I’m sure you have heard of many awesome benefits about Raw Food Diet, but you may not know some of these 11 reasons and benefits on how Raw Food could rock your body and boost your health. Watch this exclusive raw food video to discover the 3 surprising raw food diet tips that boost your energy, melt your fat and heal your body.

I. Rich in Phytonutrients

That which give fruits and vegetables radiant and lonely different colors is called the phytonutrients, the word came from” phyto” which means plant and then word “nutrients”, these are very good source of antioxidants and are very helpful in the prevention of chronic diseases which many people are prone to having. According to Doctor Hayman and Doctor Galland, these phytonutrients help stimulate the metabolism in its cellular level and helps in regulating hormones that controls one’s appetite.

II. Rich in Vitamins and Minerals

When food is cooked or altered in any machine that is 130 degrees and above, the vitamins and minerals present evaporates or disappears so there are less nutrients consumed. In simple words, the more a food is cooked, the lesser nutrients it has therefore, the food that one consumed is just a pile of “junk” which is contradicts the main purpose of why we eat which is to be healthy.

On the contrary, if one eats some food raw, the more they consume some of its nutritive value which should be the goal of eating healthy. Organic fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw are very much healthy to the body. People who have been practicing to eat organic food can very much tell the difference whether the food that they are being served at restaurants are chemically produced ones or organically grown because of the different taste it manifests.

Making a simple salad for instance can very much tell the difference if the food is organic based or not because of the different colors it has, you can tell by color itself if the food is organic or not. Salads are made up of different variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and the more there are fruits and vegetables in it the more vibrant the colors are it is just about the presentation of it.

Presentation is also another key so that these foods are eaten by the whole family, if a food is presented in such an eeky way children will not likely to eat it even for some adults, so better think about how you present your salad, so that the whole family can appreciate and eat the whole bowl of it.

III. Rich in Enzymes

Enzymes are responsible for breaking down raw food. In some research conducted it was found out that foods that are high in enzymes helps in the digestion of the body it was also said to slow down the aging and increase one’s vitality. Enzymes are the body’s power, it directs every single activity to the body. As quoted by Doctor Gabriel Cousens who had a Master’s Degree , ‘Enzymes can even help repair our DNA and RNA.’

In losing weight, enzymes are as much to be thankful for as any other nutrients. The lipase, “fat splitting” enzyme can be found in raw food, it functions in helping the body digest and burn fat easily for energy consumption. Another enzyme that is most helpful is called the protease, it is responsible in splitting up proteins into amino acids that helps in body block building a well as eliminates toxins.

IV. Rich in Proteins (Yes, Plenty of Proteins)

Proteins can also be found in plants as many of us may be unaware of because of the misconception that proteins can only be found in meat products, dairy products and the like. Now to prevent any more confusion and misconception, proteins can also be found in plants and truthfully, these plant based proteins are way easier to digest and break down compared to meat or dairy based proteins.

In detail, proteins are found in plants deep inside a wall of fiber, fiber is also another good nutrient in the body as it helps in digestion and cleansing and flushing away all toxins in the body, while on the other hand, meat based protein from animals are found deep inside a wall of so much fat and cholesterol which are very hard to break down by the body and has a lot of health related problems when consumed.

When cholesterol builds up in the body, the veins and arteries can be clogged that can cause a lot of problems like stroke, heart attack and the like, it also does no good to the digestion of the body as it is not easily absorbed, so better switch to eating plant protein based food as it especially those green ones as it helps one become healthy and it can also complete the essential 8 amino acids that the body needs.

Proteins present in food that is cooked can cause chains of the amino acid to congeal and when this happens it can do more damage to the body than good. A food cooked over 180 degrees Fahrenheit can lost all of its vitamins, enzymes and minerals in it, the building blocks of protein-amino acid deteriorates and is completely destroyed at a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A finding that most might not have hear of is that too much protein can actually destroy the body like the kidneys, digestive tract and more.

People who are on the program to lose weight that might be in the protein high diets should read the fact that the ACS or the (American Cancer Society) people who eat meals with meat 3 times more only gained more weight compared to those who have been strictly on the vegetable side of the diet, this was based on a study done on an 80,000 participants who aimed to lose weight. A published study by the Journal of the Clinical Nutrition and New England Journal of Medicine said that meat lovers are prone to gaining weight than vegetable lovers do. Add to that the health risks it poses.

Protein based diet can pretty much make more damage to you than you can imagine, yes it does help you lose weight and all but there are certain side effects to all diet, some trainers who endorse this program would argue that it is just part of the weight loss program but it is actually not, that is your body already telling you to stop and take a look of what it is doing to you, it’s not safe anymore.

You as the owner of your body should be able to tell whether a diet program is working for you or not, don’t let anyone else control you and tell you what is good and what is not. Eating a high protein meal can cause a lot of complications to the body, proteins that are animal based is too acidic when consumed can cause the acids to increase and affect the blood stream which in turn can stress the kidneys.

High fat and protein consumption is found out to cause serious illnesses like cancer, arthritis, heart disease, bone problems, liver and kidney problems. Some people who may have some concerns about eating meat raw, though these are rich in enzymes, raw meat can also be a host of some parasites that are may cause some problems when it enters the body, raw fishes can also be dangerous if these were polluted with heavy metals that came from highly polluted body of water.

But now that proteins can be found in plants, there is no discussion at all in how to include protein in eating raw food. They are much safer as they are natural based coming from different fruits and vegetables like seeds (hemp seeds), nuts, sprouts, beans and algae, these can even be good for athletes, pregnant women, and dieters who are aiming to get lean muscles.

Higher protein content can be found more in raw food than in cooked ones, therefore many medical professionals agree that quality should be more of the target than quantity. Once you eat raw food, raw proteins is easily absorbed and digested by the body because the amino acids and enzymes are still present  and are not destroyed as compared to when food is cooked that causes these enzymes to settle in the colon area and may even increase the susceptibility of one to various health problems. The benefits of eating food raw are for the good digestion of food, while making it easier for the body to absorb all the phytonutrients and enzymes that are very much healthy and needed by the body.

The Okinawan and Hunzans tribe of Pakistan are known to live longer among any other tribe in the world and it was found out that 20 percent of their meal consists of protein. Non-vegetarians on the other hand are still advised to at least add half their meal of raw food as some may say that they reduced eating animal protein once they started on eating more of raw food.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, a person is required to eat at least 30g a day of protein while depending on one’s weight and level of activity. Assuming that you work a lot like a marathon runner or a weight lift trainer you are required to consume 40 to 70g of protein, bottom line is to know your body well, you’ll soon see the difference in your body once you start your diet with eating raw and organic food like fruits and vegetables.

V. Fats

Once you eat raw fat it can be very help you to prefer eating more raw food than those cooked ones, so long as you eat lots of fruits and vegetables to balance out your meal, you need to worry about eating raw fat. “Good Fats” consists of mono unsaturated fat which can be found in almonds, avocados, olives, omega 3 in fishes, walnuts and flax seeds. It also includes poly unsaturated fats that can help flush down all toxins in the body. The aforementioned benefits of fats in raw food are great that it can help the body heal fast. Other foods that contain raw fat include sesame seeds, sunflower seed and others.

“Good fats” from avocados, nuts, seeds and others cannot cause one to be fat, with everything consumed in moderation, even eating it daily cannot cause harm to the body especially to one’s weight.

“Bad Fats” consists of trans fat, animal fat, refined and processed fat like cooking oils and other stuff. “Good fat” like the avocado are very heat sensitive, once cooked they are easily damaged by it. Fats heated lose their natural antioxidant qualities and are said to be carcinogenic. And more interesting news is that cooked or processed fats lose its nutritional value, so salmon that are cooked lose their omega 3 values as they are highly heat sensitive.

Nuts on the other hand that are said to contain “good fat” are highly acidic so better eat them in moderation with mixed green vegetables to have a alkalizing effect. Tip: to have less acidity in your seeds and nuts soak it overnight before using it.

VI. Digestion, Absorption, and Elimination

Have you ever heard of the “digestive fire”? This occurs when there is improper food mixture and poor digestion. Some individuals may have already experienced, some symptoms of this are lack of sleep, poor energy and exhaustion and partly to blame is because of poor digestion. A healthy digestive system effects are good physical, mental and emotional condition. If one has a good digestive system it can help in the proper absorption of food and all of its vital nutrients.

Moreover sign of a good digestion is the proper elimination of wastes which is having normal bowel movements. A normal bowel movement would mean an equal ratio of having bowel movements to the meals that is eaten in a day, in short if you ate 3 meals in a day, you must at least have 2 to 3 bowel movements in a day as well.

Individuals who have just started with the raw diet program would be surprised at the number of times they go to the bathroom and that is usually 4 to 5 times in a day which is just normal because it is just starting out to clean the digestive tract. Most people may also be surprised to know that they should be having more than one bowel movement in a day. The big difference when one switch to eating raw is almost so visible, you may notice a change in your energy levels, you feel renewed, rejuvenated and youthful as well.

While under the raw diet program you will notice that you digest food much easier making you absorb the many nutrients of the different food that you eat raw, your usual cravings for some unhealthy foods will also lessen. As for the digestion part, you may have slight difficulties at first because of the many toxins that you are flushing outside the body but it will soon go away. As the body is being cleansed, there may be some unpleasant side effects but this is nothing compared to the many benefits the raw diet gives.

The process of elimination usually starts when the lymph releases unprocessed proteins, chemicals and toxins in the blood stream which is where it is released. Some symptoms of the detoxification process include headaches, hot or cold flashes, mucus discharge, fever, drowsiness, bad breath and others. The sound of it may be unpleasant but once you are out of the process and have eliminated all the toxins in your body, you will feel great and surprisingly full of energy.

VII. Acidity and Alkalinity

Acidity and alkalinity is measured with the use of a pH scale, the importance of knowing this information would mean a lot as it would guide one into knowing the best way to stay healthy and avoid all sorts of sickness. An acidic body can be prone to chronic illnesses like cancer, kidney problems and others and symptoms of acidic body are arthritis, muscle stiffness, fatigue, headache, chest pain, stomach ache and many more.

Understanding of how the body becomes acidic is a good way to start being healthy. One cause of which is poor diet coupled with an unhealthy lifestyle. Sadly, but is a fact that the American household is very fond of acidic meals, examples include, sugar products, fast food products, dairy products, high in fat products and others. There are thousands of food that are bought everyday with tons of additives, preservatives, sugar, fats and others which are all sources of acid. That is why you need to incorporate alkaline based food in your diet to balance out all the acidic foods that you have been consuming for a very long time, a high source of alkaline based food are raw foods. Most raw fruits and vegetables are alkaline based ones so eat a lot of raw foods if you can. Another major contributor to being acidic is stress, so try your best to avoid it.

VIII. Eating Organic Foods

The word “organic” would mean the natural way that a fruit, vegetable or even animals are raised. Many people may have heard of the word “organic farming” and it mainly means the natural way of farming without the use of any chemicals like pesticides, growers, fertilizers, herbicides or enhancers and being able to be labeled as a “certified organic” farm or product would mean that you have conformed to the highest standards of organic, this may only be authorized by private organizations or the government of an Independent State.

According to Doctor Alan Greene from “Stanford’s Children’s Hospital” the immune system will not waste energy into fighting off toxins present in commercially produced fruits and vegetables if one eats organic products. Organic products help the immune system ward off disease and illnesses and are also high in antioxidants although the body has its own defense system, it can also wear out especially if one has abused their bodies, and to counter attack the toxins present in the environment, one must limit him or herself from being exposed to toxins and stress. Herbicides and pesticides that are mostly present in commercially produced food has been found out to be carcinogenic that lead to deadly cancer diseases.

The cost of organic foods is more expensive compared to commercially made foods but the benefits of eating it are far greater. Eating more organically produced foods keeps one’s body healthier that in turn will keep you from frequenting hospitals because the lesser you are to sicknesses which is one way you get to save money, you may also not need medications for sicknesses because your body is much more healthier. The mere reason that organic products cost more because it must follow the highest standards of being naturally grown and there is not much farm out there that produce organically made food, so they cost more. Of course if you want to get more quality products you have to pay more.

To make this much easier to understand let us take the example of a drinking water, all of us would think twice before drinking tap water, so of course we pay more to drink bottled water which is way more costly than drinking just tap water. Tap water of some municipalities may be safe to drink but this is not for all. To think that we pay more to drink bottled water but not on organically produced foods doesn’t make sense.

Here are some benefits of eating organic produce:

• Ultimate health and nutritional value: facts on organic produce have 300 percent more of vitamins and minerals.
• Organic products are tasteful which is why chefs uses this more than commercial ones
• Lesser amount of chemicals are consumed
• Lesser exposure to carcinogenic products
• Environmental friendly
• No GMO’s or “Genetically Modified Organisms”

IX. Plenty of Fruits

Fruits are one of nature’s best gifts to mankind. Fruits have many health benefits to offer not to mention has a great alkalizing effect. Fruits helps to balance sugar levels in the body and controls cravings as well. A simple banana wrapped in a romaine leaf lettuce is very healthy not to mention easy and simple to do. If you prefer you may add green fresh vegetables to your favorite smoothies like celery, romaine celery, parsley or kale to make it more nutritious and healthy.

The Raw Diet program enforces one to drink more water than they normally do, your body would want more water and fruits coincidentally contain water which is good. Fruits are also rich in vitamins and minerals which help a lot in maintaining a healthy body. A noticeable effect also of the raw diet is you may crave more fruits than you usually do, another way to stay healthy.

X. Plenty of Greens

It was said that nutritionist find green vegetables an interesting topic that they even argue and discuss it among themselves. Many people may take green leafy vegetables for granted and just put it on the side of their plate or throw them away but in fact these are one of the most healthiest foods are around, it has the main percentage of essential minerals for each calorie of any type of food.

In the raw diet program it is very much recommended to eat digestible food like the green foods- celery, lettuce, sprouts and unsweetened fruits like tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, red bell pepper and summer squash. Some green vegetables are quite difficult to digest like cabbage, collards, broccoli and kale, this may be softened if you marinate them in olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt so it can be easier to digest.

Another remedy that you may do to help you digest those dark green vegetables is to make them as juice extracts and drink them like your home made smoothies, couple of glasses of it will make you feel stuffed. People who are always “on the o” may also bring with them dehydrated green foods as part of their supplements, it is convenient and easy to bring anywhere.

XI. Raw Foods For Calcium – Not Dairy Products!

Dairy products are found to have a mucous forming effect to people. These are packed with cholesterol and saturated fats. Some effect of eating dairy products to some people is having a cold or allergic reaction. Undigested lactose and acid in pasteurized milk is often the breeding place of some bacteria that when consumed can greatly affect the intestines of the body.

Interesting facts about milk is that humans are the only living animals on the planet to drink it and what’s more is that from the milk of other animals. Dairy industries around the planet are one of the richest businesses with lots of other products that can be made out of milk like butter, cheese and milk.

Traditionally, we have all been raised to believe that calcium found in milk can help reduce bone related problems like osteoporosis but here is the fact: not a single study has been found out that proves consuming dairy products can help prevent osteoporosis, in fact many doctors and medical experts agree that high levels of protein in dairy products actually leaches the calcium from one’s body.

In related studies, countries that consume more dairy products were actually found out to have the most related cases of osteoporosis, so the saying that milk is healthy for bone building is just a bunch of lies, just a marketing strategy to encourage consumers to buy dairy products.

Arthritis is also another disease that most elderly people suffer from and it was found out that once you stop eating dairy products the lesser they are to be prone to arthritis and other bone problems. So better think twice about drinking your glass of milk.

Raw diet program is still the best way to get calcium for your body. Calcium can be found in many fruits and vegetables like nuts, seeds, kale, cabbage, kelp, seaweed, broccoli, watercress, collard and mustard greens and many more. These foods also offer other nutrients like magnesium, manganese, chromium, selenium and others. An alternate that you can have as your milk in your cereals is the almond milk, a very delicious and healthy milk rather than cow’s milk.

Keeping Up!

Here are some few tips as you go through the transition of the raw diet:

1. Chew properly, make sure that the food is well grinded.
2. Avoid drinking water before and after your meal as water may dilute the body’s digestive enzymes. If you do need a drink then sip just a small amount of water mixed with lemon extract. The perception that drinking water before a meal will make you stuffed is all wrong except if you eat dehydrated foods which has its water removed.
3. Begin this diet gradually, do not rush over it. Take your time.
4. Never experiment and combine foods that should NOT be combined as this may only have adverse digestion effects on your body.
5. As previously mentioned for easier digestion blend your food or puree them, like when eating apples, this can be made into a smoothie or a drink that you can easily drink same with easy digestion and absorption. Salads may also be made as a smoothie just with the right food combination with it.

So in general, it’s all about your food choices, it’s all up to you to choose which path you take. One path is the Standard American Diet or the other path which is the Raw diet and with each small step that you take, you can either advance to becoming healthy and staying healthy or you get stuck up at your current position. The steps are not easy to take but it’s a sacrifice that one has to take in order to have a healthy and stronger body.

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1. Raw Cow’s Milk Facts – Good Or Bad?
2. Dined Out At A Organic Health Food Restaurant
3. Natural Food Coloring

With Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year, all happening around
the corner, I’ve put up a list of 3 different strategies that you
can use to control weight gain and protect your health.

Strategy #1: Don’t Overeat

The holiday party is going to be really exciting, with lots of
foods set up on the table, maybe a turkey, ham or some other
delicacies.

I’m not going to force you not to eat these foods. You can eat if
you want but just don’t overeat.

You see, when you overeat, your stomach have to work harder
to digest the foods, and may cause multiple damages to
various parts of the body.

One of the immediate effects of overeating is bloatedness. I’m sure
you know how it feels like and sometimes it would worsen and cause
upset stomach, mood swings, or even diarrhea.

So do your body a favor by eating till you are around 80%-90% full.

One tip you can do to avoid overeating is to arrive at the party
“half full”. Eat something healthy before the party so you won’t
show up with your stomach growling and mouth salivating.

Strategy #2: Avoid Holiday Drinks

In most parties, there will be lots of different holiday drinks
like orange juice, red wine, beer, coca cola, and many more..

The problem with these drinks are that they are usually full of
sugar, and they are highly acidic.

When you drink them together with your foods, it would tilt the
body pH level to the acidic range. Besides that, drinking these
drinks would dilute the digestive juices in your stomach that are
essential to digest the holiday feast.

One tip to avoid these holiday drinks is to go for plain water or
natural fruit juices that are prepared on the spot.

Strategy #3: Increase Your Stomach’s Digestive Enzymes!

Digestive enzymes are extremely important to help your digestive
systems to digest foods effectively.

You might be thinking, how am I going to increase my stomach’s
enzymes?

Of course the easiest way is to get some digestive enzymes
supplements or pills. They can work very effectively to boost your
digestive system.

Another way is to eat slowly, chew more, and savor the flavor. When
you chew slower, foods are broken down into smaller pieces which
help the stomach to digest these foods easier.

There are more saliva being released when you chew your foods more.
Do you our saliva are natural digestive enzymes?

That’s all for the 3 Christmas Healthy & Weight Loss Tips..

I wish you a Merry Christmas! And have a memorable and happy holidays!

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2. Top 5 Foods that Fight Abdominal Fat
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss – Truth or Fad?

The seven year battle of Steve Jobs from pancreatic cancer is over and yet the whole world mourned with his death. Although he had survived for years, many health experts believed that he could have lived longer. A doctor in Harvard University said that when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he should have not delayed the operations for nine months before he underwent a surgical procedure. Others believed that he died either because of the complications when liver transplant was secretly performed in 2009 or his recent treatment for chemotherapy months before he died.

Whatever the reason could that be, this article will shed light to those who have little understanding of what is pancreatic cancer, standard treatments, and other health alternative that can prevent this fatal disease.

Pancreatic Cancer Overview

The pancreas is situated in the upper abdomen beneath the stomach which composed of glands responsible in producing enzymes and insulin to regulate the blood sugar levels. The cancer normally starts in the ducts which carry the pancreatic juices. The common type of this cancer is adenocarcinoma of the pancreas which is the most aggressive. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in its early stage.

The common symptoms for pancreatic cancer are weight loss, pain in the back and abdomen, loss of appetite, diarrhea, bloating, and jaundice. More often than not, the length of diagnosis and death is shorter than expected.

Pancreatic Cancer Standard Treatments

Since pancreatic cancer lacks of curative option and very challenging in the field of medicine to treat, standard treatments can be done such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

In surgical procedure, the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, part of the stomach, gallbladder, and bile duct are being removed. Only enough of the pancreas will be left to produce the insulin and digestive juices. That surgical procedure is called whipple procedure.

On the other hand, total pancreatectomy is performed to remove the whole pancreas, common bile duct, gallbladder, common bile duct, part of small intestine and part of the stomach are being removed. Now, if the cancer has already spread out and dangerous to be removed, palliative surgery is done to at least relieve the symptoms. Either biliary bypass is performed when the cancer is blocking the bile and small intestine is already building up in some part of the gallbladder. A cut from either bile duct or gallbladder and will sew it to small intestine in order to create pathway to the blocked area.

Another surgical operation can be endoscopic stent placement wherein the tumor is already blocking the bile duct and the doctor needs to put a stent to drain the bile that has already built around the area. Lastly, a gastric bypass is done when the tumor is already blocking the flow or digestion of food from the stomach. In this surgical operation, the stomach is sewn to the small intestine for the patient to eat normally.

For radiation therapy, a cancer treatment which uses radiation or high-energy x-rays to kill the cancer cell or prevent them from growing. Either external radiation therapy is performed through the use of a machine or internal radiation with the use of radioactive substance put in wires, catheters and seeds and placed directly near the cancer.

Last standard treatment done in pancreatic cancer is chemotherapy wherein the patients take drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells either taken through injection or by mouth. Nevertheless, the chemotherapy can be given depending on the stage and type of pancreatic cancer.

Which treatment of Steve Jobs that could have saved him?

Doctors and many people blamed Job’s decision to delay the surgery while he pursued to use other alternatives such as herbal medicine and even acupuncture from the time he was diagnosed of pancreatic cancer. In year 2004, he underwent pancreatic surgical procedure that removed the neuroendocrine tumor from his pancreas.

He received a liver transplant in March 2009 which is said to be contributing to his ailments. Dr. William Chapman, transplantation chief of Washington University who did not treat Mr.Jobs said that it is hard to treat pancreatic cancer with liver transplant. Long term complications are possible to arise and many related side effects may experience during medication. It can also lead to a liver failure and another need for liver transplant.

He died after few months he was treated with chemotherapy in Stanford Cancer Center in California. No question asked how Job tried multiple treatments to survive from his pancreatic cancer that may poison his body resulting to his sudden deterioration. His loss is extremely saddening to all his followers around the world but surely his legacy will remain a niche in the field of modern technology.

Turmeric as the Best Alternative to Avoid Pancreatic Cancer

Turmeric is relative of ginger with bitter taste. For over thousand years ago, herbalists used this to treat viral infections, stomach troubles and other signs of ailments. Since the pancreas lies near the stomach and pancreatic cancer can spread rapidly wherein signs are vague during the early stage. Researchers now are exploring the possible use of turmeric to prevent this type of cancer, including cancers of the breast, skin, stomach, mouth and esophagus.

In one clinical study involving 21 patients diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, they were given 8 gm of turmeric daily. The curcumin really showed a benefit to 2 patients that maintain a stable condition last for more than 18 months and a significant regression of the tumor to up to 73%. Other blood test markers also showed improvement.

The theory is based on the active chemical which is known as curcumin that interferes with the flow of blood supply causing the cancer cells shrink. The antioxidant in turmeric is said to be very effective in protecting the damaged cells. Although this is very promising, more research is needed to come up with a conclusive result. Therefore, any symptoms persist, always consider to consult the doctor for further diagnosis.

Related posts:

1. Red Meat Increases Cancer Risk
2. Stomach Acid Truths, Myths and Remedies
3. Japan Food Radiation Contamination – What Foods Should You Avoid?

Announcement: This is Natural Health Training Program dedicated to friends and valued subscribers.

Natural Health Audio Series #2

“The Health Secrets of Water That Boost Your Health and Increase Your Energy”

healthsecretsofwateraudioprogram.mp3

(Enjoy your free audio training series. Feel free to share with your friends. To play the audio, simply press the play button above.)

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1. Alkaline Water Teleseminar Recording
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3. Hemp Seeds – A Breakthrough for Natural Protein?

Most American children today wake up to a glass of warm milk or a bowl of cereals with generous amount of the white liquid. From our ancestors’ time until now, kids have been drinking up milk on a daily basis, believed to be the complete food perfect for growing kids to ensure strong bones and healthy body.  But are we still drinking the same milk our ancestors used to have? Is it really as good as we were made to believe?

Sadly this is not the case. According to Dr. Ganmaa Davaasambuu, Ph.D.  (environmental health) who is also a Harvard scientist,

“The milk we drink today is quite unlike the milk our ancestors were drinking…The milk we drink today may not be nature’s perfect food.”

The Sad Truth

In a study published by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, a concoction of different kinds of antibiotics, painkillers and yes, growth hormones were found by scientists in a glass full of milk. The chemical residues that were found in samples of milk from goats, cows, and even humans, are from different chemicals used in treatment of animal and human diseases.

Some 20 active pharmacological substances tested positive in various milk used in the study as well as the hormone 17-beta-estradiol which is a form of the sex hormone estrogen.

A highly sensitive testing method that scientists call Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, was used in the research, ensuring accuracy in the test.

What was alarming in the results was the fact that the highest amount of drug residue and growth hormones were in cow’s milk, the most common source of dairy products consumed by children and adults everywhere.

As far back as 2006, Davaasambuu had been sounding the alarm – “Among the routes of human exposure to estrogens, we are mostly concerned about cow’s milk, which contains considerable amounts of female sex hormones.”

She also added that Dairy products account for about 60-80% of the estrogen consumption by humans.

Where did those hormones come from and how do hormones impact our health?

The Business of Selling Milk

The dairy industry is in the business of making money and like most businesses quality and ethics are often sacrificed on the altar of profit. Researches tend to believe that the drugs and growth-promoting hormones are routinely given to cattle and milking cows at some point in their lives. They are also often present in contaminated feeds.

Some 18 percent of US dairy cows have been reported to be injected with artificial growth hormone, naturally occurring in bovine, called recombinant bovine somatotrpoin or rbST also called the recombinant bovine growth hormone or rBGH. This artificial hormone forces the cattle’s bodies to produce more milk than usual with an increase of about 15 percent.

The US FDA has ruled that rbST as safe, however many nutritionists and scientists disagree. In Canada as well as the EU, rbST is banned and consumers buy more of organic milk.

Another factor could also be the fact that most dairy farms nowadays milk their cows for 300 days or more each year. For most of that period of time, their cows are carrying calves. When cows are in later pregnancy, more hormones do appear in milk.

Cows producing milk in late stages of their pregnancy give off more than 33 times of the estrogen compound or estrone sulfate as compared to non-pregnant cows.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Ganmaa’s team on Japan’s modern milk, there is 10 times the level of hormones called progesterone in it compared to Mongolia’s raw milk. Mongolia is still practicing the traditional way of herding wherein milk solely for consumption of humans is acquired only for five months in a year. If a cow is pregnant it is milked only in its early stages. Due to this system, the quantity of hormones found in their milk is much lower.

Now the underlying problem is that when somebody ingests milk with hormones, their health is adversely affected as per existing studies.

The Cost to People’s Health

A study conducted in 2008 with Dr. John Vicini on the lead, compared milk samples from rbST-free, conventional and organic milk. Results showed samples of the organic milk had low IGF, a growth factor that is insulin-like, a by-product of rbST. In fact it posted the lowest in the samples. IGF is linked to cancers in humans.

The Causing and Worsening of Cancer

The potential for risk of cancer is large in dietary hormones. The insulin-like IGF-1 is a powerful growth hormone. It has been proven to be a “fuel cell” to any forms of cancer. It has recently been linked to the increase in breast, colon and prostate cancers and is suspected of promoting or worsening all cancers.

This information should be of particular interest to women considering that 40 percent of females nowadays between 40 to 50 years old have reported to be afflicted with breast cancers.

The hormones that are naturally-occurring are identical in cows and humans. Thus for every 12-ounce –carton of milk that a woman drinks, she doubles the amount of this hormone in her body. Not only does the IGF-1 cause the rise in cancer rates but also the growth of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.

The Dairy and Acne Connection

In the late 60’s, Time magazine published a study made by Dr. Jerome K. Fisher.  He concluded that drinking milk causes acne. His conclusion came after observing some 1,088 of his patients in a period of 10 years in California where he has his dermatology practice. He later submitted his findings to the American Dermatological Association.

According to Dr. Fisher, some teenage patients of his were consuming milk, as much as 1 gallon per day. Then he recommended to them to reduce their daily milk intake and their acne noticeably subsided. Dr. Fisher explained then that milk that came from a pregnant cow has a high level of progesterone. This breaks down and turns into androgens which then produce sebum a waxy substance which is secreted by acne causing sebaceous glands.

Fisher was quoted as saying,

“about 80% of the cows that are giving milk are pregnant and are throwing off hormones continuously.”

A newer research conducted by Canadian dermatologist Dr. F.W. Danby supported Dr. Fisher’s claim. His study, confirming the dairy-acne connection was published in the medical journal Dermatology in February 2005.

Impact on Children

Should children continue to drink milk?

One frequent concern raised about milk is weight gain especially among children and teens. The IGF-1 hormone in milk is for the quick growth of infants and newborns; as such it causes obesity in older children in addition to adults as they have no more room for physical growth.

Another major concern is the implications of increased hormones on children.  In a 2007 study of the Harvard School of Public Health that was published in Nutritional Journal, prepubescent boys and girls in Mongolia posted an increase in their hormone level after drinking American milk for a period of one month.  The team of researchers took blood samples from three groups of children with ages ranging from six to eleven. They compared the samples taken before and after they drank milk produced in the USA.

Dr. Ganmaa, the lead scientist in this study expressed alarm as,

“We don’t know what the larger implications are.”

Busting the Milk Myth

In spite of all these information, you might still like to continue with your dairy consumptions. After all, even books say milk is good for health. But, unknown to many, most “facts” about milk are part of the myth propagated by the dairy industry.

For one, the average American woman gulps down 2 pounds of milk each day, and yet 30 million American women still have osteoporosis.

Studies have shown that the calcium in cow’s milk and other dairy products has basically no effect on people as it doesn’t have enough magnesium, and if you don’t get sufficient vitamin D from sunlight. Further, excessive protein intake expedites bone loss and milk isn’t called “liquid milk” for nothing.

The ads that keep on bombarding us, saying milk is best for bone health, is actually false.  Proof of this is another Harvard study involving 78,000 nurses. After 12 years of research women who consumed greater amounts of dairy had more incidents of hip fractures; while those who took the same level of calcium from non-dairy sources recorded no increase in fracture risk.

Reducing Hormone Intake

It may be difficult to some but people need to make dietary adjustments to decrease or limit their hormone consumption. Davaasambuu recommends skim milk for those who can’t give up their dairy habit just yet, since hormones are located in fats. The Harvard News meanwhile pushes for a milk-free diet and consumption of green leafy vegetables or nuts to meet daily calcium requirements.

All in all, the real facts show one glaring truth, milk is not the perfect food. For good health and strong bones stick to the basic – eat vegetables, the green leafy variety, and other plant-based foods rich in calcium; get enough sunlight, and plenty of exercise.

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My friend, who is a mother of two and in her early thirties, eats meat like a man twice her size. She can devour one large T-bone steak and still manage to gulp down some side dishes in one sitting. What is surprising is that she doesn’t gain much weight with eating so much meat and her regular check ups reveal no health problems whatsoever. If I ate as much meat as she does, I’d feel nauseated.

Then there are the various diet fads in the market that can leave you quite confused. Which diet should we really follow – the high fat, high protein and low carb diet or the low fat high carb one? And seriously why do the so-called health experts and nutritionists contradict one another? The key to all these is metabolic type.

We all know that as human beings, each one of us is different. We are all unique. Well, that rings true not only on our personalities and physical appearances but also on our biochemical make up. The truth is we all have different metabolism. When you hear of testimonies and stories about some people who found success on a particular diet, you usually don’t get to hear about the others who did not, the 30-50 percent who never benefited at all. The fact is, no one diet is right for everyone.

That’s because we are all biochemically different. Our bodies function and react best on different mixtures of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. So what works for Jane may not necessarily work for you and what’s worse, it could even adversely affect your health. You might want to ask then – how can we figure out the right combination of carbohydrates, proteins and fats that would be perfect for you? First of all, you need to establish what your metabolic type is.

There are of course, basic guidelines on nutrition that we all need to follow to be in the pink of health such as taking the following: plenty of fruits and veggies, good quality protein from fish, animals and vegetable sources, and unsaturated fat.  Now, what differentiates people from one another is the proportion or quantity of fats and proteins versus carbohydrates that that we need, for us to maintain a balance diet. There is after all, a perfect diet based on your metabolism.

There are three metabolic types and you will fall under one of these categories: the “Protein Type” or Fast oxidizers, the “Carb type” or slow oxidizers and the “Balanced type”.

The Protein Type

My friend who I mentioned in the beginning of this article belongs in this category. People in this category are fast oxidizers meaning they need protein in their every meal.  They thrive on high fat and high protein diet. Further, they need to have three full meals a day. If by chance they skipped a meal, they would soon become jittery; feel faint, depressed or irritable. Fast oxidizers are basically carnivorous and cope badly on grains. Given a pasta or noodle dinner they would easily feel hungry in a short time. Now, as regards their personality, protein types are usually fast thinkers, often busy and high achievers. They are driven but tend to be stressed most of the time.

The Carb Type

People who fall under the Carb Type are Slow Oxidizers so they tend to be better off on less fat and protein. They are the opposite of the Protein type. If they consumed a lot of fat and protein during a meal, they would then feel lethargic and tired. These people are better at shifting to a vegetarian diet. They also fare well on lighter meat and fish such as chicken and fish. They can take in more grains than the Protein Types and can skip a meal without any adverse reaction. Forgetting to eat, which is unthinkable for a Fast oxidizer, is quite alright for the Carb Types. In terms of personality, Slow Oxidizers are generally laid back and easygoing and are less stressed than the Protein Types. But they tend to suffer from lethargy and occasional blues or depression as well as apathy.

The Balanced Type

The last classification of metabolic type is the Balanced Type. People in this category can eat varied kinds of food. They are the most flexible of the three types as they can do well on lower fat and protein meals as well as the higher fat and protein ones. Generally speaking, what they eat doesn’t have much of a difference to the way they feel. They are the classic omnivores as they can eat from a wide range of foods. Like the Carb Types, they can also miss a meal but they will feel the effects more than the Slow Oxidizers. Personality-wise, people under the Balanced Type category are generally happy and relaxed.

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Green tea is made up from the leaves of Canellia sinensis plant applied to heat either by cooking or steaming, instead of fermenting, to minimize oxidation. The component of green tea cathechins (location of the antioxidants) are very unique that contain concentrated epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or much well known as EGCG. It is popular to its myriad health benefits from fighting off cancer, lowering bad cholesterol, preventing potential strokes, preventing diabetes, speeding up metabolism, burning fats, and so on. No one can ever dispute how green tea becomes regular drink of health enthusiasts from across the world. Nevertheless, regardless of its compelling health advantages, many argue that its drawback is the caffeine content. Caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system and heart which increases blood pressure.

Comparison of Green Tea from Different Beverages

For every 8 ounces cup of green tea, it is estimated that you can get- 20 30 mg of caffeine. Comparing to other beverages, the caffeine content is 40- 170 mg for 5 ounces cup of coffee, 30-60 mg caffeine for 12 ounces can of cola, 25-110 mg caffeine for 8 ounces of black tea, and 6-25 mg caffeine for 8 ounces cup of white tea.

Unlike other caffeinated beverages with side effects of nervousness, palpitation, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and headache, green tea provides steady gentle stimulation. Its compound L-theanine is an amino acid which according to researches is considered a caffeine antagonist with calming effect on the brain that can offset the effect of caffeine.

Health Benefits of Green Tea

Needless to say, green tea is a better alternative to other beverages with great amount of caffeine. Here are some of the conclusive results on how green tea is beneficial to health.

• With its powerful antioxidant component, it can inhibit the cancer cells to thrive without harming the healthy cells.
• Helpful in lowering LDL or bad cholesterol levels and prevents development of blood clotting such as thrombosis, the primary cause of stroke and heart attack. It reduces the absorption in digestive tract and increases the rate of excretion. For this, green tea prevents the conversion of LDL cholesterol to build up plaque which blocks the arteries.
• More researches also found how green tea can help lose weight. According to Clinical Nutrition published in American Journal, the green tea extract can burn more calories as it can speed up metabolism and suppress appetite as the effect of caffeine.
• Moreover, green tea has bacteria-destroying capabilities to prevent food poisoning and tooth decay. Journal of Periodontology stated that drinking green tea may decrease indicators of gum disease. It is also surprising how fluoride is found in green tea which is well-known to its protection against cavities.
• Green tea boosts the immune system. In a research conducted to Women’s Hospital in 2003, the theanine in green tea boosted the gamma delta cells which form our innate immunity. In a study conducted to coffee drinkers and green tea drinkers, it found out on their blood samples that production of anti-bacterial proteins were higher in those green tea drinkers.

Reducing the Amount of Caffeine in Green Tea

If you think you cannot get through with caffeine in your favorite green tea. You can take the following for better measures to enjoy your green tea by lowering the side effects of caffeine.

• Remember that younger tea produced more caffeine, so better know your green tea. Buy loose green tea leaves than green tea teabags. You can get the same quality but lesser caffeine. A research done in Auburn University found that broken pieces in tea bags resulting to produce more caffeine than what is released in green tea leaves.
• Do not brew your green tea with boiling water as it destroys the catechins and polyphenols, the antioxidants that provide its health benefits.
• Another tip is by throwing the first infusion when you dissolve the tea compounds in hot water after steeping the tea for 30 seconds. By doing this, you can release the 80 percent caffeine. You can diffuse your green tea up to three times but do not over steep the tea for it may produce bitter taste. Drink it while it’s hot.
• If you do not want to sweat with all the process of lessening the caffeine, purchase a decaffeinated green tea available in the market.
• Lastly, reduce your consumption of green tea to 1-2 of 8 ounces of cup a day.

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I came from a family of “happy eaters”. You know the kind where every meal is like a party and people eat and talk at the same time. We ate a lot and talked a lot during meals. Maybe because we were a big family, that’s why. Anyway, by the time I was 17, I had hyper acidity and high cholesterol. I tried to go on a diet and go with less sugar and meat. By the time I got married, my stomach pain was bothering me a lot and my blood pressure was constantly fluctuating.

When I first heard about the alkaline diet, I got curious and started to research about it. I also started drinking alkaline water which in itself was helpful in treating my stomach pains. While surfing through Amazon I came across Dr. Baroody’s book “Alkalize or Die” so I decided to give it a try.

At first, I found the book boring with all of Dr. Baroody’s rambling about his experiences and beliefs. Most of the time he didn’t present any references to support his statements in the book. I did try to continue reading with an open mind because as I understood it, Dr. Baroody came up with the theories and principles in the book after many trial and errors. I believe it was more a personal journey for him than a scientific one. However, it would have been easier to digest all his theories if he had presented more hard evidences instead of “feeling” statistical data.

What I do appreciate about the book is his approach to healthy living with each individual’s unique biochemistry in mind. He acknowledges that each person may experience varied results with each dietary preparation. This principle of individual metabolism has long been held by many health practitioners in the past and had been the topic of scientific discussions for a long time now.

On the other hand, I am very uncomfortable with his propensity to present metaphysical teachings of eastern mysticism as facts.  Although Dr. Baroody did express that his viewpoint is founded on healing philosophies from the ancient Chinese, Tibetan, Hindu and Greco-European, it would have been easier for me to be keep an open mind if he had dealt with this issues more as a gray area that needed more studies or a belief system that affects people’s health and healing process so much like a placebo.

One example of this metaphysical belief of his that I found really hard to swallow can be seen when he advised people to stop eating red meat as “the destructive emotion of slaughter is assimilated by the person who eats flesh.” (pg. 63). No matter how hard I try not to, his explanation abut why red meat is bad sounded too fantastic for me. I’m sure many people would also find this as “too spiritual or religious” more than “scientific.” Anyway, everybody knows why too much meat intake is bad. One word – cholesterol.

I do agree with him though that sugar is poison. What with diabetes now on the rise in the country. Sugar and other sweeteners are very pervasive in our society nowadays and I don’t think that the existence of so many illnesses now is just a coincidence.

But what I think really saved this book and made it worth buying is Dr. Baroody’s chart of foods with a corresponding rating to show their acid-forming or alkaline-forming properties. His list is exhaustive and easy to understand. The author used his own pH scale that he had developed. Dr.Baroody’s scale is on page 38 and ranges from 0.5 to 7.5 with foods having a range of 4.0 and above as alkaline-forming and below 4.0 as acid-forming.

In summary, I believe that there are real and tangible benefits to having an alkaline-based diet and Dr. Baroody’s book can help readers identify the right foods for them. But, if you read this book with a strictly scientific view, meaning you are looking for footnotes and references then this book may disappoint you. The same goes for those with s ”god” issues. This book is not about entertainment and fun too. It’s all bout diet that can help some health problems and getting back to dietary basics of eating more plant based foods.

In saying that, I have come across another literature that has also helped me plan my meals. The newsletter I subscribed at thealkalinediet.org has also helped me learn more about the pH levels of certain foods. It has also helped me plan what to buy, what to cook and even how to prepare my alkaline-based meals. It also keeps me updated about alkaline-diet in general.

If you think Baroody’s book is just too bulky for you or you are too busy to leaf through the pages of the book then you can simply subscribe to our alkaline diet newsletter below to get all the juicy alkaline tips to boost your energy level and revitalize your health.

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Americans nowadays are conditioned to consume processed foods from the moment of birth. From infant formula, babies are then given bottled baby food. Then they graduate to snacks and sodas and so on. This may be the result of our fast lifestyle. We are so in a rush that we have no time to prepare home made foods and instead buy our meals from stores and restaurants without realizing the ill effects on our health.

But preparing healthy foods is not really as time-consuming as some would think. The main problem is our taste preference. With the abundance of processed foods now on grocery stores, the American palate has been conditioned to eat junk and unhealthy foods. The American people are now suffering from what some experts call “taste inflation”.

Taste Inflation

What is taste inflation?  It is when our taste buds are desensitized to subtle flavors. Taste inflation happens when our taste buds are so inundated with sugar, salt and MSG or monosodium glutamate, found in most if not all processed foods, that our sense of taste can no longer detect and appreciate the simple flavors of natural food.

Now as people’s sense of taste became numb, it needs more stimulation so food manufacturers add more chemical flavor enhancers in their products. We can see salt, sugar and MSG on food labels but we don’t care because our taste buds don’t even notice it.

Health Impact

Unfortunately these flavor enhancers not only desensitize our taste buds they also wreck havoc on our health. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, heart diseases, cancers and stroke are still the leading causes of death in the USA today with diabetes not far behind. Obesity among children is also on the rise. These illnesses are preventable and are usually caused by having an unhealthy lifestyle and diet.

The abundance of sugar in sodas and other beverages as well as other food items such as cookies and cakes can bring on diabetes. Not only that, sugar has been known to undermine the calcium in our bones which could lead to osteoporosis. While health experts point to the salt in processed foods as the culprit behind the rise of hypertension in the country. The list of maladies due to constant eating of processed foods goes on and on.

Adjusting your taste buds

But, there is no need to despair as there is still hope. If you are really serious about getting back in shape and staying healthy by eating right then you had better decide to adjust your taste buds. By adjusting your taste buds you will be able to revitalize your health. Though adjusting one’s palate will take time, it is quite possible and can really be done. Our taste buds are actually more adaptable than what some people would think. The key is realizing that it is possible to adjust your taste buds.

Do it gradually

Once you have made the decision to eat right and retrain your palate, realize that this doesn’t happen overnight. Most of the time, a gradual adjustment is more effective than a sudden shift. Remember that you have been accustomed to the food you’ve been eating for many years and a sudden shift may shock your palate and cause you to quit on your resolve.

For example, in incorporating more whole grains into your diet, instead of shifting to brown rice all at once, consider mixing brown and white rice together for a start or add whole wheat flour to your flour mixture a cup at a time.

You can also focus on one thing to adjust to one at a time. It may be using better sweeteners or no sweeteners at all, using less salt in cooking, adding healthy meat substitutes or more vegetables, whatever you think needs more focus on at the moment. For instance, when a housewife decided to cut down the salt intake of her family, she slowly lessened the salt in her dishes, particularly on the eggs she cooked for breakfast. Before long, her family members were eating eggs without salt and they hardly noticed it.

Use healthy substitutes

In retraining your palate, you don’t have to quit on some eating habits that have become sort of a tradition in your family. Instead of removing some habits altogether, try some healthy alternatives and substitutes. For example, if drinking instant coffee or tea has been your early morning ritual, try shifting to the more natural brewed coffee or use herbal teas instead. If you have been used to having desserts after a meal, have fresh fruits instead of those sugary cakes and pastries or if you like drinking juice with your meal or snack, a juicer can be a good investment for your health as you can make your own homemade freshly squeezed fruit juices.

Don’t force it

Some parents think that forcing kids to eat their vegetables is the best way to teach them healthy eating. On the contrary it could have the opposite effect. When your child says no, ask him to try it out first but never force him to eat it. The same is true for adults, let yourself try something new, something you know to be healthy but you are not accustomed to eating, just have a taste then move on to the next food item.

Try it again and again

The best way to introduce new flavors and new dishes to your family is by letting them try the food again and again. As some would say, you won’t really know if you like a particular food or not if you have not tried it 21 times. In retraining your taste buds, try a small portion of a food item 21 times before deciding whether you like it or not. As you branch out to more flavors other than just the salty and sweet, you will discover that some foods are not as bad as you think. From trying it out at first, you might move on to actually liking the food.

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Two thousand years ago, the Romans brought hemp to Britain. Hemp seed, a cannabis sativa, can be farmed with small amount or no fertilizer, and without any need of pesticides. It has all the amino acids and the fatty acids that the body cannot manufacture on its own (of which they are classified as ‘essential’) which are needed to sustain healthy human being. No other plant has the same amino acids in its digestible form, nor the fatty acids in a healthy ratio that meets human needs.

Hemp also has traces of calcium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Hemp seeds also contain vitamins such as A, D, and K  and A rich B vitamins. They are a gluten-free food. High in both insoluble and soluble fiber, hemp seeds are consumed to treat hemorrhoids and constipation in Asia. When topically applied, the oil is of use for peeled or laser-treated skin, acne-prone, sun damaged and stressed skin.

Hemp and Protein

Although hemp is not the only one of its kind in having all the amino acids (essential ) inside its embryonic, seed it is however exceptional in quality. What makes it exceptional is that 65% of its protein is made up of globulin edistin. That is by far the highest among any other seeds and the plant kingdom.

Globulins are one of the seven types of simple proteins. Simple proteins, when hydrolyzed,  does not breakdown to non-protein. Globulins are found in animal blood and seeds. Edistins are those which are found in plant seeds while serum globulin is found in animal blood. In other words, edistins are globulins in plant. All antibodies, enzymes, hemoglobin, many hormones, and fibrogin (the one that is converted to clotting agent) are all globular proteins. They are responsible for maintaining life.

Globulin is also part of plasma. Plasma is the liquid portion of the human blood that carries nourishment to tissues of the body. Along with the other two types of protein types, the albumin and fibrogin, they make up 80% of the solids in plasma. The plasma serves as tank of amino acids that are easily available should any tissue in any part of the body be in need.

Globulin is very abundant in the human body. In fact, it ranks as third. They perform many functions inside the plasma itself. They are also in charge for the immunity of a person, both the acquired and natural. In other words, they build ‘armies’ or antibodies against antigens (invading organisms). Globulins , specifically gamma globulin, are absolutely vital to maintain a strong immune system.

Gamma globulins are further divided into five classes called immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulines are produced to battle specific antigens that attack the cells. Immunoglobulins are the first to defend our body against infection and disease. Immunoglobulins are produced by WBC or white blood cell, specifically the B lymphocyte located in the nodes of the lymph system. Antigens usually must be sifted through the body’s lymph system prior to its entry to the bloodstream.
How Protein Works

During digestion, the proteins in food are further broken down into smaller proteins called amino acids. These amino acids are reconstructed by the body to make it into human proteins that tailors the needs. The amino acids that readily available to make specific proteins is important.

There must be enough supply of amino acids to enable the body to make globulins. So even if the body has all the amino acids to prevent deficiency of proteins, it does not necessarily mean that it has enough to build armies of immunoglobulins to fight off diseases and infection. Another extraordinary quality of hemp protein worth remembering is that it does not contain phytic acid like soy. Phytic acid is an anti-nutrients that prevents the body from fully absorbing the minerals.

Hemp and Its Essential Fatty Acids

Hempseed is approximately 30–35% edible oil. Its oil that is composed of 80% of good oil, essential fatty acids (EFAs). Essential fatty acids are so named because the body is not able to synthesize them on its own. A ratio 1: 3 of Omega-6 and Omega-3, polyunsaturated fats, is perfect for optimum health of the heart and boosting the immune system.

Omega-3. Omega 3 is credited with eyesight and brain in fetal development. It lowers cholesterol levels, stabilizes the heart’s irregular beating, and reduces pressure of the blood. It is also advantageous against blood vessel and heart disease because it can lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Omega-3 also works as blood thinners naturally. By reducing the consistency of the blood, complications such as strokes and blood clots are prevented.

Omega-3 can be transformed into leukotrienes and prostaglandin, a substance that decrease pain and inflammation. Lupus,  Raynaud’s disease,  rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune deficiency diseases is found to be improved. In clinical study results, those suffering from inflammatory diseases said to have improved their cases of tenderness, swelling, joint stiffness, and overall fatigue.

The brain, which is 60% fat, is in need of omega-3 in order to be able to function properly. Researchers have found a connection between low presence of Omega-3 in the body and mood disorders. It appears that, omega-3 help normalize problems on mental health because it strengthens the inter-neural connections in the brain.

History of Hemp

It is clear that hemp has been around for a period of time. It could even be one of the crops that was first cultivated. Hemp was used for making paper, clothes, and ropes and oil for lamps.

Galen in the second century recorded that hemp seeds were fried and were eaten with the desserts. In 1950?s, The mothers of Soho tribe of South Africa serve up the ground hemp to children when they are weaned. The dish is called meali-pap. In India Hemp is pressed to supply as table oil, and in Russia,  hemp is made into a kind of margarine or butter.

In Europe, monks were once made to eat hemp daily, whether in porridges, gruel, or soups.  The Lithuanian and Polish people prepared soup from hemp seed called semieniatka. It is for the spirits of their dead relatives who come to visit them during Christmas Eve. The Latvian and Ukrainian people made an offering similar to that on the day celebration of Three Kings. In China, farmers in the north consume hemp seed. The seed  is even listed as food for famine during  the end of the World War II. Hemp seeds were also utilized on two famine incidences in Australia during the 19th century.

Hemp in the Kitchen

For thousands of years, hemp seed was used as a source of nourishment. It can be ground, roasted, or used as flour for hemp cake and protein powder. Hemp products range from cereals to tofu, frozen waffles, to butters or spreads for crackers and bread. Sprouted hemp seeds or its fresh leaves are also used in salads. De hulled or whole, a handful of hemp seed can be blended with juice and fruit of your choice.

Hemp seed can be used to produce a nutritional non-dairy drink and hemp milk. Four cups of water and a cup of hemp seeds is a perfect blend, which is tastier when refrigerated. Baked goods can use its nutty flavor to taste. Its unrefined and cold-pressed oil is available in food stores that support good health. Because it is not a saturated oil, it should be chilled or frozen and should be used according to the expiration date. A tablespoon a day of hempseed oil can provide the nutritional requirement of EFAs in humans.

Compared to flaxseed oil, the oil from hemp does not cause a deficiency or imbalance to other EFA even when used continuously. Hempseed oil has a comparatively low smoke point and should not be used for frying. The oil can substitute olive oil in salads.

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