Garlic, Protects You From More Than Vampires

Photo: JE Norton

Does wearing garlic around your neck really keep the vampires away?

I don't know, if you eat tons, it will keep your spouse away. It's why we always eat garlic together.

Garlic is powerful stuff.  It may prevent cancer, protect your digestive system and help fight inflammation and protect your heart.

Cancer

Phytochemicals in garlic (and onions) may prevent the onset or progression of some cancers. (especially stomach and esophageal.) Perhaps because it protects and heals your digestive system.

Garlic may also protect against Lung, Breast and Colon Cancer.

Garlic fights something called Nitrosamines which are formed in our intestines and caused by food additives and cured meats.  This reduces the mutations in the DNA of your cells and protects them from damage, preventing cancer.

Did you need another reason to switch to whole real foods? Put the potato chips and deli meat down!

Compounds in garlic may also attack tumor cells and destroy them.

Several compounds in garlic stop carcinogens from becoming active and flush them from your system. (The cabbage family is good at this too.)

Inflammation Diseases

warning: another big scientific word coming...
Quercitin: A flavonoid or antioxidant fights inflammation in your body.  It repairs and protects your cells and prevents them from producing histamines (inflammation).

Heart Health

Allicin (another antioxidant) can protect and heal your heart, lowering blood pressure levels and lowering your LDL.  Plus, less inflammation is always great for your heart.

How to get the most out of garlic

-Crush your garlic- don't chop/cut it. It will release the cancer killing compounds better.  Like chewing does. (Your spouse and coworkers plead with you not to just chew raw garlic no matter the protection.) Cooked garlic is sweeter and calmer.

-Let it sit for a bit, up to 15 minutes if you think ahead.  (It allows the enzyme reaction time to finish.)

-Eat a lot of it!  Let this fighter loose! It will fight all this beastly damage to your cells. As we age our cells damage from lots of things.  Start adding lots of things to heal your cells now.


Forget the vampires these cell damaging beasts will be powerless.

Just stock up on the toothpaste.

Sources:

Foods to Fight Cancer

http://www.joybauer.com/food-articles/allium-vegetables.aspx

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/quercetin

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/unlocking-the-benefits-of-garlic/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

We love this garlic keeper from Chefs Catalog.

Plus it has the best reviews. Yay fresh garlic!

You Need Some Fat! No Seriously.

Photo: Jurvetson

Americans have been so conditioned of our fear of fat that we are missing vital protection.  Guess what? Your cells need fat to function. Not saturated fat, not trans-fat, not fractioned fat- They are starving for Omega 3s, poly unsaturated fats and Omega 6s.
Give them...

Olive Oil-

Contains oleocanthal which relieves pain.
Darker oils have more blood clot fighting polyphenol. Go find that pretty green!
Olive oil helps regulate blood pressure.
It reduces chance of breast cancer.

Olives- 

are high in flavinoids.

High in...

Iron

Vit E

Fiber

polyphenols

antioxidants-protecting from heart disease, stroke, impotence & wrinkles.

Photo: Slgckgc

Avocado-

High in:

Vitamin K

Fiber

Vitamin B6

Vitamin C

Folate

Potassium (60% higher than bananas)

Ease Osteoarthritis pain and onset.

(Contain antioxidant monounsaturated oils, essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. Promote cartilage repair in osteoarthritis.)1
High in Lutein (Protects your eyes)

Monounsaturated fats reduce your cholesterol & triglycerides.

Raises your HDL.

High in phytosterols.

1. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1194401/Why-apples-avocados-glass-red-wine-ease-arthritis.html

Sardines-

packed in oil -are high in omega 3s

B12

Selenium

fresh- are high in vitamin D

Protein

Calcium

Protects you from blindness

Lowers your triglycerides.

Now before you turn your nose up... you just need a few good recipes to incorporate this powerhouse into your meal time easily.  No one will be squeamish and they rest of your household will never be the wiser.

I LOVE this recipe and my children will devour it with Ciabatta bread...

Bagna Cauda

grind 6 cloves of garlic into a paste w/ 1 t good kosher salt

add to 4T grass fed butter to pan on low heat

add 6 anchovies or sardines to pan and smash to paste

once fish has 'melted'

whisk in 1/2 olive oil

+ 1/4 c fresh parsley

Serve with crusty ciabatta slices and dip in this heavenly mix.

A little more about fats...

Did you know saturated fats increase hunger? Unsaturated fats are more satisfying. Probably because your body is getting what it actually needs from them!

Unsaturated fats can improve insulin sensitivity. 

• You are insulin sensitive if a small amount of insulin needs to be secreted to deposit a certain amount of glucose, and insulin resistant if a lot of insulin needs to be secreted to deposit the same amount of glucose.2 Way to protect against and even cure diabetes!

2. http://examine.com/faq/how-do-i-increase-insulin-sensitivity.html

Allergies, over active immune systems and what you can do about it Part 2

Photo: Nomadic Lass 

What to add to your daily routine to help your allergies...

Vitamins...

Vitamin A- helps your immune function. Emulsified (fish oil) is easily absorbed. Can also be found in lemon grass, beta-carotene, 

Zinc- Is needed for your immune and reproductive systems and is found in whole grains, seeds, and nuts. If you are taking it in supplement form use one with the transporter picolinate as it has been proven to be more effective. (especially for men over 40)

Vitamin C- Very high doses of vitamin c can raise your health.  It repairs your immune system and and can play big role in treatment of allergic symptoms.  Many people are deficient in this nutrient. Your body will only absorb as much vitamin c as it needs. Dr. Null suggests that you can determine how much your body needs by bowel tolerance- yes that's exactly what it sounds like- stay with me here... Your bowel will absorb the exact amount it needs and release the rest.  Progressively increase the dosage of vitamin c until bowel movements are loose and then back off until the loose bowel movements cease. Phew, we made it through it. Know that it may be 3-5 grams 3x per day. (note that's g not mg)  Try it and see if your symptoms are reduced.

BioFlavonoids- work hand in hand with vitamin c and often come with foods that contain vitamin c. flavinol and quercetin and pycnogenol.

GLA Gamma Linoleic Acid- restores immune function.  Can be found in evening primrose oil, borage oil and black current seed oil. 

Vitamin E- Builds immune function.  Many women are often deficient in vitamin e.  Female problems cause a deficiency of vitamin e and may affect your immune system. Naturally vitamin e can be found in soybean oil.There is also a water soluble version. Try 200-400IU per day  (also helps ovarian function and skin rejuvenation)

Selenium- trace mineral- is a very important component of the immune system. This mineral comes from the soil and is in decreasing supply due to conventional farming which is stripping nutrients from our soil.  Go organic and you will gain lots of nutrients from your food getting to live in that rich compost that comes from rotational planting.

Vitamin B- helps your immune system (are you starting to see the immune system allergy link?) Is best from food sources as your body absorbs it best.

Garlic- Stimulates the immune system and is  anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. So eat up! (together preferably so you can't smell it)

Other things to consider...

Inflammatory foods and lifestyles lead to a host of health problems.  Asthma is an inflammatory disease as are many allergy symptoms.  reduce the foods in your life that lead to inflammation and add those that help reduce swelling. (And yes, there's an article coming soon about just that! lucky you!)

sources: 

Vitamin C from Puritan's Pride

-No More Allergies by: Dr. Gary Null (This is a great example of read with attention.  Some of Dr. Nulls ideas seem far fetched but there is invaluable information and research in the book.  So read, skim, note and re-read.  Then compare it to other sources.)

-http://fightinfoods.blogspot.com/p/sources-addictions.html