It's a phenomenon familiar to people everywhere.
You have a tough day, whether it's at your job, school or with your personal relationships.
You feel frustrated, don't know what to do and are overwhelmed.
Your mind is racing, your stomach is churning and you're gasping for a deep breath.
So you drive home in a rage, flipping off other drivers on the highway, take off your coat, yell at the dog...
...and reach for some Ben & Jerry's. Or chocolate. Or chips, cookies, donuts, whatever you can get your hands on.
Aaahhhhh.
You might feel better for a while, but unfortunately you're noticing that your butt is wider than it used to be and it's getting harder to see your toes...
Welcome to the world of stress eating.
Stress eating takes its toll on your health in many ways, the most obvious being in your girth.
It can also worsen digestive problems like acid reflux, IBS symptoms, gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Stress eaters KNOW that they should stop eating, but that's easier said than done for most. Some may desperately try to resist the beckoning of the refrigerator, pantry or vending machine, but then break down in that moment of weakness and give in.
The good news is you CAN break free of stress eating. But first it's important to understand what's going on when you're shoveling it in under stress.
The hormone connection
Back in our caveman days, when faced with the stress of encountering a saber-toothed tiger or similar danger, your body would gear up to deal with stress by releasing two hormones (adrenaline and cortisol). These hormones would mobilize fat and carbohydrates stored in the body for quick energy for the "fight or flight" reaction.
That's what helped our ancestors fight off the predator or run like he%$.
Once the stress was over, adrenaline would go away, but cortisol hung around for a while to help refuel your body and bring it back to balance.
One of the ways it does this is by giving you a voracious appetite that drives you to replace the carbs and fats you used up in the process of outrunning the tiger.
Now, our current stresses are much different--we're not running from tigers anymore. Our stresses are more emotional or psychological. But your body's reaction to that stress is the SAME.
So Ben & Jerry's, to the rescue.
The price of chronic stress
Under longstanding chronic stress, cortisol levels are raised and remain high. This creates a buildup of abdominal fat (our primitive emergency energy supply).
But the price of this is more that just a spare tire or muffin top.
It also leads to depressed immune function, low thyroid function, problems with controlling blood sugar, impaired memory and concentration, adrenal fatigue ("burnout") and eventually, chronic illness.
With continual stress (and high cortisol levels) you are susceptible to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, blood clots and colon cancer.
Break the cycle
Clearly, it's essential to break the cycle of stress eating and chronic stress. Your health and quite possibly your life depend on it.
Trust me, it CAN be done.
Instead of immediately caving into your craving, here are 10 strategies for relieving stress and conquering cravings:
1) Wait 10 minutes before giving in to a craving
If you can distract yourself by answering an email, doing a load of laundry, making a phone call, feeding the cat or running an errand, you may forget about your craving.
2) NEVER go hungry or skip meals
Hunger can trigger intense cravings for sugar, so be sure to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. If you are busy and miss a meal, snack on protein foods like leftover chicken or fish or raw (NOT roasted) nuts.
3) Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh produce is full of antioxidants and phytochemicals that eliminate the free radicals caused by stress.
4) Drink green tea
Not only is green tea alkaline (which is good for your pH), but it contains the amino acid theamine, which tranquilizes your brain and helps control cortisol levels.
5) Turn off the boob tube
TV exposes you to endless numbers of food commercials that are specifically designed to trigger cravings. And the fast food joints are even staying open later at night so their bottom lines can benefit from your cravings, thank you very much.
6) Sleep more
Fatigue and sleep deprivation lead to carb cravings because carbs are a major source of energy when you feel wiped out. Record Jay Leno or those reruns of Seinfeld and get some decent rest.
7) Get some exercise
Exercise counteracts stress and cravings by releasing endorphins, the hormone that produces good feelings. It's not necessary to join a gym or become Lance Armstrong or Jillian Michaels. Even walking is fine, and nearly everyone can do that.
8) Drink a lot of water
Every system of your body depends on water to remove wastes, bring nutrients and oxygen to the cells, aid in digestion and maintain normal metabolism. In addition, many people mistake thirst for hunger, so what may seem like a craving to you could be your body telling you to drink more water. You should aim to drink at least 8-10 cups of water a day.
9) Eat foods with anti-stress vitamins and minerals
These include foods with vitamins A, B6, C and E as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc. Here are some good sources of each:
Vitamin A: Carrots, sweet potatoes, greens, bell peppers
Vitamin B6: Bananas, salmon, potatoes, chicken, turkey and spinach
Vitamin C: Strawberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, oranges, cauliflower
Vitamin E: Sunflower seeds, almonds, olives, spinach, blueberries, greens
Potassium: Yams, spinach, avocado, lentils, winter squash, bananas
Magnesium: Black beans, navy beans, salmon, spinach, sesame seeds, halibut
Calcium: Greens, sesame seeds, dairy
Zinc: Lean beef or lamb, turkey, green peas, shrimp, sesame seeds
10) And the ALL IMPORTANT number 10:
**Make sure your digestion is top-notch**
All the healthy food in the world will do you and your stress levels no good if your digestion is incomplete and inefficient.
Poor digestion not only worsens stress-related problems like acid reflux, gas, bloating and constipation, but it also reduces your ability to absorb stress-reducing nutrients from your foods.
So the craving bell will continue to ring for you!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Salad dressings
If you want to eat truly healthy, support your fat loss goals, and
avoid some of the nasty additives in processed food, one thing you
should eliminate is typical store-bought salad dressing.
And here's why?
1. Almost all store-bought salad dressings contain fairly large
amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Unless you're in a
health food store, it's almost impossible to find a salad dressing
that doesn't contain large amounts of HFCS.
2. Almost all store-bought salad dressings contain heavily refined
soybean oil and/or refined canola oil... both of which are VERY
unhealthy. Yes, that's correct, canola oil IS unhealthy, despite
the marketing propaganda you've been fed claiming that it's
healthy. You can read more about why canola oil is NOT healthy
here.
Due to the refining process of both soybean or canola oils, the
polyunsaturated component of the oils is oxidized and makes these
oils very inflammatory inside your body. In addition, soybean oil
is WAY too high in omega-6 fatty acids which throws your omega-6 to
omega-3 balance out of whack.
We know that olive oil is healthier, but when it comes to
store-bought dressings... Even salad dressings that claim to be
"made with olive oil" on the FRONT label are deceptive, because if
you read the ingredients on the BACK label, they are almost ALWAYS
made of mostly refined soybean oil or canola oil as the main oil,
with only a very small amount of actual olive oil as a secondary
oil.
So here's how to avoid all of these horrendously unhealthy
store-bought salad dressings and make your own quick and easy
SUPER-healthy dressing...
My Quick and Easy Recipe for Super-Healthy Salad Dressing
Geary's Healthy-Fat Blend Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Fill your salad dressing container with these approximate ratios of
liquids:
* 1/3rd of container filled with balsamic vinegar
* 1/3rd of container filled with apple cider vinegar
* fill the remaining 1/3rd of container with equal parts of
extra virgin olive oil and "Udo's Choice EFA Oil Blend"
* Add just a small touch (approx 1 or 2 teaspoons) of real
maple syrup
* Add a little bit of onion powder, garlic powder, and black
pepper and then shake the container to mix all ingredients well.
This homemade salad dressing mixture is delicious and healthy, and
I pretty much never get tired of it!
The reason I choose to blend the extra virgin olive oil half & half
with the Udo's Choice Oil is that they make up for what each
lacks... Although extra virgin olive oil is healthy and contains
important antioxidants, it is mostly monounsaturated, and is low in
the essential fatty acids (EFAs). The Udo's Choice Oil is higher in
unrefined polyunsaturated oils with a good healthy balance of
omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.
There are several variations of the Udo's Choice Oil, and one of
them (labeled DHA 3-6-9 Blend) even contains a DHA algae oil
blended into the mix along with organic flax oil, coconut oil,
evening primrose oil, rice bran oil, oat germ and bran oil, and a
few others.
Overall, blending Udo's Oil with extra virgin olive oil makes
nearly a perfect oil blend for salad dressings with a great taste
and maximum health benefits. If you can't find Udo's Choice Oil
Blends (you can find Udo's at almost any health food store), there
are other EFA oil blends on the market...just make sure that they
are COLD-processed to protect the EFAs. You should never heat an
EFA oil blend!
Give this homemade super-healthy salad dressing a try! You'll do
your body a favor by avoiding the harmful additives in store-bought
salad dressing.
avoid some of the nasty additives in processed food, one thing you
should eliminate is typical store-bought salad dressing.
And here's why?
1. Almost all store-bought salad dressings contain fairly large
amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Unless you're in a
health food store, it's almost impossible to find a salad dressing
that doesn't contain large amounts of HFCS.
2. Almost all store-bought salad dressings contain heavily refined
soybean oil and/or refined canola oil... both of which are VERY
unhealthy. Yes, that's correct, canola oil IS unhealthy, despite
the marketing propaganda you've been fed claiming that it's
healthy. You can read more about why canola oil is NOT healthy
here.
Due to the refining process of both soybean or canola oils, the
polyunsaturated component of the oils is oxidized and makes these
oils very inflammatory inside your body. In addition, soybean oil
is WAY too high in omega-6 fatty acids which throws your omega-6 to
omega-3 balance out of whack.
We know that olive oil is healthier, but when it comes to
store-bought dressings... Even salad dressings that claim to be
"made with olive oil" on the FRONT label are deceptive, because if
you read the ingredients on the BACK label, they are almost ALWAYS
made of mostly refined soybean oil or canola oil as the main oil,
with only a very small amount of actual olive oil as a secondary
oil.
So here's how to avoid all of these horrendously unhealthy
store-bought salad dressings and make your own quick and easy
SUPER-healthy dressing...
My Quick and Easy Recipe for Super-Healthy Salad Dressing
Geary's Healthy-Fat Blend Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Fill your salad dressing container with these approximate ratios of
liquids:
* 1/3rd of container filled with balsamic vinegar
* 1/3rd of container filled with apple cider vinegar
* fill the remaining 1/3rd of container with equal parts of
extra virgin olive oil and "Udo's Choice EFA Oil Blend"
* Add just a small touch (approx 1 or 2 teaspoons) of real
maple syrup
* Add a little bit of onion powder, garlic powder, and black
pepper and then shake the container to mix all ingredients well.
This homemade salad dressing mixture is delicious and healthy, and
I pretty much never get tired of it!
The reason I choose to blend the extra virgin olive oil half & half
with the Udo's Choice Oil is that they make up for what each
lacks... Although extra virgin olive oil is healthy and contains
important antioxidants, it is mostly monounsaturated, and is low in
the essential fatty acids (EFAs). The Udo's Choice Oil is higher in
unrefined polyunsaturated oils with a good healthy balance of
omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.
There are several variations of the Udo's Choice Oil, and one of
them (labeled DHA 3-6-9 Blend) even contains a DHA algae oil
blended into the mix along with organic flax oil, coconut oil,
evening primrose oil, rice bran oil, oat germ and bran oil, and a
few others.
Overall, blending Udo's Oil with extra virgin olive oil makes
nearly a perfect oil blend for salad dressings with a great taste
and maximum health benefits. If you can't find Udo's Choice Oil
Blends (you can find Udo's at almost any health food store), there
are other EFA oil blends on the market...just make sure that they
are COLD-processed to protect the EFAs. You should never heat an
EFA oil blend!
Give this homemade super-healthy salad dressing a try! You'll do
your body a favor by avoiding the harmful additives in store-bought
salad dressing.
Antioxidants
People often ask what nutritional supplements, if any, they should take.
There's no blanket answer to that question because each one provides unique health benefits and each person's needs are dependent on their particular situation.
However, there ARE some compounds that are SO beneficial and they aren't always plentiful in our diets and/or able to be made by our bodies...so supplementation is essential.
These are the Serious Six.
I'll tell you what they are in just a moment, but first I want to point out that four of the Serious Six are considered by many experts to be key antioxidants.
Most people have heard of antioxidants, but aren't really sure what they are or how they help us.
Here is a crash course on antioxidants, followed by my Serious Six list:
What's an antioxidant?
Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are produced by your body or also occur naturally in foods. They work together in your body to prevent damage to your cells caused by free radicals (more on those below).
Foods that are rich in antioxidants include real foods - fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats and oils. But most people in developed countries today rely heavily on processed foods, fast food and refined carbohydrates--all of which are mostly or completely lacking in natural antioxidants.
Not wise...
Current estimates show that over 70% of Americans will die from diseases caused or contributed to by deficiencies of certain antioxidants. So antioxidants are not something to take lightly. Your life just may depend on them.
Before seeing how they work, let me introduce you to free radicals.
What's a free radical?
A brief but simple chemistry lesson is needed for this:
Your body is made up of cells. Each cell is comprised of smaller units called molecules, and each molecule is created by one or more tiny atoms.
Atoms are made up of a nucleus (center), protons (positively charged particles in the nucleus) and electrons (negatively charged particles surrounding the atom). The number of protons in an atom determines the number of electrons the atom needs.
Electrons "orbit" around the atom in one or more shells--they look like the rings around Saturn.
Atoms are always trying to fill their rings with the proper number of electrons. Sometimes atoms will "share" an electron to achieve the right number - these are called bonded atoms.
Free radicals are created when a bonded atom splits away from its partner atom and ends up short one electron. The free radical is very unstable and "attacks" other atoms to "steal" the needed electron.
When an "attacked" atom has one of its electrons stolen, it becomes a free radical and attacks another atom. A chain reaction results with atoms attacking each other to get their missing electron.
Chemistry lesson over.
All free radicals are not created equal
Many people believe the presence of any free radicals is bad.
That's not exactly true.
Free radicals do serve valid functions like destroying viruses and bacteria, controlling blood flow through your arteries, keeping your brain sharp and even killing cancer cells.
The real danger is when free radicals get out of control -- that's when Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde.
Out of control free radicals can travel through your bloodstream and encourage atherosclerosis, heart attack and cerebral vascular accident (stroke).
They can also cause or contribute to the following conditions:
- Premature aging
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Type II diabetes
- Cataracts
- Arthritis
How antioxidants work
Antioxidants help to control free radicals by surrounding and engulfing them. At this point the antioxidant itself becomes a free radical; however, it is a weak one that is far less likely to do harm to your body.
Plus the engulfed free radical can be turned back into an antioxidant with the help of another antioxidant--so it gets "recycled" back into a good guy.
Now without further ado, here are the Serious Six:
1. Vitamin C
Food sources: Citrus fruit, tomatoes, red peppers, broccoli, cranberries, cabbage, potatoes, guava, strawberries, kiwi.
Vitamin C cannot be produced by the human body and therefore must be obtained through food or supplementation. It's a key antioxidant.
Its health benefits include:
* Cancer prevention by protecting DNA from free radical damage
* Strengthens immune function, thereby helping to reduce the length and severity of colds
* Protects sperm from free radical damage
* Fights the development of wrinkles by enhancing the production of collagen in the skin cells
* Works with Vitamin E to prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease
* Cataract prevention
2. Vitamin E
Food sources: Wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, vegetable oils, turnip greens, nuts, nut butters, rice bran oil, barley and avocado.
Like vitamin C, vitamin E is also a key antioxidant and cannot be produced by the human body. It too must be obtained through food or supplements.
Here are some of Vitamin E's health benefits:
* Keeps your skin youthful by protecting against damage from UV radiation and ozone
* Relieves symptoms of arthritis and inflammatory conditions
* Reduces the risk of prostate cancer and can stop the growth of breast cancer cells
* Decreases the risk of heart disease
* Enhances immune function
* Cataract prevention
3. Lipoic acid (also known as alpha lipoic acid)
Food sources: Potatoes, spinach and red meat, but is mainly synthesized by your body.
Lipoic acid is very versatile and able to track down free radicals wherever they lurk. It's is also the only antioxidant that can recycle other antioxidants. It helps your cells produce ATP, which is your body's main form of energy.
Some of lipoic acid's impressive benefits are:
* Protects against stroke, heart disease and cataracts
* Strengthens memory and prevents aging of the brain
* Prevents and relieves complications of diabetes
* Shuts down genes that can accelerate aging and cause cancer
* Treats liver diseases such as hepatitis C
4. Coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10)
Food sources: Oily fish (such as salmon and tuna), organ meats (such as liver), and whole grains. CoQ10 is also synthesized by your body.
CoQ10 is a key antioxidant involved in the Krebs cycle, which is how your body produces energy. It also recycles vitamin E and offers protection against UV radiation-the leading cause of skin aging and skin cancer.
CoQ10 supplementation is wise for people taking statin drugs, since statins inhibit the synthesis of CoQ10 in your body.
Here are some other ways CoQ10 helps you:
* Helps prevent and treat heart disease
* Rejuvenates brain cells and may aid in the prevention of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
* Treats gum disease
5. Probiotics
Food sources: Yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, sauerkraut, tempeh, pickles and olives.
Trillions of these beneficial bacteria (probiotics) live in your intestinal tract. In addition to making up 80% of your immune system they also:
* Aid in digestion, helping to eliminate digestive problems such as IBS, constipation or diarrhea
* Reduce inflammation
* Help alleviate allergic responses
* Help lower cholesterol
But there are also harmful bacteria in your gut that weaken the intestinal wall, cause digestive problems and lead to countless other illnesses. Therefore, a proper balance of beneficial bacteria over harmful (at least 85% good and 15% or less bad) is essential to good health.
But the foods most peoples eat today feed the harmful bacteria, which then overcome the helpful ones. Other factors such as smoking, environmental toxins, lack of sleep, stress and drinking chlorinated water also lead to harmful bacteria overgrowth. Therefore, supplementation is important.
A medical grade multi-strain probiotic supplement such as Super Shield can help you achieve the crucial intestinal flora balance.
6. Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Food sources: Oily fish, tofu, flaxseeds, soybeans, walnuts
The critical Omega-3 fatty acids used by your body are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
EPA and DHA are a MAJOR structural component of cell membranes where they help control cell signaling, immune response, inflammation, hormone production and other metabolic functions.
Other health benefits of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids include:
* Promote arterial flexibility and elasticity
* Reduce dangerous LDL cholesterol while increasing healthy HDL levels
* Lower triglycerides
* Support healthy blood pressure and protect against blood clots
* Optimize brain health and mental clarity, memory and concentration.
* Prevent degenerative joint conditions
* Promote nervous system health and reduce the severity of disorders like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and OCD
* Fight chronic inflammation
Due to our highly processed diets and the lack of naturally occurring Omega-3 EFAs in our food supply, most people have a serious Omega-3 deficiency that eating more fish isn't likely to correct. Therefore, supplementation is important.
So there you have the Serious Six.
Now, there are MANY more supplements out there that I haven't mentioned that serve very valid functions, and if you're taking them and getting positive results, great!
However, the Serious Six are some heavy hitters that are most likely to help get YOU on a track to serious great health now and into your golden years.
To your health,
There's no blanket answer to that question because each one provides unique health benefits and each person's needs are dependent on their particular situation.
However, there ARE some compounds that are SO beneficial and they aren't always plentiful in our diets and/or able to be made by our bodies...so supplementation is essential.
These are the Serious Six.
I'll tell you what they are in just a moment, but first I want to point out that four of the Serious Six are considered by many experts to be key antioxidants.
Most people have heard of antioxidants, but aren't really sure what they are or how they help us.
Here is a crash course on antioxidants, followed by my Serious Six list:
What's an antioxidant?
Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are produced by your body or also occur naturally in foods. They work together in your body to prevent damage to your cells caused by free radicals (more on those below).
Foods that are rich in antioxidants include real foods - fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats and oils. But most people in developed countries today rely heavily on processed foods, fast food and refined carbohydrates--all of which are mostly or completely lacking in natural antioxidants.
Not wise...
Current estimates show that over 70% of Americans will die from diseases caused or contributed to by deficiencies of certain antioxidants. So antioxidants are not something to take lightly. Your life just may depend on them.
Before seeing how they work, let me introduce you to free radicals.
What's a free radical?
A brief but simple chemistry lesson is needed for this:
Your body is made up of cells. Each cell is comprised of smaller units called molecules, and each molecule is created by one or more tiny atoms.
Atoms are made up of a nucleus (center), protons (positively charged particles in the nucleus) and electrons (negatively charged particles surrounding the atom). The number of protons in an atom determines the number of electrons the atom needs.
Electrons "orbit" around the atom in one or more shells--they look like the rings around Saturn.
Atoms are always trying to fill their rings with the proper number of electrons. Sometimes atoms will "share" an electron to achieve the right number - these are called bonded atoms.
Free radicals are created when a bonded atom splits away from its partner atom and ends up short one electron. The free radical is very unstable and "attacks" other atoms to "steal" the needed electron.
When an "attacked" atom has one of its electrons stolen, it becomes a free radical and attacks another atom. A chain reaction results with atoms attacking each other to get their missing electron.
Chemistry lesson over.
All free radicals are not created equal
Many people believe the presence of any free radicals is bad.
That's not exactly true.
Free radicals do serve valid functions like destroying viruses and bacteria, controlling blood flow through your arteries, keeping your brain sharp and even killing cancer cells.
The real danger is when free radicals get out of control -- that's when Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde.
Out of control free radicals can travel through your bloodstream and encourage atherosclerosis, heart attack and cerebral vascular accident (stroke).
They can also cause or contribute to the following conditions:
- Premature aging
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Type II diabetes
- Cataracts
- Arthritis
How antioxidants work
Antioxidants help to control free radicals by surrounding and engulfing them. At this point the antioxidant itself becomes a free radical; however, it is a weak one that is far less likely to do harm to your body.
Plus the engulfed free radical can be turned back into an antioxidant with the help of another antioxidant--so it gets "recycled" back into a good guy.
Now without further ado, here are the Serious Six:
1. Vitamin C
Food sources: Citrus fruit, tomatoes, red peppers, broccoli, cranberries, cabbage, potatoes, guava, strawberries, kiwi.
Vitamin C cannot be produced by the human body and therefore must be obtained through food or supplementation. It's a key antioxidant.
Its health benefits include:
* Cancer prevention by protecting DNA from free radical damage
* Strengthens immune function, thereby helping to reduce the length and severity of colds
* Protects sperm from free radical damage
* Fights the development of wrinkles by enhancing the production of collagen in the skin cells
* Works with Vitamin E to prevent atherosclerosis and heart disease
* Cataract prevention
2. Vitamin E
Food sources: Wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, vegetable oils, turnip greens, nuts, nut butters, rice bran oil, barley and avocado.
Like vitamin C, vitamin E is also a key antioxidant and cannot be produced by the human body. It too must be obtained through food or supplements.
Here are some of Vitamin E's health benefits:
* Keeps your skin youthful by protecting against damage from UV radiation and ozone
* Relieves symptoms of arthritis and inflammatory conditions
* Reduces the risk of prostate cancer and can stop the growth of breast cancer cells
* Decreases the risk of heart disease
* Enhances immune function
* Cataract prevention
3. Lipoic acid (also known as alpha lipoic acid)
Food sources: Potatoes, spinach and red meat, but is mainly synthesized by your body.
Lipoic acid is very versatile and able to track down free radicals wherever they lurk. It's is also the only antioxidant that can recycle other antioxidants. It helps your cells produce ATP, which is your body's main form of energy.
Some of lipoic acid's impressive benefits are:
* Protects against stroke, heart disease and cataracts
* Strengthens memory and prevents aging of the brain
* Prevents and relieves complications of diabetes
* Shuts down genes that can accelerate aging and cause cancer
* Treats liver diseases such as hepatitis C
4. Coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10)
Food sources: Oily fish (such as salmon and tuna), organ meats (such as liver), and whole grains. CoQ10 is also synthesized by your body.
CoQ10 is a key antioxidant involved in the Krebs cycle, which is how your body produces energy. It also recycles vitamin E and offers protection against UV radiation-the leading cause of skin aging and skin cancer.
CoQ10 supplementation is wise for people taking statin drugs, since statins inhibit the synthesis of CoQ10 in your body.
Here are some other ways CoQ10 helps you:
* Helps prevent and treat heart disease
* Rejuvenates brain cells and may aid in the prevention of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
* Treats gum disease
5. Probiotics
Food sources: Yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, sauerkraut, tempeh, pickles and olives.
Trillions of these beneficial bacteria (probiotics) live in your intestinal tract. In addition to making up 80% of your immune system they also:
* Aid in digestion, helping to eliminate digestive problems such as IBS, constipation or diarrhea
* Reduce inflammation
* Help alleviate allergic responses
* Help lower cholesterol
But there are also harmful bacteria in your gut that weaken the intestinal wall, cause digestive problems and lead to countless other illnesses. Therefore, a proper balance of beneficial bacteria over harmful (at least 85% good and 15% or less bad) is essential to good health.
But the foods most peoples eat today feed the harmful bacteria, which then overcome the helpful ones. Other factors such as smoking, environmental toxins, lack of sleep, stress and drinking chlorinated water also lead to harmful bacteria overgrowth. Therefore, supplementation is important.
A medical grade multi-strain probiotic supplement such as Super Shield can help you achieve the crucial intestinal flora balance.
6. Omega-3 essential fatty acids
Food sources: Oily fish, tofu, flaxseeds, soybeans, walnuts
The critical Omega-3 fatty acids used by your body are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
EPA and DHA are a MAJOR structural component of cell membranes where they help control cell signaling, immune response, inflammation, hormone production and other metabolic functions.
Other health benefits of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids include:
* Promote arterial flexibility and elasticity
* Reduce dangerous LDL cholesterol while increasing healthy HDL levels
* Lower triglycerides
* Support healthy blood pressure and protect against blood clots
* Optimize brain health and mental clarity, memory and concentration.
* Prevent degenerative joint conditions
* Promote nervous system health and reduce the severity of disorders like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and OCD
* Fight chronic inflammation
Due to our highly processed diets and the lack of naturally occurring Omega-3 EFAs in our food supply, most people have a serious Omega-3 deficiency that eating more fish isn't likely to correct. Therefore, supplementation is important.
So there you have the Serious Six.
Now, there are MANY more supplements out there that I haven't mentioned that serve very valid functions, and if you're taking them and getting positive results, great!
However, the Serious Six are some heavy hitters that are most likely to help get YOU on a track to serious great health now and into your golden years.
To your health,
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