February

While thinking about sweets for my sweetie this Valentines Day I began looking at what kind of sweetener I was going to use in my straight from the heart, homemade, yummy chocolate treats.    I want the best for my sweetie.  He loves chocolate but there will be NO "refined" sugar or "natural and raw" sugar for this man.  "Refined" and yes, "natural and raw"  sugar are toxic to the body for 2 reasons.

(Side step and FYI - I won't even go into the artificial camp of sweeteners here (ie. Aspartame, Equal, NutraSweet, Splenda.  Bottom line they are neuro-toxic....this means they damage your brain neurons - NOT good!)

Ok, on with the prelude.  First, sugar lowers the ability of our immune system to fight disease.  After consuming sugar your white blood cells (the warriors of your immune system that quench pathogens) are literally crippled for about 6 hours after consuming sugar containing beverages and foods. This leaves you vulnerable to infection......lord knows we need all the support we can get these days to fight sneaky bugs.  Secondly, it results in a damaging sequence that stresses your pancreas, brain, adrenals, not to mention waistline.

So, now on with my dramatic discovery....actually not MY discovery, this is actually well documented, known by many healthy practitioners, written up in scientific journals AND it has been bugging me for a long time! 

So, in my pursuit of "healthy" chocolate recipes, they all contained Agave Syrup.  Annoying.  Agave is everywhere! It is being touted as the lone star to save the day as a healthy sweetener, which couldn't be further from the truth.

Agave Syrup - the High Fructose Cactus Syrup

I may be bursting your bubble here but Agave Syrup is NOT all it is cracked up to be.  Yes, it is hailed as the super ultra healthy, low glycemic, safe for everyone, especially Diabetics, kind of sweetener......but this stuff is really just High Fructose Cactus Syrup.

 Blood Sugar Buster

Speaking personally as a very "glycemically sensitive person" this stuff can really land me on my face.  In my gut (not to mention pancreas) I know there is a serious glycemic response.  This symptom of feeling like I’ve just downed a bunch of sugar after eating (or drinking) Agave led me to look behind the scenes at why this stuff has been given the low glycemic vote of approval. To my surprise it is not the sweet savior to refined sugar we have been led to believe.

 The Process Busted

Yes, it is true – Agave is low glycemic.  But we must understand WHY it is given that title.  It is due to the fact that it has 90% fructose compared to the small amount of glucose (10%).  This ratio of fructose to glucose does not occur  naturally anywhere else in nature.  So, why does it occur with Agave?   Well…. the sap of the Agave plant is collected and then heated to concentrate the liquid into a syrup AND to develop the sweetness.  When the Agave sap is heated, it becomes FRUCTOSE. The fructose-rich solution is then filtered to obtain the desired products that range from dark syrup with a characteristic vanilla aroma, to a light amber liquid with more neutral characteristics.  So basically, Agave is just hydrolyzed fructose.  Yuck.  Why yuck? Well, liken it to High Fructose Corn Syrup where they have manipulated the molecules to create a dangerous, artificial substance.

Harboring High Fructose

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a HUGE nightmare in the current food industry dilemma and accounts for much of the increase in obesity over the last 10 years.  It lurks silently in numerous products such as sauces, juices, enhanced waters, breads, crackers, cereals, protein bars, etc.   (HFCS) in soda contains an even less concentration of glucose to fructose ratio at 55% (HFCS) than compared to Agave at 90%.  Even though fructose is low on the glycemic index, there are numerous problems associated with the consumption of fructose in such high concentrations as found in concentrated sweeteners.  Here are some examples:

• Fructose makes you age faster!.  Research indicates that fructose induces oxidative stress.  Scientists found that rats given fructose had more cross-linking changes in the collagen of their skin than other groups fed glucose.

• Fructose actually promotes disease more readily than glucose. This is because glucose is metabolized by every cell in the body but fructose must be metabolized by the liver.  This makes fructose convert to fat and  increases triglycerides (blood fats) significantly as well as the potential for a fatty liver.

•  Fructose may make diabetic conditions even worse.  It reduces the sensitivity of insulin receptors which are essential for glucose to enter the cell and be burned for energy.  This can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.

So, the moral of this story is to beware of any substitute sweetener, read between the lines and be a conscious consumer, even if it does claim to be all natural and low glycemic.  Get the facts!  If you want to add sweetness to something try using Xylitol or Stevia.  Xylitol is antibacterial and actually helps you burn fat.  Stevia is derived from an herb and is NON-glycemic AND it helps to regulate blood sugar.  One of my favorites is Stevia Sweet Leaf.  It even comes in little pouches you can carry with you and have on hand.  They also have drops in a variety of flavors. 

Here's a simple recipe to help you on your way...

Chocolate Pudding to Knock Your Valentine’s Socks Off!

Gluten Free, Sugar Free……and full of nutrition & LOVE!

This nutrient dense treat contains super stars such as:

• Coconut milk – antimicrobial , healthy fats that don’t make you fat
• Avocado – loaded with vitamin E and more healthy fats that don’t make you fat
• Raw Organic Chocolate – high in Magnesium and powerful antioxidants
• Stevia – a natural sweetener that is non-glycemic and will help keep your blood sugar balanced.
• Whey Protein Powder – The most bio-available form of protein which enhances energy, immune function and detoxification.
• Walnuts – heart healthy fats
• Raspberries - a tasty low glycemic fruit that contains fiber, manganese, Vitamin C, flavonoids, B vitamins & ellagic acid.

Directions

• ½ Cup of Coconut Milk (canned)
• 2 TBS filtered water
• ¼ Avocado
• 2 TBS water
• 1-2 TBS of raw Cocoa Powder
• 2 drops of liquid Stevia
• 1 scoop of Whey Protein Powder
• 1 TBS of chopped Walnuts
• 1/4 Cup Raspberries

In a blender add coconut milk, avocado, water, cocoa and stevia.  Blend until smooth.  Then add protein powder and blend to desired consistently.  Top with chopped walnuts and raspberries. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or eat ASAP!

Enjoy, be well & thrive!

Sarah

Trecking out of the post office today I looked up to the FINALLY blue sky.  A patchwork of puffy white grayish clouds and a soft blue sky hanging like a silken canvas.  I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply as though on the edge of the shore, thinking how nice it was to smell this fresh clean post storm air.

Then to my surprise - I suddenly thought I was choking - nose burning - stomach turning.  The smell of gas burning around me. Good God I thought, what on earth?! 

Low and behold, I had walked into the parking lot as a car was pulling out of the parking lot......leaving me enveloped in a cloud of exhaust.  Probably doesn't sound like a big deal.  However, if you could see the chemicals that were in this invisible air behind the vehicle you might think again.    I quickly made a 180 and went back inside the post to regain my breath.

As my nose continued to burn I thought about those specific chemicals in exhaust.  As I stood there people passed in and out, especially many women -  with manicured nails with fingernail polish.  It was then I remembered how the chemical makeup of fingernail polish and exhaust have some similar counterparts........chemicals such as Styrene, Benzene and Toluene.  And there I sat to pause for a moment thinking of all the people  that have NO idea that they are putting seriously toxic stuff on their their nails.  So, I did a quick look for the latest "environmentally friendly" nail polish.....

(Sidestep - this takes me back to the time that a friend had just put on her "organic toe polish"  I mean, it was sold at Whole Foods and was labeled "environmentally friendly" - - so it should be ok - right???  Wrong!!!  First of all,  I nearly keeled over after being with in 2 feet of her and her sparkly, still wet toe nails.  Secondly, it is not as "safe" as you might think.)

Ok, back to my research on the "safe enviro toe nail polish"......Agasp!  It still contains Styrene!  What is the big deal? Well, Styrene is a potential carcinogen and causes oxidative stress in our mitochondria.  Our mito-what??  Our mitochondria.   This is like the furnace in our cells where we we create energy.  And once this stuff gets in - it is hard to get it out!  This can slow down what is called our Krebs Cycle.  The Krebs Cycle is this amazing energy creating process that takes place in our mitochondria. 

As for the conventional toe nail polish, well it contains a very long list of toxic chemicals, including Formaldehydes Benzene, Toluene and Styrene - which are also in exhaust.  All toxic.  All potential carcinogens.

Who'd have thought that breathing in a bunch of exhaust would have led me to this blog of toe nail polish!  Well, no surprise I guess.  I don't know about you, but they BOTH make my nose burn and make me want to hold my breath!  

So how did I get nourished to remedy this little blip that felt like it depleted me.  I came home and took a slug of my MonaVie.   MonaVie?  This is a phenomenal whole food tonic that contains amazing Antioxidants that will help neutralize those free radicals that are caused by exhaust inhalation.  Sure enough, a few minutes later, I was feeling perky, clear and back to normal!  

Well, this blog just of rolled out of me....had no intention of writing about nail polish....I don't even paint mine!  Haven't for years now.....just going a la natural:)  I hope this has helped someone our there!

May you be well & thrive!

Sarah

Do you use a cell phone?  Do your children? Do your loved ones?  Well, it's time -  high time, to take the time to catch up on the latest science about the consequence of cell phones.  I know it is hard to imagine.  They are so convenient, and the consequence seems so  invisible.  So, how could there be a problem?  Well there is a problem - a very BIG one.  Recently released is yet another scientifically validated study that confirms cell phones DO in fact harm human health.  

A landmark paper by Igor Belayev's team at Stockholm University has
reported that very low intensity microwave radiation from mobile phones
inhibits DNA repair processes in human stem cells.  THIS IS HUGE!!!

So, what does this mean?  It means that cell phones damage your DNA.  What is DNA?  It is the blueprint for every cell in your body.  DNA controls every message of your cells to create, repair and function.  The consequence of damaging DNA? Well, to put it bluntly - Disease and death of cells.  This could manifest in such ways as  inflammation, chronic pain,  premature aging and disease, especially cancer.   

In the authors' words, "this represents a direct mechanistic link to epidemiological data showing an association of Mobile Phone exposure with increased cancer risk."  The data obtained from human stem cells is of "utmost relevance for assessment of possible health risks of exposure from mobile phones."  Most, if not all adult tissues and organs including blood, skin and brain contain stem cells.

 Children are especially at more risk.   A recent report proved that children are more at risk from mobile phone use than adults.   The risk of glioma is more than 5-fold in children but just more than 2-fold in adults.  This is not just skepticism.

The author went on to say "In children,  almost all organs and tissues possess stem cells and stem cells are more active in children (since their bodies are growing at rapid rates).   The possible relationship of chronic exposure and various types of tumors and leukemia especially in children should be investigated."

This issue is very close to my heart.  Speaking from personal experience, I have encountered health issues from wireless technology.  Had I not had the sever symptoms I did from wireless technology, I would not be as keenly aware of the devastating impacts. I am not against cell phones.  Yes they can be helpful in times of emergency.  However, I am all for DISCRETION.  Currently there is no discretion regarding the use of cellphones.  People have no clue.  We MUST be conscious consumers and users of this powerful technology.  For information on how you can protect yourself from the invisible impact of wireless technology (ie cellphones), please contact me at www.getnourished.tv.

May you be well & thrive,

Sarah