Fedon Georgiou

Category: Health

  • Health Benefits of Turmeric

    Health Benefits of Turmeric

    What are the Health Benefits of Turmeric

    What is Turmeric?

    Turmeric is the main spice in the Indian cuisine and many people believed that is the most powerful and researched herb on the planet.

    Turmeric comes from the Curcuma longa plant, which is a native plant grows in Asian countries and it is belong to the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.

    The main active ingredient of turmeric is curcumin.

    There are over 12.600 peer-reviewed articles published providing turmeric benefits for the health.

    History of Turmeric

    It has been used medicinally for over 4,500 years. History shows that by 800 AD the cultivation of turmeric has spread across much of Asia, including China and Africa.

    The Hindu religion, India sees turmeric as auspicious and sacred.

    They used turmeric paste as a tradition to make a necklace in the wedding day that indicates that the woman is married and capable of running a household.  

    The rhizome of turmeric is used in some parts of Southern India as a protection of the bad spirits.

    Turmeric powder

    Nutrition facts of Turmeric

    One tablespoon of ground turmeric contains:

    • 23.9 Calories
    • 4.4 gr. Carbohydrates
    • 0.5 gr. Protein
    • 0.7 gr. Fat
    • 1.4 gr. Fibre
    • 0.5 ml Manganese
    • 2.8 ml Iron
    • 0.1 ml Vitamin B6
    • 170 ml Potassium
    • 1.7 ml Vitamin C
    • 13 ml Magnesium

    Health benefits of Turmeric

    A Super Anti-Inflammatory

    In the last decade we are seeing more and more articles regarding the health benefits of a powerful anti-inflammatory herb known as turmeric.

    One of the main reasons is related to the realization by scientists that chronic inflammation is the main cause of chronic diseases such as:

    • heart disease
    • cancer
    • metabolic syndrome
    • Alzheimer’s disease
    • various degenerative conditions

    Therefore anything that can help to fight the chronic inflammation is important, and turmeric has been proposed to fight chronic inflammation as it contains compounds with medicinal properties called curcuminoids which are found within the root of the plant.

    Research suggest that turmeric has the ability to control inflammation and is the most effective anti-inflammatory compound in the world.

    Alzheimer’s Disease

    Neurons are capable of forming new connections, but in certain areas of the brain they can also multiply and increase in number.

    One of the main drivers of this process is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a type of growth hormone that functions in your brain.

    Many common brain disorders have been linked to decreased levels of this hormone, including depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Interestingly, curcumin can increase brain levels of BDNF.

    By doing this, it may be effective in delaying or even reversing many brain diseases and age-related decreases in brain function.

    Arthritis

    The arthritis foundation suggests that taking turmeric capsules of 400 to 600 mg up to 3 times per day reduce inflammation and improve symptoms of arthritis.

    In a study in people with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug.

    Many other studies have looked at the effects of curcumin on arthritis and noted improvements in various symptoms.

    Depression

    There are a lot of research trials that has been proved the effective benefits of turmeric in reducing depression symptoms.

    These results seem to be connected to the way curcumin impacts neurotransmitter function through the brain- derived neurotropic factor. 

    Skin Health

    Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that have proven effective in treating multiple skin conditions.

    Studies suggest that turmeric can increased the glow of the skin and speeding up wound healing.

    Also studies suggest that the active compound of curcumin can calms the pores to decrease acne and can control psoriasis flares.  

    Prevent Certain Cancers

    Cancer Research in UK suggested that curcumin has anticancer effects on various types of cancers including:

    • prostate cancer
    • pancreatic cancer
    • breast cancer
    • bowel cancer
    • stomach cancer
    • skin cancer

    It seems that curcumin is able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing.

    Diabetes

    A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, published in the Journal Diabetes Care and the Journal of the American Diabetes Association using 240 participants suggested that the use of curcumin could help in the prevention of type II diabetes mellitus.  

    Other studies suggest that curcuminoids can lower glucose levels by activating the enzyme AMPK (AMP – activated protein kinase) which is considered by the researchers to be a therapeutic target for type II diabetes.

    The activation of this enzyme has major potentials for developing more effective treatments for reducing insulin resistance and reversing diabetes.

    Weight Loss

    In another randomized, controlled study published in European review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences the use of curcumin significantly decreased weight loss and reduced body fat, waistline, hip circumference and BMI.

    Regulate cholesterol

    Recent meta-analysis reports suggest that curcumin can have an effective overall on blood cholesterol and triglycerides. 

    A research published in the Journal of Atherosclerosis suggest that turmeric extract can decreased levels of LDL cholesterol and inhibit cholesterol oxidation.

    Detoxification

    An important benefit of turmeric is the ability that can aid in detoxification of the body.

    It seems that the consumption of turmeric can help support the liver in effective detoxifying the body from some of the effects of dangerous carcinogens.   

    Turmeric absorption  

    Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream.

    It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2,000%.

    The best curcumin supplements contain piperine, substantially increasing their effectiveness.

    Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.

    You can read also about: Food Intolerances – Causes of inflammation?

  • PARASITES – THE UNINVITED GUESTS

    PARASITES – THE UNINVITED GUESTS

    What are the uninvited guests- parasites?

    According to the Center for disease control and prevention, a parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. The three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans are the protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.

    Do we have intestinal parasites?

    According to the Journal of Bacteriology and Parasitology ”Intestinal parasites are organisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, including humans”.

    Parasites can live within the intestines for years without causing any symptoms. The two main types of intestinal parasites are helminths and protozoa.

    Parasitic infections may be caused by intestinal helminths and protozoa. In developing countries protozoa parasites more commonly cause gastrointestinal infections compared to helminths.

    Parasites – uninvited guests can cause a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain and loss of appetite.

    Parasites can sometimes appear as digestive problems. For example, chronic diarrhoea is a common sign of parasites, but they can also cause a wide variety of other symptoms, such as: abdominal pain allergic reactions to foods, anaemia, bloating, bloody stools, chronic fatigue, constipation, cough, gas, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS,) itching joint and muscle aches, nervousness, hives, infected gums, mucus in the stools, poor immune response, rashes, sleep disturbances, teeth grinding, fever and unexplained weight loss.

    Parasites can deplete the body of nutrients such as vitamins A, B6, B12, potassium, calcium, and magnesium and overwhelm the immune system, which can lead to severe illness.

    Symptoms can come and go depending on the life cycle of the parasite involved. Parasites are a “hidden” disease, because most people who have parasites don’t know it.

    In addition, pets too can act as parasite hosts and pass them on to humans. Young animals, such as puppies and kittens, are more likely to be infected with ascarids and hookworms.

    According to official CDC data: ”Trichomonas is the most common parasitic infection in the USA, accounting for an estimated 7.4 million cases per year. Giardia and cryptosporidium are estimated to cause two million and 300,000 infections respectively in the US annually”.

    Cryptosporidiosis is the most frequent cause of recreational water-related disease outbreaks in the US, causing multiple outbreaks each year.

    There are an estimated 1.5 million new toxoplasma infections and 400 to 4,000 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis in the US each year; 1.26 million persons in this country [US] have ocular involvement due to toxoplasmosis; and toxoplasmosis is the third leading cause of deaths due to food-borne illnesses (375+ deaths).

    In the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was set up in January 2002 following a series of food crises, which have hardly subsided since then: mad cow/ sheep/goat disease, foot-and-mouth disease, bird flu and so on.

    In its latest report, the EFSA says the most commonly reported zoonotic infections in humans in the EU are, by far: ‘… those caused by bacterial zoonotic agents that can be shed by asymptomatic farm animals: the 2004 data indicates salmonellosis (192,703 reported cases) and campylobacterosis (183.961) – followed by yersiniosis (10,381), human listeriosis (1,267), parasitic zoonoses is 2,349 (trichinellosis, toxoplasmosis and echinococcosis put together).

    Parasites, thus, are everywhere and in their most pathogenic states cause havoc in body, mind and spirit, with doctors responding with a range of treatments intended to suppress the symptoms, while failing to attack their source – the parasites themselves.

    Researchers are beginning to see how parasitic infections may mimic or be involved in diseases such as rheumatoid symptoms, chronic fatigue syndrome, crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diarrhoea and arthritis.

    So, what can we do about these parasites we carry?

    If you want to eliminate of the parasites, you will need to follow a detox diet and a proper supplement protocol, take some herbs to eliminate parasites that we are accumulating from our food and environment on a daily basis.

  • BETAINE HCL AND DIGESTIVE ISSUES

    BETAINE HCL AND DIGESTIVE ISSUES

    BETAINE HCL AND DIGESTIVE ISSUES

    We need to be answered the question ‘’Are we what we eat’’?

    The truth is that ‘’We are what we eat and what we absorb’’.

    The digestive system is one of the most important systems in the body.

    You cannot absorb nutrients that are vigorous for health if this essential part of your digestive system is:

    • destroyed by antacids
    • you were born with a tendency to low stomach acid
    • if your stomach has been damaged by junk food, alcohol, tobacco, stress and drugs

    Betaine HCL increases the level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach necessary for proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients from food.

    Normal levels of hydrochloric acid are required for complete digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids.

    It’s also required for the extraction of vitamin B12 from our food.

    Betaine HCL helps to restore the proper acid levels in the stomach and maintain healthy gastrointestinal function.

    Hypochlorhydria (Low Stomach Acid)

    Hypochlorhydria, also referred to as low stomach acidity is a serious medical condition that is often undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed as Hyperchlorhydria (excessive stomach acid).

    Because this condition is often undiagnosed, or the symptoms are assumed to be caused by a different issue, the actual number of people who are affected by Hypochlorhydria is unknown.

    Many reports on the prevalence of low stomach acid estimate that about 30% of adults under the age of 40 are suffering from this condition with that number rising to over 75% among adults aged 70 and over.

    Many natural medicine physicians estimate that the likehood of having Hypochlorhydria roughly matches one’s chronological age:

    • 50 -year olds have a 50% chance of having the condition
    • 60% of 60-year olds and so on.

    There are two main consequence of low stomach acid:

    • You become protein malnourished. When your stomach acid is low, you are not able to digest protein.
    • You become mineral deficient. As your blood becomes more acidic, it will look for minerals from anywhere in your body, in order to get your blood to its more ideal alkaline state.
    • Acidic blood robs your body of minerals, even taking minerals from your bones (which is important to know if you want to prevent osteoporosis).

    Remember if your stomach is not producing enough stomach acids then in its attempt to digest concentrated protein, it will keep the food in the stomach for much longer periods than normal.

    The symptoms of low stomach acid are:

    • Bloating, belching and flatulence immediately after meals
    • Heartburn
    • Undigested food in stools
    • Acne
    • Rectal itching
    • Indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation
    • Multiple food allergies
    • Iron deficiency
    • Adrenal fatigue
    • Dry skin
    • Various autoimmune disease

    What are the ways of increasing stomach acid?

    Reduce or eliminate sugar

    You need to replace mineral- depleting sugar and sweeteners with stevia.

    Add fermented foods and drinks to your diet

    Fermented foods and drinks keep you looking and feeling healthy from the inside out.

    Some examples of fermented foods and drinks are cultured vegetables and coconut kefir.

    Eliminate processed foods

    As you eat a healthier diet, you will find your digestion improving.

    You may notice that you experience heartburn relief, less indigestion and improved energy.

    Supplementation of Betaine with HCL acid

    Low stomach acid can result in undigested food and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

    Supplementation with BETAINE HCL will increase and normalize stomach acid production, aid digestion, and improve nutrient absorption.

    Note: Do not take Betaine HCL or other hydrochloric acid supplements if you are taking any kind of pharmaceutical or over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, anti-inflammatories or cortisone as this may aggravate and inflame the lining of the stomach.

  • Detoxification: The secret of 21st century

    Detoxification: The secret of 21st century

    Detoxification: The secret of 21st century

    What is detoxification?

    Detoxification is an important aspect of optimal health and has become a household word and a colloquialism that could mean anything from drinking a glass of carrot juice to entering a detoxification centre if you are an alcoholic or drug addict.

    Detoxification is the process of removing the toxins that have been accumulating in the body tissues and organs throughout a person’s life.

    These toxins will have been acting as metabolism blockers by literally poisoning the cells and not allowing them to function correctly.

    You can have toxins stored in your body for years without experiencing any negative symptoms.

    It is only when the toxin levels become too high that you start to feel ill.

    Where are the sources of toxins?

    The toxins come from many sources such as:

    Exogenous toxins: are those that enter our bodies from the outside, i.e. food additives, pesticides, herbicides, fungi from food, industrial pollutants, viruses, bacteria, parasites and electromagnetic pollution such as X-rays, electromagnetic radiation and geopathic stress.

    Endogenous toxins: toxins that are found or generated within the human body.

    This can occur when the body’s normal metabolic mechanisms function inefficiently.  

    For example, it typically takes several steps to convert the amino acid methionine into cysteine.

    If one step is sluggish, an intermediate called homocysteine accumulates in tissues.

    Accumulation of homocysteine can damage the vascular system and contribute to heart disease.

    Autogenous toxins: are generated within the body from miasmic influences, which are inherited tendencies that can pass through up to seven generations.

    Examples of these are psora, sycosis, tuberculosis, syphilinum and others.

    There is no detection of these pathogens with scientific testing, but their deep presence can affect the body’s organs, primarily by inhibiting a good immune response and lowering its resistance.

    What are the benefits of a detoxification process?

    • The digestive tract is cleansed of accumulated waste and fermenting bacteria.
    • Liver, kidney, and blood purification can take place, which is not possible during regular eating patterns.
    • Mental clarity is enhanced as chemical and food additive overload is reduced
    • Reduced dependency on habit-forming substances such as sugar, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs
    • The stomach size is returned to normal as bad eating habits are stopped
    • The hormonal system is enhanced which is especially true for growth hormones
    • The immune system is stimulated.

    Is there any way to detoxify my body?

    There are natural, gentler ways of detoxifying the body of heavy metals and other xenobiotics.

    The best way to started is an alkaline detox diet for 14 consecutive days including fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, freshly squeezed vegetable juices and smoothies, steamed vegetables, vegetable soups and germ seeds.

    This means that you ONLY eat these foods for the duration, most of which will be rich in the live enzymes, which are the tools required to flush out the toxins from the body.

    You must be patient and put your mind to it.

    We strongly suggest that you try to eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible, including at least 1-3 fruit and vegetable juices daily.

    Carrot juice has a strong effect on:

    • the digestive system
    • provides energy
    • serves as an important source of minerals
    • promotes normal elimination
    • has diuretic properties
    • helps to build healthy tissue, skin and teeth

    We also encourage the use of green juice mixed with carrot juice and beetroot.

    This can be anything from fresh:

    • parsley
    • lettuce
    • kale
    • collard greens
    • Swiss chard
    • alfalfa
    • cabbage
    • spinach
    • turnip greens
    • watercress
    • celery
    • cucumber
    • green pepper
    • scallions
    • coriander or any other green vegetable in season

    All green vegetables contain chlorophyll, which is very oxygenating for the body.

    It is also an effective antiseptic, cell stimulator, red blood builder and rejuvenator – therefore, helping to remove toxic sludge faster.

    Greens are also super-rich in live enzymes.

    Each meal should begin with raw fruit or vegetables, seasoned with a little lemon, ginger, garlic, coconut or desired herbs.

    This way, they are available for digesting the fat, protein, and carbohydrates from the meal that follows.

    The enzymes in vegetables control or restrict the amount of waste deposited on your adipocytes.

    These are the foods that are allowing during the detoxification phase – no other family of foods is allowed.

    You may eat as many of the following foods as you wish, but it is best to eat only when you feel hungry.

    Wash all fruit and vegetables in a bowl of water with 4-5 tablespoons of grape vinegar added (not apple cider vinegar), to help wash away any pesticide/herbicide residues.

    Rinse afterwards with clean water.

    Here are the foods that you can eat in plenty – in fact, the more you eat and drink, the quicker you detoxify.

    We cannot emphasize just how important the detoxification diet is to your success!

    Are there any side effects during the detoxification process?

    When the body detoxifies, it goes through various biochemical and physiological changes.

    Generally, on the first day of fasting the blood sugar level is likely to drop below 65-70 mg/dl.

    The liver immediately compensates by converting glycogen to glucose and releasing it in the blood.

    After a few hours, the basal metabolic rate is likely to fall to conserve energy.

    This means that the heart, pulse and blood pressure will drop.

    More glycogen may be used from muscles, causing some weakness.

    As the body requires more energy, some fat and fatty acids are broken down to release glycerol from the glyceride molecules and are converted to glucose.

    You may notice the skin becoming quite oily as these fatty acids and glycerol increase in the blood.

    The skin is one of the largest detoxification organs, so you may get some skin problems such as pimples, acnes or a pussy boil – this is all part of the body trying to cleanse.

    The complexion may become pallid for a day or two as the wastes accumulate in the blood.

    The incomplete oxidation of fats may result in the formation of Ketones resulting in ketoacidosis.

    Combined with high levels of urea, resulting from protein metabolism, this state can cause several symptoms which may suppress appetite, they affect the satiety centre in the hypothalamus.

    Generally, this takes a few days to happen and you may notice your appetite dwindling.

    You may get pains in different joints, or organs such as the lungs.

    There may be a considerable amount of yellow mucus released from the throat and expelled.

    The sinuses may also begin clearing with more mucus secreted.

    Given that the body is releasing these toxins quickly during the first few days of the detoxification process, it should not surprise you to experience some changes in your body that may cause certain symptoms.

    Initially, for the first 2-3 days these symptoms can be a little unpleasant,

    SO BE WARNED!

    This may include:

    • headaches
    • nervousness
    • diarrhoea
    • upset stomach
    • energy loss
    • furry tongue
    • halitosis (bad breath)
    • acne or other skin rashes
    • general feeling of malaise
    • frequent urination due to the toxins irritating the bladder and some of their existing symptoms may be exacerbated.

    All these symptoms indicate that the DETOX IS WORKING!

    Stay with the detoxification process, and allow yourself time to rest, particularly during the first few days.

    It is best starting on a Friday, given that you will have the weekend at home to get organized and rest when you need to.

    We do not recommend vigorous exercise during this initial period, but a 20-30-minute walk with a friend or loved one in an open-air park is fine.

    You need to conserve your energy levels for the detoxification process.

    Under normal circumstances, the body uses 80% of its energy for detoxification.

    This is a substantial amount, and this will increase during the 14 days of this intensive detox programme.

    You can read also about parasites – the uninvited guests!

    You can watch: Healthy Diet: 10 foods that Naturally Detox and Cleanse your Body