Dried fruits are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage. Some of the most popular dried fruits include raisins, cranberries, apricots, and figs.

Dark chocolate is also a good source of antioxidants. It is also a good source of fiber, iron, and magnesium. Dark chocolate has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including improved heart health, blood sugar control, and cognitive function.

When you combine dried fruits and dark chocolate, you get a dessert that is both delicious and healthy. The dried fruits provide the sweetness, while the dark chocolate provides the antioxidants and other nutrients. This dessert is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without sacrificing your health.

Here are some of the specific health benefits of this dessert

• Improved heart health: The antioxidants in dried fruits and dark chocolate can help protect your heart from damage.
• Blood sugar control: The fiber in dried fruits can help slow down the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream, which can help control blood sugar levels.
• Cognitive function: The antioxidants in dark chocolate can help improve cognitive function, including memory and learning.
• Weight loss: The fiber in dried fruits can help you feel full, which can help you eat less and lose weight.

This recipe is a healthy and delicious way to get your daily dose of fruits and nuts. Dried fruits are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, while nuts are a good source of protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Dark chocolate is also a good source of antioxidants, and it has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including improved heart health, blood sugar control, and cognitive function.

The health benefits of eating dark chocolate

Here are some additional tips for making this dessert even healthier:

• Use organic dried fruits.
• Use dark chocolate that is at least 70% cocoa.
• Use a sugar-free dark chocolate.
• Add other healthy ingredients to the dessert, such as nuts, seeds, or oats.
• Add fresh or frozen blueberries or other berries if you are going to consume within a few days! A wonderful addition.

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dried fruit, such as apricots, cranberries, cherries, dates, figs, or raisins
• 1/4 cup nut butter, such as almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 scoop ImmunoPower Gold or Greens
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• ¼ cup coconut oil or butter
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, combine the dried fruit, nut butter, ImmunoPower and water. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed.
2. Spoon the fruit mixture into cake pan or pie shell. Press down.
3. Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil or butter in a small saucepan over low heat or in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each.
4. Drizzle the chocolate mixture over the fruit medley. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.
5. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.

Tips:

• For a chewier snack, you can blend the fruit and nut butter together in a food processor until they form a sticky dough. Then, press the dough into a 9×13 inch baking dish lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until the dough is firm. Cut into bars and enjoy.
• You can use any type of dried fruit you like in this recipe. Some other good options include blueberries, raspberries, mangoes, and dates.
• If you don’t have butter, you can use mashed banana or applesauce instead.
• Adjust coconut oil and/or butter to adjust softness of chocolate

Easy to make dairy free salad dressings

No Bake Dessert – Dried Fruit, Nuts and Dark Chocolate

This homemade dessert with a dried fruit base, soaked in water with dark chocolate drizzled on top is a delicious and healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth. It is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and it can help improve your heart health, blood sugar control, cognitive function, and weight loss.

If you are looking for a healthy and delicious dessert option, this is a great choice.

Enjoy!

The post Healthy No Bake Dessert – Dried Fruit, Nuts and Dark Chocolate appeared first on ImmunoPower Nutrition.

Our bodies naturally maintain a slightly alkaline pH level of around 7.4. However, certain factors, such as stress, poor diet, and environmental toxins, can cause our bodies to become more acidic. This can lead to a number of health problems, including fatigue, weight gain, headaches, and chronic pain.

Flush Toxins

Alkaline smoothies can help to counteract acidity and restore our bodies’ natural balance. The alkaline ingredients in these smoothies can help to flush out toxins, improve digestion, and boost the immune system.

Benefits of Alkaline Smoothies:

• Improved digestion. Alkaline smoothies can help to improve digestion by neutralizing stomach acid and reducing inflammation in the gut. This can help to relieve symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and constipation.
• Boosted immune system. The alkaline ingredients in smoothies can help to boost the immune system by providing antioxidants and nutrients that fight off infection.
• Reduced inflammation. Alkaline smoothies can help to reduce inflammation throughout the body by providing anti-inflammatory nutrients such as quercetin and beta-carotene.
• Weight loss. Alkaline smoothies can help with weight loss by providing a healthy and filling snack or meal. They are also low in calories and fat, and they can help to boost metabolism.
• Increased energy levels. Alkaline smoothies can help to increase energy levels by providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They can also help to improve sleep quality, which can lead to increased energy levels during the day.

Is Salt Really Good For You?

If you are looking for a healthy and delicious way to boost your health, alkaline smoothies are a great option. There are many different recipes available, so you can find one that fits your taste and dietary needs.

Alkaline Smoothie Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 scoop ImmunoPower
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of almond milk
• 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon organic honey
• 4-5 ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

This smoothie is packed with alkaline ingredients that are beneficial for your health. The spinach is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as magnesium and calcium. The banana is a good source of potassium and vitamin B6. The almond milk is a good source of protein and calcium. The chia seeds are a good source of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. The spirulina powder is a good source of protein, antioxidants, and other nutrients.

Homemade Salad Dressings

Delicious Alkaline Smoothie

This smoothie is a great way to start your day or as a healthy snack. It is also vegan and gluten-free. So, if you are looking for a healthy and delicious alkaline smoothie that is good for your body, give this alkaline smoothie recipe a try.

The post Alkaline Smoothie Recipe appeared first on ImmunoPower Nutrition.

Your Organs and Tissues Need Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential trace mineral, which operates on a cellular level and accumulates in organs and tissues. It is a cofactor for hundreds of enzymes and therefore involved in more than 300 regulatory and biochemical functions such as energy production; synthesis of essential molecules (DNA, RNA and proteins); hormonal pathways and regulation of other minerals (calcium, copper, zinc, potassium) and vitamin D in the body. Magnesium is also necessary to get calcium into bone matter and plays a structural role in making strong bones and teeth with calcium and vitamin D. This is what contributes to us getting healthier. It is required for temperature regulations, transmission of nerve impulses, detoxification in the liver, and for optimal functioning of all systems in the body such as nervous, muscular, cardiovascular and excretory systems.

Besides, these myriad functions, magnesium is the vitally important mineral that works as an electrolyte and maintain electrical stability of every cell in the body especially the heart, muscles, brain and kidneys. Therefore, magnesium deficiency makes people susceptible to a wide range of clinical and subclinical symptoms:

1. Cardiovascular symptoms: arrhythmia (or abnormal heart rhythms or palpitations), high blood pressure, high serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and circulatory disturbances (atherosclerosis, stroke and congestive heart failure)
2. Neurological symptoms: migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety, agitation, irritability or restlessness, ADHD, sensitivity to noise, poor memory, confusion, seizures and depression.
3. Gastro-intestinal disturbances: food allergies, sensitivities, nausea and vomiting, gut disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, constipation and lack of appetite.
4. Muscular symptoms: muscle soreness or weakness, muscle spasms, cramps, back pain, restless legs syndrome (RLS), fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis, vertigo, tremors and trouble in swallowing
5. Poor bone and teeth health: calcium deficiency, osteoporosis, low vitamin D levels, frequent cavities and poor dental health
6. Kidney disease: kidney stones
7. Diabetes: pancreatitis or insulin resistance  
8. Thyroid issues: hyperthyroidism
9. Insomnia: sleep disturbances
10. Preeclampsia and eclampsia: A sharp rise in blood pressure during the third trimester of pregnancy i.e. preeclampsia. These women may develop seizures, which is then called eclampsia.

Studies suggest that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as bloating, insomnia, leg swelling, weight gain and breast tenderness are often deficient in magnesium. Low levels of magnesium may also increase the risk of developing asthma, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancer. If you are suffering from more than one of the above symptoms and diseases, you are more likely to be magnesium deficient and can get healthier and benefit by adding this nutrient.  Learn how you can boost your immune system naturally. 

In fact, magnesium is used in the hospitals as a critical “medication” in emergency situations such as life-threatening arrhythmia, pre-term labor, seizures associated with eclampsia or complications from preeclampsia. Several research studies show that intravenous (IV) magnesium and magnesium inhaled through a nebulizer can treat acute attacks of asthma in adults and children.

Magnesium in Drinking Water

Though, magnesium is found abundantly on earth and in natural water sources, modern lifestyle habits may be the reason behind the prevalent magnesium deficiency. Industrial monoculture agricultural practices use massive amount of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides that are absorbed into the soil, making soil depleted and the food produce deficient in natural minerals. Drinking water from municipal supplies is also lacking in minerals that are found in healthy drinking water from natural sources. Fluoride content can hinder magnesium absorption.

Further, consumption of a highly-processed, refined diet (that contains no magnesium) with too much sugar and salt, caffeine, soda, alcohol depletes body’s magnesium stores and lead to leaky gut syndrome which making it difficult to absorb vital nutrients (vitamins and minerals) from your food.  Hectic working schedules and prolonged and intense stress can lead to complete depletion of magnesium stores, as magnesium is required for stress hormone production.

It is important to focus on maintaining a healthy diet.

Magnesium and Medications

Use of some drugs like birth control pills, antacid, antibiotics, diuretics, insulin and hypertension medicine also deplete magnesium levels. In certain conditions (such as pregnancy, recovery from surgery and illnesses, and athletic training) you become more susceptible for magnesium deficiency because of increased requirement.

To treat magnesium deficiency the first step is to strengthen the digestive system and restore gut health by eating magnesium rich foods such as seeds (flax, pumpkin, sun flower, sesame), nuts, green leafy vegetables, legumes especially beans, avocado and whole grains. Other dietary sources of magnesium are bananas, baked potatoes (with skin), okra, blackstrap molasses and cocoa powder. Try magnesium rich seaweeds (Agar), herbs and spices (coriander, celery, sage, mustard, basil, fennel, poppy and cumin seed) to flavor your regular meals. Also, dark chocolate is good source of magnesium. If you are a chocolate lover, go ahead!  

However, for some raising magnesium levels may require additional efforts. It is possible to increase magnesium levels by applying magnesium chloride also known as magnesium oil to your body, or soak in epsom salt bath for better absorption of magnesium through your skin in the blood and tissues of the body. It is possible to greatly improve magnesium deficiency symptoms like swelling, inflammation, and muscle aches and pains. Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga will further help in reducing your stress levels and the body’s demand for magnesium..

If you are considering magnesium supplementation go for more absorbable forms such as magnesium citrate, glycinate, taurate, or aspartate. Also, it will be a good idea to take a multi-vitamin-mineral formula with magnesium supplement as you need enough vitamin B6, vitamin D and selenium for proper absorption of magnesium into the cells. As a precautionary measure people suffering from kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium supplementation only under a doctor’s supervision.

The post Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms appeared first on ImmunoPower Nutrition.

“Death begins in the colon.” wrote the Nobel prize winner Eli Metchnikoff, PhD. Your gut contains about 100 trillion microbes that are symbiotic organisms. In exchange for you providing them with “room and board”, these organisms play a key role in your mental and physical health. The type and quantity of the bacterial species in your gut (digestive tract) influence your metabolism and determine how efficiently you will lose or put on weight on your belly. These little critters also have a huge impact on your overall health and cancer risk.

Research suggests that healthy gut microbiome has an important role in maintaining optimum health. It facilitates normal functioning of digestive system; controls appetite; regulates metabolism; maintains blood pressure; produces vitamins and hormones; and boosts immunity and mental health.

Healthy Gut Microbiome Reduces Inflammation

However, various lifestyle factors (chronic stress, poor diet and environmental toxins) cause significant overgrowth of unhealthy microbes in your body, which disrupts the balance in your gut and ultimately causes an unhealthy gut microbiome. This modulation in the composition and metabolic activity of your gut flora triggers inflammation and damages your intestinal lining resulting in leaky gut.

As a consequence of leaky gut you get elevated blood sugar levels, which stimulate production of insulin (fat-storing hormone) and leptin (the hunger hormone). This condition makes it difficult for you to lose fat especially in your abdominal region and increases your risk of metabolic diseases, too.

If you have any of following symptoms (gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, frequent illnesses, sugar cravings), improving your gut microbiome will see an improvement in your health.

Steps to Restore Gut Microbiome

Foods for Healthy Gut Microbiome

The food you eat determines the type of bacteria you are feeding in your gut.

Choose a Healthy Diet

Refined carbohydrates, sugary, fatty foods and alcohol, all these foods feed pathogenic bacteria and are toxins that stop good bacteria from growing in your gut. As, gut bugs thrive on such foods, they produce cravings for these junk foods. So, eliminating these foods from your diet besides helping you take control of your gut flora, aids in losing belly fat.

For the same reason avoid artificial sweeteners (splenda, sucralose and others) and watch your intake of fructose, as these sugars serve as fertilizer for unhealthy microflora (bacteria, yeast and fungi), which disrupts the balance in your gut.

Also a diet high in animal fat and protein (meat and cheese) feeds a type of bacteria that triggers inflammation and intestinal diseases. Eat a plant based diet, which includes: fruit, vegetable, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, sea weed, mushroom, and medicinal seasonings. Add meat (beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs) in limited quantities.

Eat Plant-Based Diet

Whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, oats, barley, millets), legumes (beans), vegetables and fruits are also called prebiotics, as these are rich in fiber, which acts like fertilizer in nourishing healthy and diverse microflora in your gut. These fiber rich foods make you feel full for longer and also discourage the growth of bad bugs, which helps in combating cravings. When you eat, whole fruits the fiber and polyphenols content help in balancing out the effects of fructose and reduce inflammation caused by unhealthy bacteria. So, do make sure that you eat a fiber rich whole food diet after a junk food treat to replenish good bacteria.

Probiotics are type of healthy bacteria that are similar to the ones found inside your gut and fermented foods are the natural source of probiotics. To enjoy fermented food with maximum amount of beneficial bacteria make your own fermented vegetables (kimchi and sauerkraut), kefir, raw pickles, olives, yogurt, cheese, tempeh, miso and natto. Fermented foods can inoculate the gut with the healthy probiotic bacteria to keep your gut and health in good shape.

Add Variety in your Meals

Eating variety of fiber-rich, nutritious, whole foods helps in nourishing diverse and rich microflora in your gut. This helps in controlling the population of unhealthy bacteria and thereby reduces the risk for inflammation and leaky gut syndrome.

Fight Cancer Naturally

Improve Gut Microbiome with Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Hydration

Staying hydrated is crucial to foster friendly flora in your gut. Your gut needs water for proper digestion of food, maintaining balance of microflora and flushing out toxins and wastes from the body. Drinking water before meals besides increasing your metabolic rate; prevents overeating and makes you feel full for longer. It also helps in eliminating sugar or calorie consumed via sodas, juices or alcoholic drinks. So, keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water every day, to heal your gut and reduce belly fat.

Exercise can Improve Gut Microbiome

Exercise helps in boosting healthy bacteria in your gut by increasing your intestinal flow rate and boosting metabolism. Research shows that microbiomes of people who do regular exercise are more diverse than that of people, who don’t. In another study, a significant increase in number of healthy bacteria was found in the microbiota of rats, who had access to exercise. Exercise helps to trigger peristalsis in the gut, which is the rhythmic action of muscles moving the feces toward the colon for a bowel movement. When you take your dog for a walk, that is what triggers the dog’s bowel movement and the need to clean up after your pet. Humans need movement to encourage a bowel movement.

Manage Your Stress for a Healthy Gut

Stressful conditions trigger release of “fight-or-flight” hormones i.e. cortisol, norepinephrine and epinephrine. When you have chronic stress, your cortisol level remains high for a prolonged period of time, which creates a condition of chronic starvation and leads to formation of stubborn belly fat. Stress also weakens the health of your gut by releasing inflammatory cytokines and causing imbalance in your microbiome. So, to heal your gut schedule sometime daily for stress reducing activities such as relaxation exercises (mindfulness, yoga and meditation), spending quality time with family, watching or reading something funny.

Adequate Rest

A consistent sleep cycle helps in production of hormones melatonin and prolactin. Research shows that these hormones help in proper digestion of food by maintaining balance in your gut. Circadian disorganization due to travel, shift job or other reasons alters intestinal microbiota, so you must practice good sleep hygiene and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep, to restore balance in your gut.

Easy Stress Relief Habits

Less Exposure to Toxins

When toxic chemicals from your environment, food and household products make way into your gut, they trigger an inflammatory cytokine response. This leads to increased fat storage and decreased fat breakdown. So, limit your exposure to toxic chemicals by choosing pesticide, fertilizer and antibiotic free organic food and using all-natural household products.

Avoid Antibiotics

Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics can cause serious damage to your long term health, as these antibiotic pills kill both healthy and unhealthy bacteria in your gut. GMO food is genetically modified organisms, which means altered to tolerate lethal doses of glyphosate (Roundup) which was patented as an antibiotic. There are 12,000 lawsuits pending against Bayer/Monsanto for lymphoma cancer caused by Roundup, because it affects the microbiome. Eat organic food whenever possible. Avoid hard liquor which acts like antibiotics on the gut. Please consult with your healthcare professional before changing medications.

Promote Healthy Gut Microbiome

A healthy gut is essential for your overall well-being. It helps you digest food, absorb nutrients, fight infections and prevent diseases. To maintain a healthy gut, you should eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and probiotics. These foods feed the good bacteria in your gut and keep them diverse and strong. You should also avoid processed foods, excess alcohol, smoking and unnecessary antibiotics that can harm your gut microbiome. In conclusion, a healthy gut is a key to a healthy life.

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1. Better for your health: Many store-bought salad dressings contain unhealthy ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, unhealthy oils, and preservatives. Homemade dressings are made with fresh ingredients and allow you to control the amount of salt and sugar in your dressing.

2. Saves money: Making your own salad dressing is much cheaper than buying store-bought dressings, which can sometimes cost more than $5 per bottle. Homemade dressings can be made with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

3. Customizable: Homemade salad dressings allow you to create your own flavor combinations and adjust the seasoning to your liking. You can experiment with different herbs, spices, and vinegars to create a dressing that complements your salad perfectly.

4. Helps you eat more vegetables: These dairy free homemade salad dressings are packed with flavor can make it easier to eat more salads and vegetables. By combining healthy fats, such as olive oil, with flavorful ingredients like garlic, lemon juice, and herbs, you can make salads that are both delicious and nutritious.

5. Supports local produce: If you use fresh, locally-grown ingredients to make your dressing, you support local farmers and ensure that you are eating the freshest, healthiest ingredients possible.

Overall, homemade salad dressings that are dairy free, are a simple way to make your salads healthier and more flavorful. You can experiment with different ingredients and flavors to find the perfect dressing for your taste buds, and in the process, improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Boost Your Gut Microbiome

1. Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

– ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
– 2 tbsp olive oil
– 1 tsp honey
– 1 tsp Dijon mustard
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
2. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing

Ingredients:

– ½ cup apple cider vinegar
– 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
– 1 tbsp honey
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

3. Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

– ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
– 2 tbsp olive oil
– 1 tsp honey
– 1 tsp Dijon mustard
– 1 clove garlic, minced
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
2. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

4. Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

– 1 cup fresh blueberries
– 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
– 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
– 1 tsp citrus juice
– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Place blueberries in saucepan and cook on medium low heat until berries are soft
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic, citrus juice, salt, and pepper.
2. Blend on high blueberries and liquid.
2. Great served warm or cold. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Homemade Salad Dressings – Dairy Free

Homemade salad dressings are easy to make, taste great and are much healthier for you. Be flexible with your ingredients. If you have a home garden or kitchen herbs, make sure to use them.

The post Homemade Salad Dressings – Dairy Free appeared first on ImmunoPower Nutrition.

Did nature make a mistake? 

Whole grains and legumes contain a substance called phytic acid, which binds up minerals, especially iron, and escorts them out of the system.  Phytic acid is a seed’s way of storing phosphorus, like a school lunch bucket. It is one of the many ingredients that may help fight against all stages of cancer.

For decades in the later 20th century, nutritionists thought that phytic acid must have been some mistake or “anti-nutrient” in whole grains and legumes, hence providing even more enthusiasm for processing grains down to white flour.  There are some well intentioned authors in the health care field who say that lectins are the main problem for health in Americans.  And yet, lectins are found in the healthiest of plants foods, especially beans.

Helps fight all stages of cancer

In fact, we now find that phytic acid from whole grains is one of the key ingredients in plant food lowering the risk for various cancers including breast cancer and thyroid cancer, kidney stones, heart disease, and liver disease.  Best sources of phytic acid include beans, brown rice, sesame seeds, and corn.

Easy Tips to Boost Your Immune System

Phytic acid is now sold as a nutrition supplement: IP6, inositol hexaphosphate 6.  In a similar vein, protease inhibitors are substances in legumes, especially soybeans, which can inhibit enzymes that break down protein in the gut.  Again, nutritionists thought of protease inhibitors as “anti-nutrients”.  Raw legumes are unhealthy.  Beans must be sprouted or cooked to be a nourishing food.

Part of your anti cancer diet

IP6, or phytic acid, is a promising anti-cancer component of a whole food diet.  However, there is now compelling evidence that these protease inhibitors actually are very therapeutic in fighting all stages of cancer  growth, and even allowing humans to better tolerate radiation without serious side effects.

Protease inhibitor drugs are now the fashionable trend in the pharmaceutical industry in slowing down the growth of viruses, including AIDS.  Nature knows what it is doing.  Do not bet against the wisdom of whole foods.

“Experts agree that our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care, waste and fraud.” National Coalition on Health Care, nchc.org 2009 About Contact Returns Terms Privacy

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There are some key markers of your heart health, which determine your risk of cardiovascular disease and other serious illnesses, according to your body and lifestyle. Understanding these heart health numbers and taking appropriate actions to maintain them in healthy range can be life saving for you.

Heart Disease Prevention Tips

Your heart is a vital organ of your body that pumps oxygen-rich blood to keep your body running and functioning, optimally. There are various factors that escalate your risk of heart disease. Though, you can’t control some factors (such as age, gender and family history), you can manage your risk by controlling other lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, sleep, smoking, stress).

Know This For Heart Disease Prevention

Heart health numbers give you a pretty good estimate of your current heart health and your risk of getting a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. Paying attention to these numbers helps you in making healthy lifestyle changes to improve your health and reduce risk of heart disease.

Finding these numbers becomes all the more crucial when you are in the early stages of disease and has not started experiencing any warning signs or symptoms yet. A blood test is needed to check your blood lipid, cholesterol and sugar levels. However, blood pressure, blood sugar and weight can be monitored at home regularly with the help of blood pressure monitor, home glucose monitor and weighing scale, respectively.

The important health numbers that you should watch for heart disease prevention are:

1. Total blood cholesterol (Ideal ≤ 200 mg/dL): Cholesterol is a type of fat that your body needs but when there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it builds plaque inside your arteries, which increases risk of heart disease and stroke.The optimal range for total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or less. As this fatty substance doesn’t dissolve in the blood, it is transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. There are two types: “healthy” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and “bad” Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The healthy range for HDL cholesterol is >60 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol is <100 mg/dL. If, you have high total cholesterol, high LDL, and less HDL; you are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

2. Triglycerides (Ideal ≤ 150 mg/dL): Triglycerides is another type of fat in the blood, which is measured under your blood lipid profile. High levels of these in the blood are linked to increased risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
3. Blood pressure (Ideal ≤120/80 mmHG): Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the arteries when your heart beats and rests. It consists of two important numbers: 1) Systolic pressure measures the pressure of blood against artery walls, when the heart pumps blood out, while 2) Diastolic pressure measures the same pressure, when the heart fills with blood.Did you know that boosting your circulation and reduce illnessHigh blood pressure (hypertension) means that your arteries aren’t responding appropriately to the force of blood pushing against artery walls, which directly raises the risk of heart disease. Ideally your blood pressure should be less than 120/80 mmHG. Besides, increasing your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease; high blood pressure can damage your arteries, brain and eyes.

6. Fasting Blood sugar or glucose (Ideal < 90 mg/dL): Body stores glucose in the blood as its main source of energy. However, if your blood sugar is too high or too low than the optimal blood sugar range 70-130 mg/dL, you are at increased risk of diabetes. High blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves and if left untreated it can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, and other complications.Another parameter to measure blood sugar is the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in your blood. It is often considered a better measure, as an HbA1c test gives an estimate of your average blood sugar control in the past 2 – 3 months. HbA1c score should < 7%.
7. Body mass index (Ideal < 25 kg/m2): Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. You should aim for a BMI between 18.6-24.9, as a BMI of > 25 indicates that you are overweight and > 30 points to obesity.This extra weight strains the heart and increases risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses.What are the best fats in include in a diabetic diet?
8. Waist Circumference (Ideal, Women < 35 inch, Men <45 inch): Too much weight around your waist (“apple shape”) is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and breathing problems. In fact, size of your waist is a better parameter than your BMI, to predict risk of heart disease. You can measure it easily at home by wrapping a non-elastic tape around your belly button. A waist size of > 35 inches in women and >40 inches in men increases risk of cardiovascular disease.Another even more accurate measure is waist-to-hip ratio, where you divide the narrowest part of your waist by the widest part of your hips. A ratio of > 0.85 inches for women and > 0.90 inches for men indicates central obesity with an increased risk of heart disease.
9. Steps you take per day: Physically active lifestyle helps in improving almost all the heart health parameters and reduces risk of heart disease. Ideally one should walk up to 10,000 steps a day. Also, aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week.
10. Hours of sleep per night: Poor sleep is associated with weight gain, as it leads to change in metabolism. Most people need a consistent 6-8 hours of good quality sleep per night for optimal functioning of their body and reduced risk of heart disease.
11. CRP. C-reactive protein is a valuable indicator of inflammation in the body. inflammation precedes cardiovascular problems. The lower the CRP the better.

How to Improve Memory!

Careful monitoring of these health markers help you make healthy lifestyle changes to keep your heart health numbers in the target healthy range. These key metrics become your prime motivators in the exciting game, where you are competing with yourself and trying to improve these numbers on your own, consistently.

The post Heart Disease Prevention appeared first on ImmunoPower Nutrition.

If you have heard the common advice that salt is bad for you, that low-salt or no salt diet is good for your body, then, it’s time to think again. The word “salary” comes from the Latin word for “salt” because Roman soldiers were paid with salt for their salary.  Salt has many health benefits that are essential for a healthy functioning body. Salt plays a vital role in maintaining adequate water retention, muscle contraction, maintenance of proper stomach pH and more. You do need salt in moderation to maintain good health.  Low sodium diets can lead to insulin resistance, or the beginning of diabetes.

In earlier times, salt was considered a prized substance. It was believed that salt was essential for boosting health and often prescribed to treat a many conditions such as toothaches, stomach pain and nausea. In last few decades salt content of commercial food has risen. And so has the prevalence of chronic diseases i.e. high blood pressure, stroke and coronary heart disease. This link led to public health measures advocating to limit salt consumption for prevention of these diseases.

Sodium Health Benefits

Recent studies suggest that a low-salt diet may actually lead to adverse health consequences and higher overall mortality, particularly in conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Salt is a chemical compound called sodium chloride (NaCl) with a composition of 40% sodium and 60% chlorine. Inside your body salt dissolves back into individual ions in water and play vital role in many biological processes. Your body also uses salt for upkeep of your brain, spine, tears, bones, sweat glands, organs and blood.

Nutrient Deficiency or Disease?

Salt Deficiency

Salt health benefits are numerous and salt should be an essential part of your daily diet. The difference between a medicine and a poison is dosage.  Salt deficiency is dangerous and too little salt can cause disturbances in tissue-water and acid-base balance. Further, sodium deficiency may lead to symptoms of hyponatremia such as brain swelling, coma, congestive heart failure, cardiovascular collapse. So, take adequate salt (neither too much nor too little) in your diet. The recommended amount of salt ranges from: 0.75 tsp – 1 tsp of salt; that makes (3.75 grams – 6 grams of salt or 1500 mg-2300 mg of sodium) per day. Keeping in mind this recommended daily maximum limit will help you in choosing food.  Your salt needs are somewhat based on perspiration, which is rich in salt.  The more you sweat, the more salt you need in your diet.

Health Benefits of Eating Salt

Here is a list of 6 salt health benefits :

1. Salt Maintains Fluid Balance
   

   Your body uses electrolytes (Na and Cl) to carry electrical impulses, which control various bodily functions. To maintain fluid balance in the body these electrolytes trigger thirst mechanism, so that you consume adequate amounts of water. This water is then used by your kidneys to keep the appropriate balance of electrolytes in your bloodstream. As the amount of water retained in your body impacts blood pressure, your salt consumption is directly linked with your blood pressure.

2. Salt Supports Nerve and Muscle Activity
   

   Your nervous system and muscle contractions rely on sodium, and  chloride ions for regulation. Odium and chloride ions in salt play important role in the regulation of nervous system and muscle contraction. Nerve transmission as well as mechanical movement in your body happens only when changes in the concentrations of these ions allow neurons to send signals to other neurons and cells.

3. Salt Facilitates Cardiovascular Function
   

   Sodium in salt is a major component of extracellular fluid. It is essential for maintaining the volume of the plasma and normal cellular metabolism. Besides, maintenance of extracellular fluid volume, its role in proper transmission of nerve impulses and muscle activity helps in preserving your cardiovascular health.

4. Salt helps Digestion
   

   Salt is essential for digestion and absorption of your food. When your taste buds taste salt in your food, salivary amylase, an enzyme is secreted in your mouth that helps in breaking down your food. Chloride in salt is also required for producing hydrochloric acid, an important constituent of gastric juice, which besides helping in digestion and absorption of food, protects the body from illness by killing pathogens commonly found on foods.

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5. Salt Lowers Stress

   While salt may be nature’s antidepressant, as sodium levels rise in the blood, the kidneys produce more of feel good hormone oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure, pain and anxiety levels. The stress-reducing or mood-enhancing effect of salt was confirmed in a study, where women whose diets were high in sodium were found less depressed than other women.  Giving into to your salt cravings once in a while may actually make you feel better.
   

6. Salt Aids Growth
   

   Children often reach for more salt (independent of caloric intake) than adults do, which may explain the higher needs of salt for their growing bodies. Animal studies also suggest that low-salt diets make bones and muscles fail to grow as fast as they normally would.
   
   
   

Too Much Salt

Excessive sodium can cause a problem because of a deficiency of potassium (from fruits and vegetables), calcium and magnesium. It is the gross imbalance of these nutrients that causes problems. Therefore, if more people consumed optimal amounts of these four minerals – calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium, then our health would be far better. In most people a blatant excess of sodium and a blatant deficiency of calcium, magnesium and potassium becomes the double edged sword in our health problems. Always use in moderation.

Does Salt Cause High Blood Pressure?

There is evidence that a salt may cause high blood pressure in a minority of people.  Yet, all of our body cells are bathed in a salty solution like the ocean.  There is even more evidence that hypertension (high blood pressure) is much more complicated than monitoring salt intake.  Fish oil (containing valuable omega 3 fats), vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fitness, stress, body weight and percent body fat all add up to a complete equation that dictates hypertension.  In general, animal foods are higher in sodium and plant foods are higher in potassium.

Hidden Salt in Our Diets

Most people get enough salt without salting their food.  However, intense perspiration through heat and exercise drains the body of salt through sweat.  Make sure that you get enough calcium, magnesium, potassium and fish oil.  Salt to taste.  Monitor your blood pressure.  The vast majority of the population can eat reasonable amounts of salt without measurable increases in blood pressure. Try miso, Lite salt (half sodium, half potassium), vinegar, kelp, lemon juice, and more.

You will be surprised at the amount of hidden salt in our diets. The salt you add during cooking or at table contribute only a small amount to your diet. Often, salt is a ‘hidden’ ingredient in many foods. These foods contribute a lot of salt to your diet without you realizing it. Around 75% of the salt in your diet comes from ready-made and processed foods, such as bread, breakfast cereals, soups and baked beans.

Track Your Salt Intake if Needed

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that more salt in US diet comes from bread and rolls and not salty snacks (potato chips, pretzels and popcorn). So, to keep track of your salt intake, get into the habit of checking the food labels to find out the salt content, as the amount you eat of a particular food decides how much salt you will get from it for e.g. if the food label says 1g of salt per 100g and you eat 500g, you get 5g. In case, food label specifies sodium, multiply the amount by 2.5.

How to Boost The Immune System

Remember, if label says more than 1.5g of salt (or 0.6g of sodium) per 100g, it is a high salt content food and if it has 0.3g of salt (0.1g of sodium) per 100g then it is a low salt content food. Try to consume processed packaged foods that are high in salt, less often or in smaller amounts and choose more natural foods. Also, while cooking, prefer using pure healthier versions such as sea, rock, black and celtic sea salts, which are rich in trace minerals.

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If you suffer from halitosis, it is important that you find the cause for your own health and for those around you. A visit to a dentist or healthcare provider is recommended. Once you know the cause of your problem, you can then tackle the problem and ideally find relief through natural remedies. But first, let us learn more about bad breath.

What Causes Bad Breath?

As we know, bad breath has a number of possible causes. It may also be intermittent (on and off). For these reasons it can sometimes be difficult to address. Following are the main causes of bad breath or halitosis:

• Poor oral hygiene.
• Smoking
• Dental cavities and other oral diseases
• Foods such as onions, garlic and alcohol
• Improperly cleaned dentures
• Avoid dry mouth. Stimulate the flow of saliva
• Respiratory tract infections
• Digestion problems such as belching, heartburn and lactose intolerance 
• Physiological issues
• Medicines such as sulfur medications
• Fasting that leads to fat breakdown
• Stress, depression and anxiety
• Medical conditions such as liver disease and uncontrolled diabetes

Some types of halitosis such as those caused by food items, fasting, menstruation and uncontrolled medical conditions such as diabetes will normally stop once the agent causing the problem either gets out of the body, the condition has been addressed or the body reverts to its ordinary status.

Symptoms of Bad Breath

While the most well known symptom of bad breath is the foul smell of the breath, closer observation will reveal other possible signs. These could include plaque on teeth, stained teeth, swollen or bleeding gums, tongue and mouth dryness, stuffy nose, sore throat, whitish tongue, lymph node swellings and smelly belching.  This ingredient may surprise you with its many benefits.

Fight Bad Breath with Home Remedies

Personal hygiene can easily be improved with simple home remedies and is important for the maintenance of fresh breath.

• Brush your teeth and clean your tongue after every meal.
• Brush your tongue
• Floss daily
• If you smoke, consider quitting, but meanwhile clean your mouth after smoking. Use mouthfuls of cold water throughout the day to clean your mouth by swishing and spitting out. Water dissolves some of the acids and other materials causing the foul smell.
• Replace your toothbrush after every 2 – 3 months
• If you wear dentures, clean them and sleep without them to reduce bacterial buildup in your mouth.
• Add baking powder to your daily routine. Baking powder is alkaline and provides an unfavorable environment for bacteria to live or grow thereby reducing foul smell produced by the bacteria. Place some baking powder on your tooth brush and use it in place of your regular toothpaste. 
• Baking soda mouth wash. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water to make your own mouth wash.
• Salt water rinse. One teaspoon salt in water and swish in your mouth.
  
  These foods will help you boost your immune system

Foods to Fight Bad Breath

• Drink lots of water (at least 8 glasses) throughout the day to keep your body hydrated and your digestive system healthy. Water also helps to cleanse your body by carrying toxins from the blood stream and cleaning the gut. This reduces the foul smells caused by toxins within the digestive and circulatory systems.
  
• Eat Fiber-rich foods such as vegetables and fibrous fruits help to remove food particles within your mouth. They also improve digestion, provide surface for growth of friendly bacteria and absorb toxins in the gut for excretion. This reduces digestion disorders and gas in the stomach.
  
• Fruits such as citrus provide vitamins A and C as well as antioxidants which support good oral health and reduce inflammation. Citrus also stimulates saliva production and kills bacteria that cause bad breath.
  
  A Healthy Gut Microbiome for Better Health
  
• Drink green or black tea to benefit from the antioxidant properties that reduce inflammation and reduce bad breath.
  
• Eat Probiotic foods such as kefir, sauerkraut and natural yogurt. They provide good bacteria which are necessary for good digestion, reduction of harmful bacteria that produce foul gases in the mouth and gut, and for improved immunity. Swishing the probiotics in your mouth before swallowing will improve the numbers of good bacteria as opposed to bad bacteria within the mouth.

• Apple cider vinegar. Gargle a mouthful of apple cider vinegar for 10 – 15 seconds then spit it out. Repeat this treatment two times a day.
  
• Coconut oil is an effective treatment for bad breath when used in a process called oil pulling involving swishing one tablespoon of coconut oil for 5 – 20 minutes before spitting it out.  
  

Herbs to Fight Bad Breath

Herbs have been in use for treatment of various diseases for thousands of years. Here are some popular herbs to help fight bad breath naturally. Add them to your smoothies and daily cooking for improved breath and enjoy the many other medicinal qualities.

• Citrus Rind. Wash the rind of a lemon or orange and chew a piece for a minute or two to stimulate increased saliva production leading to reduction of bad breath. You will feel a burst of flavor and it will stimulate your senses. Also produces a fresh scent.

• Cloves and Fennel. Chewing a few clove buds or fennel seeds for one or two minutes gets rid of bad breath. They are also rich in antiseptic qualities to fight halitosis causing bacteria.

• Parsley, Basil, Cilantro. Chew on a sprig of fresh parsley to neutralize the bad mouth odors.
  
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• Peppermint Oil. Peppermint is used in many toothpastes and mouthwashes because of its deodorizing properties. Use one to three drops of peppermint essential oil daily to freshen your breath and kill halitosis. Consider growing peppermint in your garden and add to your daily water.

• Tea Tree Oil. Many studies conducted on tea tree oil have shown that it has toxic effects on harmful bacteria including Solobacterium moorei and Candida, which are associated with bad breath. Use one or two drops daily to freshen your mouth.

• Sage. Sage kills bacteria responsible for halitosis including streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Use one or two drops daily. Alternatively use fresh sage and add to water.

• Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus oil is used in the treatment of many conditions. For halitosis, use two or three drops in your mouth rinse to keep bad breath away.

• Cardamom. Cardamom has a fresh smelling flavor that works perfectly to stop bad breath. Chew on a few seeds one to three times daily.

These are all well known and easy to find ingredients to help fight bad breath.

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“I have been wrong. The bacteria is nothing. The terrain is everything.” Louis Pasteur 1822-1895

Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865) was an Austrian physician who found that washing hands with a dilute chlorine solution before delivering a baby would cut down the incidence of infections (puerperal fever) and mortality in the mother and newborn infant. His successes in his clinic in the 1840s were profoundly better than other physicians, who would go straight from the autopsy room without washing their hands to delivering an infant. Dr. Semmelweis had a logical, non-toxic, inexpensive, clinically-proven solution to a horrible problem of that era. His technique reduced mortality in mothers and newborns to 1.3% which was a 90% reduction from his colleagues’ results of 11% mortality.

Unfortunately, his simple solution was rejected because his critics asked: “So, Dr. Semmelweis, what is causing these women to die?” “I don’t know.” replied Semmelweis. “And are we to suspect that ‘spooks’ are involved?” they laughingly chided. When Louis Pasteur peered into a microscope and cooked (pasteurized) bacteria to death, he presented his data to his colleagues: “I have found Dr. Semmelweis’s spooks.”

Semmelweis died a broken man, yet many hospitals in Europe are named after this brilliant and courageous physician. How many people died because critics of Semmelweis refused to accept his solution? How many cancer patients die because we are stuck in a half-century battle with cancer using outdated methods and theories? Many cancers are probably infections, with the infectious organism (fungi, virus, bacteria) becoming an intracellular pathogen, creating a hybrid DNA from the weaving of the pathogen with host human DNA.

What Causes Cancer

Let’s look at the facts.

• The most conservative estimates show that 10% of all cancers are caused by infections.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with at least 80% of all cervical cancer. Virus is a piece of DNA or RNA that is wrapped in protein and invisible to standard microscopes.
• The bacteria Helicobacter pylori is a major risk factor for stomach cancer.
• Infection with the AIDS virus often leads to the cancer lymphoma. Infection with Epstein-Barr virus often leads to Burkitt lymphoma.
• Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus usually leads to liver cancer.[iv] Any exposure to the fungal poison aflatoxin or extensive exposure to the fungal by-product alcohol will often cause liver cancer.
• Researchers have long known that C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker in the blood that detects heart disease and probably diabetes. Now researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have found that CRP is a valuable marker for the progression of cancer.
• CRP measures inflammation as a by-product of infection. A National Science Foundation grant winner, Professor David Hess, has written a fascinating book linking infections as the underlying cause of many cancers.
• Ketoconazole is an anti-fungal drug that is commonly used to treat prostate cancer.
• While researchers speculate that ketoconazole works against prostate cancer through a hormonal pathway, it may work by killing fungal cells disguised as cancer cells.
• Researchers in Taiwan have found that Griseofulvin, an antifungal drug, killed human colon cancer cells in a culture dish by inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
• Milton White, MD found evidence that cancer is a blend (hybrid) of human DNA with spores of plant bacterial conidia.

How to Boost Your Immune System

Yeast Infection Symptoms

I have seen many an end-stage cancer patient with an opportunistic yeast infection, like a bully picking on a person who is already down on the pavement. Many patients told me of their thrush (oral candidiasis, coating of white yeast on the tongue) and incredible bloating in the intestinal region, not unlike a brewery where yeast ferments any reasonable carbohydrate into gas and alcohol.

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