Cholesterol: enemy or friend?

Cholesterol is a lipid produced by the liver and necessary for a healthy functioning body. However, it is usually considered as a thing to eliminate! This is a mistake because it has many different functions, even vital ones in your body. 

Cholesterol circulates in the blood by lipoproteins called LDL (low-density lipoprotein), HDL (high-density lipoprotein.

LDL and HDL make a complex: HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.

When someone gets older, he is often said not to eat butter or red meat for example, because it is full of cholesterol! But this is not exactly the truth. 

Indeed, meat, oil, butter, biscuits, cakes … are good for your body and… your mind. But it is true that you have to be careful with fat quantity. 

Let’s take the example of butter: we often see advertisement explaining that butter is full of fat so you have to replace it with shortening, low-fat margarine. The new ones are enriched with plant sterols. 

So what do we have exactly in butter?

Butter is compound of about 60% of saturated fat, 35% of unsaturated fat, and about 5% of trans-fat. As we can see, it is true that butter is full of lipid! However, these lipids are necessary for our body to function. 

Saturated fat is supposed to increase LDL cholesterol, whereas unsaturated fat (polyunsaturated fat) is supposed to increase the good one. According to different studies on fat and cholesterol rate, polyunsaturated fat increases HDL cholesterol which is a vascular protector.

LDL? HDL? What is it exactly?

LDL cholesterol, also called as “bad cholesterol”, carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. It is important to have a low level of LDL because it can increase the risk of arterial disease: LDL-cholesterol collects on arterial cell walls. This buildup is called plaque. Plaque reduces, or even stops, the blood flow and causes high-blood pressure, heart attacks etc.

HDL, also called as “good cholesterol”, carries cholesterol from cells to liver so the liver can destroy it. It acts like an arterial protector: it prevents arterial disease.

That’s why, it is important to have a low level of LDL-cholesterol and a high level of HDL-cholesterol. But you need a small amount of LDL cholesterol because it is necessary for cell membrane, production of bile salts etc. 

Let’s talk about trans-fat in butter: 

When you go shopping, this is the new fashionable slogan. Take a look to food wrapping: “trans-fat free” is written everywhere, on biscuits, cakes etc.

Most people think that trans-fat are bad for health. And it is true but you have to know that trans-fat can be natural (in butter for example) or artificial (in shortening, hydrogenated oils). 

It is proved that artificial trans-fat has negative effects on health : it increases LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and decreases HDL cholesterol, so it is better for you to avoid it.

Natural trans-fat is completely different, it is not produced from chemical or physical process and is not associated with high cholesterol rate or dyslipidemia.

Saturated fat, unsaturated fat have a role to play in our body: don’t throw it away!

There is also a small amount of cholesterol in butter but it is not associated with a high cholesterol blood rate. In general, cholesterol directly from food does not have a role in dyslipidemia.

Moreover, butter is an important source of vitamin A, which is benefit to your skin, protects again infection. It is a liposoluble vitamin so you need fat to assimilate vitamin A. And butter is rich in fat as we have seen before…

So cholesterol and fat are not an enemy, it is necessary for your body, for a good health and it is better to eat a small amount of butter spread on bread than shortening rich in artificial trans-fat.

So don’t listen to all that propaganda which wants you to eat fat-free food, the truth is in balance!

Just a few words about plant sterols which are said to decrease LDL cholesterol. Until now, The American Heart Association has recommended phytosterols in hypercholesterolemia because lipid disorders are associated with cardiovascular disease. However, a recent study published this year by the European Heart Journal shows no evidence of any beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease. 

In conclusion, keep in mind that you need to diversify your diet, giving priority to natural food instead of artificial preparation. Choose reasonable quantity and do exercise!

You can find a lot of good recipes with low cholesterol ingredients to help you when you have to control your diet. Here is an example to show you that a good meal is possible even when you have to reduce cholesterol rate.

Moroccan lentils soup:

Ingredients

 2 onions, chopped

 2 cloves garlic, minced

 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

 6 cups water

 1 cup red lentils

 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained

 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans

 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

 1/2 cup diced carrots

 1/2 cup chopped celery

 1 teaspoon garam masala

 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom

 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Put in a large saucepan the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes. 

2. Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft. 

3. Mix half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the mixed soup to the pot, stir and enjoy!

Asian Beef with snow peas 

Ingredients

 3 tablespoons soy sauce

 2 tablespoons rice wine

 1 tablespoon brown sugar

 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

 1 tablespoon olive oil

 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root

 1 tablespoon minced garlic

 1 pound beef round steak, cut into thin strips

 8 ounces snow peas

1. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice wine, brown sugar and cornstarch. Set aside. 

2. Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium high heat. Stir-fry ginger and garlic for 30 seconds. Add the steak and stir-fry for 2 minutes or until evenly browned. Add the snow peas and stir-fry for an additional 3 minutes. Add the soy sauce mixture, bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower heat and simmer until the sauce is thick and smooth. Serve immediately.

An interesting site to find more recipes: www.allrecipes.com 

Cordially yours,
Laure Martinat,

Detect a stroke and save a life!

A stroke or cerebrovascular accident is a medical emergency: what is a stroke exactly?

Our brain and particularly neuronal cells need blood to function for it provides oxygen and glucose. Thus, there is a large vascular net in our brain and in normal conditions, blood circulate easily.

A clot can block a cerebral artery or a blood vessel can break so blood cannot circulate. When there is a disturbance in blood supply to the brain, neuronal cells lack oxygen, they suffer and finally, they die. What is the result? Brain damage occurs.

Or areas of the brain control different abilities such as movement, memory and speech. When brain cells die, it is easy to understand that these abilities will be lost in different levels depending on how much the brain is damaged.

That’s why a stroke is an emergency: it can cause permanent neurological damage and even death.

How to detect a stroke?

Stroke symptoms typically start suddenly and it affects speech, movement and memory. Symptoms and its seriousness depend on how many brain cells die: The more extensive the area of brain affected, the more functions that are likely to be lost. A minor stoke may cause only minor problems such as weakness of a leg, whereas a larger one may cause real paralysis.

According to the National Stroke Association (http://www.stroke.org) common stroke symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body,
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding,
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes,
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination,
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Use the F.A.S.T. test for recognizing and responding to stroke symptoms:

F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or
strange?

T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call the emergency service or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital.

Another simple way to detect a stroke is to use the acronym RST :

S = SMILE! Ask the individual to smile and to stick his tongue out.

T = TALK! Ask the person to talk or speak a simple sentence coherently like
“It is sunny out today.”

R = RAISE! Ask the person to raise both arms together.

If someone fails any one of these 3 simple tests, don’t hesitate and call for an ambulance: the quicker a stroke victim is examined by a neurologist, the better he will be.


Once the stroke symptoms occur the clock starts ticking and your quick response could be the difference between life or death, permanent disability or significant recovery.


Laure Martinat
(France)

Smoothies and juices, fruits and vegetables upside down!

Nutritionists recommend to eat fresh fruits and vegetables everyday because they are full of vitamins and minerals, which are very important to our body and its functioning.

The way you cook can destroy vitamins: these tiny elements are fragile. For example, vitamin C is particularly sensitive to heat.  Raw fruits and vegetables keep their micronutrients.

Vitamins and minerals are no energy-giving micronutrients but they are essential to live; that’s why, to have a good micronutrient intake, you can eat raw fruits and vegetables: they are not denatured.

Juices are tasty. Moreover, they are easily absorbed during digestion. Why? Because they are extracted from squeezed fruits and vegetables.  A juice is a liquid substance, made up of water, vitamins and minerals, without fibre (fruit pulp contains fibre), hard to digest.

Juices give you a lot of available nutrients and micronutrients in a very short space of time. When you eat fibre, your digestive system need to do “work harder” to find vitamins and minerals; Moreover, fibre accelerate intestinal transit: the contact between bolus and intestinal mucous membrane is reduced. However, fibre is beneficial to our body and it has an important trophic role.

Smoothies are made up of ground fruits and vegetables: you have juice plus fibre. Nevertheless, fibre is not absorbed: our digestive system has to work harder and longer. Specific intestinal enzymes are needed to facilitate digestion.

We know fibre is not like vitamins or minerals. So what is it exactly?

Fibre is a compound that is found mainly in plants. The different kinds of fibre are categorized based

on their solubility in water. Therefore, there are two categories: soluble fibre (pectin, gums and

mucilage) and insoluble fibre (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin). These two categories perform

different functions, which is why it is important to eat both kinds regularly.

S o l u b l e F i b r e

Soluble fibre is found most often at the heart of plant material. In the small intestine, food residue

sticks to soluble fibre and is then be excreted by the body. In the colon, soluble fibre is attacked by

bacteria. When it comes into contact with liquid, this fibre becomes viscous, which favours the

passage of residue. Oat bran, legumes and citrus fruit are rich in soluble fibre.

I n s o l u b l e F i b r e

Insoluble fibre is generally found on the exterior of plant material. There are less easily attacked by

bacteria and therefore do not ferment as well. They retain water and have a great ability to increase in volume. Many foods contain insoluble fibre: wheat bran; many fruits and vegetables, such as cabbage;as well as bread and grains.

Soluble fibre creates a viscous gel that:

• stabilizes glycemia

• creates a feeling of satiation (to stop hunger during weight loss)

• allows an appetite-moderating hormone called cholecystokinin to be released

Insoluble fibre swells up in water:

• It helps stimulate intestinal transit and increases stool volume to prevent constipation

Smoothies and juices are full of essential elements: they are different and complementary. You need to eat different fruits and vegetables, specially raw ones and to vary your diet.

Some characteristics of fruits and vegetables you can use to make juices and smoothies:

• Carrot improves your vision thanks to vitamin A. Vitamin A is liposoluble, so don’t forget to add fat, such as olive or sunflower oil drops to improve absorption. Vitamin B6 helps your immune and neuropsychic systems to produce cytokines and neurotransmitters. Moreover, carrots are full of fibre.

• Avocado has high fibre content. Vitamin B5 is essential to skin and mucous membranes resistance.  Moreover, it helps to reduce stress. Vitamin K is essential to coagulation.

• Blueberry is an interesting oxidation inhibitor thanks to high flavonoid content. Vitamin C is a very important vitamin because it has a major role in different biological syntheses (red blood cells, collagen etc.) 

• Banana contains vitamin B6 and manganese. The latter is an oxidation inhibitor and enzymatic cofactor.

• Kiwi is rich in vitamin C, K and fibre.

Recipes:

Avocado/kiwi/carrot smoothie

Ingredients: 1 kiwi, ½ avocado, 1 carrot, 250ml apple juice, sesame seeds (1 teaspoon), ½ teaspoon olive oil.

Peel the kiwi and put it with avocado, carrot, apple juice and olive oil in a blender. Blend until smooth. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Blueberry and banana smoothie

Ingredients: 1 banana, 250g blueberries, 1 vanilla flavored soy yogurt, 1 glass of iced water, ½ teaspoon vanilla sugar, 1teaspoon grated coconut.

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Sprinkle with grated coconut and serve chilled.

Laure Martinat

(France)

Have You Ever Visited an Oriental Medicine Practitioner?

Everyone has been to the doctor, at least once in their life. And the dentist? Most know how a routine visit will unfold. But do you know what to expect from a visit to an oriental medicine practitioner?

There are variations, and different approaches, of course. But, generally speaking here is what to expect:

Session Procedure

During the first consultation, the practitioner always favors the diagnosis: its precision and will determine the effectiveness of the treatment. During the consultation, the goes through the patient’s history, and takes note of the patient’s complexion, pulse and which will reveal important clues.

Once the points have been chosen, the practitioner stimulates them using different methods. These
methods have different names:

• Acupuncture: steel, brass, stainless steel or silver needles;
• Moxas: according to the practitioner’s preference, heated herbs or suction discs are applied on the points;
• Electroacupuncture: the electronic stimulator (some also make the diagnosis);
• Laser therapy: laser stimulation;
• Acupressure: Chinese massage or acupressure, digitopuncture, shiatsu, etc.;
• Ultrasounds and light waves: devices that emit waves ranging from ultrasounds to sound and light waves.

Improvement will be noticeable after the first session or, at the most, after the fourth treatment. In order for the treatment to be effective, approximately ten sessions are recommended.

This information is an excerpt from the excellent AMCC course materials:

The Pillars of Health (131)

Have a great time at the Oriental Medicine Practitioner's office!
Sheryl-Anne

Sniffle-Free Fall

As a health professional, we are often asked, especially at this time of year, how to prevent and cure, or at the very least ease the unpleasant symptoms of colds and flus.

The first order of business: reinforce the immune system. How one goes about achieving this depends entirely on one's preferences. There exists really effective, side effect free modalities out there Some will opt for homeopathy, others for supplementation, naturopathy, vitamins, medicinal herbs. Some choose to adapt their food intake. And the list goes on.

1. Nutritionally, we know that food is fuel for the human body, and that includes the immune system. High quality proteins, vitamins and minerals sourced from high quality ingredients and in adequate amounts, are all essential. Eat an abundant and wide variety of colourful fruits and vegetables to fill up on antioxidants; add flax, walnuts or fish to get those all important omega-3s.
2. Exercise to stimulate your immune responsiveness, but don't overdo it: 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week will suffice. An overly aggressive exercise regimen will have the exact opposite effect: a weakened your immune system. 
3. Upper respiratory issues coincide with the drier indoor air, usually caused by heating. This is remedied quite simply by adding humidifiers, that have to be meticulously maintained to avoid unwanted bacteria and to preserve the indoor air quality.
4. A healthy intestinal flora will boost immunity. A regular intake of probiotics, especially if taking antibiotics, is recommended. Good bacteria can be found in unpasteurized sauerkraut, kimchi, and of course, the ever popular yogurt. Pasteurization will render any bacteria inactive, and therefore ineffective in promoting a healthy intestinal flora.
5. Getting enough sleep seems like a good idea for many reasons, but did you know it also improves immunity? So hit the sack for at least 7 hours every night.
6. A little cleanliness will go a long way in preventing the spread of colds and flus. Wash hands regularly, and cover mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing.
7. And of course, take a few days off when sick: you will get better sooner while limiting the spread of germs.

Certain supplements can help when one has a cold or the flu.

1. Ginseng
2. Vitamin C
3. Echinacea
4. Goldenseal
5. Garlic (raw preferably)
6. Peppermint essential oil
7. Licorice root (soothes respiratory tract)
8. Black elderberry

There you have it. A few good tips to heal oneself and to share during your consultations.

Health!

Sheryl-Anne 

Juicy Shortcut to Health and Vitality

Have you ever juiced spinach before? How about carrots? Apples? If you ever tried to fill a glass with the juice of any fresh produce, you know it takes a lot of produce to fill that glass. And there lies the key to juice's immense health benefits.

You could never hope to eat all that produce it takes to fill a glass of wondrous raw and living juice. Once all the fiber is removed, the nutrients are available for easy assimilation by our bodies. Now we shouldn't juice everything in our diets: we need some fiber in our daily regimen otherwise, waste produced by our metabolism won't move along as easily and blockage will inevitably occur. A raw and living foods diet will provide ample fiber to meet your bodily requirements. When we choose to juice a certain amount of fruits and vegetables from our daily intake, we can maximize nutrient intake. It just makes it easier to obtain and assimilate the recommended daily nutrient requirements from our food (hence, less need for supplementation!). Juicing allows us to get the nutrients from vegetables we ordinarily wouldn't eat by themselves or in sufficient quantities. An example of this are dark leafy vegetables. One large salad per day is what most raw foodist will have. But juice a whole pack of spinach, add some celery to that and maybe a carrot or two... Whoah! Now that's adding nutrition to a diet! It's worth making this practice an habitual one.
Do you experience some of these symptoms?

• fatigue, exhaustion, chronic fatigue syndrome
• frequent headaches
• skin problems, blemishes, acne
• brittle nails and hair
• muscular and/or joint pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia
• body odour
• coated tongue
• cardiovascular problems
• excess weight
• repetitive or chronic sinusitis
• environmental sensitivities (odors, cleaning products, etc.)
• irresistible and powerful cravings
• mood swings, anxiety or depression
• concentration and/or memory problems
• frequent colds and flus
• asthma
• insomnia or trouble sleeping
• food allergies
• constipation or diarrhea (or an alternance of both)
• flatulence and/or bloating

All these symptoms, and more still, stem from a toxic overload that the body cannot eliminate through proper channels. So, it has to improvise, so to speak! Hence, the importance to take the time to detoxify, periodically. Detoxification, like the one experienced while Juice Feasting for example, is an integral part, essential even, of any optimal health and vitality program. Detox, as it is also known, then becomes a valuable and efficient tool for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. When elimination becomes regular and through proper channels, toxins created by chemical, over-processed and acidifying foods are evacuated before they can damage or stress the digestive system, making for better bodily ressource allocation. Our body can therefore devote itself to repair, building and improving systems, without being impeded by a constant toxic assault.
Enzymes found in great quantities in raw and living foods, and made even more available and absorbable by juicing fruits and vegetables, are the catalysts of  hundred of thousands of chemical reactions in all over the entire body. They are essential to digestion, to absorption and to the production of cellular energy. Enzymes are vital to the construction and reconstruction that is continuously going on in our body.
Benefits resulting from detoxification include:

• reduced toxic load
• increased immunity
• liberation of excess weight, achieving a healthy weight
• softer, smoother skin
• healthy, functioning sinuses
• better sleep
• cravings are reduced or eliminated
• integral revitalization of all body systems
• physical, mental as well as spiritual well-being
• purified blood, balanced pH
• allergies, food and environmental sensitivities eliminated or reduced
• improved digestion, absorption and elimination
• better concentration and memory

So, get juicing! This simple to implement life practice can quite simply revolutionize your health!
Juicin' hugs,

NEW BOOK: Defeat Cancer: 15 Doctors of Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine Tell You How

Paperback, 443 Pages, $39.95

JUST PUBLISHED IN MAY, 2011!
In this groundbreaking new book, 15 of the world's most competent integrative cancer doctors invite you to explore their treatment strategies and discover their healing protocols. Why buy a book on just one treatment ideology when you can discover treatment strategies used by 15 doctorsءll inside the same book?
 
Just over a year ago, health care journalist and author Connie Strasheim set out to write one of the most important cancer books of our time. She identified 15 top cancer healers from the United States and five other countries, then spent the better part of the past year interviewing them. After the interviews, she dedicated countless grueling hours to compiling their most effective treatment methodologies into this clearly written and well-organized 443-page paperback book.

Defeat Cancer: 15 Doctors of Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine Tell You How is just the resource you have been waiting for. The book puts modern, cutting-edge treatment strategies in the palm of your hand. Interviewees included fifteen medical doctors, osteopaths and naturopaths who treat cancer either exclusively or as a major part of their practice. (Read the press release).

During the interviews, the doctors were asked difficult and important questions that the typical cancer patient may not think to ask. To get an idea of just how comprehensive this book is, see the Table of Contents. You can also read a complete sample chapter.

Because the book exposes the treatment methodologies of 15 physicians, readers will have the rare opportunity to compare and contrast the different healing methodologies used across various medical disciplines in the treatment of cancer. Or, as author Connie Strasheim explains, "the evidence of what works best for the treatment of cancer may be silently established by the similarities, or differences, found among these practitionersҠprotocols."

We all know that doctors appointments can be brief, and in many cases, inadequate in addressing all of the questions a patient may have. After leaving the appointment, a patient's head can be spinning with all of the questions that went unanswered. Now you can sit back and relax and find the answers to some of the most difficult questions, all in your own time, on your own schedule, inside this comprehensive book. This is possible because the physician interviewees were asked specific, pre-determined, targeted questions. Additionally, each doctor was given the opportunity to share special insights which may not have been a part of the planned interview process. The result of this planned, intentional, and careful interview process is a book that contains an unprecedented amount of practical and useful informaton. This information is available to anyone who is able to sit down and readءnd for only the price of a bottle of supplements.

Each chapter of the book focuses on the treatment approach of a single physician. Fifteen physicians were interviewed, so there are fifteen chapters (meet the interviewees). Author Connie Strasheim worked closely with each interviewee, over the course of several revisions, to ensure that their particular chapter was refined, accurate and as complete as possible. This kind of focused, organized information cannot be found anywhere else in print or on the internet.

Because physicians from five countries were interviewed, the reader is able to easily move beyond local political and medical standards and gain an international perspective on cancer treatment. The physician interviewees are based out of the United States, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, and England.

Written for both patients and practitioners, this book also allows you to avoid paying an arm and a leg for the travel and medical appointment fees that you would incur to meet and talk with 15 world-renowned cancer doctors, not to mention the time that it would take to actually have appointments with 15 different healers. In fact, you will not even have to leave the privacy and security of your own home to get this information. 

The following are some of the topics which the doctors addressed in their interviews:

• Anti-neoplastic (anti-cancer) treatments targeted at lowering or eliminating cancer cells and tumors. These include everything from IPT (Insulin Potentiation Therapy) and gene-targeted therapies, to metronomic chemotherapy, mistletoe, high-dose Vitamin C, sono and photodynamic therapy, dendritic cell vaccines, and intravenous nutrients. The doctors also answer the question, ԗhat is cancer and what causes it?Լ/strong>
• How to support and heal the body during and after cancer treatments. Included is information on diet, detoxification, vitamin and herbal supplements, hormone therapies, homeopathic remedies, allergy treatments, exercise and other physical therapies, as well as additional supportive treatments.
• Factors that affect healing, including finances, lifestyle habits, psycho-emotional stress, past treatments, and co-morbid conditions. Tips are provided for patients with limited financial resources.
• How to prevent cancer in the first place, and/or keep it from returning once patients are in remission or successfully managing their cancers.
• Why medical politics have limited peopleӳ access to effective treatments, and why knowing this is essential when searching for a cancer doctor.
• Dangerous and/or ineffective approaches to cancer treatment
• Suggestions for how family and friends can help their loved ones with cancer
• The treatment outcomes that the doctors have with their patients
• Patient and practitioner challenges to healing and how to overcome these
• How to heal past trauma and psycho-emotional problems that contribute to disease, with sections such as "Roadblocks to Healing," "How Family & Friends Can Help Their Loved Ones," "The Role of Stress, the Mind & Spirituality in Healing," "Healing Regret, Resentment & Self-Righteousness," and more
• How to contact the physicians
• The book also contains a very detailed Table of Contents and a user-friendly index so you can easily navigate through the information and find the topics that are relevant to you personally. 

Modern cancer treatment is complicated and controversial. Can you afford to be without the wisdom contained in this book? Save yourself time and money by reading about dozens of cutting edge therapeutic approaches before you and your doctor embark on the expensive and time consuming journey of using them in your own personal treatment program. Get the information first, and make your decisions after you are educated.