HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION

Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products. Click to continue »

milk thistle

I hope you are enjoying the holidays so far.  We were fortunate enough to host Christmas at our house this year and outdid ourselves with delicious indulgences.  (Had so much fun I forgot to take pictures!)

Speaking of fun, many of us tend to imbibe more than usual during the ’season.’  With family in town or travels out of town, our daily routine can be disrupted. Our bodies bear the burden – in particular the liver. This resilient organ is on overload trying to keep up with processing more than just rich foods.

We can still enjoy the festivities while helping support our system.  Here are some guidelines:

• Eat two to three daily servings of dark-green, yellow or orange vegetables for essential nutrition support.  Think (and buy) spinach, kale, and sweet potatoes.
• Eat a low protein diet to avoid excess stress on the liver. Poor quality fats, conventional meats and cheeses tend to contribute to its congestion.
• Eat the right kind of fats in moderate amounts.  Fish oils, raw nuts and seeds are the best sources of essential fatty acids which are needed for cell protection.  Corn oil and margarine should be avoided at all costs (a more in-depth post on healthy fats is in the works.)
• Drink grapefruit juice which decreases the enzymatic conversion of many potential toxins by up to 30 percent.  A tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar with honey in one cup of water is also a great panacea with similar effects.
• Milk thistle, burdock root, dandelion and red clover aid in cleansing the blood, reducing stress on the liver.  These are all available in tea blends as well as supplemental form.
• Uh, I would be remiss if I didn’t list consuming alcohol in moderation.  Remember, wine is in our family, so I have to be particularly mindful of reducing my intake. But when pairing with food, the absorption is optimal. Maybe one of my new year’s resolutions will be less justification.  Or maybe not:)