Tag: why

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Why Our Grandparents Didn’t Have Food Allergies, But We 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.  According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011.

Although it can be argued that food allergy and/or food sensitivity testing wasn’t really around back in the day and that there was much less of a focus on these concerns as a whole, there is clearly an increase of documented food allergy cases happening today.

So what could be some of the reasons that your grandparents didn’t have food allergies?

7 Reasons Why Your Grandparents Didn’t Have Food Allergies

1) They ate real seasonal food.

Food came from farms and small markets in the early 1900′s, and because food preservatives were not widely used yet, the 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.

The 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!

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.

Similar Story: The Watermelon Can Be a Medicine. Read More on How to Use It That Way…

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Drink Coffee to Save the Liver from Alcohol Damage

According to studies, coffee can help reduce the liver damage caused by consuming too much alcohol or food. To confirm these claims, researchers analyzed data from 9 studies published in the past.

In fact, they reviewed more than 430,000 participants. The participants drank 2 cups of coffee every day. As a result, they managed to decrease the possibility of developing liver cirrhosis by a staggering 44%.

What’s shocking is that coffee managed to prevent a potentially fatal disease, said the lead author of the study, Dr. Oliver Kennedy. Therefore, consuming coffee may significantly reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis.

Why Coffee?

Coffee is a cheap, tasty, and well-tolerated beverage. It is a popular drink for both young and old. As studies claim, adding additional cups of coffee each day may greatly reduce the chance of developing liver disease.

More precisely, Dr. Kennedy suggests adding two additional cups of coffee. As the research claims, in 8 of the 9 studies, drinking 2 more cups of coffee proved effective for reducing the risk of developing cirrhosis.

However, in 1 study, the risk of developing cirrhosis decreased as the daily consumption of coffee increased. By comparing the results to zero coffee consumption, researchers decided that 1 cup of coffee can reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis by 22%.

While 2 cups of coffee could drop it by 43%. The more coffee the participants drank, the better the results. With a shocking 57% decrease in developing cirrhosis from drinking 3 cups and 65% from drinking 4 cups.

What Is Cirrhosis?

In response to damage to the liver, cirrhosis occurs. Every time the liver is damaged, it tries to repair itself. As a result, scar tissue begins to form. The more cirrhosis progresses, the more scar tissue begins to form.

In the end, it makes it difficult for the liver to function properly.

The Link Between Coffee and Cirrhosis

According to the study, there is a link between coffee consumption and the decreased chance of developing cirrhosis. However, the results proved more effective only for filtered coffee rather than with boiled coffee.

Even though the studies show that coffee could be useful for preventing cirrhosis, it cannot help prevent the risks of diabetes and obesity – the authors of the study specified in the Journal of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

What the authors wanted to note was the fact that consuming whipped cream and sugar toppings can’t help prevent liver disease. Furthermore, scientists are still not sure how exactly can coffee prevent liver diseases and whether the brewing method matters.

Special Compounds in Coffee

Coffee is a very complex mixture. It contains many chemical compounds that can help protect the liver, says Dr. Kennedy.

However, the coffee can’t help if you are leading an unhealthy lifestyle. In fact, your lifestyle choices can have a heavy impact on your liver.

They can severely damage the liver.

Unfortunately, despite all the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties coffee can offer, it can’t undo the damage of a sedentary lifestyle, says Dr. Heller.

Furthermore, consuming an excessive amount of alcohol and being obese can’t help improve the liver health.

Therefore, it is important to consume healthy foods and be active if you want to protect the liver.

Source: www.InTheHouseOfHealth.info

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This Is Why You Need To Put Essential Oils On Your Feet Every Night Before Bed

In case you love essential oils, and have some, you already know that they are extremely beneficial for health and have intense relaxing and calming properties.

These oils despite being amazing for aromatherapy, also offer other benefits as well.

Essential oils can be applied to the feet at bedtime and ensure you get a healthy sleep during the night, according to reflexologists.

In fact the soles of the feet have 5 skin layers and no hair follicles. The pores are absorbent and quickly absorb the essential oil into the bloodstream.

It was shown that as soon as the essential oil is applied to the foot, its traces can be found throughout the body in less than 20 minutes.

The palms and soles are the only body areas without sebaceous glands and these glands produce sebum, which is an oily substance that protects and weakens the skin’s ability to absorb foreign materials.

When the soles and palms lack these glands, they can easily absorb essential oils.

Important is that the feet have 72,000 nerve endings each, which is more per square centimeter than any other body part. According to this to this fact, the East Asian medicine has treated various diseases and illnesses by stimulating certain foot points.

It is believed that body organs and systems are linked through meridians of energy that end in the feet, hands, ears and face. This healing tradition is known as reflexology.

According to reflexology the application of essential oils on the feet helps the properties of the oil to reach the body organs and systems and assist healing.

These oils are too concentrated to be applied directly on the body, so you need to dilute them with water or coconut oil to lower the risk of swelling or irritations.

The feet skin is the least sensitive, so you can freely apply any kind of essential oil on the soles.

If you use of essential oils topically it helps the active compounds to directly enter the bloodstream, instead of going through the digestive system and the liver, when ingested.

Consult a naturopath about the most beneficial essential oil to use in order to treat your health issue and gain most health benefits. Apply it on your feet and experience quick health improvements!

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Why the Drinking of Iced Water is so Dangerous For You?

Not many people understand why warm water is far better than ice cold. Hopefully, this article will help you see things better.

But, first, try this:

Close your eyes and imagine yourself being on a wooden dook that extends into a mountain lake. Sun is shining, birds are singing. Spring is awesome. The top layer of the lake has just melted. You decide to dive in the lake.

Now, how does your body react? Are you relaxed or constricted?

If by any chance you did not know it, warm water loosens skin and opens pores, and cold water constricts it and closes pores. The same happens to your digestive tract when you drink ice cold water.

What does cold water do to your body?

— Body spends more energy to regulate its temperature instead of absorbing nutrients and digesting food. This may result in water loss.

— Cold drinks restrict digestion, shrinks blood vessels and hinders hydration.

— When drinking cold drinks while eating food, cold temperature solidifies fat from the food you eat and your body cannot digest undesired fats from the body properly.

— If you prefer drinking cold water after your meals, your body deals with excess mucus, which affects the function of your immune system, so you are likely to catch a cold or struggle with a disease.

People believe that cold water helps in burning calories. But, you sure do not need your digestive system working harder, and try to make things a bit different. You can burn calories in many other ways, without affecting vital functions in your body.

Why is warm water better for you?

– Stimulates digestive enzymes and enhances digestion

– Hydrates tissues faster

– Improves better bowel movement. Try warm lemon water in the morning

– Your body breaks down food more efficiently

– Boosts natural detoxification in your body and cleanses blood via kidneys, skin and lymphatic system

Once you decide to go for warm water or water at room temperature, you will experience better digestion and your body will feel much lighter after or during meals. Some people claim that drinking warm water has reduced their sugar cravings.

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Love Nutella? Here’s Why You Should Never Eat It And Opt For A Healthier Alternative Recipe

Nutella was a pantry staple of mine for many years, until I started to learn more about nutrition and how to decipher labeled ingredients.

In theory Nutella is pretty healthy, chocolate has been shown to release happy hormones in the brain along with other benefits. Hazelnuts are high in vitamin E, various minerals such as magnesium and essential fatty acids.

Then there’s skim milk which many people have been led to believe is a healthy food for strong bones and teeth.

No wonder people are giving their children Nutella sandwiches for lunch, thinking it’s a healthy treat. But when you find out what’s really in that jar of chocolate hazelnut spread, you may think twice about eating Nutella.

What’s Really In My Nutella?

Sugar

It’s no surprise that the number one ingredient in Nutella is refined sugar. A whopping 21 grams in 2 Tbs! This is equivalent to an Oh Henry bar or three lollipops.

There aren’t many people who would eat lollipops and candy bars for breakfast. One mother even sued the company for making claims that Nutella is a healthy whole food to feed her daughter.

On top of the heinous amount of sugar, they aren’t even using real sugar.

Genetically modified sugar beets are a cheap sweetener that many big companies use to save money.

Independent studies show major health implications from GMO “frankenfoods”, such as digestive problems, liver and kidney toxicity, and in the case of sugar beets, increased risk of diabetes .

Palm Oil

Palm oil is a controversial ingredient as its production is unsustainable and destroying important and fragile ecosystems.

Though it is a healthy saturated fat (which is fine if consumed in moderation), the method of procuring it involves unsavory practices like massive deforestation, indigenous rights abuses and animal cruelty.

The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) states that the equivalent of 300 football fields of rainforest are cleared every hour to make way for more palm oil production.

Soy Lecithin

This ubiquitous ingredient is present in nearly all processed food. A by-product of soy oil production, soy lecithin is used as an emulsifying agent.

Soy is another one of those pseudo health foods touted by the FDA to be part of a healthy diet. What they’ve failed to realize is nearly all soy is genetically modified, and it’s a substance with markedly high levels of xenoestrogens.

These xenoestrogens are part of the reason reproductive cancer rates are soaring, they can cause low levels of testosterone in men, early onset of puberty, thyroid problems and more.

The soy industry has to be one of the sneakiest out there. Nearly all commercial livestock in North America are fed GMO soy.

We are only beginning to see the implications of this food in our society. Bottom line, soy is in most processed food, make your own goodies and you won’t have to worry about it.

Vanillin

Vanillin is an artificial flavoring agent made entirely from chemicals devised in a lab to trick your taste-buds into believing it’s the real thing.

Corporations save big money using fake additives like these. This chemical food is highly addictive, the excitatory qualities of vanillin throw your brain cells into overdrive, causing a short term boost in serotonin only to knock you to the ground ten minutes later. Vanillin is a neurotoxin and you are far better off using real vanilla.

A Few More Things To Pay Attention To

Hazelnuts

One of the oldest crops known to man, hazelnuts originated near the Black Sea. Today they’re grown commercially in Canada, U.S and Turkey.

Hazelnuts are full of nutrients as I’ve mentioned in my post about the health benefits of nuts and seeds, but most often they are sprayed with pesticides.

When buying hazelnuts try and source organic nuts free of pesticide contamination.

Cocoa

Although cocoa is very healthy, and I’ve already written a post about the health benefits of cocoa, in some cases, workers in the cocoa industry are paid next to nothing. So it’s best to buy organic and fair trade cocoa and chocolate.

According to my research, Nutella does not use fair trade cocoa.

Skim Milk

For decades, high milk consumption has been recommended for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures. But as time went on, its health benefits were questioned. Many nutritional experts became cautious about milk, especially when consumed in large quantities.

Heard enough about all the junk in this “healthy” spread? Isn’t it a bit nuts to claim such a slew of industrial by-products and 12 chocolate bars worth of sugar per jar could ever be touted as a healthy breakfast or snack.

Especially to be pushing such a dishonest agenda towards parents of young children. Even if you love Nutella, try making your own!

You’ll see just how easy it is to make a delicious chocolate hazelnut spread from real wholesome ingredients.

How to Make Your Own Nutella

nutella

Ingredients

1½ C roasted hazlenuts

2 Tbs cacao powder or paste (melted)

2 Tbs coconut oil, melted

⅓ C raw honey

½ tsp sea salt

¼-1/3 C water

Instructions

1. In a high powered blender or food processor, add hazelnuts and process until they start to form a smooth nut butter. You can add a bit of water here to get things moving.

2. Use a double boiler method to melt the coconut oil and cacao paste, stir in the honey and add this liquid to the hazelnuts.

3. Add salt, blend everything together until super smooth, adding water as you go to achieve desired consistency.

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11 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD EAT PINEAPPLE DAILY… NUMBER 4 IS MOST IMPORTANT

Pineapple is one of the most popular exotic fruits in the world and certainly one of the most delicious as well. People have been consuming the fruit for centuries due to its exotic taste and the numerous health benefits it offers.

According to studies, pineapples can treat numerous respiratory problems, reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, prevent cancer, improve your cardiovascular health, fight parasites and infections, boost your immune system and circulation as well.

Pineapples can be consumed fresh, cooked and juiced. In the past, Hawaii was the biggest producer of the fruit, but it can now be found all over the world.

The fruit is native to the Caribbean, Brazil and Paraguay, and was brought to Europe after Columbus returned from his trip in the 15th century.

The fruiting season of pineapples runs from March to June, with each tree producing a big number of fruits. The name pineapple originated from the 17th century due to the fruit’s resemblance to pine cones.

In the past, the fruit was also known as ananas. You probably know how it looks – it’s got a few leaves on top and a hard shell with thorns and spikes.

Pineapple juice is especially popular around the world and is also a part of numerous cocktails such as pinacolada.

Besides the nice taste, pineapple offers numerous health benefits as well.

The fruit contains a variety of important nutrients including vitamins B6 and C, beta-carotene, folate, manganese, magnesium copper and calcium which can improve your overall health. Here are the top 11 health benefits of pineapples:

Treat arthritis

Pineapples are a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that can treat arthritis and reduce the pain in your joints. They contain a rare enzyme known as bromelain which is mainly responsible for the fruit’s anti-inflammatory properties.

According to people who have tried it, pineapple juice can significantly reduce the symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Boosts the immune system

Thanks to the high amount of vitamin C (130% of the RDA per a medium-sized fruit) pineapples are great for your immune system.

The exotic fruit can improve the activity of your white blood cells and help the body fight different infections. The fruits can also fight free radicals which are often responsible for numerous chronic diseases including cancer.

Accelerate the healing process

Vitamin C can boost the production of collagen in the body, effectively improving the health of your tissues, skin, bones, blood vessels and muscles.

The rich amount of vitamin C found in pineapples can accelerate the healing of injuries and wounds and defeat various infections and diseases.

Prevents cancer

Besides the rich amount of antioxidants and vitamin C, pineapples also contain vitamin A, bromelain, beta-carotene and flavonoids which can treat different types of cancer.

The fruit contains manganese as well, a co-factor of superoxide dismutase, a free radical fighter that can fight various types of cancer, but it’s mostly effective against oral, throat and breast cancer.

Improve your digestion

Pineapples are a great source of fiber which can boost your digestion and prevent a variety of digestive problems such as constipation or diarrhea.

Fiber can also keep your blood pressure in control and control the passage of food through the digestive tract.

The soluble and insoluble fiber in pineapples will bulk up your stool and treat IBS and atherosclerosis. Finally, the fiber will also regulate your cholesterol levels and prevent it from accumulating in the arteries.

Treat coughs and colds

Vitamin C can prevent infections and colds on its own, but it works far better when combined with bromelain.

The combination will thin out the mucus in your airways and sinus cavities, promoting its quick elimination and treating coughs and colds.

Improve the health of your bones

Although not that rich in calcium as other fruits or vegetables, pineapples have a high amount of manganese, a mineral which is highly important for our bones.

A single pineapple can have up to 70% of the RDA of manganese, which is more than enough to keep your bones strong.

Improve your oral health

Pineapples have astringent properties that will relieve the inflammation in your gums and reinforce them, effectively keeping your teeth healthy.

The astringent agents in the exotic fruit can prevent bone and teeth loss while also strengthening your gums.

Pineapples are often recommended as a natural remedy against loose teeth and gum recession.

Improve your eye health

Due to the high content of beta-carotene, pineapples can prevent a variety of vision problems including macular degeneration.

Eat them more often and you will surely boost your eyesight and improve the health of your eyes.

Regulate your blood pressure

Pineapples are a rich source of many minerals including potassium. Potassium can regulate your blood pressure and keep your cardiovascular health in check.

The mineral is a powerful vasodilator which can ease the stress in your blood vessels and improve your blood flow as well.

By boosting your blood flow, the fruit can prevent blood clots and the accumulation of plaque in your arteries which can be deadly.

Boost your blood circulation

Besides providing your body with potassium, pineapples can also boost your copper levels, another important mineral that plays a part in numerous enzymatic reactions in the body.

Copper is especially important for the production of red blood cells, which will lead to increased oxygenation in the cells and better organ function.

According to several studies, pineapples can improve your cognitive abilities and treat and prevent neurological problems such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Although the fruit is certainly beneficial, you should consume pineapples in limited amounts.

Bromelain is a meat tenderizer which can make your lips, gums and tongue more sensitive, and an “overdose” of pineapple can also lead to diarrhea, vomiting, headaches and nausea.

Pregnant women should avoid consuming too much pineapple as bromelain might induce menstruation which may result in miscarriage.