Nr 217 Sugar

Nr 216 Can graviola (soursop) cure cancer?

What is graviola?

Graviola comes from a tree in the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. Its scientific name is Annona muricata. It is also known as custard apple, cherimoya, guanabana, soursop and brazilian paw paw. The active ingredient is thought to be a type of plant compound (phytochemical) called annonaceous acetogenins.

Graviola and cancer

Overall, there is no evidence to show that graviola works as a cure for cancer. In laboratory studies, graviola extracts can kill some types of liver and breast cancer cells that are resistant to particular chemotherapy drugs. But there haven’t been any studies in humans. So we don't know whether it can work as a cancer treatment or not. 

Many sites on the internet advertise and promote graviola capsules as a cancer cure but none of them are supported by any reputable scientific cancer organisations.

We do not support the use of graviola to treat cancer. Our advice is to be very cautious about believing information or paying for any type of alternative cancer therapy on the internet.

What is graviola used for?

People in African and South American countries have used graviola to treat infections with viruses or parasites, rheumatism, arthritis, depression, and sickness. We know from research that some graviola extracts can help to treat these conditions. In many countries, people use the bark, leaves, root, and fruits of this tree for traditional remedies.

Possible side effects of graviola

We don’t know much about how graviola affects the body. But some researchers are concerned that particular chemicals present in graviola may cause nerve changes and movement disorders when taken in large amounts. The nerve changes may cause symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. Laboratory research has found that some substances in graviola cause nerve damage and that these substances can cross into the brain from the bloodstream.

One research study has shown that people in the Caribbean who had large amounts of graviola in their diet were more likely to develop particular nerve changes and were also more likely to have hallucinations. It is unlikely that drinks or foods containing graviola could harm you when taken as part of a normal diet. But always talk to your doctor before taking any kind of complementary or alternative therapy.

Disclaimer: This article and others on this site are for information purposes only and not intended to treat, prevent or diagnose any diseases; consult your holistic doctor before making major changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Nr 215 See what happens to your body when you eat 3 dates daily

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you started eating dates? Probably not. Most people don’t think about dates very much and particularly about the health benefits. But dates are pretty amazing and this little fruit can provide some exellent health benefits.. If you start eating three dates a day, here is what you will start to see.

The Nutrient-Rich Date

The first thing you’ll notice is that dates have some great nutritional benefits. You don’t need to take all those vitamins when you are eating three dates a day. They contain copper, potassium, fiber, manganese, vitamin B-6 and magnesium.

Dates Improve Digestive Health

Dates are great foods for digestive health. If you have problems like IBS, constipation or many other digestive and GI problems, dates can help. Part of it is the fiber that they contain and they have been shown to reduce your risk of colon cancer and more. Dates are even recommended treatments for hemorrhoids.

Dates as Pain Relievers & More

Because dates have so much magnesium – which is an anti-inflammatory – they can work to relieve pain and help swelling. Studies have shown that the magnesium in dates can help reduce arterial inflammation and that lowers your risk for heart disease as well as a host of other inflammation caused conditions like Alzheimer’s, arthritis and more.

Dates for a Healthy Pregnancy

A study done at UST tested how well dates helped with labor and delivery. The researchers tested 69 women and came to the conclusion that if the women ate dates during the last four weeks of their delivery that the labor and delivery was more favorable. Dates also help with weight loss after pregnancy

Dates for High Blood Pressure & Stroke

The magnesium that is in dates is also helpful when it comes to lowering high blood pressure. So many people are on blood pressure medication in the United States, all the while this fruit might make those meds unnecessary. The potassium that is in dates is also helpful, because it helps the heart work more smoothly and reduces blood pressure as well.

In addition, there has actually been research to determine whether or not dates had any impact on stroke risk. In fact, there have been no less than seven studies that prove that magnesium decreases your stroke risk by about 10% for every one hundred milligrams of magnesium you ingest on a daily basis.

The research was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and clearly shows that dates can lower stroke risk.

Dates Make the Brain Work Better

There have also been studies done on the ingredients in dates and their relation to brain health and it has been shown that when you have enough vitamin B6 in your system, your brain actually works better. That means that you have more focus, more accurate memories and can access information faster. Dates help keep your mind sharp and ready to learn.

Disclaimer: This article and others on this site are for information purposes only and not intended to treat, prevent or diagnose any diseases; consult your holistic doctor before making major changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Nr 214 15 reasons why sweetpotatos are perfect for all and diabetics

Sweet potatoes come from the same order like regular potatoes, but they belong to different family and species. You can call it a unique type of potato that comes in various different colors, resembles yams and has superb nutritional values. The most common sweet potato is the one with yellow-orange or white/cream flesh.

The sweetness of the sweet potato comes from the beta-carotene. Our bodies use it to produce vitamin A, which is why it is referred to as Provitamin A. If you happen to stumble upon purple-fleshed sweet potatoes, you should buy them immediately because they are outstandingly rich in antioxidants (more than blueberrie

15 Nutritious Facts:

1. Perfect for Diabetics: Sweet potatoes have natural sugars that help diabetics lower and
stabilize their insulin resistance and regulate their sugar levels.

2. Digestion: Dietary fibers are important for healthy digestive tract, and sweet potatoes
are abundant in them. They help in colon cancer prevention and relieve constipation.

3. Prevents Emphysema: Smokers get emphysema (damaging of the air sacs) and are
deficient in Vitamin A. The carotenoids in sweet potato that the body uses to produce 
Vitamin A help in the regeneration of the respiratory system.

4. Immune System: Vitamin D is important for the functioning of the thyroid gland,
for the teeth, skin, heart, nerves, bones and energy levels, and sweet potatoes are a potent
source of Vitamin D.

5. Healthy Heart: The heart function can be improved in overall with the help of the
potassium content, which negates the sodium impact and helps with blood pressure and 
balances electrolytes.
The Vitamin B6 in the sweet potato can help to prevent strokes, heart attacks and
degenerative diseases.

6. Healthy Muscles and Tissues: The potassium contents can help athletes to reduce
cramps and
swelling, can provide them with energy and relaxes their muscle contractions. They
also regulate
nerve signals and heartbeats.

7. Anti-Oxidant: The carotenoids like beta-carotene helps with gout, arthritis,
and asthma,  reduce aging effects and protect against breast and lung cancers.

8. Fetal Development: It is very important for pregnant women to consume 
folic acid if they want a healthy fetal tissue and cell development, and sweet 
potatoes are a  rich source  of folic acid.

9. Anti-Stress: The potassium content regulates the body’s water balance,
increases oxygen flow and normalizes heartbeats, while the magnesium content 
functions as anti-stress agent.

10. Vitamin C: Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin C, a vitamin crucial for the
functioning
of the entire body.

11. Anemia: Since sweet potatoes are rich in iron they help fighting anemia
because the iron plays an important role in the production of white and red 
blood cells.

12. Youthful Skin: If you want to boil your sweet potatoes use the water left
for your skin.
 It can sooth irritated spots, cleanse your pores and absorb impurities. The
Vitamin C will
help in collagen production while Vitamin E will improve the skin complexion.
Plus, you can
remove wrinkles, puffiness of eyes and dark circles with the help of anthocyanins.

13. Premenstrual Symptoms: Treat severe premenstrual symptoms with
the help of the manganese and iron present in sweet potatoes.

14. Quality Hair: The beta-carotene in sweet potato promotes hair growth
and prevents problems like dandruff and damaged hair.

15. Minerals: Sweet potatoes are a rich source of vital minerals such as
potassium, manganese, magnesium calcium and iron, which are important for 
the carbohydrate, protein and enzyme metabolism.

However, if you have a history of oxalate urinary tract stones, you may
have to avoid sweet potatoes or consult a doctor.

Disclaimer: This article and others on this site are for information purposes only and not intended to treat, prevent or diagnose any diseases; consult your holistic doctor before making major changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Nr 213 10 Root Causes Of Fibromyalgia

Gluten Intolerance: Gluten has been liked to more than 55 diseases and is often called the ‘big masquerader’. The reason for this is that the majority symptoms of gluten intolerance are not digestive in nature but rather neurological such as pain, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, behavioral issues, fatigue and depression.

Candida Overgrowth: Candida is a fungus or yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your intestines. However, when overproduced, candida breaks down the wall of the intestines and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body causing a host of unpleasant symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues and pain. Virtually every one of my patients with fibromyalgia has had Candida overgrowth.

Thyroid: More than half of the people with thyroid issues have no idea they have one and 90% of these have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland. It is vital that your doctor check six different blood markers to measure your thyroid gland’s function. It’s imperative that your doctor use the optimal levels rather than the standard reference range when assessing and diagnosing thyroid disorders. Getting my patient’s thyroid levels into an optimal range, typically alleviates their fatigue, brain fog, sleep disturbances and depression.

Vitamin Deficiencies: Magnesium, vitamin D and B12 deficiency are the most common vitamin deficiencies I see in those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have had several patients completely reverse their fibromyalgia symptoms with magnesium alone. The best way to measure magnesium is a red blood cell (RBC) magnesium level, which can be tested through any conventional lab.

Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Leaky Gut: There are more bacteria in us and on us then there are of our own cells. When these bacteria get out of balance through use of antibiotics or a sugar-rich diet we can lose our ability to digest and absorb nutrients, particularly B12. Gluten can cause SIBO and leaky gut and SIBO and leaky gut can lead gluten and other food intolerances. It’s a catch-22 and a vicious cycle. You must ‘fix the gut’ first in anyone with fibromyalgia or any chronic illness.

Adrenal Fatigue: Adrenal fatigue is a result of the chronic stress whether real or perceived. Chronic pain is a stress to the adrenal glands, though typically not the initial adrenal stressor. The initial stressor is usually something such as food intolerances, Candida, mercury toxicity, vitamin deficiencies or mycotoxins. My goal is to support the adrenals with adaptogenic herbs while we search for the root cause of the stress and correct it.

Mycotoxins: Mycotoxins are very toxic substances produced by toxic molds. Only about 25% of the population carries the genes to be susceptible to the effects of mycotoxins. Conventional environmental mold testing only tests for levels of mold spores and does not test for mycotoxins. I use a urine mycotoxin test in my clinic to determine if someone has been exposed to toxic molds.

Mercury Toxicity: I recommend that all my patients find a biological dentist and have their mercury amalgam fillings removed. Mercury is toxic to our bodies and can be one piece of the puzzle for those with fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders and cancer. I then recommend heavy metal testing using a pre and post DMPS urine challenge test.

MTHFR Mutations: This is a genetic test you can get though any conventional lab. The more mutations you have at the MTHFR gene the less able you are to methylate and detoxify particularly toxins such as mercury and lead. The more mutations you have at this gene the higher your requirements for methyl-B6, methyl-B12 and folinic acid in order to keep your detoxification pathways working properly.

Glutathione Deficiency: Glutathione, a molecule, is the most critical part of our body’s detoxification system. Glutathione gets recycled in our body unless our toxic burden gets to high or we lack GSTM1 and GSTP1, the enzymes needed to recycle and produce glutathione. Taking glutathione or the precursors (NAC, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle) often help my patients dramatically with fatigue.

Disclaimer: This article and others on this site are for information purposes only and not intended to treat, prevent or diagnose any diseases; consult your holistic doctor before making major changes to your diet or lifestyle.