Everything You Should Know About Watermelon

Watermelons Are Good For…

Prostate health, dehydration, constipation, infection, detoxifying, kidney health, blood pressure, appetite, diabetes, and heart health all benefit (or improve) with watermelon.

For various reasons, people sometimes have trouble drinking enough water each day.  Watermelon, since it is 91% water, can help with  hydration and electrolytes.

Watermelon hydrates our cells and balances the pH in our bodies.

Due to the citrulline content, this melon is also known to reduce and treat erectile dysfunction. Like Viagra, citrulline relaxes and dilates blood vessels.

Contents

Nutrition Composition of Watermelon

Watermelon is high in vitamin C (antioxidant), vitamin A (beta carotene), lycopene (antioxidant) and citrulline (an amino acid).

Recommended: How To Heal Your Gut

Tomatoes are known for their lycopene, the phytonutrient famous for fighting heart disease and prostate cancer. Unlike watermelon, you have to cook tomatoes in some oil to release the lycopene. Cup for cup, watermelon has 40% more lycopene than tomatoes.

Nutrition Facts for One Cup of Watermelon (ball scoops).  Raw, Typically Ripe Watermelon, 154g

Calories: 46 2 calories from fat
Total Fat: 0g 0%
  Saturated Fat: 0g 0%
   Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate: 12g 4%
  Dietary Fiber: 1g 2%
  Sugars: 10g
Protein: 0.9g 2%

Vitamins
Vitamin A 876 IU 18%
Vitamin C 12.5 mg 21%
Vitamin D 0 0%
Vitamin E 0.1 mg 0%
Vitamin K
0.2 mg
 0%
Thiamin 0.1 mg 3%
Riboflavin 0.0 mg 2%
Niacin 0.3 mg 1%
Vitamin B6 0.1 mg 3%
Folate 4.6 mg 1%
Vitamin B12 0 mg 0%
Pantothenic Acid 0.3 mg 3%
Choline 6.3 mg
Betaine 0.5 mg

Minerals
Calcium 10.8mg 1%
Iron 0.4 mg 2%
Magnesium 15.4 mg 4%
Phosphorus 15.4 mg 2%
Potassium 16.9 mg 5%
Sodium 1.5 mg 0%
Zinc 0.2 mg 1%
Copper 0.1 mg 3%
Manganese 0.1 mg 3%
Selenium 0.6 mg 1%
Flouride 2.3 mg

Glycemic

 Load

3
Index
(glucose = 100)		 72

Natural Remedies and Prevention with Watermelon

Watermelon has many health benefits and can help prevent and remedy some serious ailments, from erectile dysfunction to high blood pressure.

As for accessing the total medicinal benefits of watermelon, it is highly dependent on the variety of watermelon and the ripeness. Beta carotene and lycopene are usually bio-available in the highest quantities once the watermelon is completely ripe. And don’t be afraid to eat some of the watermelon rind; there are quite a few nutrients in there as well, particularly roughage and fiber.

How Watermelon Can Alleviate High Blood Pressure

Relaxed blood vessels mean a lower blood pressure. The arginine in watermelon that relaxes blood vessels has other health benefits. It promotes production of nitric oxide. In addition to relaxing blood vessels, this compound has been shown to reduce blood clotting and encourage smooth blood flow, preventing heart attacks and strokes. Also, increased hydration helps lower blood pressure and can help detoxify the blood as well.

Recommended: Hypertension – How To Lower Your Blood Pressure Quickly and Naturally

Why Watermelon Prevents Prostate Cancer

Watermelon contains more lycopene than any fresh fruit or vegetable. Lycopene has known antioxidant qualities to keep the skin, heart, and prostate healthy. Studies have shown that people who ingest lycopene can help the prostate regenerate faster and stay healthier longer.

Watermelon and Colon Health

Watermelon is particularly useful in fighting colon cancer due to its cleansing effect, it’s alkalinity, and it’s ability to hydrate cells. Watermelon aids in flushing the colon, kidneys, and to a lesser degree, the liver.

What Watermelon Can Do for Erectile Dysfunction

Arginine and citrulline make watermelon a wonderful natural remedy for impotence. Both arginine and citrulline relax blood vessels, including the vessels in the male reproductive system. Relaxed vessels allow for a natural erection response. Watermelon is also anti-inflammatory.

Macular Degeneration

With beta carotene, vitamin-C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, watermelon is one of the best foods for nourishing the eyes. These antioxidants will protect your eyes from other age-related ailments such as drying of eyes and optical nerves, as well as glaucoma.

Anxiety

While it is true that watermelon may lift your spirits just because it is a comfort food from your childhood, the vitamin B6 in watermelon doesn’t hurt either. B6 is a superb weapon against anxiety. This vitamin influences brain chemicals responsible for calming moods and allows you to make better decisions under stress.

Recommended: Natural Remedies for Anxiety

Skin

Lycopene is also beneficial for the skin. The antioxidants decrease free radicals from the body known for causing age-spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Hydration also plays a huge role in looking and feeling younger. Hydrated skin looks much younger and heals much faster than dehydrated skin.

Watermelon also aids skin in other ways as well, like removing excess oil from the skin that helps cause acne.

Detoxification

Dr. Ariel Policano, a naturopathic physician, says that watermelon helps the liver process ammonia, a toxic nitrogen-containing waste product left over from amino acid metabolism — and convert it into a molecule known as urea, a component of urine that is safely excreted from the body. Along with benefits to the colon, the liver, and the kidneys, watermelon is very good at flushing out the body, moving undesired waste to be evacuated.

Recommended: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Watermelon Seeds

Watermelon tea is used by the Amish as a healing remedy. The seeds also have properties similar to pumpkin seeds that are good for your prostate.

Nutritional Composition of Watermelon Seeds

Watermelon seeds are a good source of vitamin B like Thiamin, niacin, and folate. Watermelon seeds are rich in minerals like magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, iron, potassium and copper. 100 grams of watermelon seeds provides around 139%, 87%, 82%, 74%, 44%, 20% and 37% of daily dietary values of these minerals respectively. Watermelon seeds are also a good source of dietary fiber which is essential for healthy bowel movements and digestion.

What You Can Do with Watermelon Rinds

It’s much more important to make sure to purchase organic watermelon if you plan to ingest the rind.

In a recent study, food scientists compared the nutrient content of flesh from different parts of a watermelon. They looked at flesh from the center, flesh near the stem, flesh near the blossom, and the flesh near the rind (known as periphery). There are concentrations of various nutrients (such as phenolic antioxidants, flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C) in all of the different areas tested. Overall, they found that the watermelon rind doesn’t offer any more benefit with nutrition than the flesh. The rind may have a little more citrulline than the flesh when measured by dry weight, but not by wet weight. So, if you want to eat the watermelon rind, you will receive many of the same nutritional benefits one gets eating the flesh, but the rinds also make great compost.

Watermelon Agriculture

Watermelons are a vine-like flowering plant that probably originated almost 5,000 years ago in the Kalahari Desert of Africa where botanists have found its wild ancestors still growing. Today, in the United States,  in the Southern states such as the Carolinas and Georgia, watermelons flourish as commercial crops.

Watermelon Varieties

There are many wild varieties ranging from super sweet to bitter that vary in size.  About 200-300 varieties are grown in the U.S. and Mexico, although there are only roughly 50 popular varieties.

The ‘Carolina Cross’

The watermelon that holds the current world record in weight at 120 kilograms (260 lbs) is a yellow flesh melon called the ‘Carolina Cross.’ This variety has green skin with red flesh and typically produces fruit between 29 and 68 kilograms (65 and 150 lbs). Planting to harvest is about 90 days.

The ‘Yellow Crimson’

The yellow crimson variety has yellow-colored flesh and is typically described as sweeter than red flesh melons with a taste of honey. The first fruits should be ready to harvest in mid to late summer, about 55 to 85 days after pollination.

The ‘Orangeglo’

With a very sweet orange flesh, the orangelo is a large, oblong melon that typically weighs 9–14 kg (20–30 pounds). The rind is light green with jagged dark green stripes.Planting to harvest is about 90–100 days.

The ‘Moon and Stars’

This melon variety wears a purple/black rind with many small, yellow circles along with one or two large, yellow circles (moon). The flesh is pink or red and has brown seeds. The foliage is also spotted. They weigh 9–23 kg (20–50 pounds). The time from planting to harvest is about 90 days.

The ‘Cream of Saskatchewan’

These melons grow well in cooler climates. They are small round fruits around 25 cm (10 inches) in diameter. They carry a thin, light green rind with dark green strips. The flesh is very sweet and there are black seeds. The melon takes 80–85 days from planting to harvest.

The ‘Melitopolski’

The Melitopolski has small, round fruits that are around 28–30 cm (11–12 inches) in diameter. The Melitopolski watermelons are popular in Moscow in summer. They  take about 95 days from planting to harvest.

The ‘Densuke’

With a black rind (without strips of spots) is grown only on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, where up to 10,000 watermelons are produced every year. These watermelons are expensive, with one selling at an auction for 650,000 yen (US$ 6,300), making it the most expensive watermelon ever sold. The average price is about 25,000 yen ($ 250).

Are there Genetically Modified Watermelons?

We know of no genetically modified watermelons in production. There were some experiments in Italy and the U.S., but at this time watermelons at the store as completely free of genetically modified organisms.

Seedless watermelons are NOT genetically modified. They are hybrid watermelons that have been grown in the United States for more than 50 years.

Those square watermelons they grow in Japan are not genetically modified either. They are just watermelon grown in a box.

Organic Vs. Conventional Watermelons

While not the worst offender, conventional watermelon is grown using pesticides known to cause health problems and kill bees. The good news is that the chemicals, for the most part, do not penetrate the rind and pass into the fruit. Watermelon is one of those fruits that you need not be too concerned with the toxicity levels if organic is not available.

We do not recommend eating watermelon from China (or any produce at all for that matter, organic or not).

Seedless Vs. Seeded Watermelon

Seedless watermelons are sterile hybrid fruits created by crossing male pollen for a watermelon with a female watermelon flower. This is similar to the mule, produced by crossing a horse with a donkey. This process does not involve genetic modification.

We have eaten hundreds of watermelon, and it’s getting harder and harder to find the seeded variety lately. Seedless watermelons take considerable knowledge to grow, but they ripen and are ready to harvest quickly. It’s more economical, specially on a large scale, to grow seedless watermelon.

We are the type of people to say we prefer the seeded variety for taste and texture, but the truth is, it’s actually a really tough call. The best watermelon I have ever had was seeded. But at least half in the top ten were seedless. And I’m better at picking out a good seedless melon. It’s more difficult for me with the bigger seeded varieties.

Every time we see a full seeded watermelon available we get excited. My whole family loves it, and we always are chasing that high we felt when we got the best watermelon we’ve ever had. Seriously, we love watermelon.

Fair-trade Watermelon & Human Rights Issues

We don’t know of any human rights issues within the watermelon industry. We also can’t recall seeing fair trade labeled watermelon. If you know of any, please let us know.

Tips for Growing Your Own Watermelon

Most watermelons require a long growing season, at least three months of temperatures that are 21 – 27 degrees C (70 to 80 degrees F or higher).

Start watermelon seeds indoors and use black plastic mulch.Buy seeds of an open-pollinated, heirloom variety that are a good fit for your climate (and then of course, save those seeds when you harvest the melons). If your growing season is less than 90 days, select short-season varieties such as ‘Million Bucks Hybrid’ or ‘Orange Sunshine Hybrid’.

When vines begin to ramble, a dose of boron will help melons produce sweeter flesh. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of borax in a gallon of water and spray the foliage and the ground by the plants.

Things You Didn’t Know About Watermelon

  • Citrullus Lanatus is the official name for watermelons.
  • Watermelons are the botanical cousins of cucumber, squash, and pumpkins.
  • Watermelons earliest recorded harvest dates back to 5,000 B.C. in Egypt.
  • Watermelons were buried in the tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife.
  • The world’s heaviest watermelon weighed 121.93 kg (268.8 pounds).
  • Watermelons have more lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable.
  • Watermelon juice helps relieve muscle soreness and speed recovery.
  • Watermelon is 91.5-percent water.

How to Store Watermelons So They Last Longer

The shelf life of a watermelon depends on when the watermelon was picked and how it is stored. When properly stored, the shelf life of a watermelon past its picked or purchased date is approximately 7 to 10 days if left whole or 3 to 5 days if it is cut and in the refrigerator. Whole watermelon can last a few days longer in the fridge, but the cold temperature does diminish some nutrition.

How to Pick Good Watermelons

Recent research has shown that the highest lycopene and beta-carotene content occurs at the time when a watermelon is ripe.

Pick a dull looking watermelon.  A shiny appearance indicates an underripe melon.

Find the field spot.  This is that creamy yellow colored spot on the melon where it rested on the ground. The darker the color of the creamy spot, the longer it was on the vine sweetening up. If it is white (or not even there), put it back, because this indicates an unripe melon that was picked too early.

Give the melon a spank. You will get a dull thud if the flesh is too soft, which you don’t want. There should be a slight hollowness to the thump. Your hand should bounce off the melon, and the surface should be pretty hard/firm, but too hard with no give can mean it’s not as ripe as it should be just yet.

watermelon split heartIf you aren’t familiar with the term, “hollow heart” watermelons are those melons with a crack in the middle of the flesh from stem to blossom. They are typically sweeter due to the concentration of sugars within the cracks. Sometimes you can tell by the thump if you’ve thumped enough watermelon to know. If you get one of these that are not too dry, you’ve got yourself an awesome watermelon. Listen for the hollow sound when you thump them.

Sources and Further Reading



Cherries – The Superfood You Should Know About

Cherries are Good For…

Anti aging, gout, reducing muscle pain, blood pressure, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, insomnia, metabolism, Alzheimer’s, and preventing strokes are all things cherries are known to help with.

Contents

Nutrition Facts for Sweet, Raw Cherries, 1 Cup, No Pits & for Tart, Raw, Red Cherries, 1 Cup, No Pits

Sweet Cherries / Tart Cherries

Calories: 97 / 77 3 / 4 calories from fat
Total Fat: 0.3 / 0.5 g 0 / 1 %
  Saturated Fat: 0.1g 0 / 1 %
   Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 0 / 5 mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate: 25 / 19 g 8 / 6 %
  Dietary Fiber: 3 / 2 g 13 / 10 %
  Sugars: 20 / 13 g
  Starch: 0g
Protein: 2 / 1.6 g 3%

Vitamins
Vitamin A 98.5 / 1988 IU 2 / 40 %
Vitamin C 10.8 / 15.5 mg 18 / 26 %
Vitamin D 0 0%
Vitamin E 0.1mg 1%
Vitamin K 3.2 / 3.3 mcg 4%
Thiamin 0.0mg 0%
Riboflavin 0.1mg 3%
Niacin 0.2 / 0.6 mg 1 / 3 %
Vitamin B6 0.1mg 4 / 3 %
Folate 6.2 / 12.4 mcg 2 / 3 %
Vitamin B12 0mcg 0%
Pantothenic Acid 0.3 / 0.2 mg 3 / 2 %
Choline 9.4 / 9.5 mg
Betaine 0mg

Minerals
Calcium 20 / 22.8 mg 2%
Iron 0.6 / 0.5 mg 3%
Magnesium 16.9 / 13.9 mg 4 / 3 %
Phosphorus 32.3 / 23.2 mg 3%
Potassium 342 / 268 mg 10 /8 %
Sodium 0 / 4.7 mg 0%
Zinc 0.1 / 0.2 mg 1%
Copper 0.1 / 0.2 mg 5 / 8 %
Manganese 0 / 0.2 mg 5 / 9 %
Selenium 0mcg 0%
Flouride 3.1 / 0 mcg

Glycemic

 Load

8 / 10

Index

(glucose = 100)

22 / 20

Health Benefits, Natural Remedies and Disease Prevention with Cherries

Anti-Inflammatory – The FDA sent out warning letters to cherry growers some years ago insisting that the cherry companies quit making health claims that some of the compounds in cherries may reduce pain and inflammation. Cherry growers were told to stop citing scientific studies showing that cherries are packed with unique anthocyanins and other compounds that are proven to mediate inflammation. But of course they do. In fact, 1 cup of cherries has the same effect as one regular strength ibuprofen.

Cherries, especially tart cherries (or tart cherry juice), reduce muscle soreness and are an amazing supplement for DOMs (delayed onset muscle soreness), arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, working out, and other such issues that cause muscle soreness.

Fat Metabolism – Researchers found that when rats were fed whole tart cherry powder along with a high fat diet, they gained less weight than rats that did not consume cherry powder on an otherwise identical diet.

Insomnia – Cherries are a good source of natural melatonin, imperative for healthy cognitive function, circulatory strength, and proper sleep cycles. This can help also alleviate jetlag and insomnia.

Antioxidants – The antioxidants found in cherries are said to boost memory and may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Antioxidants also help slow aging in many other ways, including appearance.

Cardiovascular Health – The anthocyanins in cherries are pigments that give red cherries the red color. Anthocyanins may activate and help regulate genes that are involved with fat and glucose metabolism, which should help reduce the risk for such health issues as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Cherries are also very high in potassium, which is known to help regulate heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Cancer Prevention – In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants that help prevent cancer, studies have shown that the anthocyanins prevents cancer (and there are a host of other benefits to individual cells as well).

Gout – Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, and their alkalizing effects, cherries and cherry juice should be a staple for anyone suffering from gout.  One study showed that people with gout may be able to cut their risk of recurrent gout attacks in half by eating 20 cherries a day.

Sweet Cherries vs. Tart Cherries

There are many varieties of sweet cherries available. The most common are Rainer and Sweetheart. Other common varieties include bing, Chelan, tieton, Skeena, and lapins.

Sweet cherries are typically larger than tart cherries and usually have a bit of a heart shape to them. Sweet cherries can range in color from golden with hints of red (like the Rainer) to dark, deep red (like the Sweetheart).

With the health benefits listed above, tart cherries come out the winner every time. Sweet cherries are very good for us, but tart cherries have more of the best health properties and a little less sugar as well. If you cannot find fresh, tart cherries, try tart cherry juice. Black cherry juice is well known for its proven health benefits.

Common tart cherry varieties (also known as sour cherries) include English morello, early richmond, Meteor, montmorency, and north star. Tart cherries in the United States usually come from Michigan. These cherry trees are much better suited to cold weather.

Tart cherries are typically used for juicing and cooking. Their tart flavor also bodes well with sugar. Tart cherries are typically softer and smaller than sweet cherries.

While a bit harder to find at the supermarket, raw tart cherries are making a comeback, due in part to their potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Cherry Agriculture

Harvesting tart cherries is a delicate process; they are hand-picked so they keep their stems to keep them from leaking or spoiling. Leaving the stems on also slows down the ripening process.

Tart cherries are soft and must be handled gently. Sweet Cherries are less susceptible to  damage and are a bit easier to harvest.

Cherry Season – Harvest

The cherry harvest in the United States begins in southern California around the end of April with the Brooks cherry, a hybrid that is a cross between a Rainier and a Bing.  Harvest season comes to an end in California by early June, which is when the season begins in Washington State. By September cherries will be gone from stores until the next year.

Most sweet cherries continue to be produced in Washington, California, Michigan, and Oregon. Michigan produces the bulk of tart cherries for the U.S.

Are there Genetically Modified Cherries?

At this time there are not any genetically modified cherries. There is some research being done on producing a GMO cherry that has no pit.

Organic Vs. Conventional Cherries

Cherries are one of those crops that gets an extremely heavy dose of pesticides. They were on the “Dirty Dozen” list for 2010, a report put out by the Environmental Working Group that picks the 12 most toxic laden, heavily chemically treated crops.

There are more than 40 toxins found on conventional cherries from pesticide sprays: 20 known hormone disruptors, 7 neurotoxins, 8 toxins that effect reproduction and development, and 14 chemicals known to contribute to the death of honeybees.

Things You Didn’t Know About Cherries

  •  In the United State the consumption of fresh cherries increased by 150% from 2000 to 2009.
  •  Because the fruit has a very short shelf life, cherries are brought to market quickly.
  •  In the United States, there are more than 1,000 different varieties of cherry tree.
  • In addition to their wonderful fruit, the cherry tree is known for its beautiful flowers.
Sources:


Eliminate Body Odor With Diet

There are two things to ask yourself if you have a problem with body odor:

  • Am I healthy?
  • Am I using the right soap and skin care products?

You may have noticed “Do I shower often enough?” was left out. That’s because when the body is healthy, showering is about removing dirt and odors from sources other than our body. Objectionable body odor is a result of imbalanced PH, imbalanced hormones, a heavy toxic load, damaging skin care products, and/or imbalanced gut flora.

Health

First let’s talk about health. If you are not healthy or your body is toxic, it will affect your body odor. Vaginal infections can produce a foul odor and body fluids, including sweat, may give off a foul odor when you are ill, just as sinus infections or infections in the mouth can produce bad breath. If you are healthy, your sweat will not smell foul. It will actually smell good.

Clean up your body from the inside out. Eat a healthy diet that consists of 80% fresh, organic, raw fruits and vegetables. The fiber will cleanse your digestive system, sweeping out old rotting food and debris while working as a prebiotic that helps maintain a high level of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Detox twice a year. Get those chemicals, parasites, and the extra yeast out of your body. (For more information, see the links below.)

Bathing and Showering

This is such an individual decision that should be based on need, not someone else’s idea of cleanliness. In the U.S. our cultural norm is a daily bath or shower, those some shower morning and night. If you are healthy and you aren’t actually dirty, daily showers or baths are not necessary. Some may argue that even with toxin free skin care products, daily washing does more harm than good due to washing away healthy flora that develops on skin and controls body odor. Bathe or shower as often as necessary–not more.

Why You Should Use Organic Soap

There are two reasons you should use organic soap. First of all, our skin soaks up most of the chemicals we put on it. When we use conventional products, those chemicals are pulled into our bloodstream. Read the labels on soap scrubs and bar soap and ask yourself if you would want to eat those ingredients, because in a roundabout way, that’s exactly what you are doing every time you use them. Secondly, organic soaps are better for your skin and they stop the body odor cycle caused by conventional products.

Our skin is part of the body’s first line of defense against pathogens. Not only do we produce natural oils to keep our skin healthy, our skin is host to many beneficial bacterial, just like our gut. Conventional soaps, especially anti-bacterial soaps, are the greatest cause of body odor because they disrupt the body’s natural defense against bad bacteria. Conventional , anti-bacterial soaps strip the skin of natural oils and kill the bacteria. The problem is, they kill the beneficial bacteria that naturally keeps the bad bacteria (the smelly bacteria) in check. You bathe, you kill off the good bacteria. You sweat, the bad bacteria start to multiply and there aren’t enough good bacteria to keep them in check. You bathe, the cycle continues.

This is the same process we experience with deodorants. Any time we strip natural oils and kill off beneficial bacteria, we set up an unhealthy cycle that merely perpetuates the use of conventional products. We smell worse, we use more and more. This is how they make money.

Organic soaps maintain the natural balance of bacteria on your skin. As the days pass, you will notice that you have less body odor. You will no longer need to use deodorant. You just don’t smell bad anymore. You may find that you only need to bathe every other day, every three days, or maybe only once a week. Even if you maintain the habit of a daily bath or shower, your skin will be happier and healthier. If you’re ready to get rid of body odor without the chemical cover-ups that damage your health, it’s time to Balance Your Gut Flora and Balance Your Hormones.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:

Sources:



The Reasons Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease Are On the Rise

It seems that every few years we hear of another diet fad or food fad. In the last few years gluten is getting all of the attention. How can wheat or other common grains–fixtures of the American diet–be causing such problems?

What is gluten? Gluten is the protein found in wheat (including spelt, kamut, triticale , which are varieties of wheat), rye, and barley.

Why has gluten become a problem for so many?

There are several reasons gluten has become a problem for so many Americans.

First of all, bread or wheat forms the basis of the American diet. Toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, rolls or pasta for dinner–the majority of Americans eat wheat all day, every day.

The wheat we eat barely resembles the wheat our ancestors ate. Although it is not genetically modified (yet), it has been significantly altered by selection, through generations of hybrid alterations to increase yields and make it more disease resistant.

Our ancestors used to sprout grains before using them. We rarely take this step to make grains more digestible.

And last, but certainly not least, Candida overgrowth in the gut is epidemic due to the American diet and use of antibiotics.

What is the link between Candida and gluten intolerance?

Our gut is filled with bacteria. If properly balanced, the beneficial bacteria far exceeds the bad bacteria and yeast. The beneficial bacteria are crucial to our health. They help us digest our food. They create neurotransmitters and vitamins. It is said that 80% of our immune system is in the gut.

When we take antibiotics, we kill off beneficial bacteria along with bad bacteria. When the level of bacteria drops in our gut, Candida, the opportunist, overgrows. When we eat sugar and simple carbs that change into sugar (including alcohol), we feed the Candida its favorite food.

Candida begins as a single cell yeast but soon changes form, becoming a hyphae, stretching out long filaments that bore through tissues in the gut (and throughout all organs of the body). A healthy intestine is lined with cells that form a tightly knit defense to keep its contents contained. Nutrients are pulled from the food we eat through tiny vessels from the circulatory system and lymphatic system within the villi, little hair like projections. When Candida erodes the lining of the gut, undigested food particles and large proteins, like gluten, are leaked into the bloodstream and the lymphatic fluid. The immune system attacks these particles, perceiving them as foreign invaders. This is the root cause of many auto-immune diseases and allergies.

What are the symptoms of gluten intolerance?

Digestive disturbances such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea are the most basic symptoms of gluten intolerance experienced when gluten is consumed. Those with a severe sensitivity also experience rashes (which can be severe, itchy, weeping sores) along with mild to severe muscle and joint pain.

Gluten sensitivity includes a reaction to foods with minute amounts of gluten including foods processed in a shared facility. In other words, wheat , rye, or barley may not be an included ingredient, but if the equipment used to process a particular sauce or packaged food was used to process food with wheat, it can be contaminated and produce symptoms.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease with a genetic predisposition. There are up to 300 symptoms of this disease, but there are also individuals who are asymptomatic. The one thing they all have in common is the result of eating gluten–it attacks and destroys the villi in the intestine. When villi is destroyed, our capacity for absorbing nutrients from our food is diminished. Each time gluten is eaten even in small amounts, more damage ensues.

Can gluten intolerance be reversed?

If Candida is eradicated, if the gut is completely healed and is no longer permeable, and the immune system has healed, it is possible that many will again tolerate gluten. It is advisable, however, to get tested to be sure Celiac disease is not silently damaging the intestine.

In conclusion

Gluten intolerance is not a fad. It is a fact–an every growing reality caused by the American diet and lifestyle. If you have been diagnosed with any autoimmune disease or with gluten intolerance, leaky gut caused by Candida may well be the root cause. See How to Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:
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Mercury Fillings, Root Canals, Cavitations – What You Need to Know

Is your mouth making you sick?

You can tell a lot about a person’s health by the condition of their mouth. It’s almost impossible to have a sick body and a healthy mouth or to have a healthy body and a sick mouth. You can, however, have a sick mouth and not know it. Your mercury filling can be leeching mercury particles or mercury vapor that is poisoning your tissues. Your root canal or your jawbone can be oozing potent toxins, even though you feel no pain.

Brian’s Amalgam (mercury) Fillings

Brian was an honor student at age fourteen. Within a month after his trip to the dentist, his world changed. Suddenly he experienced ongoing fatigue and a “brain fog” so severe he could not concentrate for more than ten minutes at a time. Honors classes became a thing of the past, while Brian, who had always been a happy well-adjusted teen, grappled with suicidal thoughts.

Ten years later Brian was searching the web for a means to treat his persistent body acne when one site said the treatment probably wouldn’t work unless mercury fillings were removed first. After a little research, Brian realized his fatigue, lack of attention, fogginess, and the metallic taste in his mouth all coincided with the dental visit when he acquired ten amalgam (mercury) fillings in his teeth. Just the removal of the first three amalgams resulted in a dramatic increase in mental clarity.

Melanie’s Root Canal

Melanie was a young mother of two children and a housewife when she became ill. First her ear began popping every time she swallowed and she could feel the pressure of fluid in her ear. Soon it was hard to swallow. Gynecological problems were followed by systemic symptoms of overwhelming pain and fatigue. Eventually, Melanie, sick as she was, was forced to go get a job in order to pay her medical bills. She was miserable and in constant pain until the day she had her dead tooth pulled. Before any of her symptoms began, Melanie had an infected tooth and a subsequent root canal. Although she experienced no pain at the site, the tooth was the root of her health problems. She felt better the first day that tooth was pulled, and all of her symptoms disappeared with a few months.

Nicole’s Cavitations

Soon after having her wisdom teeth removed, Nicole experienced extreme chronic pain on her left side, overwhelming fatigue, hair loss, “severe brain fog” and an increase in allergies and chemical sensitivities. She regained some of her health through an organic diet (alleviation of the chronic pain and brain fog) before finding information about cavitations—infections in the crater and bone left behind after an extraction. Now that her infections are being treated, her other symptoms are disappearing as well; her hair is growing back and she has fewer allergies and chemical sensitivities.

Mercury, root canals, and extractions can be the root of many illnesses

Few people are aware that auto-immune disease, chronic illnesses, and acute illnesses may be related to mercury poisoning from dental fillings or unresolved infection involving a root canal or extraction. In our society, conventional medicine and conventional dentistry both separate the mouth from the rest of the body, not realizing the synergistic relationship between each tooth and vital organs or the mouth’s ability to create systemic illness.

A tooth is arguably an organ in itself, and many holistic dentists view it as one. Each tooth is also connected to other organs, tissues, glands etc. through the meridians of the body. Disease with a dead tooth (root canal) or bone and tissue disease due to extractions (cavitations) not only leech toxins into the body, causing a challenge for the immune system, there is also a deleterious effect on organs and tissues of the corresponding meridian. This meridian connection goes both ways. “…my studies kept bringing me back to the role of dental procedures and dental diseases in general health conditions and to how oral disease is often a sign of systemic illness,” writes Dr. Alison Adams, a former dentist who became a naturopath. Systemic illness is also often a sign of undiagnosed oral disease.

Mercury fillings–amalgam

Mercury fillings slowly leech mercury and mercury vapor, causing a multitude of problems in the body including disruption of the nervous system, the immune system, the circulatory system, and the reproductive system. Mercury can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs—virtually every organ and every system in the body.

Mercury binds selenium, keeping it from fighting cancer cells. Nearly every process in the body relies on sulphur—hormones, enzymes, nerve tissue, and red blood cells, but mercury binds to sulfur, inactivating it.

Mercury binding to proteins may affect the immune system’s ability to recognize cancerous cells and normal cells, resulting in cancerous cells growing while the immune system attacks normal, healthy tissues resulting in auto-immune disease. It decreases liver detoxification and breaks DNA.

Mercury is found in the center of tumors. It plays a major role in reproductive and endocrine cancers. It also collects in the mouth and jaw with heavy collections of mercury in cavitations.

Mercury creates an anaerobic environment, one in which Candida flourishes. When mercury fillings are removed and a mercury detox is completed, Candidiasis significantly improves or resolves.

Dr. Adams states, “There are many thousands of documented cases where removal of amalgam fillings when combined with mercury detoxification and nutritional support has cured or significantly improved serious health problems including cancers such as multiple myeloma and leukemia.”

Mercury fillings can be removed and replaced, though it is imperative to your health that you choose a properly trained dentist to perform the removal, one who will make every effort to minimize your mercury exposure throughout the process. Look for biological dentists (those who practice holistic care).

In the meantime, it is important to continue a diet and supplement regime to aid your body is releasing the mercury already in your system as well as the mercury your fillings continue to release into your body with each day.

It is best to get your amalgam fillings properly removed as soon as possible. Do not ignore your need to keep flushing mercury from your body before and after the procedure.

Root canals

After a root canal is performed, the tooth is dead. The remaining tissue and structure now provides a ripe environment for infection. Tooth material (dentine) is not solid. It is rife with tubules—incredibly small canals or tunnels. If you were to stretch out the tubules in each tooth, tubules from incisors would reach 3 miles, while tubules from molars would reach 9 miles.

Once the pulp is removed from the tooth, there is no longer a blood or oxygen supply. The bacteria that remain can mutate to an anaerobic form and multiply until there are millions living within the tubules of the dead tooth. From there, they secrete potent toxins.

Holistic practitioners are finding these dead teeth are often a source of disease for the body—everything from unexplained symptoms to cancer. For example, Dr. Garcia tells of a woman who consulted several doctors for a mysterious swelling in one leg. Within one day after Dr. Garcia removed the woman’s tooth (an old root canal), the swelling was gone. When Dr. Thomas Rau, a Swiss physician who specializes in breast cancer, learned of the possible link between root canals and cancer, he investigated his last 150 patients and found that 97% of them did have one or more root canals—and they were on the same meridian side of the body as the cancer!

A dead tooth may spew toxins into the body with no detectable symptoms—no pain, no swelling of the gums—nothing to alert you that it is wrecking havoc upon your immune system and causing chronic and acute medical conditions that you are attempting to cure.

Speak with your holistic dentist about extracting and replacing cadaverous teeth and how to proceed with ongoing dental care. In the meantime, you must eat a diet that aids you in detoxing, while building the immune system.

Cavitations

Cavitations are infection of the bone after tooth extraction. It is believed that most of these infections are caused by two things: leaving the tendon that was attached to the tooth and not excavating the site of infection. Another cause may be the use of drugs during the procedure that cut off the blood flow to the site.

The best practice is to clean out the site, remove any dead tissue, bone, and the tendon, then allow the blood to clot. This blood clot forms the site for new cells to grow, to actually fill in the missing bone and build new healthy tissue. A dry socket or a closed site over active infection does not allow this healing process to occur.

When cavitations occur, they are often asymptomatic. Although the bone is being eaten by nasty anaerobic bacteria, there may be no pain. The bacteria, however, is exuding powerful toxins that may be causing damage to your immune system or the toxins may be the underlying cause of your chronic health condition(s).

Living with Toxic Teeth

Whether you are dealing with mercury, root canals, or cavitations, your immune system is under attack. Toxins or heavy metals are bombarding it, so you must give your immune system all of the nutritional support possible, while doing your best not to add to its burden.

Ideally, one would get their teeth fixed. Obviously there are many reasons why this isn’t always possible because of finances and many other reasons. If you are getting you teeth fixed, do lots of research and make sure your dentist is competent and knowledgeable of the health implications. If you need to wait, or for what ever reason, you’re stuck with a toxic mouth, there are steps you can take to dramatically reduce the dire effects of these common dentistry procedures.

To give your immune system support, eat a wide variety of nutrient dense foods. To avoid adding to your immune system’s burden, make sure those foods are organic. This is not the time for your immune system to have the additional burden of pesticides and herbicides or artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, MSG, GMOs or trans fats.

Your diet should consist of 80% fresh, raw, organic vegetables and fruits (more vegetables than fruits), and the remaining 20% should be whole foods as well. Refined sugars should be eliminated.

Many fruits and vegetables, especially when they’re eaten raw, chelate heavy metals and remove other toxins from the body. Both raw garlic and cilantro are well known for their powerful chelating properties. Try Shillington’s Total Tonic Recipe (or buy it here) to help restore health, balance PH, strengthen the immune system, and help pull heavy metals from the body:

  • 1 Handful of Garlic Cloves
  • 1 Handful of chopped Onions
  • 1 Handful of chopped Ginger
  • 1 Handful of chopped Horseradish
  • 1/2 handful of chopped Habanero Peppers

Throw in a blender and cover with an inch or two of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

All ingredients should be ORGANIC, but don’t let that stop you from making this great formula. You can use the mash right away or wait two weeks and tincture.

We also recommend HM Complex –from Pure Encapsulations (it doesn’t pull out important minerals like many other chelation supplements do). The combination, with a healthy diet, will work remarkably well to pull out heavy metals and other toxins. Be sure to drink lots of water as well. Better yet, check out this cranberry stevia lemonade recipe.

When dealing with mercury fillings, cavitations, and root canals, repairing (if necessary) and boosting the immune system is of paramount importance. Garlic should be your new best friend. Always keep the gut as healthy and balanced as possible. The idea is to make your blood uninhabitable to harmful pathogens (and Shillington’s Blood Detox can help with that, too). The human body can handle a heavy toxic burden when the diet is right and the body is getting lots of nutrition. Combine that with immune boosting, anti-pathogen herbs and supplements and some people find themselves healthier than the average person without those dental toxins in their mouths.

Take care of your teeth and gums as best you can. See Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally. Here’s a recipe from that article that everyone with any teeth or gum issues should have. Below that, we also have Shillington’s Blood Detox recipe. This is a very powerful tincture (and it comes as a tea, too); it’s life changing; it’s the most powerful tincture I know of for overall better health.

Doc Shillington’s Tooth and Gum Formula Recipe (click here to purchase):

(Use organic ingredients whenever possible).

  • 10 oz Echinacea Tincture
  • 1/4 cup of Tea Tree Oil
  • 4 oz. Bayberry Tincture
  • 2 oz. Oak Gall (or 3X Oak Bark) Tincture
  • 2 TBS. Cayenne Tincture
  • 2 1/2 Dropperfuls of Peppermint Oil
  • 2 1/2 Dropperfuls of Clove Oil

A dropperful is considered to be about 1/2 way up the dropper from a two ounce bottle.

Doc Shillington’s Blood Detox Recipe:

Blood Detox Tincture (click here to purchase):

(Mix the following by volume, and make a standard tincture using 100 proof vodka as your menstrum)

  • 2 – parts Red Clover Blossoms
  • 2 – parts Chaparral
  • 1 – part Lobelia
  • 1 – part Cayenne
  • 1 – part freshly chopped Garlic Bulb
  • 1 – part Burdock Seed & Root
  • 1 – part Poke Root
  • 1 – part Yellow Dock Root
  • 1 – part Goldenseal Root
  • 1 – part Oregon Grape Root
  • 1 – part Blood Root Sap
  • 1 – part European Mistletoe
  • 1 – part Periwinkle Flowers
Blood Detox Tea (click here to purchase):

Use the exact same herbs as above in exactly the same proportions and make as a decoction only. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes, then drink.

Take chlorella, spirulina, and lots of vitamin C, from a trustworthy whole food source, and eat tons of salad with a wide variety of produce. Check out this recipe,  Total Nutrition Make Your Own Homemade Multivitamin and Mineral Formula, and see this Salad Recipe here at Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included.

Conclusion

Most importantly, detoxify regularly, eat a strict diet with lots of raw produce, and take additional measures to keep the immune system exceptionally strong.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:

Sources:



An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

As the old adage says, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

The apple belongs to the Rosaceae family like it’s cousins the plum, nectarine, and peach. The apple is a sweet, crunchy fruit with an edible skin and a cream or white flesh that has been touted the world over for its health promoting and disease prevention benefits. The reality is that the medicinal properties of apples are well documented. Here are just a few to get you started.

Apples Are Low in Calories

A medium sized apple contains about 80-100 calories.

Apples Contain Vitamin C and Beta Carotene

The apple contains both Vitamin C and Beta Carotene antioxidants that help the body develop resistance against infections as well as aiding in the removal of harmful free radicals that cause inflammation inside the body.

Good Source of B Vitamins

Apples are a great source of B complex vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). These vitamins are considered “helper molecules” that assist in biochemical transformations inside the body.

Consuming Apples Can Boost Your Immune System

Apples contain several antioxidants that help the body protect itself from the effects of free radicals. Antioxidants are disease fighting compounds, which scientists believe help prevent and repair oxidation damage that happens in our bodies due to normal cell activity. Apples are rich in antioxidant phytonutrients, flavonoids, and polyphenolics. Some of the important flavonoids in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2 which help boost and fortify your immune system.

Apples Are High in Soluble Fiber

The apple is rich in dietary fiber, which helps prevent absorption of bad cholesterol in the gut.

Contain Fiber To Help Regulate Cholesterol

The soluble fiber found in apples binds with fats in the intestines and brings your overall cholesterol to lower levels.

Help Detoxify  Your Liver & Colon

Your liver is responsible for clearing the toxins out of your body. Toxins get into our bodies because we are consistently consuming them in the form of food or drinks. If the liver fails to function properly, all sorts of health problems will begin to occur. Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, like apples, is the easiest thing you can do to help detoxify your liver. The fiber is also beneficial because it saves the colon mucous membrane from exposure to these toxic substances by binding to cancer-causing chemicals inside the colon.

Can Decrease Risk of Diabetes

Apples are loaded with soluble fiber which dulls the blood sugar swings. Also, research shows that certain flavonoids present in apples could be the reason they have a beneficial effect. One study noted in the Feb 2012 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that people who ate 5 or more apples a week had a lower risk of developing diabetes than those who did not.

Fiber and Pectin Can Help Prevent Colon Cancer

The high amounts of fiber and pectin in the apple helps eliminate toxins and protects the lining of the colon so that cancer cells are unable to form.

Phenolic Compounds Aid the  Heart

When plaque builds inside your arteries, it reduces blood flow to your heart which can lead to coronary artery disease. High soluble fiber intake slows the buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries. The cholesterol that gets into your system is prevented from solidifying on your artery walls by the phenolic compound found in apple skins.

Helps Prevent Destruction of Brain Cells Causing  Alzheimers

Eating a few apples a day will prevent the destruction of brain cells which leads to Alzheimers. Noticeable improvements in the memory of Alzheimers patients were made after consuming apples and/or apple juice for a few weeks. Consuming apples may reduce your chances of developing Alzheimers by 75% as noted in a study done by Dr Shea, a neurobiologist at the University of Massachusetts.

Work To Prevent Gallstones

The gallbladder is a storage place for bile which is a liquid produced in the liver. The normal function of bile is to help your body digest fats. Gallstones form when liquid bile hardens and becomes pieces of stone like material that can block the common bile duct causing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting or a painful gallbladder attack. Gallstones have also been known to form when there is too much cholesterol in your bile. To prevent gallstones, doctors recommend a diet high in fiber to help you control your weight and cholesterol levels.

Work To Remove Stains from Teeth

Miraculously, the enzymes present in apples react to the stains on the surface of the teeth. Eating the skin as well as the flesh causes a rubbing effect which removes the stains from the teeth. This natural teeth whitening solution will not strip the enamel of the teeth while keeping them healthy and white!

How To Add Apples to Your Diet

There are many ways to add apples to your diet. Some common methods include eating them whole at breakfast or as a snack in between meals. Apples also make a great addition to any smoothie providing much of the bulk/fiber needed to hold it together. You can also chop apples to top a fresh salad or cook them in pies, muffins, breads, and cakes. Personally, I find apples and peanut butter to be a perfect, healthy treat that satisfies my sweet tooth.

Sources & Further Reading:



Hypertension – How To Lower Your Blood Pressure Quickly and Naturally

The problem with blood pressure medications is that they do not correct the underlying issue of the problem. Imagine you have a car with a 6-cylinder engine that is running very rough. You find out that two of your six cylinders have the problem, so you remove them or shut them down. Now your car runs smoothly, but it has to put out a lot more effort to get up to speed.

You should have cleaned all of the cylinders, flushed out the engine, and changed the oil, like an automotive detox. Instead, you cut out two of the cylinders completely, and now four are doing the work of six. And because the car was not meant to do this, your gas mileage is terrible, and more problems will develop soon. How long do you think this engine is going to last?

In order to get off of high blood pressure medications, it helps to understand the cause of high blood pressure.

Recommended: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

The goal is to balance the body’s pH and remove toxins
High blood pressure is almost always caused by thick, toxic blood. Consider that engine analogy, and think of our blood like the car’s motor oil and its gasoline. The cleaner the blood, the easier it is for the heart to pump it through the body. Chronic high blood pressure is a result of the heart working harder to push the blood where it needs to go. Restricting the heart doesn’t seem like the smartest thing to do, does it?

So What Causes This Toxic Thick Blood?

  • Smoking – Smoking anything toxifies the blood, makes it thick, and makes it harder to circulate. This includes marijuana.
  • Toxic Liver – A toxic liver results in dirty, sticky, thick blood full of toxins. And of course, smoking anything makes the whole body very toxic. Junk food, as in refined, processed food, does as well.
  • Kidneys – Kidneys that aren’t at optimum health do a poor job of filtering the blood. Sugary and artificial beverages slow down the kidneys. For non-smokers, getting off of sodas and cheap juices is often enough to lower blood pressure.
  • Candida – Candida seems to be at the foundation of almost everyone’s poor health and with good reason. Almost everyone, even self-proclaimed health experts, eats way too much sugar. Sugar feeds Candida, and Candida thickens the blood as it multiplies, poops, and multiplies some more.
  • pH Balance – Acidic blood is slow, thick, problematic blood because it impedes the kidneys’ ability to function, and causes a host of other problems, many of which also result in higher blood pressure for other reasons.
  • Fibrin – Vascular injury leads to inflammation and damage from free radicals which contributes to fibrin accumulation.
  • Low vitamin D and other vitamin and mineral imbalances.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism has also been recognized as a cause of hypertension. Previous studies regarding hypertension in subjects with hypothyroidism have demonstrated elevated blood pressure values. Increased peripheral vascular resistance and low cardiac output, known causes of hypertension, are believed to be the possible link between hypothyroidism and diastolic hypertension.

How To Reduce High Blood Pressure Naturally

If you’re willing to get off the drugs and do right by your body, the good news is that high blood pressure is extremely easy to fix. The bad news is that you’re going to have to change your lifestyle. The habits that got you here will have to go.

Low Blood Pressure Diet

The goal is to balance the body’s pH, remove toxins, and increase enzymatic actions. There are some easy short-term solutions for balancing the pH and achieving these other goals, but a diet with lots of fresh raw produce that is devoid of processed junk food is the best and only way to permanently balance the body’s PH and achieve optimum health. Also, eating in this manner eliminates the other toxic accumulation from junk food.

The foundation of a truly healthy diet is raw, fresh produce – 80% should be raw, fresh, organic produce, more vegetables than fruit. It’s this simple: the more raw fresh vegetables anyone eats, the healthier they become. Eliminate processed foods and increase your raw food intake; there’s nothing else that comes close to the power of raw produce when it comes to eliminating ailments and restoring health. Nothing comes close except…

Cranberry Stevia Lemonade

I drink a gallon of cranberry stevia lemonade a day. The difference in my health that I experienced when I started drinking it is amazing. I ate well and I was very healthy, but this took my body to another level.

For a surprising number of people, high blood pressure is simply dehydration. Soda, Gatorade, sugary juices, and coffee either dehydrate you immediately or they dehydrate you in the long run (for instance, Gatorade and cheap, sugary juices will impeded kidney function). When you don’t have enough fluid in your body, the blood gets thick and harder to move. Cranberry juice will help normalize the kidneys, lemon juice will flush the liver and normalize pH levels of the body, and the stevia, I find, simply goes very well with cranberry and lemon.

If for any reason you can’t do cranberry stevia lemonade, drink a lot of clean water. Distilled or spring water (provided the source is reliable) are the best choices to drink and to make the lemonade.

The Body’s pH

Between diet and the lemonade, your pH should balance quickly. If you need it to balance nearly immediately, or your body is extremely acidic (due to toxic accumulation such as drugs like chemo drugs) then try:

Doc Shillington’s Body Balance Formula Recipe:

  • 1 – cup of Organic Blackstrap Molasses
  • 1 – cup of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix well and take a tablespoon twice a day. I recommend also taking a strong probiotic with this formula as the molasses can feed Candida. This formula tastes horrible in my opinion, but some people actually like the taste, it’s got a lot of benefits, and it’s well worth it.

Other Recipes For Normalizing Blood Pressure

If you want to bring blood pressure down as quickly as possible, especially if you’re coming off medication and/or have a heart problem, the following formulas are an absolute must have to bring the body out of the danger zone quickly and promote long-term healing:

Ginger, Cranberry, Turmeric Tonic

Equal parts:

  • Cranberry juice
  • Ginger juice
  • Turmeric juice

This is an awesome way to start out the morning. Drink a shot of fresh pressed ginger, cranberry, turmeric juice. Ideally, as always, fresh is best. Juice turmeric root with the peel, ginger root with the peel as well, and cranberries. The perfect ratio is equal parts juice. Try to get whole, fresh cranberries if possible. If not, find some organic, unsweetened, un-concentrated/reconstituted cranberry juice with no additives.

Juice a total of  4 to 6 ounces and take the shot on an empty stomach. You should feel the benefits right away.

Doc Shillington’s Brain Tonic Recipe (or purchase here)

Doc Shillington’s Heart Formula Recipe (or purchase here)

Doc Shillington’s Blood Detox Formula Recipe (or purchase here)

Vitamin D

Studies have shown that those with higher levels of vitamin D in their system have lower blood pressure. Unfortunately, studies designed to prove supplementation with vitamin D lowers blood pressure have been inconsistent. Those showing benefits from supplementation have been small studies. But as often happens, the flaw in a large study was easy to spot. In the 7-year double-blind study of 36,282 postmenopausal women no evidence was found to support the idea that vitamin D supplementation reduces blood pressure. However, the dose given was too low (400 IU/day), half of the normal dose (700-800 IU/day) used for clinical purposes.

Coenzyme Q10

While the mechanism by which coenzyme Q10 reduces blood pressure is not fully understood, countless studies have shown significant improvement and reversal of high blood pressure with coenzyme Q10 supplementation.

Magnesium

Magnesium levels are consistently low in those who have hypertension. It’s recommended for most cases to take a mineral supplement that has a balanced range or minerals with magnesium, as opposed to just magnesium alone, especially for long-term supplementation.

Systemic Enzymes

Digestive enzymes break down food. Plant enzymes break down food in the pre-digestive phase of digestion before stomach acid inactivates them. Metabolic enzymes, also known as systemic enzymes, break down foreign proteins and fibrin and clean your blood of impurities. Consider the ramifications of this. Fibrin builds up when the body is damaged. It’s an important part of the healing process. Enzymes eliminate this scar tissue. Enzymes also eliminate viruses.

When a virus contacts a human cell, its external coating connects to the cell and the virus becomes able to contact DNA. This connection to DNA permits the virus to reproduce in a rapid manner. Proteolytic enzymes consume the exterior coating of a virus, rendering the virus permanently inert. They also break up circulating immune complexes in the blood. They enhance the elasticity of erythrocytes and reduce aggregation of blood platelets, increasing blood fluidity and its circulation in tissues. Enzymes are what take out the garbage, and they are the tools to rebuild the body. But the body can only produce so many.

When the body quits, producing proteolytic or protein digesting enzymes responsible for controlling fibrin levels in the body system, the body dies within 24 hours. The more enzymes we supplement the body with and get in our diets, the longer we live. It’s that simple. Heart attack, stroke, somewhere, somehow, the body will cease to function.” – Dr. Tim Kelly

Enzymes are the fountain of youth, if ever there was one. Aging appears to begin between the ages of 27 and 35 when the production of enzymes that dissolve protein begins to diminish. Scars stick around longer and remain more prominent. Aches and pains take longer to fade, injuries become slower to heal, and our body just doesn’t seem to recover like it once did because it doesn’t. We do damage to our body simply by being alive, and the more damage we do, the more enzymes we need to repair the damage.

Everybody can use more enzymes. We cannot get an optimal amount in our food unless we grow most of our own food with best practices to produce the most nutrient dense crops. Even then, we could still use more. Our body produces enzymes, but only a finite amount. The more foods we consume that are void of enzymes, the more we use up our finite supply.

Enzyme supplements fall under two categories: digestive and systemic. Digestive enzymes are taken with food to help digestion. There are also enzymes in raw foods that make it easier to absorb and properly assimilate nutrition.

Systemic enzymes (pancreatic enzymes, proteolytic enzymes, metabolic enzymes) are a bit more complicated. Getting enzymes from the digestive tract into the bloodstream isn’t easy. Enzymes released in the stomach will help digest food but will not survive the stomach acid. This is why systemic enzymes are typically offered in an acid-resistant capsule. The capsule is designed to release in the more alkaline environment of the intestinal tract. As long as the enzymes are taken on an empty stomach, the results have been shown to be spectacular.

Systemic enzymes have been used to treat problems and successfully eliminate ailments ranging from physical injuries, arthritis, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, autism, herpes, HIV, (seems to work against any virus) fibromyalgia, asthma, and so much more. Most of the research has been published in non-English language journals. This systemic use of oral enzyme supplementation is just beginning to take off in the United States.

There are no reported side effects with systemic enzymes. Massive doses do not cause any problems or side effects, unlike high doses of pharmaceutical drugs or extremely high doses of supplements and herbs. The initial dosage, which is often one potent enzyme pill taken three times daily, 45 minutes before or 45 minutes after a meal, can be raised by three tablets daily every few days until the desired therapeutic response develops. A person given more than 3700 enzyme tablets in one day experienced diarrhea, but this was attributed to the capsules, not the content. The only side-effects from the enzymes themselves will be reduced inflammation and reduction of damaged and decaying cells, fibrin, viruses, and other proteins that have been introduced from a leaky gut or the body’s own mutated proteins (which happens under stress).

Enzyme supplementation is not a quick fix, but over time, they do produce amazing results. Consider systemic enzyme supplementation for repairing the damage done to the body from vaccines, infections, toxins, poor diet or lifestyle choices, breathing the air we breathe, or anything that would cause any damage. Enzymes can help the body to reverse its age. What is age if not accumulated damage?

Conclusion

For those suffering from high blood pressure for a very long time, or those who have any other heart conditions, we also highly recommend Shillington’s Heart Formula and large doses of systemic enzymes right away. And do read Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies if you suffer from hypothyroidism.

Be sure to check out How to Make A Tincture if you plan to make one of the aforementioned formulas, and see the cranberry lemonade recipe here. High blood pressure is something you can eliminate very quickly. You just need to let go of conventional wisdom, embrace natural health, and clean your blood to that your heart can do its job.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:

Sources: