whole foods Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine – Beyond Keto Pesto

AHA Publisher — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:00:41 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Are you looking for a dinner that everyone will love? A dinner that’s quick and easy to make? And most of all, one with foods that go beyond macronutrients, and work to promote health throughout your body? Tonight is your night: let your food be your medicine. Today, for “National Let Your Food Be Your Medicine Day,” we are highlighting one of our most healthful recipes. This delicious recipe uses many of the key components of Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto book, including ingredients that support brain, heart, and digestive health. On the other hand, there are no damaging ingredients. No processed foods or soybean oil. No added sugars, no chemical flavorings, and no refined starches or carbohydrates. Are you ready to let your food be your medicine tonight? Beyond Keto Pesto Salmon Over Asparagus Ingredients: 4 wild-caught salmon filets, 4-6 ounces each 1 lb. asparagus, washed and tough ends chopped off 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup Keto Zone Pesto (click link for recipe) 10 Cherry or grape tomatoes OR whole peppercorns (omit tomatoes if avoiding nightshades) salt and pepper, to taste Instructions: Place asparagus in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper, and “roll” to coat. Place salmon over asparagus, skin-side down. Top each filet with about 2 Tablespoons pesto. Add optional tomatoes, whole peppercorns, and sprinkle on salt and pepper. Cover with foil tightly and bake at 400 deg F for 30-35 minutes or until salmon is no longer translucent and flakes with the fork. If you’ve made extra Pesto, use it over cooked chicken for another easy dinner, or as a delicious fat bomb. Serves 4. Nutrition Information per serving: 294 calories, 24 gm fat, 9 gm carbs, 5 gm fiber, 15 gm protein How Does Beyond Keto Let Your Food Be Your Medicine? It’s simple. Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto is not a diet. It’s an eating lifestyle that aims to ditch unhealthy processed foods, overflow the body with real, living, low-sugar, whole foods based on the Mediterranean Diet, and promote a healthy weight. In fact, Beyond Keto combines the best of the Keto Zone® diet with the Mediterranean Diet. Together, its food and lifestyle supports health from head to toe. Here’s how Beyond Keto and recipes like Beyond Keto Pesto Salmon work as your medicine. Beyond Keto and Food as Medicine Through scientific study, experience, and decades of research, Dr. Colbert has formulated this eating plan and recipes to promote overall health, healthy weights, and reduced inflammation. Beyond Keto aims to: PROMOTE A HEALTHY WEIGHT Almost all current negative health conditions are linked to, or exacerbated by, obesity (1). By utilizing healthy ketogenic diet principles, Beyond Keto promotes healthy changes and outcomes as soon as the first two weeks (2)! In addition, the Mediterranean diet component continues to support healthy weight and healthy body composition. Its focus on lean proteins, seafoods, healthy oils, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and vegetables provide a wonderful well-balanced, satisfying dietary lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight (3). FIGHT INFLAMMATION IN THE BRAIN VIA BETTER GUT HEALTH Are you familiar with neuroinflammation resulting from degradation of gut health? While this may have seemed far-fetched 50 years ago, experts now know there is a bi-directional signaling between the gut and the brain. And, when one is inflamed and unhealthy, the other one follows suit. Unfortunately, neuroinflammation is linked with brain impairment and dysfunction. In fact, many experts implicate the modern Western diet in the development of many health and brain issues including memory impairments, neurodegenerative issues, and depressed moods. What’s more, many believe the consumption of ultra-processed foods and excessive energy intake (4) is at the root of gut inflammation leading to neuroinflammation. The communication system and link between gut-brain health is called the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (5). Fortunately, Beyond Keto can help! First, it promotes a healthy digestive system with many nourishing foods and no processed ones. Then, it fights inflammation at every turn with the most potent anti-inflammatory combination of foods possible: omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fatty acids from foods like extra-virgin olive oil. ENCOURAGE HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL, TRIGLYCERIDE, AND BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS Both the Keto Zone and Mediterranean diet aspects of Beyond Keto support heart health. First, Beyond Keto promotes a healthy weight, which can help optimize heart health. Next, by choosing the incredibly heart-healthy foods in the Mediterranean diet, you can continue to encourage great heart health In fact, the foods in the Mediterranean diet and Beyond Keto work to support heart health, healthy cholesterol, and achieve whole-body health (6). OPTIMIZE BLOOD SUGARS AND METABOLISM An amazing aspect of both the ketogenic diet and the Mediterranean diet normalized blood sugars. By using both eating styles in Beyond Keto, you’ll remove harmful refined starches while focusing on healthy fats, high fiber beans, peas, lentils, vegetables, lean protein and low glycemic fruits such as berries. Part of the improvement comes from weight loss. The other part comes from a diet that supports healthy metabolism and hormones (7). PROMOTE A HEALTHY GUT MICROBIOTA Amazingly, Beyond Keto combines Keto Zone and Mediterranean foods to support gut health! This is great news for the millions of people who suffer from less-than-optimal gut function. In fact, studies have found the Mediterranean diet specifically improves gut microbiota and its associated metabolism functions. The diet’s prebiotics from healthy fibers along with healthy fats and polyphenols support gut health, hormone balance, and metabolism (8). FLOOD THE BODY WITH ANTIOXIDANTS AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY COMPOUNDS One of the worst dietary habits plaguing humans worldwide is the consumption of ultra-processed foods. In fact, researchers have found that ultra-processed foods are linked to most modern health conditions and even overall risk of death (9)! Thankfully, you’ll eat healthy, high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods rather than ultra-processed ones (10). This means less oxidative stress and inflammation throughout the body. INCREASE ENERGY, VITALITY, AND MENTAL FOCUS One of the greatest benefits of the ketogenic diet is the production of ketones. Ketones are natural energizing compounds that support healthy mental focus and vitality. The Mediterranean diet also encourages great energy and vitality with the abundant variety of healthy foods. Rather than experiencing the ups and downs of a high-sugar diet, you will enjoy steady, youthful energy from delicious, colorful whole foods. Want More Beyond Keto? There’s more! Get your copy of Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto and let your food be your medicine every night! You’ll find an easy-to-follow eating lifestyle plan with recipes, tips, and clear guidance. Get your hands on this book today! Bottom Line It’s easier than ever to Let Your Food Be Your Medicine with Dr. Colbert’s Beyond Keto. However, it won’t make much difference if we only use it one day per year! Instead, make Beyond Keto your everyday plan to eat a healthy, unprocessed, brain-empowering, diet! To read the original article click here.

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How Effective Is Chemotherapy for Colon, Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancers?

AHA Publisher — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 07:00:01 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts– How effective is chemotherapy for colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers? “Over the last several decades…medicine has waged a major war against cancer, concentrating on earlier diagnosis and improved therapy. The war is not being won. Nevertheless, medicine shows few signs of admitting that its strategy may be flawed. In this it resembles a World War I general who stated: ‘Casualties: huge. Ground gained: negligible. Conclusion: press on.’” If you look at the contribution of cancer-killing chemotherapy to five-year survival in cancer patients, it’s on the order of only about 2 percent. As you can see below and at 0:50 in my video How to Win the War on Cancer, we’ve gotten pretty good at treating some pediatric cancers, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease. But, if you look at our most common cancers—that is, of the colon, lung, breast, and prostate—the success rate is only about 1 percent. That means out of nearly 14,000 colon cancer patients, for example, only 146 lived out five years, thanks to chemotherapy. The chance of survival benefit of chemo is about one in a hundred, but doctors don’t tell patients that. “Any new chemotherapy drug is still promoted as a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer, only to be quietly rejected without the fanfare that accompanied its arrival.” Indeed, the “minimal impact on survival in the more common cancers conflicts with the perceptions of many patients who feel they are receiving a treatment that will significantly enhance their chances of cure…In view of the minimal impact of cytotoxic chemotherapy on 5-year survival, and the lack of any major progress over the last 20 years, it follows that the main role of cytotoxic chemotherapy is in palliation.” It can shrink tumors, relieving pain and pressure, but that doesn’t tend to translate into living any longer. “The failure of therapy, coupled with the realization that the overwhelming majority of cancer is related to environmental, particularly lifestyle factors, dictates that prevention should be our foremost aim.” Cancer is largely a preventable disease, but it does require major lifestyle changes. Of the millions of cancer diagnoses every year, as many as 90 to 95 percent of the cancers are caused by lifestyle factors, with only 5 to 10 percent caused by bad genes. We know this because of “enormous differences in the incidence of particular forms of cancer in differing geographical and socio-economic situations” around the world, which then change when people move from one place to another. For example, as you can see below and at 2:40 in my video, breast cancer rates differ by an order of magnitude, with the lowest rates in parts of Africa and Asia, until those Africans and Asians move and start eating and living like Americans, Argentinians, Europeans, or Australians. So, “there is need for a major reappraisal of how the problem of cancer is approached.” The key to winning the war on cancer is prevention, which not only works better, but “has the great advantage that it entails nothing worse than nicotine [or jellybean] withdrawal symptoms. On the other hand, cancer treatment, even when successful, often exposes the patient to much suffering, both physical and psychological. Indeed, some cancer treatments are considered worse than the disease.” Most importantly, a healthy lifestyle can nip cancer in the bud, whereas, by definition, early diagnosis and treatment don’t change the cancer rate or the number of people getting cancer in the first place. In terms of cancer prevention and treatment with nutrition, the “consumption of nutrients of animal-based foods were associated with increased cancer risk while nutrients of plant-based food were associated with decreasing risk.” It’s not enough just to avoid the bad stuff, though. Eating is pretty much “a zero-sum game.” Everything we put in our mouth is a lost opportunity to put something even more healthful in our mouth. It’s not just about avoiding foods with cancer-promoting properties. We need to eat foods with active cancer-suppressing mechanisms. By “wholistic nutrition,” we’re talking about whole foods, and we should get their nutrients not from extracts or pills, but from the whole foods themselves. Ultimately, “cancer development is primarily a nutrition-responsive disease rather than a genetic disease,” but, again, we aren’t talking about nutritional supplements; we’re talking about “whole, intact food.” I’m very excited to share some of Professor Emeritus Colin Cambell’s six new papers on redefining the role of nutrition in medicine. For an overview on the power of diet, see my How Not to Die from Cancer and The Best Advice on Diet and Cancer videos. I’ve produced hundreds of videos about the role of different foods and food consumption patterns on different cancers. Browse all of the titles through the search bar on my website NutritionFacts.org. Key Takeaways Despite a “major war against cancer,” chemotherapy only contributes about 2 percent to five-year survival in cancer patients. Although chemotherapy treatment is fairly effective for some pediatric cancers, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease, our most common cancers (of the colon, lung, breast, and prostate) only have about a 1 percent success rate, which means, for example, out of about 14,000 colon cancer patients, only 146 live for five years, thanks to chemo. Chemotherapy can shrink tumors and relieve pain and pressure, but does not tend to result in longer life. Up to 90 to 95 percent of cancers are caused by lifestyle factors, and bad genes are responsible for only 5 to 10 percent. The key to actually winning the war on cancer is prevention, not treatment. A healthy lifestyle can prevent cancer, whereas early diagnosis and treatment—by definition—do not change the cancer rate or number of people getting cancer to begin with. Animal-based foods are associated with increased cancer risk, while plant-based foods are associated with decreased risk. We should get our nutrients from whole, intact plant foods rather than extracts, pills, or supplements. To read the original article click here.

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Want to Live Longer? Here Is How Caloric Restriction Can Help You Achieve a Long, Healthy Life

AHA Publisher — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 07:22:42 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Calorie restriction for weight loss is nothing new. Experts and healthcare professionals have been recommending it for decades to help those who want to drop a few pounds. In fact, several studies have recently found that restricting calories can also improve your health and even prolong your life. What’s So Wrong With the American Diet? The American diet is inundated with processed foods that are barely recognizable as food, loaded with glyphosate, sodium, sugar, and chock full of preservatives. Combine this with the extreme excess that is not just accepted but promoted and encouraged in modern society. It’s easy to see why type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders are so prevalent and rapidly growing each year. This unhealthy diet is responsible for chronic health conditions and the breakdown of the body. Organs are impacted, so they don’t function as they should, which causes fatty liver, disorders of the gallbladder, and blockages in arteries leading to the heart. The digestive system begins to malfunction with conditions like acid reflux and IBS. Even the chemical makeup is altered, which leads to anxiety and depression. What Is a Healthy Caloric Restriction? Caloric restriction is simply a different way of looking at eating. While most people think it is just limiting the calories they eat each day, it is actually a little more than that. There is a two-prong approach to caloric restriction: Limiting or restricting how many calories you consume each day Get enough nutrients to avoid malnutrition This means making every bite count and taking a good multivitamin every day, as well as staying well-hydrated. So How Does Restricting Calories Extend Life? Certain cellular changes occur within the body when a person follows a caloric restriction diet. Scientists have identified five benefits: Increase sirtuin function – These proteins regulate cellular health. They also help protect cellular components when the body is under stress. Increase AMPK activity – This enzyme helps to regulate metabolism, which helps with weight loss and all over bodily function. Reduce mTOR activity – This protein is linked to chronic disease and aging, so reducing its activity can help stave off many harmful conditions. Block cellular senescence – It helps prevent cells from aging, which prevents older cells from no longer functioning as they should. Encourage autophagy – This means to compel cells to remove damaged, older components inside and replace them with healthy, new ones. Each of these actions helps protect the body against the effects of aging, accelerated aging, and chronic disease. Here Is How to Follow a Caloric Restriction Plan A calorie restriction diet is not easy for most people, and it can be unpleasant. The good news is, as your body adjusts to the new way of eating – and receives more nutrients – your hunger will actually subside and return to normal. In addition, your ghrelin and leptin levels will stabilize, giving you a better handle on your hunger and returning it to a healthier cycle. These tips will help you succeed at following a caloric restriction plan: Talk to your doctor. An integrative physician – with nutrition experience – can help you determine how many calories you should consume and how you should balance carbohydrates, fiber, fat, and protein. Keep a food diary. There are many great apps you can use, such as MyFitnessPal, which calculates your calories, fat, carbs, protein, and other nutrients and helps you with important information about the food you eat. It can also be used on your computer as well as the app. Stay hydrated. Even low-level dehydration can cause you to feel run down and sick. It can also impair how your body functions, particularly when processing the foods you eat. Stick to whole foods. Avoid processed foods and stick to whole, natural foods like organic fruits and vegetables, 100% grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish. And, don’t forget the nutritional value of organic sprouts, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. Consume only high quality, nutritional supplements. For many people, correcting nutritional deficiencies can make a world of a difference, especially as it relates to vitamins B, C and D. Plus, let’s not forget the importance of getting enough zinc, selenium and magnesium. Eat enough fiber. Fiber is important for keeping your heart and body healthy. It also keeps you from getting constipated. Just remember, you’ll need both soluble and insoluble fiber. Sleep well. Your health is greatly affected by your sleep habits. Most people would feel better by getting 6 – 8 hours of quality sleep – every night – for optimal body and brain performance. Make sure your bedroom is dark; avoid using electronic devices about 1-2 hours before bedtime and, if needed, do some kind of activity to help you to “wind down” like, a warm bath or deep breathing exercises. What’s the bottom line? A caloric restrictive diet can help you prevent or reverse chronic health conditions, help you lose weight, reduce the signs of aging, and help you feel better. It is well worth the effort, and you are going to love the benefits. Sources for this article include: LifeExtension.com NIH.gov NIH.gov MyFitnessPal.com To read the original article click here.

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Slash Your Risk of Brain Disorders by Making Sure You Get Enough of THIS Fatty Acid

AHA Publisher — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 07:00:10 +0000

Michelle Marks via NaturalHealth365 – Are you omega-3 deficient? According to an overwhelming abundance of scientific data – the answer (for most people) is yes. Low omega-3 intake is directly associated with arthritis, brain disorders, hypertension plus many other cardiovascular issues. So, how can we prevent this risk to our health? The answer is really quite simple – stop eating too many omega-6 rich foods. The typical ‘modern’ diet offers way too many omega-6 fatty acids – by way of conventionally produced meats and overly-processed foods – which actually inhibit the conversion of omega-3 into DHA and EPA. In fact, the typical American diet has about 20 times more omega-6 fatty acids versus omega-3 fatty acids, and this sets the stage for disease. How Does Omega-3 Deficiency Damage the Body? Simply put, low omega-3 intake tends to promote inflammation – the root cause of most degenerative diseases. Think about all those bagels, potato chips, crackers, French fries, and the overabundance of processed, vegetable oils in packaged food items. Obviously, over time, all these foods create nutritional deficiencies that damage the circulatory system and brain cells. Most people think that a good source of omega-3 fatty acids comes from fish, dairy, and meats. But, especially these days, one has to consider the quality of the food and its source. When choosing animal food – look for pasture-raised (grass-fed) beef and dairy products. Remember, the healthier the animal – the better the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Bottom line: Most people eat way too many vegetable oils – high in omega-6 – and there is significant evidence that this can cause serious harm. People who eat a non-industrialized, organic fresh foods diet have an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of about 4:1 to 1:4 – plus a much lower risk for developing life-threatening diseases. Is It Dangerous to Be a Vegetarian? Without getting into a debate, the truth is vegetarians can consume adequate amounts of essential fatty acids – in the right proportion. Like anyone else, it just takes a little thought in making the right decision. Not surprisingly, flaxseeds top the list in terms of the best vegetarian choices of omega-3. In fact, just one ounce of flaxseed contains 6,388 mg of omega 3 and only 1,655 mg of omega 6. In addition, just one tablespoon of flax oil can deliver 7,196 mg of omega 3. Looking for more healthy choices? Try adding some chia seed to your diet. Often touted for its ability to improve physical strength and endurance – one ounce of chia seeds gives us 4,915 mg of omega 3 but just 1,620mg of omega 6. Especially for diabetics, chia seeds will help to improve insulin sensitivity. Where Else Can I Get Omega-3 Rich Foods? Walnuts provide an omega-3 to omega-6 ratio of 4:1. They are high in anti-inflammatory ALA and a very good source of manganese and copper. Most importantly, if you’re looking to boost brain power, walnuts have been shown to improve cognitive learning and performance. Did you know that certain microalgae produce high levels of EPA or DHA? Microalgae, like spirulina, are microscopic single-cell plants that are found in oceans and lakes. They are at the bottom of the food chain and the only vegan source of both EPA and DHA. Obviously, there are many other choices – when it comes to omega-3 rich foods. You can add wakame (seaweed) to soup or try some dark, leafy green vegetables, wild rice, berries, or cabbage foods like cauliflower. All of these foods – naturally – provide a healthy balance of the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio. Final thoughts: Omega-3 deficiencies can easily be avoided by making better food choices. Spend your money on fresh, organic foods – as often as possible – and stay away from the profit-centered, major food producers that care little about your health. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Plenteousveg.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie Recipe

AHA Publisher — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 07:00:06 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS – Smoothies are delightfully healthy foods when done right. When you purchase them at an overpriced smoothie shop, they’re often full of low-quality ingredients and a lot of added sugar, but why bother buying these drinks when you can make your own? Take my homemade strawberry kiwi smoothie recipe, for example. Trust me — this recipe is quick and easy to whip up, and it’s loaded with beneficial ingredients sure to up your nutrient intake while satisfying that sweet tooth. Key Ingredients This delicious and refreshing strawberry kiwi smoothie is one of my favorites. Thanks to the kiwi, it’s chock-full of vitamin C. If you thought oranges were good, wait until you try kiwis: These fuzzy little fruits have 275 percent of your daily recommended allowance of the nutrient. That’s not all. Kiwi nutrition provides vitamins K and E, along with potassium, copper and folate. As such, this fruit can help counteract signs of aging and support skin, eye, digestive, cardiovascular, bone, immune and respiratory health. When you combine kiwis with nutrition-rich strawberries, which are packed with antioxidants, along with some banana and raw yogurt, you get an easy-to-make, fruity smoothie you can enjoy as a yummy breakfast, post-workout snack or just an after-dinner treat. Strawberry nutrition is high vitamins C, K and B6. It also provides a good amount of minerals, including manganese, folate, potassium, magnesium and more. Strawberries have been shown to help protect against cancer, heart disease, skin damage, cognitive decline and digestive issues. The final fruit star in this strawberry banana kiwi smoothie is, of course, banana. Banana nutrition is, of course, loaded in potassium, along with several other essential nutrients. That’s why bananas can help boost energy, improve digestion, enhance mood, and support heart and kidney health. How to Make a Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie Add all the ingredients to the blender. You can use fresh ingredients if you can find them, but the good thing about this strawberry kiwi smoothie is that it works equally well with frozen ingredients for those cooler months. Blend it all up until you reach a smooth texture and serve. You can garnish with some fresh basil or mint leaves to jazz this smoothie up. To give your smoothie an extra nutritional boost, add a scoop of green vegetable powder. Enjoy! Similar Recipes Looking for a couple more strawberry smoothie recipes? You can try my Hydrating Watermelon Smoothie Recipe with Strawberries and Banana or Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe. Here are a few other smoothie recipes to experiment with if you enjoy this kiwi strawberry smoothie: Pineapple Smoothie with Cilantro Recipe Raspberry Smoothie Recipe Piña Colada Smoothie Recipe Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie Recipe DESCRIPTION This strawberry kiwi smoothie is absolutely delicious. It is a great way to satisfy your sweet craving while doubling as a healthy snack. INGREDIENTS ½ cup strawberries ½ banana 1 kiwi ¼ cup goat’s milk yogurt ¼ cup water INSTRUCTIONS Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth texture is reached. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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Are You Hooked on America’s Deadly Diet? Heal Your Body with These Life-Saving Foods

AHA Publisher — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 07:00:55 +0000

Lori Johnson via CBN News – The coronavirus pandemic is still consuming most media coverage about health and wellness these days. But underneath all the concerns about this deadly virus, there’s a deeper issue – a majority of the fatalities and serious cases of the disease involve patients with significant underlying health problems. Medical issues like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity were already a serious health risk for millions of Americans, but the COVID-19 outbreak only makes matters worse. Even before the pandemic, scientists were pointing out that the Standard American Diet (SAD) causes even more deaths than smoking. This diet largely consists of ultra-processed foods loaded with chemicals, added sugars, and industrial oils. A growing number of doctors and other health experts recommend replacing the SAD diet with one that’s full of whole, plant-based foods. Whole foods are ones that are as close to their original state as possible, and plant-based foods, as the name suggests, are those that grew out of the ground. A Grandmother’s Testimony As a young boy, Michael Greger saw how food can be medicine. When doctors couldn’t treat his 65-year-old grandmother’s heart disease, they sent her home to die. However, at that time she started eating a plant-based diet, reversed her heart disease, and lived to the ripe old age of 96! Astounded by what he saw in his grandmother’s life, Michael decided to help others achieve the same results. Now as a physician, Dr. Greger offers free nutrition advice, including hundreds of healthy recipes on his non-profit website, nutritionfacts.org. Dr. Greger points to an increasing number of scientific studies showing a plant-based diet proves to be the healthiest of all diets for people like his grandmother who deal with heart problems. “Not only can heart disease be prevented and arrested with a plant-based diet,” he told CBN News, “It’s the only diet ever proven to reverse heart disease in the majority of patients, opening up arteries without drugs, without surgery.” Every Small Change Can Make a Difference Every 37 seconds someone in America dies from heart disease. Cardiologists like Dr. Deepak Talreja urge their patients to switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet before it’s too late. For some patients, particularly those who’ve been eating processed foods for many years, they’re encouraged to do the best they can. “We try to push people towards as optimal a diet as they can really stick with,” Dr. Talreja told CBN News. In short, he tells them to eat as many plants and as few animals as possible. He also recommends eating foods as close to their natural state as possible. For example, instead of highly processed breakfast cereal, Dr. Talreja recommends whole-grain oatmeal. He says every small change can make a difference. “Some people are very committed and they’ll fall into a program where they do 100 percent the right thing,” he explained, “Some people can’t do that, but if they can do the right thing 70 or 80 percent of the time that moves them closer to where they’re either going to get more committed or at least get some benefits from that diet.” Prevents Other Causes of Death Heart disease is just one of many chronic diseases a plant-based diet has been shown to prevent or reverse. The list includes other leading causes of death including cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Case in point: Loma Linda, California, is the American city with the highest percentage of centenarians per capita. It’s also home to the highest concentration of Seventh Day Adventists, a denomination which advocates a plant-based diet. Dr. Larry Beeson, a researcher at the Loma Linda School of Public Health, analyzed over 50 years of studies done by himself and others. “Adventists have approximately the same proportion of people who die of cancer, heart disease or stroke,” he told CBN News, “But the age that they get diagnosed is much later.” Beeson said within the Seventh Day Adventist community, people follow various plant-based diets, but noted the ones who ate more plants and fewer animal products lived longer, healthier lives in general. Different Plant-Based Diets Here are the four major plant-based diets. 1. Vegan: 100% plant food. No animal products whatsoever 2. Vegetarian: Mostly plants but some eggs and dairy foods 3. Pescatarian: Mostly plants but some eggs, dairy and seafood 4. Flexitarian: Mostly plants but some eggs, dairy, seafood, poultry, and meat For the last 15 years, dietician Julieanna Hever has been teaching people how to switch to a more plant-based diet, which she says can reverse Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. “It reduces obesity and extra weight,” she said. “It reduces medication requirements. I love to say decreasing your medication results are normal. My clients get off their medications.” In her cookbook, The Healthspan Solution, she offers recipes and tips for newcomers to this lifestyle, adding there’s a bit of a learning curve. “I liken it to learning a new language,” she said, “Anything, when you’re transitioning to something major, like the way you’ve eaten your whole life, you just have to learn a few new words, a few new ingredients, tie them together in sentences and paragraphs and some recipes and then if you keep doing it over and over again you become fluent.” ALSO recommended by Lorie Johnson: The How Not To Die Cookbook. Hooked for Life Dr. Greger says if he can get his patients to try a plant-based diet for three weeks, they’re usually hooked for life. “They’re going to sleep so much better, their digestion’s better, their periods {are} less painful, they have more energy,” he said, “In fact, some people say ‘Oh, I felt fine, Doc,’ but then they didn’t realize they had chronic indigestion. They just thought it was normal to feel like this after a meal. But no, you don’t know how good you’re going to feel until you give it a try.” Dr. Greger tells his patients to consume the following plant-based foods each day: 3 Servings of Beans (such as hummus, lentils or tofu) 1 Serving of Berries 3 Servings of Other Fruit 1 Serving of Cruciferous Vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts) 2 Servings of Greens (such as kale, romaine or collards) 2 Servings of Other Vegetables (such as mushrooms) 1 Tablespoon of Ground Flaxseed 1 Serving of Nuts 1/4 Teaspoon of Turmeric 3 Servings of Whole Grains (such as 100% whole grain bread, oatmeal or pasta) To read the original article click here. For more articles from CBN News click here.

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Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

AHA Publisher — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 08:00:49 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS – What do you serve as an appetizer when you’re focused on eating healthy foods? While you can always serve a salad or veggies and dip, sometimes an occasion calls for something a little fancier — something a little more wow-inducing. And that’s where these Stuffed Mushrooms come in. This is the type of starter that will have guests asking for the recipe after they’ve taken their first bite. These easy-to-make, nutrition-rich mushrooms are filled with a creamy filling with just enough turkey bacon to liven up taste buds. You’ll want to serve these immediately after making but, based on past experience, it’s best to make an extra batch — these stuffed mushrooms are going to go quickly! We’ll start by preheating the oven to 400 F. Brush the mushroom caps with coconut oil and place them top down down on a baking sheet for roasting. Use the leftover coconut oil to grease a second baking sheet, then distribute the bacon on the sheet evenly. If you’ve never baked bacon before, you’ll love how crispy it gets without it smelling the whole house up (though there’s nothing wrong with eau de bacon!). Pop the two baking sheets into the oven for the next 15 minutes. While the mushrooms and bacon are doing their thing in the oven, it’s time to get the filling ready. Bring a medium pot of water to boil, then add the cauliflower. Let it boil for 8 minutes or until it’s tender. Drain the cauliflower and pat it dry with paper towels. You’ll want to move quickly here — we don’t want the cauliflower cooling. When you’ve removed the excess water from the cauliflower, add it and the cheese, garlic, salt and pepper to the bowl of your food processor and puree it until almost smooth. Set it aside. Using cauliflower along with cheese is going to make this filling super creamy and add an extra dose of veggie goodness. Now, remove the mushrooms and bacon from the oven and roughly chop the bacon. Turn over the mushroom caps and stuff them with the cauliflower mixture. Place a pat of butter on each mushroom and sprinkle the bacon on top of each mushroom. Serve these immediately. These stuffed mushrooms are divine. I love how decadent they taste but how healthy they are. Be sure to try these at your next party! Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe DESCRIPTION These easy-to-make, stuffed mushrooms are filled with a creamy filling with just enough turkey bacon to liven up taste buds. INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil, divided 20 cremini mushroom caps 1 package uncured turkey bacon ½ head of cauliflower, chopped ¼ cup grated raw goat cheese (or sheep cheese) ½ teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons unsalted grass-fed butter, diced into 20 pieces ½ cup chives INSTRUCTIONS Heat the oven to 400 F. Brush the mushroom caps with the coconut oil and place them top down on a baking sheet. Use the remaining oil to grease another baking sheet. Distribute the bacon evenly on the greased baking sheet. Bake the mushrooms and bacon for 15 minutes. While the mushrooms and bacon are baking, bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the cauliflower and boil for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain the cauliflower well and remove any excess water by patting with paper towels. Without allowing the cauliflower to cool, add the cauliflower, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper to a food processor and puree until almost smooth. Remove the mushrooms and bacon from the oven. Chop up the bacon. Flip the mushroom caps and fill them with the cauliflower mixture. Place one piece of butter on top of the mixture. Crumble and sprinkle the bacon on top of each mushroom. Serve immediately. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

AHA Publisher — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:00:16 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS – Before I knew how unhealthy it really was — and before I got into cauliflower fried rice — fried rice was one of my favorite Chinese takeout orders. After all, with your choice of protein, veggies and rice, it’s an entire meal in one dish. When you start eating whole, healthy foods, that takeout order doesn’t seem so appetizing any longer. Everything is drenched in unhealthy oils, who knows where the meat is from and white rice is full of empty calories. There is a way, however, to still enjoy the delicious taste of fried rice without the icky extras. That’s where this cauliflower fried rice recipe (or faux fried rice) — like my Cauliflower Rice with Cilantro and Lime recipe — comes in. Key Ingredients Made from inflammation-fighting cauliflower, this takeout fake-out is quick and easy 30-minute recipe that’s perfect for busy nights. Plus, thanks to the low carb content of cauliflower, this cauliflower fried rice keto-friendly recipe can be eaten on any low- or no-carb diet. The ghee, meanwhile, provides healthy fat and is a healthier alternative to butter, while the garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper and coconut aminosprovide added flavor and bump up the nutrition. I like carrots, eggs and onions in mine, but you can really add whatever vegetables you have on hand — mushrooms and zucchini work nicely here, too. My fried cauliflower rice version is meat-free but still packed with protein thanks to the eggs, so it’s great for vegetarians, but if you have some leftover chicken or beef, toss it in! You can totally make this cauliflower fried rice your own. Let’s get cooking. How to Make Cauliflower Fried Rice Start by chopping the cauliflower into small chunks and adding it to a high-powered blender. Pulse until the cauliflower reaches the consistency of rice pieces. Then, in a large skillet, add in two tablespoons of ghee, one of my favorite cooking fats, and the riced cauliflower. Toss in the garlic, salt and pepper, too, and cook for five minutes. Next, add the carrot and onion to the mix, and cook until softened. The onion and garlic should smell pretty good right now! If you’re using other vegetables, add them now as well. Stir in the remaining ghee and the eggs, using a wooden spoon to break up the eggs as they scramble. Stir in the coconut aminos, a soy-free alternative to soy sauce, and enjoy! I like to add a little color to my cauliflower fried rice. If you have cilantro fans in the house, the herb makes a great garnish. If not, try chopped scallions. This cauliflower fried rice is delicious as a main meal or a quick side if you have something else planned. Try it tonight! Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe DESCRIPTION This recipe produces cauliflower fried rice with individual grains and is lightly seasoned to allow the flavor of the rice to dominate. INGREDIENTS 1 medium head of cauliflower 4 tablespoons ghee ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon of each: sea salt and pepper 1 large carrot, shredded 1 medium onion, diced 4 eggs ¼ cup coconut aminos INSTRUCTIONS Chop cauliflower into small florets and add to Vitamix. Blend until consistency of rice pieces is achieved. In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons ghee and cauliflower. Add garlic, salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Add carrot and onion and cook until softened. Add remaining ghee and eggs. Stir to scramble them and chop finely. Stir in coconut aminos and serve. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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Metabolic Syndrome: The Best & Worst Foods to Eat

AHA Publisher — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 07:00:45 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Metabolic Syndrome now affects 1 in 3 people in the United States (1). That’s a staggering number. Unfortunately, it increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and death. If you’re at risk of metabolic syndrome, it’s imperative to take action with your diet and lifestyle. Here’s how you can use the ketogenic diet for metabolic syndrome, and what the worst types of foods are for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of risk factors including high blood glucose, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity that lead to the increased risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are among leading causes of death in the world. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVDs by approximately five and three folds, respectively (2). The Ketogenic Diet for Metabolic Syndrome A ketogenic diet is a great option for metabolic syndrome. It supports whole-body health and improves the underlying cause of it: obesity, impaired blood sugars, and impaired cardiovascular numbers. Here’s how: The ketogenic diet has been shown to support a healthy weight. In fact, many people who use it lose weight within the first 2 weeks, and keep weight off over years similar to other diets. Next, the ketogenic diet promotes healthy blood sugars. Since blood sugars are often elevated due to insulin resistance (often due to being overweight or obese) and carbohydrates in the diet, weight loss and low-carb eating can help. Many people who use the ketogenic diet are able to normalize blood sugars. Lastly, the ketogenic diet is associated with healthy triglyceride levels. A Study: The Ketogenic Diet for Metabolic Syndrome One study conducted by researchers at Bethel University, Minnesota, compared the health of three groups of adults diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (3). The first group used the ketogenic diet without exercise. The second group followed the standard American diet and did not exercise. The third used the standard American diet plus 30 or more minutes of exercise 3-5 days per week. Whose risk factors improved the most? This study found that the ketogenic diet without exercise was most effective at achieving weight loss, lowering body fat percentage, and decreasing HbA1c. HbA1c is a measurement of averaged blood sugars 3-month periods and used as a long-term measure of blood glucose control. Improving and normalizing these factors in metabolic syndrome is a healthy step towards overall health and decreased mortality from the condition. There were some drawbacks to the study. It only had 30 participants who were split between the 3 groups. It was also only conducted for 10 weeks. Whether the outcomes would remain the same for more participants over a longer period isn’t yet certain. However, it is promising that the ketogenic diet can improve these markers. The Best Foods for Metabolic Syndrome From this study’s and other’s conclusions on the ketogenic diet and metabolic syndrome, we can surmise that healthy high-fat foods are some of the best foods to eat for metabolic syndrome. In fact, many healthy fats actively improve insulin resistance and cellular health. For example, avocados have been found to be lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, and cardioprotective for decades. Studies are being conducted to support their specific effects on metabolic syndrome (4). Fish and fish oil improve insulin sensitivity and support healthy blood sugars. Extra virgin olive oil supports heart health while reducing inflammation and cholesterol oxidation in artery walls (4). It also promotes lower blood pressure and the reduction of high blood pressure. In some studies, hypertension medications have been reduced by up to 48% (5). What’s more, studies have found that those who consume olive oil have a significantly lower risk of stroke than those who don’t (6). The best foods for metabolic syndrome include healthy fats that support heart health and normalized blood sugars. These include many ketogenic diet foods. What Foods Are the Worst for Metabolic Syndrome? On the other end of the spectrum, there are foods that worsen outcomes for metabolic syndrome and increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even death. These foods are ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods commercially made foods that have many added ingredients such as sugar, salt, fat, and artificial colors or preservatives. They are primarily made from substances extracted from foods, such as fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats. They often contain additives like artificial colors and flavors or stabilizers. Examples include soft drinks, many fast-food items, many microwave meals, hot dogs and cold cuts, fast food, packaged cookies, cakes, and salty snacks. Unfortunately, a study published in The BMJ found that ultra-processed foods are the main source of calories (nearly 58%) eaten in the US. They found that they contribute to almost 90% of the energy derived from added sugars (7). How Are Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Metabolic Syndrome? In one study from Brazil, 210 adolescents were surveyed. Those having 3 or more metabolic syndrome conditions were classified as having metabolic syndrome. Over 6% of the teens had it. This study concluded that high consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with the prevalence of MetS in this adolescents group (8). Another meta-analysis found that many studies showed higher consumption of ultra-processed food was associated with overweight/obesity, higher fasting glucose, metabolic syndrome, increases in total and LDL cholesterol, and risk of hypertension (9). Yet another large observational prospective study concluded that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with higher risks of cardiovascular, coronary heart, and cerebrovascular diseases (10). And a new study published this month of more than 100,000 participants, researchers found that consumption of ultra-processed foods is significantly linked to an increase in the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes (11). The takeaway here is that ultra-processed foods are associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, and then the increased risk of metabolic syndrome leading to diabetes and heart disease. How to Avoid Ultra Processed Foods Avoiding ultra-processed foods is easy. First, make sure most of your foods are single-ingredient foods. This means it is it’s single, natural form. For example, kale only has kale as an ingredient. Meat, eggs, nuts, oils, vegetables, and more can be found as single ingredients. Then, if you do need to buy commercially prepared food, check out its ingredients and make sure it’s made from healthy single-ingredient foods. For example, butter should only have cream and salt as ingredients. These are both single-ingredient ingredients. If it has a whole bunch of other preservatives and additives, find another brand. Lastly, make as much food as you can from home. For help, you can start with the Keto Zone book, cookbook, and 21-day challenge: Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone book Quick & Healthy Keto Zone Cookbook FREE Keto Zone 21-Day-Challenge Bottom Line There are steps you can take to improve your health and reduce your risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. Avoid ultra-processed foods like the plague. Instead, choose healthy keto-friendly low-sugar foods. You’ve got the power to improve your health! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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