Category Archives: Health and Wellness

  • 0

Bulletproof Your World!

coffee-and-beansYou may have heard of Bulletproof Coffee by now. It seems to be all the rage these days! Bulletproof or fatty coffee as it is also known, involves adding good fats to your coffee like butter and MCT Oil to the coffee. But why would you want to put butter and MCT Oil in your coffee?
First, we should look at what MCT Oil is. MTC’s are Medium Chain Triglycerides are a fat particle found in coconut oil and palm oil. MCT Oil is comprised of primarily caprylic and capric fatty acids. It is odorless and liquid at room temperature. When MCTs are absorbed into the blood stream, they bypass the digestion process that longer chain fats go through. MCT oil is transported directly to the liver where it is metabolized so it releases immediately as energy. There is a significant increase in the number of calories burned. This means fewer are stored as fat, which helps to reduce body fat levels.
Medium chain triglycerides, convert into ketones through a process called ketosis. Ketones are breakdowns of the fat that our body can use for fuel and energy. Parts of the brain that have been damaged such as through stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or traumatic brain injury can improve with the use of MCT Oil. MCT’s are also great for boosting the immune system. Singular medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) act as natural antibiotics—boosting the immune system and fighting off harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. Some other benefits of MCT’s are they can promote weight loss, may help blood sugar balance, Give long lasting energy, help improve digestion, and helps cleanse and detoxify the body.
The butter used in bulletproof coffee should be grass-fed unsalted butter. Butter is full of nutrients. It is a great source of Vitamins A (an antioxidant), D (immune system strength), E (protects the cardiovascular system), K (helps with blood clotting), and K2 (bone strength). Butter helps keep the joints lubricated and mobile, helps fat-soluble vitamins be absorbed by the body, is a great source of healthy dietary cholesterol and provides a balanced source of Omega 3’s and 6’s.
The coffee used in bulletproof or fatty coffee should be organic. Because coffee grows in tropical climates, it often gets contaminated with mold when it’s picked and processed. One study found that 91.7% of green coffee beans tested were moldy. Roasting the green coffee beans kills off the mold but before it dies, that mold releases heat-resistant toxins that are toxic to your body and your brain. They are the same kinds of “mycotoxins” you are exposed to if you live in a house contaminated with toxic mold except you are drinking them! These toxins are invisible to the naked eye, so the tainted coffee still looks normal, and smells good. Most people do notice a difference in taste. Pure, clean coffee tastes clean and smooth, not acidic and bitter. The only way to be certain that your coffee is clean is to go all the way back to the source. To know exactly where it comes from and how it’s picked and processed. Try it today and you will see the benefits of drinking a healthier cup of coffee that is free of mold and other toxins! You may never want to drink regular coffee again! Below is the recipe to make Bulletproof coffee.
How To Make Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof coffee is normally made using a french press, but if you do not have one it can be made using the steps below.

Brew your coffee as you normally would using filtered water and organic coffee or Bulletproof Coffee. If you prefer the whole beans to grind yourself, you can get them here.
Pour 1 to 2 cups of coffee (8 to 16 ounces) into a blender. Add 1 tablespoon of MCT or Brain Octane oil  and 1 tablespoon of grass-fed unsalted butter ( I use Kerry Gold). You can add up to 2 tablespoons each, but you can begin with 1 tablespoon until you acquire a taste for it.
Mix at high speed for 30 seconds to one minute until it is frothy, You can also use a handheld milk frother if you do not have a blender. Enjoy!
If you want it sweeter, try adding a adding a few drops of stevia or a teaspoon of vanilla or cinnamon. Do not add sugar as the energizing benefits from the butter, coffee and oil will be lost.

  • 0

The Amazing Benefits of Bone Broth

brothBone broth is amazing! If you have joint pain, adding bone broth to your diet will improve joint pain because of the collagen in the broth. The health of your joints depends on the health of the collagen in your ligaments, tendons, and on the ends of your bones. Bone broth is full of glycosaminoglycans (aka GAG’s). One of these almost everyone has heard of or is currently taking is glucosamine.. Before you say,”Wait, I don’t need bone broth. I’m already taking a glucosamine supplement”, there are other things that bone broth has to offer. When you consume bone broth you also get chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and a bunch of other important glycosaminoglycans that haven’t even been discovered yet. The GAG’s from bone broth are resistant to digestion and are absorbed in their intact form. These intact GAG’s stimulate cells called fibroblasts which lay down collagen in the joints, tendons, ligaments, and the arteries.

If you have digestive or gastrointestinal issues, adding bone broth to your diet can heal your gut and aid digestion! Collagen is a protein and the building material to renew cells in all areas of the body including: the hair, skin, nails, eyes, teeth, cartilage, bones, tendons, organs, arteries, blood vessels, hemoglobin, immune cells and the immune system. It is found in the connective tissues, bone marrow, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments of all animals. The collagen in bone broth can heal your gut lining and reduce intestinal inflammation. It does this by “patching” the holes in the gut lining sort of like patching a screen. Collagen protects and soothes the lining of the digestive tract and can aid in healing IBS, crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, food sensitivities, leaky gut, acid reflux and autoimmune diseases. The breakdown of collagen in bone broth is what produces gelatin. Gelatin promotes probiotic balance and growth in your gut making your immune system stronger. Gelatin helps people who have food allergies and sensitivities (such as gluten and dairy) tolerate those foods better.

Another incredible benefit from the collagen found in bone broth, it makes your skin look amazing! Collagen makes your skin supple and smooth and can decrease cellulite! Our skin, hair and nails are made up of collagen and as we age the production of collagen and elastin slows down causing our skin to sag and wrinkle. Collagen tightens the skin, reduces wrinkles and reduces fine lines.

Bone broth also helps get toxins out and strengthens the immune system. Our liver is our main organ of detoxification and it was never meant to withstand the very toxic, chemical filled world we live in today. Its capacity to detoxify is limited by the availability of the amino acid glycine. Bone broth has tons of glycine! Glycine is also used to make bile salts and glutathione, improve sleep, memory and performance. Bone broth also has other amino acids including arginine, glutamine and proline. Arginine is necessary for immune system function and wound healing, production and release of growth , hormone, regenerates damaged liver cells and is needed for sperm production. Proline helps to regenerate cartilage and heal joints, reduce cellulite and make skin more supple. Glutamine protects the gut lining, is metabolic fuel for cells in small intestine, and improves metabolism and muscle building.

I used to take a glucosamine supplement for pain in my right shoulder and my knees. It would dull the pain, but the pain never really went away. I started drinking bone broth earlier this year in January as part of a change in diet and after a couple of weeks of drinking 1-2 cups of bone broth a day the pain is gone. I still drink it on most days, and I do notice a difference if I run out for a few days. I would recommend drinking an 8 oz cup once or twice daily as a soup or beverage, With all of its heath benefits, shouldn’t you give it a try? Bone broth is amazing!

You can find an easy recipe for bone broth here

  • 0

Ten Signs You May Have Leaky Gut

leaky-gut-copy    First of all, what is “leaky gut”? Leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability, begins in the small intestine. The majority of the vitamins and minerals in the foods you eat are absorbed there. The outer layers of intestinal cells are connected by structures called tight junctions. At the tips of these cells are the microvilli, which absorb properly digested nutrients and transport them into the bloodstream.The nutrients are then moved and deposited all around the body by the blood. The wall of the intestine is considered to be semipermeable, which means only certain things are allowed to enter the bloodstream and other things are blocked from entering the bloodstream. In other words your intestinal wall acts like a net to keep things in.. As an example, certain small molecules and nutrients are allowed to pass through but toxins and large undigested food particles are blocked. During digestion, the tight junctions stay closed forcing all molecules to effectively be screened and only pass into the blood stream through the mucosa cells. When you have a leaky gut these tight junctions become “open” or permeable allowing un-screened molecules to go directly into the bloodstream, much like a fishnet with holes. With Leaky Gut, the damaged microvilli along the intestinal lining cannot manufacture the digestive enzymes they need to break down the food for proper digestion. This allows food molecules to get into the bloodstream that have not been completely broken down into the nutrients your body needs.

Your body sees these unwanted particles that are leaking through as foreign invaders. Your body’s first reaction is to attack. Your body’s immune system will begin to produce antibody soldiers designed to fight against these foreign objects such as the casein protein from the milk you’re drinking, or proteins in nuts, grains, or eggs). Sugar and toxic chemicals now found in our food will trigger immune responses. Our immune system tries to build up antibodies to protect itself. The problem is in doing so, it attacks your healthy cells, too. This is how food allergies and autoimmune disorders start.

The three main causes of leaky gut are foods, infections, and toxins. Gluten is the number one cause of leaky gut. Inflammatory foods like dairy or toxic foods, such sugar, processed food and excessive alcohol can cause leaky gut as well. The most common infectious causes are candida overgrowth, intestinal parasites, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Toxins come in the form of medications, like Aspirin or Acetaminophen, Motrin, Advil, steroids, antibiotics, and acid-reducing drugs, and environmental toxins like mercury, pesticides and BPA from plastics.
Ten Signs You May Have Leaky Gut

Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, crohn’s or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Seasonal allergies or asthma
.Food allergies or food intolerances.
Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease.
Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
Diagnosis of candida overgrowth.
Chronic Stress.
Hormonal imbalances such as PMS or PCOS.
Mood and brain disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, autism and alzheimer’s..
Skin issues such as acne, rosacea, or eczema.

How you can fix leaky gut:

Remove the things that damage the environment of the GI tract, such as inflammatory and toxic foods (sugars, starches, grains), and intestinal infections.
Replace these with healing foods (Bone Broth, Raw Cultured Dairy like kefir, yogurt and raw cheese , Fermented Vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi, Coconut Products like coconut oil and coconut kefir, Sprouted seeds such as chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds) and digestive enzymes.
Restore beneficial bacteria with probiotics ( especially Lactobacillus Acidophilus) to reestablish a healthy balance of good bacteria.
Repair your gut with nutritional supplements such as a good multi-vitamin, large amounts of vitamin D, and Zinc, L-glutamine, Licorice Root, Quercetin and fish oil.

Change your diet, get moving and add the right supplements to your diet and you will be on your way to healing your leaky gut for good. You will definitely notice an improvement in how you feel! you would like to read more about gluten go here.

  • 0

Coconut Oil – What is it good for?

coconut-oilDid you know that coconut is one of the healthiest foods on the planet? There are over 1,600 studies published on coconut oil. Coconut oil benefits and uses go way beyond ordinary. Research shows that coconut oil contains over 60% of the 3 healthy fatty acids (caprylic acid, lauric acid and capric acid), called medium-chain fatty acids and just over 90% of the fat in coconut oil is healthy saturated fat. Medium Chain Fatty Acids are anti-microbial and anti- fungal, and easier to digest. They are smaller in size which allows easier cell permeability and when processed by the liver, they are immediately converted to energy instead of being stored as fat.
Contrary to what we have been told for years, the saturated fats found in coconut and coconut products like coconut milk and coconut oil are healthy fats that your body needs. Eating these kinds of fats will actually help you lose weight! Coconut oil is “thermogenic” and eating it tends to increase energy expenditure (fat burning) by 5% (120 calories a day), compared to the same amount of calories from other fats. Also, medium chain fatty acids increase feelings of fullness and lead to a reduction in calorie intake without even trying!
Some other benefits of coconut oil are:

Alzheimer’s Prevention – Research has shown that the brain actually creates it’s own insulin to process glucose and power brain cells. The brain of an Alzheimer’s patient loses the ability to create it’s own insulin. The ketones from coconut oil could create an alternate source of energy to help repair brain function.
Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis – High levels of antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil reduce inflammation and heal arthritis more effectively than leading medications. It works as both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Prevents Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure – Since coconut oil is high in saturated fats, it increases the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in your body, but also help to convert the LDL “bad” cholesterol into good cholesterols.
Improves Type 2 Diabetes – The medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil helps balance the insulin reactions in the cells and promote healthy digestive process. They take the strain off of the pancreas and give the body a consistent energy source that is not dependent on glucose reactions which can prevent insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment – Because of the ketones produced when it is digested, tumor cells are not able to access the energy in ketones and are glucose dependent. Thee medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil can kill the helicobacter pylori bacteria that has been known to increase the risk of stomach cancer. Even in studies where cancer is chemically induced, the use of coconut oil prevents cancer from developing!

Coconut oil has many more uses including healing urinary (UTI) and kidney infections, improving memory and brain function, energy and endurance, improves digestion, prevents gum disease and tooth decay, improves skin and prevents osteoporosis. Coconut oil is great to cook with. Because of its higher heat threshold, it will not oxidize and become rancid like other processed oils. Coconut oil is also great as a moisturizer for your skin, is a great carrier oil for diluting essential oils, and can help reduce cellulite and wrinkles!
When buying coconut oil always buy organic, unprocessed chemical free oil. Processing and adding chemicals destroys the health benefits of the oil and makes it useless.

  • 0

GMO’s…Big Problem Or Nothing To Worry About?

no-gmoWhat is a GMO? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are made by forcing genes from one species, such as bacteria, viruses, animals, or humans, into the DNA of a food crop or animal in order to introduce a new trait. In other words, we are saying, “God Move Over, we can do it better”. Wheat although not a genetically modified organism (GMO) has been hybridized over the years which changed it’s protein. Evidence suggests that genetically modified foods, such as soy and corn, may help explain the recent explosion of gluten-related disorders, which now affect up to 18 million Americans..
Should I Avoid GMOs? The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. Looking at some of the problems caused by GMO’s you will discover why it is best to avoid them.
In a 2011 review published in Environmental Sciences Europe, 19 studies of mammals, fed GMO soybeans and corn, were evaluated. The 90-day long trials indicate liver and kidney problems as a result of GMO foods. Kidney’s were disrupted by 43.5% and liver by 30.8%. According the researchers:“The health effects of a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified corn cultivated with or without Roundup, and Roundup alone were studied 2 years in rats. In females, all treated groups died 2-3 times more than controls, and more rapidly. This difference was visible in 3 male groups fed GMOs. Females developed large mammary tumors almost always more often than and before controls, the pituitary was the second most disabled organ; the sex hormonal balance was modified by GMO and Roundup treatments. In treated males, liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5-5.5 times higher. Marked and severe kidney nephropathies were also generally 1.3-2.3 greater. Males presented 4 times more large palpable tumors than controls, which occurred up to 600 days earlier. Biochemistry data confirmed very significant kidney chronic deficiencies; for all treatments and both sexes, 76% of the altered parameters were kidney related. These results can be explained by the endocrine-disrupting effects of Roundup, but also by the overexpression of the transgene in the GMO and its metabolic consequences.”
According to reports, individuals who consumed GMO’s also experienced the following side effects:
⦁ Increases in allergies
⦁ Increases in antibiotic resistance
⦁ Problems with endocrine system
⦁ Disorders of the reproductive system
⦁ Increases in aging symptoms
⦁ Cancerous Tumor growth
The list of GMO’s continues grow, Here are the most commonly found GMO foods to be aware of:
⦁ Canola
⦁ Soy
⦁ Corn
⦁ Sugar Beets
⦁ Alfalfa
When buying any of the above foods if the label doesn’t say “Organic” or “Non-GMO” you can be fairly certain the food is GMO. Over 70% of packaged processed foods contain GMO’S. When you see words on a nutrition label like corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, or canola oil it is most likely genetically modified. Most of these crops have been sprayed with Roundup (glyphosate).
Glyphosate was originally patented as a chelator, which means it binds with nutrients or minerals. Then it was patented as an herbicide, then an antibiotic. It was patented most by Monsanto for use in Roundup, the most popular herbicide in the world. It is sprayed on roundup ready crops that are genetically engineered (modified) not to die when sprayed with roundup. Soy, corn, canola, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa are all roundup ready. This means they will not die when sprayed with roundup. They absorb the roundup and store it. So when we eat this food we eat the roundup that is stored in the plant. Roundup is also being used as a ripening agent on other crops such as wheat, sugar cane, legumes, and barley, These are not roundup ready and are sprayed with the intent of killing the crop. This is done to kill weeds and prepare the field for the next years crop. They go to seed as they are dying and it increases the next years yield. Glyphosate is used on more than 80 percent of GMO foods. In 2007, glyphosate was the most used herbicide in the United States agricultural sector, with 180 to 185 million pounds applied, and the second-most used in home and garden market where users applied 5 to 8 million pounds.
Now that we know that roundup is in so many of our foods, we should ask if it really is harmless. The reality of it is, in research done at MIT they found a stunning correlation between the use of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) on corn and soy and the rise in diseases such as diabetes, obesity, autism, alzheimer’s, thyroid disease, liver failure, sex hormome disruption, cancer, leaky gut and inflammatory bowel disease all of which are also associated with gluten disorders.
Glyphosate causes disruption of gut bacteria by disrupting two bacteria that are critical for our health. specifically bifido and lactobacillus. It kills these bacteria and allows pathogens to overgrow. This causes a folate deficiency which in turn causes a methionine deficiency. Methionine is needed for protein synthesis Too little methionine can cause disruptions in brain development which can lead to autism and gut related disorders. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also caused by the glyphosate binding with cobalamin (vitamin B12) . A vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to alzheimer’s and dementia. People with gluten related disorders have a B12 deficiency because of excessive exposure to glyphosate.
Glyphosate, as was noted earlier is a chelator because it binds with minerals and nutrients.. Cobalt, molybdenum and iron deficiencies are associated with gluten related disorders. All of these are known to be chelated by glyphosate. Glyphosate has specific effects on the minerals it binds with that are not found with anything else. With these deficiencies you are not absorbing minerals properly because of the glyphosate binding to these minerals. They cannot be absorbed through the gut because the the gut is not functioning properly (leaky gut).
Glyphosate also blocks pathways in the body that are designed to detox our bodies. With that system being messed up the liver annot function properly to get rid of toxins. There are over 80,000 new chemicals being used. Only about 200 of them have been tested for safety, and more are being added all the time. All of these have the risk of their effects being amplified in the body because the body cannot remove them efficiently. In other words everything becomes more powerful because of the glyphosate.
There is a huge vitamin D deficiency and a lot of people don’t know they are deficient. Vitamin D is activated by the liver, but if the cyp enzyme needed to activate it is missing then there is a deficiency. Some newborns are prescribed vitamin D at birth because they are already deficient. If the mother is exposed to glyphosate it passes through the umbilical cord to the baby. Studies have identified in the order of 200 chemicals detected consistently in newborns. So, even though the placenta is of great protection to the baby, chemicals that the mother is exposed to can still get in and cause problems with development, etc. Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to broken boneswhich could explain why there are so many broken bones among the elderly today. There are vitamin D receptors in the brain which could explain the rise in depression and alzheimer’s that we see. Vitamin D is important for immune function. There are more people getting sick with colds and flu Vitamin D causes the kidneys to retain sulphate and when there is a deficiency of vitamin D there is a sulphate deficiency also. The cyp enzyme is also needed for bile acid production. If this is disrupted the bile acids cannot digest fat and this in turn stresses the pancreas. This can lead to pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer or diabetes. Both diabetes and pancreatic caner correlate strongly with glphosate being used on corn and soy.
There are amino acids that our gut bacteria make for us that are very important for neurotransmitters in the brain. When these amino acids cannot be made it can lead to thyroid problems and brain problems like depression and violence, autism and alzheimer’s, all of which are associated with seratonin deficiency. Melatonin is made from Serotonin which is supposed to help us sleep. Melatonin deficiency is also on the rise due to seratonin deficiency. Celiac and gluten related disorders tie in with all of these deficiencies.
According to Stephanie Senoff, a senior researcher at MIT, ‘There are no gluten related disorders symptoms that could not be linked to glphosate. None!’ So basically the sharp rise in the afore mentioned diseases and disorders we have seen in the last 40 years can be linked directly to using Roundup on our food supply. Glyphosate has a unique set of characteristics that set it apart from everything else. It is a unique poison because of it’s complex combination of attacks. Most people think, “It’s an herbicide which is supposed to kill plant. How can it be harmful to humans?” Herbicides are general biocides that cause problems in animals as well as plants. All hebicides cause harm and should be gotten rid of. Here are 10 things you can do to limit your exposure to glyphosate and other chemicals.
⦁ Eat organic fruits and vegetables
⦁ Buy from local farmers markets
⦁ Grow your own food
⦁ Eat less processed and “fast” food
⦁ Avoid sugar and sugar laden foods
⦁ Eat grass fed and free range meats, wild caught fish and seafood
⦁ Give up gluten and conventional dairy
⦁ Eat fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir)
⦁ Switch to sea salt
⦁ Take a probiotic supplement
Sometimes you have to ask if something is organic or not. Always read labels. There is a lot of sugar hidden in foods. Honey and stevia are good natural replacements for sugar. Watch out for high fructose corn syrup. Canola and vegetable oils should be avoided. Good quality olive oil and coconut oil are good replacements. Cooking from scratch takes more time and effort, but the results are well worth it. Getting your family involved in planning healthy meals and snacks, shopping at a farmer’s market, and taking turns preparing meals will teach good eating habits, and is a good way to spend quality time together. Preparing meals in large batches and freezing them in small (BPA-free) containers can save money and make mealtime prep easier on busy days. If you start small and implement a few of these changes at a time you will notice a definite improvement in the way you feel.
If you would like more information on glyphosate and GMO’s click on the links below:
Health Dangers of Roundup Exposed
Gluten and GMO’s
Gluten Introduction
Seralini Rat Study
Arsenic Paper
Just today, July 23, 2015, instead of listening to consumers, the U.S. House of Representatives just passed the DARK Act, a bill that would overturn state genetically engineered (GE) food labeling laws, block FDA from ever implementing mandatory GMO food labeling, and allow food companies to continue to make misleading “natural” . claims for foods that contain GMO ingredients. The next stop will be the U.S. Senate. If this bill becomes law it would FOREVER take away our right to choose what we feed our children, farmer’s rights to grow their crop of choice, and our right to protect ourselves and our communities from dangerous chemicals. We cannot let this happen! Please urge your senators not to pass this bill!
Also today, Professor Christopher Portier, one of the co-authors of the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) recent report which determinedGlyphosate’s status as a probable carcinogen, reiterated the IARC’s conclusions, and said: “Glyphosate is definitely genotoxic. There is no doubt in my mind.” You can read more here: Glyphosate Definitely Toxic
New News
A new report was released this last week of July 2015 by the World Heath Organization on glyphosate and other chemicals. The report states, “The IARC Working Group that conducted the evaluation considered the significant findings from the US EPA report and several more recent positive results in concluding that there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. Glyphosate also caused DNA and chromosomal damage in human cells, although it gave negative results in tests using bacteria. One study in community residents reported increases in blood markers of chromosomal damage (micronuclei) after glyphosate formulations were sprayed nearby.” There have also been a number of studies done showing that people with autism and alzheimer’s have high levels of ammonia in their blood. You can find out more about GMO’s  at the links below.

Here is a short video from Jeffrey Smith explaining GMO’s.


  • 0

Vibram Shoes – What are they and why you should wear them

Category : Health and Wellness

vibramIn the 1930’s, Vitale Bramani owned a mountain sports supplies shop in Milan,Italy. In 1935, he lost six friends in a climbing expedition accident in the Italian Alps. Bramani believed much of the blame was due to their inadequate shoes, and he was determined to find a way of making a safer climbing sole. Two years later, Vitale joined forces with Leopoldo Pirelli, a tire manufacturer to launch the first shoe sole made of vulcanized rubber, and the Viibram (pronounced “Vee-bram”) company was born. He launched the first rubber lug soles on the market with a tread design called the Carrarmato meaning “tank tread” in Italian, which is still produced today. The sole was designed to provide excellent traction on a wide range of surfaces and have a high degree of abrasion resistance. They are extremely durable. In 1999 Marco Bramani teamed up with Robert Fliri, a design student from Vinschgau, Italy. The glove-like footwear design immediately appealed to Marco. It was the perfect solution for protecting feet from sharp objects while giving a responsive grip in unstable conditions. The pair worked together to create the original Fivefingers® Classic, which mimics the look and mechanics of being barefoot.
What are the health benefits of Vibram shoes?
Going barefoot can boost energy levels, combat stress, can improve blood pressure and heart rate, help asthmatic and respiratory condidtions, sleep apnea, strengthen the immune system, help with chronic muscle and joint pain and improve fasting glucose levels in diabetics. FiveFingers offers you a deeper connection with your surroundings. No matter where you go, they deliver subtle signals that energize your body and lift your spirit. They act as a conduit between your body’s sensory system and the earth. They give a smoother, more natural walking motion. With improved foot contact to the ground, specific muscles on the foot and the legs will also get more strengthening. Stimulation of muscles in the foot and legs is also beneficial for those who have musculo-skeletal ailments. Toes will improve in terms of range of motion when using Vibram shoes. More nerve endings on the soles of the feet will also be stimulated and this will result in better communication from the foot to the body and brain. With better neural stimulation, you can also experience more stability when walking and running. These shoes can help with a variety of problems such as shin splints, knee pain and back ache. So, in short, if you love to go barefoot and be more in tune with nature, these shoes are definitely worth trying!
I can say from personal experience, they are very comfortable. It feels like my walking and balance has improved and I can feel my calf muscles getting a workout, but they are not sore or anything. I don’t know how they will be in the winter in the snow yet, but they have good tread on the bottom so that may work out just fine. I would definitely recommend them. You can find them here Vibram shoes

  • 0

Is Your Food Making You Sick?






⦁ Buy organic fruits and vegetables and dairy products whenever possible.
⦁ Use all natural cleaners in your home instead of chemicals.


  • 0

Why You Should Be Using Curcumin

Curcumin, a relative of ginger is a component of the Indian spice turmeric. The rhizome (root) is boiled, dried and ground into a powder and is the main ingredient in curry powder. Curcumin is one of three curcuminoids present in turmeric, the other two being desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. These curcuminoids give turmeric its yellow color and curcumin is used as a yellow food colorant and food additive. Some cultures also use it as a digestive aid. It has been found to be effective against heartburn, indigestion, ulcerative colitis and stomach ulcers. It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb.
Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals antioxidant.Antioxidants help prevent aging by inhibiting the breakdown of cells by oxidation. Curcumin also boosts the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes making it double acting against free radicals in the body. It blocks them directly, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms.
Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory. It helps the body fight foreign invaders and also helps in repairing damage. Recent studies on patients with rheumatoid arthritis have shown that when compared with common arthritis drugs, patients taking turmeric showed the highest percentage of improvement. An extract from turmeric called curcuminoid blocks a protein called NF-KB factor from being activated in the joints. According to the researchers when NF-KB is activated it causes inflammation and degeneration of joint tissue. Acute (short-term) inflammation is beneficial because without it, pathogens like bacteria could easily take over our bodies and kill us. inflammation can become a major problem when it is chronic (long-term) and is used against the body’s tissues. Chronic inflammation plays a major role in heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases. Curcumin is so powerful that it can match the effectiveness of commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs.
Circumin is good for brain health. By taking turmeric, you can improve the oxygen intake of the brain, which helps in all of the brain’s functions and processes. It is extremely healing for the brain and for increasing memory function. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and a leading cause of dementia. There is no known cure, but curcumin may be a key factor in preventing Alzheimer’s from occurring in the first place. People with Alzheimer’s have higher levels of inflammation in their brains, and curcumin is perhaps most known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. One key feature of Alzheimer’s disease is a buildup of proteins in the brain called Amyloid plaques. Studies show that curcumin can help clear these plaques. It is known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer’s. Curcumin has beneficial effects on bothinflammation and oxidative stress. Curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to lead to improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin may slow down or even reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric has also been found effective in treating Parkinson’s and stroke damage. One of the ways it works is by modulating large numbers of your genes – about 700 of them. Curcumin has the ability to affect signaling molecules, by inserting itself into your cells’ membranes where it changes the physical properties of the membrane itself. Another bioactive compound in turmeric, aromatic-turmerone, can can increase neural stem cell growth in the brain by as much as 80 percent. Neural stem cells differentiate into neurons and play an important role in self-repair. Aromatic-turmerone may help in the recovery of brain function in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and stroke.
Curcumin is also an effective treatment for depression, cancer and diabetes. Doctors at the University of Texas, found that turmeric extract helped stop the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs. The researchers also found that turmeric may also diminish the occurrence of prostate and colon cancers. A number of laboratory studies on cancer cells have shown that curcumin does have anticancer effects. It seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best effects on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer and skin cancer cells.
In 2009, Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications published a study out of Auburn University that explored how supplementing with turmeric can help reverse diabetes. The study discovered that curcumin in turmeric is literally 400 times more potent than Metformin (a common diabetes drug) in activating AMPK which improves insulin sensitivity which can help reverse type 2 diabetes. Curcumin has also been proven to help reverse many of the issues related to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia such as diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy. Supplementing with curcumin can delay these complications because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.