More than 90 percent of Americans fall short of meeting estimated average requirements for at least one vitamin or mineral. A big part of the problem? A diet heavy in nutrient-poor, refined and highly processed foods. Another culprit: modern farming techniques, particularly the practice of planting vegetable and fruit varieties that increase yields but result in less nutrition per bite. Getting the nutrients you need not only helps you avoid deficiency-related conditions, but also may increase your energy levels, keep your immune system in top shape and ward off chronic diseases. So eat as healthfully as you can, and use […]
When I first saw pictures of the baobab tree, I thought I was looking at an extraterrestrial landscape. About 60 feet tall with fat trunks and at the very top, branches that are bare for nine months of the year, the baobab looks like a regular tree that has been jammed into the ground upside-down with the roots sticking up in the air.
The term amino acid might sound a bit strange, but the definition is straightforward: Strands of these molecules form the building blocks of protein. When you digest protein, your body breaks it down into individual amino acids and then reconstitutes them as needed. Amino acid supplements are most often associated with bodybuilders. After all, muscle consists of protein, and amino acids do help build muscle, and not just in young men. But individual amino acids also serve a variety of health-promoting roles in the body. For example, they can influence mood, reduce stress and boost immunity. As a consequence, shoppers […]
WASHINGTON – Two decades after pollution from highly toxic fluorinated chemicals was first reported in American communities and drinking water, the number of known contamination sites is growing rapidly, with no end in sight. The latest update of an interactive map by EWG and the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University documents publicly known pollution from so-called PFAS chemicals at 94 industrial or military sites in 22 states. When the map was first published 10 months ago, there were 52 known contamination sites in 19 states. The map and accompanying report are the most comprehensive resources tracking PFAS pollution in the U.S. “With […]
Neither fish nor foul, not animal nor even technically a plant, mushrooms occupy a nether-region of life, with tantalizing health benefits such as better athletic performance and even, perhaps, an answer to cancer. Mushrooms are much more than just stir-fry fodder. Mushroom compounds called polysaccharides have been studied for decades for improving immunity. Beta-glucans in mushrooms have been proposed to act as “biological response modifiers,” based on their effects on the immune system. This means that they don’t so much stimulate the immune system as they simply make it work better. Want more mushroom magic? A few years ago a […]
Could you be low in essential vitamins and minerals? Learn how to spot nutrient shortfalls in your diet based on chronic symptoms. Symptom: Symmetric low-back pain. Possible deficiency: Vitamin D. Sun exposure generates less vitamin D in darker-skinned people and the elderly. Obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency, too. What to eat: Salmon, egg yolks, vitamin D-fortified milk, and vitamin D-enhanced mushrooms. Supplement with: 6,000 IU vitamin D3 daily for eight weeks for deficiency, then 1,500−2,000 IU daily to maintain levels. Symptom: Swollen and/or bleeding gums. Possible deficiency: Vitamin C. About 6 percent of U.S. adults are […]
Want to live a longer, healthier life? Of course! People in every culture seek the fountain of youth but in fact it very well may be sitting in your kitchen cabinet. Healthy eating plays a role in living longer and supporting your cells as you age. Healthy aging relies on foods that support many systems including brain and heart health. These foods often contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting optimal health on a cellular level. Here is the ultimate Foodtrients list of the top 50 foods for longevity with a 360-degree view of the many factors that contribute to aging […]
Why do some of us get sick more often than others? What makes us more susceptible to illness? What’s the secret to staying healthy? According to Joel Fuhrman, M.D., a leading expert and board-certified medical specialist his latest book, Super Immunity, offers a comprehensive guide to superior health. Super Immunity is an easy-to-follow approach to eating that gets the body’s immune system working to its fullest potential which promotes the body’s strongest defense. Based on the latest scientific research, Super Immunity reveals how to become almost totally resistant to colds, influenza and other infections. If we do “catch” something, ‘super […]
LOS ANGELES, Calif (February 13, 2018) We are genetically wired to eat more and move less – the exact opposite of what health authorities advise us to do. So instead of berating yourself for struggling to lose weight or for ‘cheating’ on your diet, cut the guilt, arm yourself with this knowledge and follow Robb Wolf’s groundbreaking plan in his new book, Wired To Eat: How To Rewire Your Appetite and Lose Weight for Good. A cutting-edge view that goes way beyond paleo and proves that resetting your metabolism is not about which foods you eat, it’s about how your […]
Dying heart cells cause an immune response that increases heart attack fatality, according to a study in