Yummy Green PowerHouse AVOCADO!

Hello world!

I know I’ve been missing in action for a while well at least in this blog world.  But I’m back with more Tid Bits under my belt than ever J

Spring is here and what a beautiful time to embrace change, change is inevitable so why resist it? Instead flow with it and learn to embrace the changes in your life and in your body.  At first you might be so resistant to the changes that you’re miserable focusing on how awful your life and circumstances are when in fact if you just sit back embrace the changes knowing that it’s all for a greater good, you’ll begin realizing that the changes coming to you (even though unknown and a little scary at first) are exactly what you’ve been dreaming of.

I’ve gone through many changes in the last few months myself and find myself happier than ever,  open to all of life’s beauty, opportunities and abundances.... But enough about me LOL lets get to some Tid Bits already!!  Oh and one last thing I find it disturbing that people are abusing cinnamon with this cinnamon challenge craze that’s been hitting YouTube... for those of you who know me personally you know how passionate I am about my cinnamon so I just wanted to say to those of you that are participating in this “Cinnamon Challenge” nonsense NOT COOL!!

Today I’m going to be talking about a very underrated nutritious power house of a fruit AVOCADO!!  Yummy avocado, not just for guacamole anymore and you’ll soon see why, so sit back read and enjoy this tid bit on avocado!

Avocados contain an amazing array of phytonutrients. Avocado is a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. Adequate intake of potassium can help guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke.  Diets containing foods that are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. One cup of avocado has about 23% of the Daily Value for folate, a nutrient important for heart health.  Folate-rich diets have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke than those who do not consume much of this vital nutrient.  Avocados are nutritionally dense, and they are a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6,   copper and folate. They are a good source of dietary fiber as well, the total dietary fiber content of fresh avocado fruit of the Ettinger variety is 5.2 g/100 g, of which approximately 75% is insoluble fiber, and 25% soluble fiber. Fiber intake is inversely associated with body weight and body fat.

Avocados contain all of the nine essential amino acids, even though not in the ideal ratios, which makes them a complete protein food. Replacing animal protein, which is usually high in saturated fat, with vegetable protein can help maintain and lose weight.

A typical avocado contains 30 grams of fat, but 20 of these fat grams are beneficial monounsaturated fats that help speed up the basal metabolic rate when compared with saturated fats.

Not only avocado has a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid, which has recently been shown to offer significant protection against breast cancer, but it is also a very concentrated dietary source of the "carotenoid lutein". It also contains measurable amounts of related carotenoids plus significant quantities of vitamin E.

A few slices of avocado in salad, or mixing some chopped avocado into salsa will not only add a rich, creamy flavour, but will greatly increase your body's ability to absorb the health-promoting carotenoids that vegetables provide.  Compared to other fruits or vegetables such as carrots and spinach, just a slice of avocado improves your body's ability to absorb carotenoids.

Just some of the many benefits

Avocados have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer.

Oral Cancer Defense

Research has shown that certain compounds in avocados are able to seek out pre-cancerous and cancerous oral cancer cells and destroy them without harming healthy cells.

Breast Cancer Protection

Avocado, like olive oil, is high in oleic acid, which has been shown to prevent breast cancer in numerous studies.

Eye Health

Avocados have more of the carotenoid lutein than any other commonly consumed fruit. Lutein protects against macular degeneration and cataracts, two disabling age-related eye diseases.

Lower Cholesterol

Avocados are high in beta-sitosterol, a compound that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. In one study, 45 volunteers experienced an average drop in cholesterol of 17% after eating avocados for only one week.

Heart Health

One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. Studies show that people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't. The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.

Stroke Prevention

The high levels of folate in avocado are also protective against strokes. People who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower risk of stroke than those who don't.

Another health benefit of avocado is that it is extremely helpful in preventing both rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis. The many different antioxidants found in avocados help reduce inflammation, a major concern for sufferers of either type of arthritis. Avocado nutrients responsible for this health benefit include vitamins C & E as well as manganese.

Perhaps the biggest health benefit of avocados is that by adding avocado to certain foods, you can improve your absorption of nutrients. This means that when you combine other fat burning foods with avocado, you can improve your nutrient absorption up to 400%!

Avocados provide many general health benefits, in addition to its fat burning benefits due to its vitamin E and glutathione, which protects you against tons of diseases including several forms of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and cholesterol.

Avocados also help reduce the signs of aging, regulate blood sugar and promote eye health.

Okay people ready for this one avocado and weight loss:

Although they are fruits, avocados have a high fat content of between 71 to 88% of their total calories (about 20 times the average for other fruits). A typical avocado contains 30 grams of fat, but 20 of these fat grams are health-promoting monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid.  The monounsaturated fat in this buttery fruit boost the body’s production of a key metabolism revving hormone.  The monounsaturated fats which help blood lipid profile, aids insulin function which makes it excellent for weight loss and weight control.

Many individuals are at first stunned when learning that one of the best foods for weight loss is avocado...mainly because the typical understanding of avocado is it’s full of fat and fat is bad.

The problem with the typical notion of avocado is that it is simply wrong. Avocado is one of your best foods for weight loss and one of the top weight loss fats.

Yes, avocado is full of fat - but it's full of good fat. Bad fat makes you fat; good fat keeps you from getting fat.

Avocado is high in monounsaturated fat. Research clearly indicates diets high in monounsaturated fat are more beneficial for weight control because monounsaturated fat exerts beneficial effects on how your body uses blood sugar.

Avocado possesses a double whammy when it comes to weight loss and blood sugar metabolism. Avocado contains a unique weight loss friendly carbohydrate called mannoheptulose.

Mannoheptulose is a rare form of sugar, found primarily in avocado. Mannoheptulose has been found to lower insulin secretion.  To understand how the inhibition of insulin is helpful to weight loss we need to understand insulin resistance...you might remember this from my cinnamon post.

An underlying cause of the obesity epidemic is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when the cells lining your arteries become resistant to the action of the hormone insulin. Your body uses insulin to pull sugar from your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy. When your cells become resistant to insulin your body has no choice but to store your blood sugar as fat. People with insulin resistance make too much insulin. Too much insulin only makes the problem of weight gain and difficulty with weight loss worse. Avocado actually helps to reverse the problems that we see with insulin resistance, by virtue of the presence of mannoheptulose and its high content of good fats.

Avocado consumption will not result in rapid weight loss, but moderate avocado consumption can be helpful when combined with other weight loss foods.

Since fat has twice the energy of protein or carbs, the trick with avocado, as with all good fats is to eat smaller portions of them. Limit your avocado consumption to 1/4 to 1/2 avocado at a time.

Mmmm Chocolate Avocado Pudding!!

Avocado isn’t just for salads either you can use it as a spread instead of mayo on crepes, sandwiches, burgers or mixed with tuna.  Throw some in a shake for a really creamy texture.  You can add cocoa powder to it with some stevia or agave nectar and make a pudding.  And of course guacamole, just cut up some cilantro, onions, tomatoes and lots of lemon or lime juice and you’ve got some yummy guacamole that can be served with cut up veggies or as a fish/meat topping.  Seriously the possibilities are endless with avocado!  I recently mashed some up with some cumin and made a really cool dressing for my zucchini noodles, you can use pasta but since I avoid gluten zucchini noodles are my fav!  Get creative and go crazy with it J  And to my clients yes you’re allowed to have avocado lol

Oh and if you’re ever left with avocados that look like they’re just way too ripe to eat don’t throw them out, use them on your hair!  Creating an avocado hair mask will strengthen and fortify your hair.  They are rich in fatty acids that are a real must in your daily diet, especially when it come to your hair.  Your hair will go from brittle to being soft and shiny.

Avocados are also ideal as a facial mask as well.  Facial masks made with this wonderful ingredients tend to be highly hydrating for dry sensitive skin and can be used for all types of skin.  An Avocado facial mask will leave skin, soft, fresh, smooth and healthy.

I could probably sit here all day with different recipes and uses for avocados but I do need to get going to train my clients, so I’ll let you guys process the Avocado Tid Bit for today J

Enjoy have a beautiful Monday and it’s great to be back and blogging J

Cure-Cumin anyone :)

Happy and Healthy 2012 to everyone!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season with their loved ones, I know I did!

Of course I’ve been in healing mode still with my injury, turns out it’s gone beyond just the muscle and is affecting the nerve which causes some not so fun inflammation and pain L

However I’m so lucky that I’ve got yoga to help me along with some curcumin to ease the pain and inflammation.

You’re probably like “cur-what?”  …Curcumin!

 

Curcumin is the active ingredient found in turmeric.  Turmeric best known as one of the ingredients used to make curry also gives mustard its bright yellow color.  Now this active ingredient has serious magic powers …if you read on you’ll see why.

Curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects are as potent as hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone (very strong prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs) as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin and advil. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects (ulcer formation, decreased white blood cell count, intestinal bleeding), curcumin produces no toxicity.

Besides being absolutely great for pain management and anti-inflammatory properties here are a few other benefits of curcumin.

o   It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

o   When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

o   Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

o   May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.

o   Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.

o   Is a natural liver detoxifier.

o   May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

o   May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

o   It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects…. This is what got me started on it J

o   Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.

o   Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

o   May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.

o   Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

o   Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

o   Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.

o   Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.

o   Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

o   Speeds up wound healing, and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

o   May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions

SO if these aren’t enough to get you to add a little yellow to your meals this might be:

Turmeric helps to digest fats by stimulating the flow of bile in the gall bladder and therefore is very effective as a digestive aid and fat-burning compound. Studies also show it is highly effective at reducing the inflammation from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

For the heart, it contains strong anti-platelet substances which help prevent the blood from clotting too easily, and so is very effective against heart attacks and strokes. In addition, homocysteine, a chemical component in the body, which is one of the primary predictors of heart attacks, is significantly lowered in the presence of curcumin.

The curcumin in turmeric also has been shown to lower and reduce the oxidation of plaque on the artery walls.

So hopefully I’ve succeeded in relaying this information on turmeric and curcumin to you;  you or someone you know might be able to really benefit from it like I have been J

Happy Healthy 2012 to everyone!!!

YOGA my cure to everything in life

Sometimes life gets hectic and we’re overwhelmed with all kinds of stresses and challenges and it throws our body, mind and spirit completely out of whack…then throw in the holiday season and things can get really messy!   

I can personally relate because last week my grandma who hasn’t been well after many strokes and has been staying at my house, fell off her bed in the middle of the night.  My first instinct of course was to help her up right away I mean who logically thinks about anything else at 3am.  So NOT taking into consideration that she’s over 200lbs and I’m just under 100lbs, I tried with all my strength to lift her up.  Unfortunately not only was I unsuccessful with getting her up I also injured my shoulder L

Or so I though was just my shoulder.  Turns out there’s more to it as it’s been progressively worsening on me.  There’s so much inflammation that it’s seems to be pressing on my nerves, so the pain which was just my shoulder at first now start from my right hip up the right side of my back to my neck across the right side of my chest and down my whole right arm to my finger tips L

I have a pretty high tolerance of pain but this was a bit much for me so I resorted to muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory pills. 

So I’m still in pain but healing and in recovery mode thankfully J … My grandma is in the hospital and Christmas is less than a week away and just sooo much going on AHHH could drive a girl crazy!!

Anyways the point of this post is to say that I’m so grateful for everything in my life and all because of YOGA!!

I’ve had my first practice since the injury and already feel a world of difference it’s truly amazing! 

Here are SOME of the many health benefits of yoga and why YOU should start today!

From lowering blood pressure to increasing pain tolerance, the following health benefits can all be discovered within the body and within your life.

• Posture:  The very nature of yoga teaches the practitioner how to hold and control one’s body in a more healthful position. Through consistent practice, your posture will improve so that you look more confident and healthy.
• Strength: One of the premises of yoga is that you are using the weight of your own body for overall strength
• Energy:  Regular yoga practice provides consistent energy. In fact, most yogis state that when you perform your yoga correctly, you will feel energized after your yoga session rather than tired.
• Weight:  The benefits of a better metabolism along with the exercise of yoga work to keep your weight in check. Additionally, the stretching of muscles longwise helps to reduce the amount of CELLULITE that can build around muscles.
• Immunity:  Yoga practice strengthens the immune system.
• Pain:  Pain tolerance is much higher among those who practice yoga regularly. In addition to pain tolerance, some instances of chronic pain, such as back pain, are lessened or eliminated through yoga.
• Metabolism:  Having a balanced metabolism results in maintaining a healthy weight and controlling hunger. Consistent yoga practice helps find the balance and creates a more efficient metabolism.
• Sleep:  Because of the many benefits to both body and mind that a yoga routine can provide, many find that their sleep is much better.
• Balance:  An integral part of the yoga practice is balance and control over your body. With a consistent practice, you will find that your overall balance will improve outside the yoga class.

o   Blood pressure:  A consistent yoga practice decreases blood pressure through better circulation and oxygenation of the body.

o   Pulse rate:  A slower pulse rate indicates that your heart is strong enough to pump more blood with fewer beats. Regularly practicing yoga provides a lower pulse rate.

o   Circulation: Yoga improves blood circulation. By transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout your body, yoga practice provides healthier organs, skin, and brain.

o   Respiratory:  Like the circulatory system, a lower respiratory rate indicates that the lungs are working more efficiently. Yoga decreases the respiratory rate through a combination of controlled breathing exercises and better fitness.

o   Cardiovascular endurance:  A combination of lower heart rate and improved oxygenation to the body (both benefits of yoga) results in higher cardiovascular endurance.

o   Organs: Yoga practice massages internal organs, thus improving the ability of the body to prevent disease. Additionally, an experienced yoga practitioner becomes better attuned to her body to know at first sign if something isn’t functioning properly, thereby allowing for quicker response to ward off disease.

o   Aging:  Yoga stimulates the detoxification process within the body. Detoxification has been shown to delay aging, among many other health benefits.

o   Integrated function of the body:  Yoga is derived from Sanskrit and means "to join together and direct one’s attention." This is exactly what happens to your body after you start practicing yoga. The body works together much better, resulting in more graceful and efficient body movements.

o   Body Awareness: Doing yoga will give you an increased awareness of your own body. You are often called upon to make small, subtle movements to improve your alignment. Over time, this will increase your level of comfort in your own body. This can lead to improved posture and greater self-confidence.

o   Calmness. Concentrating so intently on what your body is doing has the effect of bringing calmness. Yoga also introduces you to meditation techniques, such as watching how you breathe and disengagement from your thoughts, which help calm the mind.

o   Low risk of injury:  Due to the low impact of yoga and the controlled aspect of the motions, there is a very low risk of injury during yoga practice compared to other forms of exercise.

o   Parasympathetic Nervous System:  In many forms of exercise, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, providing you with that fight-or-flight sensation. Yoga does the opposite and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic system lowers blood pressure and slows the pace of your breathing, which allows relaxation and healing.

o   Muscle tone:  Consistently practicing yoga leads to better muscle tone.

o   Core strength:  With a strong body core, you receive better posture and overall body strength. A strong core helps heal and reduce injuries. This is why a lot of athletes do yoga as cross training (boxers, MMA fighters, etc).

o   Sexuality:  Yoga can improve your sexuality through better control, more relaxation, and more self-confidence.

o   Mood:  Overall well-being improves with yoga practice. The combination of creating a strong mind-body connection, creating a healthy body, and focusing inward can all lead to improvement in your mood.

o   Stress Reduction:  The concentration required during yoga practice tends to focus your attention on the matter at hand, thereby reducing the emphasis you may have been putting on the stress in your life.

o   Anxiety:  One benefit to the controlled breathing used in yoga is a reduction in anxiety.

o   Depression:  Negative feelings that you may be repressing are brought to the surface during some of yoga asana’s. When this happens, the negative energy is no longer stuck within you, but released through exercise. Regularly releasing this negativity leads to a reduction of depression.

o   Self-acceptance:  Focusing inward and realizing through your yoga practice that perfection is not the goal, self-acceptance begins to take over.

o   Self-control:  The controlled movements of yoga teach you how to translate that self-control to all aspects of your life.

o   Mind-body connection:  Few other exercises offer the same mind-body connection that yoga does. As you match your controlled breathing with the movements of your body, you retrain your mind to find that place of calm and peace.

o   Positive outlook on life:  Continued practice of yoga results in a balance of many hormones and nervous system, which brings about a more stable, positive approach to life.

o   Concentration:  Researchers have shown that as little as eight weeks of yoga practice can result in better concentration and more motivation.

o   Memory:  Improved blood circulation to the brain as well as the reduction in stress and improved focus results in a better memory.

o   Attention:  The attention required in yoga to maintain the structured breathing in conjunction with yoga poses sharpens the ability to keep a sharp focus on tasks.

o   Social skills:  In yoga, you learn the interconnectedness of all of life. Your yoga practice soon evolves from a personal journey to one connecting to the community at large where your social skills improve along with your yoga practice.

o   Cholesterol:  Yoga practice lowers cholesterol through increased blood circulation and burning fat. Yoga practice is a great tool to fight against harmful cholesterol levels.

o   Lymphatic system:  Your lymphatic system boosts your immunity and reduces toxins in your body. The only way to get your lymphatic system flowing well is by movement. The specific movements involved in yoga are particularly well-suited for promoting a strong lymphatic system.

o   Glucose:  Yoga can lower blood glucose levels.

o   Sodium:  As does any good exercise program, yoga reduces the sodium levels in your body. In today’s world of processed and fast foods that are full of sodium, lessening these levels is a great idea.

o   Endocrine functions:  Practicing yoga helps to regulate and control hormone secretion. An improved endocrine system keeps hormones in balance and promotes better overall physical and emotional health.

o   Red blood cells:  Yoga has been shown to increase the level of red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen through the blood, and too few can result in anemia and low energy.

o   Vitamin C:  Vitamin C helps boost immunity, helps produce collagen, and is a powerful antioxidant; and a yoga regimen can increase the vitamin C in your body.

o   Reduced oxygen consumption: Yoga consumes less oxygen than traditional exercise routines, thereby allowing the body to work more efficiently.

o   Breathing: With yoga, breathing is more natural and controlled during exercise. This type of breathing provides more oxygen-rich air for your body and also provides more energy with less fatigue.

o   Balanced workout of opposing muscle groups: As with all of yoga, balance is key. If a muscle group is worked in one direction, it will also be worked in the opposite direction to maintain balance. This balance results in a better overall workout for the body.

o   Non-competitive:  The introspective and self-building nature of yoga removes any need of competition in the exercise regimen. With the lack of competition, you’re free to work slowly to avoid any undue injury as well as promote a more balanced and stress-free workout.

o   Eye-hand coordination:  Without practice, eye-hand coordination diminishes. Yoga maintains and improves eye-hand coordination.

o   Endurance:  Working the entire body, yoga improves endurance and is frequently used by endurance athletes as a supplement to their sport-specific training.

o   Heart disease:  Yoga reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, keeps off weight, and improves cardiovascular health, all of which lead to reducing your risk of heart disease.

o   Osteoporosis:  It is well documented that weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones and helps prevent osteoporosis. Additionally, yoga’s ability to lower levels of cortisol may help keep calcium in the bones.

o   Alzheimer’s:  A new study indicates that yoga can help elevate brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels. Low GABA levels are associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s. Meditation like that practiced in yoga has also been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

o   Type II diabetes:  In addition to the glucose reducing capabilities of yoga, it is also an excellent source of physical exercise and stress reduction that, along with the potential for yoga to encourage insulin production in the pancreas, can serve as an excellent preventative for type II diabetes.

o   Asthma: There is some evidence to show that reducing symptoms of asthma and even reduction in asthma medication are the result of regular yoga.

o   Arthritis: The slow, deliberate movement of yoga poses coupled with the gentle pressure exerted on the joints provides an excellent exercise to relieve arthritis symptoms. Also, the stress relief associated with yoga loosens muscles that tighten joints.

o   Cancer: Those fighting or recovering from cancer frequently take advantage of the benefits that yoga provides. Cancer patients, who practice yoga gain strength, raise red blood cells, experience less nausea during chemotherapy, and have a better overall well-being.

o   Muscular dystrophy: Using yoga in the early stages of muscular dystrophy can help return some physical functions. The practice of Pranayama yoga helps regain many abilities lost to muscular dystrophy.

o   Migraines:  Regular yoga practice has been shown to reduce the number of migraines in chronic migraine sufferers.

o   Scoliosis:  Yoga can straighten the curvature of the spine associated with scoliosis.

o   Chronic bronchitis:  Exercise that does not elevate respiration, yet increase oxygen levels in the body is ideal for treating chronic bronchitis. Luckily, yoga can do this, as well as aerate the lungs and provide energy.

o   Epilepsy:  Focusing on stress reduction, breathing, and restoring overall balance in the body are the focus of how yoga can help prevent epileptic seizures.

o   Sciatica: The intense pain associated with sciatica can be alleviated with specific yoga poses.

o   Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:  Studies of people with OCD have shown that practicing yoga has lead to a reduction in symptoms–resulting in less medication or medication no longer needed.

o   Constipation:  Due to the practice of yoga and overall better posture, the digestive and elimination systems work more efficiently eliminating any constipation.

o   Menopause:  Yoga practice can help control some of the side effects of menopause. Bridge pose can help reduce hot flashes.

o   Back pain:  Yoga reduces spinal compression and helps overall body alignment to reduce back pain.

So after reading all these health benefits and trust me there’s MANY more… there’s no need to put it off any longer start yoga today!  Even if you start with 10 minutes a day you will see improved benefits.

Yoga is why I’m no longer L and only J 

COCONUT

So besides my love for cinnamon which is still and always will be my #1 staple in my life, I’ve also been having a love affair with COCONUTS!

I’ve been adding coconut to everything from my cheesecake crust to my daily moisturizing routine I just love everything it can be used for....plus it's like a little tate or smell of the tropics everyday lol

So I’m a BIT of a health nut and if I love something that means there’s got to be some serious health benefits to go along with it too… and since I love spreading the word about health I’m going to share why I think everyone out there should really start incorporating coconut into their lives J

The coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk and oil that has fed and nourished countries around the world for generations. On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly 1/3 of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food.

Coconut is VERY nutritious,  rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Coconut oil possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine around the world. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illness.

 

In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds.

Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. SOME (not ALL) of these are listed below:

1.       Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.

2.       Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and

cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.

3.       Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.

4.       Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.

5.       Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.

6.       Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

7.       Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

8.       Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.

9.       Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.

10.   Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.

11.   Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.

12.   Reduces problems associated with mal-absorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

13.   Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.

14.   Helps protect against osteoporosis.

15.   Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

16.   Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.

17.   Improves digestion and bowel function.

18.   Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

19.   Reduces inflammation.

20.   Supports tissue healing and repair.

21.   Supports and aids immune system function.

22.   Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

23.   Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.

24.   Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.

25.   Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.

26.   Functions as a protective antioxidant.

27.   Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.

28.   Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do.

29.   Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.

30.   Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

31.   Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).

32.   Reduces epileptic seizures.

33.   Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.

34.   Dissolves kidney stones.

35.   Helps prevent liver disease.

36.   Is lower in calories than all other fats.

37.   Supports thyroid function.

38.   Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.

39.   Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.

40.   Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.

41.   Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.

42.   Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

43.   Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.

44.   Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.

45.   Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.

46.   Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.

47.   Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

48.   Helps control dandruff.

49.   Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.

50.   Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.

51.   Is completely non-toxic to humans.

Crazy right?! That’s a whole lot of benefits!!!  But the main ones that gets my clients to incorporate it into their lives right away are weight loss, lowers cholesterol, increases metabolism, makes hair and skin extra soft and shiny, and rejuvenates the skin to prevent wrinkles… and what keeps them is the fact that coconut tastes delicious and it’s so easy to use whether it’s in the kitchen or that bathroom J 

Coconut has medium-chain fatty acids a unique group of fats that are absorbed into metabolically active cells, which use them for energy, growth and repair.  These medium-chain fatty acids also neutralize free radicals and reduce cellular inflammation.

The medium-chain fatty acids prompt liver cells to burn fat50% faster.  They also rev the production of white blood cells (infection-fighting) and kill germs on contact…but that’s not it these fatty acids are also great for your glands speeding up the thyroids production of thyroxine, a hormone that speeds the conversion of food into energy, and heals overworked adrenal glands boosting their output of adrenaline.

Coconut water, milk, oil, butters, meat, flakes and the list goes on are now readily available to us now a days so what are you waiting for?  ...oh and I'll have a later post about the beenfits of coconut water after a workout.

If all these benefits haven’t sold you on coconut then maybe you should try some of my amazing coconut cookies or pie lol J