The food we eat and the physical environment we live in causes us to accumulate toxins, which limits our physical stamina and impairs our immune system. If we are clogged up and holding toxins in our bodies, we can’t absorb nutrients properly and digestion is hindered.

This might lead to constipation, bloating, gas, headaches, bad breath, allergy symptoms, PMS, depression, frequent infections, dull skin, thinning hair, and weight gain. These are all good reasons to detoxify and cleanse ourselves!

There are a few different ways to do this, and one of the best ways is to add more fiber to our diets. The average American diet contains about 10 grams of fiber a day, but in reality, we need to consume about 25 to 35 grams a day. Why is this? Because fiber absorbs toxins and helps move them through and out of our bodies, cleaning us out.

Fifty percent of our immune system is located in and around our digestive system, especially the large intestines. Cleansing these is the first step to obtaining and maintaining good health. In addition, fiber helps our bodies sustain a healthy intestinal flora.

Once your body is cleansed, it can utilize nutrients much more efficiently, thus reducing your cravings for sweets and fatty foods. Furthermore, fiber helps lower blood sugar, which helps manage diabetes, and is linked to the prevention of colon and breast cancer.

Two of the most convenient and consistent ways to add more fiber to your daily routine are first of all, eating more whole, raw organic vegetables and fruits in their natural form, and secondly, by consuming high-quality psyllium husks.

An easy way to add psyllium husks to your daily diet is to add them to your smoothie in the morning. The fiber swells quickly when wet, so you need to drink it quickly or add more liquid after it swells.

Here is a list of the top fiber foods you can add to your diet:

Apple 1 medium 2.2 grams fiber

Avocado 1 medium 11.84 grams fiber

Black beans 1 cup 14.92 grams fiber

Bran flakes 3/4 cup 5.1 grams fiber

Broccoli 1 cup cooked 10.97 grams fiber

Kale 1 cup cooked 7.20 grams fiber

Kidney beans 1 cup cooked 13.33 grams fiber

Lentils 1 cup 5.6 grams fiber

Oat Meal 1 cup 4 grams fiber

Orange 1 medium 3.40 grams fiber

Pear 1 medium 5.1 grams fiber

Raspberries 1 cup 8.34 grams fiber

Rice 1 cup uncooked 7.98 grams fiber

Spinach 1 cup cooked 4.32 grams fiber

Sweet potato 1 cup cooked 6.94 grams fiber

Whole-wheat spaghetti 1 cup 6.3 grams fiber

This year, add some fiber and nutrients to your diet.

Make this a lifestyle choice for a healthier new you!

By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP

copyright@nancyaddison2014

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Nancy Addison’s 6 international award-winning books can be seen on her author page on Amazon. Here is the link: Author.to/nancyaddison

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There is a difference in the way refined carbohydrates and unrefined carbohydrates are converted into glucose by the body. Refined carbohydrates are converted to glucose quickly, which causes blood sugar to spike. This makes the body work hard to get the blood sugar level under control. It puts pressure on the pancreas to make and release insulin, which works “like a key to open the door of the cells so glucose… can come inside and be converted into energy.”

If too many refined carbohydrates are eaten on a continual basis, driving up blood sugar levels, this will stress the pancreas and eventually it will have trouble making insulin. This can result in diabetes.

The body will also turn the excess glucose into fat. This can result in weight gain and obesity. Carrying too much fat can lead to glucose intolerance. The body will start ignoring the signal to take glucose from the blood.

Many nutrient-empty, refined foods have fructose in them. Fructose doesn’t appropriately stimulate insulin production, which means the body fails to suppress its “hunger hormone” leptin. This hormone suppression is what makes us feel satisfied, so fructose is actually making us feel hungrier instead of satisfied.

Then, to process these nutrient-empty, refined foods, the body must pull nutrients from itself. The spiking of blood sugar from refined and empty food results in cravings, because when the body is not getting the nutrients it needs, it will start begging for them. On the other hand, feeding the body with nutrient-dense food gives it what it needs, and there shouldn’t be any cravings.

Because unrefined carbohydrates are fiber-rich, they take longer to digest. This means they do not put additional pressure on the pancreas to produce insulin in an unhealthy way. Unrefined carbohydrates, such as whole grains, should be a major part of a well-balanced diet.

Packaging can be very deceiving and misleading. When looking at a package that says “whole wheat” or “whole grain,” read the ingredient list and make sure it says “whole” before every grain listed. If the ingredient list contains just the name of the grain, then it is not whole-grain.

You also want to make sure any of these products or foods are sprouted, so the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors are removed. Many carbohydrates, as well as proteins, (nuts, seeds, grains, beans, and lentils) are very healthy for you and are full of nutrients. But many people don’t know they contain phytic acid. Phytic acid can prevent the body from absorbing important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, as well as cause acid indigestion.

Phytic acid has powerful anti-nutritional effects because it binds to minerals in your food to form phytates, which makes those minerals unavailable to your digestive system. It also inhibits enzymes in the body that are vitally important for digesting food properly. The high level of phytic acid in nuts, seeds, grains, beans, and lentils is a serious problem in the modern diet, resulting in many health problems including tooth decay, nutrient deficiencies, lack of appetite, and digestive problems.

The phytic acid in nuts, seeds, grains, beans, and lentils can be removed by soaking and sprouting them. Historically, indigenous cultures always did this before consuming them or feeding them to their animals. This is not done in modern day society, to the detriment of human and animal health. This is why my cookbooks Include the steps of preperation, which includes making these foods free of the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors.

If you are buying gluten-free products, make sure they are sprouted and whole-grain, or sprouted beans, sprouted lentils, sprouted rice, sprouted, and check the sugar content. I have found that even in the seemingly healthiest packages at the “healthy grocery stores,” the gluten-free foods are alarmingly high in sugar. It is extremely important to find ones that are low in added sugar.

So, in conclusion, as we get into the holiday season and we are out dining/ partying at places where there may be a lot of carbohydrate choices, try picking the healthiest ones and avoiding the ones that can damage your health and well-being.

copyright@nancyaddison2014

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I’d love to hear from you!

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Highland Hospital’s Chief Of Cardiology Goes Vegan

The chief of cardiology for Highland Hospital decided to change to a vegan lifestyle and lost 57 pounds.

It has been proven over and over again that a plant based diet helps reverse and prevent heart disease and can even help reverse the damage. It has also been proven that it’s very easy on a vegetarian weight loss diet to lose weight in a healthy way and keep it off.

If you have weight or heart problems and you are thinking about trying a more plant based eating plan, you may want to read my cookbook, How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian.  Awarded Winner for “Best Diet and Nutrition Book of the Year, 2017,” in the Beverly Hills Book Awards, Winner for Best Health And Wellness Book Of The Year, 2018 by the Green Book Awards, Winner for Best Specialty Cookbook of the Year, 2017, Book Excellence Awards

Here is the link to view it on Amazon: myBook.to/vegetarianbook

Here is the link to the article about the Chief of Cardiology going Vegan. https://lnkd.in/egDkUM7

The post Highland Hospital’s Chief Of Cardiology Goes Vegan appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

Here is one of my favorite raw, healthy recipes from my cookbook, which has over 115 yummy and easy recipes in it. The book can help you lose weight, boost your immune system, get your libido healthier, make non toxic body care and home care products with organic food and gardening tips.
I thought I would share it with you!

Raw, vegan recipe

SUPER CHOCOLATE POWER SMOOTHIE

Yes, you can have chocolate for breakfast and it will be healthy! Cacao is one of, if not the top anti-oxidant foods in the world. It is nutrient- dense.

Note that if you’re making this drink for someone who is diabetic, sweeten it with stevia instead of dates.

Ingredients:
2 1⁄2 c. coconut or hemp milk
1 or 2 bananas
1 T. cacao powder or cacao nibs ( you can save some to sprinkle on top)
2–3 dates, pitted and soaked in water for an hour or more or if you are diabetic – use a half dropper of toffee flavored stevia
1 T. nut butter of choice (sunflower seed, pumpkin seed,peanut, or almond)
1 tsp. chia seeds
1T. extra-virgin, pure coconut oil
1 scoop protein powder ( I use one from Mike Adam’s store.)

Directions:
1. Blend all ingredients well in a blender and enjoy!

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