Celiac disease is a malabsorption syndrome and chronic digestive disorder. The intestine is not able to absorb vital dietary nutrients from foods containing gliadin, an alcohol-soluble portion of gluten. This condition which is often hereditary means the sufferer has a serious intolerance to wheat (including durum, semolina and spelt), rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as tritaclae and kamut.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is characterised by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis which is also an autoimmune disorder. In this case the body's immune system attacks its own cartilage and tissue surrounding the joints.
Some detoxification experts advocate fasting, while others do not. It is known that the components of any well-designed detox program will stimulate the body to cleanse itself, but people who are underweight, are undernourished, have weak hearts, have blood sugar issues or are ill should avoid fasting. Some studies have shown that restricting food intake can actually lead to bingeing.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common in industrialised countries and it is estimated that fifty percent of persons over fifty years of age have symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease. Although most people may begin to develop hemorrhoids in the twenties, the symptoms do not become evident normally until in ones thirties!
ANTIOXIDANTS
- What are antioxidants?
- What health advantages do antioxidants possess?
- What foods have strong antioxidant properties?
- What nutrients have strong antioxidant properties?
- What herbs have strong antioxidant properties?
Antioxidants are a diverse group of otherwise unrelated chemicals that combine with Free Radicals (or other chemicals that release Free Radicals) that would otherwise attack and oxidise molecules in the body. Most of the best foods we can eat regularly are high in antioxidants. A healthy intake of antioxidants greatly enhances our ability to fight off the onset of both acute and chronic disease. At Natures Clinicals we highly recommend that you have a diet high in foods that possess good antioxidant abilities.
What health advantages do antioxidants possess?
Antioxidants have numerous health benefits including:
- They help slow various aspects of the ageing process, i.e many antioxidants possess life extension potential
- Cardiovascular System health is greatly improved. Many antioxidants prevent LDL Cholesterol from building up into artery blocking clumps, by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
- Antioxidants help the body through improving our natural detoxification processes.
- Antioxidants may retard the lipid peroxidation that results in peroxidized fats (rancid fat).
- Antioxidants scavenge the free radicals that are responsible for many of the bodies woes. Antioxidants react with free radicals to render them harmless.
- Many antioxidants reduce the risk of developing Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - by deactivating Singlet Oxygen Free Radicals that may be present within the Retina of the Eye. Antioxidants accumulate in the eyes to a greater extent than in the rest of the body.
- Antioxidants counteract the increase in free radicals produced as a result of exercise.
- Antioxidants counteract the inflammation of body tissues associated with surgery.
- Antioxidants (applied topically in combination with a skin-penetrating medium) may protect the skin from the damage induced by UV-B ultra-violet radiation.
What foods have strong antioxidant properties?
Green tea has excellent antioxidant abilities. Green Tea contains Gallocatechins and Polyphenols that possess potent Antioxidant properties - twenty times stronger than Vitamin E
Spirulina contains numerous antioxidants. Wheat grass and barley grass are also excellent antioxidants.
Bee Products: Propolis possesses antioxidant properties (due to its Polyphenols content).
Fermented Soybean Products: Miso possesses antioxidant properties (it scavenges Hydroxy Free Radicals and Superoxide Free Radicals). Tempeh also possesses antioxidant properties.
Fruit: Most fruits contain high levels of antioxidants. The ORAC rating for various fruits are:
- Blackberry: 2,036
- Blueberry: 2,400
- Cherry: 670
- Cranberry: 1,750
- Grapefruit (pink): 483
- Grapes: 739
- Kiwi Fruit: 602
- Orange: 750
- Plum: 949
- Pomegranate: 2,000+
- Prune: 5,570
- Raspberry: 1,220
- Raisins: 2,830
- Strawberry: 1,540
Cold pressed oils contain antioxidant abilities; mainly olive oil which contains the antioxidant, Ursolic Acid. and grape seed oil, which contain polyphenols with Antioxidant properties.
Sesame Seeds contain the antioxidant, sesaminol. Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds also have antioxidant abilities. Do not cook or salt your nuts and seeds however to retain their optimum antioxidant abilities.
Garlic possesses excellent antioxidant properties (due to the various sulfuric compounds in garlic and the selenium and germanium it possess). Aged garlic is especially good.
Seaweeds contain very good antioxidant abilities
Reishi Mushrooms contain the antioxidant, ganoderic acid.
Beer (surprisingly) exerts Antioxidant effects (Polyphenols in Beer increase the body's levels of endogenous Antioxidant enzymes).
Wine (especially Red Wine) contains numerous substances (e.g. Resveratrol and Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs)) with antioxidant properties.
Onions contain good antioxidant abilities. Also cabbage family vegetable's and asparagus
What nutrients have strong antioxidant properties?
Vitamin C is one of the main water-soluble antioxidants in the body. It's also needed to decrease levels of free radicals that can cause damage to cells. Also like vitamin E, vitamin C is needed for the proper function of the immune system. Excellent food sources of vitamin C include broccoli, parsley, bell peppers, strawberries, cauliflower, lemons, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, papaya, kale, cabbage, spinach, kiwifruit, cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, chard, collard greens, raspberries, peppermint leaves, asparagus, celery, fennel bulb, pineapple, and watermelon.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It protect your skin from ultraviolet light and prevent cell damage from free radicals. Excellent sources of vitamin E include: mustard greens, chard, sunflower seeds, and turnip greens. Very good sources include almonds and spinach.
Selenium is a major antioxidant as it helps Protect cells from free-radical damage. Excellent sources of selenium include button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, cod, shrimp, snapper, tuna, halibut, calf's liver, and salmon.
Lycopene: Foods high in lycopene also help protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Lycopene high foods can also help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol, thereby slowing the development of atherosclerosis. Food sources high in lycopene include tomatoes, guava, apricots, watermelon, papaya, and pink grapefruit.
High-carotenoid rich foods help with smoking and regular alcohol consumption via their antioxidant abilities. Food sources of carotenoids include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, collard greens, and tomatoes. To maximize the availability of the carotenoids in the foods listed above, the foods should be eaten raw or steamed lightly.
Cysteine: Foods high in cysteine, help your body detoxify chemicals and heavy metals and protect from free radical damage. Food sources high in cysteine include poultry, yogurt, egg yolks, red peppers, garlic, onions, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, oats, and wheat germ.
What herbs have strong antioxidant properties?
The following herbs have shown good antioxidant abilities:
Ashwagandha
American Ginseng
Artichoke Leaf
Astragalus
Barberry
Bilberry
Black Cumin
Brahmi
Cat’s Claw
Chaparral
Cocoa
Elderberry
Ginger
Ginkgo biloba
Guggulipid
Hawthorn
Holy Basil
Horsechestnut
Indian Gooseberry
Jiaogulan
Korean Ginseng
Licorice
Lycium
Magnolia functions
Mexican Wild Yam
Milk Thistle
Olive Leaf (extract)
Oregano
Picrorrhiza
Red Yeast Rice
Rosemary
Saffron possesses
Saint John’s Wort
Schizandra
Self-Heal
Siberian Ginseng
Skullcap
Turmeric
Witch Hazel
