Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

Ethnic Restaurants: What to eat and what to avoid!

February 8th, 2011

I found this very helpful as I try my best to eat healthy when I’m going out to dinner..which I sometimes do a few times a week! This information is from the book ” The Raw Food Detox Diet” by Natalia Rose.

CHINESE:

What to eat:  steamed veggies with steamed shrimp or chicken. steamed veggies with brown rice (with small amount of plum sauce if desired).

What to avoid: MSG, Dumplings (white flour), fried items, white and fried rice, thick sauces, heavy meats such as beef or pork and cheap cuts in low-quality sauces.

JAPANESE:

What to eat: avacado, cucucumber rolls, sashimi, fish entree (no starch), seaweed salad, miso soup.

What to avoid: fish rolls, soy products, tempura.

ITALIAN:

What to eat: always begin with a mixed green salad with a natural vinaigrette. whole wheat pasta, marinara, puttanesca, tomato or broth-based primavera sauces. grilled fish or other seafood. baked, grilled or rotisserie chicken, vegetable plate.

What to avoid: cream sauces, white pasta, white bread, gnocchi, breaded meats, starchy sauces, very oily veggies.

INDIAN/THAI/MALAYSIAN

What to eat: curried veggies or other low-oil veggies, brown rice, any grilled, seared or steamed seafood.

What to avoid; fried or battered dished, white rice, poorly combined dishes.

MIDDLE EASTERN

What to eat: grilled vegetable kabob, baba ghanouj, whole wheat pita or veggie gyros, greek-styple salad, tabouleh, hummus, grilled or seared fish or lamb.

What to avoid: meat gyros, yogurt, couscous, fried and battered dishes

I do agree with many of the suggestions that this author made, however I try to avoid all meat unless it is wild-caught. I also try to limit the grains..I do not eat wheat and I do not eat a lot of rice.

My favorite restaurant in Denver: Root Down– their delicious Arugula, squash salad. TO DIE FOR!!  I am there at least once a week and i know what to expect. It is big and hearty. A little soup with it doesn’t hurt either ;-) . Root Down is wonderful because it has many vegetarian and vegan options. Their sweet potato fries are amazing as well, in moderation ;-) !

Another great restaurant to go to for some healthy options is Sushi Den- again, many vegetarian options and  great sashimi! Their soups are pretty good too. I’m not a huge fan of rice, so sushi in general is not one of my favorites however they have a pretty diverse menu.

Cherry Creek Grill- another one of my favorites. I usually order the “macho salad” without the chicken and goat cheese. Many would think that it would be boring without, but it has so many delicious additions like dates, avacado, nuts, etc that you really don’t even miss the chicken or cheese. Not that I am vegetarian but I really do try to limit the meat in my diet and I avoid dairy whenever possible.

If you know of any other great places to dine that  have healthy menus please comment and let me know as i am always looking out for healthy restaurants!

The TRUTH about dairy…

February 1st, 2011

The most common condition associated with the intake of dairy is Lactose Intolerance, which is the lack of enough lactase in the body to properly break down the lactose (sugar) contained in milk. Most of the world’s population has this condition, except for many of the Northern European and Northern Indian populations who’ve been consuming large amounts of dairy for millennia[5]. Most of these people become intolerant to dairy as they get older however… Another condition that can result from consuming dairy products is a serious reaction to casein and whey[5].

Dairy products, including milk, cheese, ice cream, butter and yogurt contribute to significant amounts of cholesterol and fat to the diet[1]. Diets high in fat and saturated fat can increase the risk of many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.  Clinical research shows that dairy products have no effect on preventing osteoporosis, in a Harvard Nurses’ Health Study[1]. Increased intake of calcium from dairy products was associated with a higher risk of fracture in an Australian study[2].

Several cancers have been linked to the consumption of dairy products, such as Ovarian cancer[2].  According to a study by Daniel Cramer, M.D., and his colleagues at Havard, when dairy product consumption exceeds the enzymes’ capacity to break down galactose, it can build up in the blood stream and it may affect woman’s ovaries[1].  Breast and prostate cancers have also been linked to the consumption of dairy products[2].

Synthetic hormones such as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are commonly used in dairy cows to increase the production of milk[3]. Mastitis can result due to an over-production of milk thus antibiotics are used and there have been traces found in samples of milk and other dairy products[3].

Eating dairy can cause the following symptoms: puffy face and eyes, sinus headaches, stuffy head,  watery eyes, itchiness, sneezing, insomnia, phlegm, clogged ears, sore throat, foggy head, indigestion, eczema and skin problems, and weight gain[3].

Does your stomach churn after you eat cheese/yogurt/milk…and do you have bowel issues shortly afterwards? This may be a sign that you’re lactose Intolerant!  The National Institution of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) estimates that 30 to 50 million Americans are Lactose Intolerante[6].  Gas, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and diarrhea are other symptoms that dairy consumption can cause!

There are mainly delicious alternatives to dairy products. Almond milk has gotten more popular over the last few years, as it is dairy-free and delicious..great in smoothies and in your coffee/tea.  You will also find that natural foods stores, Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage, Sunflower, and even Costco now carry Almond milk!  I prefer to make almond milk at home with my Vitamix Blender .  Grocery stores also carry dairy-free cheeses that are actually quite tasty and they melt!! Great for pizza ;-) !

I will be having a workshop at Higher Health Chiropractic bimonthly, and will be showing those who attend how to make various nut milks and dairy-free cheeses! If you have interest in attending one of our workshops please call the office at (303) 925-0808 and schedule with Bobbie!

:-)


Decreased sex drive? Omega-3 supplementation may be the answer!

January 26th, 2011

OmegaPure 820Omega-3 is a healthy fat made from the tissue of oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, lake trout and sardines. Omega-3 fatty acids contain EPA and DHA. EPA can help prevent heart attack, sudden cardiac death, strokes, diabetes and cancer[1]. DHA protects our brain and nervous system[1]. Studies have shown that adding Omega-3 can help with depression, bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia, autoimmune diseases, Psoriasis and Alzheimers, Arthritis and Antiaging[2]. Omega-3 Fatty acids reduce inflammation by preventing the production of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules[2]. It is highly recommended that pregnant women take at least 900 mg/day (= a serving of salmon) to ensure their babies have a healthier brain, good nervous system, better eyesight, decreased behavioral problems and better sleeping patterns[3]. By taking Omega-3s mom will also benefit by decreasing her chance of breast cancer[2]. Did you know that 70% of a newborns brain, retina and nervous system is made up of Omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA!!?[3] In our current environment we get way too much Omega-6, and we need to balance it out with Omega-3 –conveniently with supplementation. Too much Omega-6 can cause inflammation, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, skin damage, accelerated aging and decreased sex drive!! We ingest Omega-6 fats in the form of oils made from vegetables grown in the U.S.A- ie- soybeans, canola oil, corn oil, the “cheap oils” that are inexpensive and have high profit margins[3]. XYMOGEN’s OmegaPure oils are processed through “special molecular distillation” (triple phase!)- which ensures a high standard, pharmaceutical grade product. “Traditional molecular distillation technology uses high temperature to evaporate the oil and contaminants which can decrease the quality of the Omega-3. XYMOGEN goes above and beyond special Molecular Distillation standards to ensure its quality and safety[5], and the evaporation stage is reduced to half the time of traditional systems to drive down oxidative risk. OmegaPure 780 EC contains 450 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 330 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). If you have any questions regarding Omega-3 and our supplements at Higher Health Chiropractic please call the office (303) 925-0808 and speak to Dr. Deanna.

Benefits of green smoothies!!

December 30th, 2010

Green smoothies are simply smoothies with greens blended through them. Blended greens are easier to digest as their structures are “ripped” apart and they are effectively pre-digested[1].
Green smoothies are a great breakfast choice as they provide a healthy abundance of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and chlorophyll[2]. They are also an excellent source of fiber.
There are many choices of greens to choose from when creating your smoothies: spinach, Kale, Parsley, dandelion greens, collards, etc…
HOWEVER, if you’re new to adding greens to your smoothies, start with Spinach as it is a little easier to get use to than some of the others. Adding lemon and fruit can really help to take away the “feel like i’m eating grass” taste!! ;-) The more you practice making these smoothies, you will find what ratio of fruits and greens works for you! I go as far as to add protein powder and almond milk to my smoothies. “Xymogen” makes an amazing chocolate and vanilla protein powder — “Opticleanse/ I5 Shake” that blends very well and is super yummy!!
DO rotate your greens in time as spinach contains “alkaloids” which can act like a toxin in our bodies if ingested in large quantities[3].

Here is an example of a greens shake that I absolutely love!

1 bunch of spinach
1 cup of almond milk
1 cup filtered water
1 frozen ripe banana
1/2 cup organic blueberries
1/2 squeezed lemon
2 tbsp ground flax seeds
1or2 scoop(s) Xymogens vanilla I5

Put the spinach in last (vitamix blenders are the best!) . Blend for 30 seconds and place in freezer for 10 minutes (tastes better cold).

If you have any questions regarding Xymogens protein powder please call our office at (303) 925-0808!

One more important note! It is important to CHEW your green smoothie with each sip as it initiates the digestive process!! :-)

The importance of buying Organic!

December 28th, 2010

Organic foods are better for you for many reasons.  They contain no pesticides, they are more nutrient packed than their non-organic counterparts [1]. Buying organic can be very expensive so ONLY buying organic foods may not be an option financially. Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that should be bought organic whenever possible, as they contain more pesticides than others:

Apples, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Celery, Cherries, Grapes, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Potatoes, Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries and Tomatoes.


Organic or not, make sure to wash your vegetables and fruits before consumption. According to the FDA, roughly 12 % of all food-borne illnesses that occurred between 1990 and 2000 originated in fresh produce! [1]  The contamination was likely to have originated at the farm where the product was grown or in the processing plant[2]. Nevertheless, the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables still outweigh the drawbacks and eating organic cuts down on this issue.

HOW TO SAFELY WASH YOUR VEGETABLES AND FRUITS:

1.  Wash your hands thoroughly before food preparation.

2.  Wash all fruits and veggies in cold running, filtered water. (you can find reasonably priced filteres at most natural food stores- such as Sunflower Market or Whole Foods. Remove all dirt.

3. Use a fruit/veggie wash– you can buy this or can make one home-made: Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with two quarts of water- soak fruits and veggies in this for at lease five minutes than rinse with cold filtered water again.

4. Always rewash bagged products, even if it says “pre-washed”.

5. Clean your counter-tops, cutting boards and utensils with hot soapy water.

Certified Organic food should not have pesticides, heavy metals, dangerous industrial chemicals like artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It’s “real” food.

We have only encountered the 100,000+ chemicals added to toxic food in the last 70 years or so. our cells and bodies are used to “real” food. Not to mention the scientists that have messed with the genetic make-up of our food (“GMO”–watch out for this!!) and our bodies don’t recognize how to process this!!

Grow or purchase local, fresh, organic food!

The Effects That Cafeteria Food May Have On Your Child…

September 29th, 2010

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/29/school.food.investigation/index.html

Parents are furious as they demand more funding towards the school cafeterias. In the latest CNN article

“Schools struggle to feed kids healthy food”, it states that “in the school cafeteria you could buy soda, potoato chips,snack cakes, corndogs, French fries, apple turnovers, icecream–you know, carnival food” and the “No 1 meal servedto children in the U.S. schools is chicken fingers and French fries.” Processed food is cheaper to serve than fresh produce.  A 2009 study published in the Journal of the American Diabetic Association found that 94 percent of school lunches failed to meet the U.S Agriculture Department’s regulatory standards.

Whole Foods is currently taking donations– to put salad bars in the local Colorado schools!  As you spend 30-50 dollars on your lunch you might as well throw in a few dollars for a great cause!

Parents: please prepare your childs lunches– healthy, unprocessed foods that will maintain your childs energy levels so that he/she is able to concentrate and learn without crashing mid day due to high sugarm salty, processed trans-fatty foods provided in the cafeteria. Healthy snacks, fresh organic fruits and vegetables, no white bread, healthy grains as dark/red wild rice will help sustain blood sugar levels. Children are our future.

Organic Food REALLY is BETTER!!

September 4th, 2010

Get more “Nutritional Mileage” out of Organic Foods

The data is in! Hot off the press from the open access research journal PlosOne.org confirming  Organic fruits and vegetables are much more nutritious than their traditional “commercially grown” counterparts. Additionally Organic foods contain LESS pesticide and chemical residues than commercially grown varieties.

What does more nutritious really mean?

According to the scientests “nutritious foods are those that are more nutrient dense relative to their energy (caloric) content”. That is to say, low sugar, fat and calorie but rich in micronutrients and antioxidants.

How can this study help YOUR Health?

This study is the 1st of its kind,  directly comparing 13 pairs of organic and conventionally grown strawberry’s for fruit and soil quality.  The researchers found that “…. organic farms had strawberries with longer shelf life, greater dry matter, and higher antioxidant activity and concentrations of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds..” says  Reganold et al. They continue to say, “sensory panels judged organic strawberries to be sweeter and have better flavor, overall acceptance, and appearance than their conventional counterparts. We also found the organically farmed soils to have more total carbon and nitrogen, greater microbial biomass and activity, and higher concentrations of micronutrients”.

What about Antioxidants?

Organic strawberries had significantly higher total antioxidant activity (8.5% more), ascorbic acid (9.7% more), and total phenolics (10.5% more) than conventional berries

Dietary antioxidants, including ascorbic acid (i.e., vitamin C) and phenolic compounds protect our bodies from damaging free radicals, have anti-aging properties a nd anti-inflammatory conditions.  Researcher Olsson et al. noted decreased proliferation of breast and colon cancer cells by extracts of organically grown strawberries compared to conventional berries, with ascorbic acid concentrations correlated negatively with cancer cell proliferation.

What about Organic Soil?

The study noted found that organic soil is more “functional” due to the increased number of enzyme activity and greater number of microbial genes (233 in organic VS 2 in conventionally farmed soils). The organically farmed soils had more carbon and nitrogen, greater microbial biomass and activity, and greater functional gene abundance and diversity”

Major Conclusion re: the health benefits of Organic foods-Organic Is Better!!

Our findings show that the organic strawberry farms produced higher quality fruit and that their higher quality soils may have greater microbial functional capability and resilience to stress.”

Source

John P. Reganold, Preston K. Andrews, Jennifer R. Reeve, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, Christopher W. Schadt, J. Richard Alldredge, Carolyn F. Ross, Neal M. Davies, Jizhong Zhou. Fruit and Soil Quality of Organic and Conventional Strawberry Agroecosystems. PLoS ONE, 2010; 5 (9): e12346

Worlds Best Superfoods…

September 2nd, 2010

August 2010 article, CNN Health News on the Worlds Best Superfoods!!!

What are the World’s 10 healthiest cuisines???

world-superfoods-healthy-takeout

Click here to read the CCN Article!

Author and physician Daphne Miller, MD, discusses the Worl’d Healthiest cuisines in her book titled The Jungle Effect: The Healthiest Diets from Around the World—Why They Work and How to Make Them Work for You. Enjoy global cuisines in their purest state, on the other hand, and you get meals that are light, nutritious, and incredibly yummy.

Click here to read

Choose Grass Fed Beef Instead of Marbeled Grain Fed Varieties

August 27th, 2010

Grass Fed Beef is better for you and here is why

Grain fed (soy, corn and wheat) and genetically modified beef varieties produce a beef that is NOT good for health due to the increased inflammatory load they implore on your body (see the study below from from the British Journal of Nutrition). When consuming Red Meat, consider the Grass Fed option as it will be much better for your body!

Br J Nutr. 2010 Apr 9:1-5. [Epub ahead of print]

Differences in postprandial inflammatory responses to a ‘modern’ v. traditional meat meal: a preliminary study.

Arya F, Egger S, Colquhoun D, Sullivan D, Pal S, Egger G.

School of Human Nutrition, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

A low-grade inflammatory response (‘metaflammation’) has been found to be associated with certain chronic diseases. Proposed inducers of this have been aspects of the modern lifestyle, including newly introduced foods. Plasma TAG, and the inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-alpha and IL-6 were compared in a randomised, cross-over trial using ten healthy subjects before and after eating 100 g of kangaroo, or a ‘new’ form of hybridised beef (wagyu) separated by about 1 week. Postprandial levels for 1 and 2 h of TAG, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly higher after eating wagyu compared with kangaroo (P = 0.002 for TAG at 1 h, P < 0.001 at 2 h; P < 0.001 for IL-6 and TNF-alpha at 1 and 2 h). CRP was significantly higher 1 h postprandially after wagyu (P = 0.011) and non-significantly higher 2 h postprandially (P = 0.090). We conclude that the metaflammatory reaction to ingestion of a ‘new’ form of hybridised beef (wagyu) is indicative of a low-grade, systemic, immune reaction when compared with lean game meat (kangaroo). Further studies using isoenergetic intake and isolating fatty acid components of meats are proposed.

Eat More Color To Protect Your Genes and Prevent Disease

August 17th, 2010

Why You Should Protect Your Genes (DNA)? It’s Your Biochemical Instruction Manual….

Every cell in your body has over 6 feet of DNA (genetic material). This DNA- your body’s instruction manual- is the instruction manual for your metabolism, how your body loses or gains weight, how you age, what illness you get or don’t get and much more. When it’s damaged, nothing in your body works correctly. This is when you open the door to acquired diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disease and heart disease.

How Can You Protect Your Body’s Instruction Manual (DNA)?





Include a diet rich in “color” from vegetables and fruits. These colors found in polyphenolic rich “super foods” include:

-Green Tea, White Tea, and French Press Coffee

-Colorful Berries of all kinds- Blueberries, raspberries, etc..

-Greens: Spinach, Kale and Swiss Chard

-Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower

-Purple potatoes, Red and Black Rice

-Grapes and Red Wine

-Spices, including Rosemary, Curcumin, Garlic,  and others

-Dark Chocolate

Why should you Supplement?





In addition to wholesome foods and rest, your body needs the proper “micronutrients”. Sadly, you would have a hard time getting these only in foods. Our soil is just not rich enough anymore to get the quantity of nutrients we need to function optimally.

 

Mitochondrial Renewal Kit (MRK): contains Alpha Lipoic Acid (to maintain proper blood sugar), Resveratrol (to aid in the prevention of cell breakdown) and Nitric Oxide ( an important component of the energy or Krebs Cycle).

OncoPlex: contains the active ingredient sulphoraphane which has been researched and tudied to increase antioxidant protection, phase II detoxification and anti-inflammatory pathways. nd shown to have scientific evidence in protection of cells from cancer causing agents.