Pistachios are one of my absolute favorite nuts both in terms of taste AND nutrition.

When I was a kid, my parents always bought these huge bags of pistachios and I loved snacking on them all day long.

Later on, as a Nutritionist, I learned that pistachios are also one of the most beneficial nuts for your health, as they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and even have a better fatty acid profile than many other popular nuts like almonds.

Pistachios are rich in beneficial nutrients like flavanols, selenium, lutein, beta carotene, zeaxanthin, b6, and tocopherols. Studies show that pistachios are one of the best nuts for your heart health too!

Other studies also show that pistachios improve libido, improve blood sugar, and increase fat loss when consumed regularly.

Pistachios also help to feed the good bacteria in your gut and thereby improve gut health.

They really are a super-nut!

One of my favorite ways to snack on pistachios is with some good dark chocolate. And since dark chocolate is also known to improve gut health, lower blood pressure, and improve heart health, in my opinion, pistachios and dark chocolate together are a powerful combo to supercharge your health all while enjoying incredible taste!

But speaking of chocolate, did you know that there’s ONE specific unique form of chocolate that can nearly DOUBLE your GLP-1 levels in a matter of hours?

And this means your metabolism fires up and you slim down faster.

However, most people have never heard of this specific type of chocolate that I’m referring to here, and yet this chocolate is proven to boost your fat loss, lower blood pressure, and improve your gut microbiome.

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Hope you enjoy!

The post Pistachios & Chocolate: this combo burns fat, lowers blood pressure, feeds a healthy gut appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

When you think about health foods, how often do you consider chocolate?

Fortunately, dark chocolate is a superfood! When you consume the right type of dark chocolate, you can look forward to surprising benefits, like boosting your antioxidants, lowering blood pressure and even reducing your risk of cancer.

Read on to discover the surprising benefits of dark chocolate, as well as what type you should be eating.

Dark Chocolate: A Sacred Food with Healing Benefits

Throughout history, dark chocolate (or cacao, as it’s called before being made into a chocolate bar) has been hailed as a health tonic. This is especially true throughout Mesoamerican cultures, who held the belief that the cacao bean was a sacred food handed down by the gods to provide stamina, heal numerous diseases, and reduce fatigue (1).

In fact, the effects of cacao were thought to be so powerful that consumption was reserved specifically for priests, high government officials, military officers and great warriors. It was considered unsuitable for women, children, and the lower classes due to its potency.

What exactly is it about dark chocolate that makes it such a cherished health food? Let’s dive into the research-backed facts behind its benefits.

8 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Many of dark chocolate’s surprising benefits stem from its potent antioxidant compounds epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidins, along with flavonoids and polyphenols. These antioxidants are responsible for putting a halt to DNA damage, reducing inflammation, regulating glucose levels, slowing aging, and more.

Read on to see just how powerful they are in dark chocolate.

1. Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Heart Health

Not only does dark chocolate make you feel similar to being in love (okay, maybe not that good), but it has major benefits for your heart and blood pressure levels.

Studies show that the compound prostacyclin in dark chocolate is able to help lower blood pressure by increasing vasodilation, the opening and loosening of your arteries and blood vessels (2). In addition, another study revealed that higher chocolate intake is associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events (3).

The Kuna Indians of the San Blas islands of Panama, who drink roughly three cups of a cacao beverage daily and have a very low prevalence of hypertension, myocardial infarction and stroke compared to those on the mainland, are a good example of chocolate’s benefits at work. In addition, studies have found that their blood pressure doesn’t rise with age (4).

2. Fights Aging

As we mentioned earlier, dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidant compounds that help fight the DNA damage that causes aging symptoms like wrinkles, graying hair, and disease. In fact, research shows that just a single serving of cacao contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods and more antioxidants than many Americans get on average per day (5).

Research also shows that the polyphenols and flavonoids in dark chocolate can help protect your skin from UV damage, which is a huge factor in preventing skin aging (6).

3. Reduces Cholesterol

Alongside lowering blood pressure and improving heart health, dark chocolate also has a few cholesterol-lowering tricks up its sleeve. Studies have shown that just one week of dark chocolate consumption was enough to improve lipid profiles and decrease platelet reactivity for both men and women (7). This may be due to the fact that the cocoa butter in dark chocolate contains some of the same heart-healthy fatty acids found in olive oil.

4. Improves Brain Function

Dark chocolate has been studied for its ability to boost cognitive function by improving cerebral blood flow, thanks in part to its high flavanol content. One study showed that the intake of flavonoid-rich foods, including chocolate, wine and tea, results in improved cognitive performance, especially in elderly participants.

Another study out of Italy also found that the flavanols in chocolate could prevent and even reverse age-related memory decline (8).

5. Anti-Diabetic Effects

Research has shown that dark chocolate improves glucose balance, insulin sensitivity and inflammation markers – all symptoms that contribute to the development of diabetes. In one particular study, scientists found these benefits occurred only when participants ate dark chocolate; those who consumed white chocolate received no benefits (9).

Interestingly, a study in Japan found that the risk of developing diabetes was reduced 35 percent among men who consumed “chocolate snack pieces” once per week or more versus those who never or almost never ate chocolate (10).

6. Potentially Reduce Risk of Developing Cancer

To date, studies have confirmed that chronic inflammation contribute to factors that increase your risk of developing cancer, including DNA mutations and cancer cell growth. Research has confirmed that the antioxidants in dark chocolate have a strong ability to fight the DNA damage that could lead to cancer development, as well as reduce certain inflammation enzymes that could encourage its growth (11).

7. Reduces Risk of Developing Neurological Diseases

Flavonoids have been shown to offer significant protection for neurons in your brain and nervous system. Specifically, they reduce neuroinflammation, which has been found to be a major cause of the development of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, their ability to increase cerebral blood flow encourages the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus, which processes memory (12).

8. Increases Satiety and Reduces Appetite

Just when you thought chocolate was banned from your diet while trying to lose weight, research shows it may actually help you keep cravings in check, which can help keep the pounds off. Studies have found that the smell of dark chocolate reduces appetite and improves satiety (13).

How to Choose the Best Dark Chocolate

Obviously, not all chocolate is created equal. To get the most benefits associated with dark chocolate, you want to steer clear of any of the candy bar varieties (even if they are “gluten-free” or “Paleo”) and be sure to choose a bar that contains at least a 75 percent cacao content. This will ensure there are minimal added sugars, so you get the bittersweet goodness without the damaging effects of sugar.

How Often Should You Indulge in Dark Chocolate?

While dark chocolate is loaded with benefits, more doesn’t necessarily equal better. Most of these studies used a moderate amount of dark chocolate consumption, which could be comparable to a square of dark chocolate per day, or a tablespoon or two of dark cacao made into a hot chocolate drink (just make sure you don’t add any sugar).

Even if you don’t eat it every day, try to get in a dose of dark chocolate at least three times a week to boost your antioxidant levels and cash in on the many benefits of this true superfood.

Our friends at Earth Echo Foods want to share this weight loss secret with you…

This Costa Rican chocolate known to melt extra LBs

Most Americans think eating sweets for breakfast is unhealthy…

But according to Stanford researchers, there’s one delicious “dessert” food Costa Ricans eat each morning that…

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(Original source article can be found here.)

The post 8 Surprising Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day.

By Susan Patterson, TheAlternativeDaily.com

Coconut oil has been gaining a lot of popularity in the fast growing community of health conscious people. People in Asia and the Pacific Rim have used coconut products for thousands of years. They drank the milk, ate the flesh, turned the tree sap into sweet syrup, and weaved baskets with the leaves of coconut trees. In the 1950s, coconut oil, which you receive when you press the meat of the coconut, could be found in every household.

With the low-fat craze that swept through the Western world, coconut oil gave way to margarine and vegetable oils. The “experts” demonized saturated fats. People touted highly processed vegetable oils as heart-healthy, but only in very small amounts.

Fortunately, coconut oil is seeing a comeback of epic proportions. From slathering your baby’s bottom to cooking up some fabulous-tasting eggs, coconut oil is making its way to the top of the charts. How about putting some coconut oil into your morning cup of coffee?

Of course, those who have been using coconut oil for years never truly believed the lipid hypothesis that said saturated fat was bad for us. More and more evidence is being uncovered to say just the opposite.

What is coconut oil?

Coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid with a high saturation level. The main fats in coconut oil are caprylic acid, lauric acid and capric acid. Most fats take much more effort from the body to be digested (26 steps), whereas coconut oil is digested much easier (3 steps). Because it is a medium-chain fatty acid, coconut oil is processed by the liver, so it is converted into energy rather than stored as fat.

Coconut oil is a solid at room temperatures and it has an amazing shelf life due its saturation. It is also an ideal oil to cook with because medium-chain fatty acids are much more stable and will not break down during cooking.

Healthy saturated fat is not only good for us, but essential for numerous bodily functions. Did you know that more than half your brain is made up of saturated fat? Coconut oil is described as one of the healthiest saturated fats on the earth.

Coconuts are revered by people all over the world for their amazing medical and nutritional properties. They have been used for ages by diverse cultures and races, all of whom respect the magnificent qualities of this tree-growing nut. Fortunately, the Western world is quickly catching on. Now there are even numerous studies supporting some of the health claims that so many of us already know to be true.

Medicinal uses for coconut

In traditional medicine, people use coconut for a wide number of health problems. These include kidney stones, nausea, rash, scurvy, infections, wounds, asthma, colds, constipation, cough, earaches, fevers, jaundice, kidney stones, lice and ulcers, to name a few.

Modern medicine is finally coming alongside traditional medicine and echoing the amazing health benefits of coconut. Published studies in a number of prominent health journals note the benefits of various forms of coconut.

Several studies have confirmed that coconut oil has the ability to increase the good cholesterol HDL. In other studies, women and men were fed a diet containing coconut oil and butter. Researchers found that coconut oil increased energy in study participants and was able to help with weight maintenance or weight loss.

What is even more amazing are the results of a study of women with stage III and stage IV breast cancer. The 60 women were fed a diet containing virgin coconut oil and experienced an overall improved quality of life. Coconut oil also reduced the side effects of chemotherapy.

Other benefits of coconut oil

As you can see, saturated fat isn’t necessarily the bad guy, when it is from a good source like coconut oil. The lauric acid in coconut oil can actually prevent high blood pressure. Below, find a list of other proven health benefits of coconut oil which will make you want to run to the store and stock up on this amazing fat.

Proven treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

The brain produces its own insulin in healthy people. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, this function is limited or stopped. The ketones produced through coconut oil consumption increase energy for people with Alzheimer’s and can help improve brain function.

Reduces inflammation markers

A study conducted in India found that the antioxidants in coconut oil were able to reduce inflammation in study participants when taken regularly. Researchers have also found coconut oil to be of great value to people with arthritis.

Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties

It is the lauric acid present in coconut oil that has been credited with helping treat parasites, like candida. It is necessary to use coconut oil on a daily basis and usually several times a day.

Improves endurance

The liver processes coconut oil, so it provides a quick boost of energy and endurance. This makes it extremely valuable for athletes, especially those needing a lot of energy for longer workouts.

Helps slow down aging process

The antioxidants in coconut oil can slow the aging process, as stress on the liver is decreased and detoxification is increased.

Prevents osteoporosis

The antioxidants in coconut oil fight free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, both of which count as the main culprits for osteoporosis. Additionally, coconut oil increases calcium absorption. Researchers have found that bone loss due to osteoporosis decreases in patients who take coconut oil regularly.

Coconut in coffee

Replacing processed coffee creamers with organic coconut oil is a smart move. Although it may sound strange, the result is actually quite delicious and highly nutritious. The combination of caffeine and saturated fat gives the body a lasting energy boost.

Prepare a tropical twisted coffee drink by brewing a high-quality organic cup of coffee and place it in a blender. Add in one tablespoon of organic coconut oil, blend and enjoy.

The resulting coffee drink is frothy and rich, with a wonderfully smooth taste that is very satisfying. If you like your coffee sweetened, add one teaspoon of coconut crystals.

Add coconut oil to your coffee for a great way to supercharge. Give your body a burst of energy to make it through the day, not to mention all of the other amazing health benefits of coconut!

Supercharging your morning can be as simple as adding coconut oil to your coffee—and believe it or not, a unique form of chocolate can regulate blood sugar levels as well as your appetite.

Did you know there’s one form of chocolate that can nearly DOUBLE your GLP-1 levels in a matter of hours?

See if you can guess which one it is:

A) 85% dark chocolate
B) Ceremonial cacao powder
C) Milk chocolate
D) Sugar-free chocolate bar

While Hollywood celebrities pay $1,200/month for injections…

Over 157,423 people are already using this “chocolate trick” to melt fat fast.

I don’t know about you…

But I’d much rather eat chocolate to lose weight than poke myself with needles.

Click your choice above to see if you’re right…

Or click HERE to skip to the answer.

Original article is found here.

The post Coconut Oil In Your Morning Coffee? Absolutely appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist
Author of the best sellers: The Fat Burning Kitchen & The Top 101 Foods that FIGHT Aging

I’ve noticed in my travels and with working with clients that a large majority of people in today’s fast-paced stressful world are struggling at least part of the time with falling asleep at night.

Over the years, I’ve also struggled on occasion with insomnia because of the stress placed on me by running a large publishing business. And I’ve researched and learned quite a few tips and tricks over the years to help fight insomnia and fall asleep faster.

Without diving into every single technique I’ve learned over the years, I’ll just touch on a few really simple, but powerful tips, foods, drinks, etc. that I think can help you to fall asleep easier and faster too!

Here goes:

The most important sleep tip to start with:

This one isn’t a specific food or drink, but rather probably THE most important tip I can give you… if you don’t follow this one, your chances of being able to wind down at night and fall asleep fast are unlikely…

You NEED to eliminate use of devices, computers, emails, and any other work related to your job (or other stressful things) at least 3 hours before you plan to go to sleep. Using devices or computers for casual reading at night is fine, but don’t do any work that gets your mind overly activated, such as anything dealing with work or other stressful things in life. Also, even for casual reading, it’s best to turn off devices at least 1 hour before bed as keeping your eyes focused on the light from devices is one thing that some researchers are saying could interfere with getting quality sleep.

An overly active mind late at night is one of the BIGGEST things keeping many people from falling asleep. As a success-driven entrepreneur myself, I used to work really late at night and then I’d find that my mind was always too active to actually be able to fall asleep, so I’d lay there for hours sometimes until I could get my mind to slow down so I could fall asleep.

This may sound weird, but one trick that’s worked for me is to grab a book while I lay in bed on something that I find sort of boring and try to read the book in bed. Because the topic is “boring” to me personally, it keeps my mind away from things that I find more interesting, and it allows me to fall right to sleep. So for example, if you find health and fitness interesting (I hope you do!), but you find economics boring, try reading an economics book as you lay in bed. I bet you’ll get sleepy and fall asleep much faster than if you laid in bed letting all your thoughts about daily life race through your mind.

No caffeine after mid-day:

You’ve probably heard this tip many times, so I’ll keep this one short… It takes about 6 hours for caffeine to be fully processed and eliminated by your body, so make sure your last caffeinated drink of the day (coffee, black tea, mate, etc.) is at LEAST 6 hours or more before your planned bedtime. And if you’ve been showing any adrenal fatigue from lab hormone tests, you should also consider reducing your daily caffeine intake if you currently use it.

Tart cherries or tart cherry juice:

Tart cherries (Montmorency) actually contain a natural form of melatonin that can help you to naturally get sleepy and more easily fall asleep. I’ve found frozen tart cherries a few times in specialty grocery stores and I use them for a late night smoothie occasionally.

I’ve also found a tart cherry concentrate in Whole Foods and other health food stores that you can add to a drink or caffeine-free tea at night to help get you that low dose natural melatonin. I use 1 spoonful of this tart cherry concentrate in a cup of chamomile or mint tea late at night. This helps immensely for calming down and falling asleep at night.

A side benefit is that tart cherry also contains powerful antioxidants that fight joint pain, gout, and other inflammation related problems.

DON’T overdose on melatonin supplements (most contain TOO MUCH)

Did you know that MOST people overdose on melatonin supplements. Most melatonin supplements come in either 3 mg or even 5 mg doses. However, according to some researchers, anything more than 1 mg might be too high of a dose, which can disrupt your sleep cycle the following day, making it hard to wake up in the morning, and harder to fall asleep the following night, disrupting your overall sleep cycle.

The proper dose seems to be something less than 1 mg from most experts on this topic (this was even discussed on the Dr. Oz show too), which is why I choose to NEVER use melatonin supplements, and only get the small natural quantities found in tart cherries or tart cherry juice.

Night time teas:

Try “night time teas” that have relaxing qualities such as chamomile tea, mint tea, lemongrass tea, or all of them mixed. A side benefit of chamomile tea, and another reason that I try to include it in my weekly night tea repertoire is that chamomile tea contains unique phytonutrients that can help fight estrogenic overload from all of the xenoestrogens that we are exposed to from chemicals, pesticides, etc. in today’s chemical laden world.

Also remember that you can add a spoonful of the tart cherry concentrate and you’ll get a double-whammy of sleep aid! This works well about 1-2 hours before bedtime to help your body and mind relax.

One more tip…

If you still have troubles falling asleep even after implementing all of these tips, make sure to pay attention to fixing any hormonal issues you might have, including any possible adrenal fatigue, since being overly stressed out during the day can cause imbalances in your natural cortisol cycle which can make you more awake at night and more tired in the morning (obviously the opposite of what you want).

Eliminate any stressors from your life that you can, and also trying other relaxation techniques including meditation as a way to deal with stress if you still feel that you’re too stressed out each day.

Here’s one more reason to pay attention to this advice and make sure to do everything possible to get better sleep…

Did you know that a lack of sleep can actually make you GAIN weight?

A proper hormone balance is very important not only for losing fat, but keeping it off, and lack of sleep (including restless sleep, going to bed too late, getting up too early, and any other types of sleep deprivation), can throw your body’s hormones out of balance.

This means that regardless of how much you exercise or what type of diet you go on, you will still struggle to lose your unwanted fat, especially from your stomach.

So you can see how important sleep really is, as it touches multiple aspects of your health.

And one more thing to note, if you are still having trouble falling asleep, our friends from YuSleep have this special message for you…

Do You Wake Up At 3 AM Too?

If you fall asleep just fine but you wake up around 3 am almost every night, mind racing and you can’t fall back asleep for hours…

You lie there staring at the ceiling, watching the clock tick toward 5 AM… 6 AM…

Then drag yourself through another zombie day…

You should do this 30-second cherry trick this evening before going to bed.

A sleep expert with 18 years of sleep research says it quiets your racing mind and relaxes your body so your brain can enter deep stages of sleep.

Many people over 50 have already tried it and they sleep through the night like a baby with NO MORE 3 am wake-ups and wake up refreshed!

Here’s the simple cherry trick to try tonight…

👉 Click here to see how to do it!

The post Drink this 2 hours before bed to sleep better (plus 5 tips for insomnia) appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

The lifestyle that has helped Bernando achieve a healthy, long life

LaPallo says he has not been sick one day in his life and accredits this to eating all organic fruits and vegetables, walking every morning, and avoiding red meat, fried foods and fast food at all costs. He says his father instructed him at an early age to stay away from red meat and he has always believed this to be best for good health.

So what are the five foods he eats to stay healthy and age well?

Garlic, chocolate, cinnamon, olive oil, and honey. That’s right, LaPallo eats these foods daily in addition to organic fruits and vegetables and accredits these five special foods to his success.

Garlic is a powerful immunity enhancer, cancer fighter and liver detoxifier. Chocolate has been known to help many people live a long life. It has incredible anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and immune-boosting properties. Cinnamon is a fantastic spice for anti-aging, immunity, blood sugar and heart health. Olive oil is another powerful anti-inflammatory food, as well as a great source of Vitamin E, healthy monounsaturated fats for your heart, and contains high levels of cancer-fighting properties. And finally, honey is a powerful miracle food that has been used for hundreds of years for its anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and heart health benefits.

Bernando also loves whole grains, broth and healthy dishes like soups and salads. You can get his recipes on his blog for barley soup, fresh fruit salad and more.

Bernando’s father was a doctor who also lived to 98 years old. Bernando not only took his father’s advice on how to eat well, but also how to live well. Bernando likes to read, do crossword puzzles and other life-enhancing activities daily. He says he has learned and seen so much throughout his life, and always wanted to live healthily so he could age well.

In LaPallo’s words, “As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. And that’s very true.”

Bernando LaPallo lived to 114 years young, his life and vitality maintained through a regiment that he followed for his entire life. He exercised and ate foods that he knew would protect his body and lengthen his life.

Salmon vs Tuna vs Tilapia vs… (The #1 Worst Fish for Your Heart)

Eating wild-caught fish is good for your heart… right? WRONG.

According to Dr. Sam Walters – one of America’s #1 heart specialists – there’s ONE fish you should avoid like the plague.

This so-called “healthy fish” is contaminated with toxic chemicals… that are literally DEADLY for your heart. Yet 97% of Americans eat it at least once a week.

Try to guess which one it is:

1. Tilapia
2. Tuna
3. Atlantic Salmon
4. Sardines

So click on your guess…

Or tap below to get the correct answer from Dr. Sam Walters himself:

>> Never eat THIS fish (it’s DEADLY for your heart).

Original Article by Heather McClees can be found here

Editor’s Note: Bernando LaPallo passed away on December 19, 2015.

The post 114-Year-Old Man Attributed Good Health To These 5 Foods appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

I’d like to call your attention to a miracle medicine that is probably sitting in the back of your medicine cabinet, long forgotten, gathering dust.

This safe and well-tested medication has been around for literally thousands of years. This simple medication can be considered as one of the greatest contributions to the health of mankind. I am talking about aspirin.

Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is still one of the most widely used drugs worldwide. Aspirin began as a derivative of willow bark, and was used as both a painkiller and fever reducer by the Egyptians, Sumerians, and other ancient civilizations.

Aspirin has since been used as an anti-inflammatory painkiller, headache reducer, and blood thinning medication. Aspirin also works well on muscle aches, arthritis, toothaches and menstrual cramps.

There is now growing evidence of aspirin’s wide-ranging benefits including fighting cancer, reversing dementia, improving mood, increasing blood flow, and improving metabolic health—to name just a few.

Aspirin is truly a lifesaving, proven, wonder drug with very few side effects.

Let’s dive into some of the amazing, but little-known benefits of this well-known medication.

Heart and Circulatory Support

Aspirin has a longstanding reputation for preventing heart disease. It does this by helping to prevent the blood platelets from clumping to form clots. Clots contribute to the incidence of heart attacks and strokes by blocking blood flow.

Aspirin can also stop a heart attack or stroke as it’s happening by helping to thin the blood and break up a blood clot.

Aspirin is also known as an anti-inflammatory, so its ability to lower inflammation can also be heart protective.

Brain and Nerves

Aspirin’s effects on the brain and nervous system are strikingly potent. Aspirin can be considered a powerful nootropic. Aspirin is especially effective at lowering inflammation in the brain. Inflammation in the brain can cause depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental disorders.

Aspirin not only helps enhance moods and emotional stability, but it reduces stress, generates a feeling of calm, aids in better sleep, and banishes depression—while regulating serotonin and other vital brain chemicals.

And you may find this information truly amazing–Aspirin helps regrow neurons in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain responsible for mood, emotion, and judgement. This neurogenesis shows great promise at preventing and even reversing some forms of dementia, encouraging stroke recovery, and enhancing memory and cognition.

Neurogenesis is one of the key factors in longevity and slowing the aging process in the brain.

Aspirin stimulates the release of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or BDNF. BDNF plays an important role in many physiological and pathological functions of the brain and nervous system. BDNF plays a crucial role in brain circuits and their ability to communicate. Proper functioning of the central nervous system depends on BDNF.

Aspirin’s anti-inflammatory actions also protect the brain, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Because aspirin has the ability to break up blood clots, aspirin prevents further injury from strokes, aids in stroke recovery, and alleviates post-stroke depression.

Aspirin has long been known as a help for headaches, but it has also shown to be very effective especially in relieving migraines, especially in combination with caffeine. Aspirin can also help with nerve pain anywhere in the body, caused by simple aches and pains, diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy or other health conditions.

Along with aspirin, these foods are shown to help heal the brain, and reduce the risk if mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS

Cancer Fighting

One of the more amazing unsung health benefits of aspirin is its ability to consistently reduce the incidence and mortality of various types of cancers. This is likely due in part to its gentle anti-inflammatory properties.

Long-term, low-dose aspirin has been linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer by inhibiting certain inflammatory compounds, according to the National Cancer Institute. Aspirin also reduces overall mortality of liver, pancreatic, prostate, lung, colorectal, breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, according to the Journal of Public Health.

Aspirin, when utilized as an adjuvant treatment, along with other more conventional treatments, reduces metastatic spread and increases survival rates of many cancer patients.

Paired with aspirin, these cancer fighting foods will detoxify your body, strengthen your immune system, repair cells DNA, and kill cancer cells to stop the spreading.

Immune Strengthening

Because aspirin has anti-inflammatory, and immune-balancing benefits, it strengthens immune function. This helps prevent overactive immune responses that cause chronic inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.

Inflammation is also a factor when the body is fighting off viruses, which is part of the immune response. However, an overly reactive immune system can cause more serious illness. Aspirin may help modulate the immune reaction so that it boosts its ability to fight viruses and other pathogens.

Studies suggest aspirin can affect the function of immune cells like macrophages, T cells, and dendritic cells, which are essential for recognizing and fighting infections.

Aspirin is also effective against the growth of some bacteria, like H.pylori which causes ulcers in the stomach, and candida albicans, which can infect the gut, causing a variety of symptoms.

Metabolic Health

Poor metabolic health has been discovered as one of the primary causes of inflammation, especially connected to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia. Having healthy glucose regulation, along with insulin sensitivity is a goal for almost all people.

Aspirin helps to enhance the body’s ability to stabilize blood sugar by enhancing insulin sensitivity. One study with aspirin reported a 25% decrease in fasting glucose, along with a reduction in total cholesterol and C-reactive protein—all risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and prediabetes.

This same study showed an amazing 50% reduction in triglyceride levels following a high-dose aspirin treatment. Triglyceride levels, a key indicator for heart disease, and other chronic diseases, are a reflection of blood glucose levels.

When too many carbohydrates and sugar are ingested, the body quickly turns that into glucose. The excess glucose is converted to triglycerides by the liver. Aspirin helps to slow that process, keeping blood sugar and triglycerides low.

Longevity

Aspirin should be everyone’s favorite anti-aging medication. As we age, our immune systems become dysregulated, which makes us more likely to have chronic inflammation. Decreasing hormone levels also contribute to increasing inflammation. This often helps to pave the way for diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.

Chronic low-grade inflammation or ‘inflammaging,’ is very common with older people. By lowering overall inflammation, the risk of all-cause mortality is significantly decreased. Studies show that anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin slow aging.

Aspirin is also responsible for inducing autophagy, the process that removes damaged cells and their components, improving cellular function and metabolic health. This cellular housecleaning helps stimulate energy production, while preventing structural and functional breakdown of mitochondria in the cells.

Everyone has a reason to live a long and healthy life. Making these small changes can help you not only live as long as possible, but living the longest, healthiest life possible—free of chronic diseases.

Reproductive Health

For women, low-dose aspirin is used to improve blood flow to the uterus which is helpful especially for women undergoing fertility treatments. Aspirin also shows promise in reducing the risk of preeclampsia and loss of pregnancy. And aspirin has been used for a long time to reduce the discomfort of PMS.

For men, aspirin is an aromatase inhibitor, which helps to lower estrogen levels by preventing the unwanted conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Because aspirin helps to thin the blood and encourage better circulation, it is also thought to improve blood flow to the penis to put an end to erectile dysfunction.

Other Health Benefits of Aspirin

• Aspirin helps to prevent oxidative damage and inflammation in blood vessels from polyunsaturated, vegetable seed oils.
• Aspirin helps reduce symptoms of psoriasis, and aids in healing skin wounds, and gum disease.
• Aspirin helps to manage asthma symptoms and prevent Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
• Aspirin can help prevent microvascular inflammation in the kidneys which protects the kidneys from damage in people with diabetes.
• Aspirin reduces the inflammation associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).
• Aspirin can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation.

Aspirin is an amazing medication with widespread applications across most body systems. Aspirin may be one of the best longevity medications that reduces inflammation, prevents heart disease, lowers cancer risk, and protects the brain’s cognitive function.

Aspirin has few side effects, however, aspirin does pose a slight risk for bleeding in the gut, although some studies show only 8 out of 1000 had this reaction, while the placebo was 5 out of 1000.

Anyone interested in using aspirin long term should consult with their healthcare provider to determine if aspirin is right for them, based on their individual health.

Aspirin and healthy lifestyle changes can help reduce your chances of a heart attack, but If you want to avoid a devastating heart attack, also don’t miss this simple test…

Heart Attack Test: Touch Your Feet Like THIS (for 7 seconds)

Can you really predict a heart attack? 

According to America’s #1 heart nutrition expert, Dr. Sam Walters… this 7-second “feet test” can reveal if your heart is dying.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Just sit on a chair.

2. Touch your right foot.

If THIS happens… then your heart is desperately starving for oxygen (but most people only realize when it’s too late).

References

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/13/5/789
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30391545/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10376986/
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/research/aspirin-cancer-risk?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4838306/
http://content-assets.jci.org/manuscripts/14000/14955/JCI0214955.pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10341252/
https://synapse.patsnap.com/article/the-benefits-of-pure-aspirin-powder?
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01251-0#:~:text=Furthermore%2C%20thorough%20research%20on%20the%20pathogenesis%20of,in%20turn%20promote%20healthy%20aging%20and%20longevity
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4116353/
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e084105
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/3/1/11
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3751197/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661824002676
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7327519/

The post Aspirin – The Forgotten Miracle Longevity Medicine appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

You’ve been told that bacon is “unhealthy”, but is it really? Let’s inspect the nutrition of bacon, and also the topic of nitrates and nitrites, HCAs, and more. As you’ll see, in some cases (not all), pork fat can even be considered healthy!

by Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist & guest author, Nick Pineault, aka – “The Nutrition Nerd”

Most people think that their favorite “fatty” foods, like bacon, should only be an occasional treat because they’ve been told that it will it will “clog up” your arteries and kill you because of the saturated fat.

But as you know from reading this newsletter, the scientific community has pretty much fully agreed in recent years that saturated fat is actually not bad for you at all… and is really just a natural part of the human diet just like it has been since the origins of us homo sapiens.

In reality, scientists have begun to collectively agree in recent years that highly processed polyunsaturated fats from vegetable oils like corn and soy are the REAL killers (along with too much sugar and starch, both of which also cause arterial stress if blood sugar levels are too high, too frequently).

However, what most people don’t realize is that pork fat (aka, lard ) is actually only 40% saturated, 48% monosaturated, and 12% polyunsaturated (varies based on what the pigs ate), while coconut oil is 92% saturated fat, and we all know that coconut oil is super healthy for DOZENS of reasons for our bodies!

This isn’t to say that bacon fat is always bad or good per se… it really all depends on what the pigs were fed and how they were raised . Confinement factory-raised pigs that never saw the light of day and ate nothing but GMO soy and corn based feed will have a more unhealthy fat profile than free-range pork that grazed outdoors, got a lot of sunshine (which increases the vitamin D content of the pork fat), and ate a wide variety of natural foods.

In fact, free-range (or pasture-raised) pork fat can even be a really good source of vitamin D if the pigs really did see a good amount of outdoors time and sunshine…and we all know how vitally important vitamin D is for our immune systems and overall hormonal balance. Unfortunately, the vast majority of pork and bacon sold these days is from confinement factory conditions where the pigs get very little sunshine, if any at all. Yes, our grandparents and great-grandparents in the early to mid 1900’s were eating pretty much 100% pasture-raised bacon back in the day, but the factory farm industry in recent decades has ruined a good portion of the quality of our foods.

So make sure to look for pasture-raised or free-range pork if you decide to eat bacon or other forms of pork. At the very least, look for organic bacon if you can’t find pasture-raised, because at least you know they didn’t eat GMO feed in that case.

But what about Nitrates and Nitrites?

Aside from the fat content of bacon, which we just discussed can actually be healthy if you choose the right form of bacon, the biggest reason people think they need to avoid bacon is that they’ve been told that Nitrites and Nitrates can be really bad for you.

But is that really the truth?

Well, it can be a complicated subject, so I’ll let my fellow colleague, “The Nutrition Nerd“, Nicky P. simplify it for you…

Are Nitrates and Nitrites Really Dangerous?

(Do we really need to fear bacon?)

First of all, nitrites and nitrates are not exactly the same, but I’ll use them interchangeably for simplicity’s sake in this article.

Well, the consumers fear it so much that companies have started selling “nitrite-free” products in grocery stores. After all, even the Mayo Clinic says that sodium nitrite could possibly increase your risks of heart disease. (1)

But is the fear of nitrites overblown?

Should You Fear Your Saliva?

Avoiding all sources of nitrites and nitrates would involve you having the driest mouth in the history of mankind. You see, as Chris Kresser puts it…(2)

“[…] nitrites are produced by your own body in greater amounts than can be obtained from food, and salivary nitrite accounts for 70-90% of our total nitrite exposure. In other words, your spit contains far more nitrites than anything you could ever eat .”

And when it comes to food, I’ve got “bad” news for you.

Veggies contain way more naturally-occurring nitrites than processed meats like bacon. In fact, one serving of arugula contains more nitrites than 467 hot dogs…(3)

(Sorry if that made you spit out your arugula, goat cheese and walnut-salad in shock.)

“Nitrite-free” Is Misleading:

If you’re paying more for “nitrite-free” meats, you’re getting mislead.

Instead of being cured with sodium nitrite, these meats are cured with celery salt. And guess what? Celery salt gets transformed into nitrites during the curing process. (4)

In plain English… the “nitrite-free” meats probably contain way more nitrites that the regular version. (Not that it matters, because like I said nitrites are not very dangerous to begin with.)

All in all, I don’t think there’s much difference to your health whether you get the bacon containing nitrites vs the celery salt bacon since they both yield nitrites to your body.

Breaking News: Nitrites And Nitrates Are NOT A Threat:

The fear of nitrites and nitrates is overblown. There are a ton of other things you should worry about more when it comes to food, like GMOs, trans fats, and high fructose corn syrup.

– On the science side, there’s a ton of research showing that nitrites and nitrates do not accumulate inside the body, and are quickly flushed in the urine: (5)

– 25% of the nitrates we consume is converted into salivary nitrite, 20% converted into nitrite, and the rest is excreted in the urine within 5 hours of ingestion. (6)

– Any nitrate that is absorbed has a very short half-life, disappearing from our blood in under five minutes. (7)

– Some of the nitrites in our stomach reacts with gastric contents, forming nitric oxide which may have many beneficial effects. (8)

What About Nitrosamines?

The fear of nitrites and nitrates comes from the fact that some of them can transform into nitrosamines while cooking. Nitrosamines are potentially carcinogenic, so that’s definitely a legit concern. But that’s exactly why manufacturers use vitamin C (ascorbic acid) when curing their meats.

It turns out that vitamin C or even vitamin E (9) offers a protective antioxidant effect on the meat, and prevents the formation of nitrosamines.

On top of that, my recommendation of sticking to pasture-raised pork as much as possible still stands, for many reasons… One of them being the fact that grain-fed, commercially-raised pork has been shown to create way more nitrosamines when cooked than its pasture-raised cousin. (10)

The reason is simple in my mind: lard from pasture-raised animals that eat a highly variable diet outdoors contains a healthier fat profile than the fat from grain-fed confinement animals.

Conclusion

Here’s the simple conclusion… There are a ton of things you should worry about when it comes to food, but nitrates/nitrites are simply NOT one of them.

That being said, try to eat traditionally cured, pastured-raised meats from local farms as much as possible. They are much healthier, and a LOT safer.

Enjoy your bacon,
Nick
___________

Mike’s additional comments:

Before I introduced Nick’s article on whether nitrites and nitrates are worth worrying about in bacon, I discussed the fat profiles of healthier pasture-raised or free-range pork vs factory raised, and also that the vitamin D content of pasture-raised pork be as much as 5-10x higher than factory raised pork that never gets any sunshine.

I also discussed that saturated fat has been proven in recent years to not really be bad for us at all, and in fact, most forms of saturated fat are either neutral for our health, or even beneficial to our health. And besides that, bacon fat is mostly monounsaturated fat (48%), which is the same heart-healthy fat that’s raved about in olive oil, avocados, etc.

But what about Carcinogens in browned meat like bacon?

You’ve probably seen me discuss the fact that when you fry or bake any starchy foods such as grains (bread, cereal, etc), or potatoes in the form of french fries, that a carcinogen called acrylamides forms. This is a legitimate concern regarding cancer and one of the many reasons I choose to avoid breads, fries, cereals, and other browned starchy foods (aside from cheat meals) …

But there’s also a carcinogen called heterocyclic amines (HCA’s) that forms on the outer surface of meats when you brown or char meats. I’ve talked about how to counteract these carcinogenic HCAs in meat in this article .

Since bacon is a meat that’s fried in a pan at high heat, there will be small amounts of carcinogenic HCA’s, but as I’ve mentioned before, if you’re also having some high antioxidant tea or coffee with your meal, along with some veggies and/or avocado, you’ll have plenty of antioxidants to counteract the HCA’s in your body. I don’t know about you, but I almost always eat my bacon with eggs, veggies, avocado, and some form tea or coffee (all of which are great sources of antioxidants), so HCA’s just simply aren’t much of a concern if you’re counteracting them with a few sources of powerful antioxidants.

One last thing about pork fat that helps fight against any carcinogens in bacon…

According to Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN, “Pork fat also contains a novel form of phosphatidylcholine that possesses antioxidant activity superior to Vitamin E. This may be one reason why lard and bacon fat are relatively stable and not prone to rancidity from free radicals.” This is yet another reason why our grandparents were actually smarter than we give them credit for… they used bacon fat or butter to cook with most times, instead of today’s inflammatory vegetable oils.

Fun Fact about Pig Diets: Did you know that some of the most expensive pork in the world comes from a region of Spain where the pigs FEAST on almost nothing but acorns. These pigs produce meat that is MUCH healthier than the corn/soy fed pigs from typical factory farms. Not only that, but apparently the absolute BEST whole-hog barbeque in the southern US traditionally came from pigs that fed on acorns as well, and this type of pork has a signficantly superior taste compared to factory farm pork, which is sadly 90% of today’s pork. It’s too bad that corporate profits are the top priority of the pork industry these days, and not the health of the pigs or the nutrition of the meat.

Did you know along with consuming meat that is pastured raised and organic, you can lower your risk of a heart attack by avoiding grains, starch, sugars and vegtable oils. Our friends over at Physio Tru, backed by the research of renonwned heart specialist Dr. Sam Walter, have come up with this simple test.

If you want to avoid a devastating heart attack, also don’t miss this simple test…

Heart Attack Test: Touch Your Feet Like THIS (for 7 seconds)

Can you really predict a heart attack?

According to America’s #1 heart nutrition expert, Dr. Sam Walters… this 7-second “feet test” can reveal if your heart is dying.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Just sit on a chair.

2. Touch your right foot.

If THIS happens… then your heart is desperately starving for oxygen (but most people only realize when it’s too late).

>> 7-second “feet test” can predict a heart attack (this could SAVE your life).

The post The TRUTH about Bacon appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at RealDaily, a leading publisher of alternative health tips that I personally read every day…

We just can’t stop talking about raw honey. This incredible natural remedy has so many uses, we feel like we can’t live without it!

Here are 15 of the best uses for natural, unpasteurized honey.

1. Soothes allergies

One of the best ways to soothe allergies is with locally sourced, unpasteurized honey. It is said that the compounds in the honey improve one’s tolerance to the pollens found in the local area. Try mixing the honey into cooled nettle tea for an excellent remedy.

2. Fights infection

Feel a sore throat coming on? Have a teaspoonful of honey; its natural antibacterial properties will help fight the bad bugs.

3. Clears acne

Honey fights infection, balances moisture, and heals wounds effectively, so it’s basically the ideal acne fighter! Simply dab a small amount of raw honey onto affected areas to help prevent and heal acne.

4. Natural energy drink

We recommend avoiding commercial energy drinks which are laden with sugar and artificial ingredients. Drink water with raw honey instead.

5. Assists with memory loss

Studies have indicated that consuming raw honey can help prevent hormone-related cognitive decline in older people.

6. Suppresses a cough

If you have a dry, tickly cough, there is no better cure than a spoonful of raw honey. This amazing remedy also reduces inflammation and fights infection, so a respiratory infection or even chronic asthma will certainly benefit from regular honey consumption.

7. Supports better sleep

Raw honey promotes blood sugar stability to keep you sound asleep all night long. It also increases the production of the brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin to assist with well-being and overall healing.

8. Natural shampoo

Did you know that you can wash your hair with raw honey? Try mixing a tablespoon with a little warm water to create a gentle shampoo that is moisturizing and smells great. Don’t worry, it rinses clean and won’t leave hair sticky.

9. Antibiotic for wounds

Honey has been used on wounds since ancient times. It fights infection naturally and can be used as an antiseptic. Hospitals even use honey on bandages to prevent infection.

10. Natural face wash

There is no need to buy expensive skin-care products, which are full of chemicals and perfumes. Raw honey cleanses the skin while also providing moisture. In addition, it contains antioxidants that fight the signs of aging. What’s not to love!

Honey is the best natural face wash. To use, wet your face with warm water, then smooth on about half a teaspoon of honey. If you want an exfoliating scrub, mix a little baking soda, salt or sugar into the honey before applying in circular motions. Leave on for a minute or two, then rinse with warm water.

11. Healthy baking ingredient

Try sweetening recipes with honey instead of refined sugar or other “healthy” sweeteners. Honey is a functional food — it’s our top choice for a naturally healthy sweet flavor. Use in coffee, tea, grain-free baked goods and smoothies.

12. Reduces inflammation

Raw honey is known to reduce levels of an inflammatory marker called homocysteine. This is considered to be an important indicator of protection against chronic inflammatory illness such as heart disease.

13. Treats dandruff

Since honey is known to be antibacterial and antifungal, it is effective against flaky skin conditions such as dandruff and eczema.

14. Preserves food

Honey’s natural antibacterial properties make it the perfect food additive to prevent spoilage.

15. Improves digestion

Raw honey is rich in prebiotics, which provide fuel for healthy bacteria in the lower digestive system. It is also known to fight nausea and indigestion because it does not ferment in the stomach.

Try making a digestion-boosting drink by mixing a teaspoon each of lemon juice, raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey into a tall glass of water and drink two or three times daily. Add a little freshly squeezed ginger root juice if nausea is an issue.

Risks of raw honey

Sometimes, eating raw honey can cause a form of food poisoning called botulism, which results in muscle weakness and breathing problems. This is due to bacterial spores that can contaminate unpasteurized honey.

However, this is only a concern with infants younger than 12 months old, or people with a compromised immune system. Children and adults can safely consume raw honey because they have a more robust digestive system, which is not disturbed by the presence of spores.

Here is link to the original article.

Remember to always purchase and use raw, unfiltered honey for the best results. You can find raw honey in your favorite health food store. If you’d like local honey, check your community farmers’ market for the best results.

Speaking of all of the powerful health benefits of honey… My good friends at TheAlternativeDaily wanted to offer you a FREE copy of their new book, The Honey Phenomenon, which details dozens of ways to use honey to heal and revitalize your skin, hair, teeth, and even help improve your heart health, brain health, fight aging, and help with coughs or allergies too! It really is a miraculous substance.

Don’t miss your FREE copy of The Honey Phenomenon before they run out of copies.

The post 15 Health Benefits of Raw Honey appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling, RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-sellers:  The Fat Burning Kitchen, The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging & The Diabetes Fix

I remember flying to Thailand a few years ago. The flight is over 20 hours long. There you are, squished in with about 300 other passengers, so being able to move about and stretch your legs was a bit tricky. When I got off the plane, I was shocked to look down and see that I had ‘cankles’—you know, when your ankles are so swollen, you can hardly tell them from the rest of your leg? YIKES! Even my feet were swollen!

This is called edema—which is a collection of excess fluid in your tissues. Long flights and sitting too long are one of the causes of edema. There are many other reasons that people swell up and retain fluid–some minor, and some very serious or life-threatening.

What is Edema?

Edema means swelling, and it happens when the tiny blood vessels, or capillaries, begin to leak fluid into the nearby tissues. That extra fluid starts to build up and your body swells.

Edema often shows up in the arms, legs and feet, but it can also show up in the abdomen, and excess fluid can even collect in the lungs, which is a very serious type of edema, called “pulmonary edema”.

What Causes Edema?

While some of the causes of edema can be relatively minor, some edema is the result of serious—or even life threatening— health conditions.

Inflammation—Inflammation due to an allergic reaction, trauma, infections, rashes or even some illnesses, can cause inflammation, and as a result, edema.

Medications—Certain medications can change the body’s electrolyte and fluid balance, or cause the kidneys to be less efficient at removing excess fluid. Medications that can cause edema include corticosteroids, NSAIDS such as ibuprofen, insulin, or blood pressure medications.

Vitamin or nutrient deficiencies—Malnutrition due to a protein deficiency can cause the body to retain fluid, especially in the abdomen. Kwashiorkor is a type of malnutrition that causes a swollen, distended abdomen. Kwashiorkor most commonly affects children in developing countries where protein is scarce. Certain B vitamin deficiencies can also cause fluid retention and edema.

Electrolyte imbalances—Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals in our body fluids that help conduct electrical impulses necessary for muscles, especially the heart. Electrolytes also maintain the balance between sodium, potassium and water. When any of these essential minerals are out of balance, edema can result.

Other causes of edema include: long periods of inactivity, low thyroid, pregnancy, being on the pill, too much salt/sodium in diet, and excess sugar and carbohydrate consumption.

Treatment for more minor cases of edema include increased activity, getting thyroid and other hormones checked for imbalances, and making necessary changes in diet and nutrition.

Serious Health-Related Causes of Edema

Congestive Heart Failure—This is a common, but serious cause of edema, often in the feet and ankles. In fact, it is a hallmark symptom of heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart is not strong enough to efficiently pump blood throughout the body, and when the blood pools, it increases blood pressure. When this happens, fluid begins to leak out of the capillaries into extremities. More severe heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, which is called pulmonary edema. This becomes a medical emergency.

Kidney Disease—The kidneys are one of the primary fluid-regulating organs of our body. They also regulate sodium and potassium, two primary electrolytes that govern water retention. When the kidneys cannot filter enough water and sodium out, this causes a buildup of fluid in the body, which in turn causes edema.

Diabetes—Higher than normal blood glucose from high carb, high sugar consumption and poorly controlled diabetes causes fluid retention. In addition, elevated glucose damages arteries causing inflammation and stiffening—which results in atherosclerosis. When blood flow is impaired, fluid can accumulate in the lower extremities. Diabetes can also cause kidney disease and heart failure, both of which cause further edema.

Venous Insufficiency—Veins contain valves to help push blood back towards the heart to help it circulate. Over time, the valves wear out and blood can tend to pool in the legs. This pooling of blood causes varicose veins and edema. The slow-moving blood can also cause blood clots to form—which can be very dangerous, especially if they break loose and travel to the heart or lungs.

Lymphedema—Lymphedema is a type of edema related to the lymph system. The lymph system basically runs parallel to the circulatory system and helps to fight infections and filter toxins out of the blood. When there is damage to any area of the lymph system or lymph nodes, fluid will not drain properly, often resulting in swelling and edema.

Cancer, cancer treatments, surgery, trauma, and injury can cause blockages or poor lymph drainage in certain areas of the body, usually the extremities. An example of this is a woman who has had breast cancer surgery with removal of lymph nodes may have extreme swelling in the arm near the surgery, due to lymphedema.

Lymphedema can be a serious health condition because of the likelihood of the thin, delicate skin becoming injured and infection setting in. Trapped fluid also provides a fertile area for bacteria or fungus to grow. This can lead to cellulitis, which is an infection under the skin. Untreated, this kind of skin infection can spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which is a life-threatening systemic infection.

Severe swelling from lymphedema can also cause the skin to crack or break and fluid can leak out. Long term, lymphedema can cause thickened and hardened skin that won’t go away. There is also a risk of a type of cancer that grows on untreated lymphedema.

Treatment for edema aims at finding the root cause of the swelling. Health care professionals should look at lab work, examine urinary and kidney function, monitor blood sugar levels, make changes in medication or diet if necessary–and in some cases, prescribe diuretic medication.

The post YIKES! Why Do I Suddenly Have ‘Cankles’? appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at TheAlternativeDaily, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day… The original article can be found here:

There are certain combinations that for some reason just click. Natural ingredients that work well on their own, but when combined create something only just short of miraculous. One such combination, in my opinion at least, is used coffee grounds and turmeric.

The health benefits of coffee and turmeric

The benefits of both these ingredients are well established. Particularly in India and other parts of Asia, turmeric has a long and fruitful history of both therapeutic and superficial use. In literature, turmeric has demonstrated time and again it’s ability to lower inflammation in the body, fight cancer, ease joint pain and swelling associated with arthritis, moderate the symptoms of diabetes, regulate cholesterol, and so much more.

In the beauty world, the efficacy of turmeric is validated more by anecdotal evidence than scientific findings, but the results are no less miraculous. It can be used to speed the healing of wounds and allow your skin to heal faster, it slows signs of aging on skin and hair, it improves skin elasticity, fights acne, balances dry or oily skin, and lightens stretch marks. The studies that have been conducted in this area verify most of these claims. Turmeric reduces UV-induced skin damage and prevents skin carcinogenesis, so why shouldn’t it also improve elasticity or fight the signs of aging?

Turmeric might be at the forefront of the health food industry, but coffee isn’t too far behind. Beyond conventional fears of the high caffeine content in coffee, whole or fresh-ground coffee beans are absolutely loaded with antioxidants and health-supporting compounds. And, in many cases, the caffeine contained within actually helps our bodies utilize these compounds more effectively. Drinking or supplementing with high-quality coffee beans can alleviate pain, increase fiber intake, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, fight depression and anxiety, and protect against neurological disorders.

And the coffee benefits don’t stop there. Coffee is now a familiar face in many holistic beauty treatments. It can reduce puffy eyes, minimize cellulite, exfoliate and freshen the skin, increase circulation to the skin and hair follicles and plenty more.

As you can see, the healing and beauty-promoting benefits of both turmeric and coffee are almost legendary. But combine the two, and you’ve got yourself something quite extraordinary. Here’s how to make an awesome coffee ground and turmeric scrub to promote healthy, supple skin.

Easy coffee and turmeric scrub recipe

This is one of those recipes that you can adjust to suit your needs. Got super dry skin? Why not add in a little milk or aloe vera for an ultra-moisturizing effect. Suffer from infections or icky skin overgrowths like athlete’s foot? You might want to add in a little raw honey for an antibacterial component. Feel free to experiment with what works for you, because everybody’s skin is different!

Before we begin, a slight word of caution: if you’ve ever cooked with turmeric before, you’ll know that it’s amazingly hard to wash out of clothing and even skin — there’s a reason why many cultures continue to use turmeric to dye their fabrics a rich orange color! With this in mind, those of you with particularly fair skin should take care. Smearing a whole lot of this amazing ground coffee and turmeric scrub onto your face may leave your skin looking a little on the orange side for a few hours afterward (don’t worry, it’s not permanent!), so you might want to hold off on using it until after work. And if you apply the scrub just before bed, consider putting an old towel down on your pillow so you don’t stain your pillowslip and unsightly color!

With those cautions out of the way, it’s time to get down to business.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup coffee grounds (fresher is better!)
• 2 cups water
• 2 Tbsp coconut oil (optional)
• 1 Tbsp honey (optional)

Instructions

1. First, you need to have some coffee grounds on hand. Next time you go to the supermarket, buy some whole coffee beans and the next morning, grind up the beans and make yourself a delicious fresh cuppa. Pour the coffee grounds that are left behind into a jar and place in the fridge, to be used in your scrub within the next couple of days.
2. Next, pour two cups of water into a saucepan and add in half a cup of ground turmeric. Simmer the mixture over medium heat, stirring regularly, until a thick paste begins to form. This may take a while, so be patient!
3. After your turmeric paste has formed, transfer the paste into a wide-mouthed jar or bowl and add in your coffee grounds. Stir thoroughly to ensure it is evenly mixed through, and at this point you can add in your coconut oil or honey. The coconut oil adds more of a moisturizing element to the scrub, while the honey adds an antibacterial element. Keep in mind that both these additions can cause the scrub to turn semi-solid below room temperature, so you’ll need to keep it in a warm spot of the house or put it in the sun for a while before you use it.

How to use the coffee and turmeric scrub

Now that your coffee and turmeric scrub is ready, it’s time to use it! Scoop a dollop out with your hand and apply it to your face, like you would a face mask. You can also apply it to any other area of your body you like! Leave the coffee and turmeric scrub on for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove it with a hot facecloth or in the shower. If your skin looks a little stained afterward, simply apply some coconut oil and gently rub the area with a cotton pad to remove it.

Because the coffee grounds are a strong exfoliant, it’s best not to use this coffee and turmeric scrub more than once a week. Even at this low application rate, you’ll likely see excellent results almost immediately.

Scrub away and enjoy!

The post Try This Coffee Ground And Turmeric Scrub For Better Skin appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.