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.

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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.

Turmeric. Turmeric. Turmeric.

Heard enough about turmeric lately? This superfood has been considered to help Alzheimer’s, arthritis, inflammation of all kinds, fatigue, anxiety, depression, allergies, menstrual problems, diabetes, cancer and more. In short, turmeric has been touted as a superfood, cure-all.

But is this really true?

First of all, I want to point out that turmeric, (the spice) and curcumin are not the same thing. While the two words often get used interchangeably, they are not one and the same. Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice or the root called turmeric.

Most of the studies done on the health effects have been conducted on curcumin, the active ingredient. The thing is, you don’t get a lot of curcumin in turmeric. In fact, turmeric contains roughly only about 3% curcumin, and when it is absorbed in the body, you may only get about a quarter of that 3%. So, you see, you aren’t getting a lot of this active ingredient by eating turmeric. And when you buy the dried spice, the potency may vary even more depending on its source, freshness, etc.

As Robin Berzin MD, explains, for an anti-inflammatory effect, you will need to get 500 to 1,000 milligrams of curcumin per day.

While 500 milligrams of curcumin a day is a good wellness dose for lowering inflammation, if you’re experiencing chronic pain, or fighting a chronic illness, you might want to quadruple that amount of curcumin—so that comes out to 2000 milligrams, right?

In this study, the curcumin used was equivalent to about 180 milligrams of bioavailable curcumin per day for the study subjects.

Take a look at that spice bottle of turmeric you have in your cupboard. When I look at mine from Whole Foods, it says it contains 47 grams of turmeric. If you do the math, then this big bottle of turmeric only contains about 1.4 grams (3%) or 1400 milligrams of curcumin. If I were to get the recommended amount of curcumin to get the health benefits from it, I’d have to use about almost a jar a day of turmeric, and if I wanted to get into therapeutic dosages of 2,000 mg of curcumin a day, that’s two bottles of turmeric—a day.

That’s a whole lot of curry and turmeric tea!

One solution lies in pairing turmeric with another spice—black pepper. When combined with turmeric, it increases your body’s ability to absorb the inflammation-fighting compound, curcumin. That’s why many turmeric and curcumin capsules often include black pepper to help absorbance. And if you’re cooking with turmeric, it’s best to add black pepper to your recipe, too. The active ingredient in black pepper, piperine, increases the absorbability of curcumin by 2000% in humans.

The bottom line is that if you are talking about health benefits in the spice turmeric, it is negligible unless you are taking large, large quantities of turmeric, and that can have negative side effects. The better solution is to take curcumin extract or supplements—which is what has been used in most studies on the health effects of turmeric.

What about curcumin—is it valuable for your health?

Curcumin extract or supplements from turmeric have been shown to be very effective for overall inflammation, hay fever, depression (which is thought to be brought on by inflammation, among other things), Alzheimer’s, anxiety, heart disease, lowering cholesterol, psoriasis, lowering blood sugar, joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and cancer.

Curcumin can be valuable for most any health issue related to inflammation in the body. If you do suffer from inflammation, you can start your day off with this turmeric & lemon morning elixir. An interesting way to get a couple more superfoods into your daily diet, and fight inflammation in your body…

Although there are plenty of beneficial side effects of turmeric, there are some adverse side effects of turmeric/curcumin that need to be considered as well.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common negative symptoms associated with this super spice ingredient.

1. Blood Thinning

Turmeric has the ability to thin the blood which is helpful for those at risk for heart disease and strokes and blood clots. However, blood thinning drugs, combined with turmeric could create a risk of excessive bleeding, so it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking any turmeric or curcumin supplements.

Medications that slow down blood clotting include: aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Turmeric can also be dangerous before, during and after surgery by causing excessive bleeding. Be sure to avoid turmeric at least 2 weeks prior to surgery.

2. Not Advisable for Pregnancy

While you don’t have to give up yummy curries if you are pregnant, you do want to avoid any turmeric or curcumin supplements. During pregnancy and breast-feeding, turmeric is usually safe when eaten in small amounts as a spice in food.

Do not take turmeric or curcumin supplements if you are pregnant as this may stimulate premature contractions. There is not enough information to rate the safety of supplemental amounts of turmeric during breast-feeding either. It is best not to use it.

3. Can Increase Stomach Acid

While turmeric can be helpful to those with stomach issues, it is not good to take it if you have issues with GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). Turmeric can increase the secretion of stomach acid, causing indigestion, stomach upset and heartburn. Be wary and if you have any type of stomach issues, and go easy on the turmeric. Some people also report feeling dizzy, nauseas, or have diarrhea from turmeric.

Turmeric can also worsen gallbladder symptoms if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction.

4. Other Adverse Effects of Turmeric/Curcumin

Blood Sugar-Curcumin is known to decrease blood sugar. However, if you have any blood sugar irregularities such as hypoglycemia, or diabetes or pre-diabetes, be aware that turmeric and curcumin may make blood sugar too low—especially in combination with glucose-lowering medications.

Hormone Sensitive Cancers-Any cancers that are sensitive to estrogen can be affected negatively by turmeric as well. Curcumin can mimic estrogen in the body, possibly making hormone sensitive cancers worse. Other research shows that turmeric could possibly reduce the effects of estrogen in some cancers, so as you can see the jury is still out. Best to avoid if you have any issues related to hormones.

Fertility Problems-Men taking turmeric could find that it decreases sperm count and slows sperm motility as well, which can reduce fertility. If you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, avoid turmeric and curcumin.

Iron absorption-Turmeric can affect iron absorption, so beware if you have a tendency to develop anemia, or are on a vegan diet.

Adding turmeric to your dishes is a good way to boost the antioxidant, and inflammatory power of your health foods and does have some small health benefits. Just keep in mind that turmeric is not a miracle spice and it contains a very small amount of the active ingredient curcumin.

You can take turmeric supplements in order to get the full health benefits. There are no official guidelines set for turmeric, but most studies show that 500-2000 mg per day of turmeric are effective.

Don’t forget to look for supplements that include piperine, the active ingredient from black pepper that helps curcumin be absorbed in the body better. Remember that it is best to start with a lower dosage and increase gradually to determine your tolerance (some people just cannot tolerate turmeric) and reduce the risk of side effects.

And keep in mind, if you have any other health conditions or concerns, it is important to talk with your doctor before starting supplementation.

Turmeric can have a powerful positive impact on your health and has number of side effects—both good and bad. While it can have positive effects on cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and inflammation, taking large quantities can cause stomach and digestive issues and is not recommended for women who are pregnant or anyone taking anticoagulants.

References
https://draxe.com/best-worst-turmeric-side-effects/
https://medium.com/@gidmk/the-bitter-truth-about-turmeric-8cf9256e73c5
https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/turmeric-anti-inflammatory-dosage/
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-662/turmeric
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turmeric-dosage#benefits

The post The Good and BAD side of Turmeric appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

By: Cat Ebeling RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-seller: The Diabetes Fix

Celery has gone from that boring veggie on the crudité tray to a virtual vegetable superstar overnight! And now celery juice is blowing up social media with all kinds of health claims.

What’s up with celery and celery juice?

Celery and celery juice can be a great way to add concentrated health benefits without a ton of sugar or calories. Celery juice is light, refreshing and enjoyable!

One of the best things about celery juice is that it only has 40 calories. It also contains vitamins A, K, and C, and beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant. In addition, it has calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Celery is full of powerful antioxidants and flavonoids.

Scientists have identified at least a dozen other types of antioxidant nutrients in celery. The primary antioxidant support we get from celery is largely due to its phenolic nutrients that have been shown to help protect us against unwanted oxidative damage to our cells, blood vessels, and organ systems. These phenolic nutrients include caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid and flavones and flavonols, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, and more.

Read on to find out about the health benefits of celery juice.

Celery Juice Health Benefits

1. Quenches Thirst

Celery juice does not contain all that good fiber that celery stalks contain, but the great thing is that celery juice helps you stay hydrated because it is mostly water with lots of healthy electrolytes and antioxidants—so if you are thirsty or dehydrated, celery juice may be just the thing to help you regain your hydration and electrolyte balance.

2. Lowers Blood Pressure

Studies show that celery can have beneficial blood pressure lowering properties. The most effective blood pressure extracts come from celery seed, which contain some specific phytochemicals such as hexanic, methanolic, and aqueous-ethanolic extracts. Celery’s phytochemicals, along with the minerals potassium, magnesium and sodium exist in a perfect balance that relax the walls of your blood vessels. This increases blood flow, lowers resistance and helps lowers blood pressure. We have a full article on how to lower your blood pressure naturally here.

3. Fights Inflammation

As you may already be aware, inflammation is the root of most disease, especially chronic diseases like arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and on and on. Celery, especially celery juice, fights inflammation with its powerful flavonoids specifically, apigenin.

This study shows how apigenin helps to fight inflammation and helps protect you from diseases. Celery contains flavonoid and polyphenol antioxidants that fight free radical damage (or oxidative stress) that negatively alters genes and leads to inflammation and aging.

Scientists have also identified a dozen different types of antioxidants including phenolic acids as caffeic acid and ferulic acid, and flavanols like quercetin. This makes celery beneficial for health conditions associated with inflammation including, acne, joint pain, gout, kidney and liver infections, skin disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and urinary tract infections—to name just a few.

4. Protects the Liver

One of the biggest problems with our high sugar (especially high fructose corn syrup) is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. NAFLD is a result of too much glucose in the body, and the liver trying to store it as fat. 17 to 33 percent of Americans most likely have NAFLD. This condition tends to go with obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

This can be a serious health issue and leads to inflammation and cirrhosis . Researchers from Department of Nutrition and Food Science in Egypt studied how a diet that included celery drastically lowered the dangerous fatty acid buildup in the liver. In addition, the celery helped to improve the liver enzymes’ function and blood lipid levels as well.

5. Prevents Ulcers, Helps Heal Digestive Tract

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Biology found that celery contains a special type of ethanol that protects the lining of the digestive tracts.

Certain substances in celery have the ability to actually replenish depleted levels of gastric mucus needed in the stomach lining and digestive tract to prevent tiny holes and openings, as in leaky gut syndrome. Celery’s flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils and alkaloids also help to control gastric acid to protect the mucus lining.

6. Boosts Digestion and Reduces Bloating

Celery also contains powerful health benefits including a substance called NBP which has a diuretic effect (makes you urinate more), which helps the body detox better and is good for the kidneys. Celery also helps digestion and relieves bloating and puffiness from water retention.

The compounds apigenin and quercetin have been found in this study to help improve digestion by inducing gastric relaxation which helps to slow things down as food moves through your gut.

Celery juice helps to stimulate the production of stomach acid, easing heartburn, indigestion, and bloating. Many people have low stomach acid, making it more difficult to break down nutrients from food. Low stomach acid can be caused by SIBO or IBS and also drugs such as proton pump inhibitors.

Celery juice stimulates bile, which is necessary for breaking down fats, and similar to hydrochloric acid, it helps to kill off pathogens that have made their way into your body. It also helps to detox the liver from things such as toxic heavy metals and toxic chemicals, like pesticides, air fresheners, detergents, petrochemicals, and preservatives, to name just a few.

7. Helps to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Celery helps to reduce uric acid production (helps prevent gout) and stimulates urine production. It also contains substances that help to fight dangerous pathogens and microbes, making it ideal for fighting bacterial infections in the urinary tract. Celery is a powerful preventative for UTI’s, bladder disorders, and kidney problems.

8. Is a Cancer Fighting Weapon

Celery is in the same family as fennel, parsley, carrots and parsnips. This family of vegetables contain compounds called polyacetylenes. Some early studies have shown this compound helps to reduce toxicity of chemotherapy and fight against new cancer cell formation especially in the breast, intestines, and blood (leukemia).

Polyacetylenes have many immune-boosting effects, including their tumor-fighting abilities that stop mutated cells from reproducing. According to studies at the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the Aarhus University of Denmark, polyacetylenes have shown many interesting bioactivities including anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, cytotoxic, antitumor activity, as well as activity against bacteria and mycoplasma. Celery’s flavonoid, apigenin, also helps to kill off cancer cells.

Buy Organic Celery to Avoid Toxins

Celery has been listed on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list for several years. Over 95 percent of conventionally grown celery samples tested positive for synthetic pesticides. Evaluators found up to 13 chemicals on a single sample. Choose organic celery to minimize exposure to these toxic substances.

What to do with Celery?

Besides everyone’s favorite “ants on a log” with nut butter and raisins, celery sticks make the perfect low-carb dipping stick for any type of dip—guacamole, salsa, hummus, etc. It’s bland taste make it a great addition to stir frys, soups, casseroles, salads, and of course, egg and tuna salad.

It’s great in smoothies, where you get to benefit from it’s amazing fiber or juiced with a little squeeze of lemon or lime for added zing. One of my favorite juices or smoothies is celery, cucumber, green apple and lemon. Add a sprinkle of cayenne or a few sprigs of mint for some extra zing!

As we found celery has all of these amazing benefits for the body: Fights inflammation, protects the liver, helps with digestion and can even help lower your blood pressure. Keeping a healthy heart can be tricky, so our Friends from Physio Tru want you to know this…

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?

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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://foodfacts.mercola.com/celery.html
https://draxe.com/benefits-of-celery/
https://www.healthline.com/health/celery-juice#recipe
https://blog.bulletproof.com/celery-juice-for-digestion/#ref-3

The post The Real Truth about Celery and Celery Juice appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Plus a LOT of other health benefits from this high-fat superfood!

By: Cat Ebeling RN, MSN-PHN, co-author of the best-seller: The Diabetes Fix

This ONE Low Carb Snack Can Save Your Life, Prevent Alzheimer’s, Help You Lose Weight AND Look Younger!

You’ve seen them on every relish tray, in garnishes, in salads, and Italian and Greek dishes, and of course, the martini! I am talking about the ubiquitous olive—both green and black olives. While their oil seems to get all the attention, olives themselves are an awesome snack!

What’s so special about these oft overlooked little globes?

Olives contain all the same healthy fats that olive oil has. In fact, about 80% of the olive is in the form of healthy high oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. The same, of course that is in olive oil. This monounsaturated fat is anti-inflammatory and low glycemic making them an extremely healthy, low carb snack option.

Olives’ large collection of antioxidants not only help fight disease, but they also actually fight cancer, heart disease, weight gain, diabetes and help reverse aging! Olives even help boost blood levels of the powerful anti-aging substance, glutathione, which is one of the body’s most important antioxidant nutrients because of ability to recycle antioxidants. And they are the perfect Keto/low glycemic snack!

Olives come in green and black and if you’ve ever seen an olive bar at the grocery store, you will realize there are actually many, many different varieties of olives—all with varying levels of antioxidants—but all are rich in health benefits!

We already know that people who use olive oil regularly, especially in place of other fats, have much lower rates of heart disease, but did you know they also have lower rates of atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and asthma? Those same health benefits of olive oil transfer easily to olives themselves.

Let’s dive in and take a look at some of the fantastic health benefits of olives:

Prevents Oxidation of LDL

Studies on olive oil and atherosclerosis reveal that the particles of LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) in the body, that contain the monounsaturated fats of olive oil are less likely to become oxidized. Since it is the oxidized cholesterol that is harmful and sticks to blood vessel walls, we know that the oxidation is what we want to avoid.

Significantly Improves Lipid Panel

A study published in the Medical Science Monitor reported that 2 tablespoons a day of olive oil added to an otherwise unchanged diet in 28 outpatients, ranging in age from 64 to 71, resulted in major drops in total, and LDL cholesterol. Plus, subject’s ratio of HDL:LDL greatly improved; they ended up with higher amounts of protective HDL in relationship to the lowered amounts of dangerous LDL cholesterol.

Olives and olive oil also contain heart-healthy antioxidants, including chlorophyll, carotenoids and other compounds tyrosol, hydrotyrosol and oleuropein.

Reduces Inflammation in Blood Vessels—Lowers Blood Pressure

By reducing both inflammation and free radical damage to cholesterol, olives protect the the lining of our blood vessels, helping to maintain their ability to relax and dilate—which helps prevent high blood pressure.

Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease

And in a new, highly significant study, published just last June, 2017, in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, researchers showed that the extra virgin olive oil which you can easily get straight from olives, actually protects memory and learning ability, and reduces the formation of the amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain—which are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the researchers in the study stated, [the] “One thing that stood out immediately was synaptic integrity,” the connections between neurons, known as synapses, are preserved in the animals on the extra-virgin olive oil diet. In addition, compared to mice on a regular diet, brain cells from animals in the olive oil group showed a dramatic increase in nerve cell autophagy activation, which was ultimately responsible for the reduction in levels of amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau.

Helps prevent Breast Cancer

Olive oil may be the key reason that the Mediterranean diet reduces breast cancer risk, suggests a laboratory study published in the Annals of Oncology. Oleic acid, the main monounsaturated fatty acid in olives and olive oil, has been shown to reduce the expression of the Her-2/neu oncogene, which is associated with the aggressive growth of breast cancer tumors. High levels of Her-2/neu are found in one-fifth of breast cancers, especially those that are resistant to treatment. And when combined with Herceptin, a common drug used to treat breast cancer, it was found that oleic acid enhanced the effectiveness of the drug, dropping Her-2/neu expression as much as 70%, and lessened the necessary dosage of the chemotherapy drug as well. The end result: oleic acid promoted the apoptotic cell death (suicide) of aggressive, treatment resistant breast cancer.

Prevents diabetes, controls blood sugar

Studies in diabetic patients have shown that eating olives or olive oil helped to lower overall blood glucose levels. And—a lower glycemic diet with plenty of olives and olive oil helps to lower triglycerides, a key component in heart disease. Belly fat associated with insulin resistance leads to weight gain and type 2 diabetes, and olives are one food shown time and time again to help fight this.

Speaking of diabetes, did you know that 80% of people that have prediabetes don’t even know it?  And that an estimated 84 MILLION Americans have prediabetes, while over 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes.  But if you have prediabetes OR type 2 diabetes, they are both 100% reversible with these techniques, which also fights belly fat.

Anti-Inflammatory

Regular use of olive oil has been associated with lower rates of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, because the monounsaturated fats in olive oil help the body produce anti-inflammatory substances. By reducing inflammation, these fats can help reduce the severity of arthritis symptoms, and may be able to prevent or reduce the severity of asthma.

Olive Oil Phenols’ Prevent Bone Loss

The bone-sparing effects of olive polyphenols revealed in several scientific studies are so incredible that a new Belgian supplement company, BioActor, has licensed patents to use olive polyphenols for osteoporosis prevention. World Health Organization calls osteoporosis one of the biggest most widespread healthcare problems with aging populations.

Olive oil Effective against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that burrows into the gastric lining causing chronic inflammation and promoting the development of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Unrefined olive oil, like the kind found in olives, has an extremely high antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens, not only helping prevent food poisoning, but also killing H.pylori.

Fat Burning Snack

Snacking on olives, high in monounsaturated fat or MUFA, can translate to significant loss of both body weight and fat mass without changing anything else about your diet or increasing your physical activity, suggests a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Are You Convinced Yet?

While olives are usually pickled or brined in some way (fresh olives are too bitter to eat plain), they do have higher sodium content than olive oil. Olives, however, have fiber, vitamin E, vitamin A, copper, and calcium. While the beneficial polyphenol content is slightly lower in olives than olive oil, polyphenols are still highly present in olives.

Grab a handful of olives from the appetizer table and fill up on them instead of high carb, starchy, sugary holiday snacks!

Along with olives, many people are missing this one key food that can lower their blood pressure, and reduce heart problems. 

Former NASA Doctor Reveals The #1 Heart-Healthy Food 89% Of Americans Aren’t Eating Enough

Did you know that astronauts rarely have heart problems?

Surprisingly, it all comes down to one specific food they eat in outer space.

“This food works to clean your arteries and support your heart health by dissolving the sticky protein building up inside them,” says Dr. Sam Walters.

Dr. Sam Walters is a former nutrition consultant to NASA. He’s also a leading “heart doctor” whose natural solution has helped thousands of people enjoy a healthy heart without living on drugs.

He recommends his patients add this food as a staple in their diets… because multiple studies have shown that it can:

– SLASH your risk of heart attack & stroke by nearly HALF
– Lower “bad” LDL cholesterol & triglycerides
– Keep your blood pressure under control
– Unclog your arteries

Yet, up to 89% of Americans aren’t getting enough of it in their diets!

Fortunately, Dr. Walters has released a short video revealing the #1 heart-healthy food you should start eating today.

Watch it here:

>>> Former NASA Doctor Reveals The #1 Heart-Healthy Food 89% Of Americans Aren’t Eating Enough

References
https://draxe.com/olives-nutrition/

The post OLIVES: This low-carb snack fights inflammation, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and even helps you lose weight appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.