Its Entirely Natural - Blog

We have all heard that red wine is healthy and nutritional. There are studies that show red wine helps reduce heart disease. What is in red wine that makes it such a natural food cure?

A chemical in red wine, fruits and vegetables has been found to counter the unhealthy effects of high-fat foods. This chemical is a natural compound called polyphenols. In a recent study Polyphenols reduced health risks that are associated with high fat foods.

Subjects were fed three different controlled meals consisting of dark meat turkey cutlets. The first meal consisted of turkey meat and water. The second meal consisted of turkey meat with polyphenols that were added after cooking and a glass of red wine. The third meal consisted of turkey meat with polyphenols added before cooking and a glass of red wine.

During the study, researchers took blood and urine samples to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). MDA is a natural byproduct of fat digestion and is known to increase the risk for heart disease and other chronic conditions. Their research showed that MDA levels nearly quadrupled after the first control meal. However MDA was nearly eliminated after the subjects consumed the other meals with polyphenols.

This report shows that the food industry could make similar approach in reducing health risks associated with fatty foods. Polyphenols could be an additive to foods, just like additives are added to gasoline to burn cleaner. Imagine, eating french fries without plugging your arteries.

sciencedaily.com

A new minimally evasive surgery has shown to effectively treat Type 2 diabetes. There have been roughly 100 of these surgeries and the blood-sugar levels of almost all of the participants were significantly lowered. So much that the patients were able to reduce the number of medications they were taking.

The surgery takes about an hour. A device about the size of a small cell phone is implanted in the abdomen. There are electrodes connected to the device that send electrical impulses to the stomach when a person eats. This device was originally created to induce weight loss. While it did cause modest weight loss the results of the effect on type 2 diabetes was even greater.

There are hormones in the stomach that are theorized to play a role in the conversion of sugar into energy. The thinking is that the impulses will stimulate the hormones to perform that function.

This is exciting news. With over 18 million Americans with Type 2 diabetes this could have a huge health impact. It could reduce complications of diabetes like vision loss, amputation and heart disease.

tennessean.com

We all have heard that red wine is good for you and that you should have a glass or 2 with your evening meal to help prevent coronary heart disease. There have been many studies on the benefits of red wine. These studies show there are chemical in wine and grapes that can help prevent other diseases linked with ageing as well. A new study in the UK shows that these chemicals could be the next food cure for Type 2 diabetes.

There is a “French paradox” - The French have relatively low incidences of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats. The French love their food as well as their wine. Have they known the secrets of this miracle drink and just didn’t want to share?

The problem with red wine is that earlier animal research suggested that around 1000 glasses would have to be consumed every day to reduce the impact of a high fat diet. I am not suggesting that you go on a red wine diet. You still need to watch what you eat and you can drink, in moderation.

Now new compounds have been developed, that is like drinking 1000 glasses of wine per day. Could these compounds prevent the development of type 2 diabetes? The new drug candidates work by activating a protein called SIRT1, which influences the ageing process and functions to ensure that the body remains receptive to the activity of insulin.

As with any drug, it takes time to come to the market. Don’t count on anything like this for at least another 5 or 6 years. In the mean time, enjoy your wine in moderation.

Here at It’s Entirely Natural - We have some exciting new things coming in the very near future. One of them is a supplement that we will have available to purchase. This dietary supplement will give you all the great health benefits of red wine in a capsule. I have been using this for a couple months and I just love the results. Stay tuned for our big announcement.

telegraph.co.uk

Capers have been used for centuries in Mediterranean food. They provide a salty tang and decorative flair to a variety of meats, salads, pastas and other foods. Their cute and all, but did you know they are a huge source of natural antioxidants. Can a food cure some in such a small package?

In a study in Italy, scientists found that capers help prevent the formation of certain byproducts of digested meat that have been linked to, by others, an increased risk of cancer and heart disease. They say that there are beneficial effects with even a small amount of capers that are typically used to flavor foods.

When was the last time you had some capers with your meal? Next time you order chicken piccata or smoked salmon, ask your waiter to throw in a few food curing capers.

sciencedaily.com

Most everybody I know is stressed about something. Stress seems to be a constant issue in life. Once you get over one stressful situation another one seems around the corner. A study by the American Medical Association reported that stress was a factor in 75% of all diseases. So what can we do? Have you ever thought about reflexology?

Studies have shown that stress, anger, and depression have been linked to weakening of the heart muscle. The more a person had any of these conditions the less their hearts were able to respond effectively. The constant emotional ups and downs showed that it would stretch the heart beyond its capacity and would have trouble bouncing back to normal.

Who doesn’t like a good foot massage? Reflexology can be a natural treatment to offset the effects of stress on the heart. It reduces stress and tension throughout the body. Reflexology treats your body, mind and spirit as a cohesive system. It is also believed to encourage the release of endorphins - you know that natural feel-good hormone. Try it you might like it.

about.com

In scanning the news around the world, it was interesting to find all the different studies that revolve around dark chocolate. We have heard that there may be many benefits of eating dark chocolate with high cocoa content that are heart related. It can help lower high blood pressure, cut the risks of blood clots, and even help cut heart disease. Is Dark Chocolate becoming a viable food cure?

An Australian study has now found, almost half the people that suffer from depression have chocolate cravings. People whose symptoms of depression included feeling irritable and being scared of social rejection were more likely to have food cravings for chocolate. After consuming dark chocolate with high cocoa content they felt less irritable and less anxious.

While on the other side of the world, a study in the UK has found that dark chocolate may help reduce chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. The patients taking dark chocolate felt less fatigue and reported feeling more fatigue when they stopped eating it. Researchers said the results were surprising and that dark chocolate may have a effect on the brain chemical serotonin.

So is dark chocolate with high cocoa content the next food cure? It seems to help in so many ways. I’m sold. Remember; eat chocolate in moderation to ensure that you don’t put on any extra weight.

BBC NEWS
NEWS.com.au

We are killing our children with food and don’t know it. Many families need to have both parents working to provide for the family. We have become accustomed to convenience with our food and nutrition choices. On top of that, super sized portions make it even worse. This type of nutrition must stop for our children health.

In a study that began in 1973 researchers tested children on their levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, “good” cholesterol, body weight, blood pressure, and etc. Thirty-one of these kids had at least three abnormal factors and were classified as having metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors — such as high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar levels — that together increase the likelihood of developing heart problems or diabetes.

Twenty-one of the thirty-one subjects continue to have metabolic syndrome as an adult, and seventeen of the subjects have cases of cardiovascular disease.

Many moms and dads have a lot of stress in their lives and many are too busy to cook. It is clear, from this study, that we must make time and have those family dinners with quality food and conversation. Most people gain weight after childhood, rather than lose weight. That is why we need to teach our children about proper nutrition so they will have a healthy future.

USATODAY.com & CNN.com

In an earlier topic we discussed how anger can cause heart disease. Well there is another emotional condition that affects heart disease, and that is depression. Studies have shown that depression and heart disease walk hand-in-hand with each other. What’s worse is heart disease can lead to depression and depression can lead to heart disease. Researchers in Montreal found that patients who were depressed were four times as likely to die in the next 6 months as those who were not depressed.

Yet again many people get depressed because of everyday stresses to their body and mind. Enjoy life and what it brings. Think less about stressful situations and more about what makes life worth living.

NIMH

The link between your mind and heart is very strong. Some new research has been done to show a correlation between angry men and heart disease. Studies showed that angry men showed a higher rate of heart disease.

Researchers examined inflammation in the body. Inflammation is though to be a healthy reaction of a functioning immune system; however chronic low-grade inflammation caused by anger can be a sign of an adverse condition. This low-grade inflammation is believed to be a contributor to heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Men throughout the years seem to get angrier as time goes on. A major cause of this anger is stress. With everything that can kill you now days at least stress can be managed as well as anger. So chill and enjoy life.

MSNBC.com

Nutrition is an evolving science. One day some foods are considered unhealthy and you should stay away from them the next day – well maybe it’s not so bad. Food can be bad for you, however food can also cure. Nowhere is the evolving nature of nutrition science clearer than the fight against heart disease. Heart disease is the number 1 killer of Americans. As nutrition knowledge has grown, so has scientific understanding of heart disease, a maze of cholesterol levels, blood pressure, arterial inflammation, and lifestyle factors, such as diet, stress, and fitness levels.

The following is information that supports a heart-healthy diet:

• Soluble Fiber – acts like a scouring pad cleaning out LDL the bad cholesterol before it has a chance of sticking to your artery walls blocking blood flow. Good sources of soluble fiber are; whole grains, fruits vegetables, and legumes. These foods also contain vitamins and minerals that are good for you.

Wisdom in the past said a heart-healthy diet should be fat-free. However, that notion has changed in recent years to a diet that is “moderate” in fat. It’s the type of fat that is the problem. You need to substitute the “good” fats - monounsaturated and polyunsaturated in place of the “bad” fats - saturated and trans-fatty acids.

• Monounsaturated fats help raise the HDL cholesterol levels. HDL acts like a bodyguard and escorts the bad LDL cholesterol molecules to the liver where they are filtered and disposed of. You can find this fat in vegetable oils, nuts, olives, avocados, and fish.

• Polyunsaturated fats are helpful, but what you really want are the omega 3 fatty acids. They combat heart disease in several ways. Among these are reducing blood pressure, make your arteries more supple, and prevent arterial inflammation. Best sources for omega 3 fatty acids are cold-water fish such as salmon, Pollock, sword fish, tuna, mackerel, and herring.

Do you enjoy an occasional drink with dinner? Drinking in moderation is actually good for your heart. Alcohol makes the blood somewhat less likely to clot. We’ve all read that red wine has many antioxidants and can actually be good for you. Don’t go drinking the whole bottle. One glass is the best serving for women and two glasses for men. Beyond these amounts it will cause more harm than good.

When trying to change your diet to heart-healthy foods start with baby steps. Add a little fiber or fruit to your diet. Then maybe eat fish once to twice a week. Once you begin you will gain momentum and gradually change your nutritional diet and lifestyle.

CNN.com