High Blood Pressure, Really?
My 'soon-to-be' father-in-law is one of the healthiest people I know. He is 66 and can make many thirty year olds relish with envy. In the summer, you will find him on the tennis courts and in the winter, you'd most likely find him in spin class at the Y. Oh yeah, and he probably jogged to the class! I have jogged with him a few times and even I have trouble keeping up. An ex football player and long time jogger, Bernie has been active all his life.
When it comes to his diet, Bernie really isn't that adventurous. He's come a long way but he really is the pickiest person I know. Coming from his English/Irish roots, he's always been a meat and potatoes type of guy, but he makes sure to include a salad with most meals. And you will never find him eating fast food, it's always fresh. He definitely enjoys a nice pint at dinner but has never smoked a cigarette in his life.
So what explains this supreme being having high blood pressure?
It boggled my mind for a while. Until I learned about the connection between high blood pressure and heavy metal. No, not the music genre (although many may agree there are health effects linked to this kind as well:) I am referring to heavy metal excess in the body - especially lead. Well, well, well. This explains everything!
Bernie owned a sign making business for many, many (30+) years. He dealt with lead paint on a regular basis. Not to mention the toxins that paint contained thirty years ago!
Heavy metal toxicity is more common than most know. Up to 25% of North Americans suffer from some form of heavy metal excess. Environment, pesticides, workplace pollutants, cooking utensils, amalgam fillings and even beauty products are just a few of the sources that contribute to heavy metal toxicity. The reason for this being such a serious issue is that heavy metals tend to accumulate around vital organs, such as the brain and they greatly affect the immune system.
Like most patients diagnosed with high blood pressure, Bernie was put on Coversyl, however he is interested in trying a safer, drug-free way. Lucky for him, there are options. Heavy metal detoxes vary from simple supplementation to more intense methods such as undergoing chelation treatments in a clinical setting.Vitamin C, calcium and glutathione are some of the best chelating supplements.
For more information on heavy metal toxicity, check out http://www.answers.com/topic/heavy-metal-poisoning or feel free to contact me with your questions.
As an infant, the benefits of milk are endless, especially if it is breast milk. However, when we were weaned off of this breast, ‘someone’ thought it was a good idea to just move to another. To a breast belonging to a species not even remotely similar to humans. I am asking you to step outside your box of norm for a moment and read this article from another angle. You may begin to see things from a different perspective.
References taken from Nutrition Action Healthletter, June, 1993
Sea Vegetables: Also known as sea weed, this super food contains up to 14 times the amount of calcium found in 1 glass of milk, especially hiziki, kelp and wakame. Sea weeds are low in fat, protein and phosphorus and high in magnesium which makes these magic weeds a highly absorbable source of calcium as well!! Along with calcium, sea weeds are packed full of vitamin A, folate and iodine which is essential for thyroid health. Some of you may have never tried sea vegetables before, nor ever had any desire to. However, they are easy to use and would be very beneficial to anyone who added this super food to their diet. Found at most health food stores and Asian markets, sea weeds could be added to your smoothie in the morning, sprinkled over any stir fry or added to the pot of any cooking grain or vegetable.
Sesame seeds: These little super seeds contain approximately 10 times more calcium than milk! Just 100 grams scores 1,160 calcium levels while 100 grams of milk is just 113. True, people often don’t eat 100 grams of sesame seeds but even if you just ate a third of this amount, you would still be getting more calcium than that inflammatory promoting glass of milk. And eating just 30 grams is so easy to do as sesame seeds can be added to any salad, stir-fry or used to jazz up some bland vegetables. Or eaten as hummus, which uses tahini: ground sesame seed butter. The only issue with sesame seeds is it too is high in fat, protein and phosphorus which make it not the most absorbable source. However, it does contain higher amounts of magnesium, which help calcium absorption. Unlike milk, these amazing seeds also contain good amounts of fiber, potassium and iron.
Almonds: Containing approximately 2 ½ times more the calcium than milk, almonds are great source of calcium. Although they too are high in fat, protein and phosphorus, almonds contain a substantial amount of magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and fiber. Also unlike milk, almonds contain healthy fats that are high in omega 6 and 9. Almonds are one of my favorite snacks and easy to add to any salad or stir fry. Also, almond milk is quite convenient for replacing that bad, hopefully now old, habit of a tall chilled glass of cows milk.
Parsley: This pretty herb contains not only double the amount of calcium as milk but is also a very absorbable form as it is low in fat, protein and phosphorus. Parsley, unfortunately mostly known for its lovely garnish abilities, is so much more as it packed full of nutrients. While being a good source of magnesium, potassium, folate and vitamin C, parsley contains copious amounts of vitamin A and K. Thrown into a smoothie, diced and added to any sauce or sprinkled over any thing really; it’s easy to get more of this amazing herb into your diet.
Kale: Just one more reason we should all be eating more of this super food, kale contains almost double the amount of calcium as milk. Another highly absorbable form due to its low fat, protein and phosphorus content, kale is jam packed full of nutrients as well. Kale is another great source of vitamin A and K as well as folate, potassium and vitamin C. Added to a smoothie or stir-fry or just steamed and sprinkled with olive oil and sesame seeds, there are plenty of ways to get this super food into your diet.
Milk: Doesn’t do a Body Good!
The purpose of cow’s milk for its calf: Growth. That’s it. A cow grows to its full size by its first year of life which is approximately 1000 lbs! Unlike humans where it takes us any where from 15-21 years to reach our full size. Also, the protein in cow’s milk is completely different than that in human milk. Cow’s milk contains a much higher percentage of casein than whey with a ratio of 85%:15% respectively, where as human milk is much lower, 40%:60%. If one had to drink milk, goat’s milk is definitely a preferred source as the whey: casein ratio is much closer to that of human milk.
But, what I want to know is as adults, why do we need to drink milk at all? The answer I hear most often is for the calcium. What if I told you that there were much healthier sources containing even higher, more absorbable forms of calcium? You probably wouldn’t believe me. And why would you when all you heard up until now is cow’s milk will make you grow strong and healthy bones. And who were you hearing it from? Your Canada Food Guide and your school as they passed around a box of cow’s milk to every student each morning. Well, if I worked for the dairy industry, I would certainly be telling everyone that as well. The Canada Food Guide is fully supported & sponsored by the dairy industry.
There is a reason why over 7 million Canadians are lactose intolerant. Eventually, everyone becomes lactose intolerant as we stop producing the lactase enzyme shortly after puberty (when we are well weaned off the breast and don’t need the enzyme anymore). And yes, evolution certainly plays a part, helping us better tolerate milk as adults but does that mean its good for us? And while speaking of evolution, let me ask you this? Do you know of any other animal on the planet that has evolved to continue to consume milk as an adult? Or any other animal that voluntarily drinks milk from another species for that matter? I don’t.
Dairy is the most allergenic food next to gluten, as well as being mucous forming and pro-inflammatory. Any one suffering from asthma, allergies, arthritis and especially any inflammatory bowel diseases would greatly benefit by eliminating dairy from their diet. And I won’t even get into all the antibiotics, pesticides and hormones you are also ingesting when you drink cow’s milk. Oh, and back to that point about milk building strong and healthy bones; if that were so, then why as the highest dairy consuming nation do we also have the highest rates of osteoporosis? Hmmm…
So next time you reach for that carton because you think you’re doing your body good, you may want to think again.
P.S For all of you wondering what food I was referring to that contains a higher, more absorbable source of calcium, well sorry, you’ll just have to visit me again. I’m saving that one for a future post!!
References taken from Nutrition Action Healthletter, June, 1993
Pass the Calcium, Not the Milk
Okay, so I have left you hanging long enough. So let’s talk about other, healthier ways to get your calcium.
There are many factors involved when looking at good sources of calcium. What may look impressive on a nutrient label may not always be what occurs in the body due to factors affecting absorption levels. Diet, gastrointestinal problems, stress, vitamin D deficiency and lack of exercise are just a few factors that decrease calcium absorption. Staying focused on diet; concentrated sugars, high fat foods, high protein foods, foods high in oxalic acid (i.e. beet greens, chard, spinach) and phytic acid foods (whole grains) as well as foods high phosphorus all decrease calcium absorption. This should explain why cow’s milk is not your best source of calcium. Not only is it high in fat, protein and phosphorus but it is also considered an acidifying food, which means it acidifies the blood. Acidic blood dissolves calcium from the bones. So not only is it poorly absorbed, calcium is also lost due to drinking milk. Coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, salt and nightshade vegetables (peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant) all contribute to poor calcium absorption.
So what foods are considered good sources of calcium then? Here is a list of 5 of the highest and most absorbable non-dairy sources of calcium:
So now that you all know that there is life after cows milk, hopefully your transition to this healthier lifestyle will be a little easier. However, the main point to remember in all of this is that every nutrient; vitamin, mineral or macronutrient, depends not entirely on the source but more so on the ability of our digestive track. To assure optimal absorption of anything we ingest, our digestive systems must be functioning properly. Unfortunately statistics say otherwise for many of us.
Obtaining optimal digestive health: hmmm, I am sensing a new future preach:)
The Detox Diva!
Okay, so people don’t actually call me that. However, it is a name I wouldn’t mind inheriting one day, as I am a strong enthusiast of detoxing, also known as cleansing. I detox minimum twice a year, spring & fall, and have experienced first hand the benefits from doing this. However, there are many misconceptions when it comes to detoxing that I feel needs some clarification.
The Detox Diva!
Detoxing does not mean you have to starve yourself for two weeks and wither away to nothing. As I am sure this method will definitely help you shed a few pounds, that is not the purpose of a detox. Many people use a detox as a weight loss regime when it should be seen more as a method of ridding your body and tissues of excess toxins. A detox gives your body that well deserved break it needs from all the toxins and chemicals it is exposed to everyday. Our eating & lifestyle habits pay quite a toll on our body, especially our liver, even if are habits are quite healthy. Unless you are ONLY eating certified organic everything and pretty much living in a bubble, like it or not, you are being exposed to hundreds of toxins everyday! From the air we breathe, the water we drink, the place we work or the place we live, toxins surround us and unfortunately there’s not that much we can do to avoid them. So that’s why we need to protect ourselves from the damage they cause. And a detox is the perfect way to do this.
Think of a detox like an oil change for our car. After so many kilometers we have to change the oil. Why? To eliminate excess build up and assure proper function of our vehicle. That’s exactly why we need to detox. Our bodies come equipped with natural detoxification systems however the accumulation of toxins in our body interferes their proper function. When we ‘clean our engine’ we liberate our body of excess build up of toxins so it can continue to function as it should.
When I talk to people about detoxing, I often hear “it’s not natural. People were not detoxing thousands of years ago.” And they are absolutely right, however a thousand years ago people were not consuming diets primarily made up of artificial and chemical ingredients or breathing air contaminated with exhaust fumes. We live in a completely different age, and if we are going to make it, we have to protect ourselves!
I started my fall detox today. It is a little later than usual (beginning of October is preferred), however I am fortunate the warm weather is still lingering. I also had to be realistic. There was no way I was going to follow a strict regime like this over Thanksgiving and at my friends wedding. That is why when choosing the right time to detox, you too must make it as realistic as possible. This will be a real test on your will power so don’t make it any harder on yourself.
To properly detox, we must eliminate all toxins from our diet. This means no sugar, no processed foods (nothing that comes in a bag or a box), no caffeine, no alcohol and no animal products. During the detox we should be consuming mostly fresh vegetables, whole grains (only a few are recommended), lentils, fresh fruits, nuts and seeds. A two to three week detox is best. While a few days or a week can still help, I really only begin to feel the benefits of a detox after a week. I am not going to lie, it’s not easy. But compared to heart surgery or chemo treatments down the road, I have no problem doing without some cookies for a few weeks!
For further details or to purchase my full detox information and meal plan kit, please feel free to contact me.
** Please consult your physician if you suffer from any serious illnesses before started a detox. Detoxing is not recommended for anyone suffering from diabetes or pregnant.
