Thursday, September 28, 2017

Can Wild Foods From the Forest Boost Your Health?

As we turn more and more to sustainable food sources, the forest is a natural place to look to for a great source of healthy food. One of the biggest treasures to be found in the forests are edible mushrooms. Edible mushrooms have many health benefits including those resulting from the antifungal, antiviral and antiprotozoan properties they have. Mushrooms are the fruiting body of fungi which nourish the forest trees and protect them from invaders and disease making scientists refer to them as "the forest's immune system". People over the ages have used wild mushrooms for food and healing and today many pharmaceuticals, like penicillin, come from fungi compounds. Current medical research is focusing on uses for the immune system, neurological and endocrine system, blood glucose and circulatory system, cellular oxidation, kidney and liver function, cardiovascular system and sports performance.

Mushrooms as Foods for Health
Here are the mushrooms and the benefits they provide that you will find in our wild superfood mushroom supplement that provides a powerful source of proteins, enzymes, minerals, trace minerals, beta glucans, polysaccharides, antioxidants and natural vitamin D.

Rich in proteins, plant sterols, polysaccharides, antioxidants, and nucleoside derivatives, this mushroom is being researched for benefits for immune system, liver function, sports performance, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, immune modulation, cellular oxidation, blood glucose and kidney function.

High in beta glucans, polysaccharides, and with 130 identified triterpenoid compounds, this mushroom is a complete whole food that is rich in proteins, enzymes, minerals, and complex polysaccharides. Benefits for the cardiovascular system, liver function, circulation, cholesterol, inflammation, stress response, oxidative stress, immune modulation, cellular damage and immune system are being researched.

Beneficial phospholipids, unsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, antioxidants, beta glucans and plant sterols such as ergosterol are all found in this mushroom. It is being researched for benefits to the immune system, liver function, endocrine system, circulatory system, bone and skeletal system, blood glucose, skin, immune modulation and cardiovascular system.

Poria Cocos
Rich in beta glucans, polysaccharides, fiber, and triterpenes, this mushroom is currently being researched for its benefits to the gastrointestinal system, nervous system, inflammation, joint and cartilage systems, kidney function and cardiovascular system.

Black Trumpet
Polysaccharides, polyphenols, beta glucans and trace minerals from this mushroom are leading research to focus on benefits to immune system, blood glucose and cellular integrity.

No need to forage and gather your own mushrooms. You can get the sustainable whole foods products made from organically grown wild spores and harvested from the old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest in simple capsule form. They are a great addition to a diet of healthy food to support good nutrition and optimal health.



Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Prebiotics to Feed Your Good Bacteria


  • help with absorption of nutrients from foods
  • protecting the digestive system from unfriendly bacteria, yeast and fungi
  • supporting normal movement of food through the intestines





Thursday, September 21, 2017

Causes of Food Allergies and How to Avoid Them

Can the causes of food allergies be avoided? Well, consider first of all what causes food allergies. Food allergies are not the same as food intolerances and the causes of food allergies and food intolerances are different. Food intolerances are a digestive problem whereas food allergies are caused by the immune system deciding certain foods are something harmful to the body and attacking them. Food allergies can have symptoms ranging from mild rashes to life threatening swelling of the throat to the point the person cannot breathe. Food intolerances produce symptoms such as abdominal cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea which are certainly uncomfortable, but not considered life threatening. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting statistics such as an 18% rise in cases of food allergies in children between 1997 and 2007, it would seem that food allergies are becoming more and more of a problem. According to Julia Bradsher, CEO of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, it is estimated that 3 million children in the U.S. have food allergies. Whereas some of these children will outgrow some of these food allergies, there are some that will remain with them for life.

Avoiding Causes of Food Allergies
According to the Mayo Clinic the most common foods that create allergic reactions are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts such as cashews and almonds, shellfish, fish such as bass, cod and flounder, soy and wheat. In the case of a food like peanuts that often carries allergic reactions into adulthood, the medical community has traditionally recommended that children not even begin eating them until after the age of 3. New research is looking at the reverse of this to see if introducing peanuts to children at an earlier age will allow the immune system to develop a tolerance for them. Since food allergies basically are a problem with the immune system identifying certain foods as foreign invaders in the body, one thing that can definitely be done to avoid the causes of food allergies is to boost the immune system. Here are some ways to do just that.

Eat Algae - Two studies show that "the inclusion of blue-green algae in the diet contributes to a reduction of anaphylactic and immune-type allergic reactions in animals" ("Edible Microalgae", Jeffrey J. Bruno, Ph.D.). This can work the same in humans by taking supplements of bluegreen algae to support the body's immune system and tolerance.

Increase Enzymes and Probiotics - Many food allergies are caused by poor digestion linked to the immune system. Poor digestion from such causes as "leaky gut syndrome," allows undigested proteins to enter the blood stream. This triggers the immune system into an allergic reaction. While enzymes and probiotics such as acidophilus and bifidus are found naturally in the body, we often don't produce enough to help keep up with healthy digestion. Taking supplements of high quality digestive enzymes, acidophilus and bifidus can help breakdown all types of foods, help the body process food efficiently and eliminate waste, promote the normal movement of food through the intestine and support immune system function.

Eat Immune Boosting Foods – For healthy immune system support there are certain foods you can include in your diet that have been shown to give it a boost. These include:
  • Mushrooms which have been shown to increase production and activity of white blood cells. White blood cells are a part of the immune system that help fight off infections. Shiitake and maitake mushrooms seem to be the best ones for immune system support. Don't like mushrooms? Check out this supplement  to get the mushroom immune boost. It also has WGP beta-glucan which is also an immune system booster.
  • Tomatoes which contain lycopene that can aid in the fight against free radical damage to white blood cells with its antioxidant properties.
  • Oats which are a good source of beta-glucans that activate macrophages produced in your bone marrow and are an important part of the immune system.
  • Whey which contains cysteine, an amino acid that the body converts into the antioxidant glutathione that fights the damage to our bodies' cells caused by free radicals.

Take Bromelain – Bromelain is an enzyme that naturally occurs in pineapple and has been found to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is the body's reaction to infection or something it considers to be a foreign invader that is threatening the body. In the case of food allergies, the body is labeling a certain food as this foreign invader. It is suggested that bromelain may work best when not taken with food. The solution for this for many may be this supplement with a combination of plant-based proteolytic enzymes—bromelain, papain, protease, lipase, and serratiopeptidase, together with  wild bluegreen algae - all ingredients found to help support the body in fighting off inflammation.

It would be ideal of course to avoid the causes of food allergies altogether, but when someone does show symptoms of being allergic to certain foods that food will have to be avoided. Especially in the cases of life threatening symptoms. Keeping a food diary can help narrow down which foods are causing symptoms. Write down what foods are eaten, what symptoms are noticed and how long after eating that food the symptoms appear. This information along with allergy testing from a health care provider can help determine which foods will need to be avoided. As the immune system is strengthened over time, these foods may at some point be tolerated better and symptoms of allergic reaction reduced or eliminated. Even if you find you never tolerate a certain food, there are tons of other reasons to have a healthy immune system, so you certainly can't lose by giving it a boost and if it helps with the allergic reactions to foods then it's a double win for you!


"Edible Microalgae", Jeffrey J. Bruno, Ph.D.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Natural Solutions for Great Daily Energy


Natural Solutions for Daily Energy

2. Stay Hydrated – Dehydration can also cause you to be tired. Water is vital to keeping the body working properly and maintaining daily energy. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water, go ahead and drink all throughout the day and extra when exercising or doing other strenuous activity. You'll know your water intake is at an appropriate level if your urine is a light yellowish color.





7. Feed Your Cells - At the cellular level our energy is determined by how well our mitochondria are working. The mitochondria are the "power houses" in our cells, and when not properly-nourished, can't produce cellular energy which causes a drain in daily energy. Our mitochondria need a substance called adenosine troposphere, or ATP for nourishment. ATP fuels the mitochondria in our cells as well as other important bodily functions such as muscle contraction and protein production. To produce ATP, our bodies need coenzyme Q10. When we are young, our bodies produce plenty of coenzyme Q10, but aging, stress, and disease can all interfere with the production of this vital coenzyme. The result is low daily energy.





10. Cinnamon - Studies have shown that taking a whiff of cinnamon can make you feel more alert and increase your daily energy levels. Sucking on a cinnamon stick produces similar results. As a bonus, cinnamon has natural health-protective properties. If you don't have any cinnamon handy, peppermint has similar fatigue-fighting properties.




Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Adult Stem Cells and Their Role in Healthy Aging


The Future for Adult Stem Cells Use

How Adult Stem Cells Can Help You Now

Other Natural Solutions for Healthy Aging
1. Supplements – There are two natural supplements we've found useful for healthy aging. The first has a blend of bluegreen algae, wheatgrass juice, cordyceps mushrooms, bee pollen, turmeric, noni, and green tea as a whole food source for physical energy. The second has a mix of bluegreen algae, eleuthero, Ginkgo biloba, Lion's Mane mushroom, bee pollen, wheatgrass juice, and noni to support mental processes that often decline with age.







Thursday, September 7, 2017

Problems Sleeping? Natural Solutions to Try

Do you have problems sleeping? Well, before reaching for those sleeping pills or frustrating yourself with counting sheep, check out these natural solutions for sleep problems.

Avoid Alcohol
Avoid alcohol before bedtime. Many people think drinking alcohol makes them sleepy, but it leads to increased waking up during the night and can interfere with the REM cycle causing what sleep you do get to be of poor quality.

Get in a Routine
Routine can make a huge difference when it comes to sleeping through the night. One of the ways to create routine around sleep is to come up with your own bedtime ritual. Whether you take a warm bath with aromatherapy oils, read something soothing, meditate, or drink a warm glass of milk, taking the time to intentionally create calm and peace before you go to bed will help you sleep better at night. Start at least ½ an hour before bedtime doing your winding down routine. Having a bedtime routine helps prepare your body for knowing that it is now time for sleep.

Eat Light
Digestion requires a lot of energy, and eating a heavy meal right before bed can definitely interfere with sleep. Not only will a heavy meal keep your body awake and working, you may also suffer from symptoms of indigestion like acid reflux, stomach discomfort, gas, or bloating. Instead, focus on eating a light and healthy dinner at least one hour before bed. To assist your body with digestion, you may also want to supplement your meal with extra enzymes.

Douse the Lights
A dark room makes it easier to go to sleep. Light blocking curtains or shades are one way to darken a room, but some people prefer to use an eye mask. When looking at light don't forget to consider blue light, such as the kind from smart phones, television or PDAs. Research has shown this type of light interferes with natural sleep.

Stop Clockin' Time
Some people constantly look at their alarm clock when they are experiencing problems sleeping. This increases their stress thinking about how much time they have left until the alarm goes off and worrying even more about not being able to go to sleep. If you are one of those that can't stop watching the clock, turn it around or hide it from your sight.

Restrict Caffeine
If you are a coffee drinker, stop drinking it by noon as caffeine can prevent good quality sleep. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, other foods or medicines that contain caffeine can cause you sleepless nights, so be aware of anything you consume that has caffeine in it.

Natural Solutions Supplements
  • Chamomile can be a useful herb in relaxing the body before going to sleep. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime can be part of establishing a nighttime routine and a signal to the body that it is time to start preparing for sleep.
  • Bifidus is one the friendly forms of bacteria that live in your large intestine. This form of bacteria not only helps you with digestion, but also produces the calming and soothing B-vitamins that can help you relax and wind down at night. It is also present in mother's milk as well as in the birth canal during birth. On a mental-emotional level, bifidus is linked with feelings of self-esteem, as well as feeling supported and nurtured in life. All of these factors combined make bifidus a perfect natural solution for those who have problems sleeping.
  • Another bluegreen algae supplement that can help people with sleeping problems, especially if the problems arise from fatigue, is one that gives natural nervous system support with its combination of three revered mushrooms, Lion's Mane, agarikon, and cordyceps, blended with standardized American ginseng (Cereboost®), resveratrol, and bluegreen algae.

So stop counting all those sheep! Instead try developing a bedtime routine, get rid of all the lights, stop watching the clock, watch what you eat and drink before bed and add some foods and supplements that promote sleep. These tips may help sleep problems become a thing of the past for you and help you get the good quality sleep you need to stay healthy. 
