Cholesterol
Bears and other hibernating animals have an average cholesterol levels of 400 mg per deciliter. If cholesterol causes heart attacks and strokes, the bear and other hibernating animals would be extinct long time ago as a result of heart attacks. The bears produce large amounts of vitamin C which stabilize their artery walls so they are unaffected by cholesterol.

According to Matthias Rath, the bears are not extinct because:

The Paleo Diet is high in vitamins and other nutrients recommended in Dr.Rath Cellular Health Progam outlined in his book.

A large study about the importance of vitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease was performed in Europe. Cardiovascular diseases are more frequent in Northern European countries and Scandinavia, compared to Mediterranean countries.  The vitamin intake is low in Northern Europe. The diet in the Mediterranean countries is rich in vitamins.

Professor K.F Gey, from the University of Berne in Switzerland compared the blood levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene as well as cholesterol to the rate of cardiovascular disease in these countries. He found that:

The regular diet in southern Europe is high in bioflavonoids and provides an optimum amount of vitamins daily. 

Source: Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks…But People Do! by Matthias RathPhoto Credit

Tina @ Being Made New

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As we know, a proper nutritious diet is the key to staying healthy, but stress and mood also influence our immune system. Positive thinking, laughter, and love will enhance the immune function while negativity will depress it. In addition to keeping a positive mind and finding joy and pleasure in every day life, some other lifestyle changes are vital for good health. 


Here are some tips:

1. Diet

Some of the best things you can do are to remove white sugar and high fructose corn syrup from the diet. Focus on eating more natural and organic food. Add plenty of locally grown fruit and vegetables. Eat high quality protein that is not overcooked.

Extra vitamins and minerals along with a wholesome diet are needed to build healthy cells. For example, lack of Vitamin C, A, B12 and zinc can weaken the immune system and lead to more frequent colds.

2. Exercise

The benefits of exercise have been known for a long time. It helps regulate hormones, increase metabolism, increase bone mass, lower cholesterol levels, and increase the immune system. Even the most moderate of exercise programs can achieve this.



3. Reduce the Amount of Toxins

We are constantly exposed to toxins through cleaning products, food, and pollution. The different toxins create free radicals in the body which can lead to diseases like diabetes, heart problems, allergies, nerve damage, mental disorders, and cancer to name a few.

Therefore it is important to feed the body with antioxidants that can neutralize the free radicals. Blueberries, lentils, pinto and black beans, oranges, pumpkin, and spinach are high in antioxidants.

Make sure you eat a variety of fruit and vegetables.



4. Avoid refined carbohydrates 

High glycemic index carbohydrates such as refined sugar, flour, and white rice are anti-nutrients. They rob the cells of nutrients, making it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients. They stress organs and processes by spiking the blood sugar. Constant blood spikes will lead to inflammation.




5. Make Sure You Get enough Probiotics

Probiotics mean pro-life and they restore the balance in the intestines. We need good bacteria to maintain good health. The good bacteria helps break down food to keep the intestines healthy.

Acidophilus and bifidophilus assist in fighting inflammation by killing dangerous microorganism. Acidophilus makes the lactos needed to digest milk, and it is also involved in producing several B vitamins. Fermented vegetables, soured milk, kombucha, and kefir are some ways you can get Probiotics.



6. Eat More Alkaline Food

Normal pH is 6.0-7.0 but most of us are acidic. The acidity provokes inflammation, and high acidity prevents the absorption of many vitamins and minerals. It means that the body is constantly deficient even with supplements. Eat more alkalized food such as green vegetables, fruits and lemons. These foods may assist in restoring the pH balance.

The EFA’s assist in regulating important bodily functions such as nerve transfers, allergy and inflammatory reactions. The essential fatty acids are lacking in most western diets, and the deficiency can play an important role in diseases such as eczema, ADD, and inflammatory symptoms.

Essential fatty acids are known for improving nerve health and they are also natural anti-inflammatory agents. Flax seed oil is rich in alpha linolenic acid and is often easier to convince children to eat. It contains omega -6 and omega-9.

Don't forget that seeds and nuts are good sources of omega oils. Remember that it is best to buy them whole.

Pure, clean water is needed daily. Water transports nutrients and oxygen into the cell. It also aids in detoxifying the body as well as aiding the metabolism. The benefits of drinking water are endless. I highly recommend the book, You Are Not Sick, You're Thirsty by Dr F. Batmanghelidj MD.

Is it possible to be healthy on a budget? I believe it is. The key is simplicity. I learned early on that in order to be able to afford to buy the good quality health food I had to keep it simple.

I don't mind buying things such as clothes, toys, furniture or used books used, but I don't want to compromise my health. A couple of years ago I had to find ways to stay healthy on a lot smaller budget than before. I found it tricky at first, but it was possible.

It is not always what you eat, but what you don't eat.  You stay healthier by avoiding processed foods, refined grains and sugar, since they rob the body of important nutrients needed to stay healthy.

Here are some of the things you can do:

Environmental Toxins

Toxins cause free radical damage in the body which eventually leads to disease. Removing toxins should be a priority. By reducing the toxins we minimize our chances of becoming sick. This is especially important if there are no funds for antioxidant supplementation or high antioxidant organic produce.   Unfortunately, organic cleaning products are very expensive.  Cleaning  naturally with vinegar, baking soda, salt, lemons, and essential oils is not only safer but cheaper. You can use the same essential bottle for cleaning and soap making. I use vinegar and essential oils for my garden too.

You can make your own skin care products with only a few ingredients that are safer and more cost effective. Try to minimizing packaged products since a lot of food packaging contains harmful chemicals such as BPA that mess with our hormones. Fluoride is another toxin that should be avoided, fortunately it is not too hard to make your own tooth paste.

Simplicity is the key

As I mentioned earlier, simplicity is the key so keep the meals simple with a few ingredients. I always have meat, veggies, spices, herbs, and good fat at home.  I can make many meals out of those ingredients. Stir fried chicken for lunch with sauteed kale, garlic, and onions are delicious and quick to make. I also like to saute cabbage, onions, carrots and ground beef for a quick and inexpensive one bowl meal. You can easily add rice if you like.

Buy in bulk if you can

Buying meat in bulk normally saves money, Eat Wild has links to local farms selling natural and grass-fed meat. I do realize that it is not possible for everyone to buy grass fed meat, but Jenny over at Nourished Kitchen  found that meat and some produce were cheaper to buy from the local farmer than from the grocery store. Some meat markets also offer special meat packages for a reasonable price. Take a look at Yahoo groups to see if there's a local food co-op in your area. I found a local natural food group that orders meat, fruit, veggies and dairy from local farmers. As a group we get a better price. Farmers markets are also a great place to find food; be aware that some sellers import their products, so ask where it came from.

Spices are good

Keep in mind that many spices such as turmeric, oregano, thyme, cayenne, cinnamon, sage, and basil are very nutritious. Invest in good quality dry herbs and spices, or grow your own in the kitchen window for some extra healing. Garlic and onions are inexpensive with powerful healing properties.  I use garlic and onions daily in addition to a lot of healing spices and herbs. I avoid regular store bought spices that don't offer any nutritional value.

Bone broth is great

Bone broth is high in minerals and inexpensive to make.  It can can be eaten as is or used to make soups, stews or rice. Any meat or vegetable scraps from the kitchen can be added to make the broth. You want to make sure that you buy bones from grass-fed animals since bones tend to be high in heavy metals. Most people are actually more deficient in minerals than in vitamins so a broth is an inexpensive way to get minerals and other healing nutrients. Our soil is depleted, and the food is low in minerals, so we need to be creative in adding more minerals to our diet.

Don't buy into the organic fad

Just because it says it is organic on a package doesn't mean it is good for you. Many of the organic products are just as full of sugar as the non-organic versions, the difference is that they are stricter on chemicals and cost more. The organic labeling has turned into big business and it seems like  there's an organic version of almost all of the conventional products. Again, keep it simple and remember that organic or not, sugar still weakens the immune system.  Wheat  has been found to be the main culprit behind leaky gut, and it doesn't just affect the autoimmune patients, but it also affect healthy people. Try to increase more grain-free and sugar free snack options.

It is getting warmer outside so it is important to stay well hydrated. I like to add essential oils to my drinking water for some extra healing effects. It adds a nice aroma and taste.  Essential oils have high antioxidant value, may detoxify the body, and most oils are anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. Many oils are also energizing and uplifting. So, really, I can't go wrong by adding a couple of drops to my bottle of water. Essential oils are extremely potent, for example, it takes about 3000 lemons to produce one kilo of essential oils. A couple of drops is plenty for my bottle.

I found this cool glass bottle at Starbucks a while back. It is mostly made of recycled glass, and it has a silicone cover.

Lemon is a powerful antibacterial and it has been proven to kill Diphteria bacilli at a 0.2 solution. According to Jean Valnet, MD, the vaporized aroma of lemon can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pneumococcues bacteria within three hours. 

In his book, The Practice of Aromatherapy: A Classic Compendium of Plant Medicines and Their Healing Properties, Valnet wrote that lemon is a tonic for supporting the nervous and sympathetic nervous system. Lemon also counteracts the acidity and makes the stomach more alkaline. I like to add lemon oil to warm water first thing in the morning. It also stimulates the action of the white blood corpuscles. It also has a tonic effect on the circulatory system. Historically lemon has been used in skin care due to its astringent effect. Lemon has an approximate ORAC of 6,619

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

has a strong, sharp, minty and refreshing aroma. The aroma is very potent and concentrated, so I dip a toothpick in the peppermint bottle first and then swirl it around in the water. The antispasmodic properties of peppermint has been confirmed in clinical trials. Peppermint is one of the most effective oils of the digestive system. The German Commission E Monographs recommend peppermint oil for obstructions of the bile ducts, gall bladder inflammations and severe liver damage. 

Jean Valnet MD studied peppermint's supportive effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Peppermint has an approximate ORAC of 373,455 (TE/L).

Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)

has sweet, tangy aroma that is very similar to orange. It is very calming and may help with occasional irritability. Tangerine is also high in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene. It has a tonic effect on the digestive system, and it may be used for calming the intestines. Therapeutically, tangerine has similar properties to mandarin and orange.

As mentioned, make sure the oils you use are of high quality before you ingest them, I recommend to use Young Living Essential Oils.








This post is linked to:
Fresh Bites Friday, Fight Back Friday 
Wellness Wednesday