Crazy for Coconut

Crazy for Coconut?

You'd be crazy not to be! Who knew the humble coconut could contain an apothecary of wellness beneath that bowling ball shell?

As a kid I always loved the taste of a candy bar that was loaded with coconut and smothered with a dark chocolate covering. In the past few years I've "discovered" coconut oil and the rich buttery taste is very much what I remember the candy tasting like. Imagine that something that is delicious is GOOD FOR YOU!! 

There's nothing "new under the sun". Fact is coconuts have been utilized by many civilizations. A few years ago I met a lady from Jamaica. In her beautiful Jamaican accent, she explained that everyone drinks coconut water and no one has high blood pressure on the island!

Well I don't know about "no one" having high blood pressure, but I do know the more I research coconut the more I adore it. I almost don't want to list the benefits and let the "secrets out", for fear there won't be enough on the shelves. However there is an avalanche of studies and great information supporting the use of coconut.

Coconut Water Benefits:
.
There are myriads of benefits. Coconut water (not to be confused with coconut milk or cream) is powerfully hydrating, full of electrolytes. Great to use on a hot day, without the dyes & sugar the "sports drinks" have. Downing it straight from the container is my favorite way. I have also used it in smoothies, with lime, a few drops of stevia and ice. Very refreshing! Drinking it when ill is a good idea, as many illnesses with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydrate.

Coconut water is a tremendous tool in optimizing blood pressure. There have been a few occasions when my blood pressure was up, due to stressful situations. I don't know about other folks, but on the rare occasion this has happened, I can literally feel my blood pressure going up. After drinking about 1/4 cup of coconut water, within 15 minutes, I could literally "feel" it going down. Coconut water is loaded with potassium and can help calm the entire central nervous system when things get hectic. People who have a history of high blood pressure, like my Father, drink it daily and it can help to optimize blood pressure.

Tip: Make sure you are buying a pure 100% coconut water, with no added sugars, dyes, chemicals.

Coconut Oil Benefits:

The list continues for coconut oil. Used in beauty products for years, it now has come to light, that only a small dab of the luxurious oil and the whole body can be glistening. Topically it's wonderful for the skin, but internally is where it really works its magic!

Coconut oil has anti bacterial, anti viral properties and kills off some fungi. I had the "crud" recently and gargled the stuff for a few minutes, holding it in the back of my throat and it almost immediately brought relief to my sore throat.

It's a medium chain fatty acid, so that when ingested can result in more energy throughout the day!!!

I use organic coconut oil to cook with, as it can take "high heat" and not become toxic as other oils. You can now buy "unflavored" coconut oil, if you don't like the taste of coconut in your savory dish.
I use it to bake with as well. (have to melt it a little before adding it to recipes, as it is tends to be hard at room temp.)

I put a tsp on my toast! Yumm! Add a WOW factor to air popped popping corn. Tossed with melted coconut oil and salt, it's finger licking good! And I have just discovered, dropping a bit in my hot tea or coffee is absolutely delicious!

I haven't bathed in it....yet! Hmmmm That's an idea!

Tip: Just put the container of coconut oil in your pantry. No need to refrigerate.

Coconut Flour

Wait, there's more! Coconut Flour is glutten free and is low glycemic. I'm all over the "low glycemic" part. This means it won't impact blood sugar in the negative way that flour does. Coconut flour is "low carb" and high in fiber and protein! Coconut flour turns a baked item into a "legal" treat as it won't spike the blood sugar. Consume flour enough along with a high glycemic card diet and it can lead to metabolic syndrome, which leads to type 2 diabetes.

I just found a great deal at Sam's Club - 5 lb. organic coconut flour for less than $10.00!!!

Tip: when you bake with organic coconut flour, you must add extra eggs and liquid to achieve a bakery type dessert.

Coconut Sugar

Let's sweeten the deal! Coconut Sugar is also, you guessed it, low glycemic. It can be used as a complete sugar replacement, 1 to 1 ratio. If a recipe calls for a cup of sugar, then use a cup of coconut sugar. It looks lot like brown sugar and gives a caramel color and bit of caramel taste to whatever you bake.

Tip: Coconut sugar does have about the same amount of calories as refined sugar. If you're looking for something that's low or no calorie look to other low glycemic sweeteners like stevia instead.

Coconut Milk

I love this stuff! I get the "unsweetened" in a carton and use it in smoothies, it really gives a milk shake consistency.

Tip: Just make sure you really shake it every time you use it, as a lot of the good stuff settles at the bottom.

Whipped Coconut Cream

A high quality coconut cream, left upside down in the fridge and dump into a cold mixing bowl, will whip right up with a hand mixer into a beautiful whipped cream! Add a little vanilla and stevia and voila'! You have a healthy alternative to whipped cream.

Tip: leave a couple cans upside down in the fridge for 24 hours, so the liquid will float to the top, skim it off and now you have a solid coconut cream ready to whip.

The list just goes on and on. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. But as you can see the uses for the humble coconut go way beyond flakes!

Are you a coconut connoisseur?  If so, how do you like your coconut??? Do tell in a comment below!


Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,


Sherry

Know anyone with the flu? I do, me! Now what?

Know Anyone With the Flu?

My goodness I do!! When I first started working on this blog a few days ago, I had managed to dodge it, but now I have it! I spent some time surrounded by LOTS of sick people at a conference last week-end and I suppose it was inevitable. I am "nursing" myself and have been throwing everything in the "alternative medicine cabinet" at it! I hope to push the fast forward button on this and have a very short version of it. (I'll share a couple of tricks up my sleeve in a moment)

This flu season revved up early and is to be much longer than most. I know so many folks who have had it or have it now...and it just seems to "hang on and on". Which is a hallmark of this strain going around. In fact there are a couple of traits to this flu that make it really hard to shake.

First off "they" found out early in the game that this strain of influenza, flu shots do very little to protect you from it. (more about flu shots later) Second, according to BBC News,  it seems to especially target people that are either older (65 and up) or people that have a compromised immune system. And lastly, the duration can go on and on, due to the relapse rate.

This strain of flu enters very easily into the lung and can develop into pneumonia at a fast clip. I personally know a woman who is a diabetic and on kidney dialysis, She contracted the flu, likely at a dialysis session, missed a dialysis session due to illness and landed in the hospital with pneumonia 3 days later. At that point a blood clot was on the lung and she was put into a medically induced comma for a week. The family was told she likely wouldn't make it. Well long story short, she did make it, after a month of rehab and is now home with physical therapy from there.

The list of influenza battle casualties is long. I know a couple of people who contracted the flu and have been very sick with it for a month or more, with fever, laryngitis and persistent coughing. Both of the individuals have compromised immune systems, but they are not "old". Another was my ex sister-in-law who has a history of asthma and ended up in the hospital on EXTREMELY POWERFUL antibiotics...which seems all the  medical field has in their so called "arsenal". Antibiotics and steroids. That's pretty much it.

Antibiotics are greatly overused and can lead to "Super Bugs"

According to the NIH:

 "Superbugs are strains of bacteria that are resistant to several types of antibiotics. Each year these drug-resistant bacteria infect more than 2 million people nationwide and kill at least 23,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)" 

Should I Have Gotten the Flu Shot?

A lot of health care workers would recommend the "flu shot" at the beginning of the flu season. There are several problems with flu shots. For starters the vaccine is created before the strain of the flu is even known!!! That's a lot like throwing darts in the dark.

But even more troubling are the foreign substances and toxic combinations of chemicals and harmful additives. Unknown substances which have ingredients foreign to the human body is not the best idea. The long term consequences are not completely known, and could be worse than the flu!

So What's a Person to Do?

There are very simple but powerful ways to prevent it. Hand washing and getting plenty of sleep for starters. Taking natural immune booster supplements like vitamin c, probiotics, zinc,super antioxidants makes a lot of sense, Keeping your immune system revved up will make you much less susceptible to illness in general & especially during flu season.  However if someone sneezes in your face, there is no "S" on your chest, you are not Superhuman.

"Pull out the Big Guns" - Natural Remedies I Use 


1. GET SLEEP  ;

Forget about the world around you and go to bed! No one at work thinks you're a "hero" if you come to work and infect them. You'l have a much quicker recovery with lots of rest!!!

2. DRINK WATER:

Hydration will help you rid the body of all the mucus-
cut back on caffeine as that dehydrates you.

3. GARLIC :

A natural antibiotic. I mince about a TBLS of fresh garlic and put it with a TBLS of  honey - it really doesn't taste bad with the honey.

4. Wellness Formula: 

I have been taking this product for years. It has everything and the "kitchen sink" in it. When I feel something coming on I take 3 tablets 3 times a day for a week or so. I pick it up in most health food stores.

5. Isotonix D3 with K2:
 
Vitamin D has multiple benefits, one of which is boosting the immune
system and lung function. I normally take 2 or 3 doses a week. However I double dose for 2 or 3         days when I feel something coming on. Isotonix D3 with K2 is best absorbed with a meal, as it is fat soluble.

6. Isotonix Immune (with patented Wellmune WGP) :

This is a relatively new product for me to  utilize. With nine clinical studies that confirm Wellmune's benefits for immunity in the categories of upper respiratory health, cold and flu, allergies and immune systems compromised by exercise and stress.I have taken the Isotonix Immune off and on throughout the flu season and I KNOW it has  prevented a full blown illness. Now I'm "double dosing" with it for a few days. 

Isotonix OPC-3

7. Super Antioxidants like OPC-3 & ORAC - with antiviral properties

There's plenty of documentation and studies to confirm antioxidants are important to the immune system. There's even more evidence when it comes to OPC's. I have been taking OPC's for about 15 years now. In those years I have rarely been sick. But on that rare occasion I take a blend of OPC's & add a serving of ORAC (a blend of ORAC rich fruits, like cranberry, blueberry and elder berry a known anti viral)
I have doubled up on that as well.

7. Chicken Soup

Besides being a "comfort food" there's evidence that a nice hot bowl of steaming chicken soup just might have some healing properties. (Click here for an ABC News report on benefits of Chicken Soup) Perhaps it's the steam in the nasal passages. Or the hot liquid soothes a sore throat. Whatever it is, a clear chicken broth, with lots of garlic, veggies, some organic chicken and you have a homemade elixir to nurse you back to health. Really hits the spot.

Take My Own Medicine:

Please excuse me now as I go take my own medicine: a few doses of Isotonix,, mince some garlic and down it with honey, drink a glass of water with some Wellness Formula, have a bowl of chicken soup & head to bed...I'll be better in the morning!

Helping You to Select the Best Health,

Sherry

Your Bones = Strength= Health

Your Bones, Your Strength, Your Health

You may think bones are hard and lifeless, yet bones are living, growing tissue.You can’t feel your bones becoming weaker — so like early signs of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, symptoms go by ignored.

DID YOU KNOW? Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant formation of new bones and re-sorption of old bone.

Peak Bone Mass
In mid-life, bone loss usually speeds up in both men and women. After we reach peak bone mass, the balance between bone formation and bone loss starts to change, we lose at a faster rate than we build. In fact, in the five to seven years after menopause, women can lose up to 20% or more of their bone. YIKES!

Affecting Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis can be mitigated by hormones, micronutrient load and physical activity.  As osteoporosis is more common in women than in men and in whites and Asians vs. African Americans, it is important to consider individual risk factors.

Isotonix Magnesium

Supporting Your Bones
Vitamin C lends to collagen production and flexibility of bone tissue while magnesium is necessary for proper calcium absorption. You can support healthy bone mass by consuming nutrient-rich, dark, leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale, swiss chard. Higher magnesium intake is associated with greater bone mineral density. More than 50% of our magnesium is in our bones.

In fact most of us are low on magnesium and would do well to supplement with a quality magnesium product. Minerals are best absorbed at night. I personally take the Isotonix Magnesium as it is easily absorbed and helps me sleep well at night.

Nutrients That Support Healthy Bones
In addition to bone density, it is critical to focus on bone strength. Studies have shown that combining vitamin K, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin C and calcium works more effectively to improve bone mineral density, than calcium alone.  Calcium increases bone mineral density while vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium, and vitamin K may help focus calcium to the right tissue.

Isotonix Vitamin D3 with K2

Not all Vitamin D and Vitamin K supplements are created equal. The best absorption is found in D3, as it is the metabolically active form of D. Vitamin K is important, but can interfere with blood thinners. Some studies have concluded Vitamin K2  does not interfere with blood thinners. Finding a Vitamin D3 with K2 is tricky.

For more information on the Isotonix Vitamin D3 with K2 Click here.


Your bones are your strength and your health. Take good care of them!

Helping You to Select the Best Health,

Sherry

What month would you rather not have Heart Health?

February is Heart Month. However isn't Heart Health important every month? Is there a month would you rather not have Heart Health?

I know several clients using the Heart Health System. All of whom are "heart patients" and are doing terrific with this system. Taking it, they feel the difference! So much so that when they run out, they NOTICE and don't want to run out!

 Read on to learn more about this powerful system that works through a combination of three incredible products!

The Heart Health System is comprised of Heart Health Essential Omega III Fish Oil with Vitamin E, Heart Health TriActive™, and Heart Health Advanced LipiTrim® Ultra, all designed to promote overall cardiovascular health.

Heart Health Essential Omega III Fish Oil with Vitamin E provides the three grams of EPA† (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA† (docosahexaenoic acid). Studies reveal this is the most effective amount to promote overall cardiovascular health.  Benefits include:

• Helps enhance mood
• Helps maintain normal blood flow
• Helps maintain normal cholesterol levels
• Promotes a healthy complexion
• Promotes healthy blood pressure levels
• Promotes overall cardiovascular health

Heart Health Advanced LipiTrim Ultra is composed of Sytrinol®, a patented proprietary formula derived from natural citrus polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) and palm tocotrienols, designed to promote overall cardiovascular health. Sytrinol works in the liver without inhibiting the production of CoQ10. Advanced LipiTrim Ultra is also a powerful antioxidant, benefits include:

• Promotes delivery of healthy levels of LDL throughout the body
• Promotes a normal rate of cholesterol production
• Promotes healthy levels of total cholesterol
• Promotes the normal synthesis of triglycerides in the liver

Heart Health TriActive targets three major areas, the arteries, cholesterol and homocysteine levels to promote the healthy performance of the body’s cardiovascular system. This unique formula uses a combination of natural ingredients that have been shown to safely and effectively support optimal arterial function and help maintain normal cholesterol and homocysteine levels.* Benefits include:

• Helps maintain a strong heart muscle
• Helps maintain normal levels of cholesterol
• Promotes a normal rate of cholesterol production
• Promotes absorption of healthy levels of cholesterol and bile acids from the intestines
• Promotes normal fat absorption by various lipases in the intestine

Helping You to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. 

This site / blog / products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Save $ & Time! Get Back to the Kitchen!

Get Back to the Kitchen: 

I'm not crazy about cooking. But I do it out of self defense. Everyone needs to get "back to the kitchen" to get away from the expense of premixed, chemical laden foods, dashboard dining & dining out. (not to mention the possible filth of the kitchens we order out from- yikes!)

It's not "rocket science" and it really doesn't take that much time to cook a simple, balanced, nourishing meal, honest! I'm the sort that likes to make 1 or 2 different major dishes each week and transform them each day to something "different" and just "fill in" with salads & veggies around the main course. 

For example: I'll cook a pot of dried beans, like the humble Pinto bean. Beans, (legumes), are a terrific source of fiber and vegetarian protein. They are "time released" carbs, making them low glycemic. These carbs don't impact blood sugar in a negative way. They make you feel full longer & are cheap!

I don't add ham or bacon, just cook a pot of beans well salted with some pink himalayan salt at the end of cooking. I always cook about 3 cups or more of dried beans so I'll have plenty left over for the week. They're not complicated or expensive. If you're not going to be around to watch the pot boil, put them in a crock pot and they'll be ready when you are.

Opening Act- Day 1

You can enjoy a steaming bowl of beans along with some steamed greens like kale or collard greens, or a salad. I love cornbread with beans. No mixes. Not sweet. Just wholesome fresh from the oven organic corn bread. (make cornbread in mini muffin tins & pop some of them in the freezer for the next round) That hits the spot! Yum!

Act 2 - next day
Take some of those beanie babies with some of the liquid they cooked in and throw em in a bowl, mash them up with a fork or potato masher, season them however you want.  Get some organic corn chips out onto a baking sheet, spread the beans over the chips & add fresh chopped onion, tomatoes, jalapeno & a little fresh grated cheese, slip em in a hot oven for 5- 10 minutes and now you have a super nacho supper! Or wrap the beans up in a organic corn or flour tortilla with some cheese, avocado, onions & some salsa. You decide.

Final Act  
Tired of the plain beans after a day or two? It's time to transform them to chili!   Brown 3 or 4 cloves of fresh minced garlic , a whole onion chopped & a pound of grass fed beef or bison, hit it with DIY taco seasoning while browning the meat. (super easy to make, lots of recipes for DIY taco seasoning out there!)  You can add a chopped jalapeno & / or cayenne if you like it spicy. Throw in a can of organic, bpa free, (no white liner in the can), diced tomatoes and all your left over beans, (with the "juice"), heat to a simmer and voila'! You have delicious, easy chili, top it with some sliced avocado & bam! you've just served it gourmet! Perfect for a cold winter day!

Think of the time and money you saved fixing that one pot of beans at the beginning of the week or on the weekend! 

I'm hungry, gotta get back to the kitchen now=) I'm making a low glycemic spaghetti dinner tonight! Guess what I'm doing with the left overs over the next couple days? Got any ideas?


Helping You to Select The Best Health,


Sherry

Fell flat on my face! Secret weapon for bruising!

Have you ever fallen or been in an accident that really "banged you up"? Did the bruises take forever to go away? I have. 

Ever heard the expression "I fell flat on my face"? Don't laugh... I fell on my face! Seriously, on my FACE!!! A few years ago I tripped up on a torn up drive way with an armload of stuff and sailed headfirst into concrete. As I was falling, I said to myself  "this is NOT going to be good"! 

Long and short of it, I didn't break anything, but my face looked like I'd been hit by a bus! My upper lip immediately swelled up to my nose...I looked like I had had a bad lip job, you know, I looked like a "duck". When I would walk in some place people either looked at me, like a circus act had come into the store or they would quickly turn away so as not to see the creature! LOL

Thankfully it was temporary. However, I have a history of bruising like a banana & a "slow" healer. Normally that wouldn't be a problem on a leg, arm, etc..but my FACE! What's a girl to do?? There's only so much makeup for that! So I upped my natural anti-inflammatory herbs, like OPC's and also started to use biorutin which helps stop bleeding.

one of many brands of witch hazel

THE NEXT DAY I had to host a house warming for some dear friends..already invited folks, ordered a cake, the whole "enchilada". When my friends came filing in & would see me, they would either gasp, some would politely act like nothing happened or come right out and ask "what happened to you"? 

One friend, an old timer who had raised 9 children (NINE!), told me about an old remedy she used with all those children, witch hazel. I had always heard it used as an astringent, but never used it for bruising. She assured me it would heal a LOT faster if I used it. I figured it was cheap, and what could it hurt..so I got some and saturated a washcloth with it and used ice for a few minutes and then witch hazel. The swelling went down & the bruising went away within a WEEK!!! Wow! Who knew??

Turns out Native Americans knew alot about witch hazel all along! There are many useful links on the multitude of uses for witch hazel! 

So if you ever fall "flat on your face", get up, dust yourself off and break out the witch hazel!

Helping You to Select the Best Health,

Sherry

AstaReal®- Astaxanthin - !!!

Will the REAL Astaxanthin Please Step Forward:

Click on image above to view larger version

Last week I had a post about the "dark side" of supplements. There's a lot of "junk science" out there....and some of it leads to illegal formulas. This is unfortunately part of the supplement industry &  as the consumer you need to be aware. 

Take for example, the super antioxidant , astaxanthin. 

To be sure astaxanathin is a very powerful antioxidant. It is especially effective in cardio vascular benefits as well as eye health and skin. All extremely important as we age! (read multiple benefits here:  Astaxanthin is a carotenoid with antioxidant properties, synthesized by plants and algae, and distributed in marine seafood. In other words its what helps make shrimp & flamingos pink.

AstaREAL®

Prime Astaxanthin Cardio & Visual Vitality Formula is the "real deal". It's formula uses AstaReal® astaxanthin. With high quality and stability, AstaReal® astaxanthin ranks among the purest and most powerful antioxidants available. AstaReal® uses precision cultivation techniques in state-of the-art facilities, producing only 100 percent natural astaxanthin in a purified, sterile environment.*

The providers of this product have exclusive rights to the purest astaxanthin on the market.To learn more about a pure astaxanthin with no synthetic, illegal ingredients click here: Prime Astaxanthin Cardio & Visual Vitality Formula. No back orders right now! (Although after a couple of weeks of it's initial debut it was on back order. Nevertheless the producer never resorted to synthetic, illegal means to make Prime Astaxanthin).

Nice to know there are some companies out there with integrity!

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

The Dr. O Effect -

The "Dr. O " Effect:

Not too long ago my dad recorded a popular show we'll call "Dr. O",  that included some info on the health benefits of mulberries. About a week later I started looking for mulberries or mulberry tea. It was nowhere to be found! I went to a local health food chain & they stated that every since Dr O had a show on mulberries everyone is asking about it daily. This is what is fondly referred to as the "Dr O Effect".

I finally did find a lone online company that just happened to have a couple of bags of dried mulberries left. They are good. But once I run out will have to wait for the "mulberry frenzy" to calm before reordering.

Booming Demand CAN Lead to "Dark Side":

According to NUTRA Ingredients - (read entire article here >> The "O effect" can spike a demand that leads to a "potential dark side".)
Suppliers for many dietary ingredients can't be ramped up fast enough to meet the demand once an ingredient has been has been
introduced by Dr. O.

The article goes on to illustrate an example of astaxanthin, a super antioxidant. It became an "overnight super star", that was demanded over tenfold, after a Dr. O episode featuring, you guessed it, astaxanthin. Because of the demand, some supplement suppliers began to market synthetic astaxanthin, illegally. Which may have "serious safety concerns".

So buyer beware: Not all supplements are created equal!!!

Do you know where to get organic dried mulberries or mulberry tea??? If so, don't keep it a secret, please post it :-)

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Good Carbs - Addictive Carbs

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Carbs 

A few years ago my dad was hospitalized. He is a diabetic and the hospital insisted that his food tray was "diabetic" food. It was loaded with bread, potatoes, rice - just "half the servings" as non diabetics. They "counted" the carbs. 

Knowing that food was my father's "drug of choice",  and also knowing the "rest of the story" about carbs, my sister & I took turns guarding his door and quickly circumvented trays brought to his room. We would "inspect & dissect" the food. We would bring in healthy foods to add to his diet. Until one day neither of us could be there to stand guard...

In their "carb counthing" they put a small cup of ice cream on his tray. When I arrived he was almost incoherent. Slumped in his bed, acting as if he'd been drugged. Too weak to sit up. I tried to get him to tell me what was wrong, he could barely speak. I then finally got the piece of information that he had eaten the ice cream. ...I immediately called the nurses station. What happened next stunned me.

They ran in, checked his blood sugar and gave him an insulin shot, of which although he is type 2 diabetic, has NEVER been on insulin. Then with in a few minutes, checked the blood sugar again, and, they came at him with what looked like a tube of toothpaste & squeezed it in his mouth. It was straight glucose, which effected his blood sugar like an elephant being dropped from a 10 story building. They then wanted to inject him with insulin again. I said "enough". If the ice cream had not been on the plate none of this would be happening. They responded the dietitian has counted the carbs and it was in " range" for diabetics.....I spoke with the dietitian, and yes she was "counting the carbs". But the truth is not all carbs are created equal. It's all about the GI - Glycemic Index.

Your Brain on Carbs

According to "Bottom Line". Publications -Simple carbohydrates are digested quickly because they’re so simple that our bodies have little left to do with them before converting the food to energy. Such foods are said to have a high glycemic index (GI) because they trigger a fast and pronounced increase in blood glucose levels. But soon after high-GI foods are eaten, blood glucose begins to plummet again…and by about four hours later, it winds up even lower than after a 12-hour fast. That’s the crash that people complain of—and it triggers big hunger.

In contrast, low-GI foods (most vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and minimally processed grains) cause more gradual and less extreme increases and decreases in blood glucose levels. That why they keep you feeling fuller longer and don’t trigger intense cravings. (To look up the GI for various foods, visitGlycemicIndex.com.)

For the study: Researchers wanted to gain a better understanding of what goes on inside the brain after a person eats carbs. Participants included men who were overweight or obese but otherwise healthy. Each came to the lab on two separate mornings, several weeks apart, after fasting for 12 hours, and was given a milkshake-type breakfast that was either high-GI or low-GI, depending on the ingredients used. Cornstarch and regular 1%-fat milk were included in the low-GI (slow-digesting) drink…corn syrup and lactose-free 1%-fat milk were used in the high-GI (fast-digesting) drink. Both breakfasts contained about 500 calories, had the same basic nutrients, and looked, smelled and tasted virtually identical. If a man was served the high-GI meal on his first visit, he received the low-GI meal the second time…and vice versa.

Before the meal and then every 30 minutes thereafter, blood was drawn to measure participants’ glucose and insulin levels. The men also rated their hunger levels on a scale of one to 10. The blood tests and hunger assessments continued for five hours.

Four hours after the meal, which is when blood glucose levels typically are at their lowest point—and which is a time likely to influence eating behavior at the next meal—each participant had a functional MRI (fMRI). This special scanning technique traced and measured actual amounts of blood flow through various brain regions.

 Carb Addicts: 

What the scans showed: Blood flow in a brain area called the right nucleus accumbenswas 8.2% higher four hours after the high-GI meal than after the low-GI meal. Now, you might think that extra blood flow would be a good thing—but this particular brain area is a “reward center” that’s involved in cravings and substance abuse/dependence. This suggests that eating high-GI foods may trigger a neurophysiological response similar to that involved in addiction. After all, cravings are one of the hallmarks of addiction.

In addition, this increased blood flow in the brain’s reward center directly corresponded with changes in glucose and hunger levels. As expected, compared with the low-GI meal, the high-GI meal caused glucose to spike faster and higher and then to drop farther…and led to significantly higher hunger ratings afterward.

For those reasons, the researchers suggested that the sharp decrease in blood sugar that occurs a few hours after high-GI foods are consumed not only stimulates greater hunger, but also makes the brain find the very idea of high-GI carbs more pleasurable and rewarding. Thus the cycle of overeating is propagated.

UNIQUE APPROACH

This study is not the first to show that specific foods cause special changes in the brain, but it is unique for several important reasons. For one thing, the two test meals looked and tasted virtually identical and contained the same number of calories and nutrients. Neither the participants nor the researchers collecting the data knew which meal was being served. Earlier studies compared dissimilar foods—a piece of cheesecake versus vegetables, for example—so those test results could have been skewed by participants’ liking for or aversion to a particular food.

Also, by using new technology, the researchers could measure direct brain responses. Many previous fMRI studies were unable to quantify the amount of the blood flow changes in the brain.

This study actually brings some good news: The findings suggest that, if people succeed in avoiding high-GI foods, they may be able to interrupt the vicious self-perpetuating cycle of carb cravings. In other words, if you can muster the strength to stay away from simple carbs for a while, it will get easier for you keep off of them. And that is motivating in itself! {This is why a 7 day or even 3 day "cleanse" or detox is sooo powerful. Gives your body & your brain, a much needed rest!}

Source: David Ludwig, MD, PhD, professor, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, and director, New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, all in Boston. He also is the author of Ending the Food Fight: Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food/Fake Food World (Mariner). His study was published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. EndingTheFoodFight.com

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selecthebesthealth.com

Pineapple Power!

Pineapple Power!

Bromelain is a proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzyme that is found in high concentrations in the stem and fruit of pineapple. Originally discovered in the late 1800s, Bromelain’s benefits have prompted many health professionals to use it for the prevention of illness and irritation since the late 1950s.

This enzyme is often used as a supplement to aid various ailments and boost general health. The benefits it offers are based on Bromelain’s unique ability to hydrolyze, or break down, a wide variety of proteins related to the inflammatory response. This makes Bromelain a natural anti-inflammatory that can assist in the reduction of pain and swelling brought on by inflammation, as well as facilitate the healing of wounds and bruises in the body.

There are also additional, lesser known, health benefits that Bromelain can be beneficial for beyond the most common uses. It has been linked to better heart and circulatory health, improvement in asthma and other breathing conditions and improved immunity associated with cancer.

Inflammation

Research has demonstrated Bromelain’s ability to reduce the swelling and inflammation of soft-tissue injuries. Because it is considered a proteolytic enzyme, Bromelain has the capability to fight off inflammation which may affect the tissues and organs in the body. The anti-inflammatory effect of Bromelain comes from its ability to prevent the formation of kinins—protein molecules that play a major role in inflammatory reactions. Similarly, Bromelain is also recognized for its ability to decrease bruising by breaking down those proteins that prevent blood from leaving injured tissues.

Healing

Beyond the minor inflammation associated with swelling and bruising, Bromelain is also beneficial in the body’s healing process. Research shows that the Bromelain enzyme has the ability to stop bruising, speed up healing time, and reduce discomfort. It commonly administered to patients after surgery to help reduce pain and swelling in the body post-surgery. This enzyme is also helpful for individuals who are nursing injuries involving minor muscular issues, such as strains and sprains in muscle tissue.

Bromelain has been thought to kill some viruses & bacteria.

Cancer

In addition to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, Bromelain has also shown promise as a powerful immunity booster and a complementary treatment for cancer. Bromelain provides an asset to cancer treatment by helping to restore balance to the immune system and increase the absorption of vital chemotherapy drugs. Many recent studies have indicated Bromelain has the ability to activate immunity-enhancing receptors in the body. This results in a strengthening of T-cells – the body’s front line defense – which enhances the response of the immune system and helps to kill cancer cells without harming the patient with more aggressive interventions.

Even better, it has been thought to effect abnormal cells, by "eating" the protein around abnormal cells - so the body can "identify" the bad guys and put up the bodies defenses, before cancer has a "fighting chance".

In summary, this simple pineapple extract is actually one of nature’s most powerful and well kept secrets. Whether suffering from minor inflammation or dealing with major immune-compromising issues like surgery or cancer, Bromelain has the potential to provide a powerful asset.

Interactions - As always, check with your doctor if you are taking blood thinners as bromelain is a natural blood thinner. Bromelain also "enhances" antibiotics. Which actually can be beneficial, increasing recovery - either way check with your doctor.

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Heart to Heart Health

Omega III Fish Oil - Essential to Heart Health

Touted in recent years for multiple health benefits such as: maintaining normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, promoting healthy blood pressure levels, helping to maintain healthy levels of C-reactive protein, and helping maintain normal blood flow!

An unhealthy diet of processed, high-calorie, and high-fat foods can contribute to poor heart health. But for the past 10 years, many Americans have turned to omega-3 fish oil supplements for its benefits. Read on to find out what makes Heart Health Essential Omega III with Vitamin E a must-have product!




Heart Health Essential Omega III with Vitamin E is superior to similar products in the market for many reasons. We use the best fish oils to produce a clean and safe product that is rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It also contains 3000 mg of fish oil where most other commercial products contain a third of the total fish oil contained in Heart Health Essential Omega III.

Also, Heart Health Essential Omega III comes from small fish where other competitive products use large fish which are more likely to accumulate toxins. It provides a high quality, high purity product with significant percentages of the health promoting EPA and DHA.

Let's talk "Heart to Heart" - Taking Heart Health Essential Omega III - is a critical step to optimizing your heart health!

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Vitamin D Deficiency: Are You At Risk?

Vitamin D deficiency: More Common Than You Think

With the increased popularity of using sunscreens with high sun protection factors (SPFs) to prevent sun damage and skin cancer, Americans are unknowingly increasing their risk of becoming vitamin D deficient. The National Center for Health Statistics published in March that 36% percent of American adults surveyed from 2001-2006 were at risk of vitamin D deficiency or inadequacy. Additionally, the Journal of Pediatrics published in 2009 that 70% of children in the US are not getting enough vitamin D.

We all know that unprotected sun exposure can damages our skin and cause skin cancer, but sunlight is also used by our bodies to produce Vitamin D. When using SPF, our bodies have a more difficult time absorbing vitamin D from the sun. Even Using SPF 8 cuts the amount of vitamin D absorbed from sunlight by 95%. Higher SPFs reduce absorption to almost zero. Vitamin D is essential to our bodies because it aids in the absorption of calcium. Too little vitamin D, and the body has a hard time absorbing enough calcium, leading to weak bones, osteoporosis, and rickets. Vitamin D is also important to the immune system. People who are deficient in vitamin D can be more prone to infection.

Are you at an increased risk? 

Since natural sources of vitamin D come from animal products, strict vegetarians and vegans can be more likely to become vitamin D deficient. Also likely to be at risk are those who suffer from Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease. These diseases affect the intestine’s ability to absorb vitamin D from food. 

Shorter days can make one SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

As winter approaches with shorter days, some people experience "winter blues". Some have experienced improvement with supplementation of vitamin D. 

So how do you know if you are vitamin D deficient? Unfortunately, symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency are subtle, but if you are experiencing bone pain or muscle weakness, you could have cause for worry. The most precise way to measure your vitamin D level is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test, a blood test performed by your doctor. Normal levels of vitamin D range from 30 to 74 nanograms per milliliter. Levels lower than 30 indicate a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D fortified Milk has long been relied upon to provide Americans with the vitamin D that they need. However, in 2001 Cornell University sampled 648 cartons of vitamin D fortified milk in New York state. As a result, researchers at Cornell found that 46.3% of the milk was under fortified and did not contain the 400 international units (IU) per quart as listed on the label. Other sources of vitamin D include dairy products such as yogurt and cheese and fatty fishes like tuna and salmon. Since the natural sources of vitamin D are few, it is unlikely that you can eat enough of these foods on a regular basis to satisfy your body’s vitamin D requirements. The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements recommends 600 IU of vitamin D daily for adults and children. However, many doctors speculate that we actually need closer to 1000 IU in order to prevent brittle bones and osteoporosis. Web MD recommends that both adults and children supplement with 1000 IU daily.

When choosing a vitamin D supplement, there are two important factors to consider.

• Choose D3. Vitamin D supplements that contain the naturally active form of vitamin D, D3, are much more effective than ones that contain vitamin D2.
• Look for a vitamin D supplements that contain vitamin K2, which can help maintain bone density. Taking vitamins D3 and K2 together can help improve the absorption of calcium.

So remember, while the use of sun protection is rising, so is the risk of vitamin D deficiency. However, rather than exposing ourselves to sun damage, it is safer to take a vitamin D supplement. It is hard to be certain exactly how much vitamin D we get from our diets alone, and supplementation can make sure that we are receiving the nutrients that our bodies need. Remember to consult with your primary care physician before starting a new supplementation plan.

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Low on "Bugs"?

Are You "Moving Things Along" Daily?

Granted your digestive tract is not something you usually talk about at a cocktail party. However, we probably should be having more conversations about it, as colon cancer is right up there with the top 3 cancers in this country!

As we get "older" & our bodies are subjected to abuse from meds, poor diets & running in the "fast lane. We get "sluggish" or constipated. And some folks are "proud" if they are "moving things along" once a week! Yikes!! We should be "moving" stuff out of our bodies daily, in fact multiple times a day! 

So if you're sick several times a year, have taken a ton of antibiotics in the past or have a fast lifestyle with a subpar diet - you may be low on "bugs". 

Bugs you WANT IN YOU:

There's a lot of science out there about the benefits of probiotics now. In fact from infancy, breast milk introduces prebiotics to a newborn, among other significant nutrients that are beneficial in building the immune system. 

Did you know that your digestive tract is home to over 400 different types of microbes / aka "bugs"? These microbes include healthy bacteria called probiotics, and potentially unhealthy bacteria. With all those different types of bacteria, finding the best way to maintain optimal digestive health can be daunting.

Probiotics Supplements -Not All Are Created Equally!

When choosing a probiotic supplement, it’s important to select a product that provides your body with numerous strains of probiotics. While many products on the market deliver a high total probiotic count, they are only coming from one or two strains. NutriClean® Probiotics  was developed to deliver comprehensive support by providing the body with 10 different strains of probiotics with patented LiveBac® and Bio-tract® technologies. Each strain has a unique purpose and work together to support everything from immune health to digestive regularity.

Rather than listing each probiotic individually and bogging you down with hard-to-pronounce names like Lactobacillus plantarum, let’s talk about how these hand-picked probiotic strains benefit you. Probiotics are probably best known for promoting good digestive health and bowel regularity. NutriClean® contains several strains that have been shown to do all that plus promote overall digestive comfort. And let’s be honest: there’s nothing worse than being an on-the-go, busy person who suffers from the discomfort resulting from an occasional irregular digestive tract.

In addition to promoting good digestive health, NutriClean® includes probiotic strains that play a major role in supporting your metabolism and immune system, while at the same time reducing potentially unhealthy bacteria that are naturally present in the body. Your body is a bacteria battlefield; NutriClean® can give you the support you need to stay healthy and win the fight for digestive health!

FYI I had a friend that recently went to Europe for vacation, and took a couple of bottles of NutriClean with her. She was so pleased that the product helped her stay "regular" & not "bloated" while traveling. And a bonus was they don't have to be refrigerated, due to the patent that makes them shelf stable! 

If you need to get things moving along, what do you do??

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Whey Better!

Why Whey?

It is widely accepted by athletes, body builders and even doctors that protein is the single most important supplement for building, growing, and repairing muscle. Whether you’re looking to shed fat, get ripped, or bulk up, protein is a major component of any good exercise regimen. Men and women alike can benefit from protein supplements, especially whey and casein varieties.

Whey protein is a natural byproduct of cheese production and is also the highest quality protein available. This is because whey has the ideal amount of branched chain amino acids (BCAA), which are essential for building, repairing and growing muscle tissue. Aside from physical benefits, whey also helps stabilize mood and blood sugar levels, increase concentration and attention, and promote a healthy immune system. The stabilization of blood sugar levels reduces food cravings and increases energy levels, both of which aid in weight loss.

Building muscle isn't just for "meat heads"; it also aids in burning fat. Since muscle weighs more than fat, many dieters may weigh themselves and perceive an increase in weight as an increase in fat. In fact, the opposite may be true. An estimated 500 calories is burned for every 10 pounds of muscle. With this in mind, an individual that gains a pound of muscle can consume 50 more calories per day without gaining weight. Thus, muscle building aids in weight loss by increasing the amount of calories burned.

If you bend down to tie shoes, lift groceries, stretch to the back seat of your car, walk through the mall or breathe, your will thank you for the right whey protein for all your "heavy lifting" in life.

But not all whey products are the same - TLS Whey is Whey Better! 

• 21 grams of Whey Protein
• rBGH free
• Sourced from grass fed cows
• Promotes optimal body composition and muscle growth

Helping YOU to Select the Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Does Your Multi Make You Feel Different?

Do you feel differently when you take your multivitamin? Or do you notice if you "missed" taking your multi? 

What is a "Good" Multivitamin?

Even the AMA (American Medical Association) says it's a good idea to take a daily multivitamin. There are myriads of choices, where do you start? Not all multivitamins are created equal!
.

The fact is there's a lot of "junk science" out there! Pills & tablets that contain binders & fillers, block absorption. Some absorption can be blocked by up to 90% -  100%. Some are even coated with "plastic"! YIKES!

A multivitamin in isotonic form has no binders or fillers! A fine powder that you mix "fresh" every day with an exact amount of water & drink on an empty stomach. The isotonic solution gets into your bloodstream within 5 minutes!!! Unheard of with pills, tablets or even liquids! Isotonix are the closest thing to an IV there is, without the needles. Feel the difference!

How do you feel about your health today?

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

Drugged....

Drugged:

Photo from Bottom Line Secrets

Years ago I read a book by John Abramson, MD, who is a lecturer in health-care policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston and author of Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine (Harper). It changed my mindset about pharmaceuticals. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and a place for "drugs". However, the last 20+ years or so, folks have started taking pharmaceuticals like they were "candy". 

It's All About Marketing:

And it's no wonder! With all the "slick ad" campaigns you'd think that all the drugs are going to solve your every problem. Even though they always put in the "disclaimer", while soothing music is being played and healthy looking people are going about their lives, a calm, low voice says something like: 'could cause diarrhea, headaches, stomach upset or death. Ask your doctor about it today!'

I came across this article in Bottom Line with an interview with Dr. Abramson, MD. (click here to read entire article) Dr Abramson stated: "What we all need to keep in mind is that the fundamental purpose of drug advertising is to get people to buy newer and more expensive drugs, not to provide public health education.” 

It’s also worth noting that the FDA does not approve drug ads before they are published or aired. Instead, it only warns companies afterward—sometimes months later—if violations are spotted. YIKES!!

To make matters worse, doctors are "wooed" by pharma-sponsored trips, perks, free samples and other incentives designed to convince doctors to prescribe the same drugs that their patients see advertised on TV or in print.

So we, the "consumers" have to be aware of "tricks of the trade" which the article enumerated on.
Here's their list:

• Misleading language
• Glossed-over side effects
• Medicalization of normal conditions 
• Skewed clinical study data
• Patient programs designed to get you hooked

Remember EVERY drug has side-effects!! So "pick your poison", so to speak. The "illness" or side-effects & drugs that are routinely prescribed to "counter the side-effects", which also have, you guessed it, more side-effects! Causing a cascade of prescription medicines to be taken. 

Did you know that most prescription drugs delete or destroy vital vitamins and nutrients from the body? So if you are taking medications you likely need to be supplementing to offset what the drugs are zapping from your body!

There may very well be things you can do naturally, alongside drug therapy or avoiding drugs altogether.  Do your research, there's a lot of science & evidence based info regarding the benefits of Functional or Complementary Alternative Medicine.(CAM)

This is why I am so passionate about Wellness!

Because: Health is NOT an "alternative".

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

How Old is "Old"?

"Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age".

 Victor Hugo

Aging is relative to how old you are! With each decade of life we gain a new definition and perspective of what "old" is. 

Helping YOU to Select the Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com

How to Enhance Performance LEGALLY!

Boost Performance LEGALLY!

Weekend Warrior or Professional Athlete:

Either way - Champion Blend Plus will help you get your "game on"!

Everyone can benefit from the cutting-edge ingredients in Isotonix® Champion Blend Plus. Its formula includes select activated B vitamins to help provide energy for the muscles, decrease stress, and improve your mood, making work and play much easier and enjoyable.

The addition of vitamin D3 supports optimal bone health and immune function. This nutritional powerhouse completes the package by helping to minimize occasional muscle fatigue and promoting muscle growth instantized branched chain amino acid.

ONE Shot - Change the Way You Take Vitamins:

Thanks to its unique formula, Isotonix® Champion Blend Plus provides rapid absorption and superior delivery without the additions of binders and fillers included in other products on the market. It is specially formulated to provide you with everything you need to be a true champion, which is why it is approved by basketball superstar Carmelo Anthony.

Champion Blend Plus is designed to deliver a variety of health benefits, utilizing the most advanced delivery system — Isotonix®. 

Some of the many benefits of Champion Blend Plus:

• Promotes bone and muscle health*
• Helps reduce occasional muscle fatigue*
• Provides antioxidant protection to minimize the effects of free radicals*
• Contains activated forms of select B vitamins to promote optimal utilization by the body*
• Promotes cardiovascular health*
• Helps decrease stress and improve mood*
• Instantized Branch Chain Amino Acids (IBCAAs) (3 g) - promote healthy muscle growth & retention.

To help you stay performance-ready, Isotonix® Champion Blend Plus provides antioxidant protection with Pycnogenol®, helping to combat free radicals and promote cardiovascular health.


What do you do take to "enhance performance" legally?

Helping YOU to Select The Best Health,

Sherry

www.selectthebesthealth.com