Re: The Health Thread

[Flames]

That's very interesting Flames. Do you believe that something is preventing you from going into your unconsciousness in order to find your higher self? It certainly does sound like you are going through something. We are taught that it is evil to do that, or to literally evolve and that sticks with us subliminally, but we can't ignore the darkness. You must love it, like there is no tomorrow, in order to find your true Self.

Definitely. To be blunt, my subconscious is wrought with years of shame and guilt. Rather than going in there, I try to purge it all out of me. That's kind of what I was getting at. Catharsis. I try to be as honest with people as I can, even if it raises the risk of me being humiliated. Simply put, like most of you, I'm fed up with all of the b.s. that passes for "truth" in this world, and I'd like to see some sort of return to sanity in this world.

I have no time for religious ideas or doctrines. The only thing that I've learned from them is fear. I've back catalogued my own personal care for the well being of my soul (if there even is one). Like highnoon mentioned in another thread, he doesn't want a heaven or a hell, just nothingness. That is what I strive for too. I'd call it annihilation.

And in defense of the concept of hell, at least with that idea, you know absolutely that you're eternally fucked. When I think about it, that might be better than this completely insane human existence we live with here on earth, that makes absolutely no sense.

[KapitanScarlet]

Antioxidants are kind of like "microscopic doctors" that keep your body healthy by fighting off free radicals (which are molecules, atoms, or ions that can cause premature aging and disease).
Most people know that fruits like blueberries, blackberries and cranberries are packed with anti-aging antioxidants, but guess which unsuspecting foods rank even higher in terms of their antioxidant content per serving?
According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, three of the top five antioxidant-packed foods are... beans!
The #1 food is the red bean!
Cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest among the fruits. Beans, artichokes, and Russet potatoes were tops among the vegetables. (A potato... never would have guessed.)
Pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts topped the nut category, and ground cloves, cinnamon, and oregano are the top three antioxidant-rich spices.

[quicksilvercrescendo]

I have several shrubs of these growing in the backyard.
I eat them fresh when in season.
Then pick and freeze the rest.
They are added to my morning fruit smoothies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackcurrant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcurrant

[KapitanScarlet]

i like blackcurrants very much but ive not seen redcurrants round my way

[quicksilvercrescendo]

The black are more nutritious...one of the most beneficial of the berries.

[seraphim]

Interesting article on dairy. Seems that milk from Holstein cows produce very high in opiates in theres, about 5000 years ago they had a slip up on one of their genes that caused it. And the A1 casein in it is one of the causes of heart disease and schizophrenia?
http://thebovine.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/the-devil-in-the-milk-dr-thomas-cowan-on-how-a2-milk-is-the-answer-to-the-mystery-of-why-even-raw-milk-sometimes-does-not-seem-to-be-enough-of-an-improvement-over-store-bought/

Flames, I was reading up on the Mucuna Pruriens, or L-dopa. This plant causes dopamine to be released which counteracts those depressed days. Also, for some reason it increases muscle mass, so those who work out, it seems to be quite an effective growth horomone. No use in doing steroids with this.

Also, L-tyrosine increases dopamine in the body. I have taken it a few times internally to help with my borderline low thyroid and did not notice anything. But quite amazingly dopamine doesn't cross the blood brain barrier, so taking L-tyrosine under the tongue goes right into the blood and turns into a strong opiate, same thing as what THC does and it's legal. The effects are strong, you don't want to be going to work on this, and only up to three capsules a day.
Another way to help with bipolar. But dopamine and serotonin need to be balanced in the body, too much of one decreases the other. So take these on and off.
Okay thought you would like to look into this.

[quicksilvercrescendo]

Holsteins are used because of their high milk production compared to other breeds.
Then you consider unnatural feeds, steroids, hormones and rBGH all designed to increase milk production.

Here in Norway, I don't see any Holsteins...we have Norwegian Reds...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Red_Cattle

[Flames]

I like this idea of the "paleo" diet. The diet of savages. I never heard of that term until recently. But it's basically the sort of diet I've been on for awhile now. The idea of eating lots of raw vegetables and meat. It's pretty simple. I definitely feel less food cravings from this, which is a plus. The only negative for me, is that this sort of diet philosophy mixed with an intense exercise program can leave one feeling pretty drained. It still beats the non sense diets and crap that passes for food these days.

Paleo Diet

[tgII]

• 
  "Whoever thought of returning
  to this idea of a paleo diet I'm
  going to bash his brains in...bangin'
  on these rocks for hours and still
  can't get a damn spark."

[Flames]

No need for cookin'. No need for woman. Just kidding of course.

[seraphim]

Quicksilvercrescendo, now I know why ice cream can be so addictive!

Flames, you might like to try branched chain amino acids, BCAA's, and L-glutamine. Those are for endurance and recovery, that you take before exercising. They might taste good in juice, if you don't do whey. With more exercise you got to keep up on the proteins and carbs, fuel and building blocks for the muscle or you might feel more drained. The muscles take in nutrients right after exercising, so that's a good time to get them in.
Stay away from casein.
If you want to look into natural supplements that work just as good as the high end test boosters, look into mucuna or the velvet bean. It is ayurvedic. Also this is something to look at: Chyawanprash
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chyawanprash

[highnoon]

i will definately be getting some of this to try out.

seems so much better than those multi vitamins. the thing i never liked about multivitamins was how you can easily start getting too much iron etc.

chyawanprash seems just like its the right thing to have to get a bunch of things you wouldnt normally from a "normal" diet. heh. "balanced" diets still leave out so many of natures nutrients...i love superfoods. I would buy more avocado if i didnt hate peeling them lol

[Sputnik]

I go into the forest and pick my medical herbs that grow locally: dandelion, stinging nettle, elder etc..

[KapitanScarlet]

I go into the forest and pick my medical herbs that grow locally: dandelion, stinging nettle, elder etc..

In Berlin or Croatia ?

Heres something i heard about Berlin, apparently the relative humidity level can drop to as low as 7% many times in the year , this is very very dry air, maybe ok if your used to that atmospheric changes year in year out , but if you travelling around more humid countrys , and then hit back to berlin , depending on your current constitution, you may encounter some throat problems

[Sputnik]

I am a more familiar with the herbs that grow in Berlin Germany (I live directly at the forrest) but Croatia has a much larger variety of vital herbs available...I found a lot of wild versions of sage, thyme and all sorts of mediterrane herbs...I usually ask my relatives while we take a stroll in the mountains close to the sea for instance...

[Flames]

New article from Mercola's website.

Astaxanthin

Posted By Dr. Mercola | June 28 2011 | 11,575 views

Flamingoes are born with grey, not pink, feathers. It's only after eating their natural diet of algae and crustaceans, which are loaded with naturally occurring pigments called carotenoids, that they turn the pink color they're known for.

What does this have to do with you and your future health?

One of these very same pigments that give flamingoes their color is making a name for itself in the research arena as one of the most powerful "supernutrients" out there. That carotenoid is astaxanthin, and it's one I suggest you become familiar with sooner rather than later …

A Natural Way to Prevent Dementia?

Astaxanthin exhibits exceptionally potent free-radical scavenging activity, and protects your cells, organs and body tissues from oxidative damage. In this way it impacts many aspects of health, but one of the most exciting could be its impact on your brain. In fact it is hundreds of times more effective than vitamin E in squelching singlet oxygen free radicals.

People with dementia tend to accumulate abnormal levels of phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) in their red blood cells. But new research published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that taking 6 mg or 12 mg of astaxanthin daily for 12 weeks lowered blood levels of PLOOH by 40 and 50 percent, respectively.

Researchers concluded that the improved antioxidant status and decreased PLOOH levels in the red blood cells may contribute to the prevention of dementia.

Astaxanthin is a fat soluble nutrient and readily crosses your blood-brain barrier, and a past study found it may help prevent neurodegeneration associated with oxidative stress as well as make a potent natural brain food.

Astaxanthin's Antioxidant Powers Blow Away Vitamins C and E

You're probably aware of the value of antioxidants for health protection, but you may not realize that an antioxidant is only as valuable as its concentration allows. In some cases, you may need to consume massive amounts of an antioxidant to get the real health benefits, and this may not be practical or even possible.

In the case of astaxanthin, it is by far the most powerful and concentrated carotenoid antioxidant when it comes to free radical scavenging. It is:

65 times more powerful than vitamin C
54 times more powerful than beta-carotene
14 times more powerful than vitamin E
Astaxanthin is also far more effective than other carotenoids at "singlet oxygen quenching," which is a particular type of oxidation. The damaging effects of sunlight and various organic materials are caused by this less-stable form of oxygen. Astaxanthin is 550 times more powerful than vitamin E, 800 times stronger than CoQ10, 550 times more powerful than green tea catechins, and 11 times more powerful than beta-carotene at neutralizing singlet oxygen.

Total Body Health Benefits

As you might suspect, an antioxidant with this kind of power can have an extraordinary impact on health; more studies are being published all the time about this incredible nutrient. Here are just some of the ways astaxanthin can positively impact your health, according to the latest research:

Boosting your immune function Improving endurance, workout performance and recovery
Improving cardiovascular health by reducing C-Reactive Proteins (CRP), reducing triglycerides, and increasing beneficial HDL Helping to stabilize blood sugar, thereby protecting your kidneys
GREATLY protecting your eyes from cataracts, macular degeneration, and blindness Relieving indigestion and reflux
Protecting your brain from dementia and Alzheimer's Improving fertility by increasing sperm strength and sperm count
Reducing your risk for many types of cancer (including cancers of the breast, colon, bladder and mouth) by stimulating apoptosis (cancer cell death) and inhibiting lipid peroxidation Actually helping to prevent sunburn, and protecting you from the damaging effects of radiation (i.e., flying in airplanes, x-rays, CT scans, etc.)
Improving recovery from spinal cord and other central nervous system injuries Reducing oxidative damage to your DNA
Reducing inflammation from all causes, including arthritis and asthma Reducing symptoms from pancreatitis, multiple sclerosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and Lou Gehrig's disease, and neurodegenerative diseases
It May be Impossible to Obtain Enough Astaxanthin from Diet Alone

Unless you are a flamingo or some other marine animal,, it is virtually impossible to obtain enough astaxanthin from your diet alone because there are only two prime sources: microalgae and sea creatures that consume the algae (such as salmon, shellfish, and krill).

I have mentioned astaxanthin in reference to krill oil, which has been my favorite source of animal-based omega-3 fats for many years now, because krill oil naturally contains astaxanthin. And our krill oil has the highest concentration of astaxanthin of any krill oil supplement on the market today.

So you can get some astaxanthin in your diet by taking krill oil. You can also get some naturally by eating wild salmon, which gets its pink color from astaxanthin. (Do not confuse this with the pink color of farmed salmon, which comes from synthetic astaxanthin made from highly processed petrochemicals).

However, you'd have to eat several ounces of wild salmon every single day to get a high enough dose of astaxanthin, and this is not only expensive but also puts you at risk of mercury and other toxins that may have accumulated in the fish.

For this reason, one of the best ways to get natural astaxanthin is through supplementation with a high-quality source.

Keep in mind when you take your supplement that astaxanthin is fat-soluble, and is therefore best taken with a meal that contains fat. You can also look for a supplement formula that contains some sort of natural oil or fatty acid that will help maximize your absorption. Without this additional ingredient, your absorption could be poor and not optimal.

Rounding Out Your Dementia-Fighting Arsenal

As powerful as astaxanthin appears to be, I do not recommend relying on it solely to ward off dementia and Alzheimer's disease. There are a number of other strategies that are also promising and, when used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and also high-quality supplements like astaxanthin, may give your brain the best level of protection.

Dementia has been linked to insulin resistance. Some are even referring to Alzheimer's as the third form of diabetes, so one of the most important efforts you can take is to keepi your insulin levels under control with proper diet and exercise . There is no question that insulin resistance is one of the most pervasive influences on brain damage, as it contributes massively to inflammation, which will prematurely degenerate your brain.

Another contributing factor is vitamin D deficiency, which is rampant across the world and underlies many chronic diseases, including dementia according to recent findings.

There is also research showing that coconut oil and vitamin B12 may be important for warding off Alzheimer's as well, which is why I stress that a multi-faceted approach will work best to prevent this disease.

For a full list of natural methods to boost your brain health and help prevent Alzheimer's, be sure to read this past article and also browse through the Related Articles below.

Here

[Flames]

Started taking a supplement a couple of weeks ago called 5 HTP. It's designed to help boost seratonin levels naturally and help with sleep, and help with concentration and memory. Can't say that all of that has happened, but the one major thing I've noticed is that my dreams are waaaaay more vivid and crazy.

[quicksilvercrescendo]

I have made a personal study of diet and nutrition for a long time now.
It is this type of science that will provide the necessary missing or confusing/contradictory information that makes diet and nutrition such a difficult study to date.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritional_genomics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutrigenomics

[KapitanScarlet]

INVENTED PSYCHIATRIC DISEASES CALLED DISORDERS

[tgII]

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders actually
derives from military psychological research.

Saturated fats anyone; this is worth reading...

• Enjoy Saturated Fats, They're Good for You!

[quicksilvercrescendo]

Saturated are excellent for you...unless you already too far gone with clogged arteries or cardiovascular disease, then you may need to take that into consideration.

When they surgically unclog arteries and examine the constituents of arterial plaque...it is about 85% vegetable oils....probably hydrogenated at their time of consumption or in contained within cheap non-food items found comprising up about 75% of every grocery store's inventory.

It has also been suggested that homogenizing milk contributes to irritation and even scarring of arterial walls which then makes them more susceptible to building up plaque.

[Flames]

Wow. I need to get rid of vegetable oils then. Never knew that.

[quicksilvercrescendo]

I try to buy organic cold expeller pressed oils whenever possible...

Olive, coconut, small amounts of sesame oil, almond, flax seed mostly...and other nut or seed oils but only used in small amounts.
Also, the best quality organic butter you can find. If you wish to make it into ghee for some cooking methods that is also good.
The rest of my oil or fat comes from drinking raw milk or yogurt, eating animals, nuts, seeds and avocados.

Vegetable, soy, corn and canola oils...even if advertised and packaged as healthy are really to be avoided.

And the oils commonly found in supermarket pre-packaged foods, baked goods, salad dressings, chips and snacks are the worst.

And if you witnessed the process of making margarine you wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

[Flames]

QSC - As you probably know, corn is used in just about all processed foods: corn syrup, etc... It's begun a plague of bad health. And you know what? In the U.S. we still see new diet fads, outdated information, and focus on calorie quantity rather than quality calories. The problem really boils down to common sense, and as they, "common sense aint so common anymore."

I did a sort of experiment last week. Actually got tired of making all of these salads and juices, and returned (for one week) to a typical American diet. I absolutely feel like crap. My concentration sucks, and the ability to retain information (from books for example) is really bad.

So I learned my lesson. I don't know how people can live on such a bad diet, have enough physical and mental energy to function. To be honest, that was me, a few years ago, before I really dedicated the time to studying nutrition and general health. I certainly feel more vibrant these days than I did a decade ago.

You mentioned raw milk. Dr. Mercola is a big advocate of raw milk. I should try that out.

** oh and I wanted to mention, I recommend acai berries as a source of antioxidants. I take them in a supplement form.

[Sputnik]

Oliveoil and butter

My recent complete bloodtest made my doc say OH WOW!! as if he haden't seen such perfect result in a long time. Cleaner blood levels is basically not possible..

Processed foods of any kind are of course a total no-go-zone.

Otherwise I love to smoke my self-rolled tabacco, drink my coffee and bake me some lovely cakes once a week...so I have some vices like everyone else..they are just very oldfashioned ones I guess..

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