COCONUT FLOUR…GREAT WHEAT ALTERNATIVE!

Q.  I am looking for an alternative to wheat flour.  There are sooo many out there.  Do you have any suggestions?

Carla W

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A.  I do indeed.  COCONUT FLOUR is shaping up to be a fantastic alternative to grain based flours for many recipes.  Coconut flour has unique properties which include the following:  Gluten-free, High in dietary fiber, Good source of protein, Low in digestible carbohydrates, Unrefined and Unbleached, 0 gm trans fat, Non-GMO, Vegan, Sustainable Source.

Coconut flour has a light coconut flavor and a natural sweetness making it a delicious choice to use in a variety of baked goods.  To substitute in a recipe using wheat flour, replace up to 25% with coconut flour as well as an equal amount of liquid.  If possible always purchase “Organic” coconut flour.  A good manufacturer with consistent quality is COCONUT  WORLD.  It retails in stores and online for around $6. to $7. For a 1 lb bag.

AMV

*Health Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

LIQUID MINERALS…GRANDMA WAS ONE SMART GAL!

Q.  I remember my Grandma used to take a mineral supplement.  It was liquid in a big blue bottle.  She said it helped whatever ailed her.  Are minerals really all that great and should I be taking them too?

Janet P.

A.  Ask yourself several questions:  Did Grandma ever get sick (cold, flu etc.)?  Did Grandma have debilitating arthritis?  Was Grandma tired all of the time or did she seem to have plenty of energy?  If you can say “no” to all of the above questions then essentially you have your answer.  Grandma was probably smarter than you will ever know and she knew how to take care of herself.

Consider this; minerals are essential for nearly every metabolic function within our bodies.  They act as a catalyst for virtually every required chemical reaction.  These include immune response, skeletal integrity (including connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons) and energy production.

The product you are referring to is called MINERAL RICH and comes in a blue bottle shaped like a wine decanter.  It is still available (in health food stores and online) today, along with many other mineral and trace mineral formulations.  Check you one-a-day multi.  Is it a multi-vitamin or a multi-vitamin and mineral?  If there is no mineral content then –yes- it would benefit you to take a mineral supplement such as Mineral Rich.

 

AMV

*Health Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

ACHES AND PAINS?...TRY ARNICA MONTANNA !

Q.  Are there any OTC ointments or salves from health food stores that will work for arthritis?

Stuart T.

A.  Assuming we are talking about osteo-arthritis then…yes.  Health food store shelves are full of topical creams, gels, ointments and salves that have anti-inflammatory properties.  Some work well and some…not so well.  The key ingredient in most of these products is an herbal substance called ARNICA MONTANA.  Arnica is an herb (looks like a dandelion) found in parts of Europe and North America that does seem to have moderate anti-inflammatory properties.  Arnica may also be labeled its folklore names Mountain Daisy or Wolf’s Bane

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Several homeopathic companies have Arnica products that have strong track records.  BOIRON carries a variety of homeopathic Arnica products that are marketed for inflammation.  HEEL USA has marketed an anti-inflammatory product called Traumeel for many years.  Traumeel can be taken both internally and applied externally.  Both companies have excellent quality and long success records.

The pain and disfigurement caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a very different physiological function than osteo-arthritis.  However some pain relief has been reported by those with rheumatoid arthritis by taking various arnica Montana products.

AMV

*Health Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

 

OMEGA-3 FROM FISH OIL…TOO MANY CHOICES!

Q.  I went to buy some in-expensive fish oil and was blown away by the choices.  What is good and what isn’t?  Do you have any recommendations?

Andrea V

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A.  Most shoppers have the misconception that the “fish” in fish oil is always salmon.  Please be aware that “fish oil” is just that.  That is, oil derived from ANY available fish source.  This raw material fish source can be sardines, anchovies, mackerel, krill etc.  Basically whatever is cheapest on the market for that manufacturing run.  If you specifically want salmon or cod fish liver oil then you have to purchase the brands that manufacture from these fish sources.

I assume you are taking the fish oil for the omega-3 (heart healthy substance) content.  Most OTC (over the counter) fish oils are 1000 mg. capsules.  This doesn’t mean your getting 1000 mg. of omega-3 in each capsule.  Instead, it means that this capsule and all of its content WEIGHS 1000 mg.  This is a measurement of weight…not content.  You’re probably getting approximately 300 mg of actual omega-3 in each 1000 mg capsule.

Be sure that whichever brand you are buying tells you these three things:  The exact omega-3 content.  The exact EPA and DHA potencies (these are the medicinal components of omega-3).  And finally, whether their product is purified.  This purification can go by several key words on the labels.  Look for the words purified, ultra-purified or molecularly distilled.

With years of research backing it up, the proof shows that omega-3 from any source is good for cardiovascular (heart) health.  Remember, consistency is the key.

AMV

*Health Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  

  

 

NUTRITIONAL MENTAL EDGE…FOR TESTS? 

Q.    I am in my third year of med. School and am dreading my finals (written exams).  Is there anything “nutritionally” that you know of that can give me a mental edge? 

Roxanne P.

A.  There are many products in the nutritional supplement market which suggest their product will give you better memory and sharper thinking.   Very few of these products are based on good research and sound science.  A recent exception is MAGNESIUM L-THREONATE or (MgT).

MgT has been shown to increase brain magnesium levels:

Increased magnesium levels in the brain (frontal cortex) has been shown to increase brain synaptic plasticity.  In other words…better short term memory connections

Higher brain magnesium levels have been proven for better mood and alertness.

 

Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic functions in our bodies.  Greater brain levels of magnesium have been shown to facilitate many of these basic functions.

 

MgT has garnered a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) rating and recent studies are showing its ability to break through the blood/brain barrier is outstanding compared to most other nutrients. 

MgT is a relatively new formulation but should be (or soon will be) available at most health food stores and online retailers.

AMV

*Health Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  

1. 

HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS…NOT SIZING UP!

 

                                                                                                 

Q.    I just read where 6 out of 10 herbal supplements tested did not have the amount or potency that is listed on the bottle?  Aren’t vitamins and herbs regulated by the FDA?  How are we supposed to know what we’re really getting?

Carolyn S.

A.  I really don’t mean to sound like a know-it-all…but the results of these ingredient / potency tests didn't surprise me a bit.  For years I’ve been preaching the benefits to “Guaranteed” or “Standardized” potencies.  Any time you purchase an herbal supplement that does not have these words on the front label then it’s a crap shoot.  You really don’t know what you’re getting.  That capsule may weigh 500 mg. but that does not mean that there is 500 mg. of the desired substance in each capsule.  Some companies may be using the ground up stems and leaves of the desired plant and not the actual root that is supposed to be used.  Either way, you don’t know what you’re actually paying for.  When buying any herbal supplements ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS look for the words GUARANTEED Potency or STANDARDIZED Potency somewhere on the front or back label.  You may pay a bit more but it is worth it.

Yes…unlike what you hear in the media…vitamins and herbs (aka the Natural Food Industry) is regulated by the FDA.  Just not the same as the drug industry.  To name a few, all supplement manufacturers have to submit structure / function studies to the FDA.  They also have to prove that the ingredients they use are GRAS (generally recognized as safe).  They must also submit to numerous “blind” spot inspections every year.  As in any industry there are black sheep manufacturers that search for every cut corner and loophole.  By the same token there are many grade A, class act supplement manufacturers that put out excellent products.  Talk to your health food store to teach you who to trust.     

AMV

*Health Disclaimer: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

WHY YOUR GRANDPARENTS DIDN'T HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES...

...AND YOU DO….

Did your grandparents have food allergies? Mine sure didn't. A stark comparison to the growing epidemic of food allergies, worsening with every generation.

So why did your grandparents not have food allergies? It’s really quite simple…

1) They ate seasonal real food.

Food came from farms and small markets in the early 1900′s, and because food preservatives were not widely used yet, food was fresh. Because of the lack of processed food, their diets were nutrient dense allowing them to get the nutrition they needed from their food.

For babies, breast milk was valued and it was always in season.

2) They didn’t diet, and play restrictive games with their body and metabolism. They ate food when food was available.

Our grandparents did not fall victim to fad diets, food marketing, calorie counting, and other detrimental dieting habits that are popular today (in part because the marketing infrastructure didn't exist yet). Because of this they had a healthy metabolism, and ate according to their body’s needs and cravings.

3) They cooked food at home, using traditional preparation methods from scratch.

Buying processed food was not an option, and eating out was a rare luxury. Lucky for our grandparents these habits actually increased their health.

4) They didn’t eat GMO’s, food additives, stabilizers and thickeners.

Food was not yet treated with additives, antibiotics and hormones to help preserve shelf life and pad the pockets of food producers in the early 1900′s at the expense of the consumer’s health.

5) They ate the whole animal that included mineral rich bone broths and organ meats.

 Animal bones were saved or bought to make broths and soups, and organ meats always had a special place at the dinner table. These foods were valued for their medicinal properties, and never went to waste.

6) They didn’t go to the doctor when they felt sick or take prescription medications. Doctor visits were saved for accidental injuries and life threatening illness.

When they got a fever, they waited it out. When they felt sick, they ate soups, broths and got lots of rest. They did not have their doctor or nurse on speed dial, and trusted the body’s natural healing process a whole lot more than we do today. Their food was medicine, whether they realized it or not.

7) They spent lots of time outside.

Our grandparents didn’t have the choice to stay inside and play on their phones, computers and gaming systems. They played on the original play-station:  bikes, swing-sets and good ol’ mother nature!

And what do these things have to do with food allergies?

Nutrition affects EVERY cell in our body. The health of our cells is dependent on diet and lifestyle. Cells create tissues, tissues create organs, and we are made up of a system of organs. If your nutrition is inadequate, the integrity of each cell, tissue and organ in your body will suffer, thus you may be MORE sensitive to certain foods.

Author: Catherine B.