The average American is over ten times more likely to contract diabetes today compared to fifty years ago. Heart disease, cancer, and stroke continue to increase in epidemic proportions. In 2006, the United States was number 1 in terms of health care spending per capita but ranked 39th for infant mortality, 43rd for adult female mortality, 42nd for adult male mortality, and 36th for life expectancy. So why do we spend so much and get so little in return?

Chinese documents confirm that on at least two missions to India, beginning in 647 AD, the technology for sugar-refining was obtained. Before that, sugar was not part of the human diet. When you consider our human species is about 250,000 years old, that means that for roughly 245,997 years, homo sapiens man has consumed a sugar-free diet.

Today, the average American consumes about 140 lbs. (a dumpster full) of sugar annually. This, compared to an annual consumption of only 4 lbs. in 1750 means that our annual sugar intake has increased by 3,500% in 260 years. When you consider that this time period is a mere 1/10 of 1% of the age of our species, you begin to question whether our human physiology has a defense against this exponential onslaught.

But refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup (found in all processed foods) are only the tip of the iceberg. We are being taught by nutritionists and the FDA that starchy foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, legumes, and corn, are healthy enough to base our entire diets on. The truth of the matter is that all nonfibrous forms of carbohydrates (not just refined sugar) is always metabolized by the body as sugar. Sugar is sugar is sugar. Your body can’t tell the difference between a teaspoonful of honey or a teaspoon full of refined sugar or a few mouthfuls of pasta. Obviously the honey will be a little better for you because it’s not refined. But that’s where the advantage ends.

Before the advent of agriculture, our grains were very scarce to our paleo ancestors and were consumed rarely. The paleo diet consisted mainly of grass-fed wild game and cold water fish, wild plants and fibrous vegetables, and on occasion, some nuts, seeds, and seasonal (low fructose) fruits. And that was it.

So, this is our genetic history whether we like it or not. The human body is not designed to live on sugar or starchy carbs. If it were, our bodies would require it to maintain perfect health, but they do not. In fact, not one crumb of sugar or starchy carbohydrate is needed by the body to be in optimum health. Not one. We do, however, require saturated and unsaturated fat, protein, and high amounts of fiber. You can’t argue with nature. In her bestselling book, “Primal Body Primal Mind,” paleo diet author, Nora Gedgaudas says that “it is literally astonishing that the obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease (to name a few sugar-related diseases and conditions) epidemics aren’t far worse than they are. Our ancestors wouldn’t even know how to begin to comprehend this sort of insanity.

Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a health Coach, Spiritual Life Coach and the founder of The Art of Transformation, a company devoted to teaching Spiritual Enlightenment to the world. His Spiritual Life Coaching practice uniquely combines mystical wisdom with self transcendence, holistic health, life path astrology, heart-brain intention, the power of presence, and the law of attraction.

Thomas Edison once said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” In the early 20th century, Dr. Otto H. Warburg proved that all forms of cancer have two basic conditions: high acidity and oxygen deficiency. He believed that the root cause of cancer is oxygen deficiency because he discovered that cancer cells are anaerobic (do not breathe oxygen) and cannot survive in the presence of oxygen, as found in an alkaline state.

But oxygen is a double-edged sword. Oxygen needs to be balanced in the body, otherwise it would oxidize the metals our cells and cause them to decay. Enter the antioxidant. We have currently discovered over 100 of them. Some of the most well known are vitamins A and C (found in your brightly colored fruits and vegetables), and vitamin E and selenium (found in eggs, almonds, and cold water fish such as salmon and sardines).

Recent studies have shown that green and black tea contains an average of ten times the antioxidants of fruits and vegetables. Green tea, black tea, oolong tea — they all come from the same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. The processing of the leaves depends on the type of tea. The green teas are going to be more alkaline forming in the body where as the blacker teas will be more acidic. Senior researcher for the Institute for Cancer Prevention, John Weisburger, PhD, was the first American researcher to show that tea modifies the body’s metabolism so that it can more effectively detoxify harmful toxins and chemicals.

Thearubigins, epicatechins, and catechins are among the green and black tea antioxidants listed in a USDA chart. Herbal teas may also contain antioxidants but very little is known about them. The research studies that Dr. Weisburger have repeatedly shown that both green and black tea blocks DNA damage associated with tobacco smoke and other toxic chemicals. In animal studies, tea-drinking rats were shown to have lower rates of cancer.

The detoxifying effects of tea consumption helps to protect the body from free radicals. Tea-drinking populations such as China and Japan have much lower rates of heart disease and cancer than the American, coffee-drinking population. Even Starbucks is expanding its tea menu. So, throw out the coffee beans and boost your immune system with antioxidant-rich tea. Hot tea with almond milk and Stevia is a favorite on a cold morning and for warmer weather, I enjoy iced tea with lemon juice and Stevia. Not only does it taste good, it’s so good for you.

Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a Wellness Coach, Spiritual Life Coach and the founder of The Art of Transformation, a company with a mission to teach Self Realization to the masses. His Spiritual Life Coaching practice uniquely synthesizes spiritual wisdom with ego transcendence, holistic wellness, life path astro-analysis, heart-brain intention, the power of presence, and the law of attraction.

The Serbian tennis player, Novak Djokovic is on fire. After winning 43 straight matches, including 41 in 2011– something that hasn’t been done since 1984 — he plowed through the quarter finals then the semi-finals at Wimbledon this year. Even hadn’t won Wimbledon, his winning streak would have given him enough points to put him in the top spot, ranking him as the #1 men’s tennis player in the world. But, of course, he did win.

So what did Djokovic do to initiate such a dramatic energy boost? A gluten-free diet has been credited for the recent success, according to the Wall Street Journal. As recent as last year, his on-court struggles were evident when closing out matches. His serve became sloppy and his movement lacked the energy to hit closing shots. The shift to a gluten-free, low starch diet has left Djokovic feeling energized throughout his entire matches. As a result, he is not only sharper physically but, more importantly, mentally.

Even if you are not gluten sensitive, when you eliminate starch-based, refined and processed non-foods such as pizza, bread, pretzels, chips, pasta, potatoes, legumes, rice, and other high carb foods, you allow the body to reboot itself metabolically. As a result, it stops drawing it source of fuel from sugar (all starchy carbs are converted to sugar in the bloodstream), and begins to draw its source of fuel from ketones, found in healthy fats. The body (especially the brain) operates much more efficiently on ketones — so much so — that your energy levels tend to elevate after you make the dietary shift. It takes time, however, usually about four to six weeks before the carb (sugar) cravings subside, but when it happens, don’t be surprised if your energy levels skyrocket!

If you are gluten sensitive then you’ll not only want to eliminate all foods containing gluten (such as all wheat-based products), but it would be wise to eliminate “cross-reactive” foods to gluten as well. Cross-reactivity is the reaction to substances that are either genetically or structurally similar to gluten because your immune system tends to associate them with gluten. Some of the most common cross-reactive substances are: casein (found in milk and cheese), oats, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, yeast products, coffee, and milk chocolate.

Other common food sensitivities can result from foods that people usually substitute for the wheat-based gluten products such as: corn, buckwheat, sesame, quinoa, sorghum, millet, tapioca, amaranth, rice, and potatoes. And of course, they are also starchy foods that turn into glucose after ingestion. Sugar is always sugar no matter what it looks like before you eat it. All starchy foods such as grains and legumes will be metabolized by the body as glucose.

Here’s the bottom line. When we return to the diet of our paleo ancestors, the diet that we, as a homo sapiens species adhered to consistently, day after day, for over 250,000 years, our body’s metabolism will become more compatible with its genetic physiology. It’s all about the genes. The human body is simply not designed for this type of onslaught. No wonder see the epidemic proportions of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. And not surprisingly, the United Health Organization ranks the U.S. a pathetic 39th out of the top 50 healthiest countries on Earth.

Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a Wellness Coach, Online Life Coach and the founder of The Art of Transformation, a company devoted to teaching Spiritual Enlightenment to the world. His Online Life Coaching practice uniquely combines spiritual wisdom with ego transcendence, holistic wellness, life path astro-analysis, heart-based intention, the power of presence, and the law of attraction.

In 1850, the average American consumed about 20 pounds of sugar annually. Today, the average American currently consumes 141 lbs of sugar (an overflowing wheelbarrow full) annually. The 2011 USDA estimates the average American consumes about two tons of sugar (enough to fill up a dumpster) in a lifetime. Yes, that’s per person.

The average person is consuming 1/3 of a pound of sugar each and every day, half of which is fructose that comes from corn syrup. And the rate of consumption continues to climb. As a result of this sugar addiction epidemic, diabetes is up from 1.6 million in 1958 to 15.1 million in 2004. Heart disease occurs in 75% of the U.S. population. And cancer has just surpassed heart disease as the number one leading cause of death in the United States.

In 1931, Dr. Otto H. Warburg was awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering oxygen’s relationship to the pH of cancer cells. He found that cancer cells always maintained a lower (more acidic) pH level, as low as 6.0 due to the high CO2 and lactic acid production. Dr. Warburg believed that there was a direct relationship between oxygen in the blood, pH, and thriving cancer cells.

Cancer cells form in your body everyday and have been, every day, since you were born. A healthy body’s immune defense system seeks out and destroys the cancer cells whenever they appear on the scene. As long as the body is able to maintain a pH level of slightly alkaline (7.35 to 7.45), then it will be able to protect itself from cancer. However, when the blood pH drops, the risk of cancer increases. Sugar and nutrient-deficient processed foods do a great job of lowering the pH in the blood.

Currently, 90 cents out of every U.S. food dollar is spent on nutrient-deficient processed foods which are contaminated with high fructose corn syrup. Cancer loves sugar. It thrives on it and depends on it to survive. Sugar turns the blood more acidic and this is how cancer thrives. If we continue to saturate our bodies with sugary processed foods accompanied by a high carbohydrate diet consisting of mainly starchy foods such as potatoes, pasta, bread, and cereal, we will continue to see our cancer rates climb.

Even the “healthy” carbohydrates such as rice, beans, peas, and whole grains are all about 60% starch. And starch turns to sugar in the bloodstream. When we begin eliminating all the sugary, starch foods from our diet, we will naturally be replacing them with high fibrous vegetables such as peppers, broccoli, squash, artichokes, mushrooms, spinach, kale, cabbage, and other nutrient-dense foods that are teaming with beneficial antioxidants. And unlike the sugary and starchy foods, the fibrous vegetables are highly alkaline forming in the blood, raising your pH level, and creating a healthy balance of oxygen and anti-oxidants in your cells. This, above all, is the most powerful defense against cancer.

Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a Wellness Coach, Spiritual Life Coach and the founder of The Art of Transformation, a company devoted to teaching Spiritual Enlightenment to the masses. His Spiritual Life Coaching program uniquely synthesizes spiritual wisdom with self transcendence, holistic wellness, life path astro-analysis, heart-based intention, the power of presence, and the law of attraction.

Our paleo ancestors maintained a diet where blood glucose levels were consistently low. This allowed the body to depend on ketones, rather than blood sugar for fuel. Ketones are the energy units of fat and are a much more reliable and abundant source of energy for our brain and other organs to depend on. Only the red blood cells require glucose for fuel instead of fats.

Recent human longevity studies have shown that by not allowing glucose levels to spike higher than 40 mg/dL over a normal fasting value of 70 to 85 mg/dL following meals has a favorable effect in activating sirtuins (our longevity genes). In other words, by reducing or eliminating sugar and starch from your diet, you will allow your body’s longevity genes to be activated. Two slices of bread contains about 6 teaspoons of glucose — six times what is normally allowed in the bloodstream. Cereal, pasta, and potatoes also raise blood sugar levels faster than a candy bar!

Excessive glucose and lactose in the bloodstream auto-oxidizes, which produces free-radical activity that damages arterial walls and forms cross-links with proteins called AGEs (advanced glycosylation end products). AGEs are known to cause genetic mutations. They also combine with receptors (RAGEs) that results in inflammation, leading to cardiovascular disease.

Glucose is what ages the body. It’s an irony that what we require to fuel anaerobic process and feed our red blood cells also degenerates and eventually kills the body. Some glucose is required for our body with the exception of the brain. The brain actually performs much better on ketones. The lower we maintain our blood sugar levels, the slower the aging process occurs and the healthier we live along the way. Furthermore, chronic diseases associated with aging and mental decline (such as Alzheimer’s), may be directly related to blood sugar metabolism.

Another consequence of our collective addiction to a high-carbohydrate diet is candida yeast overgrowth. Unfriendly or yeast-producing bacteria in the gut in a healthy body should be about 15% of the total bacteria population. Candida overgrowth is caused from antibiotics, chronic stress, and/or a diet that consists mostly of sugary, starchy foods. High cravings for starchy foods such as chips, alcohol, pizza, pasta, breads, as well as sweet foods such as candy, cookies, doughnuts, and pastries, is indicative of an unnatural balance of candida in the gut. Complete avoidance of all of these foods is necessary to bring candida under control.

Jason Lincoln Jeffers is a health Coach, Spiritual Life Coach and the founder of The Art of Transformation, a company with a mission to teach Spiritual Enlightenment to the world. His Spiritual Life Coaching program uniquely combines mystical wisdom with ego transcendence, holistic health, life path astro-analysis, heart-based intention, the power of presence, and the law of attraction.

In our polluted and busy days, health provider offers plenty of antioxidant foods that are good for our body. Fruit and vegetables just like broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers are all excellent opportunities which include great advantages for your body. When eating vegetables, you should always go for those usually are abundant with color, as they are great for what is called phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients usually are nutrients present in the skins of several vegetables and fruit, that provide food color as well as flavor and scent. Phytonutrients may be simply the most beneficial types of antioxidant foods that you could find anywhere. Should you be looking for the supplement value, the coq10 will give you a high amount of antioxidant value.

Although fruit and veggies work most effectively sources for antioxidants, the challenge with these are that they are generated by using chemical herbicides, pesticides, and several types of fertilizers. After a period, studies have shown that vegetable and fruit, that happen to be naturally cultivated are an excellent source of antioxidants, and boast a greater concentration than those that have been produced commercially.

During the busy world of today, it really is very tough to gnaw on similar to we ought to, nor can we eat organic vegetables and fruit constantly. If ever you cannot have access to organic fruits or other sources of antioxidant foods, make sure you look into nutritional supplements that you eat the phytonutrients you need in your diet.

Supplements which contain phytonutrients totally have advantages when compared to certain fruits, which includes carrots – that may elevate your blood sugar level to a high level. Phytonutrients obtained in supplements are the extract of pigments where nutrients are concentrated, and therefore they draw the very best from antioxidant foods, leaving the calories and sugar behind.

Please do not get the wrong impression here, vegetables and fruit are indeed healthy for you. They are full of antioxidants, however those that are produced commercially generally consist of chemicals and such that are not so healthy. Canned vegetables and fruits come with large levels of sugars and calories, which antioxidant supplements don’t have. The supplements give you the degree you will need, which have no chemicals, sugars, or calories. This way, you will not need to bother about consuming anything that is not good for you.

It doesn’t matter how you look at it, healthy eating in support of one’s body starts and end with foods that have antioxidants. There are much types of foods that contain antioxidants, although fruits and vegetables contain one amount. Steak and meat may also be great sources of antioxidants, along with other great benefits, which include protein. Anytime you get foods which contain antioxidants – you can count on supplements to provide the number you have to stay healthy.

Fitness Enthusiast and Sportsman Ethan O. Tanner explains the method of fibers rich foodsand the safety tips and guidelines for a fruit and vegetables.

At least a little of the fountain of youth can be found by eating antioxidant foods. For example grapes and wine have a nutrient called resveratrol and this nutrient has been shown in research studies to increase life span. Another is tomatoes which include lycopene another strong antioxidant. So to add years to your life choose nutrient dense foods with high antioxidant levels. These foods will help you live a long and healthy life and there is nothing more important than your health.

Fruits, vegetables and teas have antioxidants belonging to the group called polyphenols. For example green tea has many polyphenols and that is why green tea has many health benefits. Foods such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, wine and cocoa are also high in this group of antioxidants.

To find the highest content of anti aging antioxidants remember the word polyphenols. These are located in most fruits, vegetables and teas. Green tea is very high as are blueberries, blackberries and cranberries. Grapes and the wine made from them as well as cocoa are also very high in the polyphenols.

When you shop for antioxidant rich foods remind your self to stay with the dark and brightly colored foods. The blues, deep purples, bright reds and dark greens are the foods loaded with beta carotene. Beta carotene is a well known and healing antioxidant.

Research both old and new has found that eating antioxidant rich foods can prevent and even cure disease like heart disease, cancer, stroke and arthritis. This research has found that antioxidants are nutrients which can eliminate damaged cells called free radicals These free radicals have been found to be a major cause of these diseases. Free radicals are caused by normal cell oxidation as well as attacks by the various toxins we breathe, eat and drink. The free radical can be naturally healed by antioxidants. A free radical is missing a part of their cell which antioxidants can replace. By doing this the antioxidant foods help he body repair itself and we live a healthier and longer life.

If you would like to live a longer healthier life you need look no further than the food you eat. Anti aging foods will allow you to have your most important asset, your health, and life is not fun without good health.

If living a longer, stronger, healthier life is one of your goals get more information on how to do that and the steps you can take. Eating Anti aging foods is the best medicine to help every organ in your body looking and functioning at a younger level.

Fruits and veggies are a well-recognized source of polyphenols, which is a explanation that they are credited as foods that are so very good for your health. Nonetheless, there’s groundbreaking analysis, that has discovered rather large amounts of these same potent anti-oxidants in whole grains. So, are whole grains the new antioxidant food we should all be consuming?

That’s right, the identical good-for-you compounds make an outstanding display in some very favorite breakfast products and snack bars.

The latest research included monitoring the total antioxidant proportions of popular breakfast cereals and whole-grain snacks obtainable at the store.

The foods measured included whole- grain flours, 28 ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, 4 hot cereal products and yet another 38 grain-dependent foods, such as pasta, popcorn, crackers and potato chips.

At one time researchers thought it was the fiber in these whole grains that offer all the advantages to the body, but not now.

Polyphenols are compounds that are found naturally in plants and have anti-inflammatory properties. Experts believe that this quantity-rich anti-oxidant allows getting rid of free radicals from the entire body and may help in the fight with heart ailments and cancer. They may possibly even provide some protection in preventing dementia.

Topping the kind of breakfast cereals was Raisin Bran, with the highest antioxidant count per serving at 524 mgs. The raisins get a great sum of the credit for this.

Based on the common serving, researchers identified that oat based cereals had the highest amounts of antioxidants, followed by corn, wheat, warm oat cereals and rice cereals.

Other cold cereal products like ones containing cinnamon and cocoa flavorings were greater in antioxidants than you may well assume from just the grain content alone.

One more surprise? Bran cereal products manufactured from wheat aren’t significantly greater in anti-oxidants than other wheat cereals, although they do provide a lot more fiber. Breakfast favorites like porridge oats were found to have decreased than expected ranges of polyphenols.

When it comes to grain based foods packed with useful antioxidants, popcorn has the most polyphenols (2.6%), even though to maintain the health positive aspects, be sure to keep an eye on the salt. Following on are whole grain crackers (0.45%), while most processed tortilla chips didn’t do so well, though no data on the snack brand names examined was given.

Nutritionists who have encouraged us to boost the amount we eat of produce like green tea, red wine, fruits and nuts for their antioxidant value may quickly be adding whole-grain alternatives to their recommendations.

Nonetheless caution is advised, specially as numerous cereal makes have a lot of ingredients that are not so great for you. What’s more, it’s easy to have much more cereal than you intend, so observe individual portions.

Even now there are lots of positive aspects. Cereal products are a readily accessible items, especially for young students, and folks typically like to include them.

This investigation points out that encouraging the consumption of a lot more whole grain snacks and cereal products, as well as other balanced ingredients, might be the finest way to add the sum of antioxidants meals in your day-to-day diet that your entire body needs.

Next – why not take a visit to the Daily Health Bulletin to find out more about the benefits of antioxidant rich foods , plus for a short time only get 5 free fantastic health reports. Click here for more details on this study on antioxidant rich foods.

The immune system is a protection mechanism in our bodies that ward off bacteria, viruses, toxins, parasites and microbes that cause infection and disease. Boosting your immune system is one of acai health benefits you can take advantage of, with rich amounts of antioxidants and plant sterols found in this tiny superfood.

The best way to enhance your immune system is to tweak your diet. Load up on fresh vegetables and fruits like the acai berry for a sufficient supply of vitamins, minerals, fiber and enzymes. Acai contains antioxidants that protect the cells of your immune system from damage by toxins in the environment.

Protein is another acai health benefit that can help strengthen your immune system. Protein deficiency can lead to elevated blood sugar levels and a stressed pancreas and immune system.

Sleep deprivation is another factor that can compromise your immune system. Always get at least six hours of sleep each night for balanced hormone levels, healthy weight, clear reasoning, and better mood.

Dehydration weakens the immune system and can disrupt your chemical, nutritional and pH balances, leading to sickness and premature aging. To calculate the amount of water you should take in daily, divide your body weight (pounds) by 2 and drink that amount in ounces. Never substitute coffee or alcohol for water as they can contribute to significant fluid loss. Coffee also strips your body of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Another food item to avoid is sugar – it raises insulin levels that can undermine the immune system. Elevated blood sugar in your body reduces its ability to fight infections. Lesser sugar intake leads to better energy levels, weight distribution, disease immunity, and cognitive thinking.

Acai health benefits are numerous. But not all acai products are made equal. Pick the ones that do not contain caffeine or sugar. Supplementing your diet with acai berries, drinking lots of water, and sleeping well can substantially improve your immune strength.

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As we age, one of the first things to go is our eyesight. Don’t let blurred vision hamper you. Acai berries are known to contain antioxidants that help promote improved eyesight with healthy corneas, irises, and the rods and cones in the eyes.

Acai berries are rich in flavonoids called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are very effective in fighting free radicals in the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, preventing retina disorders such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and night blindness.

Acai berries can also help in improving night vision. This can be especially helpful for drivers who cannot see well in dim light and have difficulty recovering from glare from approaching car headlights.

Anthocyanins are so effective in improving eyesight that during World War II, bomber pilots of the British Royal Air Force would eat bilberry jam before dangerous night missions to improve their vision. In Japan and Korea, office workers are encouraged to buy vials of blueberry juice to help relieve eye strain from long hours of computer use. Acai berries, bilberries, and blueberries are all rich sources of anthocyanins.

Acai berries also contain anthocyanidins called Cyanidin 3-glycosides. These organic compounds stimulate the regeneration of rhodopsin, a pigment of the retina that enables vision in low-light conditions.

Purple fruits like acai and bilberries contain anthocyanosides which reduce inflammation and strengthen collagen. Collagen is the main protein in the tiny capillaries of the eye. Leaking capillaries impedes proper delivery of blood and oxygen to the eye, resulting in disease.
 
Acai berries can help slow down retinopathy – a common complication of diabetes that eventually leads to blindness. Almost 80% of all patients who have had diabetes for at least 10 years suffer from retinopathy.

Many acai users confirm improved eye focus after only three weeks of taking acai extracts, proof that enhanced visual acuity from acai berries is no old wives’ tale. For improved eyesight, why not give acai a try.

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