THE GREATEST MEDICINE OF ALL… IS TEACHING PEOPLE HOW NOT TO NEED IT
“An Apple a Day” Protects Against FOUR Deadly Diseases
American author and transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau called the apple “the noblest of fruits.” And in America, we tend to associate them with our fall traditions.
But since they’re now available year-round at the grocery store, you should strive to eat this crisp, “noble” fruit during the spring, summer, and winter, too.
For one, they’re loaded with antioxidants, flavonoids, fiber, B and C vitamins, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
Not to mention, there’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh apple on a hot afternoon.
Of course, science also shows eating them regularly can provide POWERFUL PROTECTION against four dangerous diseases.
An apple a day really could keep the doctor away
1. CancerApples are packed with powerful antioxidants, which fight off inflammation and DNA damage. So, it should come as no surprise that eating them can ward off many types of cancer. Including cancers of the lung, breast, and digestive tract.
In addition, eating apples can support cancer recovery. In particular, their high potassium content can prevent edema and fluid retention, two common side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
2. Cardiovascular disease
Eating apples provides widespread support to your cardiovascular system. For example, polyphenols (found in apple skins) appear to protect against high blood pressure, the No. 1 hidden cause of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, flavonoids (again, found in apple skins) help reduce atherosclerosis--the build-up of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and/or stroke. In fact, in one notable study involving more than 9,000 men and women, those who ate the most apples over a 28-year period had a lower risk for thrombotic stroke (a type of ischemic stroke) than those who ate the least.
3. Dementia
One particularly powerful flavonoid called quercetin has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Researchers even think it can help ward off degenerative brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In one recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that people who had the highest flavonoid intake were a whopping 40 percent less likely to develop dementia than those with the lowest intake. (And yes, apples are rich in flavonoids.)
4. Type II diabetes
Even though some doctors warn people with blood sugar problems to avoid eating any type of fruit…that’s a big mistake! Remember, your body processes the natural sugar (fructose) found in apples and other types of fruit much differently than it does table sugar.
Plus, the phytonutrients in apples actually help regulate your blood sugar. In fact, they inhibit enzymes involved in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simple sugars. They also stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin. And, lastly, they decrease the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream.
I should also note that the famous Women’s Health Study at the Harvard School of Public Health found that those who eat one or more apples a day have an impressive 28 percent lower risk of developing Type II diabetes compared to those who eat none!
Of course, apples are also considered “prebiotic” foods, which means they feed the healthy “probiotic” bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome. And more and more research suggests that the GI microbiome is the gateway to your health. So, it’s really no wonder eating this delicious prebiotic fruit supports so many different aspects of your health!
Gluten-free Isn’t a Free Pass
A lot of people nowadays swear by their “gluten-free” diets. They say it helped them lose weight and lower their blood pressure.
And those results are great. But they probably didn’t get those results by simply cutting out gluten. They probably lost weight and lowered their blood pressure because they cut out processed carbs.
You see, for most people, gluten isn’t a problem. Only a small minority has an actual gluten allergy. And, indeed, it can wreak havoc on their lives.
By comparison, processed carbs cause problems for many, many people.
You see, gluten is a protein naturally found in wheat, barley, and rye. But most of the gluten Americans eat today comes from processed foods.
Processed food manufacturers use it to bind and thicken ingredients. So you find it in processed foods like bread, pasta, cereal, and pizza. Surprisingly, you can also find it in foods like ice cream and candy.
So, when someone goes on a gluten-free diet, they have to cut out all these processed foods. And they wind up eating many more natural, whole foods. And that’s how they lose weight and get healthier.
Now, here’s where the problem comes in…
A lot like big pharma, food manufacturers need to offer trendy new products continually to make more money and satisfy their customer base. And now, some manufacturers are trying to parlay the latest gluten-free food craze into a new revenue source. So you see lots of processed, “gluten-free” products on grocery store shelves.
Don’t be fooled. Just because these foods are gluten-free doesn’t mean they’re healthy. Gluten-free baked goods are still junk foods. These foods are typically filled with sugar, sodium, and other refined grains for taste. (It’s similar to what food manufacturers do to make low-fat foods. They take out the fat, but give you extra sugar and carbs in its place.)
Plus, if you choose to follow a gluten-free diet unnecessarily, you could miss out on vital nutrients found in whole grains, like fiber and natural B vitamins.
So, unless a qualified physician, using appropriate testing, has diagnosed you with Celiac disease or a wheat allergy, you can skip the gluten-free foods. I’d rather you eat 100 percent whole wheat or similar bread.
And if you do have Celiac disease or a wheat allergy, try to focus on filling your diet with all-natural, whole foods. Focus on eating healthy, lean meats, fish, legumes, and leafy greens. (That’s a good approach for all of us.) And if you do buy a packaged gluten-free product, look for one that lists a gluten-free whole grain, such as brown rice flour, as the first ingredient. One good brand is Aleia’s Gluten-Free Foods.
Asthma and Grape Seed Extract
Written by Art Solbrig on Jun 30, 2022
To be clear, I will be discussing Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract which is typically referred to as GSPE or more commonly as GSE, but this is not to be confused with Grapefruit Seed Extract, which is also commonly referred to as GSE, but these are two very different supplements with different effects.
Last week I had breakfast with a group of friends and one friend told me that their doctor had just diagnosed her with adult onset Asthma. The doctor told her that this will likely be with her for the rest of her life and he prescribed her an inhaler that contains a steroid. She said she felt like the inhaler did not seem to be helping her much as she still felt tightness, congestion and discomfort. She said that she had heard that long term steroid use could cause other health issues and asked me about any alternatives that might be useful. I told her that I was aware of a few possible remedies, but suggested she only try one at a time until she found one that would be effective for her.
I suggested Grape Seed Extract (GSE) at high dose because I know it is usually well tolerated and has potential to offer other health benefits other than just asthma relief, due at least partially to its potent antioxidant activities, its anti inflammatory effects as well as its gut microbiome manipulating effects. I further told her that the GSE should at a minimum allow her to use her inhaler less often as she was using it everyday with only minimal relief at 3 uses per day.
Research StudiesThe following study illustrates how GSE may be helpful for relief from asthma by reducing airway inflammation: https: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8856085/
Here is a relevant quote from the study:
"Nrf2-miR-29b axis is involved in the pathogenesis of severe asthma (SA). GSPE, as an adjuvant drug, maybe a potential therapeutic agent for SA."
In the following in vitro cell study, it is shown that two other potential mechanisms of action by GSE may be through reduction of mucin production and inhibition of Respiratory Synctial Virus (RSV) which is one of the most common causes of asthma : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28502165/
Here is an important quote from the study:
"We found that GSP significantly decreased RSV-induced mucin synthesis at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, GSP suppressed the RSV-induced signaling pathways, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38, together with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and activating protein-1 family members (c-Jun and c-Fos). Concomitantly, GSP inhibited the replication of RSV within A549 cells. Taken together, all our results suggest that GSP could be a potent therapeutic agent to suppress excessive mucus production and viral replication in RSV-induced airway inflammatory disorders."
As we continued the conversation, she told me she was going to buy the GSE that day! So we had a good visit over breakfast and she told me she would contact me later in the week after she was taking the GSE for a while.
At the end of last week, she called to say the GSE seemed to really be helping her. She first mentioned that her digestion had improved, and she was no longer feeling bloated and her bowel movements were more regular, as in daily. She also mentioned that her chest congestion was clearing up, but she was still using her inhaler at two puffs, 3 times a day.
Today she texted me to let me know that her digestion feels normal, no more bloating, very regular, no chest congestion and she has not had to use her inhaler for two days! Previously she was using her inhaler every day. She also said, with excitement, that she feels normal again! I felt very happy for her as she said she has been feeling bad for over a year and now, "she feels normal again" and is very happy with the results so far! I also reminded her to keep the inhaler with her at all times just to be safe.
Grape Seed Extract Dosage for Asthma
She told me she is taking the recommended dose on the bottle of GSE. That dose is 3 capsules per day in one dose with food for a total of 1200 mg of GSE per day.
It is early days in her test of GSE for asthma and I will post if she shares any further updates with me. I wanted to share this information with the EC community because GSE is not currently listed in the EC asthma section, and these are really exceptional results in a relatively short period of time even though she is relatively newly diagnosed!
About The AuthorArt Solbrig is a researcher who has been reading scientific studies and testing natural remedies for over 30 years searching for useful studies and alternatives that apply positively to human health issues and natural treatments. He documents and writes about many of his experiences in helping others.
Seven Great Foods and Supplements to Enhance Your Immune System
Written By: GreenMedInfo Research Group
Hoping to improve your immune system? Look no further than these seven foods and supplements, which have been clinically proven to enhance immunity, improving your response to a variety of illnesses and infections. By adding them to your daily meals or weekly regimen, you can easily and affordably strengthen your immune response
Researchers have been studying natural compounds that provide immunological support for decades, but several of these compounds stand out for their therapeutic potential in the stimulation and protection of the immune system. Try adding these seven natural substances to your diet for immune enhancement:
1. Vitamin C
In addition to its role in various metabolic and physiological functions, your body uses vitamin C to protect your immune system, and researchers have studied the efficacy of vitamin C as a therapeutic treatment in the prevention of cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, the common cold, stroke and heart disease.
Vitamin C improves neutrophil chemotaxis, a process that betters the ability of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) to move toward sites of inflammation or infection and increases the body's ability to fight disease. Finally, vitamin C also protects against reactive oxidant species, reducing the risk and severity of a variety of illnesses.
2. Korean Ginseng
Korean ginseng, also known as Panax ginseng, possesses strong antioxidant and immune-stimulating properties. Korean ginseng helps regulate immune cell function, including macrophages, T cells, B cells and natural killer cells, and improves inflammation through its high content of a variety of pharmacological compounds, like ginsenosides and acidic polysaccharides.
In most cases, it is ginseng root extract that is used to maintain immune homeostasis, although the other parts of the plant can be used as well. Ginseng root is often consumed raw or as a juice, tea or powder, and some studies have suggested that daily consumption of Korean ginseng may decrease oxidative damage and improve immunomodulatory activity while presenting no adverse side effects.
3. Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid antioxidant that possesses potent immuno-modulation properties, including the ability to increase interleukin production, a type of cytokine expressed by white blood cells.
Additional studies have found that dietary intake of astaxanthin may heighten immune response while also reducing DNA damage and inflammation, and astaxanthin may play a protective role in immune function by limiting free radical damage to immune cells.
4. Shiitake Mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms and their benefits have been studied extensively for many years, however, recent research has revealed that this traditional oriental therapy may also modulate the immune response by activating lymphocytes and dendritic cells, thereby up-regulating the production of cytokines.
In fact, scientists discovered that lentinan, an immunostimulant derived from shiitake mushrooms, may have prophylactic potential in the treatment of malaria, hyperhomocysteinemia, gingivitis and cancer. In one study, daily consumption of shiitake mushrooms drastically improved the immunity of healthy adults by improving cell proliferation and secretory immunoglobulin, a powerful antibody found in saliva.
5. Curcumin
Curcumin is best known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but researchers have become increasingly interested in this curcuminoid's ability to modulate the immune system, especially in cases of cancer prevention and treatment.
In addition to these benefits, curcumin improves antibody response and modulates the activity of natural killer cells and T cells, two kinds of cells that form the foundation of your adaptive immune response.
While researchers remain concerned about the poor bioavailability of curcumin and continue to study its use in hopes of finding a more effective version of this highly nutritious compound -- the main active ingredient in the spice turmeric -- many research studies have demonstrated that daily curcumin consumption presents no adverse effects while improving physical function, decreasing levels of inflammation and exerting immunomodulatory effects by altering circulating interleukin concentrations.
6. Fermented Food
Fermented foods and beverages like kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, kombucha and miso are often touted for their gut-microbiome stimulating effects, but their benefits don't end with digestive health.
Researchers theorize that a dietary deprivation of these types of foods could lead to a fall in immune response, even among healthy individuals, and multiple studies have shown that an associated action of fermented foods can improve mucosal immune function and prevent disease.
By improving the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, the beneficial bacteria contained in fermented foods decrease the number of harmful bacteria able to pass from the gut into the bloodstream, preventing pathogens from invading and infecting the body.
7. Echinacea
Echinacea extract is a well-known herbal remedy recognized for decades as a therapeutic treatment for the common cold, and scientists have found that echinacea stimulates immune function in both healthy and immune-suppressed patients.
Researchers have demonstrated that echinacea supplementation can be used to successfully enhance cytokine production, increase leukocyte mobility and activate natural killer cells, which decreases the likelihood of illness.
While researchers are still unsure as to the exact mechanisms of echinacea that drive these immuno-stimulating properties, its benefits may be tied to its high glycoprotein, polysaccharide and caffeic acid derivatives content, three compounds with demonstrated ability to activate the natural killer cells needed to fight and prevent illness.
Researchers are excited by the possible health benefits contained in these well-researched foods and supplements. To reap their benefits, try adding the foods into your weekly meal rotation or adding the supplements to your daily regimen. To learn more about additional natural compounds, foods and healing substances and the research being done in this field, visit the GreenMedInfo.com therapeutic substances database.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy,
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a Naturopath).
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