Why You Should Be Eating More Ancient Grains

A few years ago, the term “ancient grains” would likely not have been very familiar to you. But today, the phrase is showing up in the names of food products all throughout the grocery store. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Read on.

WHAT ARE ANCIENT GRAINS?

While there is no strict definition of what qualifies as an “ancient” grain, they are loosely defined by the Whole Grains Council as varieties that have been planted and harvested, without modification, for hundreds of years or more. Modern wheat, as an example, wouldn’t qualify, whereas heritage varieties such as amaranth, farro and einkorn would.

Interestingly, many of the grains that make the list are considered unique — trendy even — in the United States, but commonplace elsewhere. Kamut, for example, an ancient grain that reps a whopping 7 grams of protein per quarter cup and 65 percent more amino acids than wheat, has been cultivated by peasant farmers in Egypt for centuries.

WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL?

Unlike conventional refined grains, ancient grains have proven themselves to be true nutritional powerhouses, sporting a host of health benefits ranging from reduced risk for diabetes, cancer and heart disease, as well as improved digestion and boosted immunity.

Why? Ancient grains have much more robust nutritional profiles; a host of phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals are present, and more proteins and amino acids are intact. All good things!

HOW CAN I INTEGRATE THEM INTO MY DIET?

Most ancient grain varieties can be easily swapped with the traditional options you’re already used to — brown rice, porridge and the like. Most can be purchased in the bulk and packaged food aisles of health food stores.

To get the full range of benefits, mix and match these often. This is a great opportunity to try new things! Here are a few specific recommendations:

Amaranth

Classified as a pseudo-grain, amaranth has a peppery taste and a complete protein profile. It’s also packed with much-needed vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium and phosphorus, and is gluten-free. A small quarter cup serving has 6.5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber! To eat, pop it like popcorn, or toss with veggies or salad.

Farro

Used frequently throughout Italy and the Mediterranean, farro is a popular grain staple in health-conscious eateries the world over thanks to its low calorie count. Nutty, chewy and utterly delicious, farro is a great addition to hearty soups and stews.

Quinoa

While often classified as a grain, quinoa is actually a seed that can be integrated beautifully in everything from salads to soups. It cooks quickly and comes in red, black and white varieties (Ever see “tri-color quinoa?” It’s a mix of these three). Keep in mind: quinoa should be rinsed thoroughly before use to rinse off its saponins, a bitter coating that keeps birds and insects away.

Millet

While you’re most likely to see millet in bird seed in the United States, it’s starting to show up in breads and other gluten free products. If you’re low on magnesium, a mineral that’s especially important for bone health, you’ll definitely want this one on your shelf. Grind millet to use in traditional flatbread recipes, steam it like rice, or cook it into a creamy couscous. Yum!

Kamut (or Khorasan)

Known for its buttery flavor and high levels of healthy (emphasis on healthy) fats, protein, selenium and zinc, kamut can be found in everything from cereal to baby food. But that’s not all! Kamut also offers a range of antioxidant benefits, helping to reduce gut inflammation and pain associated with IBS.

Sorghum

Sorghum, thanks to its versatility and drought resistance, is the fifth most popular cereal crop worldwide. It has a multitude of applications, from animal feed to biodegradable packaging. In addition, studies of sorghum suggest it may have a cholesterol-lowering effect on the body. Buy it in flour form to make delicious rustic breads or use sorghum syrup to flavor everything from baked beans to barbecue sauce.

Teff

Popular in Ethiopia, teff is gluten-free and higher in calcium than most of its counterparts. It’s also high in resistant starch, a type of carbohydrate that can be especially helpful when trying to lose weight. Cook it whole in porridge form, make into polenta or add to your favorite baked goods.

Foods You Can Eat to Repel Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes find you primarily by your scent. Although, the chemical compounds that create your personal scent are very complex, and researchers have barely scratched the surface of what makes one person smell better to mosquitoes than another.

What we do know is that mosquitoes are extremely sensitive and can smell a potential meal from over 50 meters (160 feet) away. We also know that the foods we eat can change how our bodies smell. Have you ever had a meal seasoned with pungent spices, then smelled them on your breath or skin afterwards?

Mosquitoes can also smell what you’ve been eating, and some foods are more likely than others to throw them off your scent. Try loading up on the following foods this summer and see if mosquitoes give you a miss.

1. GARLIC

Research suggests that the scent of garlic is able to ward off mosquitoes. In fact, garlic is recognized as so effective that it’s included in various commercial bug and mosquito repellents. Garlic’s distinctive smell is partially due to its unique chemical compound called allicin. When you eat garlic, you’ve likely noticed the smell of allicin as it comes through the pores of your skin. Rest assured that you don’t smell bad, you’re simply protecting yourself against mosquitoes.

Incidentally, onions have been shown to repel some insects, but not mosquitoes. This may be due to the fact onions do not contain allicin.

2. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

The strong smell of apple cider vinegar is known to repel mosquitoes and some other bugs. You can take advantage of its repelling action by simply wiping some on your skin. But, if you consume apple cider vinegar regularly, the scent may naturally come through your pores.

It’s recommended to consume at least one tablespoon (18 milliliters) of apple cider vinegar per day to have enough in your system to ward off mosquitoes. Apple cider vinegar has many other health benefits and you can add it to salad dressings, soups or other dishes. You can also drink a tablespoon of plain vinegar each day, but first check these guidelines on how to safely drink cider vinegar.

3. FOODS WITH VITAMIN B1

Anecdotal evidence suggests that vitamin B1, also called thiamine, can help deter mosquitoes. Many people have experienced a benefit of either using vitamin B1 supplements or eating foods high in vitamin B1. Unfortunately, research has not been able to support these claims.

Based on the many personal success stories, you may want to try including foods high in thiamine in your diet and see what happens. Some of the best sources of thiamine include sunflower seeds, black beans, navy beans, soy beans, lentils, brewer’s and nutritional yeasts, macadamia nuts and wheat germ.

4. GRAPEFRUIT

Nootkatone is the chemical compound that gives grapefruit its familiar fragrance. Nootkatone is also proven to be an effective repellent for mosquitoes, as well as ticks, bed bugs, head lice and various other insects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with biotechnology companies to develop a commercial bug repellent based on nootkatone. This would provide a safe and natural product to help combat disease-spreading insects like mosquitoes and ticks.

It’s not known if eating grapefruit regularly will provide enough nootkatone to repel insects from your skin. But, nootkatone and grapefruit are recognized as completely safe to eat, so it’s definitely worth a try.

5. HERBS AND SPICES

The essential oils from many different herbs and spices are recognized as effective mosquito repellents. These oils are typically applied to the skin. The effect of eating the source herbs and spices remains unknown as it has never been studied. Although, it’s very plausible that the pungent oils contained in the fresh herbs and spices could affect the smell of your skin. And considering that most herbs and spices also have many health benefits, you can’t go wrong adding more flavors to your food.

Some of the best herbs and spices proven to repel mosquitoes include clove, thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, lavender, catnip, peppermint, and lemongrass, which contains citronella.

7 Habits that are Bad for Your Thyroid

The thyroid gland plays a vital role in your body. It helps regulate your metabolism, body temperature, mood, and heart rate.

A person with hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid may feel fatigued, sluggish, cold, and may gain weight. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) may cause sweatiness, anxiety, sleeplessness, and sudden weight loss.

HABITS THAT ARE BAD FOR YOUR THYROID

The truth is, you don’t have complete control over your thyroid function. Your genetics partly determine thyroid function. Luckily, you can improve thyroid function with lifestyle changes. Ditching these habits is a good place to start, if you are having thyroid issues.

1. Skimping on Fats

You probably know that eating fats does not make you fat. What you may not know is that a low-fat diet has a negative effect on thyroid function. 

A low-fat diet can inhibit the absorption of vitamins and minerals. This is problematic, since your thyroid needs iodine, vitamin B12, magnesium and other nutrients to function optimally.

Increase fat intake by adding olive oil to salads, eating avocados every day, and snacking on nuts.

2. Low Iodine Intake

It is important to get adequate iodine during childhood, since it aids cognition and growth.  You also need to consume enough iodine as you grow older. Research shows that low iodine intake can cause hypothyroidism.

Good sources of iodine include sea salt, sea vegetables, seaweed, blueberries, and potatoes. It is advisable for pregnant women to take iodine supplements, since they need extra iodine for the baby.

3. Eating too Many Cruciferous Veggies (for some people)

High intake of cruciferous veggies can increase the risk of thyroid cancer in people with iodine deficiency, according to research. However, research also shows that cruciferous veggies do not affect thyroid function in healthy individuals.

Do not cut back on veggies unless you have dry skin, frequent headaches, menstrual problems, difficulty losing weight, and other symptoms of iodine deficiency. Talk to your doctor if you have these symptoms.

4. Consuming Bromide-Containing Foods and Drinks

Bromide is a compound commonly found in some flours, bakery goods and soft drinks such as Sun Drop, Mountain Dew, citrus-flavored sodas, Fresca, and Squirt.

Research shows that bromide interferes with the metabolism of iodine and, as a result, lowers thyroid function.

5. Fasting

Fasting can help renew your cells and keep you young. However, it may worsen symptoms in people with hypothyroidism.

This study found that thyroid concentrations changed during the fasting month of Ramadhan. Researchers say that hypothyroidism patients should increase the dose of levothyroxine when fasting. Also, extreme calorie-restriction may negatively effect on your thyroid.

6. Smoking

Cigarettes contain toxins that affect thyroid function. According to this study, smokers with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have a higher risk of hypothyroidism.

7. Drinking too Much Alcohol

Research shows that excessive drinking can lower thyroid function. But you may be surprised to find out that moderate alcohol consumption may actually lower the risk of thyroid cancer.

Could Spirulina Be Linked to Alzheimer’s?

Many of us have heard about the health benefits of spirulina. Whether you buy it in the grocery store, take it as a supplement or grow your own, spirulina promises a number of healthful effects.

Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that is commonly consumed not only by people, but animals as well. It is a source of vegan protein, is thought to protect against certain cancers and aids in the detoxification process — some studies have even suggested that it can help reduce the load of toxins and heavy metals in the body.

But some scientists say there may be a significant risk inherent in consuming spirulina: A potential increased risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you’re unsure about whether or not spirulina is safe, here’s a synopsis of what the medical community knows so far. 

COGNITIVE ISSUES IN THE CHAMORRO POPULATION

The suspicion about spirulina comes from a group of people in Guam, known as the Chamorro people, that scientists have begun studying. People from this community have a strong tendency to develop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s-like symptoms as they age.

They also happen to consume a lot of Cycad seeds. The seeds of the Cycad plant are ground into flours, and used to make all manner of foods. The seeds are often infected with BMAA, a naturally occurring chemical compound found in the blue-green algae that flourish in the region. According to IFLScience, it’s not just the Cycad seeds that contain large amounts of BMAA: BMAA is found in blue-green algae sources all over the world.

THE EFFECTS OF BMAA ON THE BRAIN

After scientists noted the connection of these Alzheimer’s-like symptoms to Cycad seed consumption, they decided to test the effects of blue-green algae on the brain.

A group of scientists fed BMAA to a group of monkeys for 140 days, and compared their brains to the brains of monkeys who were not fed BMAA. Monkeys who consumed BMAA diet were found to have higher concentrations of tau protein tangles and plaque-like deposits in their brains than the other monkeys. Both tau protein tangles and plaque deposits are unmistakeable signs of early dementia.

IS SPIRULINA SAFE?

While the studies may be scary, the evidence is not conclusive one way or the other that spirulina is unsafe. Furthermore, the scientists also found that the supplement L-serine seemed to block the tangles and plaques from forming, which is a promising potential treatment for people with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Finally, there have even been some studies that have found that spirulina PROTECTED against Parkinson’s and cognitive decline. The bottom line: The evidence isn’t conclusive on spirulina’s safety or health benefits.

It’s too early to say whether or not we can draw a conclusive association between blue-green algae like spirulina and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s. But when the well-known health expert Dr. Weil was asked if spirulina is safe, his answer was unequivocally “no.”

9 Uncommon Things That Can Trigger a Migraine

If you think about what triggers a migraine, what are the first few things that come to mind? Bright or flashing lights? Lack of sleep? Coffee and caffeine? Chocolate? These are common migraine triggers, but not every migraine sufferer is bothered by these factors. So if these are off the table, the question becomes, what else could it be?

For the approximately 18 percent of American women and 6 percent of American men who experience migraines, this can be an all-important question.

If you or a loved one is a migraine sufferer and you have identified the triggers, this is first great step toward dealing with this debilitating condition. However, many individuals are still looking for the one or more underlying triggers for their severe head pain.

It’s entirely possible one of the more uncommon factors listed below could be a trigger for your migraine. What do you think?

1. CATCH-UP SLEEP.

It’s not uncommon in this day and age to not get enough sleep, so catch up sleep can be a great way to remedy that, right? Wrong—at least for some people who suffer with migraines.

Sleeping in on weekends or other days off can actually trigger migraines in some people. Migraineurs need to maintain a steady go-to-bed and get-up routine seven days a week. 

2. ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Many people feel they can’t live without their electronic devices—smartphones, laptops, tablets. Yet the blue light emitted from these devices, especially when you expose yourself to them around bedtime, can trigger migraines.

If there is no tearing yourself away from checking your phone or tablet at night, then at least wear digital screen protection glasses (they work well!).

3. PATTERNS.

Have you ever looked at a patterned sofa, dress, rug, blanket, shower curtains, or painting and felt a little dizzy? For some people who get migraines, some visual patterns such as checks, lines, squiggles, or circles can overstimulate the occipital cortex in the brain and trigger headaches.

It’s best to choose simple designs for items in your home, including your furniture, bed linens, and rugs.

4. DELAYED STRESS RESPONSE.

It makes sense that someone might experience headache pain while in the midst of a stressful situation, such as a overwhelming work environment, caring for a loved in who is ill, or looking for a job. Yet some people actually experience a migraine once the stressful situation has passed.

Such migraines are sometimes referred to as let-down or weekend migraines. They appear once the stress has passed and the individual can finally relax.

If you want to help prevent such a migraine trigger, try to practice stress-reduction measures and follow a healthy lifestyle during the stressful event. This effort can help prevent the dramatic difference in how the body is during the stress—elevated stress hormone (cortisol, adrenaline) levels, heightened sense of awareness, on edge—and after when you can finally let go and relax.

5. SUDDEN CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OR PRESSURE.

Not all headache and migraine experts agree that dramatic changes in temperature or barometric pressure can trigger migraines, but many do. Recognizing if either of these natural triggers are true for you can at least allow you to make plans or adjustments in your life to reduce these risk factors.

For example, traveling by airplane may trigger migraines, so alternative plans may be needed. Ear plugs and hearing aids are available that can help regulate ear pressure and prevent migraine. Also try to be prepared with appropriate clothing for big changes in temperature.

6. CERTAIN FOOD ADDITIVES.

Some foods contain substances that have been shown to trigger migraines. Why these ingredients set off a migraine in some people and not others is not completely understood.

Two substances identified as triggers are tyramine and phenylethylamine, two amino acids found in various foods, such as aged or fermented cheeses (blue, Brie, cheddar, all hard moldy cheeses), nuts, citrus, soy foods, and vinegar.

Other food additives that may trigger migraine include aspartame, monosodium glutamate and its many names (e.g., yeast extract, hydrolyzed or autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), sodium caseinate, and kombu extract), sulfites (found in dried fruit and wines), and nitrites (found in processed meats).

Keep a headache diary to help you identify whether food or food additives are triggering your migraine. Write down everything you eat and when you experience migraine pain, then look for patterns.

7. SLEEP APNEA.

People with sleep apnea experience a blocked upper airway while they sleep, and they stop breathing for a period of time. Because their access to oxygen decreases, they are susceptible to developing a migraine.

If you suspect sleep apnea may be a cause of your migraines, have someone watch you sleep or look into a sleep clinic to determine if you stop breathing during the night. Sleep apnea can be treated without medication.

8. SOME MEDICATIONS.

Among the common medications that may trigger migraine are oral birth control pills and antidepressants. The synthetic estrogen and progesterone in oral contraceptives can help balance a woman’s hormones but for some they also lead to a migraine.

In addition, some antidepressants, including SSRIs, are frequently prescribed to treat migraine, but some migraineurs are triggered by these drugs. In both cases, women should talk to their healthcare provider about making medication adjustments.

9. SEX.

Any type of vigorous or intense physical activity may trigger migraine, and that includes sex. Two types of sex headaches have been identified: pre-orgasmic and post-orgasmic.

For those who experience sex headaches, one natural solution is to let your partner do much of the physical “work” during sex. Unfortunately, most ways to deal with sex headache involved medications.

Pomegranate vs. Placebo for Prostate Cancer

The pomegranate “has been revered through the ages for its medicinal properties”—so much so that it’s been used as a symbol for some medical organizations. The pomegranate is thought to be beneficial for a wide range of diseases, including several types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Most of the attention over the last decade has focused on pomegranates and prostate cancer. In vitro studies have shown that pomegranate extract can suppress the growth of prostate cancer cells in a petri dish by up to 95 percent. As you can see in my video below, there is no real difference between what normal prostate cells look like under a microscope with a little or a lot of pomegranate extract; it doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on healthy cells. However, prostate cancer cells are decimated by pomegranate extract—at least in a petri dish, but what about in a person? If these results translated to the clinic, it could be dramatic, but we first need to try it out in people.

“Primary management of prostate cancer…consists of either radical surgery or radiation therapy.” Despite this, “a significant number of patients relapse and ultimately develop metastatic disease.” Even after radical prostatectomy, the cancer comes back in about one-third of the patients, as evidenced by rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. At that point, the treatment options are limited as the prostate has already been removed. The next step is essentially chemical castration, or hormonal ablation. Just like breast cancer can thrive on estrogen, prostate cancer can thrive on testosterone. We can try to wipe out testosterone, but that can have such negative side effects that anything we can do to delay that would be good. 

So, what about plants? Men in Asia appear to have the lowest prostate cancer rates in the world, up to ten times lower than men in North America. Is this simply because of genetics? No. When Japanese individuals move to the United States and start living and eating like us, their breast and prostate cancer rates shoot right up toward ours. It could be because of what they start eating more of: animal products, which are the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer worldwide on a country-by-country basis. Or, it could be because of what they’re eating less of in the United States, namely their traditional low-fat, high-fiber, generally plant-rich diet with soy products and green tea. So, did the researchers put the cancer patients on a plant-based diet? No, they just had them drink a cup of pomegranate juice every day. Why? Because the study was funded by the pomegranate juice folks.

In the three years leading up to the study, participants’ cancer was steadily growing, as measured by the increase in their average PSA levels. Once they started the juice, their tumors continued to grow, but it looked like they were growing slower. In contrast, Dean Ornish and his colleagues got an apparent reversal in early prostate cancer growth with a plant-based diet and other healthy lifestyle changes. Indeed, PSA didn’t just go up slower—it trended down. And, when dripping the blood of the men on prostate cancer cells growing in a lab, the blood serum of those eating healthfully suppressed cancer growth nearly eight times better, whereas the blood of the men on the pomegranate juice suppressed cancer growth by only about 12 percent. Still, to see any effect from drinking a cup of juice a day is pretty impressive.

The problem is that there was no control group in the pomegranate juice study. We could say the patients acted as their own controls, before and after. It’s probably not just a coincidence that their tumors started growing slower right when they started the juice. But, a drug trial tried to do the same thing—treat men with recurring prostate cancer after surgery or radiation. In the drug group, tumor growth slowed in 55 percent of the men. A pretty effective drug, right? Well, the sugar pill worked 73 percent of the time. The placebo effect can be so powerful that it may slow cancer growth. This is why we need placebo-controlled trials. Maybe tricking people into drinking pomegranate-flavored Kool-Aid would have had the same effect. We don’t know until we put it to the test.

Finally, researchers did a randomized, controlled trial of pomegranate juice for prostate cancer, and the daily pomegranate intake had no impact. What do they mean, no impact? Twenty-five percent of the cancer patients appeared to shrink their tumors as soon as they started drinking the pomegranate juice, but 35 percent shrunk their tumors not drinking pomegranate juice. So, any effect appears just to be a placebo. It’s the same story with pomegranate extract pills: They seemed to work until they went head to head with sugar pills and fell flat on their face.

Never buy laundry detergent again – Use THIS instead (costs less & protects your health)

Did you know there are more that 7 dangerous chemicals lurking in your laundry detergent? During WWI many man made chemicals were introduced due to shortages of soap. Most are still used today because they are cost effective but their use may have long-term affects on our delicate systems. 

Chief among these concerns is a chemical known as 1,4-dioxane. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, exposure to this compound can cause eye and nose irritation, kidney problems, and possible long-term lung damage.

The EPA on 1,4-Dioxane
“1,4-Dioxane is used as a solvent. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of 1,4-dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs in humans…Damage to the liver and kidneys has been observed in rats chronically (long-term) exposed in their drinking water… Tumors have been observed in orally exposed animals. EPA has classified 1,4-dioxane as a Group B2, probable human carcinogen.” 

The stronger the detergent, the harsher the ingredients tend to be. This can create problems for people with sensitive skin or chemical sensitivity. Allergies to products containing harsh chemical ingredients are on the rise, and more and more people are turning to gentler, natural alternatives.

On top of that, most laundry detergents are terrible for our environment, and just simply add more chemicals to our rivers, streams, and groundwater supplies, which also can affect your health when that water is used for public water supplies.

Other ingredients found in laundry detergent: 

Phthalates
Propylene Glycol
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Surfactants
the byproduct 1,4 Dioxane

Just take 2 of the ingredients listed, both the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA consider 1,4 Dioxane to be a probable human carcinogen. Also, phthalates are a problem chemical highlighted by the President’s Cancer Panel in their 2010 report.

Natural Laundry Soap Detergent

Grate the bar soap or mix in food processor until finely ground. Use natural soap 

In a large bowl, mix 2 parts washing soda, 2 parts Borax and 1 part grated soap. …

Store in closed container. …

Use 2 Tablespoons to 1/4 cup per load of laundry.