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Foods that Reduce Inflammation
Diet & NutritionHealth

Foods that Reduce Inflammation

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

Inflammation is your body’s natural way of protecting itself when you are injured or sick; it helps to defend your body and to also stimulate natural healing. Conversely, chronic inflammation can be harmful to your body and it is often linked to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or fibromyalgia. Little do many know, some of the common foods we eat can play a role to improve the inflammation in our body. Foods that Reduce Inflammation

The first food is berries, most common being strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and my favorite boysenberries. Berries are small fruits packed with fiber, vitamins and most importantly antioxidants. Antioxidants have tremendous anti-inflammatory effects and have been known to help decrease your risk of many diseases.

Next on our list is broccoli. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable (cruciferous means being a member of the mustard family) like cauliflower and Brussel sprouts (ask me for a great Brussel sprout recipe) that are known to have anti-inflammatory benefits as well as decreasing risks for cancer heart disease.

Number three on our list is a “superfood” called avocados. Avocados are packed with nutrients and minerals that reduce inflammation in the body and are known to reduce the risks of cancer. They also make a delicious snack that you can dip tortilla chips in.

Next up are peppers. Bell Peppers and chili peppers are loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants to provide significant anti-inflammatory benefits and lead to healthier aging.

Grapes have been shown in research to contain minerals that are significant anti-inflammatories but also help reduce the risk of disease including heart disease, obesity, Alzheimer’s, and eye disorders. Hmmm, maybe a glass of wine a day is not a bad thing…

Extra virgin Olive Oil is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. Last week we discussed trans-fats as being one of the worst foods you can eat. Many times vegetable oils contain these trans fats. Olive oil, on the other hand, has been linked to decrease the risk of heart disease, and brain cancer. The anti-inflammatory benefits of extra virgin olive oil have been compared to anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

Turmeric is actually a spice used in curry dishes that has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. The benefits of turmeric are most noticeable for people with inflammatory arthritis.

Next to last is the tomato. Tomatoes are a “nutritional powerhouse” that have very impressive anti-inflammatory properties. Research has shown that cooking tomatoes actually results in an improved nutrient uptake by the body.

Last, but not least, on our list is chocolate. Not any chocolate, but dark chocolate. The benefits of dark chocolate have been known for a long time and the food itself is also delicious! In order to receive the benefits of dark chocolate, make sure the chocolate contains at least 70% cocoa with more cocoa all the better

 

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salmon
Food & Recipes

4 Health Dangers of Farmed Fish

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Could your body be swimming in toxins thanks to a “healthy” meal?

It may well be, if you believe the old adage “you are what you eat”! Especially when it comes to the fish you buy.

So, do you know where your fish comes from?

There are two kinds of fish you should know about: farmed and wild. Farmed fish is just as it sounds: raised in an aquatic farm setting with unnatural conditions. And wild fish is, well, wild fish caught in open waters.

Unless you know precisely where the fish in your salmon fillet, tuna melt, or even your fish sticks comes from, you might be eating farmed fish. And that’s a bad thing.

Why? Because of the following four health dangers of farmed fish:

  • Antibiotic Resistance. Farmed fish are fed antibiotics to help them survive their confined compounds. The antibiotics are meant to fend off the bacteria crawling in these spaces. And regardless of the amount, researchers say even low antibiotic levels in food can create drug-resistant bacteria in humans — which is never a good thing!
  • Pesticide Exposure. Fish farmers also feed their fish pesticides to kill off sea lice. One study showed that cancer-causing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) from pesticides are 16x more common in farmed salmon than wild salmon! What does this mean for you? Well, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, it wouldn’t be safe to eat fish more than once a month at the PCB levels found in this study!
  • Harmful to the Environment. Traditionally, farmed fish have been fed other wild fish. This practice is unsustainable for ocean ecosystems and contributes to overfishing. That’s why the aquaculture industry is shifting to crop-based feed ingredients, like soy, to replace wild fish as a feed source. But this shift comes with its own set of issues! Now, the environmental impact of farmed fish may include nutrient and pesticide runoff from industrial crop production.
  • Highly Inflammatory. Farmed fish are fattier than wild-caught fish, with higher omega 6 concentrations. Omega 6 fatty acids aren’t bad in and of themselves. You do need them, but when you get far more omega 6s than omega 3s, it can trigger dangerous inflammation. And as you may know, inflammation is the starting point for countless diseases and disorders (including osteoporosis).

 

So you’ve read the case against farmed fish. But what about wild fish? Why do I strongly recommend you eat wild fish? Well, quite simply because wild fish is the opposite of farmed fish. The four health dangers I mentioned above don’t apply to it!

Wild fish aren’t raised in artificial conditions like farmed fish. They aren’t harmful to the environment, and they’re rich in nutrients your body needs to survive.

In fact, many wild caught-fish are rich in one of nature’s greatest anti-inflammatory agents: omega 3 fatty acids.

They’re also high in protein, plus bone-friendly vitamins and minerals like vitamins D and B12, selenium, phosphorus, and more.

So next time you’re craving fish for dinner, consider going with wild-caught instead of farmed. That way, you’ll skip all the downsides of farmed fish, and get the most health benefits out of your meal!

By Dean Neuls
Dean Neuls is the Co-Founder and CEO of AlgaeCal. He is a natural health author and student of bone health science who is passionate about helping people & bettering lives.

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CBD Products
CBD for Health

Different CBD Methods: Pros and Cons

by Jesse Dunn
written by Jesse Dunn

By now, you may have probably already heard about cannabidiol, better known as CBD. It’s the non-intoxicating cousin of THC that can offer all of the potential benefits of the cannabis plant without any of the high.

It comes from industrial hemp, and has recently become federally legal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. That’s great news for people who want to reap the inflammation fighting, sleep regulating, and immune system supporting benefits of CBD.

While the variety of CBD products and brands currently on the market means CBD users get a wide option to choose from, it can also be overwhelming.

To help in that decision-making process, we’re going to be talking about some of the most popular CBD oil products, how they differ from one another, and which method might work best for you.

Topicals

If what you’re looking for is targeted, fast-acting relief, topical CBD is a great choice.

cbdMD offers two different topical products – each with its special blend of CBD and other inflammation and pain-reducing compounds.

The first, cbdMD Freeze, combines the cooling comfort of menthol with the all-natural power of CBD to soothe sore joints and muscles within minutes.

It comes in a convenient, easy-to-use roller that makes application a breeze, and everyone from nursing homes to professional athletes endorses it – so you know it’s good.

They also offer Recover – designed to target inflammation. It combines a unique blend of arnica for white blood cell stimulation, vitamin B6 for reducing inflammation, MSM for reinvigorating cell walls, and cbdMD’s high-quality CBD.

Tinctures

Tinctures are perhaps the most versatile methods of taking CBD. They come in a variety of flavors and concentrations which gives you complete control over your CBD experience.

Where topicals will only work on the application site, tinctures allow the beneficial effects of CBD to reach the whole body. To take, simply place under the tongue and feel the effects in no time (most will experience overall benefits within 30-60 minutes).

With a variety of flavors like orange, mint, berry, and natural, there’s something for everyone to love.

Gummies and capsules

If you’d like to get the same full-body effects of CBD tinctures, but want the convenience of a pre-portioned dose, cbdMD’s gummies and capsules may be the perfect option for you.

If you’ve never taken CBD before and are unsure about dosage, gummies and capsules are an easy way to add CBD to your morning and evening routines – all with the dosage guesswork taken out of the equation.

Capsules are a no-frills way to get your daily dose of CBD and are great if you’re already used to taking pills.

However, if you’d like to add a little extra flavor to your regimen, gummies are the way to go.

They come in a 30-count bottle with a tasty mix of tropical, strawberry, mixed berry, and orange flavors.

CBD PM

CBD PM is the newest addition to cbdMD’s product line. It offers all the benefits of CBD combined with the sleep-promoting effects of melatonin and a whole host of other natural and herbal supplements.

This unique combination allows CBD to help regulate your body, leading to an overall improvement in sleep quality, while the melatonin, valerian root, chamomile, and other herbs help you fall asleep fast and stay asleep longer.

Simply take CBD PM 30 minutes before bed, and let it ease you into a deep, restful night’s sleep.

Here’s one more tip to make bedtime even more relaxing: take a hot, relaxing bath with one of our CBD bath bombs. By combining 100 mg of CBD with a proprietary blend of therapeutic ingredients in each bath bomb, these will help melt away those aches and pains that can make it hard to sleep at night.

CBD for pets

While you’re trying out all the different forms of CBD to find the perfect product for you, don’t forget about your furry family members. Everyone knows that our pets get anxious, stressed, and feel pain just like we do, so shouldn’t they get the same all-natural CBD relief?

At cbdMD, they seem to think so! That’s why their CBD-infused pet products are a tasty way to get the relief they need – and deserve.

The peanut butter-flavored tinctures and treats will have your puppy drooling for more.

And for the cat lovers, there’s a calming catnip-flavored tincture to mellow out your feline friends. Did we also mention that all pet products are made with human-grade ingredients and come in a variety of strengths?

So if you’re looking for a leader in premium CBD oil that knows how to deliver natural relief at unremarkable prices, look no further than cbdMD. No matter how you choose to take your daily dose of all-natural CBD, cbdMD has you covered from head to tail.

Disclaimer: The cbdMD page contains general information about health, diet, lifestyle, and nutrition. Any information provided should not be considered or treated as medical advice and always consult a medical professional before making any lifestyle changes. Products and information mentioned on the cbdMD blog are not intended to be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment. Any links to third-party websites are provided as a convenience only and cbdMD is not responsible for their content.

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Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones
Diet & Nutrition

Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Study Shows that Specific Diet Changes Lead to Maintaining Stronger Bones

What do you eat to make your bones stronger? Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones
You likely know diet plays a big role in your bone health. But do you know what foods provide the most support for your bones? Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones
You may look to the “usual suspects” your bones prefer, like vitamin D, magnesium, and calcium-rich foods.
But planning your meals around one, two, or three nutrients is short-sighted. You need to consider your FULL diet… and a lot more nutrients.
Want to know what types of foods are loaded with the nutrients your bones need, so you don’t need to pour over hours of articles and studies to find out?
Let me share with you the foods proven to support the health of your bones, and quite frankly, your entire body.
Let’s look at a recent, first-of-its-kind study that made it crystal clear what we should be eating:
Researchers at Ohio State University reviewed data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), the largest study of postmenopausal women’s health in U.S. history.
The WHI studied women aged 50-79 between 1993 to 1998. Its organizers hoped to learn more about how to prevent and control older women’s diseases.
But Tonya Orchard, the lead researcher, and her colleagues at Ohio State University drilled down deeper. They wanted to understand the relation between inflammation and bone density. So, they looked at a subset of 160,191 women and their dietary data before the study.
They ranked the women by inflammation score, a score they assigned based on 32 foods the women ate — from most to least inflammatory.
Here’s what they found:

  • Women with the lowest inflammatory diets lost less bone in the six-year follow-up period than those eating diets that scored higher in inflammation.
  • White women under 63 with lower inflammatory scores had a lower risk of hip fracture compared to those with high inflammatory scores. The women with higher scores had a 50% greater risk of fracture.
  • Women with lower inflammatory scores had overall lower bone density to start with, pre-study. Despite this, their higher inflammatory counterparts still lost more bone during the study.
  • The conclusion drawn in the study, which appeared in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research: “This suggests that a high-quality, less-inflammatory diet may be especially important in reducing hip fracture risk in younger women.”

Chronic inflammation is often referred to as a silent killer because its signs and symptoms are often subtle, but it’s constantly causing damage inside you. Chronic inflammation is now thought to be a key factor in everything from bone health and diabetes to depression, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why preventative measures — like adding more anti-inflammatory foods to your diet — are critical to overall health. Anti-inflammatory foods, like organically grown vegetables and fruits, cold water, wild-caught fish, and fermented foods like organic full fat yogurt are a delicious, natural treatment for osteoporosis that can easily be incorporated into everyday life. Plus, while you’re keeping your bones healthy, you’ll be reducing chronic inflammation and helping to keep the whole host of age-related degenerative diseases at bay.
By Lara Pizzorno, MDIV, MA, LMT

Lara Pizzorno is the author of “Your Bones: How You Can Prevent Osteoporosis and Have Strong Bones for Life – Naturally” and a member of the American Medical Writers Association with 29 years of experience specializing in bone health. Lara is the Resident Bone Health Expert at AlgaeCal, the Editor of Longevity Medicine Review, a Senior Medical Editor for SaluGenecists Inc., and Integrative Medicine Advisors, LLC.

Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones

Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones Specific Diet Changes Maintain Stronger Bones

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Foods that Fight Inflammation
Diet & Nutrition

Foods that Fight Inflammation

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

A Harvard Health publication proclaims that doctors have learned one of the best remedies for fighting inflammation does reside in a medicine cabinet but the refrigerator. Foods that Fight Inflammation
It’s interesting to learn the purpose of the immune system, and according to the Harvard article, it’s designed to attack anything foreign in a physical body such as an invading plant pollen, or chemical. The process (of its attack) is inflammation, and intermittent bouts of it will stomp out the invaders to protect one’s health. But if inflammation is constant, it remains in fight mode even if a foreign invader doesn’t exist, that’s what causes a big problem–it becomes the enemy. Many major diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s link to chronic inflammation.
What’s refreshing to learn is one of the most powerful tools to combat inflammation comes not from medications, but from your grocery store. “Many experimental studies have shown that components of foods or beverages may have anti-inflammatory effects,” says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.
That’s a relief for so many individuals because the price of drugs are outrageously costly. So instead of spending high dollars to fight inflammation, choose the right foods instead. You may be able to reduce the risk of illness. And like everything else, there are “good” foods that help reduce inflammation, and there are those that are “bad” and make matters worse. So stay away from the wrong ones that accelerate the inflammatory disease process.

Foods that inflame

  • Try to avoid or at least limit the following as much as possible:
  • White bread and pastries — the refined carbohydrates
  • Fried foods and even french fries
  • Carbonated sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages
  • Processed meat like hot dogs and sausage and even red meat
  • Shortening and margarine

Foods that fight inflammation

  • Tomatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards
  • Nuts like almonds and walnuts
  • Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
  • Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges

Eat foods rich in anti-inflammatory compounds — this list also boosts the brain

  • Pineapples keeps blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots
  • Celery has luteolin which calms a type of immune cell in the brain, and spinal cord Cucumbers has lots of potassium which plays a key role in helping brain cells — low potassium levels relate to mood problems and depression
  • Eat foods with boron which helps boost mental alertness like raisins, chickpeas, almonds

Focus on foods that improve brain health because substances secreted by certain immune-system cells spill into the bloodstream and enter the brain and can damage the brain’s nerve cells, affecting memory and thinking skills. (Caroline Apovian, an endocrinologist at Boston University School of Medicine.)
More info on foods that cause inflammation.

Foods that Fight Inflammation

Foods that Fight Inflammation Foods that Fight Inflammation Foods that Fight Inflammation Foods that Fight Inflammation Foods that Fight Inflammation Foods that Fight Inflammation Foods that Fight Inflammation

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Curbing Inflammation
Conditions & Treatments

Curbing Inflammation

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

The word “inflammation” usually has a negative connotation about it. Good inflammation is an important part of healing and is your body’s natural way of protecting itself when you are injured or sick. It helps your body to defend and stimulate natural healing. Conversely, chronic inflammation can be harmful to your body and it is often linked to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or fibromyalgia. Sustained high levels of inflammation have been linked to a number of forms of cancer. Curbing Inflammation
 
Chronic inflammation occurs when the body thinks there is a threat against it and it naturally goes on the defensive, even when there is no threat. This results in the body turning against itself and causing damage to normal, healthy, cells. This can be a cause of chronic pain and limit the bodies normal defense mechanisms. Quite often other side effects for those who suffer from chronic inflammation include not sleeping well, a poor diet and not getting enough exercise. Curbing Inflammation
The typical American “fast food” diet leads to chronic inflammation. In fact, at one point the number vegetable consumed in the United States was French fries! Other dietary choices linked to chronic inflammation are processed foods, excess salt, and saturated fat. These poor diet habits lead to being overweight which is a huge risk factor for chronic inflammation. The fix for this is an anti-inflammatory diet of healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains and a moderate amount of protein.
Studies have demonstrated time and time again that lack of activity and inflammation go hand in hand. More important is the weight gain that results from an inactive lifestyle also causes a negative inflammatory response in the body. Not only does exercise assist in weight loss, it releases chemicals in the blood stream that have an anti-inflammatory response to the body. Weight training and aerobic exercise have been shown to reduce inflammation in a wide variety of populations. Even low-intensity activities, such as walking, have a positive effect. Curbing Inflammation
Two of the most common causes of chronic inflammation are a poor diet and lack of exercise and studies have shown that losing weight can reduce inflammation and improve a number of health-related factors. The key to fighting chronic inflammation is to understand the root cause, as well as how to address it with regards to diet and exercise. Do you have more questions or need help? Your physical therapist is a movement expert and can help you re-gain the life you enjoy.

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Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation
Diet & Nutrition

Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

Inflammation is your body’s natural way of protecting itself when you are injured or sick, it helps to defend your body and to also stimulate natural healing. Conversely, chronic inflammation can be harmful to your body and it is often linked to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or fibromyalgia. Little do many know, some of the common foods we eat can play a role in the inflammation in our body. Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation

The first items on this list is table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Sugar and corn syrup are almost a 50/50 combination of glucose and fructose. Eating large quantities of fructose has been linked to obesity, liver disease, kidney disease, and of course insulin resistant diabetes. Research has shown fructose to cause unhealthy inflammation in the cells that line our blood vessels. These diseases counter act our bodies natural anti-inflammatory response.
Artificial Trans fats are one of the unhealthiest fats you can consume. Trans fats, commonly found in margarine, are added to processed food to extend their shelf life, but they will not extend your life. These trans fats will lower your HDL (good) cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease.
Eating processed meats, such as sausage, bacon, ham, and beef jerky may lead to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, and intestinal cancer. Of all these types of cancer, colon cancer is the strongest associated risk due to the inflammatory response of the colon to the processed meat.
Lastly, excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to severe inflammatory problems. Those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol develop problems with wide spread inflammation and secondary organ damage. Alcohol should be limited to 1 – 2 standard drinks per day, this has been shown to actually have some positive health benefits.
Those individuals with chronic inflammatory issues should be aware of the food they intake. Controlling the amounts of these inflammatory causing foods can lower your body’s natural inflammatory process and help you deal with chronic illnesses.
Do you need a better understanding of your chronic illness? If you live in Orange County, California, click here to schedule your FREE Discovery Visit to find out how we can help!

Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation?

Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation? Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation? Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation? Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation? Which Foods Can Cause Inflammation?

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