The Benefits of Sodium Bicarbonate
(Baking Soda)
According to the result of research findings, cancer is a lactic acid,
which is formed when a certain kind of fungus or mold lives in an
environment devoid of oxygen. It was also discovered that by passing a
very high concentration of oxygen molecules through cancer cells, it
could destroy them completely.
It is really very difficult for anyone to
wrap their head around the idea that a substance as common as sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) can offer much more benefits than most of the
pharmaceutical drugs that cost so much. There is however fascinating
evidence that proves that sodium bicarbonate can indeed cure a lot of
serious diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. Medical practitioners
have also been advised to use it since it offers amazing benefits.
Sodium bicarbonate, it must be noted, is a very widely researched
substance, which has been used for several years even by oncologists.
The toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation are such that could destroy
vital organs of the body, like the liver and kidneys, therefore, sodium
bicarbonate is usually given periodically to patients to prevent this
possibility.
All over the world, multitudes add sodium
bicarbonate to their drinking water with the intention of curing
clinical acidosis and other adverse conditions. It is a well known fact
that sodium bicarbonate has saved a lot of lives in the emergency rooms.
The combination of baking soda with other natural substances like
iodine and magnesium chloride produces a mixture that is a wonder in the
medical world.
A major issue with regards to human physiology
is the problem of a lack of bicarbonate ions. This results in a decrease
in the pH value of the blood. Enzymes are a fundamental part of
biochemical reactions and they are highly sensitive to pH levels. They
work best in an environment that is not acidic. The fact that cells
function better in a slightly alkaline environment gives credence to the
effectiveness of baking soda.
Diet plays a very important role
in keeping the pH levels of the blood at acceptable levels.
Unfortunately,our modern diet encourages a decrease in the pH level,
making it acidic. Cellular activities and functions are drastically
hampered when there is an consistent imbalance in the ph value. Cells
begin to deteriorate when the pH value is acidic, leading to severe
health issues like cancer, gastritis, osteoporosis, diabetes and heart
disease, among others.
Sodium bicarbonate helps to transport
oxygen by dilating the blood vessels and releasing oxygen into the cell
tissues, thereby increasing the pH value. When the pH value of urine is
high, there is no crystallization of waste products in the urinary
tract.
It is a known fact that uric acid causes gout, kidney
stones, diabetes and heart diseases. Alcosan, which is a toxic compound
is formed by fungi in an acidic environment has been shown to cause
various cancers and diabetes. By orally administering baking soda,
serious diseases like arthritis, gout, influenza can be prevented. It
also helps the pancreas to adequately carry out its activities, which
include the production of insulin and bicarbonate ions.
It does
not matter if a person suffers from a terrible medical condition like
the heart disease or cancer, even the flu, when a combination of sodium
bicarbonate and magnesium chloride is taken orally, it provides a
treatment that is both natural and safe. These work to effectively rid
the tissues, cells and organs off all toxins and acids.
Sodium bicarbonate is indeed a wonderful natural substance and a nightmare to the pharmaceutical industry.
The vast majority of Americans suffer from a Candida fungal (yeast) infection. But the problem is that the symptoms are so wide-ranging that most people aren’t even aware that they have it. Unknowingly, you could be carrying around this silent invader, which could be causing many of the health issues you might be experiencing. And while finding out that you have a candida fungal infection may not sound like a big deal, it’s not a diagnosis that you should take lightly.
In fact, studies have linked this seemingly innocent health issue to many serious health issues, including cancer. Candida fungal infections are much more than what many consider as a yeast infection, commonly regarded as a “woman’s issue”.
Fact: Men are carriers of yeast candida as well and reinfect their partners through sexual intercourse.
So much so that doctors are starting to call this a “Silent Epidemic.”
Now, I know what you are thinking…
“What are the symptoms of a Candida (yeast) infection?”.
Candida fungal infection actually causes so many symptoms, it will make your head spin! One thing that really surprises people about Candida is how many lives it affects (even without the cancer link). It does this by robbing us of our energy and joy of life.
In fact, many aches and pains you regularly suffer from are caused by Candida, and will disappear when you cleanse yourself of this invasive fungus. The estimation is that 80% of the population suffers from a Candida (yeast) fungus infection. That is a staggering 200 MILLION people in the United States. We have treated many folks over the years who have overcome debilitating depression and fatigue by cleansing them of the Candida that had grown out of control inside of them. The sad things is that you may be one of so many people affected by this, and don’t even know it.
The first step is to be able to recognize the symptoms of a Systemic Candida (Yeast) Fungal infection. I know when you read the following you may be skeptical and say ‘oh, but these symptoms can be caused by many different things’. And yes, you would be right. A quick search on medical website or wiki for will show over 100 different symptoms that can be expressed in someone with candida. They will not have all the symptoms, as the symptoms change dramatically depending on where the fungal colony has settled in the body. For example, expression of depression and psychological symptoms are generally related to the fungus being located in the brain. The initial stages of a Candida infection will very often involve the gut, mouth and urinary tract.
Most common symptoms that indicate a Candida infection are:
- Sore throat
- Bloating
- Gas
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Earache
Another common symptom reported by many sufferers is discoloration of the skin and uneven skin tone.
However, once the infection has reached the bloodstream, it can travel all around the body to other vital systems. These include the brain, the reproductive system, the nervous system, and more.
As the infection becomes more widespread the symptoms become more varied and include:
- Sugar and alcohol cravings, as well as cravings for carbohydrate rich foods (such as bread, pasta, rice, etc.)
- Migraines
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Skin Tags
- Foggy thinking
- Itching
- Acne
- Hyperactivity
- Sinus inflammation
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Low sex drive
- Earache
- Skin infections (such as athlete’s foot)
- Chronic pain
- Muscle weakness
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Many forms of Arthritis
- Gout
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Leaky Bowel Syndrome
- IBS
- Crohn's disease
- High Blood pressure
- ADD, ADHD
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Parkinson's Disease
- Obesity
- Obesity related diseases
The medical profession is now much more aware of the problems Candida causes.
Doctors will urge you to take action quickly if you have a Candida infection to prevent serious complications, because it has the potential to harm the delicate systems of your body and create long-term damage. So now you know exactly what is at stake if Candida is allowed to run free in your body.
Thankfully, the solution is simple. But the key is to avoid delay, as some of the damage caused by Candida can be permanent. See, the fungus can sit dormant in your body for years, waiting to flare up again, and it almost always does eventually!
The best solution is to eliminate sugar and starchy carbohydrates from you diet completely and load your body with probiotics. The key to controlling Candida is keeping the healthy bacteria in control of your digestive system. It is crucial that you have no less than an 80/20 ratio of good bacteria to bad. Avoiding sugars and processed foods is a good start but you must consume the healthy bacteria in order to get back in balance. Natural Yogurt (with no sugar) and fermented foods are an excellent choice to help rebuild your 80/20 Ratio of good bacteria to bad. If you are experiencing Candida overgrowth and suffering from one or more of the symptoms I mentioned above I highly suggest a probiotic like ImmuniPro.
If you would like more information on ImmuniPro please contact me here on Facebook and I will be happy to give you even more information. Texas Metabolics specializes in helping others attain the health and ideal body fat%. If you are suffering from Candida you will find it next to impossible to loose weight.
We offer custom nutrition programs to help reduce the Candida Yeast in your body and help you regain your health.
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
Magnesium is just one mineral offering numerous health benefits. But the average person likely couldn’t name two, let alone tell you which foods are good sources of the important nutrient. From reducing your risk of stroke to helping fight Type 2 diabetes, magnesium is something we should all know about and be sure we are getting enough.
1. Lower Stroke Risk
An overview of seven previously published studies recently found that for every additional 100 milligrams of magnesium consumed every day, there was a stroke risk reduction of 9 percent. In all, the research followed about 250,000 from across the globe for 11.5 years. About three percent suffered a stroke during the study period.
2. Lowered Risk of Diabetes
Researchers with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also found a link between magnesium intake and diabetes risk. According to the study, those people who consumed the most magnesium reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 47 percent when compared with the lowest-consuming among the study group. In addition, magnesium is known to regulate blood sugar and combat insulin resistance.
3. Heart Health
Magnesium aids in transporting calcium and potassium across cell membranes. These nutrients help promote normal heart rhythm and muscle contraction, according to NaturalNews.
4. Decreased Cancer Risk
For every additional 100 milligrams of magnesium added to your daily diet, you could reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer by 13 percent, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Magnesium delivers additional benefits too—largely due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is blamed for such things as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and even Alzheimer’s.
Some magnesium deficiency symptoms include:
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Respiratory issues
- High blood pressure
- Confusion
- Potassium and calcium deficiency
- Poor heart health
- Type 2 diabetes.
These are general symptoms, however, so it’s important to note that one or two of these doesn’t prove without doubt that you are deficient.
Food Sources of Magnesium
You can reap the benefits of dietary magnesium and combat deficiency and disease with several natural food sources:
- Dark, leafy greens
- Fish
- Beans and lentils
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocados
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
So many of us were brought up believing that saturated fats are unhealthy and could cause heart disease and other health problems. Now that actually is the furthest from the truth. We should in fact be consuming saturated fats rich in Omega 3.
One great way to assure yourself of getting ample amounts of healthy fats would be eating raw nuts and seeds, daily.
A large-scale, 30-year long study found that people who regularly ate one ounce of nuts at least seven times per week were 20 percent less likely to die for any reason, compared to those who avoided nuts in their diet.
Eating nuts at least five times a week corresponded to a 29 percent reduction in mortality risk due to heart disease; a 24 percent reduction for respiratory disease; and an 11 percent reduction for cancer.
In order for your body to adapt to burning fat instead of sugar, replace non-vegetable carbohydrates in your diet with high-quality healthful fats. Raw nuts are one source of such fats.
My favorite nuts are macadamia and pecans, as they provide the highest amount of healthy fat while being on the lower end in terms of protein, mirroring what may be close to an ideal ratio of nutrients.
There are so many benefits from eating these healthy fats.
- Reduction of inflammation
- Reduction of bad cholesterol
- Lower Triglycerides
- Help maintain healthy blood pressure levels
- Reduces the risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's
A short list of Nuts and the benefits they offer.
- Raw macadamia nuts: A powerhouse of a nut, containing a wide variety of critical nutrients including high amounts of vitamin B1, magnesium, manganese, and healthful monounsaturated fat, just to name a few.
- Pecans: Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals, and research has shown they may help lower LDL cholesterol and promote healthy arteries. One of my favorite treats is candied pecans in a salad at a restaurant. I know they have sugar, but a few grams or less a day is not going to cause a major problem provided you’re eating a healthy whole food diet, opposed to processed foods (which are loaded with hidden fructose).
- Walnuts: Walnuts are good sources of plant-based omega-3 fats, natural phytosterols, and antioxidants that are so powerful at free-radical scavenging that researchers have called them "remarkable.”10 Plus, walnuts may help reduce not only the risk of prostate cancer, but breast cancer as well. They’ve also been shown to reverse brain aging in rats and boost heart health in people with diabetes.
- Almonds: One of the healthiest aspects of almonds appears to be their skins, as they are rich in antioxidants including phenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which are typically associated with vegetables and fruits. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry11 even revealed that a one-ounce serving of almonds has a similar amount of total polyphenols as a cup of steamed broccoli or green tea. Be careful not to overeat almonds though as they are high in protein, nearly one gram per almond.
- Brazil Nuts: Brazil nuts are an excellent source of organic selenium, a powerful antioxidant-boosting mineral that may be beneficial for the prevention of cancer.
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
Apples are packed with disease-fighting vitamins, antioxidants and more, making one of the top-ranked fruits for your health.
Eating apples has been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
Eating apples in their whole form, not juicing them, will give you the synergistic blend of nutrients and fiber the way nature intended, yielding greater health benefits than apple juice.
A wealth of research suggests that eating apples may impact your health in a number of beneficial ways:
1. Brain Health: Apples have been found to protect neuron cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity and may play an important role in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
2. Stroke: Eating apples is linked to a decreased risk of stroke.
3. Diabetes: Three servings of apples (and other fruits, such as blueberries and grapes) is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This may be due to their beneficial role in blood sugar regulation, as apples contain compounds that may:
- Lessen absorption of glucose from your digestive tract.
- Stimulate beta cells in your pancreas to secrete insulin.
- Increase uptake of glucose from your blood by stimulating insulin receptors
4. Cancer: Apples have a number of properties that may help reduce the risk of cancer, including antimutagenic activity, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory mechanisms, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity, as well as "novel mechanisms on epigenetic events and innate immunity
According to the journal Planta Medica:
- "Apple products have been shown to prevent skin, mammary and colon carcinogenesis in animal models."
- "Epidemiological observations indicate that regular consumption of one or more apples a day may reduce the risk for lung and colon cancer.”
5. Heart Disease: Eating apples is associated with a lower risk of death from heart disease, an association that’s thought to be related to their content of antioxidant flavonoids.
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
It’s important to realize that the government’s nutritional guidelines are in large part mirrored by agricultural subsidies. They’re NOT built upon sound nutritional science. In short, the reason you’re told to make grains the cornerstone of your diet is because that’s what farmers are paid to grow in the US. There’s a lot of it, and it’s inexpensive compared to healthier foods like vegetables, for which few subsidies are offered.
The wacky and nutritionally inappropriate 1992 Food Pyramid had grains as the largest bottom block of the pyramid, encouraging you to eat 6-11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta each day. This excess of carbohydrates, most of them refined, is precisely the kind of diet that promotes fat accumulation and drives insulin resistance and related diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. At the very top of the pyramid was fats and sugar, and while sugar clearly belongs there, fats do not.
As mentioned earlier, most people would benefit from getting anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of their total calories from healthy fats. Saturated fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a number of important health benefits, and your body requires them for the proper function of your:
- Cell membranes
- Heart
- Bones (to assimilate calcium)
- Liver
- Lungs
- Hormones
- Immune system
- Satiety (reducing hunger)
- Genetic regulation
The food pyramid was replaced with “MyPlate” in 2011, which slightly downplayed grains as the most important dietary ingredient, making vegetables the largest “slice.” One of its most glaring problems with MyPlate is that it virtually removed all fats from the equation! In fact, except for a small portion of dairy, which is advised to be fat-free or low-fat, fats are missing entirely.
There is no mention of the importance of dietary fats, even the "politically correct" ones like the monounsaturated fats in olive oil and nuts, such as pecans (canola oil is also in this category, but I advise avoiding it and using coconut oil instead). Even one of the most critical of all fats is absent from the plate, namely animal-based omega-3 fats. Deficiency in this essential fat can cause or contribute to very serious health problems, both mental and physical, and may be a significant underlying factor of up to 96,000 premature deaths each year.
Studies Showing Saturated Fat is Not Associated with Increased Heart Disease Risk
As mentioned earlier, mounting scientific evidence supports saturated fat as a necessary part of a heart healthy diet, and firmly debunks the myth that saturated fat promotes heart disease. For example:
In a 1992 editorial published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. William Castelli, a former director of the Framingham Heart study, stated:
"In Framingham, Mass., the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person’s serum cholesterol. The opposite of what… Keys et al would predict…We found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active."
A 2010 meta-analysis, which pooled data from 21 studies and included nearly 348,000 adults, found no difference in the risks of heart disease and stroke between people with the lowest and highest intakes of saturated fat.
Another 2010 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a reduction in saturated fat intake must be evaluated in the context of replacement by other macronutrients, such as carbohydrates.
When you replace saturated fat with a higher carbohydrate intake, particularly refined carbohydrate, you exacerbate insulin resistance and obesity, increase triglycerides and small LDL particles, and reduce beneficial HDL cholesterol. The authors state that dietary efforts to improve your cardiovascular disease risk should primarily emphasize the limitation of refined carbohydrate intake, and weight reduction.
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
Resisting the urge to drink that soda pop or eat those chips can be tough, especially if you have grown accustomed to eating these highly addictive foods as part of your normal diet. But once you understand a little bit more about how these and other processed foods affect your mind, body, and even your soul, it becomes easier to make healthier food choices that enrich your being rather than sap it. Here are nine motivating reasons why you should cut processed foods from your diet for good:
- Processed foods are highly addictive. Your body processes whole foods much differently than it does refined, processed, and heavily-modified "junk" foods. Processed foods tend to overstimulate the production of dopamine, also known as the "pleasure" neurotransmitter, which makes you crave them constantly. Your body ends up not being able to resist the temptation to continue eating junk foods in excess, which can lead to obesity and other health problems.
- Processed foods often contain phosphates that destroy your organs, bones. Many processed foods contain phosphate additives that augment taste, texture, and shelf-life. But these additives are known to cause health problems like rapid aging, kidney deterioration and weak bones, according to the Rodale Institute, which makes foods that contain them far less attractive to those in the know.
- Fresh foods are actually cheaper than processed foods. People with junk food addictions often claim that fresh, healthy foods are too expensive. But according to numerous studies and assessments, whole foods made from scratch end up costing less per serving than their unhealthy, processed equivalents. According to Rodale, a single serving of 100 percent organic chili made with fresh ingredients and grass-fed beef, for instance, is about 50 cents cheaper to make than buying a can of chemical-laden, microwaveable chili from the grocery store.
- Processed foods cause chronic inflammation. One of the leading causes of chronic illness today is inflammation. And studies continue to show that refined sugars, processed flours, vegetable oils, and many other nasty ingredients commonly found in processed foods are largely responsible for this inflammation epidemic. So the next time your body craves a candy bar or a box of cheese crackers, consider the fact that heart disease, dementia, neurological problems, respiratory failure, and cancer have all been linked to the chronic inflammation caused by processed food consumption.
- Processed foods ruin digestion. Because they have been stripped of their natural fibers, enzymes, vitamins, and other nutrients, processed foods tend to wreak havoc on the digestive tract. Chronic consumption of such foods can throw your internal ecosystem off balance, harming beneficial bacteria and exposing your system to infection. So you can basically think of those gummy bears and that piece of cake as literal poison for your system, which may help deter you from eating them.
- Processed foods destroy your mind. If you suffer from chronic bouts of brain "fog," or have difficulty concentrating and thinking normally, chances are your diet has something to do with it. And a recent study out of Oxford University lends credence to this possibility, having found that junk food consumption can cause people to become angry and irritable. Nutrient-dense whole foods, on the other hand, can help level out your mood, sustain your energy levels, and leave you feeling calmer and more collected.
- Processed foods are loaded with GMOs. The basic buildings blocks of most processed foods on the market today are derived from laboratories, not nature. Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), which have been linked to infertility, organ damage, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer, are prolific in processed foods. Excess consumption of these poisons promotes weight gain, acidifies your blood, and can even permanently alter the composition and function of your intestinal flora.
- Processed foods are loaded with pesticides. In order to effectively grow the GMOs used in processed foods, conventional farmers have to apply Roundup (glyphosate) and other pesticides and herbicides, many of which end up in the final product. According to data compiled by Rodale, breakfast cereals alone have been found to contain up to 70 different types of pesticides, including warehouse fumigation chemicals and other residues.
- Processed foods are not actually food. One of the ways you can assess the nutritional value of food is to see how animals, insects, bacteria, and fungi respond to it. Real foods will actually rot or grow mold, for instance, while fake, processed foods remain largely the same in appearance and shape no matter what their age. As we reported recently, processed food is essentially synthetic, and the industry that produces it admits that heavy tampering and crafty modifications are necessary to make it taste real, even though it is not.
I know it's so easy just to pop food into a Microwave or drive though a fast food line at McDonald's many of us use the excuse that we don't have time to cook. Well let me ask you this,"Do you have time to deal with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or a host of other diseases caused by eating these toxic foods?"
In the long run these foods are VERY EXPENSIVE, they ruin your health, and you spend a fortune trying to fix the damage caused by eating the toxic foods.
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
When you were a kid, how many times were you firmly reminded, “Eat your spinach!”?
Just as it was back then, it’s definitely important to make spinach a major staple in your diet…whether you think you like it or not.
For me, like many kids, spinach was pretty high on my “Gross, do I really have to eat this?” vegetable list (right up there with Brussels sprouts!).
I don’t know if it was just an aversion to the mushy-looking texture, or that it reminded me of grass that compelled me turn my nose up every time it was put on my plate. But it didn’t matter, because despite my defiance, my mom always said, “Eat it, it’s good for you”.
And I’m sure you already know how that story ended. Every single time. I’d eat my spinach (and my Brussels sprouts), and after all of the dinner-time drama, I still survived.
Like always, my mom was right. There is real scientific proof that there are a multitude of reasons why spinach is great for your health.
Spinach is actually regarded as one of the “healthiest foods in the world”! Who knew???
The general appearance of the soft leafy green vegetable may seem quite ordinary, but beneath it’s diminutive exterior, spinach hosts an unbelievable amount of powerful nutrients.
Spinach is packed full of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and Vitamins C, E, and K, calcium, folate (the natural form of folic acid), copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, potassium, selenium, and zinc. And if that’s not enough, it’s also a good source of fiber and protein…and Omega-3 fatty acids. Whew!
So with all of that, what is spinach going to do for your body?
Bone Health
You might be surprised to know that Vitamin K is a big player when it comes to keeping your bones healthy. In fact, if you eat just one cup of fresh spinach leaves, you’ll be getting close to 200% of your daily value of Vitamin K.
But if you really want to kick things up a notch, boil the cup of spinach. Because cooking the spinach makes it 6 times more powerful, it’ll get you more than 1000% of the daily value!
However, spinach does have one little weakness. It contains oxalic acid, which unfortunately causes a problem when your body is trying to absorb calcium and iron.
But no worries, there’s an easy way to get around this inconvenience. Just include a food with some Vitamin C to accompany your fresh spinach, and all will be fine. Oranges, the obvious Vitamin C source, would be a good example.
But did you know that guava, kiwi fruit, papaya and strawberries each contain more Vitamin C than oranges? Other good Vitamin C sources are cantaloupe, red bell peppers, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. So there are plenty of options to accompany your spinach in order to achieve the maximum benefits for your bones.
Digestive Health
Spinach also provides awesome anti-inflammatory protection, especially for your digestive health. Scientific studies have shown that spinach contains molecules, known as glycoglycerolipids, that fend off inflammation that tries to attack the lining of your digestive tract
Aside from damaging your tummy, inflammation can cause many major health problems, and increase your cancer risk. But eating spinach can help protect you.
Compared to other phytonutrient containing veggies, spinach wins the prize, hands down! Researchers have discovered over 12 different flavonoids alone, and along with the carotenoids, these phytonutrients can reduce inflammation, as well as your risk for getting something more serious.
Skin Health
Your skin is the largest organ, covering the entirety of your outer body, but is often overlooked when it comes to considering our sense of general health.
Your skin can actually be showing you signs of a health problem that needs attention. So while you may not realize it, taking care of your skin is just as important as anything else when it comes to being healthy.
Spinach (of course) plays a role in protecting your precious outer layer. All of those vitamins and minerals can help ease dry, itchy skin, and improve your appearance giving you a healthy, radiant complexion.
The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties spinach provides also helps with those pesky wrinkles (an none of us want those, right?).
Eye Health
Spinach is abundant in lutein and zeaxanthin, the most important antioxidants when it comes to your eyes, particularly the retina and macula.
Researchers have seen an increase in lutein in those who consumed normal amounts of spinach in a day, suggesting that this leafy green may help in preventing age-related macular degeneration.
Heart Health
All of those phytonutrients, as well as other nutrients (Vitamin C and E, Beta-carotene, zinc and selenium, for example) also allow spinach to provide you with some major antioxidant benefits.eyes
Oxidative stress can wreak havoc on your body, resulting in numerous health problems, such as hypertension and artherosclerosis.
Research studies have found several peptides (small protein fragments) in spinach that can help lower blood pressure. These peptides, with the assistance of the antioxidants, aid in keeping your blood vessels healthy. And maintaining healthy blood vessels helps keep your heart healthy, by decreasing your risk of having high blood pressure and clogged arteries.
Before heading out to purchase spinach, here are a few tips you should consider:
- Go organic. Spinach is one of those foods that are worth spending a little extra for. You really want to avoid consuming non-organic spinach, because a normal washing won’t necessarily remove the heavy coating of toxic pesticides.
- Take your pick. There are actually 3 varieties of spinach that are usually available in most markets. There’s savoy spinach, (with crisp, creased curly leaves), smooth-leaf spinach, (with a flat, smooth and spade-shaped leaf), and semi-savoy (resembles savoy, but less wrinkly). Then there is baby spinach, likely considered the most popular of the spinach family. It has a mild and subtle flavor, and is perfect for salads.
- Give it a good look-over. You’ll want to choose fresh, vibrant green spinach leaves, with no yellowing, wilting or bruising.
- Skip the canned goods and freezer aisle. Fresh is always the way to go if you want the best flavor, texture, and health benefits.
- Go toward the light. If you prefer the convenience of those bags and clear plastic containers, that’s perfectly okay. In fact, a study recently confirmed that baby spinach stored in a clear container, which allowed the leaves some light exposure, did not affect the integrity of the antioxidants. The 9 day study concluded that this type of storage, refrigerated at a consistent temperature of 39*F/4*C (comparable to your home fridge temp.), actually retained more of its nutrients than spinach that was stored in total darkness at the same temperature.
- Eat it today. Consuming your spinach as fresh as possible (the day of purchase) is always best. But if you have leftovers, avoid washing it before storing it away. Moisture will spoil your spinach. To keep it fresh, place it in a resealable plastic bag or airtight plastic container, ensuring that you’ve removed all of the air from the bag/container.
Drink It Up
Enjoying a sip of spinach is shown to be the healthiest way to consume this veggie. Just blend it in with a few other veggies, toss in a fruit or two, and drink to your health. You can add that kiwi (or other fruit) for your vitamin C bonus, ice to chill, and even an avocado if you like a creamier texture.
Cook It Up
There are a couple of benefits for cooking your spinach, that you just can’t get from its raw form. Remember that oxalic acid? Cooking for just a minute (as in 60 seconds only) reduces that problem, without sacrificing the nutrients and flavor.
The other major benefit for cooking your spinach are some serious nutritional bonus points compared to when consuming it in the raw.
Mark Harris, PhD
Exercise Physiologist/Nutritionist
TexasMetabolics@gmail.com
Texas Metabolics
