Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Can Calcium Cure Cancer?

Bob Barefoot Coral Calcium information and research finds that some cancers have been linked to Calcium deficiency. In 1932 Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery that cancer was anaerobic: cancer occurs in the absence of free oxygen. As innocuous as this discovery might seem, it is actually a startling and significant finding worthy of a Nobel Prize. What it basically means is that cancer is caused by a lack of free oxygen in the body and therefore, whatever causes this to occur is the cause of all cancers.
In chemistry, alkali solutions (pH over 7.0) tend to absorb oxygen, while acids (pH under 7.0) tend to expel oxygen.  For example, a mild alkali can absorb over 100 times as much oxygen as a mild acid.  Therefore, when the body becomes acidic by dropping below pH 7.0 (note: all body fluids, except for stomach and urine, are supposed to be mildly alkaline at pH 7.4), oxygen is driven out of the body thereby, according to Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg, inducing cancer. Stomach fluids must remain acidic to digest food and urine must remain acidic to remove wastes from the body.  Blood is the exception. 
Blood must always remain at an alkaline pH 7.4 so that it can retain its oxygen.  When adequate mineral consumption is in the diet, the blood is supplied the crucial minerals required to maintain an alkaline pH of 7.4.  However when insufficient mineral consumption is in the diet, the body is forced to rob Peter (other body fluids) to pay Paul (the blood).  In doing so, it removes crucial minerals, such as calcium, from the saliva, spinal fluids, kidneys, liver, etc., in order to maintain the blood at pH 7.4.  This causes the de-mineralized fluids and organs to become acidic and therefore anaerobic, thus inducing not only cancer, but a host of other degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, lupus, etc..
Everyone knows that the human body is made up of 78% water by weight, and that water is hydrogen and oxygen gases. When nitrogen gas and carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane gases are added, the total gas in the body by weight becomes over 95%. Almost half of the remaining 5% that makes up the human body and controls all biological functions is the mineral calcium.
No other mineral is capable of performing as many biological functions as is calcium. Calcium is involved in almost every biological function. This amazing mineral provides the electrical energy for the heart to beat and for all muscle movement. It is the calcium ion that is responsible for feeding every cell. It does this by latching on to seven nutrient molecules and one water molecule and pulls them through the nutrient channel. It then detaches its load and returns to repeat the process. Another important biological job for calcium is DNA replication, which is crucial for maintaining youth and a healthy body. DNA replication is the basis for all body repair and can only occur on a substrate of calcium. Thus, low calcium means low body repair and premature aging. As important as all these and hundreds of other biological functions of calcium are to human health, none is more important than the job of pH control. Calcium to acid, is like water to a fire. Calcium quickly destroys oxygen robbing acid in the body fluids. Thus, the more calcium, the more oxygen, and therefore, the less cancer and other degenerative disease.
This information then begs the question, “How much calcium is necessary?”  The answer can readily be determined by examining the diet of millions of people around the world who consume over 100 times our Recommended Daily Allowance, RDA, and who suffer the side effects of living 40 years longer than we do, of aging at half the rate that we do, and of being devoid of cancer, heart disease, mental disorders, diabetes, arthritis and all other degenerative diseases. Almost all of these people, the Armenians, Azerbaijans and Georgians in Russian, the Tibetans, the Hunzas of Northern Pakistan, the Vilcabamba Indians in Ecuador, the Bamas in China and the Titicacas in Peru live at high altitudes above 8000 feet.  Their only source of water is melting glaciers, and the glacial water is so turbid and white with ground up rock that all of these cultures call the water “milk of the mountains”.  Each quart of this water contains over 17,000 milligrams of calcium along with other minerals and 60 trace metals.  These cultures drink several quarts each day and the water fertilized crops are also loaded with calcium and other nutrients.  The only long living and disease free culture that does not live above an altitude of 8000 feet, is the Okinawans.
Millions of Okinawans live in the southern coral islands of Japan with the average life expectancy of 105 years, while mainland Japan is just 77 years.  The Okinawans live on islands made of coral reefs which are mainly calcium. The Okinawans discovered over 500 years ago, that feeding coral sand, produced from the weathering of the reefs, to the chickens and cows resulted in twice as many eggs and twice as much milk.  They also found that when the coral sand is used as a fertilizer, crops increase by as much as three fold.  When finally, 500 years ago, they began to consume the coral sand themselves, all of the under-utilized doctors were forced to leave the islands.  This was known in Japanese history as the Japanese Exodus.
The early European explorers discovered their secret and hauled shiploads of the calcium rich coral sands back to Europe.  In Madrid, Spain, the historic monument of the world’s first drugstore contains rows of shelves labeled “coral calcium from Okinawa Japan”.  Today millions of people all over the world consume coral calcium, and as a result, there are millions of medical testimonials.


OVERVIEW

The phenomenon of preventing and reversing degenerative disease through the consumption of large amounts of mineral and vitamins did not go un-noticed by men of medicine. Hundreds of years ago European doctors were prescribing coral calcium and other nutrients to their patients.
In the 1950’s, Dr. Carl Reich, M.D. discovered that his patients were able to cure themselves of almost all degenerative diseases by consuming several times the RDA of calcium, magnesium, vitamin-D and other nutrients. Dr. Reich was the first North American doctor to prescribe mega doses of minerals and vitamins to his patients and is considered by many to be the father of preventive medicine.  By the 1980’s, Dr. Reich had cured thousands, but lost his license for explaining that the consumption of mineral nutrients, such as calcium, could prevent cancer and a host of other diseases. This concept was considered too simple to accept by the medical wisdom of the day.   However, by the late 1990’s, other medical men of wisdom were also discovering that calcium supplements could indeed reverse cancer.
In the October 13, 1998 issue of the New York Times, an article appeared entitled “Calcium Takes Its Place As a Superstar of Nutrients”.  The article reported that a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association declared that “increasing calcium induced normal development of the epithelial cells and might also prevent cancer in such organs as the breast, prostate and pancreas”.  It also reported that the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published that virtually no major organ system escapes calcium’s influence and that a research team from the University of Southern California found that adding calcium to the diet lowered the blood pressure in 110 black teenagers.
The January 14, 1999 issue of the Phoenix Republic wrote in an article entitled “Calcium Reduces Tumors” that the New England Journal of Medicine reported that adding calcium to the diet can keep you from getting tumors in your large intestine.  Then the February, 1999 issue of the Readers Digest wrote in an article entitled “The ‘Superstar’ Nutrient” that the Journal of the American Medical Association published that “when the participants’ consumption reached 1500 milligrams of calcium a day, cell growth in the colon improved toward normal (this means that the cancer was reversed)”.  The Digest also reported that the Metabolic Bone Center at St. Luke’s Hospital believes that “a chronic deficiency of calcium is largely responsible for premenstrual syndrome (PMS)” and that “a lot of women are avoiding the sun and their vitamin-D levels may be very low”.  In the same article, the Digest reported that “in 1997 the large federally financed trial found that a diet containing 1200 milligrams of calcium significantly lowered blood pressure in adults”.  Then the May 3, 1999 edition of US World News Report wrote in an article entitled“Calcium’s Powerful Mysterious Ways” that “Researchers are increasingly finding that the humble mineral calcium plays a major role in warding off major illnesses from high blood pressure to colon cancer” and that “You name the disease, and calcium is beginning to have a place there” (David McCarron, a nephrologist at Oregon Health Sciences University).  Unfortunately, most doctors have not heard the news that their own journals and major newspapers and magazines are reporting that natural supplements, especially calcium, . . .
Scientific evidence that calcium is the key to good and long health is overwhelming.  One does not have to be a rocket scientist to read simple articles in reputable newspapers, magazines and the doctor’s own journals that are all saying that disease can be cured by diet.  Also one can simply look at the millions of people around the world that never get sick and say, “We also want to drink some milk of the mountains”.  Unfortunately, all of the milk of the mountains is consumed as fast as it is produced.  However, the Japanese could cure the world with their “milk of the oceans” known as coral calcium, the calcium factor of good health.
The most frequent question asked the author is, “What do you do?”  The response always begins with, “I have not taken a pill in over 30 years.   Psychologically, taking pills is synonymous with taking drugs.  Also, many people have difficulty swallowing pills.  For most, many of the pills remain intact as they pass through the intestine undigested.  The obvious solution is to do what the author does.  First, the author puts all of the non-liquid nutrient pills and capsules into a blender to make a pulverized blend. He then uses a flour sifter to remove the broken up over sized capsule containers. The author takes 24 pills and capsules each day, and he has found that when pulverized, the blend fills a heaping teaspoon.  Thus the author pulverizes a three-month portion and puts it into a large bottle labeled“Hunza Powder” and then takes a heaping spoonful each day.  Secondly, the nutrient blend should be taken at meal times.  For the elderly, this is the only time that they have sufficient acid in their stomachs to digest food.  Thirdly, one glass of milk or one glass of apple juice should be taken with each meal so that the lactates or malates will keep the digested nutrients ionized even as they pass through the alkali duodenum, thereby allowing for greater absorption.  Also, the consumption of fruits and vegetables with meals provides anions.
The second most frequent question asked is, “Which are the 24 pills that you take?”  The answer is 3 coral calcium (1.5 grams), 2 vitamin-D (5000 IU each), 6 multivitamins (one-a-day), 6 multi-minerals (containing 60 trace minerals), 3 calcium (citrate), 1 magnesium citrate, 2 vitamin-C (60 mg each), 1 vitamin-E (500mg), and 10 milligrams cesium chloride.  The result is Hunza Powder.   The author takes a heaping teaspoon each day, usually mixed in a fruit slush or a banana shake.
Robert Barefoot is the author of the books, “The Calcium Factor” and “Death By Diet“. These books are in their fourth edition, have been translated into several languages and are used by many in the nutrition industry as “the bibles of nutrition”. Barefoot is about to release his latest book, “Let’s Cure Humanity”, which basically tells his story. We believe in Bob Barefoot Coral Calcium research and knowledge, and these books intergrate scientific knowledge provided by some of the world’s most renowned scientists, and brings it together into one cohesive scientific argument that demonstrates that nutritional deficiency is the cause of disease and that, by correcting the deficiency, disease can also be cured, not only prevented.
To order these books phone 800-210-1268,
and to order the audio tapes phone 866-923-3721.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Causing autism before birth – is that the insidious goal of Big Pharma’s new push for vaccinating babies in the womb?

Has there ever been “vaccine safety science?” Ever since the disputed Polio vaccination was “discovered” by Dr. Jonas F. Salk, fear and propaganda have been the only advertising needed to convince a couple hundred million Americans that vaccines are safe and effective, even though most are neither. Dial it back to 1955 when a rogue, haphazard scientist by the name of Salk took some monkey kidneys, cut them up into little pieces, rocked them in vials like a baby in a carriage with some polio viruses in a “nutrient solution,” and suddenly declared he found the cure for polio.
Next, he took the three different strains of polio virus that he had mixed together and diluted them with formaldehyde, a deadly embalming fluid used to preserve corpses, and never tested it even once on a single human being. Voila! Chill and ship. One month later the cure for Polio is announced and the concoction is duplicated millions of times and injected into children all over the planet. Why do people believe it works? Because it’s declared “safe, potent and efficient” and the “miracle vaccine of the century” all over mass media.
Pay it forward sixty plus years. Now the CDC recommends up to 70 vaccinations for children before age seven, beginning from the day of birth. Autism rates have skyrocketed since this insane vaccine schedule has doubled in quantity and frequency over the last two decades. It used to be about 1 in 10,000 kids had autism, but now it’s 1 in about 50 suffering some form of autism spectrum disorder. The MMR and the flu shot are prime time suspects. It’s only been a short while since the powerful and insidious vaccine lobby rammed SB277 through the California legislature, destroying any chance parents had of opting their children out of dozens of doses of mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde and MSG injected into their muscle tissue, without any safety or efficacy proof.

Say hello to 21st Century Cures Act – an attempt by Big Pharma to give babies autism while still in the womb

Why would Big Pharma want children to suffer from metallic brain disorder, central nervous system disorders, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, metabolic syndrome, immune deficiency, auto-immune disorder, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and other often permanent “side effects” caused by chemical violence (vaccines)? Money.
If vaccines today were tested for safety and efficacy, nobody would get them. It’s much like chemotherapy. If people really knew that there is only about a 3% chance of chemotherapy being successful, and that it completely wipes out the immune system and can lead to death from other viruses and bacteria, like MRSA and pneumonia, who would even be interested in trying it? It certainly wouldn’t be the mainstream first order of medicine or treatment, for that matter.
The FDA and CDC don’t test drugs for safety or efficacy. They simply accept massive payments, in the millions, for fast-tracked drugs and inoculations based on the manufacturers word that it works. Period. Safety and efficacy tests can therefore be faked, altered, skewed, or simply made up out of thin air, then published in “peer review” medical journals, the Washington Post or the New York Times, and then referenced.
The 21st Century Cures Act is a 362-page bill mandating that $9 billion be handed to NIH to develop drugs and vaccines, and the bill actually lowers FDA licensing standards, if they can even get any more lenient than they are already.

Most drug “bills” are named the opposite of their intention

Get ready mothers-to-be, because the US government and Big Pharma want to stick a long needle into your stomach and into your unborn baby and inject him/her/or them (twins or triplets) with embalming fluid, multiple strains of live and deadly viruses, genetically modified and unpredictable mutated bacteria, some aluminum, and maybe some human albumin (pooled blood) that contains disease itself. This all comes in the name of “protecting” humans from the very diseases being injected. Why would any expecting mother take such a horrific chance? Paranoia invoked through scare tactics spread through infectious disease propaganda. Simple as that. It’s worked for 60 years, so why not more of the same in 2017? Ever heard of population control? The new vaccines injected into babies in the womb may be an attempt to give babies autism before they’re born so the vaccine industry can blame genetics instead of mercury and aluminum in vaccines. Watch those statistics soar.
Also, watch for “new lines” of vaccines supposedly developed with babies in utero in mind. Just because the tag line mentions safety and efficacy doesn’t mean a thing, remember. Often times, companies use slogans that cover up their products’ greatest weakness. The muffler that “lasts longer” probably breaks down sooner, and the diet that is “calorie free” usually means you’re consuming aspartame, which makes you put on weight and stay hungrier. Remember how the “Patriot Act” basically stole our privacy and killed the Bill of Rights? Go figure. The “cures act” may be just that – an “act” that gives the government a green light to inject poison, infectious disease, and increase risks of autism for our next generation of children. It may also be a form of population control. Watch out.

6 Ways to Rid Yourself of the Toxicity of Modern Living

Our world can be very toxic. This is simply a fact of modern life.
Pollutants are everywhere. In the air we breathe. In the food we eat. In the water we drink, and they can even invade people’s words, thoughts and feelings. There really is no part of you – physical, energetic or spiritual – which isn’t under constant onslaught of some form of toxic substance.
This is precisely why we need to take a proactive approach towards cleansing our bodies and minds. Here are some simple ways that you can cleanse yourself of the toxicity of modern society.

1. Activated Charcoal

BPAs, heavy metals and pesticide are all present in our food chain. Which means they are also present in your body. Activated charcoal binds to pesticides and other environmental toxins. It then ushers them through the intestines to be purged from the body.
 
After using activated charcoal, you can supplement your diet with molasses to replace important minerals the charcoal might leech from the body in the process of getting rid of the unwanted toxins.
Recommended products:  
Nature’s Way Charcoal Activated capsules
Coal-Conut Activated Coconut Shell Charcoal Fine Husk Food Grade Powder

2. Milk Thistle

The Western diet is full of carbohydrate-rich foods, such as pasta, bread and rice, and of processed foods made with high-fructose corn syrup and sugar. As a result, more and more people suffer from fatty liver condition.
Milk thistle (Sylibum marianum) is a common herbal supplement taken to improve liver function. In addition, this herb has been linked to reduction in certain cancers, reduced diabetes and even improvement in digestive disorders.
Recommended products:
Certified Organic Milk Thistle Extract Plus Turmeric capsules
USDA Certified Organic Milk Thistle Capsules 4X Concentrated Extract

3. Nascent Iodine

Much of the public in the U.S. is being mass medicated with fluoride. Some believe that in addition to physical ramifications on the human body, fluoride can also affect the pineal gland, an endocrine gland in the brain, which has been dubbedthe Seat of the Soul.”
Iodine, naturally occurring in plants such as seaweed, effectively improves the removal of sodium fluoride via urine. Unfortunately, the Western diet has left us deficient of this vital mineral while our bodies need it most.
In his book Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, Dr. David Brownstein explains how iodine can kill fungi, bacteria, viruses and how it removes fluoride and enables the body to get rid of heavy metals. People who take iodine in sufficient amounts report that they have a greater sense of well-being, increased energy, and a lifting of brain fog and sharper mental abilities.
Recommended products:
Detoxadine Nascent Iodine Supplement
Kelp capsules – 325 mcg of Natural Iodine

4. Shungite

Everything in the natural world produces an electromagnetic field, including the human body. Unfortunately, we are increasingly exposed to unnatural EMF’s that are emitted from Wi-Fi and cellular networks, wireless devices, handheld electronics, power lines, etc.
Scientific research is starting to discover that electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency  radiation may have adverse effects on fertility and reproduction. Other studies have linked it to cancer, eye damage, insomnia, and other disorders.
One way to block harmful EMF is by using a non-crystalline mineraloid called Shungite. The physical properties and molecular structure of Shungite has been found to block EMF radiation when it is placed on or near the emitting device.
Recommended products:
Shungite Pendants and Pyramid Set, 6 Pieces
Shungite Cellular Phone Plates, 5 Pieces

5. Smudging

The North American native tradition of smudging by burning white sage bundles has been used for generations to clear out stale and negative energy out of the body and spirit. With the right intent and respect, the smudging process can help you clean your energy field, even if you are unaware of any problems.
Smudging may help you clear residual feelings regarding a situation that has past, negative emotions such as anger and fear that linger after an event or interaction, tension and stress felt psychologically or physically, as well as the harmful energies of other people that have latched themselves to your psyche. Smudging is a relaxing way to regain composure and re-center your awareness after experiencing distress.
Recommended products:
Premium California White Sage 4 Inch Smudge Sticks
Home White Sage Cleansing & Blessing Kit

6. Meditation

Science continues to prove that meditation is a powerful healing practice. You can use a very easy and short meditation at any time to calm your physical systems, slow down your thoughts, and even protect yourself from psychic and energetic attacks.
One example for a simple meditation is a white-light meditation. Close your eyes, calm the breath, and then image in the mind’s eye a bright white light forming a protective shield all around your body and any other person or object that you want to safeguard. It is up to you how long you keep your eyes closed and how bright your light will grow. As you open your eyes continue with the meditation by trusting that your white light will continue to surround, protect and comfort you.
In addition to meditation, there are many other ancient practices which can help you detox from modern society. Below are some wonderful resources:
The Root of Chinese Qigong: Secrets of Health, Longevity, & Enlightenment
Awaken Healing Energy Through The Tao: The Taoist Secret of Circulating Internal Power
Attune Your Body with Dao-In
Chi Self-Massage: The Taoist Way of Rejuvenation
Photo credits: Wonderlane via Visual hunt NB/ CC BY
 
Anna Hunt is co-owner of OffgridOutpost.com, an online store offering GMO-free healthy storable food and emergency kits. She is also the staff writer for WakingTimes.comAnna is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and founder of Atenas Yoga Center. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. Visit her essential oils store here. Visit Offgrid Outpost on Facebook.
Originally Published: http://www.naturalblaze.com/2016/12/6-ways-to-rid-yourself-of-the-toxicity-of-modern-living.html

Pharma Companies Spend 19x more on Marketing than Research, and Returns are Dropping

The pharmaceutical industry swears the high cost of drugs is due to research and development costs, conveniently omitting the actual amount of money spent on the marketing of these drugs, which is exorbitantly more. A recent Deloitte report suggests that pharmaceutical companies are taking a hit because investments made in R&D on new drugs simply are not paying off anymore. [1]

As we previously reported, pharmaceutical companies spend more money on marketing drugs than research and development. Johnson & Johnson for example recently spent $17.5 billion on marketing and only $8.2 billion on research and development. Similarly Pfizer spent $11.4 billion on marketing and only $6.6 billion on research and development. [2]
 
Deloitte’s research into a total of 12 pharmaceutical companies’ R&D expenditures for the previous year is telling, even though the comparatively small amount of money spent on R&D isn’t paying off for Big Pharma like it used to.
According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, more than $27 billion was spent on marketing to physicians by the pharmaceutical industry in the year 2012. You can do a search to find out if your doctor has been taking money from Big Pharma.
As reported by BusinessInsider:
“In 2010 Deloitte began following the top 12 pharmaceutical companies by R&D (or research and development) spending recorded the previous year. This 12-company cohort has since launched 186 products with estimated total revenue of $1.258 trillion, and it has collectively advanced 306 drug candidates with total forecast lifetime revenue of $1.414 trillion into late-stage development.” [1]
Though these figures are eye-popping, returns on R&D are a tiny 4.2% compared to the baseline of 10.1% observed in more recent years.
Returns have also been lower every year with the exception of 2014. There could be multiple factors causing the drop in returns, but sales forecasts have fallen by 50% to $416 million per year while development costs per drug have increased by 33%.
According to a report in BMJ, prescription drug companies aren’t putting a lot of resources toward new, groundbreaking medications, because it simply isn’t paying off. As outlined by the study authors, it seems that it is more profitable for the company to create variations of products that are already on the market.
“[P]harmaceutical research and development turns out mostly minor variations on existing drugs,” the authors write. “Sales from these drugs generate steady profits throughout the ups and downs of blockbusters coming off patents.”
The authors say that for every $1 pharmaceutical companies spend on “basic research,” $19 goes toward marketing and promotion.
What’s more, drug makers are also facing more stringent reviews of their drugs once they go to market. For example, GlaxoSmithKline was recently hit with analysis from the U.S. budget watchdog, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, which found Glaxo’s new severe asthma therapy Nucala is overpriced by 63% or more.
 
The loss of billions in R&D returns in a trillion dollar industry is likely also the reason many companies promote off-label drug use and push clinical trials through the FDA using what is likely their own biased research.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Learning to Listen to Your Body

The human body is a finely tuned machine. It will tell you everything you need to know to maintain it, if you simply learn to listen.
Learning to listen to your own body is to learn to tune into your intuition. When in a consultation getting health advice, take note of how you feel. Does what the practitioner is telling you feel like it rings true for you? Or do you have some resistance? You know your body better than anyone, after all you have lived in it your entire life. If a diagnosis or suggestion for medical care doesn’t sit right with you, there is nothing wrong with questioning or even getting a second opinion. Never make health care decisions that don’t feel right to you or that you feel rushed or pushed to accept.
When you have an ache or a pain, do you automatically reach for a pill? Conditioning has taken place in society and the media over the years repeatedly telling us that is always the answer.
Have an ache or pain? Take a pill. While yes, that may get rid of your pain, the odds are it will come back again and you will need another. Why? Because medications do not actually cure, what they do is cover and mask the symptom temporarily allowing you to feel better and experience relief. While there is nothing wrong with short-term intermittent use, it is far more beneficial in the long run for your overall health to seek out the root cause so that you can cure yourself for good.
Today, most of us are taught from a very young age that if you do not feel well you should go see your medical doctor. While doctors are trained in many aspects of care, medical doctors receive minimal training in nutrition or how the body responds to more natural treatment options outside of pharmaceuticals, which are generally the “go to”.
This is not to say that you should go it alone when it comes to healthcare. There are a multitude of different modalities of healing which can all assist you on your path back to wellness, gently and naturally

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Colon Cleanse

Everybody who needs to do a colon cleanse has tried everything under the sun so that they feel a whole lot better but nothing seems to work. Well there is 1 thing they have not tried and that is a juice cleanse for your whole body including the colon. Get a juice any kind of juicer will do but the 1 I recommend is on this website http://www.powerjuicer.com/ and juice only organic fruits and vegetables to get the quickest and the best results. If you do what I ask I promise you you'll get the results you want faster!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Ending Childhood Obesity

A whopping 22 million children under the age of 5 are obese. Professor Terry Wilken of the Peninsula Medical School tells us that by age 5, “the die is cast.” One million children are now showing signs of high blood pressure and heart disease, presenting a new era of extraordinary challenge of high body fat to our nation’s pediatricians.
According to Dr. Tim Lobstein of the International Obesity Task Force, the scope of these numbers and their implication for mankind is unprecedented.
From smiling clowns at drive-up windows to a beckoning Chihuahua, and a kid whose bologna has a first name; the competition is fierce for market share of your child’s stomach. Drive-up counters have replaced the dinner bell and fast food is no longer fast enough. Not surprisingly, diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes has surged 90 percent, in the last decade alone.
Sugar races into your child’s bloodstream, signaling their pancreas to produce insulin. Trans fatty acids accelerate their risk for heart disease. Preservatives, artificial additives, man-made sugars, white carbohydrates and processed foods add fuel to this internal fire—the building blocks for cellular aberration, degeneration and stored body fat.
If we care about obesity prevention… we need to translate that belief to our children. It starts by recapturing the family dinner and wholesome cooking. Prioritize purchasing locally grown foods and the value of what “live food” can do for the body, mind and spirit. It’s time for us to become nourishers as well as nurturers.

10 Steps To A Healthier Child

1)  Healthy snacks: Seeds are far more nutritionally dense than other foods, particularly those from pumpkin and squash. Add them to a mix with the healthiest nuts like almonds, pistachios, macadamia and pine. They break down slowly and feed you gradually, helping your child avoid hunger and low blood sugar; while bathing their cells with “healthy” fat.
2)  Fruits and vegetables: Seven fruits or vegetables a day “is” doable.  Invest in a great blender, like the Vita Mix 5200, and throw in all things good. You’ll be amazed at how a banana can mask the taste of the most onerous veggie (even fish oil). Consider mixing in some organic” freeze dried” berry powder. Make healthy smoothies or serve fresh vegetable juice.
3)  White Carbohydrates: Eliminate bleached and artificially fortified miracle bread. If you must, opt for sourdough and top it off with healthy Extra Virgin Olive Oil or real organic butter. It’s naturally high acidity, coupled with a topping of healthy fat, slows its entry in the bloodstream, giving your child’s pancreas a break. For pasta dishes, make the switch from white noodles to 100 percent whole wheat.


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4)  Organic locally-grown vegetables: Grow your own or purchase them from a local farmers market. Another alternative is Community Supported Agriculture. Go to www.localharvest.org/csa/. Sign up and pick up a beautiful basket of fresh locally grown vegetable produce for a small fee at a local community college. Take control of what your child eats in school as well. Farm to School (www.farmtoschool.org) delivers healthy foods from local farms, to schools nationwide.

5)  Less is best: Serve less food by using smaller plates or share an entrée when dining out. We’ve grown accustomed to eating outlandish portions because they’re there. Serve moderate amounts of animal protein too. As a rule of thumb, never eat a serving of protein larger than a deck of playing cards. Kids need even less.
6)  Make healthier choices: Healthy fats in reasonable amounts help balance blood sugar and reduce internal inflammation. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for higher-heat cooking. Extra Virgin Olive Oil for low to medium heat cooking. Dredge that chicken in coconut flour, not bleached flour. Eat the healthiest sources of protein, by choosing grass-fed beef, free-range pastured poultry, and fish from unpolluted waters.
7)  Sugar: Reduce it. While no sugar is healthy, studies show that Xylitol significantly reduces the bacteria and plaque on teeth when used moderately. Even better, use Stevia, an all natural herbal sweetener with none of sugar’s downside. Fill that “sippy cup” with water, not fruit juice; fructose cravings and tooth decay begin at a young age, from sugary foods.
8)  Family Time: A study by Harvard researchers Taveris et al. (Obesity Research, 2005) of more than 14,000 children ages 9-14, concluded that the benefits of eating dinner as a family appear to include improved diet quality, reduced high-risk adolescent behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use, and improved performance in school.
9)  Water: Drink ample amounts of natural spring water without fluoride; approximately half your child’s body weight, expressed in ounces daily. Example: an 80-pound child should drink 40 ounces of water throughout the day.
10) Walk: Studies show countless benefits from brisk walking for as little as 15 minutes a day, from reduced body fat to increased bone density.

Friday, November 18, 2016

The 5 Worst Artificial Sweeteners

The 5 Worst Artificial Sweeteners

Worst artificial sweeteners
If you haven’t stopped using artificial sweeteners, please do so immediately! Artificial sweeteners, or non-nutritive sweeteners as they are sometimes referred to, have been controversial since they were first introduced to the market in the 1950s, and scientific research shows they are associated with many dangerous side effects.
Introduced to satisfy consumers’ sweet tooth, these artificial sweeteners with no calories seemed, at the time, like good alternatives to refined sugars and natural sweeteners. However, the side effects simply aren’t worth it. These fake sweeteners cause symptoms that range from headaches and migraines to weight gain and even more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease. (1)
What many people don’t realize is that artificial sweeteners also can cause a dangerous addiction — an addiction to overly sweet foods. They retrain the taste buds to need more and more, sweeter and sweeter foods. This leads to even greater incidences of obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney damage and so much more.
So how does the use of artificial sweeteners contribute to addiction? Researchers believe that part of the reason is that individuals will just find other foods to fill the calorie gap in order to become satiated. We’ve all seen people order diet sodas, only to then order one of the most calorie-ridden items on a menu. That’s because non-nutritive sweeteners provide virtually no sense of satisfaction. (2)
What’s the difference between a nutritive sweetener and a non-nutritive sweetener? Caloric content. Nutritive sweeteners contain calories while non-nutritive sweeteners have zero calories or are virtually calorie-free. No calorie sweeteners may sound like a good idea when you look to lose weight, but they aren’t. Their side effects far outweigh potential benefits of a low-calorie sweetener, and they are actually linked with weight gain, not weight loss.
Holly Strawbridge, former editor of Harvard Health, points out that while FDA studies have “ruled out cancer risk” for non-nutritive sweeteners, all of the studies conducted were based on significantly smaller doses than the 24 ounces a day average of diet soda. (3) As portion sizes continue to grow out of control with 30-ounce, 40-ounce and even 50-ounce fountain sodas, it’s vital to recognize that these portions have not been evaluated for their safety.
In addition, another study on the effects of artificial sweeteners on atherosclerosis found that daily consumption of drinks with artificial sweeteners creates a 35 percent greater risk of metabolic syndrome and a 67 percent increased risk for type 2 diabetes. (4) Atherosclerosis is when plaque builds up inside the arteries leading to strokes, heart attacks and even death. (5)
There is additional evidence that links artificial sweeteners to the development of glucose intolerance and other metabolic conditions that result in higher than normal blood glucose levels. (6) According to a study published in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, frequent consumption of sweet-tasting, non-caloric foods interferes with metabolic function.

Common Artificial Sweeteners

Here are five of the most popular (and dangerous) artificial sweeteners on the market today. They can severely harm your health. First, it’s important to be able to recognize artificial sweeteners on the labels of pre-packed and processed foods. Check all ingredient labels carefully for the following.
  • Aspartame
  • Acesulfame potassium
  • Alitame
  • Cyclamate
  • Dulcin
  • Equal
  • Glucin
  • Kaltame
  • Mogrosides
  • Neotame
  • NutraSweet
  • Nutrinova
  • Phenlalanine
  • Saccharin
  • Splenda
  • Sorbitol
  • Sucralose
  • Twinsweet
  • Sweet ‘N Low
  • Xylitol

Where Dangerous Artificial Sweeteners Hide

People are often surprised at how often dangerous artificial sweeteners are included in prepared foods, medications and beverages. Here are a few surprising examples of where to check for the dangerous sweeteners mentioned above. 
  1. Toothpaste and mouthwash
  2. Children’s chewable vitamins
  3. Cough syrup and liquid medicines
  4. Chewing gum
  5. No-calorie waters and drinks
  6. Alcoholic beverages
  7. Salad dressings
  8. Frozen yogurt and other frozen deserts
  9. Candies
  10. Baked goods
  11. Yogurt
  12. Breakfast cereals
  13. Processed snack foods
  14. “Lite” or diet fruit juices and beverages
  15. Prepared meats
  16. Nicotine gum
This isn’t an exhaustive list. Please carefully read the labels of the foods you purchase to ensure you don’t consume these dangerous chemicals.

Dangerous Artifical Sweeteners

5 Worst Artificial Sweeteners

Again, please avoid these artificial sweeteners. There are plenty of natural, healthy sweeteners available that provide essential nutrients and taste great.
  1. Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet, NatraTaste Blue)
  2. Sucralose (Splenda)
  3. Acesulfame K (ACE K, Sunette, Equal Spoonful, Sweet One, Sweet ‘n Safe)
  4. Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low, Sweet Twin)
  5. Xylitol, Sorbitol
PepsiCo Inc. recently announced it’s reformulating Diet Pepsi, Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi and Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi sold in the United States. It’s removing aspartame from the formula and replacing it with sucralose and Ace-K due to declining sales. According to Senior Vice President Seth Kaufman,
To Diet Pepsi consumers, removing aspartame is their No. 1 concern. We’re listening to consumers. It’s what they want. (7)
This does not make diet sodas with artificial sweeteners any safer. Sucralose and Ace-K both have dangerous side effects; Pepsi is switching the formula not for the health of its consumers — after all, they are keeping Diet Mountain Dew exactly the same — but because consumers are aware of the dangers of aspartame.
Unfortunately, the general population isn’t as aware of the dangers of sucralose and Ace-K, and PepsiCo believes that this change in formulation will increase sales. Don’t be tricked by marketing ploys; aspartame, sucralose and Ace-K are all bad for your health.
1. Aspartame – (Equal, NutraSweet, NatraTaste Blue)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame nearly 35 years ago. It’s currently used in more than 6,000 consumer foods and drinks, and over 500 prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. It hides in places we don’t expect! Because aspartame isn’t heat-stable, it’s typically found in drinks and foods that haven’t been heated.
According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, “A re-evaluation of the current position of the international regulatory agencies must be considered an urgent matter of public health.” This recommendation is due to the study’s findings that aspartame has carcinogenic effects. (8)
This study found that aspartame may impair memory performance and increase oxidative stress in the brain. In addition, if you are pregnant or nursing, avoid this dangerous artificial sweetener at all costs. A recent study points to alarming news for women who consume artificial sweeteners during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It appears that aspartame, in particular, can predispose babies to metabolic syndrome disorders, and obesity, later in life. (9)
Common side effects of aspartame include headaches, migraines, mood disorders, dizziness and episodes of mania. Comprising phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol, these substances can stay in the liver, kidneys and brain for quite some time.
2. Sucralose (Splenda)
Sucralose, derived from sugar, was originally introduced as a natural sugar substitute. However, in reality, it’s a chlorinated sucrose derivative. Yes, chlorine, one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet! Sucralose was originally found through the development of a new insecticide compound and wasn’t originally intended to be consumed.
At 600 times sweeter than sugar, it’s easy to see how the use of sucralose, or Splenda (!), can contribute to an addiction for overly sweet foods and drinks. In June 2014, the Center for Science in the Public Interest placed Splenda in its “caution” category, pending a review of a medical study that found it could be linked to leukemia in mice.
A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health found that cooking with sucralose at high temperatures can generate dangerous chloropropanols – a toxic class of compounds. Human and rodent studies demonstrate that sucralose may alter glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 levels. Last but not least, it isn’t biologically inert, meaning that it can be metabolized and have a toxic effect on the body. (10)

Worst artifical sweeteners

3. Acesulfame K (ACE, ACE K, Sunette, Sweet One, Sweet ‘N Safe)
Composed of a potassium salt that contains methylene chloride, Acesulfame K is routinely found in sugar-free chewing gum, alcoholic beverages, candies and even sweetened yogurts. It’s often used in combination with aspartame and other noncaloric sweeteners.
ACE K has undergone the least amount of scientific scrutiny even though long-term exposure to methylene chloride, a main chemical component, has been shown to cause nausea, mood problems, possibly some types of cancer, impaired liver and kidney function, problems with eyesight, and perhaps even autism. (11)
In addition to sweetening foods, it’s becoming increasingly popular as a “flavor enhancer.” ACE K is heat-stable and routinely found in highly processed foods and baked goods. The human body can’t break it down, and it’s believed to negatively affect the metabolism.
4. Saccharin (Sweet ‘N Low)
In the 1970s, saccharin and other sulfa-based sweeteners were believed to possibly cause bladder cancer, and it was required to carry the following warning label: “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.” (12)
The FDA removed this warning, but many studies continue to link saccharin to serious health conditions. Sadly, it’s the primary sweetener for children’s medications, including chewable aspirin, cough syrup, and other over-the-counter and prescription medications. It’s believed that saccharin contributes to photosensitivity, nausea, digestive upset, tachycardia and some types of cancer. (13)
5. Xylitol (Erythritol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol and other sugar alcohols that end in –itol)
Sugar alcohols aren’t absorbed well by the body and cause an allergic reaction for those who have a sensitivity to it. In addition, it has gastrointestinal side effects that include bloating, gas, cramping and diarrhea. Its laxative effect is so pronounced that it’s actually part of the chemical makeup for many over-the-counter laxatives.
Even though these sweeteners have been on the market for decades, pregnant and breastfeeding women should select a natural sweetener instead. WebMD states: “Not enough is known about the use of xylitol during pregnancy and breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.” (14)
Special note to dog owners: Sugar alcohol-based artificial sweeteners are a life-threatening toxin to dogs. Be mindful of breath mints, candies, sugar-free gum, frozen desserts and other foods when your pets are around. (15)

Healthy Alternatives to Artificial Sweeteners

So, what are your options when you have a sweet tooth? All natural sweeteners — including maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, fruit purees and raw honey — are great, healthy substitutions. Keep packets of stevia with you so you don’t have to resort to artificial sweeteners provided by restaurants and cafes.
Start working to retrain your palette to enjoy the natural sweetness of foods, not added sweeteners. Try adding other flavors like tangy, tart, warm and savory to please your palette. For example, vanilla, cocoa, licorice, nutmeg and cinnamon enhance the flavor of foods, so you need less sweetness.
When you crave a sweet drink, try homemade infused waters or even my Watermelon Agua Fresca. It’s a light, sparkly and refreshing drink packed with nutrients and natural sweeteners. Start sweetening your ice tea with honey, coconut sugar or even maple syrup for a twist.
For a special (and healthful) treat, try my Peppermint Patties sweetened with honey and packed with all the health benefits of coconut oil. Be creative and experiment with new foods, healthy sweeteners and added flavors that keep you satisfied.
America’s obesity epidemic continues to grow, and it coincides with an increase in the widespread use of non-nutritive artificial sweeteners including aspartame, sucralose, saccharin and sugar alcohols.
Research shows that artificial sweeteners don’t satiate you the way real foods do. Instead, you end up feeling less satisfied and more prone to eating and drinking more, resulting in weight gain, in addition to potentially suffering dangerous side effects associated with artificial sweeteners. (16)
While I truly believe that everyone should avoid artificial sweeteners, it’s particularly important for children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to refrain from these sweeteners. The risk is simply too great.

10 Antinutrients to Get Out of Your Diet … and Life

10 Antinutrients to Get Out of Your Diet … and Life

Foods with antinutrients - Dr. Axe
Are you confused about what antinutrients are, where they’re found and if they’re actually a real threat?
Antinutrients are natural or synthetic compounds found in a variety of foods — especially grains, beans, legumes and nuts — that interfere with the absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. They can even get in the way of the digestive enzymes, which are key for proper absorption. Antinutrients can also be found in plant roots, vegetables, leaves and fruits, although these are at much lower levels and usually have benefits as opposed to mostly harmful effects.
Many different types of “seed” foods contain antinutrients like phytic acid, leptins and saponins naturally, including some that you probably don’t even realize are seeds (for example, all grains are really the seeds of cereal grasses). The reason they contain these compounds that bind to vitamins and minerals, making them unabsorbable, is largely as a defense mechanism. Their antinutrients help repel pests, bugs and other predators so the seeds are able to live on and reproduce.
The good news? Not all antinutrients are bad, first off, and secondly, you can help lower the content of the kinds that are.
Polyphenols, for example, are a type of antinutrient that can actually be beneficial (when eaten in appropriate doses), so it’s not always cut-and-dry as to the types we should avoid. This is the same case as with flavonoids, another group of antinutrients found in “healthy” sources, including tea, coffee, wine and certain other whole plant foods. Unfortunately, even positive antinutrients can inhibit mineral absorption to some degree but are relatively harmless (and even beneficial) as long as you don’t overconsume them.
Just keep in mind, in sensitive individuals and when eaten in very high concentrations, even “good antinutrients” can inhibit digestion of copper, iron, zinc and vitamin B1, along with enzymes, proteins and starches found in plant foods. It all depends on someone’s unique reaction, so it’s key that you tune in to your own reactions to different foods so you can adjust your diet accordingly.

How to Reduce Antinutrients in Your Body

When it comes to lowering the content of “bad” antinutrients that are more harmful than beneficial, here’s what you need to know: When you sprout foods that contain antinutrients, the concentration of the antinutrients usually goes way down.
The same can happen when fermenting foods, which produces incredibly beneficial probiotic foods. Soaking, sprouting and fermenting are the simple and time-honored practices of germinating seeds — whether seeds from grains, nuts, beans or legumes — so that they’re easier to digest and your body can access their full nutritional profile.
Research shows that unsprouted grains have lower protein content, deficiency of certain essential amino acids, lower protein and starch availabilities, and the presence of certain antinutrients when compared to seeds that have been sprouted.
Sprouting foods that contain antinutrients (or cooking them in the case of most vegetables) increases absorption of beneficial vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc, plus it makes the food easier on digestion; decreases risk of allergic reactions; and releases more vitamins, amino acids and fiber from within the seeds. While sprouted grains and other nutrient-blocking seeds won’t be completely free from all antinutrients after soaking and sprouting, it’s a much better option than eating them unsoaked.

10 Antinutrients to Avoid

Due to the potential for contributing to deficiencies and causing digestive distress for a high percentage of people, here are 10 antinutrients to try and eliminate from your diet as much as possible:

1. Phytic Acid (Also Called Phytate)

This is probably the most well-known antinutrient that’s found in grains and legumes and interferes with the absorption of minerals. Phytic acid can unfortunately lock up high percentages of phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Some research shows that up 80 percent of phosphorous found in high-phosphorus foods like pumpkin or sunflower seeds, along with 80 percent of zinc found in high-zinc foods like cashews and chickpeas, might be blocked by phytate. The same can be said for about 40 percent of magnesium-rich foods.
At the same time, it interferes with calcium and iron absorption, which raises the risk for problems like anemia (which emanates from an iron deficiency) and bone loss. On the other hand, eating foods rich in vitamin C, like leafy green vegetables or citrus fruits, can counteract phytate and increase iron absorption. And foods rich in vitamin A like sweet potatoes or berries can also help improve iron absorption.
Another very problematic component to phytic acid is that it inhibits certain essential digestive enzymes called amylase, trypsin and pepsin. Amaylase breaks down starch, while both pepsin and trypsin are needed to break down protein.

2. Gluten

Known to be one of the most difficult-to-digest plant proteins, gluten is an enzyme inhibitor that has become notorious for causing gastrointestinal distress. Not only can gluten cause digestive problems, but it can contribute to leaky gut syndrome or autoimmune disease, allergic reactions, and cognitive problems as well. Gluten sensitivity is classified as a group of symptoms related to negative reactions to the gluten protein found in all wheat, rye and barley plants.
The severe form of gluten sensitivity, a true allergy to gluten, is celiac’s disease — but gluten can also cause other less severe symptoms in a much larger percentage of people, including joint pain, headaches, fatigue and poor memory.

3. Tannins

Tannins are a type of enzyme inhibitor that prevent adequate digestion and can cause protein deficiency and gastrointestinal problems. Because we need enzymes to properly metabolize food and usher nutrients to our cells, molecules that inhibit enzymes can cause bloating, diarrhea, constipation and other GI issues.

4. Oxalates

Similar to tannins, oxalates are found in the highest quantities in sesame seeds, soybeans, and black and brown varieties of millet. The presence of these antinutrients makes plant (especially legumes) proteins of “poor quality,” according to research done on absorbability of plant amino acids.

5. Lectins

Lectins are found in high quantities in beans and wheat, which as mentioned earlier reduce nutrient absorption and can cause indigestion, bloating and gas for many people. One of the most nutritionally important features of plant lectins is their ability to survive digestion by the gastrointestinal tract, which means they can penetrate cells lining the digestive tract and cause a loss of gut epithelial cells, damage the membranes of the epithelium lining, interfere with nutrient digestion and absorption, stimulate shifts in the bacterial flora, and trigger autoimmune reactions.
Lectins can cause GI upset similar to classical food poisoning and immune responses like joint pain and rashes. Improperly prepared raw grains, dairy and legumes like peanuts, and soybeans have especially high lectin levels.

Antinutrients infographic - Dr. Axe

6. Saponins

Similar to lectins, saponins affect the gastrointestinal lining, contributing to leaky gut syndrome and autoimmune disorders. They’re particularly resistant to digestion by humans and have the ability to enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses.

7. Trypsin Inhibitors

Trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors are found in most grain-containing products, including cereals, porridge, breads and even baby foods. They seem to be degraded well by heat processing and cooking but can still cause problems like mineral deficiencies for young infants, children and anyone with reduced pancreatic function.

8. Isoflavaones

These are a type of polyphenolic antinutrient found in highest levels in soybeans that might cause hormonal changes and contribute to digestive issues. In smaller does and when beans have been properly prepared, this can also be beneficial, but it’s usually recommended to avoid soybeans because isoflavones are capable of exerting estrogen-like effects. For this reason, they’re classified as phytoestrogens and considered endocrine disruptors — plant-derived compounds with estrogenic activity that might result in harmful changes in hormone levels.

9. Solanine

Found in nightshade vegetables like eggplant, peppers and tomatoes, this is actually a beneficial antinutrient in most cases. But in high levels and in those sensitive to eating nightshades, it can cause “poisoning” and symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, burning of the throat, headaches and dizziness.

10. Chaconine

Found in corn and plants of the Solanaceae family, including potatoes, this compound is beneficial when eaten in small doses because it has antifungal properties, but in some people it’s capable of causing digestive issues, especially when uncooked and eaten in high amounts.

Top 10 Root Vegetables to Replace Grains

Top 10 Root Vegetables to Replace Grains

Root vegetables - Dr. Axe
Root vegetables have been a staple in many South American and Asian diets for thousands of years. In fact, records show that certain root veggies like sweet potatoes were an important ingredient in folk medicine over 5,000 years ago, and they’ve supported undernourished populations around the world ever since.
Today, strong evidence exists that some of the vital nutrients found in many root vegetables — including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and dietary fiber — can help fight cancer, diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory-based disorders like heart disease and arthritis.
When it comes to replacing grains in your diet with root vegetables, there are many benefits. First off, all root vegetables are naturally gluten-free, while many grains (especially the most popular kinds like wheat) are not. Gluten causes digestive issues and even autoimmune reactions in many people, whether they realize it or not.
Root vegetables are truly natural, unadulterated sources of complex carbohydrates, antioxidants and important nutrients. Plus, they tend to be lower in calories, have a lower glycemic index load, and cause less digestive or inflammatory issues than many grains do. While their exact nutrition content differs between various types, most root veggies have about 50–100 calories per ½-cup cooked serving and three or more grams of fiber. This makes them a nutrient-dense choice and a preferred way to add starch and sweetness to your diet naturally.

8 Benefits of Root Vegetables

1. Provide Complex Carbs and Starch

While the average person consumes way more carbohydrates than may actually be beneficial, most people still feel and operate their best when they consume a certain moderate level of carbs from natural sources. Starchy root vegetables are a great way to obtain fiber and nutrients along with some complex carbs and relatively little sugar. This especially applies if you’re an athlete, child, someone looking to gain weight or if you exercise a lot. Starchy veggies also help to fulfill “carb cravings” or a sweet tooth without bombarding your body with sugar and inflammatory refined grains.

2. High in Fiber

Although they contain some natural sugars in the form of starch, root veggies are high in fiber and therefore they’re still mostly considered low glycemic index foods that are absorbed relatively slowly. High-fiber foods stay in your digestive tract longer, and in the process they keep you full.
Part of their fiber also holds valuable polysaccharides, which are found in plant foods and shown to exhibit multiple biological activities, including anticarcinogenic, anticoagulant, immune-stimulating and antioxidant effects. A high-fiber diet not only helps prevent inflammation and disease formation, but it also works wonders for helping with digestion and preventing IBS or naturally relieving constipation.
While many grains, especially refined grains and flour products that are low in fiber, are considered “fast carbs” that spike blood sugar abruptly, root veggies are known for being “slower-burning carbs.” According to many large studies, like one that appeared in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2012, higher root vegetable intake is even associated with a reduced risk for diabetes.

3. Good Source of Vitamins A and C

Root vegetables are some of the best sources of carotenoid antioxidants and vitamin A and C in the world. Beta-carotene, a precursor to active vitamin A, is found in high quantities in sweet potatoes, carrots, beets and other root vegetables and is crucial for lowering inflammation, protecting skin and eye health, and fighting free radical damage. Both vitamin A and vitamin C foods benefit the immune system by lowering inflammation that is at the root of most chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.
There are two types of vitamin A that we acquire from foods. The type found in root veggies and other colorful fruits and vegetables is called “pro vitamin A,” a type of carotenoid antioxidant that is converted to retinol by the body after the food is ingested. Beta-carotene, a type of carotenoid found primarily in plants, needs to first be converted to active vitamin A in order to be utilized by the body.

4. Can Help You Lose Weight

One of the secrets to losing weight fast and easily? Up your fiber intake. While you might be hesitant to include more root vegetables in your diet because they’re starchy and higher in carbs than other veggies, their fiber can actually help you lose weight because it fills you up. Compared to grains, most root vegetables are lower in calories and lower on the glycemic index, which means they won’t spike your blood sugar as quickly or drastically.
The fiber in starchy veggies slows down the release of glucose (sugar), which is important for energy and insulin balance. Starchy vegetables eaten with a balanced meal can help control appetite and delay hunger cues, which is important for weight management, fighting cravings and reducing the risk of insulin resistance.

Root vegetables benefits - Dr. Axe

5. Help Maintain Healthy Skin and Eyes

If you want healthy, glowing skin, consider eating more root vegetables; many are packed with beta-carotene and vitamin C that helps build and defend skin cells. A high content of beta-carotene is used to convert vitamin A in your body that triggers DNA to produce new skin cells.
Beta-carotene also helps reverse free radical damage, which can lead to age-related eye disorders, sun spots or wrinkles, UV damage, and potentially skin cancer. In fact, a diet high in vitamin A and vitamin C can act like a natural treatment for macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and skin cancer.

6. Contain Anticancer Antioxidants

You might not think of things like potatoes and turnips as high-antioxidant foods, but they definitely are. Many root vegetables are a great source of antioxidant flavonoids, which are actually responsible for some of their deep colors — like the orange of sweet potatoes or purple of beets.
Considered to be alkalizing and anti-inflammatory foods, nearly all root veggies supply carotenoid antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin — but that’s not all. Purple sweet potatoes contain the antioxidant anthocyanins, which has been shown to preserve cognitive function and stop oxidative damage and degeneration of the brain. And beets contain betalains, which are highly anti-inflammatory.

7. Help Lower Cholesterol and Improve Heart Health

A high-fiber diet filled with whole foods containing both soluble and insoluble fibers is key for heart health and balanced cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Eating fiber is a way to naturally lower cholesterol because it binds to cholesterol particles and helps carry them out of the body. This means cholesterol is less able to form sticky plaque buildup in arteries, which can raise the risk of heart disease, heart attacks or strokes. Many root vegetables also are potassium-rich foods, which is beneficial for healthy blood pressure, nerve signaling and fluid balance.
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science Technology found that a Paleolithic-type diet improved both cardiovascular risk factors and glycemic control when compared to a standard diet or even “diabetes diet.” While the paleo diet included root vegetables, it did not include any type of grains. The results showed that the group following the Paleolithic diet for three months experienced statistically significant lower mean values of hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, weight, body mass index and waist circumference.

8. Help Fight Cancer and Cognitive Disorders

Vitamin A found in many root vegetables has been correlated with better brain function, cognitive health and cancer protection. Inflammation and oxidative stress are two primary causes of cancer formation, but vitamin A, vitamin C and other antioxidants can act like natural cancer treatments and help lower the body’s inflammatory responses.
This means better protection against a dangerous overreaction to things like a poor diet, exercise, UV light, pollution and environmental toxicity. Reduced levels of inflammation are also correlated with a lower risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

10 Healthiest Root Vegetables

1. Sweet Potatoes/Yams

These are probably most people’s top pick for a tasty root vegetable that has so many uses. Sweet potato benefits include a very high supply of vitamin A (they’re one of the best sources on Earth), potassium, vitamin B5 and vitamin C — in addition to fiber and slow-absorbing starch. Even though they’re called “sweet,” they’re actually lower on the glycemic index than regular white potatoes and help stabilize blood sugar better.
What’s the difference between yams and sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes are lower in calories and higher in antioxidants, but yams contain higher levels of potassium. They have a similar taste and texture, so both make great choices.

2. Russet or Yukon (White) Potatoes

White potatoes might get a bad rap, but the truth is they do provide plenty of antioxidants and nutrients. Potato nutrition benefits include being a very high source of potassium, which is important for building strong bones and supporting heart health. In fact, potatoes can help lower your risk for dangerously low potassium even more than bananas and sweet potatoes. They have about 20 percent or more of your daily potassium in every potato.
White potatoes also contain a good dose of manganese — about 22 percent of your daily value in one potato — which is important for bone and nerve health. To preserve their potassium and other nutrients best, eat the skins and only lightly cook them — which means no deep-fried French fries!

3. Carrots

Carrots are one of the most popular veggies worldwide and can be eaten raw, cooked or juiced. Carrots and carrot juice get their signature orange color from antioxidants called carotenoids, which are known for protecting the eyes and skin. They also supply lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin antioxidants. In addition to high levels of vitamin A, carrots also provide a good dose of vitamins C, D, E and K — plus magnesium, potassium and calcium.

4. Parsnips

As a member of the same plant family as carrots, parsley and celery, parsnips have a lot of the same benefits of celery, carrots and parsley. They’re a great source of dietary fiber, folate, potassium and vitamin C. About 1/2 cup of cooked parsnips provides three grams of dietary fiber, about 12 percent of the fiber you need daily. A high percentage of parsnips’ fiber is soluble, which is linked to a decreased risk of diabetes and high blood cholesterol. This same size serving also provides about 11 percent of your daily folate, which is important for energy, metabolism, nervous system health, synthesis of DNA and red blood cells formation.

5. Beets

Beet benefits are plentiful. Some evidence shows that beets can enhance your endurance during athletic performance and help you recover from exercise better. Beets naturally contain nitrates, which the body easily uses for muscle recovery, improved circulation, lower inflammation and increased physical performance.
Studies show that supplementing with the type of nitrates found in beets allows athletes to shave minutes off of their race times and experience less bodily stress from the exercise. Beets also naturally alkalize and detoxify the body, support hormonal health, and provide high levels of phytonutrients called betalains.

6. Turnips

Turnips are a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables, so they’re related to cancer-fighting veggies like broccoli, collard greens, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts. Like other cruciferous foods, turnips and turnip greens nutrition contain a type of phytonutrients called indoles that are known to reduce your risk for cancer, especially of the prostate, lungs, stomach and colon. High in calcium, magnesium and potassium, they’re also a heart-healthy food that supports balanced blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides.

7. Rutabaga

Rutabagas are essentially a cross between cabbage and turnips, so they provide many of the same benefits. They’re high in fiber and a great source of vitamin C, with about 47 percent of your recommend daily intake. Additionally, they’re a high source of zinc, which plays a role in immune health, brain function, mood regulation, metabolism and protection from physiological stress, and help fight zinc deficiency. With a similar taste to turnips and white potatoes, they come out great when roasted and caramelized.

8. Butternut Squash

With a high supply of beta-carotene, butternut squash not only tastes great, but it’s a cancer defender and immune system booster. Generally speaking, the darker the orange hue of vegetables, the higher the content of beta-carotene.
Like other carotenoids, beta-carotene can help turn up communication between cells that destroy cancerous tumor growth and promote lower levels of toxicity. Butternut squash tastes great roasted but can also work in baked goods to take place of sugar or excess butter and dairy.

9. Winter Squash

Just like closely related butternut squash, winter squash provides protective antioxidants, including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin. These are considered essential for eye health and preserving vision into old age since they protect the cornea, macula and retina from damage.
Winter and butternut squashes both have high starch contents, which means they contain polysaccharides found in their cell walls. These polysaccharides include pectins and other starch-related components that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties.

10. Jerusalem Artichokes

An extremely good source of fiber, every one-cup serving of cooked Jerusalem artichokes (also called “sunchokes”) provides 10 grams of fiber, in addition to three grams of protein and just 100 calories. They’re also a great source of vitamin A (with about 25 percent of your daily needs in every serving), plus iron and potassium. In fact, as one of the highest plant sources of iron with 28 percent of your needs, Jerusalem artichokes combat iron deficiency and are a great way to support nerve health, red blood cell formation, anemia prevention and a healthy metabolism.

Root Vegetable Recipes

Sweet Potato Beet Hash Recipe

Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2–4
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 1 large beet, peeled and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
  • Sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 slice turkey bacon
  • 1 onion, diced
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the sweet potatoes and beets with coconut oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 25–30 minutes.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, add the turkey bacon and cook until bacon is crispy. Add the onions and season with salt. Cook until onions caramelize. Add the sweet potatoes and beets to the pan and stir, cooking for another 5 minutes.
sweet-potato-bacon-hash

Concerns and Interactions of Root Vegetables

While they offer a load of benefits, portion control is still important when it comes to root vegetables, especially if you’re struggling to reach and maintain a healthy weight, stabilize blood sugar, reduce overall sugar in your diet, or reverse and treat diabetes.
How much is the right amount for you? This depends a lot on your individual needs, body type, metabolism and level of physical activity. For example, people who exercise often can get away with eating more carbohydrates in general than people who are more sedentary. I recommend one to two small servings of various root vegetables a day and see how your body responds. Each serving should be about ½ cup cooked. As part of an otherwise balanced diet with healthy amounts of quality protein, fat and non-starchy veggies, this amount shouldn’t cause gain weight for most people and will provide a good course of nutrients.