonoid called diosmin, which can be dosed at 450mg a day. One study looked at over 5000 people with vein problems like varicose veins, and found those who took hesperidin and diosmin for 6 months had clear improvement.

While hesperidin may not completely get rid of the varicose veins that are already well established, it may help stop them from growing larger and will help prevent others from showing up. According to a study published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, hesperidin and diosmin was safe and effective in pregnancy, a time when women do tend to get varicose veins from the weight of the baby causing pressure on the veins coming from the legs.

Black Currant for Weak and Thinning Hair

Black currant fruits and juice, known to be rich in a specific flavonoid called anthocyanoside, are commonly consumed in many parts of the world and contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA). GLA can help in a number of different circumstances including eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, and attention deficit disorder.

GLA helps strengthen hair and decreases breakage by helping to decrease the effect of imbalanced hormonal effects, which weaken and thin your hair. A typical supplemental dose is 500mg twice a day.  

Healthy Bones

Understand the calcium myth; here's what really makes healthy bones

For years we have been taught that calcium was the great solution to weakened bones. Pre and post-menopausal women are recommended to take calcium supplements to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis. New research has shown that the theory of calcium supplementation improving bone health is a myth.

Calcium is the cornerstone mineral in bones. However, calcium consumption does not build bones. Countries with the highest dietary calcium consumption (US, Canada, & Scandinavian countries) have the highest rates of osteoporosis.

A recent meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal showed that calcium supplementation actually increased the risk of heart attacks. This study and others have looked at individuals taking calcium supplements in isolation without other key nutrients that play a role in calcium homeostasis.

New research has shown that very little dietary calcium actually makes it into bones. Experts estimate that it is around 1-2% at best. Many forms of calcium such as coral calcium, oyster shell calcium, calcium citrate and calcium carbonate are not metabolized well in the body. These forms of calcium are not well tolerated and form small rocks that get deposited in the soft tissue structures of the body.

Nanobacteria use the little calcium blocks to form hard shells of calcium phosphate as protection against the body's immune system. This is similar to a snail using a shell as a form of armor from predators. This encapsulation provides a hiding spot for pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites. This promotes a continual inflammatory process in the area around the calcium shell creating plaque formation.

Proper Calcium Mineralization Depends upon Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2

These nutrients stimulate the activity of the osteoblastic protein osteocalcin. Osteocalcin acts to strongly absorb and selectively place calcium from the bloodstream into the bone matrix. This acts like a vacuum, creating a very strong pull that sucks the excess calcium stones out of the bloodstream and possibly out of mineralized plaques.

Osteocalcin only becomes active when adequate levels of vitamin K2 are present. Vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 also act to inhibit osteoclasts, which act to break down bone. Most individuals are both deficient in D3 and K2. This creates an environment of poor calcium metabolism that leads to weakened bones and calcium deposition in soft tissues.

The bones also need a good mix of essential minerals and fatty acids for healthy bone function. This includes plant-derived magnesium and silica as well as animal forms of saturated fat and the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA & DHA.

The best forms of silica come from cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, horsetail, nettles, oat straw and alfalfa. Magnesium comes from many different sources including nuts, seeds, legumes and green vegetables. The best source of magnesium is raw, organic cacao and high quality dark chocolate.

Another powerful form of essential minerals is found in pink salts including Himalayan Salt. These salts provide ideal mineral ratios for optimal absorption and usage in the body. Sea vegetables such as kelp, dulse and other forms of seaweed and sea algae like chlorella are also fantastic sources of bone-building nutrients.

The best forms of calcium and bone building nutrients come from leafy green vegetables and fermented, raw milk products from 100-green fed cows and goats. Pasteurized forms of milk and grain-fed animals provide inflammatory fatty-acids and other metabolites that promote calcium mineralization into arterioles.

Raw cheese and fermented drinks from 100% green-fed animals provide the perfect ratio of vitamin D3, K2, calcium, magnesium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and saturated fat. Raw cheese is perhaps the best bone building, cardio-protective food one could consume.