Month: January 2012

Did you know different areas of your body retain, and hold, fat differently than other parts? Adipose tissue (or, fat) is the bain of many people’s lives… but it can be dealt with if approached correctly!

NATURAL HEALTH: Getting to where the fat is at!

“NIAGARA FALLS — Fat, aka adipose tissue, is found in several places in your body — probably more places than you would like. Besides the fat underneath your skin (subcutaneous fat) there is fat on top of the kidneys, some in the liver and a small amount in the muscle tissue.

Fat cells are formed in the third trimester of pregnancy and later at the onset of puberty when sex hormones kick in. Where the fat is distributed depends on the sex of the individuals as hormones come into play. Estrogen dominance in women and men tends to result in abdominal fat.

An interesting fact that most are unaware of: Fat cells do not multiply after puberty. A diet that contributes to obesity does not cause fat cells to multiply — they just get bigger (and bigger and bigger). The only exception would be if the individual gained a significant amount of weight or if they had liposuction.

As tempting as liposuction may be, one of the most common pitfalls is that once you remove the fat cells from one area, they will become larger in other areas if the diet does not change. So you may have a smaller backside — but added fat to your knees or chin area may not be attractive and actually awkward.

So how do we lose fat? We are bombarded with exercise machines, supplements and foods touting a reduction in belly fat. I am so sorry to say that there is no food, no exercise and no pill that will cause your body to lose fat in one area verses another.

If we want to lose fat you need to consume fewer calories than you burn. In time, your body will begin to convert fat into usable energy and the fat deposits throughout your body will start to vanish. Personally, I am not a calorie counter but I do know the majority of vegetables and proteins I consume are energy producing and lower in calories.

For men, abdominal fat is the last fat that will leave the body as face and extremities are usually first so a whole body approach needs to be initiated. For women, the last place to lose weight is typically the hips and buttocks. Those stubborn last ten pounds are often the most difficult to lose — believe me I have had this battle on and off for years.

Exercise is important not so much for shrinking a specific area — but muscle dictates metabolism and the more muscle mass you have, the better your metabolism and therefore you burn calories more efficiently.

Empty calorie foods such as soda, juice, fried chicken fingers, chips, fries, candy, beer, wine, crackers, cookies and bread preserve and grow your fat cells. Empty calorie foods are any food that lacks in nutritional value for the body but contains an abundance of calories. A huge mistake many make is consuming protein, fiber and energy bars or shakes that are loaded with useless calories and sugar, this only make the fat harder to lose.

And while we are on the topic of fat, I’d like to mention ‘false fat.’ Dr. Elson Haas coined the term and has even written a book on the subject. False fat refers to that bloated feeling and extra 3 inches you get when you eat foods you should be avoiding. For example, I don’t eat bread or pasta on a regular basis but when I do, I’d be sure to wear clothing that will conveniently hide the two extra inches that will almost instantly appear around my midsection. Chronic congestion is also a form of false fat on the nasal passages mostly due to the ingestion of dairy or wheat products. The seven most common foods that contribute to the false fat and food sensitivities are: Dairy, wheat, sugar, corn, soy and peanuts.

False fat is much easier to prevent and lose. It can be done in just a matter of days by avoiding our inflammatory foods. The Blood Type Diet is one of the easiest ways to initiate this process.

If anything comes up that truly accelerates the loss of body fat that is safe and not likely to rebound — I promise I will share. Real fat shrinkage will occur with a dedicated desire to eat clean and exercise. It may seem like a long process but look how fast this past year went by — you can do it!”

– The author, Catherine Stack, is a doctor of naturopathy and a certified nurse midwife.

Melatonin can be supplemented, but it is also produced naturally by your body, if you sleep in a very dark room. Doing that will help you sleep, and help you produce naturally occuring melatonin!

Melatonin may prevent Alzheimer’s disease – sleep your way to brain health

“(NaturalNews) Ongoing research is being performed to investigate the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. A form of dementia, Alzheimer’s robs its victims slowly of their cognitive powers, intelligence, memories and eventually, their lives. Scientists don’t know for sure how Alzheimer’s develops; however, emerging evidence points to genetics, lifestyle factors and environmental toxins. Early onset Alzheimer’s disease is often thought to be influenced by genetics, giving the individual little control over causative factors. However, in the case of the more common form of Alzheimer’s disease, it may be possible for individuals to have some control over its prevention.

The formation of amyloid plaques in the brain is a feature of Alzheimer’s disease. The plaques consist of a peptide, or string of amino acids, whose normal activity protects against oxidative stress, which contributes to the presence of cell-damaging free radicals. Additionally, they regulate cholesterol transport and have an anti-microbial action on the inflammatory agents in the plaques. Research suggests that a soluble form of amyloid beta, the main component of the plaques, may be a causative agent for Alzheimer’s disease.

Prevention

Several forms of treatment are indicated as possible interventions against the development of plaques, including strengthening the individual’s immune system to trigger antibodies to prevent or clear plaques from the brain. An important discovery was made indicating that the sleep hormone melatonin inhibits the formation of plaques and may be effective in the prevention of Alzheimer’s; however, melatonin, cannot reverse the formation of existing plaques, so is not useful in the treatment of the disease. Experiments in mice suggest that when adequate amounts of melatonin are available earlier in life, it may act to prevent Alzheimer’s from developing.

Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone, which regulates sleep and the circadian rhythm of amyloid beta. People need enough melatonin to produce proper sleep, and excessive wakefulness reduces the amount of the hormone, leading the way to possible plaque development. Animal experiments also indicate the ability of melatonin to correct slight elevations in cholesterol, another risk factor for plaque development.

Excessive periods of sleep deprivation for any reason can affect the circadian rhythm of amyloid beta by reducing the amount of melatonin produced in the brain, hypothetically causing the buildup of amyloid beta plaque formation. Recent findings have shown that chronic loss of sleep is connected to early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Producing melatonin

It is possible to supply melatonin through supplementation; however, it is also possible to create additional quantities of melatonin without drugs or supplements. The pineal gland produces melatonin, whose quantities are stimulated by the presence of darkness and inhibited in the light. Sleeping in a very dark room with no ambient light can stimulate melatonin production. Creating the conditions of twilight for several hours before going to bed will also set the stage for melatonin production and assist in falling asleep. Keep lights dim and remove all sources of light from the bedroom.”

I happen to really like carrots and celery. Now, I have even more reason to love what they do for me! Check out this excellent information on the benefits derived from these excellent foods!

Chomping on carrots and celery ‘could ward off colon cancer’

“Celery is known for its dietary properties, and carrots apparently help you to see in the dark… but they could also both hold the key to slowing the growth of colon cancer, researchers say.

They have found that luteolin – a flavanoid, or antioxidant, found in fruit and vegetables – can block cell signal pathways vital for the cancer’s growth.

Luteolin can also be found in olive oil, green peppers, thyme, chamomile tea, peppermint and rosemary.

However, more research is needed to find how the compound could be developed into an effective anti-cancer agent.

Previous lab tests have revealed luteolin’s antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, although further tests were less certain.

But new research, published in BMC Gastroenterology, shows that the compound inhibits cell signalling pathways IGF and PI3K – both ‘important for the growth of cancer in colon cancer cells’.

Colon cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death in the West, and colon cancer cells are known to have elevated levels of IGF-II compared to normal colon tissues.

Researchers believe that this is part of the mechanism that allows uncontrolled cell division – and therefore rapid cancer growth. Luteolin was shown to be able to block the secretion of IGF-II by colon cancer cells.

Prof Jung Han Yoon Park, of Korea’s Hallym university, explained, ‘Luteolin reduced IGF-I-dependent activation of the cell signaling pathways PI3K, Akt, and ERK1/2 and CDC25c.

‘Blocking these pathways stops cancer cells from dividing and leads to cell death.

‘Our study, showing that luteolin interferes with cell signaling in colon cancer cells, is a step forward in understanding how this flavonoid works.

‘A fuller understanding of the in vivo results is essential to determine how it might be developed into an effective chemopreventive agent.'”

A simple supplement can improve the health of Syndrome-X and diabetic individuals. The study discussed in this article demonstrates the efficiacy of supplementation of this nutrient!

Barley grass improves health in type 2 diabetics and reduces cholesterol

“(NaturalNews) Barley grass (Hordeum vulgare) has been a favorite among health enthusiasts for centuries. It is usually consumed as a powder or liquid, but is also used to make barley malt. Barley grass is considered a superfood, because of its incredibly dense nutritional profile. It contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids. Barley grass contains an abundance of chlorophyll, and is rich in Vitamins A, B, C, iron and calcium. It also contains high amounts of the electrolyte minerals potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Barley grass is rich in plant enzymes and antioxidants. Clinical studies involving the ingestion of barley grass powder show that it improves the health of diabetic patients. Barley grass has been proven to reduce cholesterol and can be used as a weight loss supplement.

Barley grass powder improves the health of type 2 diabetes patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitis is by far the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults. In a 2010 medical study, it was suggested that medicinal plants might have therapeutic effects on complex diseases such as diabetes. Barley grass powder was selected because of its reported benefits. The experimental group of diabetics took 1.2 g of barley grass capsules every day for sixty days. The control group took no supplementation. No other changes were made, and no other alternative measures were taken. The patients’ fasting blood sugar and lipid profiles were taken at the beginning and end of the study.

Supplementing with barley grass powder caused a significant fall in the fasting blood sugar level of the experimental group. No change was noted in the control group. There was a 5.1% reduction in overall cholesterol levels after two months. The researchers also noted that the risk of coronary heart disease was significantly reduced in the diabetics who took barley grass supplements.

Barley grass extract reduces cholesterol and scavenges free radicals

In a clinical study involving men with high LDL and total blood cholesterol levels, taking 15 grams of barley grass extract daily significantly lowered cholesterol levels. In addition, HDL, which is commonly referred to as “happy” or “good” cholesterol, was increased by taking barley grass extract.

In-vitro demonstration shows that barley grass extract scavenges free radicals. Scientists think this is due to an exchange of hydrogen ions which makes the free radicals weaker. Laboratory studies using the blood and spinal fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients noted that barley grass extract does exhibit antioxidant properties.”