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Leafy greens are some
the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily
routine. Densely-packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upwards
towards the sky, absorbing the suns light while producing oxygen. Members
of this royal green family include kale, collard greens, swiss chard,
mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet
greens, bok choy, nappa cabbage, red or green cabbage, spinach and
broccoli. How do greens benefit
our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium,
phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K.
They are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll, and many other
micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their color is associated with Spring
a time of renewal and refreshing, vital energy. In traditional Asian
medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and
creativity. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune
system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting
depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your
skin clear and blemish free. Leafy greens are the vegetable most missing
from the American diet, and many of us never learned how to prepare them.
You can add them to salads or sauti with a little olive oil, garlic and
onion. Then each time to go to the market, pick up a new green and try it
out. Soon youll find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived
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If you or someone you
know is on, or considering taking cholesterol lowering drugs, read on.
When concerned about heart disease, we need to look at the three major
factors: Cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation. Even though
cholesterol isnt the only factor, it is a factor that a lot of people are
concerned about. Most Americans think that it can be controlled by
reducing dietary fat, but as it turns out, only some of your bodily
cholesterol comes from food most is manufactured by your liver. So you
can limit your cholesterol intake all you want, but it won't reduce the
cholesterol that is manufactured in your body. It would be like trying to
cool down your house by opening all the windows instead of lowering the
thermostat. Since the heat is generated by the furnace, no matter how much
cool air you let in, the thermostat will keep pumping out heat. In fact,
the more cold air that enters, the more heat the furnace will supply. It
is the same with cholesterol which is why some people who adhere to
healthy diets can still have high levels. So you can try to lower your fat
all you want, but the fact still lies that 80% of your body's cholesterol
is produced by the liver through action on enzyme HMGR
(hydroxyl-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase). Once scientists
realized that, they began to focus on controlling the action of HMGR in
order to control cholesterol levels. Statin drugs like Lipitor, Crestor,
Zocor and others were designed to totally block the HMGR enzyme. That
would be a fabulous idea if you wanted to shut of the thermostat
completely and eliminate all HMGR activity. But the problem with that is
that the HMGR pathway also produces another substance that is crucial to
your overall health and energy levels Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10). Shutting
down the production of Co-Q10 is a health disaster. It can lead to
neurological and muscular damage that is often irreversible. Since every
cell in your body uses Co-Q10 to produce energy, it makes sense that
blocking the production of it would make you feel sluggish and worn down,
(a few of the less serious side effects of statins). Numerous studies
confirm that statin use blocks the production of Co-Q10 and they also
confirm muscle weakness and neurological weakness that results. And dont
forget the heart is a muscle! 15 Animal studies have shown that statin
induced depletion of Co-Q10 increases heart failure, as well as overall
mortality. So the consensus? There are many natural ways we work with to
lower cholesterol without the nasty side effects. But if you insist on
still taking statins, at least supplement with extra Co-
Q10. | ||
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What are
hydrogenated oils? What foods are they found in? K.F. Hobken,
NJ This is a great
question!! There is a lot of talk about hydrogenated oils these days and
for good reason! Im so glad that most people are getting on the bandwagon
and trying to avoid them, but I find many people are not exactly sure what
they are and why they are bad for you. Hydrogenated oils, also known as
trans fats are liquid vegetable oils which are hardened by piping hydrogen
through them at high temperatures. The hydrogen saturates some of the
carbon bonds of the vegetable oil, this produces a saturated fat.
Margarine is made this way and is not usually billed as saturated fat but
functions as one due to the process. Although vegetable oil in and of
itself has many nutrients, the high temperatures used in converting it to
margarine and other hardened forms destroy these nutrients. Hardening
agents also include cadmium and nickel, both toxic metals that cause
kidney problems when ingested and have been found to contribute to cancer,
high blood pressure and arterial sclerosis. Manufacturers love these trans
fats because they are more stable and can sit on shelves in products such
a peanut butter without separation for years. They however cannot be used
by the body and their chemical makeup is closer to plastic than anything
in nature. Foods highest in
hydrogenated oils are commercially baked goods like breads, pastries,
cookies, cakes, crackers etc. These fats are considered detrimental to
health and according to the New England Journal of Medicine, cancer, heart
disease, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and suppressed immune
function is now linked to use of these trans fats. Fortunately, many
manufacturers are now taking these out of foods and state no trans fats on
the packaging. But you still have to read the labels and try to avoid
foods that have hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils listed as
ingredients.
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Refer a friend for
a consultation and get 25% off your next
appointment! | ||
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Its such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it. If you are sick of yo-yo dieting and want to finally take control of your health please contact us!
Warmly,
Inna Topiler - Integrative Nutritionist Complete Nutrition And Wellness phone: 201-238-2720
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