Goji berries

Also known as wolfberry, desert thorn and matrimony vine, these berries are typically found in Asia and America. Goji berries have many interesting legends associated with them, particularly Chinese. What makes these so popular is that they can grow well in harsh weathers of both extremes and they can even survive desert type of environment. Goji berries are deep red in color and are often dried and eaten as raisins. So, how does the Goji berry help you?

• Increases immunity
• Protects liver
• Improves eyesight
• Improves quality of blood
• Prevent aging

An important thing to remember is that Goji berries should not be used to treat illness but to prevent it from occurring. Also, Goji berries provide overall nourishment by providing an amazing number of rich nutrients. In fact, the number of nutrients that it contains by way of amino acids, vitamins, polysaccharides, HGH (human growth hormone), are too many to be listed.

Energizing Nutrients

D-ribose (Corvalen): One nutrient which has been shown to play a highly beneficial adjunctive role in metabolic treatment of fibromyalgia is D-ribose.    D-ribose provides the structural foundation--the backbone if you will--of the energy compound adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.   ATP is the primary source of energy for all living cells and is made from ribose. In tissues facing the metabolic stress of low oxygen, dysfunctional mitochondria, or poor energy metabolism, as is the in case of fibromyalgia, ATP is broken down and the metabolic machinery used by the cell to recycle expended energy is disrupted.  When this happens, a series of reactions are undertaken by the cell to balance its energy reserves and preserve a sufficient volume of energy to maintain function.  These reactions ultimately lead to increased concentrations of metabolic by-products that must be recycled or removed.  Up to 90% of these metabolic by-products can be removed or salvaged, but if they are not recovered quickly they are washed out of the cell and are lost forever.  The loss of these by-products has the effect of draining the cell of energy, delaying or preventing both energy recovery and the functional recovery of affected tissue.

Energizing Nutrients

Essential Fatty Acids

• Important for hormone balance
• Formation and fluidity of the cell membrane
• Helps with blood sugar regulation
• Important for the process of creating energy in the cell and helps burn fat
• Brain development and brain function

The Vital Roles of Saturated Fat

• Cell Membranes - should be 50% saturated fatty acids - main type of fat in brain cells.
• Bones - saturated fats help the body put calcium in the bones - makes bones strong
• Heart Function - saturated fats are the preferred food for the heart - athletic performance, endurance
• Liver - saturated fats protect the liver from alcohol & other poisons
• Lungs - can't function without saturated fats - protects against asthma
• Kidneys - can't function without saturated fats
• Immune system - enhanced by saturated fats - fights infection
• Essential fatty acids - work together with saturated fats - needed for brain function, healthy skin.

The following was excerpted in part from World's Healthiest Foods (http://whfoods.org):

Research by UCLA scientists specifies that Hass avocados inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. In a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, an extract of avocado inhibited the growth of both testosterone-dependent and independent prostate cancer cells. Hass avocados were found to contain the highest content of lutein among commonly eaten fruits as well as measurable amounts of related carotenoids (zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene). Lutein accounted for 70% of the measured carotenoids. Avocado also boasts significant quantities of natural vitamin E.

Free radicals may sound a little like an extremist terrorist sect evading capture and wreaking havoc across the globe and in fact within the context of your body this would be right. They are, in part, a natural occurrence through metabolism however extra and unnecessary free radical load can be put on our bodies by external factors including pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, burnt foods, deep fried fats and cooked foods. When enough of these free radicals invade our immune system problems occurs. This is when you need antioxidants to build up the immune system and fight off the free radicals in the form of superfoods or supplements.

Superfoods are calorie sparse yet nutrient dense foods found in nature. They are superior sources of essential nutrients - nutrients we need but cannot make ourselves. We all may be adding more salads and vegetables to our diets, but concern over the quality of foods grown on mineral depleted soils makes superfoods an intelligent choice. They are nutritionally more potent then regular foods and are wonderful sources of anti-oxidants for healthy healing.

Why Superfoods?

Superfoods are a category of foods found in nature, they are superior sources of essential nutrients - nutrients we need but can't make ourselves. We all may be adding more salads and vegetables to our diets, but concern for the quality of foods grown on mineral depleted soils makes superfoods popular. They are nutritionally more potent then regular foods and are wonderful food sources of anti-oxidants for healthy healing. Superfoods are nutrient dense and calorie sparse.

Sixty-five years ago medical scientists promised us that infections caused by bacteria and others would be a thing of the past due to the new discovery of patented pharmaceutical drugs. This very brave statement was made and almost automatically more than half of the herbs recommended in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia were taken off to be replaced with these chemical drugs. I wish I could tell you that the promise was kept and that now we live in an infection free world, but this is not so. We are all familiar with the enormous 39 amounts and resistance of bacteria. Antibiotics have not lived up to their promise; to the contrary they have become a problem in itself, by over use and side effects that cause liver, kidney, nervous and immune system damage.

Modern conventional medicine battles diseases directly by means of drugs, surgery, radiation and other therapies, but true health can be attained only by maintaining a healthy, properly functioning immune system. It is the immune system that fights off disease-causing microorganisms and it engineers the healing process. The immune system is the key to fighting every kind of insult to the body, from that little shaving scratch to the gigantic amount of viruses the constantly try to invade our bodies. Even the aging process may be related to a deteriorated immune system.

One of the best ways to assess food’s value is to ask whether it has nutrient density.  The nutrient density of a food is the amount of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and protein it has relative to its caloric content.  The more nutrient-dense, the more health promoting a food is.  These are the foods which are the closest to their natural state as well.  Here are some examples:

• Raw nuts and seeds, particularly raw almonds and fresh walnuts, or flaxseeds and flaxseed oils.  These are particularly rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and fiber.
• Whole-grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and beans and legumes are nutrient-dense.  Avoid white “enriched” flour, which is not.
• Organic produce is the most nutrient dense foods around.  Fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are organically grown, are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients.

When we eat as Mother Nature intended us to eat, and eat fresh foods which are in their most natural state rather than being processed and devitalized, we re-claim our health and well-being.   

People who suffer from fibromyalgia are plagued by persistent pain and chronic fatigue. These symptoms can make it difficult to shop for, prepare, and eat wholesome and nutritious meals. Nevertheless, a healthy diet is very important in helping people with fibromyalgia counteract stress, detoxify the body, and restore nutrients to the areas that need them the most. 

If your medical doctor has given you the diagnosis of having fibromyalgia, what you may not know is that all fibromyalgia patients also suffer from:

* Nutritional deficiencies

* Food sensitivities

* Blood sugar imbalances

* Infections: yeast, viral and bacterial

* Severe hormone imbalances

When you address all of these “X” factors at the same time and provide the body with the right balance of nutrition and nutrient-dense foods (as opposed to nutrient-deficient ones), you create an internal environment conducive to restoring the natural rhythm within and enable transformation and healing to occur.