Your Detoxification System in a Nutshell
Detoxification is what our body does naturally to neutralize, transform or get rid of unwanted materials and toxins.
It is a primary function of the body, constantly working and interacting with all other functions of the body. Our body manufactures enormous amount of molecules on a daily basis in support of the detoxification process. Our body requires hundreds of enzymes, vitamins and other molecules to help rid the body of unwanted waste products and toxins. Although the bulk of the work is done by the liver and the intestinal tract, the kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin are all involved in this complex detoxification system.
5 Secrets For Maximizing Your Nutrition Blog Series – Part 3
Secret #4: Opt for Humanely-Raised Meat & Poultry.
The classic idiom “you are what you eat” applies just as well to farm animals as it does to humans. How animals, that are raised for meat, eggs and dairy, are treated can make a big difference in our diets and our ecosystem.
Most animals in the U.S. are raised in confined animal feeding operations – “factory farms” – where they are crammed together into warehouses or small cages, forced to stand in their own urine and feces, given hormones to make them grow faster and larger and produce more, are not allowed to express their natural behaviors, are bred in ways that cause physical deformations, and are fed a sickening variety of waste products including meat judged unfit for human consumption, manure and even plastic (supposedly to replace natural sources of fiber like grass and leaves). They are also stuffed full of growth hormones, arsenic (routinely fed to chickens and pigs), and antibiotics to make them grow or gain weight more quickly. These animals are more prone to toxicity, disease and injury, and are depressed and stressed. Nevertheless, animal suffering and dignity are immaterial for factory farms as long as they can minimize costs and maximize overall production per unit cost.
5 Secrets For Maximizing Your Nutrition Blog Series – Part 2
Secret #3: Go Easy On Processed Foods.
Researchers who have analyzed U.S. eating habits sum up what is wrong with our diet in just two words: ultra-processed foods. These are foods that contain ingredients such as colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, emulsifiers and other additives that would ordinarily not be found in our kitchen.
5 Secrets For Maximizing Your Nutrition Blog Series – Part 1
The quality of our nutrition consists of more than just the right balance of macronutrients or correct number of calories eaten. It is nutrient dense, not calorie scarce. It is a tool, not a punishment, and should provide our body with nourishment and energy it needs to function in at optimum level.
Focusing on filling our plate with an abundance of vibrant food with a colorful phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals is much more important than minimizing the number of calories or certain macronutrients we consume. Adopting the approach of maximizing the amount of nutrients we ingest rather than minimizing the number of calories, serves to supply our bodies the nourishment necessary to thrive, not just survive.
Your Gut – The Epicenter of Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing
The gut is literally the gateway to health.
There is no part of the body, no disease, no organ system – that the gut does not directly or indirectly affect. Studies have confirmed that not only does the gut transfer food to vital organs, but it plays a role in our physical health, mental health, emotional stability, immunology, neurology, endocrinology, and pathology.
Our Microbiome Are As Unique As Our Fingerprints
Our body is, in fact, a complex ecosystem made up of more than 100 trillion microbes (10 times the number of human cells!) that must be properly balanced and cared for if we are to be healthy.
How to Keep Your Liver Happy
The Liver – Your Very Own Chemical Factory & Refinery
Weighing in at just over 1.5 kilograms, the liver is a complex chemical factory that works 24 hours a day. It processes virtually everything you eat, drink, breathe in or rub on your skin and that’s just some of its over 500 different functions vital to life. It holds about 13% of the body’s blood supply at any given moment and filters over 1 liter of blood each minute! It is involved in the production of over 13,000 different chemicals and maintenance of over 2,000 internal enzyme systems.
How to Keep your Lymphatic System Going
The Lymph – Your Self-Regulating Plumbing system
The blood and lymphatic systems are the two major circulatory systems in our body. Although the blood system has been studied extensively, the lymphatic system has been largely neglected until recently. In a recent article, Inho Choi, Sunju Lee, and Young-Kwon Hong of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, propose that it is time for a a brand-new look at the lymphatic system as the other, not the secondary, vascular system, as it is “no less essential than the blood circulatory system for human health and well-being.”
Chronic Inflammation – the Silent Killer
Inflammation is a vital part of the body’s immune response. It is the body’s attempt to heal itself after an injury; defend itself against foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria; and repair damaged tissue.
The Good and The… Ugly.
Without inflammation, wounds would fester and infections could become deadly. It is often characterized by redness, swelling, warmth, and sometimes pain and some immobility. You actually need some level of inflammation in your body to stay healthy.
Shining A Light On The Sun Blog Series – Part 5
Now that you feel more comfortable about re-introducing the sun back into your life, here are a few rules of thumb to help you stay safe while illuminating yourself…
Practice sun bathing
As skin type, previous sun exposure, time of day and geographical location are determining factors for how much exposure is healthy, it is recommended that you download and use the DMinder App which may support you in this process.
Shining A Light On The Sun Blog Series – Part 4
About The Efficacy And Safety Of Sunscreens
Are you aware that the FDA itself says it is “not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use helps prevent skin cancer”? According to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 11th Annual Sunscreen Guide, there are currently more than 880 beach and sport sunscreens, 480 moisturizers and 120 lip products with SPF but the surprising truth is this: beyond the knowledge that sunscreens prevent sunburns, little else is known about the safety and efficacy of sunscreen lotions and sprays.