Why are avocados so healthy for us?

First of all, they contain monounsaturated fat, which is a “good fat.” According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “Unsaturated fats are called good fats because they can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, stabilize heart rhythms, and play a number of other beneficial roles.” (1)

Back when the food and nutrition industry started to promote that fat was bad, they said it caused weight gain and heart disease. They started promoting low fat foods. When they did this, people started getting really fat, and Alzheimer’s skyrocketed.

According to Harvard, in the 1960s, fats and oils supplied Americans with about 45 percent of calories; about 13 percent of adults were obese, and under 1 percent had type 2 diabetes, a serious weight-related condition.

Today, those numbers have more than doubled, Americans take in less fat, getting about 33 percent of calories from fats and oils; yet 34 percent of adults are obese, and 11 percent have diabetes, most with type 2 diabetes. (2)

Fat is critical to our brain health, our energy levels, and our well-being. It also makes our food taste savory. When food companies started taking the savory flavor of natural fat out of food, they had to make it taste good somehow. So, they started adding sugar and refined salt. Sugar and refined salt can harm the body even more than the normal fat levels would.

Also, our body craves those good fats to function properly and give us energy. The bad fats are trans fats, meaning fats that have been changed in their molecular form, and saturated animal fats.

The good fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which “do just the opposite of the bad trans fats. They are good for the heart and most other parts of the body.” (3)

Avocados provide good, unsaturated fats, but they also give us so much more. Avocados are a nutritional powerhouse providing many health benefits.

Avocados provide protein, approximately four grams per fruit. They are very low in sugar. Avocados are an excellent source of potassium, and they are rich in vitamins K, B, C, and E.

One avocado has approximately 11 grams of fiber, which is almost half of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) recommended by the FDA.

Studies conducted using people with metabolic syndrome (which is named for a group of people at risk for diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disease), published in The Nutrition Journal, showed that after a week of following the avocado-enriched diet, the patients experienced a 22 percent decrease in bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels and an 11 percent increase in good cholesterol.(4)

The researchers concluded that “avocado consumption is associated with improved overall diet quality, nutrient intake, and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.”(5)

If that isn’t enough to make you a fan of avocados, they are also high Avocatin B. Avocatin B is reported to help prevent the development of certain cancers.

According to Prof. Paul Spagnuolo, of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, in the journal Cancer Research. “Using a high-throughput cell-based screen to assess the effects of avocati B on human leukemia stem cells, the researchers found the compound selectively targets and destroys them while leaving healthy blood cells unscathed. Not only does avocatin B eliminate the source of AML (Acute myeloid Leukemia), but its targeted, selective effects make it less toxic to the body, too,” Prof. Spagnuolo explains. (6)

In conclusion, healthy fat, like the fat in avocados, is essential for every cell in our body. It can support our brain, boost our immune system, increase our nutrient absorption and create a glowing complexion. So, if you want to have optimum health, eat an avocado once in a while and know you are providing essential nutrients the body needs.

Notes:
1, 2, 3, 4: Harvard School of Public Health. Fats and cholesterol: Out with the bad, in with the good. The Nutrition Source. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fats-full-story/
5: Nordqvist, Joseph. (February 11, 2015). What are the health benefits of avocados? Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270406.php
6: Targeting mitochondria with avocatin B induces selective leukemia cell death, Paul Spagnuolo et al., Cancer Research, doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-2676, published online 15 June 2015, abstract. University of Waterloo news release, accessed 16 June 2015.

    Photo above is from an article in Dallas Morning News,

Arts  & Life Section, April 5, 2016

“Smart Foods, Wise Moves” by Leslie Barker,

      quoting Nancy Addison concerning healthy fats.

Recipe

Avocado-Sprout Sandwich

This is a yummy sandwich I have enjoyed since I was a teenager. I grew up eating sprouts and butter sandwiches. Now I add avocado instead of the butter.If you won’t be eating the sandwich right away, stop the avocado from turning dark by wrapping the sandwich tightly to keep out the air, or mash the avocado with a little lemon juice. You may want to put it in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat it.

Ingredients:

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced

2 slices soft, whole, sprouted-grain bread of choice

unrefined sea salt

½–1 c. sprouts of choice (alfalfa, broccoli, etc.) 

Directions:

1. Mash avocado.
2. Toast bread if desired.
   
3. Spread some avocado on each slice of bread.
4. Sprinkle with sea salt.
5. Heap sprouts on top of avocado.
6. Cover with the other piece of bread.

Remember, the main ingredient
is always love!

Check out my books on Amzon!

My book,

“How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian” 2nd edition is the

Winner for “Best Diet And Nutrition Book of the Year!” by

The Beverly Hills Book Awards, 2017

Order your copy today!

Please leave a comment and join the conversation!

I love to hear what you think! copyright@nancyaddison2015

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This is one of our favorite salads to eat,  especially after holidays of rich, heavy meals. Many of my clients have made it and loved it. Now, I’m documenting it here so you can refer back to this recipe over and over again! If you haven’t tried it, it is a must!

I call it a detox salad because it contains a very detoxifying green leafy herb called cilantro and the spice turmeric.

Cilantro can help the body rid itself of heavy metals. We get metal toxins in our bodies from a variety of places including dental fillings, aluminum deodorant, the aluminum foil we use in food preparation and storage, vaccinations, cadmium from secondhand smoke, and polluted air. Metal toxins are harder to rid our bodies of than other toxins, but cilantro is highly effective in helping the body detox them. Cilantro is also a good source of dietary fiber and iron, magnesium and manganese. I love the light flavor it adds to my salad mix and this is a great way to add it to your food!

This salad also contains the spice turmeric, which is anti-inflammatory, increases liver function, is detoxifying, and can help regulate blood sugar. Tumeric works 1000 times better if it is combined with some oil and black pepper, so having it in a salad is wonderfully healthy!

My daughter, Amanda, and I like to add greens to almost all of our recipes. It makes them healthier and lighter. If we are having a rice or pasta dish, when it’s warm and ready to serve, just combine it with salad greens. It is so easy and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:

1 c. romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
1 c. cilantro, chopped
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 c. chopped tomato
1 ½ or 2 c. warm, sprouted and cooked green lentils
1 tsp. minced red onion
1 avocado, pitted, peeled and chopped into chunks
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
¼ tsp. curry powder
¼ tsp. turmeric
unrefined sea salt to taste
fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients well and enjoy!

Note: This is also a salad you can enjoy warm or make ahead of time and store in the fridge for a few days, I love it when the flavors have a chance to meld together. Just remember to chop the avocado later right before serving.

Variation: You can substitute beans for the lentils.

This recipe makes one to two servings.

Please leave a comment and join the conversation!

I love to hear what you think!

The post Detox Salad Recipe appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

Our hair can definitely be influenced by what we are consuming. In many cases, hair loss is the result of a deficiency of Vitamin B and other nutrients. Lack of the right kind of essential fatty acids can also be part of the equation.  A lack of Vitamin B’s (especially B6 and folate), magnesium, sulfur, zinc, and collagen, that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy can result in hair thinning or hair loss.

The combination of nutrients is what is important, including eating the right kind of complex amino acids (proteins) in the right amounts. Foods rich in B vitamins are brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, and lecithin. Beans, lentils, peas, legumes, and seafood are also high in protein and B vitamins.

There are also many vitamins that contribute to healthy hair. Zinc is one of those. It works in cell reproduction and hormone balance, affecting hair growth and taking care of the hair follicles. If the body is low on zinc, the hair follicles can become weak. Foods heavy in zinc are seafood and nuts.

Vitamin E is another important element of healthy hair, having been shown to improve scalp circulation because of its anti-cellular aging and increased blood oxygenation properties. Avocados, kiwi fruit, nuts, seeds, and olive oil are good sources of vitamin E.

Vitamin A’s protection of hair follicles has been documented, and can be found in carrots, spinach, and unrefined cold pressed seed oils, such as flax, walnut, pumpkin.

Essential fatty acids are another vital way of promoting healthy skin and hair. Some essential fatty acid sources are hemp seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, avocados, almonds, pecans, pumpkins, hazelnuts, pine nuts, sesame, olives, chia seeds and their respective oils.

I try to get at least 1 teaspoon of the equivelent of the essential fatty acids, omega-3 oil into my diet every day. I keep the cold pressed, organic hemp or flax seed oil in my refrigerator and use it that way. It is easy and you get more of the oil directly into your system that way. My favorite way to add these omega-3 foods or oils to my food is to put the oil or the fresh nuts or seeds to salads, smoothies, casseroles and soups.

Although it is best to get nutrients in a whole food form, all of these vitamins and minerals can be found in supplement form. When buying supplements look for organic whole food vitamins. Your body can read whole foods much better than it can an isolated vitamin. Also, the Organic Consumers Organization recommends looking for products that contain “100 percent plant-based” or “100 percent animal-based” on the product’s label, so you know you aren’t getting synthetic vitamins. I recommend avoiding synthetic vitamins.

I also use a supplement that improves my hair health in many ways. It restores collagen on a cellular level. It has been found to help people’s hair grown back. We stop making collagen in our twenties, so we become depleted over time.

This unique and exclusive Collagen/HA Matrix® Technology has shown to support joint and muscle fitness, connective tissue health, counteract skin photoaging, restore youthful skin, and support healthy hair, nails, gums and eyes., It’s so effective it has been awarded 7 international patents.

I love this supplement. It was originally developed to help get rid of joint and arthritis pain and I used it to help me get rid of my back pain from scoilosis. I have avoided surgery and chronic discomfort by using this supplement.

When they develped this supplement, one of the things they found out, is that when people used it, it helped their  skin, hair and nail health as well. I love that!

(I’m 63 now and my skin look so nice that people actually ask me if I have had a face-lift and I haven’t. They also think I look much younger than I am. I love that too!)

This company also sells safe non-toxic shampoo, conditioner, etc, that I use. What we use goes directly into our blood stream and we need to use only non-toxic safe things on our body. I highly recommend using safe products on your hair or skin. (They do sell this world wide and my links for your $10 discount on your first order is below. I have the links for each different parts of the world. Use the one for your country.)

Here is the link for the supplement I use that helps get rid of joint discomfort or arthritic discomfort and helps skin and hair be thicker and more luxurious. Their website has a lot of the information on it and the 37 human clinical trials that shows how effective it is. It was so effective that they were awarded 7 international patents on the supplement.

This link is for people in the US: If you use my link, you will get a $10 discount on your first order

https://www.modere.com/?referralCode=j220555

Here are some of the international links, but you will need my referral code J220555 in order to get a $10  discount on your first order.

For Hong Kong:

https://www.modere.com.hk/?referralCode=j220555

For Japan:

https://www.modere.com.jp/?referralCode=j220555

For Europe:

https://www.modere.com.eu/?referralCode=j220555

GReat Britain

https://www.modere.eu//?referralCode=j220555&language=en-GB

For Australia,:

https://www.modere.com.au/j220555

For Canada :

https://www.modere.ca/j220555

New Zealand seems to work:

https://www.modere.co.nz/j220555

That link will give you a $10 discount on your first order. If you put it on smart ship, they will charge and send it to you each month and provide you with a 5% discount.

You can cancel at any time, but that makes it very easy, so you don’t run out and you get the discount.

Go to collagen science tab and order the month supply of “Life” or “Pure” blend, if you have diabetes or blood sugar problems. (The Pure Blend uses stevia and has no calories.)

You will get two bottles. You take a tablespoon morning and night

It needs to be refrigerated after you open it.

Here is. a photo of Thera, in her 80’s, and look how it’s helped her appearance.

Let me know if you have any questions or problems and I will be happy to help you.

It also helps get rid of arthritic pain, etc. I started using to get rid of my scoliosis pain in my back.

I”ve been on it over 5 years now. I’m 63 and feel great now.

I call it my fountain of your supplement.

Here are the links:

This link is for people in the US:, so you get a $10 discount on your first order.

https://www.modere.com/?referralCode=j220555

by Nancy Addison CHHC, AADP
for more information go to www.organichealthylife.com or contact me at nancy@nancyaddison.com

copyright@nancyaddison2012

 

The information from Nancy Addison and Organic Healthy Lifestyle LLC is not offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of any disease or disorder nor have any statements herein been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We strongly encourage you to discuss topics of concern with your health care provider.

Medical Disclaimer:Information provided in this article, book, podcast, website, email, etc. is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC, AADP. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty

The author and publisher are not liable for misuse of this material. This article, website and books are strictly for informational and educational purposes. Nancy Addison offers information and opinions, not a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or healthcare provider before taking any home remedies or supplements, or following any treatment suggested by Nancy Addison or by anyone listed in the books, articles, or other information contained here. Only your healthcare provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

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