Walnuts: the perfect food for our brains
- By Michael Ravensthorpe - May 01, 2014
Walnuts are the large, single-seeded fruits of the walnut tree. Though different species of walnut exist, the English walnut, which originated in Persia, remains the most popular species. In fact, virtually all of today's commercially-produced walnuts are either English walnuts or hybrids thereof. Other species of walnut, such as the black walnut, are seldom cultivated due to their comparatively tough shells and poor hulling qualities.
Walnuts are highly nutritious, and their health benefits have been well-known in China and India for centuries. They are just as revered in the West, however, and a large number of studies confirm the allegations of the ancient healing systems.
Packed with brain-boosting fats
Walnuts are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, particularly the plant-based omega-3 fat, alpha-linolenic acid. These beneficial fats, which are the same fats that comprise our brains and nervous systems, give walnuts considerable brain-boosting properties. For example, a study published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition in November 2011 discovered that rats that were fed walnuts for 28 days demonstrated a "significant improvement in learning and memory" compared to the control group. A second study, published two years later in Nutritional Neuroscience, showed that the fatty acids in walnut extracts could prevent age-related inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain's hippocampal cells.
Studies have also linked the regular consumption of walnuts to numerous other brain-related benefits, including the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and improved inferential reasoning, concentration spans and interneuronal signaling. Just like coconut oil, another food that boosts cognitive function, almost all of these benefits stem from walnuts' high concentrations of beneficial fats.
Cancer prevention
According to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition in April 2014, mice that were implanted with human breast cancers and fed a walnut-based diet experienced a gigantic 80 percent decrease in tumor growth rate compared to the control group. The study also found that walnuts slowed the growth of colon, prostate and renal cancers in mice, with whole walnuts providing the biggest benefits. The researchers attributed these results to certain antioxidant compounds in walnuts, such as tocopherols, beta-sitosterol and pedunculagin, which possess anti-cancer properties.
Strengthen the cardiovascular system
Foods rich in beneficial fats are known to improve our cardiovascular systems, and walnuts are no exception. A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, for instance, discovered that walnuts have been shown to decrease "bad" LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Consequently, the researchers recommend that people add more walnuts to their diets to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence also suggests that walnuts can boost endothelial function, making them a viable treatment for type II diabetes.
Good source of additional nutrients
Though walnuts' rich supplies of good fats will always be their biggest draw, we shouldn't overlook their surprisingly high concentrations of nutrients, which include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and most B vitamins. Walnuts are especially high in magnesium, an essential macromineral in which an estimated 50 to 80 percent of the United States population are deficient. Like most nuts, walnuts are also a good source of protein, though the protein is incomplete (i.e. it doesn't contain all eight essential amino acids).
Walnuts are best eaten raw and whole. While a lot of people dislike their bitter skins, these skins contain up to 90 percent of the fruit's main cancer-fighting antioxidants, so ensure that they're eaten too.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22048906
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23321679
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24500933
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24500939
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24500935
http://science.naturalnews.com/Walnuts.html
About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.
Woman calls Nestle to inquire about fluoride in bottled water, received death threats for a month
- By J. D. Heyes - April 29, 2014
A woman who bought a bottle of Nestle's Pure Life Water says she was threatened repeatedly by a company customer service representative who allegedly told her she would "slice her throat" and "watch the blood drain from you" after the woman called with questions about the product.
As a result of the alleged threats, Shimrit Ellis, the customer, filed suit against Pamela Vaughan, the customer service rep, and the company, Nestle USA, as well as Answernet Inc., in Philadelphia.
According to court documents, Ellis claims she bought the water on Aug. 5, 2012, then called Nestle's customer service department to inquire about health issues related to fluoride.
"Shortly thereafter, plaintiff, Shimrit Ellis, started to receive very graphic and violent death threats by phone from an unknown female," the complaint states.
"By way of example, inter alia, some of the treats [sic] that were made to plaintiff by phone were, 'I'm going to slice your throat;' 'I finally found where you live and watched you go to work. You're going to die;' and 'People are going to watch the blood drain from you when I stab you with a knife.'"
'So outrageous in character'
In addition, the complaint said, Vaughan allegedly described the knife she planned to use to commit the murder.
"These are among many horrible threats to plaintiff," said the complaint.
"Pamela Vaughan was so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree as to go beyond the pale of decency as is regarded as intolerable in a civilized society," Ellis' attorney, Warren Siegel, wrote in the suit.
Ellis said she was receiving calls like that at least three times per week for nearly a month. Finally, she decided to report them to the Philadelphia Police Department.
At that point, says the complaint, "Plaintiff's phone records were subpoenaed by the police and the calls were traced to Nestle Tollhouse Call Center, which revealed they were being made by a female employee, later identified as Pamela Vaughan, to whom plaintiff lodged the original complaint about the ingredient/additive, fluoride, being in the bottled water."
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that, according to online records anyway, it did not appear as though Vaughan has been charged yet with any crime related to Ellis' call.
The complaint said Ellis was seeking north of $50,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to this ingredients list, Pure Life does contain at least some fluoride.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/03/14/66147.htm
http://www.nestle-watersna.com/asset-library/documents/pl_eng.pdf
* Landmark Fluoride Lawsuit Restarts in January: Here Are Four Reasons You Should Care
5 powerful antibiotics that don't require a prescription
- By Derek Henry - April 30, 2014
Hospital antibiotics have become one of the most over prescribed "medicines" today. As a result people have ruined their digestive systems, and ironically, have lowered their natural immunity to all types of infections in the future. Get rid if infections without the digestive destruction, with these five powerful natural antibiotics.
Garlic
Garlic has been used medicinally by cultures around the world for thousands of years. In fact, it was used in the 1700s to ward off plague.
Garlic possesses potent antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties and is able to help protect and facilitate removal of unfriendly bacteria. It is also very high in natural antioxidants that destroy free radicals, which also supports a strong immune system.
The active ingredient in garlic, allicin, is the key component to killing and warding off harmful bacteria. Crush it to activate these compounds, and eat it raw, in a warm tea, or in lightly cooked food.
Colloidal silver
Colloidal silver has been known as an effective antibiotic for centuries. In the early 1900s, Alfred Searle, founder of the Searle pharmaceutical company, discovered that it could kill the most deadly pathogens.
Searle stated that applying colloidal silver to human subjects has been done in a large number of cases with astonishing results. The main advantage was that it was rapidly fatal to microbes without toxic action on its host.
Recent research has also stated that colloidal silver can destroy antibiotic resistant microbes like MRSA, the bird flu, and SARS.
Oil of oregano
Oil of oregano takes care of pathogenic bacteria without disrupting beneficial bacteria. It is also antiviral and antifungal which makes it a powerful three-in-one combination that rivals pharmaceuticals while not encouraging antibiotic resistance.
The key antimicrobial ingredient in oil of oregano is carvacrol. You should ensure that your source is at least 70 percent carvacrol content in order to be effective.
Echinacea
Echinacea has been used to treat a wide variety of infections for hundreds of years. Traditionally, it was used to treat open wounds, diphtheria, blood poisoning, and other bacterial related illnesses.
Today, this potent herb is used mostly for colds and flu, due to its ability to destroy the most dangerous forms of bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, which causes deadly MRSA.
Manuka honey
Perhaps the most palatable antibiotic comes in the form of manuka honey. Applied topically it can kill a wide range of pathogens including MRSA and flesh eating bacteria. It was also found that the treated bacteria did not build up any resistance, which would eventually render manuka honey ineffective.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of natural antibiotics, but a great start for an all natural pharmacy. Also consider reishi, pau d'arco, una de gato, olive leaf extract, cloves, turmeric, and even lemons to round out your antibiotic arsenal.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.naturalnews.com/035516_natural_antibiotics_superbugs.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/033475_oil_of_oregano_anti-viral.html
About the author:
Motivated by his own story of being sick and crippled at age 30 to healthy and pain free 5 years later, Derek is an expert in helping people get on track in a fraction of the time it took him on his own journey. Actively engaged in the research of natural healing for over 6 years, Derek has spent over 3000 hours studying and collaborating with top minds in nutrition and utilizes that extensive knowledge to deliver protocols that help people overcome their own health challenges.
Derek is the owner and Master Health Coach at Healing the Body, and writer of over 200 natural health articles, many of which are featured at his Healing the Body Facebook Fan Page
How To Compel Your Local, State And Federal Representatives To Carry Out Your Wishes?
Organize your neighbors (other constituents) to CALL first, followed by WRITING to your local, state and federal representatives, enlightening them as to why your demands for legalizing and removing all laws against Hemp or Cannabis must be done immediately, and as the owners of the country, remind the politicians whom they are really working for. DEMAND immediate favorable action for removal of all U.S. Government barriers and creation of new policy for implementation of industrial Hemp or Cannabis crop cultivation.
DO NOT SEND any e-mails, complete waste of time. E-mails are easily deleted and forgotten. Hand write your letter, or do it on a computer and print it out, sign it, and actually mail it to their offices. From the time you write and date your letter give them 3 weeks to meet with you, your neighbors and other constituents in person. On the said date, you and your neighbors should go to their offices and ask for clear unambiguous progress report.
MUST continue and repeat, carrying out your civic responsibility, every month until your community is satisfied with the results!
- You are here:
-
Home
- Articles