Kelp is a group of large sea algae that is commonly referred to as seaweed. This amazing plant species has been used for many years by sea dwelling cultures. It is renowned for its powerful nutritional benefits.

The Sea Vegetable PowerHouse

Kelp is part of the brown algae family in the order of Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera of this form.   In the 19^th century, the word “kelp” was used to describe seaweeds that were burned to form soda ash (sodium carbonate).

Kelp grows in shallow, underwater oceanic forests. It depends on cool temperatures between 43-57 degrees F (6-14 degrees C). Some kelp species grow well over a foot a day and can reach heights of 250 ft. These kelp species are easily harvested due to their surface canopy and underwater growth rate.

Kelp is Rich in Alkaline Buffering Nutrients:

Kelp is extraordinarily rich in alkaline buffering nutrients such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It is also a phenomenal source of chlorophyll to boost blood cell formation and purify the body.

Kelp is considered the world’s most potent source of naturally occurring iodine. Some species have been known to concentrate iodine by up to 30,000 times the amount in sea water. Iodine deficiencies are becoming increasingly common throughout the world. The areas with the least amount of iodine deficiencies are typically coastal regions where seaweed is readily available. Iodine deficiencies are known to cause hypothyroidism and goiter formation. Kelp has been used for many years as a remedy for these problems.

Kelp Boosts Glutathione Levels:

The Japanese call several Pacific species of kelp Kombu. These cultures use Kombu in many traditional dishes such as soups, stews, and sushi. Kombu is a powerful source of natural glutamic acid which is a precursor to the body’s master anti-oxidant, glutathione. Kombu is often used to soften beans during cooking and help convert challenging sugars into a more digestible form and thus reduce flatulence.

Sea vegetables like kelp are also a great source of the mineral vanadium. Vanadium helps form the haloperoxidase enzymes that help provide a natural antioxidant defense that has allowed these sea vegetables to flourish. Vanadium is a critical trace mineral that enhances insulin signaling and blood sugar balance by inhibiting the tyrosine phosphatase enzyme. This process also reduces glucose formation and enhances the body’s ability to store sugar in the form of muscle and liver glycogen. This is an important adaptation that helps the body withstand stress more effectively.

Kelp Has Unique Sulfated PolySaccharides:

Sea vegetables also contain a unique group of polysaccharides called fucoidans. These fucoidans have a characteristic branching pattern with sulfur containing molecules. They are being widely studied for their ability to reduce inflammation within the body. These sulfated fucoidans have been shown to reduce pain, fight viruses, and prevent atherosclerosis.

Fucoidans produce their anti-inflammatory effects by blocking selectin production and inhibiting pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and enzymes. Selectins are glycoproteins (sugar-protein molecules) that are often used to signal inflammatory processes in the body. Fucoidans also inhibit the enzyme Pphospholipase A2 (PLA-2) that turns on inflammatory processes.

Immune Boosting Activity:

These sulfated polysaccharides have also been shown to block the typical binding sites for many viruses such as Herpes. By blocking binding sites, the virus is unable to replicate. Without adequate replication, the viruses are unable to survive.

These sulfated polysaccharides are also revered for their powerful ability to reduce blood clots. Heparin (Coumadin) is a popular medical agent used to reduce clots. Heparin is also a sulfated polysaccharide although it is a synthetically derived form. Both of these reduce platelet cell coagulation that forms blood clots. Heparin comes with a number of dangerous side effects while naturally occurring sulfated polysaccharides in kelp have no known side effects.

Sources for This Article:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelp
• http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/handbook.html
• http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=135
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haloperoxidase

There are so many supplements to choose from, so many supplements with so many claims. I have tried hundreds. One of the reasons I do what I do is that I have always been very in tune with my body. I can tell what feels good, what feels amazing, and what feels like nothing, or worse. Most of the supplements people take don’t do anything. Or worse, these mainstream supplements often toxify the body.

Don’t get me wrong, I do a lot of research. I’m researching almost every day for hours and hours. But my body knows best. And in my experience, the two supplements everyone should have are a nutrition powder and a very good all purpose detoxification tincture.

The Best Nutritional Supplement

I don’t take a nutritional supplement every day. I am fortunate to have access to a wide variety of nutritionally dense vegetables and I eat large salads with a wide variety of produce virtually every single day. This is by far the very best way to get your vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and all of the nutrients you need for vitality.

But every now and then I do need extra nutrition. And sometimes I can’t or don’t have one of my salads. When I am traveling for instance, it can be tough to find healthy produce. I like to have a complete whole food sourced multivitamin/mineral nutrition powder with me for times like this. And if you don’t eat fresh raw produce regularly and/or if you eat refined processed foods, you would benefit from a high quality nutrition powder.

For mass produced supplements I like Green Vibrance. It’s a good company that makes good products. For the money and the availability (you see Green Vibrance everywhere these days!) it’s a great product.

But for getting the most nutrition possible, insuring that all of the nutrition is completely bio available, I like Shillington’s Total Nutrition Formula. It’s not as easy to find. In fact, there are only a very few places you can get it. But it’s the best nutrition supplement on the market that I know.

It doesn’t have the most ingredients, but what it does have gives your body the right building blocks for health and wellness. When there are too many ingredients in a formula, it can’t do that. Shillington’s Total Nutrition Formula has the highest quality ingredients and you will actually feel the difference. It’s amazing.

Is is expensive. In fact, any good nutrition powder is going to be pricey (Total Nutrition Powder and Green Vibrance are about he same price). Sure, health is priceless, but getting your nutrition out of a bottle costs a lot when it’s quality.

Want to save some money? Eat salads like the ones I make (click here). Still need a good supplement? Most people do. I recommend you make your own (click here).

But of course, you can always purchase from us. Total Nutrition is available at our store, Green Lifestyle Market.

The Best Herb

I have to give you two here. Garlic and Cayenne are a tie. I could not include one without the other.

The Amazing Benefits of Garlic

Garlic. If you are coming down with a cold, chew on a clove. Breath in and out of your mouth and keep chewing as long as you can (it likely won’t be long at first, but you’ll get better and better). I put raw garlic in my salads and when I cook I put in garlic at the last minute so it doesn’t cook and lose it’s effectiveness (sometimes I put some in early and then some in later). I feed garlic to my dog in her homemade dog food. It keeps fleas and other parasites away.

My family of four goes through a lot of garlic. I suspect anyone who knows a tenth of what garlic can do would eat a lot of it.

All that garlic can do for us is astounding! Its nutrition includes magnesium, calcium, B1, B6, C, phosphorus, copper, potassium, selenium, and tryptophan.  Garlic can help with a wide range of ailments including, but certainly not limited to, hair loss, acne, colds and flus, bacterial infections, fungus (yeast, Candida, athletes foot, etc.), psoriasis, weight control, cold sores, detoxification, cardiovascular health, and inflammation reduction. It even wards off mosquitoes!

The Amazing Benefits of Cayenne

Capsaicin is incredible. What Capsaicin can do is just mind boggling to me. I always try to keep a bottle of liquid cayenne extract with me because it can actually save someone’s life. If you see someone suffering from a heart attack, they need Capsaicin and lots of it! It can make the difference between life and death, and it can also make the difference between major damage and an easy recovery.

Capsaicin increases blood flow, helps to sooth muscle tension and pain, wakes you up, and helps with focus. Capsaicin is also used to treat bursitis, diabetes, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, shingles (herpes zoster), postherpetic neuralgia. stomachaches, digestive problems including stomach aches, indigestion,  cramping pains, gas, treatment of the circulatory system, and hemorrhaging.

The Best Herbal Supplement

The best herbal supplement has garlic and cayenne. Ingredients also include Red clover, chaparral, poke root, periwinkle lower, mullein, burdock seed and root, yellow dock root, goldenseal root, Oregon grape root, and bloodroot. This is not for the faint of heart! This tincture will kick you in the mouth! But it’s truly amazing stuff.

Shillington’s Blood Detox

I was really sick recently. I haven’t been sick in such a long time, but I was bedridden, feeling like I was 90 years old on my deathbed.

I have little restraint. And I loved getting high. I had just moved to California and got a prescription for marijuana. I told them I needed the prescription for anxiety, which was due to using marijuana illegally. I thought it was funny, but the prescriber made me come up with another reason to get the prescription. I think we said insomnia.

I got high a lot. And my tolerance shot way up very quickly. I was over a gram a day in less than a week. I was wasting a lot of money and my health was deteriorating. I am not one of those people who have convinced myself that smoking marijuana is good for you. THC has its benefits, but smoking anything, as much fun as it can be, is not healthy. And that’s not to mention the likelihood of smoking pesticides and other chemicals.

Within a couple of months my thyroid was shot, my adrenals were barely functioning, and I was peeing dark brown, almost red urine, And I still had a bunch of weed left!

One day I woke up and I couldn’t move. My body wouldn’t stand. I felt nauseous and dizzy and as sick as I’ve ever been. The next day I was worse. I won’t bore you with the long list of symptoms, but the point is that I made myself very sick (for the first time in so many years!) with a combination of way too much smoking and (probably) some weed that got sprayed very heavily with pesticides. And yes, it was medical grade.

I called my warehouse and told them to send me some Blood detox.  For 3 days I was having trouble simply making it to the restroom (and urination took forever!). When I got the Blood Detox, I was up and walking normally within an hour. It was amazing.

It was a great experience, too–one that I am yet to completely recover from– but I’m back to about 97% (I need to take the time to do a radical full body detox). I learned a lot. And I suppose you could say I grew up, since my desire to get high is next to nothing now. But mostly, it solidified my belief that blood detox is the most amazing herbal supplement I’ve ever come across.

For absolutely any health condition, I recommend blood detox. By itself, in many instances, it can make a huge difference. In combination with other target herbal remedies and nutrition it can work miracles.

If you can only afford one herbal tincture, Shillington’s Blood Detox is what I recommend you have and keep with you at all times. At the first sign of a cold, like a sore throat or congestion, take a dropper full. For any and all ailments, from cancer to diabetes to fibromyalgia, this is the first tincture I recommend, second only to a healthy diet. After a night of drinking and/or using recreational drugs (not that I condone getting high) I do recommend Blood Detox afterwards.

Healthy blood means a healthy body. There is nothing more important for your health than getting enough nutrition and having clean, relatively toxin free blood.

If you need a total body detox or are suffering from any serious ailment, I recommend using the Blood Detox Tincture in conjunction with the Blood Detox Tea.

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask underneath within the comments or contact me via Facebook or Twitter.

We at OLM are not fans of sunscreen or sunblock. The problem is that we have not found a totally safe and benign topical way to protect the skin from sun damage besides coverage with clothing and hats.

Sunlight has numerous health benefits including the most well known, vitamin D. Most of us do not get enough vitamin D. And anyone who eats well and is in relative good health can enjoy sunlight. As with everything else having to do with health, believe it or not, a healthy diet full of a wide variety of organic, nutrient dense fresh produce is the very best way to prevent, heal, and reverse premature aging, damage, and skin cancers that can be caused by the sun.

Simply limiting exposure to shorter periods until the skin builds up its natural defenses is the best way to be able to play in the sun without the worry of sun damage. But we live in the real world, and not everyone has time to build up the their sun tolerance for a week in order to enjoy 8 hours at the beach with nothing more than a swimsuit.

Exaggerated Dangers of Sunlight

When we first learned about the dangers of too much sun exposure, we ignored the dangers of not enough sun exposure, which as it turns out, leads to greater incidents of cancer, including the more dangerous form of skin cancer.

“There are two types of skin cancer,” says Dr. Michael Holick, one of the world’s leading authorities on vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency. “There’s what’s called non-melanoma skin cancer and there is no question that excessive exposure to sunlight and sunburns will damage the DNA and induce skin cells to become cancerous. That is non-melanoma squamous and basal cell cancers. They are typically easy to detect, easy to treat. They’re not lethal, for the most part.

“Melanoma is a different story. Most melanomas occur on the least sun exposed areas. Occupational sun exposure decreases your risk of malignant melanoma.”

And to top it off, vitamin D, what you get from our vilified sun, is one of the best preventers of any and all types of cancer!

For more on sunlight, skin cancer, and vitamin D, check out our article, Sunlight and Vitamin D.

Dangers of Sunscreens

So we all got scared of skin cancer, and what did we do? We started slathering on toxic chemicals that kept our skin from appearing and feeling burned while we sunbathed . Thinking we were totally protected, we cooked these chemicals into our skin, causing serious damage to out skin, our liver, our DNA, etc.

And guess what happened? Skin cancer rates rose right along with the use of sunscreen.

Canada Proposes Stricter  Sunscreen Regulations

If Canada’s planned rules take effect, this would likely prompt much needed changes in the sunscreens sold in the United States.

“Sunscreen companies won’t make better products until they are forced to,” said Sonya Lunder, Senior Analyst at Environmental Working Group. “EWG welcomes Canada’s efforts to improve sunscreen protection, particularly because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration appears unable or unwilling to wrap up its sunscreen rules more than thirty years in the making.”

For more on Canada’s Stricter Sunscreen Rules, checkout The Environmental Working Group’s article.

EWG

The Environmental Working Group has just released its 7th annual Sunscreen Guide.This guide rates the safety and efficacy of over 1,400 sunscreens, lotions, lip products and makeups that advertise sun protection.

“The vast majority of sunscreens available to the consumer aren’t as good as most people think they are, but there are a handful of products that rise above the rest,” said Sonya Lunder, senior research analyst at EWG and lead author of the report. “The best advice for concerned consumers is to use sun-protective clothing, stay in the shade to reduce intense sun exposure, and schedule regular skin examinations by a doctor. And turn to EWG’s guide to find the best sunscreens for skin that isn’t protected by clothing.”

“Despite an increasing awareness of the sun’s risks, rates of melanoma – the deadliest skin cancer – have tripled over the past 35 years, with an annual increase of 1.9 percent per year since 2000,” Lunder said.

The Environmental Working Group states, “Part of the reason for the increase may be the decades of deceptive marketing claims by sunscreen manufacturers, EWG researchers said.  EWG believes that the federal Food and Drug Administration should press companies to stop selling high-SPF sunscreens (above 50+), which account for 1 in 7 products on the market. As a result of misleading and confusing marketing claims, consumers frequently misuse sunscreens and spend more time in the sun than they should, putting themselves at greater risk.” We contend that that sunscreen’s toxic chemicals are the biggest culprit.

Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid

Retinyl Palmitate: In sunscreen, exposed to the intense rays of the sun, Retinyl Palmitate builds up in the skin elevating the risk of skin cancer and other health issues.

Oxybenzone: Also known as methanone, 2-hydroxy 4 methoxydenzophenone and benzophenone-3. The Environmental Working Group states that 56% of sunscreens contain Oxybenzone, a penetration enhancer (causes other chemicals to be able to penetrate skin). This chemical is known to cause allergic skin reactions that can spread beyond applied areas. Oxybenzone disrupts the human endocrine system and can damage the cardiovascular system.

Octinoxate: The most widely used sunscreen ingredient, octinoxate helps other ingredients be absorbed more readily. Studies show that this chemical is likely responsible for disrupting the endocrine system by altering hormones. The chemical’s effects on estrogen levels are harmful for humans and our environment. Octinoxate is likely the main culprit for premature aging due to the fact that it produces free radicals that attack and damage our skin cells.

Benzophenone-3 (B-3): Can damage DNA.

Amino Benzoic Acid: Otherwise known as PABA, para-aminobenzoic acid, Vitamin Bx or padimate O, Amino Benzoic Acid  is a nontoxic UV filtering compound. But researchers have come to find that Amino Benzoic Acid can amplify cellular damage.

Homosalate: Like oxybenzone, homosalate can mimic bodily hormones. Our bodies cannot remove this chemical at the common rate of absorption so it accumulates to very toxic levels over time.

Paraben Preservatives: There have been many reports of serious chronic and acute side effects associated with Paraben preservatives. Derived from plant and petroleum sources, these preservatives may cause irritation and allergic reactions. More importantly, the chronic effects of Paraben use are known to disrupt and mimic hormones and cause reproductive toxicity. As a suspected carcinogen, it has connections with breast tumors, skin cell damage, and oxidative stress on the body’s tissues, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Octocrytene: This synthetic UV absorber may produce oxygen radicals that cause cell mutation resulting in increased production of free radicals that are known to damage DNA, which may lead malignant melanoma skin cancer.

Artificial Ingredients: Scents, colors, and preservatives are never good to put on your skin. They are absorbed into your body, and when baked in the sun, many of these ingredients can become even more dangerous,. Like, for starters, many artificial ingredients when cooked into the skin produce DNA damaging free radicals. These artificial ingredients are bad for us, bad for the environment, and should be avoided anywhere, in food, sunscreens, supplements, etc.

The Safest Effective Active Sunscreen Ingredient

While there are many totally natural, completely safe, and edible ingredient options that offer some protection from the sun, the highest SPF you can get from them is about a 5 (see our homemade recipe below). But for a higher level of sunburn protection, we choose zinc oxide. Not the nano technology kind which is composed of zinc oxide particles so small they are absorb into the skin. You don’t want to absorb zinc oxide.  And if you’re healthy, you shouldn’t absorb any non nano zinc oxide applied to the skin. It’s still not the kind of thing we want to put on our body. But for any significant SPF protection, it’s the best choice we know of.

For more on zinc oxide, check out this post by The Environmental Working Group.

Homemade Sunscreen

It’s easy to make your own sunscreen. But how effective is it? There are some efficacy issues to consider. And be careful. Don’t just slather on some coconut oil with zinc oxide and then spend 8 hours in the sun.

Homemade Sunscreen Warning

Before deciding to save a few dollars with the DIY route, consider some of the issues that arise when making your own sunscreen.

One problem with making your own sunscreen at home is that there is no effective way to test SPF levels. Another issue is mixing the ingredients. Sunscreen manufacturers use a high pressure machine called a homogenizer to break up zinc and/or titanium dioxide particles in order to evenly distribute them throughout he formulas. Mixing by hand, or even a blender can cause uneven distribution of the active ingredients leaving large areas of skin partially or totally exposed to UV rays.

And oils by themselves can actually contribute to sunburns by absorbing light which allows greater UV ray penetration. It should also be noted that store-bought sunscreens typically contain a of different ingredients to protect against the different wavelengths of UV rays. Zinc or titanium dioxide alone does not offer the same level of protection from sunburns.

That said, we still choose sunburn over cancer causing chemicals any day! And we are a fan of DIY projects. But regardless, when using sunscreen, and especially the homemade variety, use common sense with sun exposure. Reapply after getting wet. Use a hat and cover the body after or get out of the sun all together before you burn.

How to Make Homemade Organic Sunscreen

• 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel
• 1/4 a cup of coconut oil
• 1/4 cup of raspberry seed oil
• 5 tablespoons Shea Butter
• ¼ cup Beeswax
• 5 tablespoons Zinc Oxide

Coconut oil and shea butter are natural sunscreens (around SPF 5). The beeswax helps make lotion water resistant. Aloe moisturizes and protects against burns. Raspberry seed oil has an SPF of 25-50.

Zinc Oxide must be only zinc oxide and should not be nano particle technology (it should not be able to be absorbed through the skin). Be careful not to inhale!

Optional Ingredients – Antioxidants

• Green Tea (brew concentrated green tea and add ¼ a cup)
• 3 tablespoons of Vitamin E oil
• 10 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract

You can also add essential oils for scent, but avoid citrus as citrus oils can contribute to sunburns.

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except zinc oxide and heat until ingredients liquefy. You want ingredients to melt but not cook or become too hot for the next step, so watch closely and pull as soon as liquefied. We recommend a double boiler for this. You can also put the ingredients into a jar and put the jar into a pot of hot water on the stove at a higher setting.

Put ingredients into a blender with zinc oxide (the better quality the blender the better this will work) and blend with zinc oxide. If you don’t have a blender (or you have a cheap one that doesn’t mix well) then see above warnings.

Mix on highest setting until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and then pour the solution into the container you will use to store it.  A pump container isn’t going to work very well for this. I recommend a mason jar.

Now place the product in the freezer for about 20 minutes. This will solidify the product so that the ingredients stay evenly mixed and don’t separate. Then put product in the refrigerator.

Keeping the product cool keeps the ingredients from separating. This allows us to have a more stable product without the use of the chemicals manufacturers have to resort to keep their product ingredients evenly distributed.

When ready to use, you can scoop some out and put into a smaller container to take with you, or put the whole thing in a cooler with your picnic.

And play with the recipe. Depending on the product consistency and the temperature you keep it at, you may find that varying some of the ingredients work better for you.

Application

If you know you’re going to be needing sun protection the next day, we recommend applying sunscreen liberally the night before and the morning or for greatest efficacy.

Notes

This recipe has an SPF of around 30. More or less Zinc Oxide will increase or decrease the SPF. It is water resistant, but if you sweat or swim do reapply.

More beeswax makes thicker sunscreen, less makes thinner. We like thicker to reduce ingredients settling and separating.

Remove the zinc oxide and you’ve got an amazing lotion that has a little bit of sun protection as well.

And for truly organic sunscreen, and a totally edible sunscreen (a light sunscreen with a low SPF), remove the zinc oxide and make sure all ingredients are 100% organic.

And here is an infograph we just came across from livelovefruit.com. Let us know if you try some of these oils!

Best Sunscreen

We like Solar Body Block 30+ by DeVita Professional Skin Care. It’s vegan, cruelty free, paraben free, titanium dioxide free, and has been tested and proven to be of SPF level 32. We liked it, so we got it for our store at Green Lifestyle Market.

https://www.greenlifestylemarket.com/solar-body-block-30-7oz-devita-professional-skin-care

You can check out the Environmental Working Group’s listing of Solar Body Block 30+ here

We Want to Hear From You

What, if anything, do you do for sunburn protection? Do you have any sunscreen recipes or ways to improve our recipes? Did you have any luck with the homemade sunscreen recipe or some of the oils listed?

Doc Shillington not only sells his Total Nutrition Formula, which is available at Green lifestyle Market, he also tells us how to make our own. One of the reasons we love working with Doc is that he empowers people to take their health into their own hands. And as you know, here at OLM, we love DIY healthcare!

Doc’s Total Nutrition Formula, a perfectly balanced blend of whole foods, is specially formulated to supply you with natural food source vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential trace elements. These are nature’s nutrients, not man-made or synthetic.  All ingredients are from the richest, whole food sources on the planet and are organically grown or wildcrafted.  Along with diet, a comprehensive multivitamin/mineral formula from quality whole foods should be the foundation of any health building program.

Total Nutrition Formula Recipe

With this recipe a “part” means a measurement by volume and not weight. What volume you use is up to you. All ingredients should be organic or wildcrafted.

• 1 part Alfalfa Grass Powder
• 1 part Barley Grass Powder
• 1 part Wheat Grass Powder
• 1 part Norwegian Purple Dulse Seaweed Powder
• 1 part Beet Root Powder
• 1 part Spinach Leaf Powder
• 1 part Rosehips Powder
• 1 part Orange Peel Powder
• 1 part Lemon Peel Powder
• 1 part Astragalus Powder
• 1.5 parts Spirulina Green Algae
• 1.5 parts Chlorella Broken Cell Algae
• 5 parts Yeast Flakes
• 5 parts Yeast Powder

Combine all ingredients. Mix thoroughly. You may need a dust mask when mixing, as the powders can get into the air and irritate the nose and throat. We mix ours on a patio when there is no wind where we can easily rinse off the mess.

Yeast (both the flakes and the powder) must be non-active saccharomyces cerevisiae nutritional yeast fortified with B12. Which is safe for patients with Candida albicans. Doc wrote, “I added astragalus as it is the #1 herb for balancing metabolism and blood sugar levels. Without changing my diet one iota, I dropped 10 pounds when I added this little goody to the formula. I also upped the spirulina and chlorella 50% each to increase the protein, and mineral intake.”

Most of the ingredients can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs. We plan to offer all of these ingredients at Green Lifestyle Market soon as well so that you can make your own without having to go to multiple stores to get ingredients. Use 1-2 teaspoons as a daily addition to any drink.

About the Ingredients

Again, if you are making your own homemade total nutrition, be absolutely sure to use only the finest wildcrafted or organic ingredients. Doc Shillington tells us about the ingredients in Total Nutrition:

Spirulina  Blue  Green  Algae

“Spirulina is one of the most concentrated, nutritious foods on this planet. It is the highest natural source of complete protein (77%).  Also, it is extremely high in Beta Carotene.  Spirulina is one of the richest sources of minerals, and being one of the oldest types of algae, it has a soft cell wall for easy digestion.”

Chlorella

“Chlorella is second only to spirulina in nutritional content.  Another algae,” it is an extremely concentrated source of nutrition that also assists in heavy metal removal from the body. The cell wall has been cracked to make the nutrients more available and increase its digestibility.”

Astragalus

“In Oriental herbology, astragalus shares the #1 spot with ginseng.  Astragalus not only has a reputation for preventing cancer, but it is legendary for rejuvenating digestive organs and balancing blood sugar levels.  Astragalus also corrects metabolism,and can therefore bring about weight loss or weight gain depending on the needed improvement.  This makes it equally great for weight lifters and weight reducers.  Furthermore, astragalus strengthens and builds the immune system, promotes the healing of every kind of wound or injury, balances hormones and is well known for dramatically increasing energy levels.  Lastly, it is essential in assisting those who wish to handle diabetes.”

Alfalfa,  Barley,  and  Wheat  Grasses

“These are the vitamin / mineral herb Grasses.  They are mildly cleansing and the greatest sources of nutrition and minerals of any of the grasses. Grain grasses are more powerful than the grains themselves, offering a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and chlorophyll.”

Purple  Dulse  Seaweed

“Seaweeds are the richest source of minerals on the planet. They contain all the trace elements that are found in all the oceans and the Earth’s crust.  Purple dulse was chosen for this formula because it has the highest mineral concentration but also a bland, less fishy taste that actually tastes good by itself.”

Beet  Root  and  Spinach  Leaf

“Beets and spinach are some of the best sources of organic iron. Beets, being a root vegetable and growing underground, change inorganic raw elements into plant minerals, that are very usable. Spinach is a great source of calcium, magnesium, iron and vitamin K.  Furthermore, both of these plants are famous for their blood building ability.”

Rose  Hips,  Orange  and  Lemon  Peels

Revered as the best sources of vitamin C, these fruits are also a balanced C-complex source. They contain bioflavinoids, rutin, hesperidin, calcium and all of the trace elements that are now known to be necessary to assimilate vitamin C. The citrus peels are also one of the highest sources of pectin, which has been proven to remove heavy metals (mercury, lead, etc.), and even removes radioactive contamination like deadly strontium 90 from the body.

Non-Active  Saccharomyces  Cerevisiae  Nutritional  Yeast

This yeast is grown on beets and pure molasses. It is the second highest source of complete protein in nature (50%), and the richest source of B vitamins.  It is also a rich source of iron and many other minerals.  The yeast we chose to use is heated high enough to absolutely destroy any yeast activity, but not high enough to lessen the B vitamin content.  It is totally NON active and safe for clients with Candida Albicans or those on yeast free diets.”

When asked about the difference between his formula and other popular formula with many ingredients, Doc says, “Remember, it’s not how many nutrients you can get into your system; it’s how many quality ingredients your body can absorb and use.” There are many nutrition formula recipes and almost as many nutrition formulas being sold on the market.

While Doc Shillington’s formula is one of the most simple versions, it’s also the best. Doc goes on to say, “It is possible to have too many ingredients in a formula. It becomes a question of a homeopathic dosage rather than a nutritional dosage. The idea is to put actual building blocks there, not just a homeopathic teaser that the body likes (or not).”

Our Favorite Basic Smoothie Recipe

In a blender combine the following:

• 1 cup of freshly squeezed organic apple juice
• 1 1/2 cups of organic, frozen, mixed berries (or any other fruit you choose)
• 2 level tablespoons of Udo’s Oil (3.6.9 Blend)
• 2 heaping tablespoons of nutritional powder
• 1 raw organic egg (Must be organic; conventional eggs are a source of salmonella!)

More of Shillington’s Recipes:

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Recommended Supplements:

• Total Nutrition Formula

Further Reading:

• Bullet Proof Your Immune System
  
• Homemade Calcium and Magnesium
• Homemade Vitamin C
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

This method helps you to also give birth without lower back pain, heal the sciatic nerve, stop spending money on chiropractors, with Vibram Five Fingers information

I run. Humans are meant to run. We’ve come to find that we humans caught prey in large part because of our ability to outrun other animals due to our incredible endurance. We aren’t fast compared to many  animals, but we can run over 100 miles without stopping. And our bodies are very good at staying cool.

The problem with running today is that our crappy shoe design attempts to support our arches and causes us to  heel strike. Most knee, hip, and I suspect most lower back pain, is caused by shoe design that attempts to support our arches but actually weakens them.

Fallen Arches, Flat Feet, Back and Knee Pain

The arch issue is huge! People who grew up as barefoot children have arches that are naturally stronger than  people who always wore shoes right from the start. Those who played barefoot while their feet developed have the ability to easily rebuild their arch strength. Those who have worn shoes from the very beginning are bound to have serious alignment issues with their whole body. And high heels hurt arch strength as well.Shoes with arch support cause flat feet because the support actually weakens the arches.In addition, when the toes are not allowed independent movement for walking, the toe muscles weaken (the toe muscles are within your arch). When the shoes come off, the arches flatten. Then they don’t go all the way back up and in as they should be when the shoes go back on unless the arch support is very stiff, like orthopedic shoes. So the arches stay flattened, knees buckle in, and  hips shift one way or the other to compensate, depending on which knee is more buckled inward.

There was a guy in jail who used to be a football player. (For those of you who don’t know, yes, I was in jail.) He was working out, and I asked him why he wouldn’t do squats. He told me about his knee. He talked about his football days; he tore his ACL playing high school football. He was thinking he would go pro, but with the torn ACL, from that point on, he lead of life of crime. He told me his uncle was going to pay for half of his surgery and his wife would pay the other half and he could finally get a decent job. The guy was in terrible pain all the time and never had the money for the surgery. But he worked out every day, and he wanted to be able to squat.

I told him how the ACL can heal if it’s not severed. I told him he just needed to fix his arches. He laughed and called me an idiot. Everyone listening started made fun of me. But I persisted, and we made a deal. I would fix his arches and he could do a full squat, or I would give him all of my commissary for a month. Everyone laughed at this, called me names, and a few people threatened to kick my ass for being such a bullshitter. But he let me do it. I pushed back in his arches, adjusted his hips as well, and then he did a full squat for the first time in years. The look on his face almost made jail worth the stay. Actually, honestly, it was worth it. I love healing people more than anything. Within seconds there was a line to my bunk of people waiting to be cured of whatever ailed them.

Running and squatting with good form can heal the joins and ligaments. It should be noted here that adequate nutrition makes a huge difference as well. If you don’t get the nutrients to fix the injuries, the injuries will persist in most cases, or at least easily come back at the slightest opportunity.

Vibram Five Finger Shoes and How to Run

I am a huge fan of Vibrams. They are all I ever wear. They allow for independent toe movement which builds arch strength and aids in walking and running more efficiently.

I run with a mid-foot strike, unless I am sprinting. When I sprint, I run on the balls of my feet. If you want to know how to run, do it barefoot first. Find a safe place where you aren’t likely to step on glass or rocks or anything dangerous. Run. See how it feels. Adjust your form. Forget what you knew; just feel your body. It will tell you the proper form very quickly.

Many people have flat feet and don’t realize it. Even if arches are a little flat, as in, just slightly out, this can cause significant pain and misalignment.

Avoid Back Labor and Improper Infant Positioning at Birth

Vibrams aren’t just for running. I recommend  Vibrams for anyone who is pregnant. Get them immediately! And squat. If you aren’t too far along in your pregnancy, you should be doing lots of full squats and lots of walking. Hips being out of alignment (as mentioned, typically caused by flat arches) is a very common cause of back labor and difficulty delivering. If Vibrams are not an option, or the pregnancy is in its third trimester, go with orthopedic shoes that will push the arches back in and keep them in.

Arches and Chiropractic

While there are many variables, for most people, fixing their feet fixes not just the knees, hips, and lower back, but the whole spine all the way up to the neck. And I suspect that this is not something chiropractors talk about because everyone that I’ve ever gotten to start primarily wearing Vibrams has been able to completely rid themselves of back and neck pain within a few months. Obviously, as readers of OLM are well aware, the money is in treatment, not cures.

Fix Your Arches and Start running without Knee Pain

Put your arches back in yourself. If you don’t believe that this is the cause of your knee pain, just give it a try and see what happens. It may get a little better every time, or they might just pop right into place, but in almost every case, it will make a perceptible difference.

How to fix you arches

A golf ball, a tennis ball, any small ball, a towel rolled up, a rock, anything that you can put weight on with your foot can be used to push your arches back into place. Put pressure all over your arch by pushing down on the object. Stand on it if possible. Put in one arch at a time (both are usually out but one is almost always worse than the other). The flatter the arch, the more it hurts. But you will find that the more you do it, the less it hurts to push them back in.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/b4U0u–ew7I

Take your time. Give yourself a strong foot massage using this method. Push in hard. You should be able to feel it when the arch goes back in. But they won’t always go in all the way at first.

Now do a squat. Better? It should be. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on this.

The next step is to get Vibrams. Walk barefoot or in Vibram Five Finger shoes as much as possible. Use your toes too. Feel them push off with each stride. And then, take up running if you don’t already. And squats. Get up to 100 bodyweight squats, and you will be amazed at how much your body transforms!

How To Get Vibram Five Fingers That Fit a Tight Budget

If you’re on a tight budget like me, you’ll notice that Vibrams are expensive! But I typically spend about 1/3 the price. During the right time of year, just before the new models come out, sales are to be found up to 50% off. In addition, if you go into a store that sells them you can get yourself fitted and then check on eBay or Craigslist for people who are selling them. Lots of people get the wrong size, or just don’t know how awesome they really are. I just bought a pair for $30 on eBay because they are slightly used. I like to get them used because they are much less likely to be counterfeit that way (that’s a problem with Five Fingers, and the counterfeit ones are garbage).

The Bikilas have the most padding, perfect for the beginner Vibram wearer and your everyday walking shoe. But I prefer to do my runs in a pair with minimal padding.

One more thing

Diet is paramount. If you eat crap, your body goes out of alignment  I’m not going to get into the details of why in this post, but even your arches can drop due to a toxic diet without enough nutrition. And injuries take time, so take your time ,too, if you’re recovering from an injury. With the right shoes, or no shoes at all, and the right nutrition  almost anyone can completely rid themselves of knee and back pain for the rest of their lives. I did. And I’ve helped many others do the same.

Arches that don’t stay in place are often a sign of hypothyroidism. Check out Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

Eat Yourself Thin! with The Top 3 Fat-Fighting Fats

Good news. Fat is your friend.  Forget anything you’ve ever read, been told, or been bombarded with on the supermarket shelves. Fat and cholesterol are vital for your health and wellbeing.  Pretty good news, huh?

The key is to eat the right fats, in moderation.  Fats support healthy hormones, promote skin regeneration, reduce sugar cravings, keep you fuller for longer, burn (yes, I said burn) body fat, support brain health, boost energy levels and metabolism, protect your immune system, and optimize your health.

Low-fat products, one of my favourite topics, are just plain-old dodgy.  You have every right to ditch them from your fridge.  In order to have the fat removed,they process the normal (full-fat) product by applying heat, which begins to destroy the nutrient content. Then the fat-soluble vitamins present in the product are also removed along with the fat.  Vitamin A and Vitamin D, for instance, are fat-soluble, so in order for your body to absorb these vitamins you actually need a little fat in your food.

To make matters worse when they sell low-fat products they need to put back in the vitamins that have been removed, so they toss in synthetic vitamins.  The body doesn’t know what on Earth to do with these random synthetic vitamins; it doesn’t recognise them and simply cannot absorb them because the food still lacks fat!

Full-fat products are not only tastier, they are more natural and are better for your health and wellbeing. Plus, you often eat less, because they fill you up. Think of yoghurt. Is there anything better than a dollop of thick, creamy Greek yoghurt?  Runny, fluro pink, strawberry flavored, low-fat yoghurt you could drink through a straw  just doesn’t compare.

The French are onto something; they have some of the most beautiful fatty foods in the world (think cheeses and rich meats), yet they are a skinny nation because they only eat a little at a time.

Back to my point. There are three types of fats: unsaturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, and all are necessary, though some are needed more than others.

1. Saturated fats include butter, lard, dairy products, milk, and coconut oil.
2. Polyunsaturated fats are found in salmon, tuna, walnuts and vegetable oils like corn oil and soybean oil.
3. Monounsaturated fats can come from avocados, olive oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil.

I do want to point out that of the saturated fats, some are better than others. Plant-based fats, like coconut oil, have amazing fat-burning and immune-boosting properties, unlike other saturated fat products that are very high in cholesterol.

So what does this mean for you?  Well, you’ve gotta jump on the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats bandwagon.

Saturated fats are the ones you want to limit, as they’re linked with chronic conditions such as heart disease.  Trans fats are ones you really want to dodge, at all costs.  They’re heavily processed and chemical-ridden, which not only contributes to weight gain around the middle, they also put stress on your liver, contribute to potential hormone imbalances, and can lead to chronic conditions.

Trans fats are typically laden with sugar, making them even more detrimental to your health, hormones, nervous system, and of course your waistline.  Trans fats are usually found in fried foods and takeaway, including hot chips, (French fries) cakes, and doughnuts.

Plus sugar is the major culprit in weight gain and obesity, as well as numerous chronic diseases.   There are natural sweeteners found in nature that make great alternatives to sugar. Try xylitol and stevia, which you should be able to buy from your local health store.

The Top 3 Fat-Fighting Fats

Coconut Oil

• Antibacterial benefits
• Boosts your immune system
• Easily digested – your gut loves it!
• Fabulous to cook with as it can withstand high temperatures, meaning it doesn’t become damaged during cooking or frying and turn carcinogenic like some other oils

Try adding a teaspoon of it to a green tea, or cooking your eggs or meat with it.

Avocado

• Supports a healthy heart
• Controls blood pressure
• Supports nervous system and mood

Try adding ½ an avocado to salads, spreading it on toast or even eating it by itself with a good crack of pepper on top.

Cacao – Raw, Unprocessed Chocolate

• Boosts your mood –contains a naturally occurring stimulant, theobromine
• Supports healthy hormones & promotes fertility
• Reduces spasms, including headaches, migraines, and stomach cramps.

Try adding a teaspoon of cacao nibs to your muesli, salads, or even desserts.

Here’s a recipe you might want to try.

Raw Coconut Cacao Truffle Balls – Recipe

These truffle balls are a delicious and guilt-free way to blend nutrient-dense foods together.   They’re also a great way to up your fat intake, which as you know by now is crucial for your health and wellbeing.  These truffles are perfect as a snack, to share with friends at a dinner party, or even give to the kids, if you’re willing to share. This recipe makes about 15 truffle balls, depending on the size you make them.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cacao powder and 1 extra teaspoon of cacao powder for dusting
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup coconut butter
• 1 cup almond butter
• 12 dates, pitted
• ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoon of finely shredded coconut

Method:

1. Heat coconut oil and coconut butter in a saucepan, until melted.
2. Blend the dates with a teaspoon of water, until they are a smooth paste.
3. Combine oils, date paste, and all remaining ingredients, except for shredded coconut, in a mixing bowl. Mix well.
4. Pour the shredded coconut and cacao powder on a plate.
5. Shape the mixture into bite-size balls, by rolling them between your hands.
6. Roll the balls in coconut & cacao powder.
7. Place truffles on a tray and store in the fridge.

These days, a lot of people are doing everything they can to stay healthy. They are buying organic groceries and hitting the gym five or six times a week. Many are forsaking their cars for bicycles and using their kitchens instead of always dining out. And of course, fewer people are picking up the terribly unhealthy habit of smoking cigarettes, while more people are putting those cancer sticks down. But while all of these changes are great ways to get healthier and to  live a better, fuller, healthier life, a lot of people are missing an important component to their health: air quality.

We breathe air all day long, every day, so air quality can make a huge difference in our health. And while pollution is often misunderstood as an outdoor problem, indoor air quality matters, too. If you are experiencing frequent headaches, unusual lethargy, allergies, or sinus problems, air quality might be to blame. The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can monitor and improve the air quality in your home.

To monitor your air quality, you have two options: actively test the air or passively monitor it. Actively monitoring air quality includes cleaning air filters in heating and air conditioner systems and looking for signs of black mold or other harmful contaminants. Passive air quality monitoring involves using an air filter system that can be watched and routinely checked. The method that you choose will depend on the type of space,  what it is used for, and who is using it. Consider consulting a professional to determine what makes the most sense for your home or office space.

You probably also want to know how to improve your indoor air quality, and there is no reason to wait to make some basic improvements. Here are a few easy ways to get started.

IMPROVEMENT TIP #1 – Install or update the batteries in your air monitoring systems, including carbon monoxide and radon gas detectors. Make sure you have a monitor in all the main areas of the building or home. Don’t skimp here – the consequences can be disastrous!

IMPROVEMENT TIP #2 – Keep your home and/or office clean. There are a lot of reasons to keep a tidy home or office. Besides the fact that it will make you and your employees/co-workers more productive,  it is better for air quality. Do not allow old building materials or other items to lay around if they should be in storage or in the trash. Make sure your rugs are vacuumed and your trashcans are emptied regularly.

IMPROVEMENT TIP #3 – Replace all of your filters! No matter what the season or how long you have lived in your home, get into the habit of regularly changing your air filters. You should be changing the filters in your air conditioners and heating systems once a month. Pay for semi-annual inspections and cleanings too.

IMPROVEMENT TIP #4 – In addition to removing toxins from the air, you can also make changes that will neutralize them. Consider purchasing in-room air purification machines and decorate with plenty of green plants, especially in areas with poor air circulation. The plants will eat up toxic carbon dioxide and provide clean oxygen fit for human breathing.

IMPROVEMENT TIP #5 – Get rid of the air fresheners! A lot of people try to mask bad odors or other air problems with artificially scented air fresheners. These sprays have toxic chemicals that you should be shooing out, not inviting in. Instead, make your own air freshener by simply adding some herbs or citrus peels to a pot of boiling water.

IMPROVEMENT TIP #6 – This one might seem like a no brainer. Open the windows! Opening windows quickly cleans your indoor air and it’s free! For a significant impact on your air quality, keep a window in each room open every day for at least five full minutes.

Further Reading:

• Inexpensive, Easy Detox – The One Gallon Challenge
• Improve Indoor Air Quality to Promote Health
• Home Detox, Reduce Indoor Pollution