Natural Whole Foods

Is Your Diet Healthy for Your Colon?

2007-10-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

As modern science continues to unravel the mysteries of the digestive system it has become more apparent that a healthy diet greatly influences the way in which the body performs. Experts have formulated specialized "Healing Diets" that contain foods that are good for your body...After all, we are what we eat!

Fiber is traditionally lacking in the diets of many Americans - And it has shown to help the colon function normally. People that do not eat enough fiber generally have more digestive problems than those who do.

Foods that are high in fiber include:

whole grain products,
fruits
vegetables
oatmeal

Foods that have been proven to help the digestion process:

organic food products
flaxseed oil
green tea
cabbage
garlic
onion
cauliflower

Foods that you may want to avoid and can effect digestion:

aspartame
foods coated with pesticides i.e unwashed fruit and vegetables
alcohol
soft drinks
hormonally-treated products
sweeteners

Cancer Fighting Smothie – Made with Watermelon

2007-09-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Watermelon is a good source of the cancer fighting antioxidant lycopene. Watermelon has 60% more lycopene than raw tomatoes. The Body needs a little fat to absorb lycopene, so try this simple natural whole food snack between meals or for desert.

Watermelon Smoothie

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients

2 cups - watermelon
1/2 cup - fresh strawberries or frozen unsweetened
1/2 cup - guava nectar
1 Tbsp - Coconut oil
2 cups - ice cubes

Place all ingredients in powerful blinder in the order listed. Secure lid and ramp up the speed to high. Run for 30 seconds or until smooth. Serve immediately.

Health Classification: Low Fat, Low Sodium, Low Cholesterol, Heart Healthy, Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw

The Sweetest Scandal in the History of American Health

2007-09-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

The shocking truth of how a political "favor" got the government to approve this poison -- and why aspartame is making us sicker and fatter than good old sugar ever could!

Ever wonder what our former Secretary of Defense did before he got into politics? Well years ago, he was the fearless leader of a company called GD Searle Corp. that developed a "miracle sweetener" called aspartame. (Yes, the very same stuff contained in those little blue packets.) For years, this company tried in vain to get aspartame approved. But no one wanted to go near the stuff! The FDA refused to approve it for 16 years. In fact, according to a report I recently uncovered, the late Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a former senior FDA toxicologist, stated in his testimony before Congress:

"Beyond a shadow of a doubt, aspartame triggers brain tumors"and, "therefore, by allowing aspartame to be placed on the market the FDA has violated the Delaney Amendment, which forbids putting anything in food that is know to cause cancer...And if the FDA itself elects to violates its own the law, who is left to protect the health of the public?"

But wait, it gets worse... In the early '80s, "Rummy the Magnificent" moved into the political arena. And one of the first moves he made was to appoint a new FDA commissioner. And guess what he did? In 1981, the new appointee approved aspartame for the good old boys back at GD Searle...despite the clinically proven dangers.

Before long, aspartame was everywhere, from soda to salad dressing! Now let's look at what it's "contributed" to America's health... 92 reasons why aspartame makes sugar look like a "good guy"... For starters, medical authorities estimate that aspartame has brought more complaints to the FDA than any other additive. In fact, it's responsible for as many as 75 percent of such complaints to that agency. And, after receiving some 10,000 consumer complaints, the FDA compiled a list of 92 symptoms linked to aspartame -- including death. Headaches, memory loss, seizures, vision loss, coma, and cancer. It also appears to worsen or mimic the symptoms of such conditions as fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue, and depression...

Why so many? It could be because aspartame attacks your body at the cellular level so it can negate all kinds of medications Americans take, including antidepressants, Coumadin, cardiac drugs, hormones, insulin, vaccines, and many others. It is a deadly neurotoxic drug masquerading as a harmless additive. And to add insult to injury...

Aspartame could makes you hungrier and fatter! One medical investigator, Dr. H. J. Roberts, even concludes that aspartame has caused our obesity epidemic. He gives evidence that this "guilt-free" sweetener secretly makes you crave carbohydrates which, of course, make you gain weight. How? Possibly it may trigger or over stimulate the stomach's production of ghrelin, also known as the "hunger hormone." If this hypothesis turns out to be correct, it will help to explain why all those "diet" sodas have never been much help in weight reduction. (In fact, just the opposite!)

So why is the media mum? Simple. Because professional organizations and their publications have all been bought off. By who? The food giants. They all use this inexpensive imposter in huge quantities for their colas, desserts, candies, and other junk foods. And they're the ones who have financed a raft of studies "proving" the safety of aspartame.

Excitotoxins - Aspartame, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and others

2007-09-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

These neurotoxic chemical additives directly harm nerve cells, over-exciting them to the point of cell death, according to Dr. Russell Blaylock. They're found in diet soda, canned soup, salad dressing, breakfast sausage and even many manufactured vegetarian foods.

They're used to add flavor to over-processed, boring foods that have had the life cooked out of them. So how do food companies manage to hide excitotoxins and taste additives to their foods? It's easy: They just keep changing the words to confuse consumers. Once customers learned to avoid MSG / monosodium glutamate, the food companies started using yeast extract. And now, many companies have switched to "torula yeast," which accomplishes the same thing.

Other hidden sources of MSG include:

• Autolyzed vegetable protein
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Calcium caseinate
• Sodium caseinate
• Textured protein

Dr. Russell Blaylock has been studying the affects of MSG for quite sometime now and his research indicates MSG maybe responsible for obesity, heart problems and other serious health issues. By eating natural whole foods you can avoid this additive found so often in processed foods.

Eat Your Vegetables – They are good for you!

2007-09-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

A short list of vegetables and their possible benefit to your well being.

Beets: The deep red color of these root vegetables comes from anthocyanins, phytonutrients that protect against carcinogens and may help prevent heart disease.

Broccoli: This vegetable offers cancer-protective benefits. Broccoli is also a good source of vitamin K and calcium - both of which help keep bones strong. It is tastes good raw or cooked.

Cabbage: This low-cost yet highly nutritious cruciferous vegetable contains nutrients called indoles, which may protect against both breast and prostate cancer. It also provides significant amounts of fiber and vitamin C.

Garlic: This bulb contains many of the same phytonutrients as onions, as well as antibiotic and antiviral compounds. It may help boost the immune system, prevent colds, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and fight fungal or yeast infections.

Mushrooms: Prized for their tonic effects, mushrooms can help address a host of illnesses. Maitake mushrooms (known as "hen of the woods" for their resemblance to the fluffed tail feathers of a nesting hen) are particularly valued in Asian cooking, as they have anti-cancer, anti-viral and immune-enhancing properties, and may also reduce blood pressure and blood sugar. Shiitake, Enokidake and Oyster mushrooms also have immune-boosting qualities, and are easily included in many main courses.

Onions: This vegetable adds flavor to any meal. Allicin, a phytonutrient found in most varieties of onions, may be responsible for its health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Spinach: This dark leafy green (and others like it, such as kale and collards) contains lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidant carotenoids that may help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration. Spinach is also a source of calcium and folate, a B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects.

Squash: With a wide variety of types, flavors, shapes, and sizes, squash is very versatile - it can even be used in pie! It provides beta carotene, potassium, and fiber, nutrients that are necessary for good overall health.

Sweet Potatoes: Rich in beta carotene, these vegetables may help boost the immune system, deliver vitamin C and folate (which may reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent certain birth defects), and are low on the glycemic index and glycemic load charts.

Tomatoes: This red fruit (often considered a vegetable) contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight heart disease and some types of cancer, particularly prostate cancer. Use tomatoes in everything from salads to sauces, but know that the lycopene is most easily absorbed when the tomatoes are cooked with a little oil.

If possible find locally grown, organic vegetables, since pesticides are commonly used on conventionally grown produce

There is NO Magical Supplement

2007-09-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest falsehoods in the nutrition business is when someone says or implies you only need one nutritional product to be totally healthy. And you don’t need to do anything else. This is simplynot true or possible.

Good Health is based on a number of correct things done consistently. Good health does NOT come from a magic bullet product. Good health is NOT something you are entitled too. Good health is something you EARN by how you take care of yourself. Good health is primarily determined by what you put in your mouth.

So if you are eating garbage food all day long as you take your supplements, you aren’t really laying the foundation for GOOD health are you? Sure it is WAY better than drinking a coke. And Uri’s products are about the NEXT BEST thing to eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Uri’s products can help you jump start a healthy eating regime. Uri’s products can help provide alternatives to unhealthy snacks and drinks. They can supplement a healthy eating regime, by providing nutrients from many fruits and vegetables you do not eat at all or on a regular basis.

But they are not a magic bullet all by themselves. You want them to be the foundation of good eating because they are so easy to take.

Think of taking Uri’s powder juice mixes as your daily rituals for staying ON track. Take them 2 to 3 times a day. You will feel so great you will not want to eat a whole lot of junk food.

But you still need eat as many fresh, raw fruits and vegetables a day as you can. Preferably grown locally and organic.

A great snack food - The Apple

2007-09-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Well I have returned from a camping trip. It was good to get away for a while. One of the things we took to eat with us was apples. They keep well for several days with little care and taste great.

They are rich source of flavonoids, antioxidant compounds that fight both heart disease and cancer. Flavonoids are known for fighting free radicals that cause disease and aging in general. They can actually stop the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and thereby prevent clogged arteries.

The beauty of an apple is more than skin deep. They're packaged to go-on the road, in the car, on the bus or camping. They're full of fiber that spreads the natural fruit sugar energy out over several hours, blunting the negative effect on blood sugar. They're rich in pectin, which soaks up cholesterol in your intestine before it can enter the bloodstream. An apple a day? Absolutely, especially this time of year when you can find them fresh almost anywhere and they taste so good!

Four Tips to Reduce Inflamation

2007-08-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

With growing evidence that prolonged inflammation influences the course of many diseases, there is no doubt that reducing inflammation through diet is vital. Try these four tips and let me know if it helps:

1. Eat a diet rich in omega-3s, including wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, freshly ground flaxseed and walnuts.

2. Incorporate plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables in your meals.

3. Reduce your intake of polyunsaturated vegetable oils (such as sunflower, corn and safflower oils), replacing them instead with extra-virgin olive oil or organic extra-virgin coconut oil.

4. Use healing spices in your cooking: turmeric, ginger and red pepper can add zing to meals and are all natural anti-inflammatories.

The pH of Some Foods by Category

2007-08-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine requested a list of common foods and the acidic or alkaline value. I decided to share it with all of you.

Beverages & Drinks
Water (spring) - Mildly Acidic
Wine - Acidic
Water (sparkling) - Acidic
Water (Fiji, Hawaiian, Evian) - Mildly Alkaline
Tea (herbal, green) - Mildly Alkaline
Tea (black) - Very Acidic
Soda/Pop - Acidic
Liquor - Very Acidic
Fruit juice (sweetened) - Very Acidic
Fruit juice (natural) - Mildly Acidic
Coffee substitute drinks - Mildly Acidic
Coffee - Very Acidic
Beer - Very Acidic

Breads
Rye bread - Mildly Acidic
Corn Tortillas - Acidic
Sourdough bread - Acidic
White biscuit - Mildly Acidic
White bread - Acidic
Whole-grain bread - Mildly Acidic
Whole-meal bread - Mildly Acidic

Condiments
Miso - Acidic
Mayonnaise - Acidic
Mustard - Acidic
Soy sauce - Acidic
Ketchup - Acidic

Dairy
Milk (not pasteurized) - Mildly Acidic
Cream - Mildly Acidic
Egg whites - Acidic
Homogenized milk - Mildly Acidic
Buttermilk - Mildly Alkaline
Milk (pasteurized) - Acidic
Paneer (cheese) - Acidic
Cheese (all varieties, from all milks) - Acidic
Quark - Acidic
Yoghurt (sweetened) - Acidic
Yoghurt (unsweetened) - Mildly Acidic
Eggs (whole) - Acidic

Fats & Oils
Evening Primrose oil - Mildly Alkaline
Sunflower oil - Mildly Acidic
Sesame oil - Mildly Alkaline
Olive Oil - Mildly Alkaline
Marine lipids - Mildly Alkaline
Borage oil - Mildly Alkaline
Corn oil - Mildly Acidic
Cod liver oil - Mildly Acidic
Coconut Oil (raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Butter - Mildly Acidic
Margarine - Mildly Acidic
Flax seed oil - Mildly Alkaline

Fruits
Limes - Mildly Alkaline
Peach - Mildly Acidic
Papaya - Mildly Acidic
Orange - Mildly Acidic
Nectarine - Mildly Acidic
Pear - Mildly Acidic
Mandarin orange - Acidic
Red currant - Mildly Acidic
Italian plum - Mildly Acidic
Grapes (ripe) - Mildly Acidic
Grapefruit - Mildly Acidic
Mango - Mildly Acidic
Pineapple - Acidic
Raspberry - Acidic
Rose hips - Acidic
Strawberries - Mildly Acidic
Strawberry - Mildly Acidic
Tangerine - Mildly Acidic
Tomato - Alkaline
Watermelon - Mildly Acidic
Yellow plum - Mildly Acidic
Cranberry - Mildly Acidic
Gooseberry, ripe - Mildly Acidic
Pomegranate - Acidic
Black currant - Mildly Acidic
Dates - Mildly Acidic
Goji berries - Mildly Acidic
Apples - Mildly Acidic
Apricot - Mildly Acidic
Apricots - Mildly Acidic
Apricots (dried) - Mildly Acidic
Avocado (protein) - Alkaline
Banana (unripe) - Mildly Alkaline
Blackberries - Mildly Acidic
Blueberry - Mildly Acidic
Cantaloupe - Mildly Acidic
Fig juice powder - Mildly Acidic
Fresh lemon - Mildly Alkaline
Figs (raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Banana (ripe) - Acidic
Figs (dried) - Mildly Alkaline
Cherry, sour - Mildly Alkaline
Dates (dried) - Mildly Acidic
Acai Berry - Mildly Acidic
Currant - Mildly Acidic
Coconut, fresh - Mildly Alkaline
Clementines - Mildly Acidic
Cherry, sweet - Mildly Acidic

Grains & Legumes
Rye bread - Mildly Acidic
White (navy) beans - Alkaline
Granulated soy (cooked, ground) - Alkaline
Tofu - Mildly Alkaline
Spelt - Mildly Alkaline
Soybeans, fresh - Alkaline
Soy nuts (soaked soy beans, then dried) - Very Alkaline
Soy lecithin, pure - Very Alkaline
Soy flour - Mildly Alkaline
Wheat - Acidic
Basmati rice - Mildly Acidic
Lima beans - Alkaline
Kamut - Mildly Alkaline
Couscous - Mildly Acidic
Bulgar wheat - Mildly Acidic
Buckwheat - Mildly Alkaline
Brown rice - Acidic
Lentils - Mildly Alkaline
Oats - Mildly Acidic

Meat, Poultry & Fish
Pork - Very Acidic
Sardines (canned) - Very Acidic
Tuna (canned) - Very Acidic
Oysters - Mildly Acidic
Duck - Acidic
Veal - Very Acidic
Organ meats - Mildly Acidic
Ocean fish - Acidic
Fresh water fish - Acidic
Chicken - Acidic
Buffalo - Acidic
Beef - Very Acidic
Liver - Mildly Acidic

Misc
Canned foods - Acidic
Apple Cider Vinegar - Mildly Acidic
Bee pollen - Mildly Alkaline
Soy Protein Powder - Mildly Acidic
Baking soda - Alkaline
Tempeh - Mildly Acidic
Royal Jelly - Mildly Alkaline
Rice milk - Mildly Acidic
POPCORN - Mildly Acidic
Hummus - Mildly Acidic
Cereals (like Kellogg etc) - Acidic
Whey protein powder - Mildly Acidic

Nuts
Cashews - Mildly Acidic
Peanut butter (raw, organic) - Acidic
Walnuts - Mildly Acidic
Pistachios - Acidic
Pine nuts (raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Peanuts - Acidic
Macadamia nuts (raw) - Mildly Acidic
Filberts - Mildly Acidic
Brazil nuts - Mildly Acidic
Almond butter (raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Almond - Mildly Alkaline
Hazelnut - Mildly Acidic

Roots
Summer black radish - Very Alkaline
Potatoes - Mildly Alkaline
Yams - Mildly Alkaline
White radish (spring) - Mildly Alkaline
Turnip - Mildly Alkaline
Sweet potatoes - Mildly Acidic
Red radish - Alkaline
Carrot - Mildly Alkaline
Kohlrabi - Mildly Alkaline
Fresh red beet - Alkaline
Rutabaga - Mildly Alkaline

Seeds
Sesame seeds - Mildly Alkaline
Sunflower seeds - Mildly Acidic
Pumpkin seeds - Mildly Acidic
Flax seeds - Mildly Acidic
Fennel seeds - Mildly Alkaline
Cumin seeds - Mildly Alkaline
Caraway seeds - Mildly Alkaline
Barley - Mildly Acidic
Wheat Kernel - Acidic

Sweets & Sweeteners
Halva [ground sesame seed sweet] - Acidic
Brown rice syrup - Mildly Acidic
Xylitol - Acidic
Turbinado sugar - Mildly Acidic
Sugarcane - Acidic
Sugar (white) - Acidic
Molasses - Acidic
Milk sugar - Mildly Acidic
Maple Syrup - Mildly Acidic
Honey - Mildly Acidic
Artificial sweeteners - Very Acidic
Agave nectar - Mildly Acidic
Fructose - Mildly Acidic
Alcohol sugars (xylitol and the other sacharides. - Acidic
Barley malt syrup - Mildly Acidic
Beet sugar - Acidic
Chocolates - Acidic
Dried sugar cane juice - Mildly Acidic
Dr. Bronner’s barley malt sweetener - Mildly Acidic

Vegetables
Savoy Cabbage - Mildly Alkaline
Parsnips - Mildly Alkaline
Pickled vegetables - Very Acidic
Rhubarb stalks - Mildly Alkaline
Sea Vegetables - Mildly Alkaline
Red cabbage - Mildly Alkaline
Raw onions - Mildly Alkaline
Pumpkins (raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Peppers - Mildly Alkaline
Seaweed (dulse, kelp, laver, etc) - Mildly Alkaline
Peas, fresh - Mildly Alkaline
Spinach (other than March) - Alkaline
Oregano - Alkaline
Onion - Mildly Alkaline
Mustard greens - Mildly Alkaline
Mushrooms - Acidic
Lettuce - Mildly Alkaline
Peas, ripe - Mildly Alkaline
Leeks (bulbs) - Mildly Alkaline
Aubergine/Egg plant - Mildly Alkaline
Yeast - Mildly Acidic
White cabbage - Mildly Alkaline
Wheat grass - Very Alkaline
Watercress - Mildly Alkaline
Soy Sprouts - Very Alkaline
Tomatoes (raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Shave grass - Very Alkaline
Thyme - Mildly Alkaline
Straw grass - Very Alkaline
Squash (all kinds, raw) - Mildly Alkaline
Sprouted seeds (all kinds) - Very Alkaline
Spinach - Mildly Alkaline
Sauerkraut - Acidic
Sorrel - Alkaline
Blue-Green Algae - Mildly Acidic
Basil - Mildly Alkaline
Celery - Alkaline
Cayenne pepper - Alkaline
Cauliflower - Mildly Alkaline
Canned vegetables - Acidic
Cabbage lettuce, fresh - Alkaline
Cilantro - Alkaline
Bok Choy - Mildly Alkaline
Comfrey - Mildly Alkaline
Bell peppers/capsicums (all colors) - Mildly Alkaline
Barley grass - Very Alkaline
Zucchini - Mildly Alkaline
Asparagus - Mildly Alkaline
Artichokes - Mildly Alkaline
Alfalfa grass - Very Alkaline
Alfalfa - Alkaline
Brussels sprouts - Mildly Alkaline
Garlic - Alkaline
Kamut grass - Very Alkaline
Kale - Very Alkaline
Jicama - Very Alkaline
Horse radish - Mildly Alkaline
Green cabbage, (March Harvest) - Mildly Alkaline
Green cabbage, (December Harvest) - Mildly Alkaline
Chives - Mildly Alkaline
Ginger - Alkaline
Lamb’s lettuce - Mildly Alkaline
Frozen vegetables - Acidic
French cut (green) beans - Alkaline
Endive, fresh - Alkaline
Dog grass - Very Alkaline
Dandelion - Very Alkaline
Cucumber, fresh - Very Alkaline
Cooked vegetables (all kinds) - Mildly Acidic
Ginseng - Mildly Alkaline

Is Your Body PH to Low? (acidic)

2007-08-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Have your read that an acidic body pH is an indication that you are not as health as you could be. But how do you know what your current ph is? The simplest way to get a good indicator is with pH paper, sticks or strips.

It is a painlessly way to monitor the body’s pH in your saliva and urine. I recommend pH strips with a large range like 4.5-9.0 pH which can test both saliva or urine. The pH of venous blood is around 7.2 and the pH of arterial blood is around 7.4. Blood pH must be maintained in a very tight window if a person is to stay alive.

The pH of the urine can vary widely. The pH of urine is a measure of the biochemicals that the body is eliminating. These include “biochemicals” such as excess minerals, vitamins, and products of metabolism. These “biochemicals” also include drugs and toxins being eliminated by the body. Most people believe you should have an early morning urine pH of above 6.2. They say if this is the case, your body is probably alkaline. More radical health care professionals may say your pH needs to be above 6.8.

The pH of saliva can also give an indication of your body pH. Though it will not be giving you the blood pH, it is definitely a reflection on what is going on inside the body. Most healthy people will find their saliva pH to be above 6.4. If the early morning saliva pH is above 6.8 usually people are in good health. To get an accurate saliva pH reading you must take it first thing in the morning before you put anything else in your mouth.

What's in an Apple?

2007-08-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been wowed by the list of nutrition on some of the vitamin and mineral capsules you can purchase at your local grocery store. The list is usually fairly long and impressive. But a great deal of it is man made compounds that your body does not digest and is simply flushed down the toilet. Granted not all of it is flushed but in some cases you may be better off had you flushed it then to poison your body with it.

In most cases a natural whole food will supply a better synergistic mix of nutrient that your body is designed to assimilate. If we were to put a label on an apple to list its nutritional value it would look like the list below.

Apple
Amount.................................. 1.00 each
total weight............................ 138.00 g

Basic Components
nutrient amount %DV
calories................................... 81.42............. 4.52
calories from fat.................... 4.47...............
calories from saturated fat.. 0.72...............
protein.................................... 0.26 g............ 0.52
carbohydrates....................... 21.05 g.......... 7.02
dietary fiber........................... 3.73 g............ 14.92
soluble fiber........................... 1.42 g............
insoluble fiber........................ 2.30 g............
sugar - total........................... 16.56 g..........
monosaccharides.................. 11.45 g..........
disaccharides......................... 3.59 g............
other carbs............................ 0.76 g............
fat - total................................ 0.50 g............ 0.77
saturated fat.......................... 0.08 g............ 0.40
mono fat................................. 0.02 g............ 0.08
poly fat................................... 0.14 g............. 0.58
cholesterol............................. 0.00 mg......... 0.00
water...................................... 115.82 g........
ash.......................................... 0.36 g............

Vitamins
nutrient amount %DV
vitamin A IU.......................... 73.14 IU......... 1.46
vitamin A RE......................... 6.90 RE.........
A - carotenoid....................... 6.90 RE......... 0.09
A - beta carotene.................. 28.15 mcg.....
thiamin - B1.......................... 0.02 mg......... 1.33
riboflavin - B2....................... 0.02 mg......... 1.18
niacin - B3............................. 0.11 mg......... 0.55
niacin equiv........................... 0.15 mg.........
vitamin B6............................. 0.07 mg......... 3.50
vitamin B12........................... 0.00 mcg....... 0.00
biotin...................................... 1.73 mcg......... 0.58
vitamin C............................... 7.87 mg.......... 13.12
vitamin E alpha equiv.......... 0.44 mg......... 2.20
vitamin E IU...................... ... 0.66 IU...........
vitamin E mg......................... 0.91 mg.........
folate...................................... 3.86 mcg........ 0.97
vitamin K............................... 3.00 mcg....... 3.75
pantothenic acid................... 0.08 mg......... 0.80

Minerals
nutrient amount %DV
calcium.................................. 9.66 mg......... 0.97
copper................................... 0.06 mg......... 3.00
iron......................................... 0.25 mg......... 1.39
magnesium........................... 6.90 mg......... 1.73
manganese........................... 0.06 mg......... 3.00
phosphorus........................... 9.66 mg......... 0.97
potassium............................. 158.70 mg....
selenium............................... 0.41 mcg........ 0.59
zinc........................................ 0.06 mg......... 0.40

Mono Fats
nutrient amount %DV
18:1 oleic.............................. 0.02 g

Poly Fats
nutrient amount %DV
18:2 linoleic.......................... 0.12 g
18:3 linolenic........................ 0.02 g

Other Fats
nutrient amount %DV
omega 3 fatty acids............. 0.02 g............ 0.80
omega 6 fatty acids............. 0.12 g............

Amino Acids
nutrient amount %DV
alanine................................... 0.01 g............
arginine................................. 0.01 g............
aspartate............................... 0.05 g............
glutamate.............................. 0.03 g............
glycine................................... 0.01 g............
isoleucine.............................. 0.01 g............ 0.87
leucine................................... 0.02 g............ 0.79
lysine..................................... 0.02 g............ 0.85
phenylalanine....................... 0.01 g............ 0.84
proline................................... 0.01 g............
serine.................................... 0.01 g............
threonine.............................. 0.01 g............ 0.81
tyrosine................................. 0.01 g............ 1.03
valine..................................... 0.01 g............ 0.68
Other
nutrient amount %DV
sugar alcohol......................... 0.79 g
sorbitol................................... 0.77 g
xylitol..................................... 0.01 g
organic acids......................... 764.11 mg
citric acid............................... 21.67 mg
lactic acid............................... 0.00 mg
malic acid............................... 742.44 mg

Pretty impressive isn’t it. If you would like to know about other natural whole foods and their nutrients check out the link on the left called nutrition values of whole foods.

Two Simple Cheap Dieting Secrets

2007-08-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

Eat most of your calories early in the day. If you were on 2000 calories a day diet, you would lose more weight by eating them all for breakfast and no more the rest of the day, than by eating them all for dinner. This has been proven in a small test study where people lost an average of 2.2 pounds when eatting only breakfast, where as when they consumed their calories in the evening they generally gained weight. The theory is calories consumed early in the day are more likely to be converted to energy than stored as fat.

Drink ice water. It will keep your body hydrated and helps you burn calories. If you were to drink eight 16 oz of ice water throughout the day it will burn about 200 calories. The reason it works is because the ice water has no calories but you burn calories to keep your body warm after it is cooled by the ice water.

Are you eating Enough Fresh Produce?

2007-08-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

Well Friday’s post was long but it really said well what I believe to be true. There are a lot of products available to us intended to better our health. Most people I know are taking medicine, vitamins and/or minerals to improve there health. I honestly believe many of the products people are taking today are not helping them and in some cases are detrimental to their well being. God had a beautiful plan and place for us in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately we no longer have an ideal place to live so we need to work at making it the best we can. Eating natural whole foods is a good start. Eating organically grown fresh raw fruits and vegetables is the best source of nutrients, enzymes, fulvic minerals and probiotics that I know of. I am not promoting that we all become vegetarians, but I do think we would do well to increase the amount of vegetables, fruits and berries we normally eat. Our own government is recommending 5 to 9 servings a day. For most of us that would be very difficult to do. Although not impossible it is hard to find a good source of fresh, organically grown produce. Add to this it should be a diverse array of different produce to get a good synergistic mix of nutrients and vitamins. Do the best you can and then consider a natural whole food supplement to help complete your diet. There are a few good ones available on the market today. Just be sure to pick one that is as close to the actual real raw whole foods as can be done.

Real or Synthetic: The Truth Behind Whole-Food Supplements

2007-08-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

By Daniel H. Chong, ND

Americans are now spending more than $17 billion a year on supplements for health and wellness. Strangely enough, the rates of some forms of chronic disease have not changed, while the rates of others have actually increased. There are a number of reasons for these poor statistics and many things remain a mystery.

One thing seems fairly clear, however. Most supplements aren't helping very much.

I'm not saying there are no helpful supplements out there. There certainly are. What is becoming more apparent, however, is supplements will not help much if one does not first address the necessary basics of health and healing.

What is also clear is that not all supplements are created equal. The basics of health and healing were discussed in another of my articles, The Six Foundations of Healing. I believe these areas must be addressed for true healing to occur in any chronic disease. In this article, I will discuss some things you should consider if you need to or want to take some supplements. Specifically, I will address the differences between whole foods versus synthetic or isolated nutritional supplements.

Whole Food Nutrients Vs. Synthetic, Isolated Nutrients

Most people who read the eHealthy News You Can Use newsletter are at least somewhat familiar with the idea that whole foods are better for you than refined foods. Although there are numerous viewpoints on what kind of foods we should or should not be eating, as well as the ideal ratio of these foods, everyone from all corners of the diet and nutrition world seems to agree on one thing: No matter which foods we choose and in what ratios we eat them, whole foods are better for you than refined foods.

This fact has never really been argued. Everyone agrees raw honey is better for you than white sugar or that brown rice is better for you than white rice. Why should it be any different for vitamins?

Often, I have been puzzled by the average naturopath or nutritionist who goes on and on about the value of whole foods and how refined foods -- having been robbed of all the extra nutrients they naturally come with -- are not healthy for you. Then, they go on to prescribe a shopping bag full of isolated, refined vitamins for you to take!

Just like refined foods, these refined vitamins have been robbed of all of the extra accessory nutrients that they naturally come with as well. In turn, like refined foods, they can create numerous problems and imbalances in your body if taken at high levels for long periods of time. They can also act more like drugs in your body, forcing themselves down one pathway or another. At the very least, they won't help you as much as high quality food and food-based supplements.

Whole Food Supplements

Whole food supplements are what their name suggests: Supplements made from concentrated whole foods. The vitamins found within these supplements are not isolated. They are highly complex structures that combine a variety of enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, trace elements, activators and many other unknown or undiscovered factors all working together synergistically, to enable this vitamin complex to do its job in your body.

Nutrients from within this complex cannot be taken apart or isolated from the whole, and then be expected to do the same job in the body as the whole complex is designed to do.

The perfect example of this difference can be seen in an automobile. An automobile is a wonderfully designed complex machine that needs all of its parts to be present and in place to function properly. Wheels are certainly an important part of the whole, but you could never isolate them from the rest of the car, call them a car or expect them to function like a car. They need the engine, body and everything else.

The same analogy applies to the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or vitamin E (delta tocopherol) you can find on most health food store shelves. They are parts of an entire complex that serve a purpose when part of the whole. However, they cannot do the job of the entire complex by themselves.

With similar logic in place, one can analyze what a typical multivitamin truly is. The automobile equivalent of creating a multivitamin would be going to a junk yard, finding all of the separate parts you would need to make up an entire automobile, throwing them together in a heap (or capsule in terms of the multivitamin) and expecting that heap to drive like a car!

Obviously, there is a difference. Science cannot create life. Only life can create life.

Synthetic or Isolated Nutritional Supplements

Isolated nutrients or synthetic nutrients are not natural, in that they are never found by themselves in nature. Taking these isolated nutrients, especially at the ultra-high doses found in formulas today, is more like taking a drug. Studies show the body treats these isolated and synthetic nutrients like xenobiotics (foreign substances).

By the same token, food-based supplements are never treated like this by your body. For example, your urine will never turn florescent yellow, no matter how much meat (a good source of B vitamins) you eat. This sort of rapid excretion happens only with foreign substances in your body.

Not only are isolated nutrients treated like drugs or other chemicals by your body. Like drugs, they can create problems for you too. Nature does not produce any nutrient in an isolated form. The nutrients in foods are blended together in a specific way and work best in that format. For an isolated nutrient to work properly in the body, it needs all the other parts that are naturally present in the food too.

If the parts are not all there from the start, they are taken from the body's stored supply. This is why isolated nutrients often work for a little while, then seem to stop working. Once your body's store of the extra nutrients is used up, the isolated nutrient you're taking doesn't work as well anymore. Worse yet, a deficiency in these extra nutrients can be created in your body.

And, because most nutrients are isolated from the foods they come in -- using a wide array of potentially nasty solvents and other chemicals -- taking high amounts of these products can also expose you to these potentially toxic chemicals, if care is not taken to remove them. With the burden we are already facing from the high number of chemicals in our environment, why would anyone want to add more?

Synergy and Potency

The various parts of a natural vitamin complex work together in a synergistic manner. Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Nutritionist Judith DeCava puts it best: "Separating the group of compounds (in a vitamin complex) converts it from a physiological, biochemical, active micronutrient into a disabled, debilitated chemical of little or no value to living cells. The synergy is gone."

In other words, the automobile, in its original form, will drive better than a pile of its individual parts. Most people don't follow this logic when examining a nutritional supplement.

Supplement makers typically try to stuff as much as possible in a capsule, telling us that the more we take, the better it is for us. This is simply not the case. As you now know, it is not necessarily the amount of a nutrient you ingest that is important, but its form and how much is bioavailable that counts the most. In fact, remembering that ingesting single nutrients can actually create imbalances in the body, logic would dictate the higher the level of a single nutrient that you take in, the quicker this imbalance will occur.

What all of this means: The potency of a supplement has much more to do with synergy than with actual nutrient levels. It is a combined effect of all the parts of the food, rather than the chemical effect of a single part, that is most important.

Don't Forget the Basics

I fear all of this talk of supplements -- food-based, isolated or synthetic -- has detracted from the most important part of health and healing. The basics of proper diet, exercise, detoxification, structure, mental/emotional and spiritual health must all be in order for true healing to occur. No supplement will work on its own if these foundations are not in place.

However, even when these foundations are in place, or if the situation is acute enough to necessitate a more immediate treatment response, supplement support may still be needed for a while. You may also want to take one or more food-based supplements to ensure you are getting an adequate array of nutrients in your diet. When these situations arise, I strongly recommend food-based supplements be your first choice.

Keys to a Good Nutritional Supplement

How do you tell whether or not a supplement you're looking at is a good choice? For starters, make sure it has the following characteristics:

It is as close as possible to its natural form.
The utmost care has been taken in all phases of its production, from growing its ingredients, to manufacturing, testing for potency and quality control.
It works! I always try to select from companies that have a long track record of providing high quality products that produce good clinical results.

Dr. Daniel Chong is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Canby, OR. His practice focuses on the management of "functional health conditions" such as digestion problems, hormonal imbalance, diabetes, fatigue and allergies. Aside from his private practice in Oregon, Dr. Chong is also available for consultations via telephone and the internet. He may be contacted at:

178 SW 2nd Ave.
Canby, OR 97013
503.266.4329
NaturalMedicineConsultations.com

Resources

Decava, Judith, The Real Truth About Vitamins and Antioxidants
Frost, Mary, Going Back to the Basics of Human Health
West, Bruce, Health Alert (Health and wellness newsletter)

Back to the Basics - Natural Whole Foods

2007-08-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

Back to Basics . . . Our Past Reveals the Future of Nutrition!
With natural whole food supplements and health awareness at an all-time high, why have health problems skyrocketed over the last 100 years? While our ancestors lived difficult lives, they were not burdened with many of the complicated health challenges we face today. So what has changed in our modern world? What is the secret to enjoying the health and vitality experienced by our forefathers?

The answer is simple and indisputable: Live Whole Food Nutrition!
For centuries, our ancestors received nourishment from whole food sources; Vegetables, berries, seeds, greens, sprouts, fruits, grains and nuts grown in chemical and pesticide free soil – soil that was rich in probiotics, fulvic acid, enzymes and minerals.

In today’s world, our bodies still require the complete balance of pure nutrients and energy provided by live whole foods. The modern demands of our fast-paced world have led to the processing of food to the point of non-nutrition. Authentic food value has been sacrificed for convenience. Natural whole foods have been replaced with chemically modified products that can promote illness and disease. Today we are not only eating food – our food is eating us. In an attempt to counteract the impact of poor nutrition, we supplement our diet with “processed nutrition” in the form of isolated synthetic vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are only slightly more beneficial than the processed foods that created the problem!

The URI solution to the nutritional crisis facing our world is pretty simple … “Back to Basics” Back to a complete balance of live whole-foods, just the way that nature intended for healthy living. Supplementing your diet with URI live whole food nutritional products provide that balance. Feed your body the live whole food nutrition your body knows, Nutrition your body needs.

Get “Back to Basics” with naturally powerful, naturally pure, naturally complete, live whole food nutrition… only from URI International

ORAC Count

2007-08-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

How do you know if your supplement is any good? Supplement companies are looking for ways to prove their product is good for you. At first we just got a lot of hype but now science is producing a few tests to quantify the value of a supplement for the human body. One of those ways is called ORAC or ORAC count.

WHAT IS ORAC?

ORAC has become the latest "buzz" word in the nutritional industry. ORAC is an abbreviation for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - a method of measuring the overall antioxidant activity of the particular ingredient, food or product being tested.

The higher the ORAC value, the more antioxidant power.

The ORAC test was developed once scientists became aware that phytonutrients such as antioxidants found in fruits & berries have such powerful health benefits. In fact berries were found to be the highest on the ORAC scale!

The greatest protection is provided when a variety of foods high in these nutrients are combined, in a synergistic mix.

An intake of 3,000-5,000 ORAC units per day is recommended for a significant health boosting impact. Because most people are already getting a portion of this value from their regular diet, research suggests supplementing the diet by at least 1000-2500 ORAC units per day.

Do you know the ORAC value of your supplement????

What is Natural Whole Food Supplementing?

2007-08-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Let me start this Blog with my definition of natural whole food supplementing. In the simplest meaning it is a concentrated form of natural food nutrients. This can be a liquid, a powdered mix or some sort of pill or capsule. I personally prefer drinks because I do not like to swallow pills. And I have found most of them to be very large in size and quantity for your daily dose. The drinks are cool because you can take them straight as they come or mix them with other ingredients. The point is the supplements are made from real grown food, like fruits, vegetables, grains, sprouts, nuts and seeds. There are no man made products (synthetics) or inorganic compounds. They are in a concentrated form so you get the nutritional value but not all the calories. You consume them to supplement your existing diet to provide a synergistic balance to the food you eat each day.