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The Biggest Lie Ever Told; The War on Red Meat

The AHA! Team — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:07:23 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – I’ve spent the past two decades traveling thousands of miles around the world to visit and observe the last remaining native cultures still in existence. A lot of my colleagues question my research methods. That’s because most modern doctors only treat – and most researchers only study – sickness. They don’t consider health. They see a disease and prescribe a pill. That’s not how I see it. I focus on what healthy people have in common… What protects them from getting sick in the first place. And I feel I owe it to my patients – and you – to visit these cultures and pass on their knowledge before it’s lost. Like the Maasai in Kenya. Visiting them was remarkable. I didn’t see one overweight person the entire time I was there.1 Everyone I came across in every village was lean and strong. And they have almost zero heart disease. In fact, they don’t suffer from any of the chronic diseases that have become the world’s worst killers. There’s a good reason for that… It’s a secret inherent in their native diet. A diet that includes almost no grains but plenty of red meat, fat, protein, and bone marrow — all things that are missing or extremely limited in the modern Western diet. Of course, this is exactly the opposite of what the American Heart Association and nearly every standard American doctor recommends…yet, the rate of heart disease among the Maasai is almost zero. There’s no obesity. And the Maasai don’t suffer from chronic aging problems like our culture does. From all my experiences with patients and in all my travels around the world, from Africa to Bali to South America, here’s what I’ve learned: You CAN avoid disease and obesity, and the chronic conditions that plague us in the West. But it has nothing to do with following standard medicine’s recommendations. Instead, you want to be strong, muscular, robust, lean, happy, healthy, and eat the foods you were born to eat. You have a natural desire for them. Dropping weight will come easier and faster. You will wake up charged with energy that will last the whole day, you’ll stay strong and healthy, and you’ll never have to fear heart disease. I’ve helped hundreds of people use this approach. I’ve watched them make a remarkable transition. They are becoming leaner, healthier, and they stay free of heart disease. Unfortunately, the modern medical establishment has been nagging you for over 50 years to eliminate red meat from your diet. They claim that eating red meat causes raises cholesterol, causes heart disease, and can eventually kill you. I call it the biggest lie ever told. Red meat doesn’t cause disease. As a matter of fact, we evolved to eat meat. Our primal ancestors thrived on its fat and protein. And without it, we never would have made it to the 21st century. Almost every cell in your body needs both the protein and the fat from meat to survive. You use protein to build and repair tissues. It’s an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, hair, nails, and blood. You need protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. And the fat helps you transport nutrients around your body and deliver them where they’re needed. Vitamins A, D, E, K, and CoQ10 can’t even be absorbed without fat. But there is a problem with today’s red meat… Ranchers aren’t interested in the quality of their beef. They care about making a profit. So they feed their cattle a combination of grain and corn. But cattle evolved to eat grass. Today’s meat factories make cows diseased. So they’re pumped full of antibiotics. The antibiotics make them sick, and they’re given more drugs. It’s an endless unnatural cycle. These animals are also injected with growth hormones so they can be sent to slaughter that much sooner. Because they are confined to a crowded feedlot, they never get any exercise. The result is an unhealthy ratio of omega-3s to inflammation-causing omega-6s. And it’s this chronic inflammation from omega-6s that leads to heart disease and cancer… Eat Like Your Ancestors Avoid commercially raised red meat. I can’t say this enough… You should stay away from factory-farmed meat. Choose grass-fed, pasture-raised, hormone-free beef. I consider this to be perhaps the healthiest food you can eat. Compared to grain-fed animals, products from grass-fed animals have 10 times more omega-3 fats, more vitamins B, E, D, and K2, more CoQ10 and zinc, and more antioxidants like glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD).1 Choose bison meat. All bison are grass-fed. In fact, this animal would rather starve than eat corn. Nutritionally, bison has more protein, iron, and B12 than most beef. But what makes it a top meat choice is that it has more omega-3s — and a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio. Eat “salad-bar” beef. This is what my friend Joel Salatin calls his pasture-raised, grass-fed meat. He gave it the name because the cattle he raises get to graze in an open “salad bar.” His animals are never exposed to hormones, antibiotics, herbicides, pesticides, or other toxins. You can check out and order from his website at polyfacefarms.com. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Daley CA, et al. “A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef.” Nutr J. 2019;9:10. To read the original article click here.

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Discover How B Complex Vitamins Promote Healthy Skin, Hair and Fingernails

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 07:00:55 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – While radiant skin, thick, shiny hair and perfect fingernails are inherently attractive, paying attention to their condition isn’t just a matter of personal vanity. The appearance of complexion, hair, and nails can often provide important clues as to the overall state of health – and even indicate issues such as thyroid problems, anemia, hormonal imbalances, or nutrient deficiencies. If you suddenly develop dry, scaly skin, thinning hair, and brittle nails, you should promptly consult your integrative doctor or dermatologist to rule out illness. But – in the absence of a medical condition – you can often address minor beauty “glitches” such as fragile nails, thinning hair, and dry, dull skin with proper nutrition (including adequate amounts of B complex vitamins). In fact, in a recent systematic review, vitamin B7 (also known as biotin) impressed researchers by causing improved growth of hair and nails in virtually all study participants. So let’s see what else the B complex vitamins can do for your well-being and appearance. B Complex Vitamins, Such as Biotin, Promote Skin and Nail Health Biotin, or vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for keratin production, an important component of fingernails and hair. Biotin has long been a popular beauty supplement – and now scientists are finding evidence of its clinical effectiveness. In a review of studies published in Skin Appendage Disorders, investigators evaluated 18 controlled trials and case studies to assess the effectiveness of biotin for participants with alopecia (thinning or missing hair), “brittle nail” syndrome, and poor hair or nail growth. The review authors reported that patients with brittle nail syndrome displayed improvement in nail growth. And participants with alopecia saw their symptoms resolve. (In all cases, however, the patients had an underlying biotin deficiency). The Institutes of Medicine lists the adequate intake of biotin for adults as 30 micrograms a day. Clearly, it can’t hurt to ensure adequate dietary intake – which you can do by nibbling on nuts, legumes, and whole grains. Grass-fed beef liver, organic egg yolks, and wild-caught salmon are also great sources. Biotin is available in supplementary form as well. However, check with your integrative physician before trying this nutrient to promote hair and nail health. Vitamin B5 Precursor Protects and Moisturizes Skin and Hair Panthenol is a provitamin or precursor, meaning that the body converts it to a specific vitamin (in this case: vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid). And the conversion occurs even when panthenol is applied topically to the skin or hair. Experts say that panthenol is both a humectant – a substance that helps draw water to the skin – and an emollient that helps seal moisture into the skin. This means that panthenol protects and promotes the healthy skin barrier function that keeps out toxins, pollutants, and pathogens that can cause infections. It is also anti-inflammatory – allowing it to reduce redness, itching, and swelling – and helps to support speedy wound healing. In addition, according to board-certified dermatologist Suneel Chilukiri, MD, panthenol’s various properties help the skin maintain elasticity, suppleness, and softness. (Panthenol also extends its “favors” to hair, promoting healthy condition, shine, and gloss). All in all, panthenol sounds like a “win” for supporting healthy hair and skin. You can find panthenol in skin care creams, moisturizers, conditioners, and shampoos – sometimes in combination with other skin-pampering ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. (Pro tip: Panthenol has many “aliases.” If you want to make sure a product contains panthenol, check labels for its alternate names: provitamin B5, butanamide, and d-pantothenyl alcohol). Don’t Forget the Other B-Complex Vitamins Experts say that getting adequate amounts of the B complex vitamins is key for hair and nail health. Deficiencies in vitamins B1(thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B5 (pantothenic acid) can all cause undernourished follicles, which can slow hair growth, while shortfalls in vitamin B9, or folate, can cause nails to be brittle, thin and discolored. Finally, vitamin B12 is needed for iron absorption. Low iron levels, in fact, can directly impact nail health and appearance, with white, thin, fragile nails serving as a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. As this important micronutrient is found primarily in animal foods such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and eggs, vegans and vegetarians often need to seek out B12-fortified foods or take supplements. Consult your integrative doctor or dietitian for guidance. Promote Healthy Nails, Skin, and Hair With Proper Nutrition It’s not only deficiencies of B complex vitamins that can contribute to brittle nails and dry skin. Shortfalls in vitamin C – which facilitates the production of collagen – can contribute as well, while deficiencies in vitamin D are linked with skin problems such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema. Also, getting adequate amounts of protein and omega-3 fatty acids is essential. In addition to getting proper nutrition, many experts advise wearing gloves to protect nails from excess moisture and harsh chemicals. Also, avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats, which nutrition experts say can worsen skin inflammation, irritation, and breakouts. Good sources of B complex vitamins include grass-fed beef, cage-free poultry, pastured eggs, dairy products, legumes, leafy greens, cereals, and nutritional yeast. If you want to supplement, many natural health experts advise taking a high-quality B complex formulation. Check with your trusted integrative doctor to find a formulation that’s right for you. There’s really nothing “complex” about it. Avoiding B vitamin deficiencies can help you keep your skin glowing, your hair shining, and your nails growing. Sources for this article include: Healthline.com Byrdie.com Karger.com Heathline.com FoodInsight.com To read the original article click here.

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