Solving the diseases of the 21st Century

People in developed countries are living longer than people were one hundred years ago. However some people claim that most of the increase in average lifespan is due to far fewer deaths of babies. Unfortunately, we seem to be seeing a corresponding increase in the incidence of diseases that are occurring earlier in peoples' lives...even earlier than people would normally see the onset of these diseases a century ago.

Here are the most common diseases:

As you can see, heart disease is by far the most common, followed by cancer. The other common diseases are diabetes and Alzheimer's. One has to ask why these diseases are the most common and not other ones. If we know what the fundamental cause of these diseases are, we'll be able to prevent people from developing them.

Another chart might help elucidate these statistics:

It's pretty amazing the degree to which so many people in so-called developed nations are deficient in all these nutrients! And these are calculated based off the recommended daily values provided by the Food and Drug Administration which are debated by some people whether they are actually completely adequate for anything more than preventing the worst diseases. For example, the RDA for vitamin C was determined based on what it takes for a person to avoid developing Scurvy. That says nothing of the amount a person would need to consume in order to have optimal healthy beyond simply not developing scurvy...

Now what's REALLY fascinating is when you investigate a little more deeply into the connections between these deficiencies and the most common diseases that people suffer from, and sometimes die of. When you consider the prominent role that Magnesium plays in the health of the heart, it's really no wonder that heart disease is the number one killer in America because approximately 75% of Americans have inadequate intake of the mineral.

In fact, the deficiencies in Vitamin K, Vitamin D, and Magnesium are interrelated with the amount of problems this country has with dental carries and osteoporosis. It's a common misconception that Calcium is really the only necessary nutrient for healthy bones and teeth. In actual fact, the bones and teeth really also need Phosphorous, Vitamin K, Vitamin D, and Magnesium in order to maintain a healthy level of mineralization. Magnesium is a base on the pH scale so, along with sodium-bicarbonate, the bones are able to keep a level of Magnesium stored in the bones to be used to balance the pH of the bloodstream so the acids produced during metabolism or consumed in the diet don't destroy the bones or teeth.

Magnesium is best obtained in most leafy-green vegetables. It should probably also be supplemented via Epsom salts which can be absorbed in bathwater. You may also apply a Magnesium oil to the skin and absorb it topically that way.

Beyond preventing heart disease, Magnesium also helps you sleep better, have higher energy levels, cope with stress, have improved attention span, prevents ADHD, prevents diabetes, and is necessary for producing Glutathione. (the body's master Antioxidant) So your mom was right when she told you to each your vegetables. And it's definitely wise to include plenty of vegetables and nutritious foods in our diet for the sake of the health of our children.

Vitamin K is best found in Broccoli and Kale.

Vitamin E is number one on the list of most common nutrient deficiencies. It's no wonder then that the incidence of Alzheimer's and other neuro-degenerative or developmental diseases like Autism and ADHD are occurring in the population. This vitamin is important for the health of the brain and nervous system as well as the health of the skin and hair!

So one can hear about these statistics ad infinitum but unless you resolve that you are going to buck the trend and not be a part of these deficient groups, you are going to be getting a sub-optimal level of these nutrients and going to develop these diseases prematurely.

Most people can benefit by supplementing with a high-quality multi-vitamin just to fill in any gaps in their nutrition. The challenge is finding one that actually contains quality forms of the vitamins and minerals because they all can be obtained in many different compound forms. Generally, the ones you would find in a local grocery store are not going to be the level of quality that you should be looking for. Those are usually the highly-synthetic versions which are proven not be absorbed well at all by the body and probably what is absorbed isn't as useful anyway...

So..how do you personally actually know what your levels of nutrients are? Well, you can actually measure your status of these nutrients by ordering a blood panel. A company called WellnessFX actually is able to work with local clinics nationwide and have your blood samples sent to their labs so they can analyze your levels of nutrients! It does make it a bit easier to work a plan when you know where you are starting from and you have a goal of where you need to head.

As a holistic nutritional and optimal human performance coach, I can actually give you a personalized SuperFoods presentation that will give you a good idea of which foods you can use to get loads of these nutrients as well as other phytonutrients and more! Just hit the link:
http://uhealingarts.com/coachingservice

You can also order lab results to check your personal blood levels of these essential nutrients for yourself by clicking the banner below!


Cheers to Optimization!!

Powerful Foods

If you ask a random health enthusiast what the most important part of being healthy is, most people will likely tell you that it's diet. A solid diet means your body has the fuel it needs and also the chemicals or the precursors to chemicals needed to filter out and get rid of toxic metabolites that are produced from cellular metabolism, a fancy word for the 'work' that an organism does, both seen and unseen.

This won't be a long post, I just want to share with you a few of the things I've found help me to be the best man I can be.

Eggs are probably top on my list. They make an excellent breakfast and if you pair this with a little fish, it's a powerhouse combination that delivers healthy fats and oils that the body can use in many important ways such as building cell walls, producing hormones like Testosterone, and building brain tissue. Eggs also contain Acetylcholine so they are great for brain functioning. I like to buy eggs that are from chickens that are free range and fed an organic diet. It's only $1-2 more per dozen eggs and I feel that it makes a big difference both in flavor and in nutrient density.

Another staple of my diet is chicken. Chicken is a good source of protein and not as expensive as some other meats like Beef. I like to cook my chicken slowly on a low heat setting (3-4) on the stove in a frying pan with the lid on. The lid helps trap the steam and cook the meat throughout in a way that I feel makes the meat more tender and juicy. I like to cook the chicken in Coconut fat.

For snacks, I often eat a banana or sometimes have a few handfuls of peanuts. Bananas are a good source of fiber and about 100 calories each so they provide energy but not so much that you need to worry about how many you eat.

And of course, water. Water isn't a food of course but I think it fits in the category of diet because it makes such a difference in how our food is digested and delivered deep into our body's cells. It's important to have a good clean water source. This is especially important because having access to drinking water that you enjoy the taste of means that you'll probably drink more of it: a good thing. While I don't enjoy the plastic waste involved, I have been buying Spring Water in gallon bottles from the grocery store and using that primarily as my water source. I know at least in my city, there have been increased levels of Nitrates in the water, even to the point that they've had to turn on a very expensive filtration system to filter my city's water supply. These nitrates come chemicals that farmers apply to their fields and then they drain into creeks which drain into rivers...

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed my post. There are many different kinds of foods but when a person is trying to improve their diet, sometimes it helps a lot to keep things simple. Start off with a few key foods and just form habits around them. Make it like a personal ritual. I promise that you'll begin feeling different and seeing the results of putting healthy food in your stomach.

I'd love for you to share your personal strategies for health and what some of your favorite staple health foods are! Share in the comments below!