HEALTHY LIVING

Coconut Oil – The Super Food You Need!

The coconut is one of those fruits that’s useful all round.

Every part of the coconut has important applications in many cultures around the world. From the coconut water, it’s gel and even its outer skin (which is used as a cleaning utensil) all are very important but none as important as the coconut oil. Recently there has been major hype around coconut oil. Health food consumers have been flocking to supermarkets and health stores to get their hands on  this amazing product. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal super ingredients; it’s a cure-all that can improve your overall health.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Lowers Cholesterol

Coconut oil is a superfood that’s loaded with saturated fats that can raise HDL (this is good) cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease. Coconut oil contains a very unique blend of short and MCFAs, specifically lauric, capric, and myristic acids that are proven scientifically to reduce cholesterol. 

Research also shows that the boosting of HDLs is actually greater than the boost of Total Cholesterol or Total LDL. Overall, healthy clinical ratios like Total Cholesterol:HDL and Triglyceride: HDL, LDL:HDL improve. 

For more info, check out the 2009 study published in the journal Lipids, which found that coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL, compared to soybean oil.

Aids in Weight Loss

The medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil can increase your energy usage when compared to other fats. The MCTs in coconut oil, according to one study, digest as fast as sugar in the body. 

These triglycerides are used instead of other energy sources, so they don’t contribute to weight gain. They are typically used up very quickly, they also boost metabolism.

A study conducted in 2011 by National Center for Biotechnology Information Pharmacology found a significant reduction in waist circumference of 1.1 inches after just four weeks of 1 ounce of coconut oil per day.

The participants did not exercise or go under a restrictive diet. Rather they lost a substantial amount of abdominal fat by adding coconut oil to their diet.

Moisturizes Skin

Coconut oil is used as a skin moisturizer around the world because of its rich vitamin E content and its positive antioxidant action in the body. This helps reduce the damage to the tissues in the body since oxidation is a major source of skin aging. Dr. Cynthia Bailey, a dermatologist in Sebastopol, Calif., and diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology told Medical Daily via email, “Coconut has surprising benefits when applied to the skin as a moisturizer. It can reduce the harmful skin germ called staph aureus.” 

Its antimicrobial properties can also be useful with things like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and staph infections. A 2004 study published in the journal Dermatitis found coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of people with dry skin.

Improves Brain Function

The MCTs in coconut oil serve as a “secondary fuel source” alongside glucose which the brain and nervous system can function on. High sugar can contribute to neurological problems, including Alzheimer’s, which has been theorized as a “type 3 diabetes,” according to one study. 

In Alzheimer’s, the brain effectively blocks glucose uptake, so it is fuel-deprived, which can lead to general neurodegeneration. The consumption of coconut oil has led to an improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s, according to a 2004 study which was published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. 

Higher ketone values — derivatives from fat that are the only other fuel source aside from glucose the brain can function on — were associated with greater improvement in Alzheimer’s patients. Coconut oil’s MCTs may provide therapeutic benefits for memory-impaired adults.

Kills Bacteria, Viruses, And Fungi

Coconut oil has lauric acid, which studies have shown to have antifungal, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties. This makes it helpful with various types of inflammatory ailments. 

Dr. Joe Alton, survival medicine expert, fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Congress of OB/GYN, and co-author of The Survival Medicine Handbook, a guide for when help is NOT on the way, told Medical Daily in an email, “The saturated fats present in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause indigestion.” 

A 2000 study published in the Journal of Bacteriology found lauric acid and monolaurin can kill pathogens like the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Alton added coconut oil helps in the absorption of other nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.

Add coconut oil to your daily diet for better health! A taste alternative is our Coco-Magic Bar. Ingredients include Organic Coconut Oil.

The Importance of Sleep

Getting the right amount of quality sleep at nights will aid in the protection of your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.

What Makes Us Sleep?

There are many factors that play a key role in preparing your body for sleep. We all  have an internal "body clock" that controls awake time and sleep time. The “body clock “ typically has a 24-hour repeating rhythm (called the circadian rhythm). Two main processes work together to control this rhythm. The first process is a desire to sleep which builds with every hour that you're awake. This desire for sleep peaks in the evening and goes away after a good night’s sleep.

The compound adenosine (ah-DEN-o-seen) plays a role in this desire for sleep. While awake, your level of adenosine rises. This increased level of adenosine signals a shift towards sleep. While you sleep, your body lowers your adenosine level. A second process involves your internal body clock. This clock is in sync with certain cues in the environment. Light, darkness, and other cues help determine when you feel awake and when you feel drowsy. Your body releases chemicals in a daily rhythm, which your body clock controls.

As it gets darker, your body releases a hormone called melatonin (mel-ah-TONE-in). Melatonin signals to your body that it's time to prepare for sleep, and it helps you feel drowsy. The amount of melatonin in your bloodstream peaks as the evening wears on. As the sun rises, and the cocks crow, your body releases another compound called cortisol (KOR-tih-sol). This hormone naturally prepares your body to wake up.

What are the benefits of a good night’s sleep?

Healthy Brain Function and Emotional Well-Being

Sleep helps to recharge your brain’s power. During a good night’s sleep your body’s cells get reenergized, brain waste is cleared, and most importantly your memory and learning ability is improved. 

Sleep also even plays vital roles in regulating mood, appetite and libido. Sleep is directly connected to every basic function of your body. The way you move, think, react, problem-solve; your attention span and decision-making sleep remains the one constant.

Physical Health

Sleep is also key in maintaining peak physical health. A good night’s sleep is directly involved in the healing and repairing of your heart and blood vessels. Lack of sleep can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Sleep deficiency is also linked to a higher risk of obesity.

A recent study conducted on teenagers showed a clear link between sleep deprivation and obesity. A healthy level of the hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin) or full (leptin) are controlled by sleep. When you don't get enough sleep, your level of ghrelin goes north, and your level of leptin goes south resulting in you being hungrier and thus leading to obesity is not managed correctly. Sleep also affects how your body reacts to insulin, the hormone that controls your blood glucose (sugar) level. Sleep deprivation results in a higher than normal blood sugar level, which may increase your risk for diabetes.

Your immune system is heavily reliant on sleep to stay healthy. Your immune system defends your body against foreign or harmful substances. Ongoing sleep deficiency can change the way in which your immune system responds.

Daytime Performance and Safety

Getting the right quality of sleep at the right times helps you function well throughout the day. People who are sleep deficient are much less productive at work and school. They take longer to finish basic tasks, have a slower reaction time, and make more mistakes. Simply losing about 1–2 hours per night consistently can have the effect as if you haven’t slept all day. Prolonged lack of sleep also can lead to micro-sleep. Micro-sleep are those brief naps that occur when you're normally awake. Many Americans are aware of the risks associated with  sleep deficiency. In fact, they may not even realize that they're sleep deficient. Even with limited or poor-quality sleep, they may still think that they can function well.

How much sleep do I need?

The amount of sleep you need daily will gradually change over the course of your life. Although sleep needs vary from person to person, the chart below shows general recommendations for different age groups. 

I’m not getting enough sleep, what should I do?

Our Sleep Stuff can help you! Made from some of nature's most potent sleep inducing naturally occurring ingredients like a proprietary blend of: Passion Flower Extract, Valerian Extract, Chamomile Extract, Ashwagandha Extract, and Melatonin. These ingredients have been proven by science to help you sleep better and longer.

Improve brain function, and energy level and overall immune health…

Is Spirulina the most nutritious food on earth?!

What is Spirulina?

Spirulina is a power food that is packed with nutrients and is simply a form of cyanobacteria which is edible. Gram for gram, spirulina is considered as the most nutritious food on planet earth! Like plants, cyanobacteria are capable of manufacturing their own food (energy source) from sunlight via photosynthesis.  It can be found in many countries and is typically used as a dietary supplement or whole food. Spirulina is an aquatic organism that’s in abundance both in fresh and salt water. The protein in spirulina is of the highest quality because It provides all the essential amino acids our bodies need.

Spirulina’s Anti-Cancer Properties

Research shows that spirulina can reduce the growth of cancerous cells. Spirulina’s anti-cancer properties were tested on several human pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenotransplanted nude mice. When compared to untreated cells, Spirulina significantly decreased proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells.

Reduce Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is the origin for many serious inflammatory linked diseases like heart attacks, strokes, chronic kidney disease and more. Consumption of 4.5 grams of spirulina can increase the production of nitric oxide which can reduce one’s blood pressure.

Improve Muscle Strength and Endurance

Muscle fatigue is a direct result of oxidative damage which is an after exercise. Spirulina have antioxidant properties that assist athletes and individuals who are physically active. Studies show that spirulina enhanced endurance, and it significantly increased the time it took for people to become fatigued.

Blood Sugar Control

Studies conducted using spirulina showed significant reduction in blood sugar levels. In some cases, spirulina outperformed popular diabetes drugs, including Metformin. A two-month study with 25 subjects with type 2 diabetes, took 2 grams of spirulina per day and it led to an impressive reduction in blood sugar levels.

Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Research shows that an overproduction of free radicals will lead to oxidative damage. Oxidative damage can severely harm one’s DNA, proteins and lipids. This damage to one’s DNA can eventually lead to chronic inflammation, which contributes to cancer growth and other diseases. Spirulina is an excellent source of antioxidants, which can protect against oxidative damage. The main active ingredient is called phycocyanin. This antioxidant substance also gives spirulina its attractive blue-green color.

The Importance of Vitamin E ( Part 1 )

Vitamin E reminds us of a Hollywood actor who has been typecast in a particular type of role. No matter how great his talent, we tend to recognize him as the character that first made him famous. Likewise,

Vitamin E has long been recognized as the "fertility'' nutrient.

The scientists who discovered vitamin E in 1922 named it '1ocopherol,'' a Greek word meaning the ability to reproduce. Many of our products here have vitamin e as a key ingredient. Checkout out our power stuff

While it's true that vitamin E aids the reproductive organs

- and even helps cells to reproduce themselves correctly - this nutrient has many other talents that deserve recognition. The greatest of those talents is its antioxidant function. Along with vitamin C, beta carotene and certain enzyme systems, vitamin E is one of the superstars of the battle against free radicals. Beyond that, vitamin E also plays important roles in treating burns, maintaining a healthy heart, preventing cancer, and enhancing the immune system. Vitamin E also plays important roles in treating burns, maintaining a healthy heart, preventing cancer, and enhancing the immune system.

How Does Vitamin E Function in the Body?

Vitamin E's key jobs include the following: Antioxidant function. Much like vitamin C its water-soluble counterpart, vitamin E protects our cells from free radical damage. Its primary function is to guard the lipids of the cell membranes - such as polyunsaturated fatty acids - from the process of oxidation, which can damage the membranes. 

Once this damage is done, nutrients can no longer pass through the membrane properly. Too many nutrients may cause the cell to grow irregularly, while too few nutrients may starve the cell and eventually kill it. The body cannot function properly, of course, if too many cells are damaged or destroyed. In short, the disease process may start. Blood and oxygen function. 

Vitamin E ensures that the brain, heart and organs get the supply of oxygen they need. Jt helps the blood use oxygen more efficiently and assists the circulatory system by keeping blood vessels open, strengthening the capillary walls and enhancing the walls of red blood cells. 

This all-purpose nutrient also serves as an antithrombotic agent; it can break up troublesome blood clots without altering the body's necessary clotting functions. Your body will have an adequate supply of blood platelets, which are needed for clotting, when vitamin E is on the scene. Immune function. Vitamin E may enhance several aspects of the immune response, including the production of 738 VitaminE antibodies and the activity of immune system cells that resist infections and tumor cells in the body.

What Specific Locations in the Body does Vitamin E Affect?

Since vitamin E protects the cell membranes and assists the blood, it is at work throughout the body. In Vitamin Intake and Health, authors S.K. Gaby and L.J. Machlin report that the largest pools of this nutrient are found in the testes, pituitary and adrenal glands, muscles, platelets and heart. 1 Vitamin E can help the skin - both inside and out - by healing scar tissue and bums. In the muscles, it can help to prevent or relieve cramps by transporting glucose to the affected site. Finally, this nutrient can help to protect the eyes from oxidative damage.

To be continued…

Aloe Vera "Wonder Plant"

Considered by most as the “wonder plant”, Aloe Vera is best known for it’s amazing health and healing properties.

Where does Aloe Vera come from?

This succulent green plant is at home in dry, tropical climates in Africa, Asia, Europe, Northern South America, the Caribbean and the southern and western parts of the United States.

What is the history of Aloe Vera?

A long time ago, people realized the plant had a lot more to offer than just being nice to look at. The gel and juice found inside aloe vera became a popular herbal remedy that was used to help treat everything from skin issues to digestive problems. For almost 6,000 years the healing properties of Aloe Vera have been known. Known as the “plant of immortality” Egyptian pharaohs were presented this plant as a funeral gift.

Many studies suggest that there are countless benefits to eating Aloe Vera. From digestion, skin, immunity, hydration, and more. Whether drinking Aloe Vera water, taking a concentrated Aloe Vera supplement, or simply eating raw Aloe gel, the leaves consist of 99.5% water with the remaining .05% solid material containing a wide range of compounds that include water-soluble and fat-soluble minerals, vitamins, enzymes, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, organic acids, and glyconutrients that completely nourishes the body.

What are the Health Benefits?

METABOLIC BALANCE

A health source of minerals, Aloe Vera supports a healthy cellular enzyme system and makes our metabolism function as it should be. There’s calcium for bones, teeth and cellular signaling; zinc and magnesium, which are essential for our metabolism, plus magnesium keeps your nerves, muscles, heart rhythm and bones healthy; chromium enhances insulin that provides energy to cells. Other minerals include copper, potassium, and sodium—the latter two help keep our electrolytes in balance.

IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTING

This wonder plan is a good source for vitamins A, C, D, E, B, B-1, B-2, B12, and folic acid. Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidants that help to protect cells against heart disease and cancer, and the folic acid can help increase the antioxidants in other healthy foods to absorb vitamins and nutrients. Vitamins B-12 aids in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular and nervous system, along with serving multiple metabolic functions.

SKIN REPAIR & HYDRATION

Consumption of Aloe gel also improves the health of your skin and hair. It can treat acne and acne lesions, psoriasis, eczema, and other rashes, it also helps keep your skin supple and hydrated.

MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT

Studies also show that Aloe vera has about 20 amino acids essential for the production of muscle tissues, 8 of which are not naturally produced by the body and must be supplemented in your diet.

DIGESTIVE REGULATION

Aloe Vera is very beneficial to the overall digestive system and gut health by simply alkalizing the body, which helps to fight heartburn and more. It aids in reducing inflammation, blood pressure, and balances electrolytes; especially important after working out.

Health Benefits of Mushrooms

Winter is finally here! In New York at least and with that comes the cold and flu viruses. The cold and flu viruses spread through tiny droplets in the air that are released when a sick person sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose.

A clinical study conducted at the University of Florida’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition found that;

Eating mushrooms daily improves immunity 

in a way that is not found in any currently available pharmaceutical drugs. And common white button mushrooms, as well as other mushroom types, may also have anti-inflammatory power. Mushrooms also have a lot of nutrients.

Mushrooms can lower your calories

They also contain two types of dietary fibers, beta-glucans and chitin, which increase satiety and reduce appetite.

In one study, researchers gave people less meat and more mushrooms in place of meat. After just one year, people reported feeling healthier, and they lost a lot of weight, had less diabetes, and their blood pressure and cholesterol went down.

Mushrooms can fight cancer

Mushrooms are best known for its apparent cancer-fighting powers. Mushrooms contain a class of proteins called lectins, which are able to bind to abnormal cells and cancer cells and label the cells for destruction by our immune system. According to a 2016 article published in Molecules:

“ Many mushrooms have been used as foods and medicines for a long time. Mushrooms contain polyphenols, polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals. Studies show that mushrooms possess various bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic properties, therefore, mushrooms have attracted increasing attention in recent years, and could be developed into functional food or medicines for prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases. The present review summarizes the bioactivities and health benefits of mushrooms, and could be useful for full utilization of mushrooms. ”

Numerous studies have shown that mushrooms help fight breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, uterine cervix cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, and acute leukemia. In addition, antitumor compounds have been identified in various mushroom species.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. So scientists have done a lot of research about the activities mushrooms possess against breast cancer.

In one amazing study of 2,000 women conducted by researchers from the University of Western Australia in Perth, women who consumed at least a third of an ounce of fresh mushrooms every day were 64% less likely to develop breast cancer.

Gary's Vitamin Closet immune stuff is made from organic raw and all natural mushrooms!

References

[ https://foodrevolution.org/blog/food-and-health/health-benefits-of-mushrooms/ ]