Posts Tagged ‘energy’

I don’t believe any mineral has received as much notoriety in recent years as calcium. Walk into any health food store or pharmacy and you will be greeted by an array of calcium supplements, but keep in mind your best source will always be food.

Of all the minerals in the body, calcium is the most important and used by the human body more than any other mineral. Evidence indicates that when the level of calcium changes in a tissue, so do all other mineral levels.

Here are a few important reasons why calcium so vital to your health:

1. Calcium determines the ratio or proportion of all other minerals in our cells.
2. Calcium is essential to the development of peak bone mass and prevention of osteoporosis later in life.
3. Calcium is the best tranquilizer nature ever supplied.
4. Calcium releases the mineral energy of your food during digestion. The less calcium in your food, the less mineral energy you will get out of your food.

Ever wonder why you crave sweets, even after a great meal? The answer is that low calcium foods mean low mineral sugars in those foods, leading to poor energy release during digestion. When you are unable to extract enough energy out of your meal, sweets become much more appealing.

Consider this…….calcium actually helps us keep weight off! The reason has to do with your body’s response to a calcium deficit.

When you are low in calcium, your body thinks you’re starving and enters emergency mode, releasing parathyroid hormone. This hormone stimulates your bones to release calcium into your bloodstream. In addition, your kidneys are delivering a dose of a hormone called calcitriol, a form of vitamin D that increases your ability to absorb calcium.

The problem is that parathyroid hormone and calcitriol also stimulate the production of fat and inhibit its breakdown. As a result, your body not only stores fat but stubbornly holds on to it, even on a low-cal diet!

On the other hand, a high calcium intake suppresses these hormones so your body stores less fat and breaks it down easily.

A  few of my favorite sources that are now in season are: fresh coconut, avocado, pineapple, mango, and papaya. Most of the tropical fruits require lots of calcium in their soil, therefore are rich in this mineral. They are also excellent sources of  potassium and manganese, two minerals I find most women lacking in.

Some great vegetable sources would be: kale, cabbage (but have it lightly steamed or fermented to inactivate the anti-nutrients that can impair thyroid function), broccoli, and spinach

We will explore more about the wonders of calcium in upcoming posts…..so keep reading.

“Chia” is the Mayan word for strength. The chia plant is a member of the sage family. There is no commercial growing of chia in the U.S. Chia is imported from Mexico and Central and South America-Ecuador, Argentina, and Bolivia.

Individuals who try chia claim that they can literally feel the energy of the seeds; a strengthening and sustained surge unlike anything resulting from any other food.

What makes them work? Synergy between all their outstanding features is at least part of the answer. Chia seeds are high in:

• easily digestible protein
• essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3
• vitamins
• soluble fiber
• antioxidants
• minerals
• Chia seeds have much in common with flax seeds, which have a deserved reputation as a superfood. If you run down a comparative chart, you see a back and forth, with chia higher in some nutrients, flax higher in others. The clear advantage for chia seeds is that their natural antioxidants make them stable, whereas flax quickly becomes rancid.

Like flax, chia seeds have the ability to hold about twelve times as much water as their own weight. Thus, one of the best uses of chia seeds is to convert them into chia gel. To do this you add 1/3 cups of seeds to 2 cups of water, stir well to break up any clumps, and let sit in your refrigerator for about twelve hours (It will gel in less than an hour, but the additional soaking increases the nutritional impact of the gel.).

Good candidates for chia gel are salad dressings, dips, and spreads. Chia gel can also be used as a fat replacer in many baking recipes.

In any recipe that calls for flax seeds, consider substituting chia seeds. The chia flavor is bland, so they work great in smoothies and can be sprinkled on just about anything. Two to four tablespoons a day will improve your nutrition and encourage intestinal regularity (And, yes, the “hair” on Chia Pets is from chia seeds!).

Nutrition researchers looking at chia have called it an “almost perfect food”. Its many benefits include:

• Providing energy
• Boosting strength
• Bolstering endurance
• Leveling blood sugar
• Inducing weight loss
• Aiding intestinal regularity

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• DONE wishing for better health?
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• Are you ready to create optimum wellness and vibrant health?! Ready to feel strong and alive? Then it’s time to get in touch with Jill Redfern at Women’s Health Advantage to assist you in creating your best life ever! Jill can guide you in any dietary, digestion, and nutritional issues and help you get going with vibrant health TODAY! After all, if not now… when?

Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.