Today on his television talk show, Dr. Oz revealed four supplements for reducing belly bulge.

Each supplement, says Dr Oz, addresses belly bulge from a unique angle:

• 7-Keto revs up your metabolism
• Forskolin literally melts your fat cells away
• Caraway seeds combat bloating
• and Relora regulates the stress hormone, Cortisol

Oz noted that these four are not meant to be combined to form some sort of super supplement. You should determine the cause that is most likely at the root of your belly bulge, and choose the appropriate remedy.
 

4 Belly Blasting Supplements: A Closer Look

7-Keto is a natural hormone bi-product which stimulates the thyroid gland and converts fat to muscle. We make less of it starting in our 30s. The great thing about 7-Keto is that it helps us restore a high metabolism, and then freezes it there. 200 mg/day (100 mg am, 100 mg pm) was suggested.

Forskolin is found in the root of an herbal plant in the mint family. It acts like a furnace in your cells that literally melts the fat away. 125 mg/day was suggested.

what if you could signal
the same pleasure sensation —
only, without the carbs?
Well, that’s exactly
what saffron extract does.”

Caraway Seeds fight bloating. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and they are a natural digestive aid. Essentially, they inhibit the bad bacteria that converts food into gas. They also relax the intestinal tract. Eating a handful after every other meal was suggested.

Relora helps to regulate the stress hormone, Cortisol — the #1 cause of weight gain. Taking 250 mg, 3x/day (i.e. at every meal) was suggested.

Now, to be clear, these supplements are not replacements for a healthy lifestyle. They are intended to give you a little extra push, while being used in conjunction with diet (meaning healthy eating habits, of course) and exercise. However, there is a little something else you can add into the mix…
 

Natural Appetite Suppressant

The philosophy behind implementing satiereal saffron extract as an appetite suppressant is really quite clever. Dr. Oz explains that emotional eating causes us to crave carbs. The carbs stimulate a pleasure sensation that provides us with some emotional relief.

The problem here is that the carbs also pack on the pounds. So, what if you could signal the same pleasure sensation — only, without the carbs? Well, that’s exactly what saffron extract does.

Dr. Oz decided to test the research first hand. He had two women take the extract for 3 days. At the end of the 3 days, one woman lost 3 pounds and the other lost 5.

 
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Sustaining our happiness in life — and increasing our happiness over time — hinges on our ability to be extremely honest with ourselves. One area in particular where humans find it difficult to be honest with themselves is: the relationship.

Understanding our true relationship motivators is challenging because, though we like to think that we have complete clarity about why-we-want-what-we-want, the fact is our beliefs about romance are an ideology born from of our:

• biology (especially hormones)
• childhood experiences
• family of origin
• culture
• current circumstances
• and — let’s face it — the thousands of hours of television and movies we’ve watched over the years.

 
This ideology we’ve created in our brains may or may not be compatible with how relationships actually work successfully.
 

The Romantic Relationship

In the beginning of a courtship especially, we desire romance.

Ah, romance. Romance has a delicious, hard-to-define quality that goes beyond just “attraction.” There’s a spontaneity there. A mystery that we want to hold as a mystery, without ever solving it.

We delight in romance — even crave it — because we have an intrinsic need to have our feelings cherished and our thoughts respected by a person with whom we are sexually bonded. Romance blends passion with friendship. A deep interest in one-another’s thoughts and feelings is what makes it more than merely a sexual adventure.

But like all reductive approaches to understanding, what we come to find is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and dissecting these motivations will only take us so far. So fear not: the mystery is still alive!
 

Why We Turn Romance into Marriage

In his book, The Evolution of Desire, David Buss examines research results from a Harvard study involving 10,000 participants. Each was interviewed extensively to determine their true motivations for taking that step from romance to marriage — and their answers were not what one might expect. Where you might assume answers like:

• “tradition”
• “it’s what people do” (social convention)
• “to symbolize our love”
• “to demonstrate our commitment”…

the most common answers were actually far more pragmatic; mostly, people confided that their primary reason for marriage was one of these two:

• dependable sensuality
• financial security

Sex and money: the two big energy systems on the planet that — though they’re not exactly politically correct topics when speaking of marriage — can be deeply spiritual systems through which we experience and demonstrate our compassion and understanding in earthly ways.
 

Emergence:
 
That Certain Something Else in a Relationship

Many couples work to take to their relationships to another level — beyond convenience, beyond romance, beyond co-parenting. They want something else.

“In love” is often little more than code for romantic chemistry based on biological bonding that is deeply rooted in sex. Likewise, “security” is often code for financial freedom.

No, this something else runs even deeper. It’s a sort of spiritual teamwork, but it reaches even deeper than values. Perhaps, ultimately, it’s about being a piece of whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It could be that a marriage is most spiritual when it leaves the world a better place as a result of its dynamic love. It’s about emergence.

What do you believe is the real, primary reason that many humans choose to mate for life? Please comment below.
 
 
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What is the best protein powder, and should it be an ingredient in your green smoothies?

A green smoothie is a thick, blended drink that has the consistency of a milkshake, but is made from fresh, healthy ingredients, including (and this is key) vegetables. These delicious shakes are not always the color green (though often they are); sometimes they are red or purple (but they always have at least one green ingredient, hence the name).
 

your body might require extra protein on workout days”

 
Powders are often not required in green smoothies. Raw seeds and nuts are an effective, rich and tasty way to get high-quality protein into smoothies (for extra high quality, those seeds and nuts can also be sprouted).

But some people, particularly athletes, like a bit more protein in their smoothies. You might want some extra protein too, especially on workout days. So what is the best protein powder on the market (in this case, by “best” I mean what I personally believe to be the most effective, natural and healthiest — based on the many, many powders that I have tried). I tend to stick with (soy-free) plant protein and whey protein. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites!
 

Best Protein Powder: The Rundown

Here are 5 that I like very much (including their approximate prices according to Amazon):

• Nativa’s Hemp Protein – $15 (16 ounce pouch)
• Vega (Chai flavor) – $49 (that’s for a huge 34.9 ounce tub)
• Lifetime Nutritional Specialties: Life’s Basics Plant Protein Vanilla – $17 (18.6 ounce tub)
• Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein – $41 (that’s for an enormous 2.2 pound bag)
• Biotics Whey Protein – $30 (16 ounce tub)

Weighing-in on Protein

Our protein needs depend upon several variables (lifestyle, age, size). Nutritionists generally break down the daily minimum protein in grams via a simple equation:

• weight in pounds times .37 = minimum grams of protein/day
• weight in kilograms times .8 = minimum grams of protein/day

 
According to the above formula, a person who weighs 150 pounds requires a minimum of 55 grams of protein per day. A 200-pound person would want 74 grams.

Active people perhaps need more — athletes especially; how much more is dependent on variables like duration and intensity of workout.

Sports and workouts involve taxing muscle beyond what is easily comfortable, and that muscle tissue requires restoration after the exercise session. This is when quality protein is invaluable.

Marathon Runners might require 50% more protein than a sedentary person. Body Builders might require 200% more; however, all of this is hotly contested — so many experts with so many differing opinons. Some Nutritionists use total calorie intake to determine the necessary protein intake, but calorie intake does not exist in a vacuum. There may be plenty of reasons we are cutting calories, but that doesn’t always therefore mean that we need to be cutting protein, too.
 

Protein Controversy

So, what does this all add up to? Well, it depends who you ask. There are those who say that the average American gets enough protein without even thinking about it — even if he or she is an athlete. There are those who say that we tend to treat protein as the main course of our meals, when it should be viewed as more of a side dish. These generalizations make for a coarse filter.

calculate the grams based on your weight,
adjust for activity level…and voila!”

You know what you weigh (hopefully), and you know how active you are (hopefully). We all know that protein is fundamental. We all know that the more active we are, the more our muscle fibers enjoy having access to protein.

Perhaps this is easier than we make it out to be. I try not to worry myself with what the average American does. If those who say that the average American gets enough protein unconsciously are right — in an abstract sense — so be it. It may not be that relevant to me as an individual because averages aren’t always great at accounting for unique differences. You can take a sample, run tests, and divide your results by the number of participants — but what you come up with will not perfectly represent a single one of their unique situations. I prefer instead to calculate the grams based on my weight, adjust for activity level…and voila! There’s no reason to ignore your protein intake based on generalizations founded on assumptions (or vice versa). Listen carefully and closely to your own body. Really listen, and it will usually tell you what it needs.

Aspartame, a sweetener found in most protein powders, is another subject of great controversy. Apparently, there have been studies linking it to a plethora of health problems. This is a highly debated issue, and I’ll just say that it makes sense to me — under the circumstances — to avoid the protein powders that contain it.
 

Best Protein Powder: The Bottom Line?

Including protein powder in your green smoothie is a matter of preference (and is more of a consideration for athletes who might not get enough from sprouted seeds or nuts). Some form of protein in your green smoothies is definitely a good idea, but whether or not protein powder is an important ingredient should be determined on an individual basis. If you do decide to go with a powder, keep in mind that not all are created equal. Choose wisely!

By the way, what I do is mix all five of those powders together in equal parts in a big container — for me, that’s the best protein powder! That’s more work than most people want to do on behalf of protein, but I like to do it that way because it keeps the final product from being too sweet or too bitter, and, it makes it less expensive than just using Vega alone (it’s an upfront investment to purchase all five, but then it lasts a long, long time). Like I said, that’s what I do, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

What’s your favorite protein powder?
 
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The founder of modern holistic medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil, visited the set of the Doctor Oz television talk show this week to share his latest secrets for excellent health — easy tips that can help people to feel better… and to look better! The two doctors discussed natural ways to lose body fat and how to make anti-cancer “super meals.”

The doctors also revealed simple tips to improve the brain, the heart, the digestive system, immunity, and how to live life in better balance.

Feel Better:
 
4 Quick Tips to Tune-Up Your Body’s Systems

• The Brain ~ Huperzine A & Phosphatidyl are compounds that can help improve memory (consult you doctor first — Huperzine A can arguably be classified as a drug as opposed to a supplement).
• The Heart ~ Red Yeast Rice Extract and Niacin are helpful with cholesterol. Niacin is a smart supplement to start out with (it’s akin to B3, but significantly higher than a vitamin dose). This can be much healthier for the muscles and liver than the pharmaceutical alternatives. Use under your doctor’s direction (not everyone has high cholesterol).
• Digestion ~ Having great digestion can really help you to feel better. Diet is the best way to get your fiber, but Dr. Weil suggests a whopping 40 grams/day. So you can supplement your high-fiber diet with Psyllium Husk fiber if necessary (mix with plenty of water).
• Immunity ~ Dr. Weil recommends Vitamin A (mixed carotenoids), Vitamin C (low dosage), Vitamin E, Selenium, and CQ10.

Here’s the thing. You shouldn’t have to take a hundred pills a day. Many food-based multivitamins can help you feel better over the longterm as they contain the majority of the nutrients you need — check the ingredients to be sure.
 

Look Better:
 
2 Easy Ways to Melt the Tension from Your Face

If you want to feel better and look better in your day-to-day life, you must keep your stress levels as low as possible (consistent, low-level stress is a true ager to the human body).
 

Conscious Breathing: When You Feel Better, You Look Better

Dr. Weil shares a scientifically proven breathing technique. Just remember: 4-7-8.

• Inhale for a 4 count
• Hold for a 7 count
• Exhale for an 8 count

Now, repeat the above 4 times in a row.

This is to be done 2 times per day.

Change the Lens through which You See the World

Dr. Weil reveals the benefits to feeling grateful, and expressing it. Giving one’s attention to the things that help a person to feel grateful — for just one week — has been shown to boost one’s mood for up to 6 months, reports Weil.

Dr Oz: Latest Weightloss Tricks

Dr. Oz is pretty much a genius at keeping an eye on the latest grocery store items that can serve as an improvement over typical snacks in the standard American diet. Here, he reveals his latest grocery store finds:

• Instead of chips, try Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks. You could lose 13.5 lbs. in a year just from this one trick, reports Dr. Oz
• Instead of your regular old beans, try Adzuki Beans
• Instead of peanut butter, try almond nut butter
• Instead of fruit juice, try vegetable juice. You could lose 8 lbs. in a year

Feel Better with a Boost!

• Instead of your morning coffee, try Matcha Tea. It has 10 times the anti-oxidants of green tea (let boiled water cool before adding tea bag for better flavor)
• Instead of your regular old beans, try Adzuki Beans
• Instead of your regular soda, add Kola Nut Extract and a healthy sweetener to your Club Soda or Seltzer Water
• Instead of cookies, try Snaque

Also on the show this week, Dr. Weil showed Dr. Oz Lastly how to make his once-per-week anti-cancer super meal, Pasta Puttanesca with tuna — here is the recipe. It looks delicious (though for me, personally, I would have fresh tomatoes instead of canned, and I would have raw zucchini shreds in place of the pasta).
 

The Big Takeaway from this Episode of Dr. Oz

You don’t have to completely replace all of your old habits. Moderation continues to be an excellent strategy for adopting new changes to your lifestyle and helping those changes become permanent.

Instead of making many big changes all at once, try biting off a little change at a time. Be consistent, but be gradual, and that way you will experience a more enjoyable — and lasting — transition into better and healthier living!
 
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Cupid phones you up and invites you to a Valentines Day potluck at his place. You tell him you’re all-set and not interested in a fix up, but he assures you it’s not a matchmaking party — it’s a potluck to celebrate romance!

You’re not sure what to bring to a celebration of romance. Dessert, perhaps? But Cupid makes it clear: “I want you to bring the one best quality you have to offer in a romantic relationship.”
 

Valentines Day: Are You Still Celebrating Romance?

It’s the evening of Cupid’s potluck. As you approach the house, you see other guests heading up to the front door. Many of them look interesting and fun, and you get that pre-party ripple of excitement in your stomach.

don’t come to the party empty-handed
and expect to have a good time.”

You continue your approach, carrying a large pot containing your best quality. You clench your contribution to the potluck, uncertain what others will bring, and slightly nervous. Your stomach knots-up.
 

The Relationship Table

When you arrive at the door, Cupid greets you warmly and points to a large table at the end of the room. “Welcome! So glad you could make it! Bring your quality in and set it there on the table,” he instructs cheerfully.

As you enter, you notice a few of the other guests have arrived empty-handed.

Setting your large bowl on the table, you notice an eager expression from those nearby as you prepare to remove the lid.

Everyone smiles and makes delighted “Oh!” sounds.

You are relieved. You realize your romantic quality is going to be a hit at Cupid’s table. Your stomach unknots, and you are ready to enjoy a relaxed, fun-filled evening!
 

The Parable of Cupid’s Potluck

Valentines Day serves as a gentle reminder that we must periodically tend to the romantic energy system at play within our own lives.

Many people focus on what Cupid is going to bring them. This is backwards. After all, it’s his party, and it’s tacky to show up empty-handed — especially when you have so much to offer. Give the guy something to work with, so he can be a good host.

In the business world, parties bring what they have to offer “to the table” and a deal is struck. What if romantic relationships worked the same way? What stellar quality could you offer in romance?

Perhaps you are:

• Good at cherishing others’ feelings?
• Good at helping others to feel seen and heard and tended to?
• Good at helping others to feel respected?
• Compassionate?
• Brilliant?
• Scintillating?
• A good provider?
• A good lover?

Whether you are hoping to find new romance, or simply to improve the romantic relationship you already have, the concept of what you bring to the love table will help you to cultivate that properly. Come alone or bring a date — just don’t come to the party empty-handed and expect to have a good time.

 
What are you bringing to the Relationship Table?

 
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How do other people see your age and appearance?

This week on Dr Oz — the hit tv talk show about becoming healthier — Doctor Oz had a guest who conducted a big campaign to find out whether people who thought they looked old, were also perceived as old by others.

Speaking personally, while I honor my own silver hair and wrinkles — hey, I figure I earned them and I don’t mind looking wisened — I also must admit that it’s important to me that my appearance align with how I feel on the inside.

In other words, if I feel tired, then I don’t mind looking tired. I figure, congruency is healthy. However, if I feel fit and energized, and I look in the mirror and see fatigue, then that tells me it’s time to turn up the dail on my grooming regimen!

They organized a huge poll — via all the usual social media suspects — to determine particular people’s perceived age. On the show, one woman shared her story from the experiment. Her perceived age turned out to be, on average, about 53 — nine years older than her true age! Needless to say, this was devastating; but Dr. Oz had some intriguing solutions.

Appearance Made 10 Years Younger, without Surgery?

Dr Oz offered the woman who looked older than her age some thought-provoking ideas:

• Got crow’s feet?     Oz idea: try Argireline — a topical cream that works like Botox
• Under-eye bags?     Oz idea: try parsley tea ice cubes
• Sagging skin under the neck?     Oz idea: try Retinoid Cream (but only once/week)
• Dull skin-tone?     Oz idea: try exfoliating mask made from tomato, sea salt, and honey

Here at instantDane.tv, we’re big fans of the Dr Oz show ~
we think it’s television that makes a positive difference!
If you’re a fan, too, we invite you to leave your comments below;
let us know your favorite moments from the show!

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How to cheat on your diet to ignite your weightloss?

On this television show, Doctor Oz — the talented heart surgeon and talk show personality — has created Fat-urday: the one day each week that you are allowed to cheat and eat the foods you love.

Technically, your cheat day can be more than once a week. The rule is that you need to have at least five days between each Fat-urday. And, believe it or not, cheating properly will actually help you lose weight!
 

there are ways to cheat your diet
without cheating yourself.”

Fat-urday is your Cheat Day

People who cheat lose more weight, and the reason is two-fold:

• cheating stimulates the thyroid gland and turns up the metabolism
• cheating gets rid of the taboo of wanting what you can’t have, thereby curbing cravings

 
You may be asking yourself, “how does this work?” Well, it’s not a binge day. Here’s the skinny:

1. Choose your Fat-urday
2. Eliminate binge temptations (often associated with location)
3. Create your Fat-urday Schedule (which consists of 3 meals and 2 snacks):

 
•   breakfast – Fat-urday breakfast wrap with turkey bacon

 

•   snack #1 – Brie or Goat Cheese with crackers (salt craving)

 

•   lunch – pizza with whole wheat crust (simple carbs turns on the thyroid)

 

•   snack #2 – frozen yogurt with almonds (simple sugars craving)

 

•   dinner – steak frites with baked fries (protein)

 
This is just a simple overview, but this cheat day actually comes in at under 1400 calories. It is a cheat day, so that 1400 leaves you with some wiggle-room to indulge in some other healthy cheats. Here are some healthy alternatives!

  ~   If you like potato chips, try Taro Chips

  ~   If you like chocolate, try dark chocolate bars with chili peppers (the spice makes it self-limiting, and the capzasin gets your metabolism going)

  ~   If you like cookies, try Lucy’s Cookies

  ~   If you like ice cream, try green tea ice cream (and get all of the benefits of green tea)
 
Pick the one that fits your snacking weakness! Dr. Oz suggests freezing a natural whipped topping, like Truwhip, as an ice cream alternative.

Funniest Line from this Episode

Dr. Oz referred to the Fat-urday Schedule as “structured hedonism,” which has a nice ring to it.
 

The Big Takeaway

Well, it appears there are ways to cheat your diet and ways to cheat the clock without cheating yourself. Now, that’s what I like to hear.
 
 

Here at instantDane.tv, we’re big fans of the Dr Oz show ~
we think it’s television that makes a positive difference!
If you’re a fan, too, we invite you to leave your comments below;
let us know your favorite moments from the show!

 
 
To find out 12 Ways to Add 12+ Years to Your Lifespan,
subscribe to our free Longevity e-Newsletter below.
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We all have our priorities, and some things obviously take precedence over others. But in an age of increasing abstraction, we can become so overwhelmed that we lose sight of things. Essentially, we go into information overload-mode and everything is sort of put on a level playing field — filed away under the catch-all category of “tasks.”
 

Priorities in the Age of Information Overload

We are part of a global civilization which is becoming exponentially more complex.

The addition of virtual reality into our everyday lives has spread us even thinner. We are acquainted with more people than ever before. We can, and do, have instantaneous communication with people living 12,000 miles away! As civilization increases in complexity, our daily lives — both real and virtual — respond in-kind.

There’s a competition for your mind. It sounds like the plot of a science fiction film. In reality, it’s just a fact of capitalism in the digital age. Companies are competing for the psychic space of individuals. And it’s not just corporations competing for your attention; Facebooking, searching, emailing, and texting are inundating us on equally staggering curves.

Information is doubling on a curve that would stand your hair on end. The implications down the road are a giant question mark. The rate of information doubling simply renders prediction — an act based on extrapolation of current norms — impossible.

Let’s take a gander at some of the numbers:

• 1 A.D.: From this point forward, the first doubling of all available information did not occur until 1500 A.D.
• The next doubling occurred around 1750…just 250 years
• The next doubling occurred around 1900…just 150 years
• The next doubling was 1950…just 50 years
• The next doubling was 1960…just 10 years
• Then 1967…just 7 years
• Then 1973…just 6 years
• By 1982, the rate was every 3 years.
• By 1990, the rate was every 18 months

 
Today, it would be rather conservative to estimate that we experience more change in a year than was previously experienced in a millenium!

Historically, information doubling is the stuff that shifts paradigms (It’s an interesting exercise to look at the above dates and match up the corresponding historical shifts).
 

The 6 Fundamental Priorities

So, what are the implications today? Well, the more overwhelmed a person feels, the more every item holding space in his or her mind tends toward equal importance.

Our priorities blur.

If picking up your dry cleaning is on the same list as helping your son with a homework problem — and both are conceptualized as nothing more than tasks that need to be checked-off so that you can move on to the next one — something is amiss. As readers of this site know, I am a huge advocate of checklists. There’s nothing like scratching completed tasks off of your list. But not all tasks are created equal.

we need to be cognizant of the three-dimensional nature
of our two-dimensional lists.”

 



 
 
Often, we have default systems of prioritization that skew our relational lives. So, as we look at our various task lists, let us remember to periodically step back, step up, and see our lives from a broader perspective.

First, evaluate how you allocate your time, on average, each day. Here, there are little, practical things you can do to reduce the noise: turn off the television, say “no” to some invitations, limit your email exposure.

Next, and most importantly, see if your priorities are aligned with these 6 fundametal priorities:

1. honoring your physical health so that it can thrive
2. honoring your relationship with your spouse so that it can thrive
3. honoring your relationships with your children so that they can thrive
4. honoring your revenue-producing activities so that your career can thrive
5. honoring the relationship with the givers in your life so that your friendships can thrive
6. honoring your relationship with the planet so that you can leave it better off than you found it

 
We need to be cognizant of the relational, three-dimensional nature of our two-dimensional lists. Intellectually, we already know that not all tasks are created equal, but sometimes we slip into autopilot and an objective assessment of our lives reflects muddled priorities.

There are other priorities in life beyond these six listed above, but start with these six first. They are the fundamentals and to return to them is to refocus on what matters most. We express our spirituality and purpose best in earthly ways.
 
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There is a denial in our society about body fat. This denial can be traced to a shift in norms.

What we, as a society, begin to see as normal, still does not shift the effect on our bodies! In other words, if a person is 15 pounds into the overweight-zone, they may look perfectly acceptable from a cosmetic standpoint. However, overweight is a medical term, not simply a cosmetic one.

there seems to be an amazing solution
that is being omitted from the conversation”

The fact is that most medical disorders can be traced to surplus body fat. An excess of body fat increases the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Simply put: overweight people do not live as long.
 

The Skinny on Body Fat

We accumulate excess body fat for two reasons:

• fat cells become bloated from excess calories
• fat cells become dysfunctional, impairing the burning of fatty acids for energy

 
Until recently, we’ve remained unaware of a direct solution for targeting the mechanisms responsible for these for these bloated and dysfunctional fat cells.

A recent survey suggests that approximately 30% of overweight Americans believe they are within normal range, and 70% of obese Americans believe they are simply in the overweight range.

There are those who believe that the medical community has really dropped the ball on this issue. In fact, some go so far as to claim that doctors who do not take aggressive action to reduce overweight patients’ fat mass are committing malpractice. Telling them to diet and exercise might not cut it — and there could a new solution to aid in weight loss.
 

Anti-Adipocyte Plant Extracts
 
Have Transformative Impact on the Human Body

Adipocyte is simply the technical term for fat cells. So, you can surmise the meaning of Anti-Adipocyte! This is potentially exciting stuff — not just for our appearance, but for our health!

The Life Extension Foundation reports that, of the more than a thousand plants that scientists evaluated (to see which effectively inhibit fat accumulation and enhance fat-burning) there were
two that demonstrated significant biological effects:

• sphaeranthus indicus flower
• mangosteen fruit

Here is an article from Life Extension that provides all of the nitty gritty details of the study. Suffice it to say, the figures are remarkable!
 
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by Jim Harris
 
When I was a practicing dentist I was well aware that the state of the oral tissues was a good indicator of my client’s general health. As a naturopath I realize that other physical clues, like the condition of the fingernails or hair, can tell me a lot about an individual’s overall health status.
 

Look at Your Fingernails for Health Clues

Have you ever seen fingernails that were splitting, cracking, chipping, peeling or layering?

White spots on nails are very common also.

Most nutritionists will say white spots can be remedied if a proper amount of zinc is added to the daily diet via supplementation; however, this only works if digestion is optimal for zinc absorption!

Sadly, digestion issues are amongst the most common symptoms I see with my clients. Without absorbing ionized zinc into the blood stream the symptom of white spots in the fingernails remains, no matter how much zinc is ingested.
 

You’re Ingesting Nutrients,
 
but Is Your Body Absorbing Them?

The Zinc in Your Body

An acid medium in the stomach is required to cleave the zinc from the material that it’s chemically bound to. Zinc comes in many forms; zinc oxide, gluconate, asparate and so on. It doesn’t matter what the form is, if the conditions in the stomach aren’t correct, the zinc will stay bound to the molecule and not be a free ion for active use within the body. This is true for all minerals, not just zinc.

Good health for your fingernails also requires other trace minerals, along with amino acids from protein and calcium, all of which need healthy digestion to become bio-available.
 

How Much Vitamin D Are You Getting Each Day?

I’ve talked about vitamin D in the past and its role in bone health (and reducing inflammation and pain, as well as the risk of colorectal cancer). Vitamin D plays a similar role for nail health! For most adults, 4000IU is a safe dose.
 

…vitamin D is so crucial to thyroid function
that its status has now been elevated by researchers to co-hormone.
We now know that the variability of thyroid to work or not work in your body
is dependent upon the presence of Vitamin D,
making it not just of benefit, but absolutely essential”
                      ~ Richard Shames, MD

Make Friends with Your Thyroid Gland

An often-overlooked factor when it comes to nail health is the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland (through the production of hormones) affects our basal metabolic rate. The thyroid’s effect on the rate of protein synthesis affects fingernails.

If metabolic rate is slowed down due to an under-active thyroid gland, this is reflected in the nails as the body prioritizes where the protein will go (fingernails would be low on the priority list for overall health and takes a back seat to the heart muscle, as an example). A healthy thyroid gland extrapolates to healthy protein synthesis and potentially healthy hair and fingernails.
 
The take-home message here is, that when the nails lack a healthy appearance, look beyond the nails to find what the underlying cause is!

 
Jim Harris is a Naturopath and Nutritional Consultant assisting people all over the world through his virtual practice at The Art of Wellness Center. Jim is a graduate from the American Naturopathic Medical Institute and recognizes that our bodies have the innate capability for self-healing — especially when the correct information and energy is supplied in combination with the correct food, supplements and herbs. You can reach Jim directly at: theartofwellness@earthlink.net